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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Friday, September 16, 2005
Today is my daughter Kelly's birthday. She's 14 years old and is becoming a more remarkable young woman every day. Better stop reading now if you can't stand "proud parent" stuff.
In pre-school and elementary school, Kelly was found to be in need of special tutoring. Last year, in her second year of middle school, she decided she had enough of that. Working hard, as she has always worked hard, she has been pulling straight A's in most of her classes. That's working hard and working mostly on her own with just the occasional help from family members. When Kelly puts her mind to something, she makes it happen.
If you read my message board, you also know Kelly is one heck of an athlete. She plays basketball (school and summer leagues), softball (travel), and volleyball (school and church leagues). It wears me out just watching her.
Kelly is a terrific person. She's funny, loyal to her family and friends, and willing to pitch in when there's work to be done. I love the kid a lot.
Happy birthday, Kelly!
******
SUPERNATURAL
 
SPOILERS AHEAD
Every season, there seems to be one or two shows which Kelly and I always watch together. In seasons past, these have included Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Teen Titans. This season, the likely "winner" is SUPERNATURAL on the WB.
One has merely to glance at the new season line-up to realize "spooky" is in. SUPERNATURAL is the first new series out of the gate. I'm not going to claim the pilot episode was brilliant, but it was fun and it had its moments.
The first such moment came in the "prologue" which explained what drives Dean and Sam Winchester. 22 years ago, a strange man (or perhaps man-like being) murdered their mother when Sam was just an infant. Murdered her by turning her pale white, sticking her to the ceiling, and setting the ceiling, their mom, and their entire house on fire. It was a "made you jump" scene.
Since then, their working-class dad has become a hunter of the things that go bump in the night. He finances these hunting trips with falsely obtained credit cards, one of the more clever bits to be found in the opening episode.
Older bro Sam [Jensen Ackles] has embraced the family mission. Younger bro Dean [Jared Padalecki] not so much. Though both have accompanied their dad on his hunting trips, Dean has just graduated from college, is living with his girlfriend, and looks like a sure bet for a free ride to law school.
When the eldest Winchester goes missing, Sam convinces Dean to help him look for their father...with the promise that they'll get back to school for Dean's law school interview. Sam does keep that promise, but tragic circumstances derail Dean's plans. At the end of the pilot, the brothers are back on the road in search of their dad and whatever bumpy things cross their path.
What I liked about the pilot was its gritty realistic tenor, even in the midst of the spooky stuff. I also liked the chemistry between Ackles and Padalecki and, as previously mention, the whole "fighting evil via credit card fraud" bit.
What I didn't like was that Sam Winchester isn't very good at his job. He's a formidable fighter with highly developed criminal skills, but he's a wise-ass even when it clearly works against him. This was probably to distinguish him from the far more thoughtful Dean, but, if unchecked, it will only serve to diminish his value to their mission.
Kelly and I liked SUPERNATURAL enough to keep watching it for the immediate future. I'm going to give it a perfectly acceptable three Tonys and hope subsequent episodes will maintain that level of quality or surpass it.
SUPERNATURAL airs Tuesdays at 9 pm. It's up against My Name Is Earl and The Office on NBC, The Amazing Race on CBS, Commander-In-Chief on ABC, House on Fox, and Sex, Lies & Secrets on UPN. Of those shows, I have some interest in MY NAME IS EARL and COMMANDER-IN CHIEF. I'm attracted to the comically redemptive nature of EARL and the amazing cast - Geena Davis, Kyle Secor, Donald Sutherland - of COMMANDER. The tricky part will be taping three shows with two working VCRs.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back on Monday with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 09/15/2005 | 09/16/2005 | 09/19/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Tony's Online Tips
840 Damon Drive
Medina, OH 44256
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