A trip into the past features bad lighting and an Archie comic that doesn't have much to do with Christmas!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Archie Giant Series Magazine #452
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93 comments:
I guess the original intent was to make a three week story arc about Harvey Finevoice in a Christmas Carol-type setting with the next two reviews being present and future. Yes, I keep noticing some continuity hiccups that's a little distracting in this episode, but I'm sure the next two episodes will be better.
Also, I too am pretty surprised by The 12 Days of Christmas being considered one of the worst. Heck if they want a Christmas song like that without the repetitiveness, I say listen to Bob Rivers' hilarious parody The 12 Pains of Christmas. Search it up on YouTube! Trust me!
LOL nostalgia critic!
The nostalgia critic part is the funniest thing ever.The background is interesting but looks weird compared to you. Still funny though.
Wow that sure got dark at the end.
It's been forever since I looked at an Archie comic but I think it operates in Calvin and Hobbes time. That is, they're eternally at the age they're presented at.
As for the theme, I'm sorry but usually I just skip past it. Used to like it but eventually it just got to be a segment that stands between me and watching the review. I don't hate it or anything, I just don't watch it.
You know, I half expected the Nostalgia Critic to inform Harvey about Linkara getting turned into a deadite, and then being dismembered by Obscurus Lupa
Also, I actually have an easier time believing that Archie got to stick around than Scooby-Doo
Seriously!
What keeps that mutt coming back for 50 years!
...Harvey Finevoice singing...Fly Me to the Moon? Let the line of women (and men like myself) begin swooning.
I love your little complaint about how there's no real indicator that it's winter in these comics. There are places in the world where that is, in point of fact, normal in December.
I say that because I happen to live in one. Portland is generally pretty green year-round; winter is more "rain" and less "Snow".
Youch, that was some pretty harsh critiquing on the book. You don't care for Archie you say?
Good episode, Harvey is probably my favorite of your side characters, so I'm REALLY looking forward to have this arch dedicated to him. Can't wait.
Also, you know what makes that last story even more odd? The guy that Archie went to get a tree from? That guy was Mr. Lodge, Veronica's dad. That's right, he was going to get a tree from his love interest's father. I think that raises even more questions.
The Critic is here so we'll go with the "it's a Plot Hole" logic.
The theme has lost a step or two; maybe going back to the faster paced/more upbeat one could help. Maybe show more coins, robots, and amazons at that part.
Perhaps using more updated images too.
Great review. Loved the Solomon Grundy refrence.
Great Composite to get the old wall back. You and Doug just had to do the Waynes World flashback thing...
So did you re-cut the old opening for this or just happen to have a copy around that could show more to the sides?
I bet Doug didn't think he'd be playing a Nostalgic guest host to features his site picked up. Wonder how his Studio set up is going...
Girl from Ipanema is nice and all but its really not blending with Fly me to the Moon.
I miss Archies from the 80's one of the few times they did story arcs where the characters seemed capable of thinking.
First off, I am completely agreeing with you on all points. Archie's longevity makes no sense. It's kinda like the soap opera of comic books: bad writing, weird stories, but still popular as all get out, and a familiar reference point for people.
Second off, I wish you were more steeped in Archie lore, but for the simple fact that the "girl and jealous boyfriend" were Moose and Midge, fellow longrunning characters with the rest of the Archie crew. You could have made comment that ANY kind of perceived provocative action someone makes towards Midge gets them clobbered by Moose, and that even the most casual observer can tell that most of Moose's victims are completely innocent of any crime (just check out this one: bowled over by punch, and he's only got his arms on her shoulder, and it somehow constitutes sexual assault in Moose's eyes). You just gotta love a character who's jealous and possessive to the point of constant violence. :P
Finally, the longevity of Archie Comics has produced two truly awesome things: Kevin Keller, arguably one of the best-approached homosexual characters ever (he's... just a dude. It's great!) and the mindblowing Life with Archie comics, which show what Archie's life would be like if he married Betty AND what it would look like if he married Veronica, and both lives... pretty much being awful for all involved. Oh, and that Dilton kid you mistakenly said had a father that built phone booths, and not an uncle? He's the resident nerd of the series, and in the comic, he's missing from both timelines, at the centre of some sort of "parallel dimensions, temporal apocalypse" subplot. It's AWESOME.
Archie and his gang don't age. They all have the Simpson Complex, except they did it decades before the Simpsons.
I liked this episode. I could ramble on and on about Archie comics, mainly since my sisters had a box full of them and they were the only comics my parents would let me read, but I won't. Also, don't diss Jughead's beanie. I liked Harvey's backstory and his kid puts things into perspective. Wonder where this will go next.
To quote someone great: AWK!
"I doubt Archie of all people causes enough stress in her life for that to happen..."
This is a guy who managed to get Mr. Lodge to turn his hair white. Despite it being a dye job.
Anonymous 11:07: I actually am more confused as to why Archie has hung around for 70 years. Scooby-Doo hangs around because mystery shows never go entirely out of fashion, even with some TERRIBLE characters like Scooby-Dumb (yes, a talking Hick dog) and Flim-Flam (a mostly useless twelve year old con artist type), who make the people who crap on Scrappy look completely illogical.
First props on useing the original intro. Second what the age difference between you and Harvey ?
Apparently you never spent Christmas in a place like Arizona Linkara. It can be freezing out (or T-shirt weather at times) but never any show unless your in higher elevation and you don't always see your breath. And yes, the grass would be just as green and bright. So who says you always have to have snow in a Christmas story?
As for the comic, i'm just as baffled as you are about Archie. How IS is that the comic has managed to stick around that long? I guess the reasons are the same as about half the comic strips in the newspaper that have been there just as long (like Blondie and Beetle Bailey as examples): harmless entertainment thats just always been....there.
Aww darn it, I really didn't want to cry at Atop the Fourth Wall but the whole thing about, "Not going in to see my son," got me.
Soooooo, are we now going to get the backstory of 90's Kid and Snowflame?
Please say yes, we have to know how you found him.
Also, JESUS DUDE, Harvey has backstory, and a dark one?!
The general problem I have with Archie is that every character in his book is more interesting than he is. I don't think it's a coincidence that his spin-off titles have gotten much more media attention (Josie and the Pussiecats got a cartoon and a movie; Sabrina the Teenage Witch got two TV shows) But I'm also with Linkara; I have no idea who's reading them. Aside from Chris Sims.
As a general and respectful critique, (and just one fan's opinion, of course), I don't think that books like "Archie" or "the Simpsons", or generally books that think they're being funny, provide the best fodder for your show. It's not that those episodes are even bad, but more that your riffing and analysis works so much better with material that's taking itself seriously. (Or even better, material taking itself far too seriously.)
You forgot to mention that theres snow on the roofs but not on the ground.
You’re doing a Christmas carol parody? Kind of cliché don’t you think?
Ok this has been bugging me for a while, where did the whole nostalgia critic being a muppet thing come from?
Is there an explanation why all of those characters look just like LInkara? You know - storyline-wise.
I think I can try to to place this episode in continuity of the series. (NOTE: I'm using the TGWTG.com list of episodes for this) The lighting of the show changed after the Dooms IV #2 review on December 14th, 2008. The Amazons Attack Prologue was on March 3rd, 2009. The theme song was first used on June 12th, 2009. My analysis? Well, the "previous episode" shown in this was probably started in early winter of 2008, and finished in late summer of 2009 due to setbacks.
The thing about Archie is that while he's been around for roughly as long as guys like Superman, Batman, and Captain America, he's the only comic series that's sold in regular grocery stores these days. Ever since comics moved to the Direct Market, the only ones you could get in supermarkets are Archie related. Perhaps this is why he's remained so popular. He's got appeal outside the main comic reading demographic.
Man do I like a good throwback episode. Sure the continuity is all over the place, but then that's comic books and AT4W has always been about paying tribute to the conventions of the medium. We'll just say Superboy Prime punched the walls of reality again.
Then again, Nostalgia Critic made a cameo (as I suspected he would, given that there's no reason to get rid of his character entirely). Maybe his very presence brought the episode under the power of the massive plothole in space. The one that's also swallowed the universe.
I love this little shared reviewer universe.
Awesome review as always, and to answer your question at the end well technically Archie is the epitome of Status Quo. His series always resets he never ages and the few stories that do involve massive changes to his series are either retconed or alternate universes such as the Archie Married life series or his knowledge of Sabrina being a witch. Archie I suppose was meant to be that safe kind of comic book from the age of innocence that anyone could pickup and read and not worry about 50 years of back story.
Keep up the Good Work.
If you want to hear a parody of 12 days, look up 'Bob and Doug's 12 Days of Christmas.'
I think that your MEA break riff has to be the most obscure joke on the show...
the only continuity issue I found was that the theme music was only introduced AFTER Harvey's first appearence... but then I only found that after I went looking for continuity issues cause you said there were continuity issues
But yeah - nice review
Funilly enough; Archie comics used to be called MLJ and they did have a few superheroes; including the Shield (the first patriotic hero, 15 months before Captain America), Steel Stirling (the first character to be called "The Man of Steel") and the Comet (the first superhero to actually die in the course of action). MLJ also had the very first superhero crossover - beating the Human Torch/Namor story by a month Though when the character of Archie became so popular, they shifted the focus to him. (Most of their superhero stuff is actually public domain now - so might make interesting DVD review material)
Oh, and was the thing about the title cards/theme music something from Past Linkara or is it in reference to the present?
Keep the title cards and the theme song. It keeps the show original. But I have an alternate idea. Use the submitted theme song if you still have them.
Love the cameo from critic. Love the way done as old episode never aired something. I do wonder if the old green screened in instead of moving the photon back and forth between the old place. It's even nice that you use older version of the opening. Yeah continuity. Well nothing is perfect.
Archie sort of got old for me but I do still read christmas stuff every year and other stuff every once in a while. It's fun most of the time. Digests are nice but mix christmas and non christmas stories. This one isn't a good one.
12 days of christmas being hated? My least favorite? Dogs barking Jingle Bells.
That reminds me of Knight Rider christmas episode I saw last night on netflix. Only mentions of christmas and some directions. Doesn't feel like christmas most of the episode.
OUCH. Dark, dark, DARK place. I'm surprised, but I'm also glad. A Christmas Carol is thisclose to being a horror story, and I'm a little surprised at how few people seem to get that.
Just for the record, Archie is a vain, self-centered jerk.
Oh wow. I actually HAD that comic as a kid. Didn't remember the 1st story, but the others I clearly remembered them - just seeing the opening panels reminded me of those and how the stories went
wow, I never thought the nostalgia critic would be back, but that made me laugh
Well that didn't utterly break my heart or anything. Nope. I'm good!
Seriously though, I've been loving all this character development of late. Really looking forward to the rest of the month now, especially since we got a quote from that one Scrubs episode, meaning that I'm sure something horrible is secretly happening. Or has already happened. Y'know, aside from the whole dead kid thing...no parent should ever have to bury their child.
...Charlie. Huh. Lemme guess, Harv's real surname is Pendleton? ;D
I LOVED you breaking out the original theme song for this. That was definitely a cool move. The green screen effect to splice in the old wall with that shelf on it was also a nice touch. Probably the best you could do without dragging the futon back to the old residence. Not a perfect recreation of the old look of the show, but workable enough for a one-off episode.
Nice Critic cameo, too!
I like where this arc is going... possible future for Harvey? Either way, your plots are always so interesting. Quick question:
-Noticed that TWO of the covers in the early montage featured Archie in Canada. Was that a fluke, or just what you happened to have on hand, or what?
As to Archie still being around (and yes, it's like the Simpsons, they always seem to be the same age), I think a huge part of that is that they're constantly juggling things up and/or making the comic RELEVANT to today's teenagers. It's actually REALLY fascinating. For instance:
-When I was reading in the early 90s, Jughead went through a whole "skater" phase with a new circle of friends. He also started Time Traveling in a short lived set of issues.
-Later in the 90s, Jughead got a little sister and there was a whole arc through several issues about what her name actually was.
-More recently, they've dealt with cancer issues (both Ms. Grundy and Cheryl Blossom), the 99% (Veronica and her father being part of the 1%), created a gay character (Kevin Keller) with a husband, and they have launched a new series taking place decades in the future where Archie is married (with the cop out that there's two timelines, one where he has each girl).
What's more fascinating (and admittedly oftentimes irritating) is that stories from 30 years ago can (and are) retweaked to run in current times. The one you just reviewed? Replace all speech bubble instances of "CB Radio" with "cell phone" and any one of those stories would probably run today - and likely have. (I have less of a problem with this when I tell myself that it's so that they can focus more on current events elsewhere, but don't buy digests as much any more because 3/4 of the comic is reruns.)
They're also kind of self-aware, as there are stories where (for instance) Betty puts on a black wig and people comment she looks "just like Veronica"! It's also pretty "Safe" material, since there's no swearing and the Archie Comics name is protective of it's characters to the point of quashing published fanfiction and parody (for better or for worse). They do get the trope though:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BettyAndVeronica
If the Marvel universe is superheroes with flaws, the Archie universe is regular people with flaws, which some people can relate to more. I think that's part of why it endures and WOW did I go on too long here.
I have no idea why they skipped numbering though.
"I LOVED you breaking out the original theme song for this. That was definitely a cool move. The green screen effect to splice in the old wall with that shelf on it was also a nice touch. Probably the best you could do without dragging the futon back to the old residence. Not a perfect recreation of the old look of the show, but workable enough for a one-off episode."
Yeah, sadly even if I DID want to try dragging the futon to the old place, it wouldn't make a difference. XD My mom has since turned my old room into an office, took down the shelf, an removed the wallpaper and replaced it with white, so I couldn't recreate the old look if I wanted. ^_~
How did Archie pay for the plane tickets? He walks around with the equivalent of Brazil's GDP divided into multiple envelopes of all denominations sewn into his suit.
(FYI, I would kill a man to see you narrate a comic in the style of Harry from The Guy From Harlem.)
As someone who has read a few Archie comics, I can say his mother's hair is red too. Why they made it white in this comic I don't know.
It's a really touching scene with Harvey at the end, even if I'm starting to get a REALLY bad feeling because of the "Do you know where you are?" line.
Haven't even seen ten seconds of the review yet, but had to share this!
Holy sh*t, when I heard Harvey singing "Fly Me to the Moon" at the beginning, I screamed at my computer "I love Harvey so much!"
"Love you too, babe!"
o.O
:D
Wow this is actually pretty deep man. Not only that but you just officially did the Hat Trick of other characters played by you that met the Critic. First 90s kid in Biodome. Next Mechakara in To Boldly Flee.
Now Harvey in Archie.
Get Munro and Holokara and you win a free sundae. Lol.
Neat, the original theme returns! Cool to see that back after all these years for the special episode.
Honestly while I remember an Archies TV show in the 80s, I think it's just one of those things that really never changes and that sort of tries to be for every generation; sort of like if the Simpsons started in the 40s. I never really got it otherwise but it really is for people who want something simpler of another time. The episode had a lot of great criticisms though and gags like the "Burger King" bit. And sort of can't wait to see how Harvey returns to the show (or if we get a 90s Kid origin in the future...my guess is you were doing a terrible Liefeld comic and he had to appear to defend him)
Speaking of Munroe, whatever happened to him?
Linkara, I can't believe that you didn't use a clip from Monty Python's "Cheese Shoppe" sketch! That was the first thing that I thought of when the pet shop owner said "Partridges? All out. A lady just bought the last one!" (Ending this story with Archie shooting the woman running the pet shop would have been much funnier than the parrot ending.)
I don't really have a problem with where this episode "fits" in the continuity- it isn't as if these stories are completely serious (especially now that you live in a 'Plot-Hole universe'.) I AM, however, wondering why you're doing Harvey's story now. It just doesn't seem to fit in with the Christmas theme. Not that I don't find it interesting, but I think you should have saved it for after the Holidays.
As for the comic: I guess Archie's popularity is simply because the characters are so archetypical. Who doesn't know an "Archie" or a "Jughead"? No need for a 20-issue encyclopedia to catch up to them, you can just pick an issue and easily get the jokes. Although one thing that has always annoyed me is how in some covers you can see Archie making out WITH MULTIPLE GIRLS AT THE SAME TIME. OK, so it's a classic male fantasy, but it's also very sexist. You don't see many covers with Betty or Veronica making out with multiple guys do you?
Oh man, great touch using the old version of the theme song. :-D
"Yeah, sadly even if I DID want to try dragging the futon to the old place, it wouldn't make a difference. XD My mom has since turned my old room into an office, took down the shelf, an removed the wallpaper and replaced it with white, so I couldn't recreate the old look if I wanted."
Too bad. Still, you did the best you could do with what you had, and I applaud the effort. You did a good job.
This kind of now reminds me of when Brad did this sort of thing with the Snob in the "Video Violence 2" review. He had his present day self get a call from his past self, sans facial hair and back in the wood paneled room. It was awesome.
One of my first memories of Archie was Archie's Weird Mysteries. They basically took something bland like that and mixed it in with the Twilight Zone.
Archie: Should I choose Betty or Veronica. OH MY GOD A 50 Foot Veronica RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!
It was pretty messed up. Still the funniest thing I seen Archie Related was a Simpsons episode where Sideshow Bob was mayor. After Bob threatened Bart not to interfere with his plans and tossing him out to his house. Homer is too tossed out by the Riverdale gang with Ox threatening "Duh Stay out of Riverdale." From that moment on I really wanted to know what horrible thing Homer did to upset the Archie guys.
I saw a comment earlier on your section of TGWTG's messageboard about how Harvey comes across as Jack O'Neill in terms of his backstory. I can see why.
Fiery Little One
I feel like I should check back a few years to see if I commented on this already.
Great show, and even as someone who is an Archie fan, I liked it.
But even though you certainly have the right not to be a fan, you're usually much more spot on with your research. I can forgive you not knowing the relatively minor characters like Midge, Moose or Dilton, but to review a comic like this, you should know at least the main core of characters (Archie, Jughead, Veronica, Betty and Reggie). Just looking through the Wikipedia article would have cleared some names up for you.
It's kind of distracting, because it raises the specter that your criticism of the comic is the worst type of criticism... uninformed.
And this isn't a flame. It's just I know you can do better than that.
Damn. Poor Harvey. :(
Yep, still love your stories, and the flashback was clever too. :)
"Is there an explanation why all of those characters look just like LInkara? You know - storyline-wise."
I doubt that's canon. It would have already raised a lot of weird questions. xD
Personally I thought this episode's review was a bit meh. Then again I find Archie comics in general to be kinda tough to review since they're all pretty dull and boring (IMO).
"Speaking of Munroe, whatever happened to him?"
Using the multi model reflection sorting, he was able to find his way into the Doctor Who universe. Where in, he found himself the next companion after Ace for the Doctor by saving him from an army of Ice Warriors. He travelled with him on many adventures before temporarily leaving him in order to leech Silurian poison from his veins. He returned to the Doctor in his 8th incarnation where he sacrificed his life in the Time War in order for the Doctor to regenerate and save the universe. This is what made the 9th Doctor the loner that we knew him to be at the start.
I just gave you the best fanfic ever.
I kinda have to ask, where I like the episode a lot and was interesting to see an episode done in the past, is the only problem with continuity the theme song and the title card? I know those were just done because nowadays it'd be weird to have an episode around them (Although I will say I loved seeing the original theme song again), but in terms of the actual elements of the episode (Linkara reviewing an Archie Christmas comic in the beginning of March which it's retro Linkara, I can see him doing it XD and then meeting Harvey), is there really any other flaws because I don't believe Harvey appeared before Amazon's Attack. Just curious and great episode regardless.
Looking out my window right now, it looks pretty much like Riverdale. My country gets bloody cold, but very little snow.
Also, I find it odd that somebody who's into superheroes is perplexed by a comic where nobody ages.
Concerning the bit about Archie's mum's hair... My mother's hair started turning grey when she was about my age (I'm 31). Some people get grey hair very early, others very late in their life. An example from the opposite side of the spectrum: My dad is 63 and he's still completely blond. Needless to say, I really hope I inherited his predisposition and not my mum's ;)
Nice job with the story... and the nostalgia.
Oh, and kudos with the Critic cameo.
The reason for Archie's continuing survival is quite simple
Availability
Archie is probably the only comic publisher in the US at the moment, who's comics are still commonly available in magazine stands and grocery stores.
You don't need to look for a comic store to buy an issue of Archie.
And if you want to give you'r kid a quick read, they are always conveniently close.
The second factor may be the fact that Archie is the closest equivalent America has to Harem mangas, a genera that's, to my own confusion, extremely popular in Japan (I do get, and appreciate, the fantasy, but I don't see how you can base an entire series around it)
And seeing how American comics are mostly overrun by superheroes (thank you New 52 for introducing other genera, such as Western, Fantasy, and Horror to the mainstream market), Archie may very well be exploiting the niche market for all it's worth (I know it might be far-fetched, but I always like to pint out these parallels)
Also, Archie has spawned several rather successful spin-offs, some of whom most people don't even realize are from the Archie universe
One of these spin-offs was Josie and the Pussycats
The other one is Sabrina the Teenage Witch, who recently got her fourth TV series announced
All of this feeding cash to the company
Hey, Linkara, I know that you said that would NEVER review webcomics because they are usually things that are made as a hobby and not really a job, but if someone actually made a webcomic and they did a request for you to review their webcomic (the bad parts of it anyway). Would you even consider it?
I ended up running to the library to watch this episode because my laptop is busted and my friend wouldn't stop freaking out about this episode. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY. XD
I just have to say...wow. I'm actually not surprised at all that Harvey has such a rough backstory. It's good to get more insight on him, lots of feels.
Also I noticed there's absolutely no music in this flashback of his. It just really stood out and made the whole thing more effective, especially regarding someone so associated with music.
Should I feel bad that I ENJOYED the dark turn at the end of this review?
i wish i could enjoy this review right this moment, but i am being distracted by avengers arena. out fears have been far too small. far too small.
Avengers arena, issue one, ends with a Shock Death........ and the person who dies had super endurance...... and he also happened to be a black guy.....
so we have the enforcement of two hated comic book formula, c list death and shock death, ignorance of a character's abilities, and fucking hammering home a fucking movie sterotype ALL at once......
aside for that, the plot and villain was far too thin. arcade is not a villain who can kill a hero, no matter their listing, so easily.
god it ruined my mood for today. will have to watch the video tomorrow.
"Hey, Linkara, I know that you said that would NEVER review webcomics because they are usually things that are made as a hobby and not really a job, but if someone actually made a webcomic and they did a request for you to review their webcomic (the bad parts of it anyway). Would you even consider it?"
Nope. The same rules apply, sorry to say.
I would say either
A) Keep the theme
B) Remix it,
C) Like Zachary said earlier, maybe replay your other submitted contest songs, and alternate each episode
D) Or do a brand new one, maybe with shout-outs to the old, ala "Power Rangers Zeo" (would be appropriate for the White Zeo Ranger ^_^ )
My reasoning/mad rambling:
1#
For anyone who either doesn't like themes in reviews, or are neutral to them (which is fine, everyone has different tastes) can easily skip over them, and those who like themes will keep on keeping on.
2#
Like someone else already said (sorry I forgot your name ), the song is unique to your show:
i) Its about your show
ii)Most review shows may have themes, but very few have their, orinigal songs, just stuff they've sampled.
Of course, itsa your show, you can do what you want, plus it wouldn't actually affect the jokes themselves, or really subtract from the viewing experience for those who don't like themes since they can skip over.
Basically do whatever makes you happy.
The Doctor: Okay, okay. Tch, tch. First things first. One: we're going to climb through this ship. B... no... two: we're going to reach the bridge. Three - or C: we're going to save the Titanic. And, coming in a very low Four or D or that little "iv" in brackets they use in footnotes... why. Right then, follow me.
I'm sorry, but this review was very poorly done, and I know why. I get that you don't read Archie, which is fine, but it looks like you didn't do any research for this episode either.
Really, this was EAXCTLY like a bad Nostalgia Critic review.
Wow that was stupid. The continuity issues with that episode were off the wall. Thinking about them makes my head hurt like hell. Seriously this episode never existed in 2009 (it was made for Christmas? the theme song was added later. Amazons attack came out not around Christmas. you never advertised this on your website. You already reviewed an Archie comic. I could go on and on forever about the continuity flaws with it). Also, it seems like you are playing a sob story card with Harvey, which is really pathetic and just used to get cheap sympathy. And really, bringing back the Nostalgia Critic? You want to please his fantards who want him back, and hate his new show just because it is not the Nostalgia Critic? Just pathetic. People you have got to realize the Nostalgia Critic is over, get it through your heads, get a life, get over it. This episode sucked.
That makes me wonder. What about in the case of comics that were initially web comics but have been bundled and sold as trade style collections?
Or ones that only started online and then got marketed for all but the introduction to the story?
Nice cameo of the Nostalgia critic. Archie is just okay in my book. This is a interesting take on the very familiar A Christmas Carol type of story as a way to reveal Harvey's past.I noticed that Harvey slipped up when he was talking about Linkara.
To answer you question at the credit's end, Archie doesn't age in continuity as far as I know.
However, they made two spin-off series at one point called "The Married Life." It portrays alternate futures for the cast, each dealing with the consequences of Archie marrying either Better or Veronica.
I don't know if either of these spin-offs are still ongoing.
"Wow that was stupid. The continuity issues with that episode were off the wall. Thinking about them makes my head hurt like hell. Seriously this episode never existed in 2009 (it was made for Christmas? the theme song was added later. Amazons attack came out not around Christmas. you never advertised this on your website. You already reviewed an Archie comic."
Eh, you're entitled to your opinion, but I DID say in the credits that I'm aware of the continuity flubs, though in regards to the Archie Meets TMNT episode, that happened about a year later from where this episode SHOULD be, so I decided not to reference it at all.
Though I really should have referenced Archie Meets the Punisher.
Hi Linkara, nice little show you got here.
[Yeah, this is me pretending to be my past self. Everything outside square brackets is 'in character'.]
I don't know about the title cards...they seem to pop out to the left and right of the blip player.
[the titlecard and the voice over segments are in 16:9, hence why they'd be 'popping out' or 'cut off'. It's those details that would make it feel more real.]
About the theme song... I don't know - it sounds a bit rough. Maybe you could convince the guy who did it to remake it a bit clearer? Aside from that, it fits.
On top of that: Did you get a new camera? Or did you just manage to fix the autofocus problem? I swear, last episode your camera spazzed out and this episode you leave and nothing happens!
[That's of course due to the greenscreen effect and the still image - which unfortunately has a lot of RGB noise in it.]
And really, bringing back the Nostalgia Critic? You want to please his fantards who want him back, and hate his new show just because it is not the Nostalgia Critic? Just pathetic. People you have got to realize the Nostalgia Critic is over, get it through your heads, get a life, get over it.
Um, you're making some really strange and frankly WRONG assumptions, here. Lewis didn't "bring back" anything, Doug himself said that the Nostalgia Critic character would still make the occasional appearance even though he's done with reviews. He's done it before with producers like the Nostalgia Chick. Lewis and Doug were at a convention together, why NOT use that to get a quick cameo? I really doubt Lewis thought about it beyond "Hey it would be neat for the Nostalgia Critic to cameo as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and it makes sense cause past = nostalgia." Furthermore, how can you accuse Lewis of wanting people to hate Demo Reel? He's one of the show's biggest supporters. He's complained before about people who say they won't even give the show a chance because they miss the Nostalgia Critic.
I personally don't see why people are pointing out continuity issues in this particular episode. Since this takes place after To Boldly Flee. The universe including it's branches are inside a giant plothole. It's to be expected. As the wise scientist Doctor Insano put it. "Tough Shit, nobody's perfect."
This might seem like an odd request, but have you ever thought of doing "Mika's - Blame it on the girls"?
I think it would be a hilarious counter to the "Fake Geek Girl thing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF_w7oaBHNo
I love the idea of making this an 'older' episode. I'm not too worried about the continuity – its supposed to take place entirely in Harvey's memories (including the review), and memories of a particularly bad time, too. He's not going to remember it entirely accurately.
The only question is, why did Linkara never screen this review back then? Maybe when it was done, he watched it and figured that if he did, people would just tell him he didn't know enough about Archie comics :)
The only thing I can think of with the strange numbering, is that maybe its numbered like some academic journals, where the first number refers to the volume – so a new volume starts with, say, 101 and if its published weekly and a new volume starts annually, the last issue of the year is 152, and the following week, the first one of the new year is 201. Although the idea of this having anything at all in common with academic journals is just weird.
The story parts. Wow. Grave visits are a common way of explaining a character's past, but I can't remember ever seeing another character who can't get past the edge of the cemetery. Its the one thing that jumped out to me because that image of Harvey standing outside the cemetery is something I can relate to. Very well done. I love the way this story has developed, and the depth and the way the characters have become people to care about. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all works out.
I forgot to put this in my previous comment, but Harvey's first appearance was in Daredevil #306, which came after Amazons Attack. My previous points and my analysis of the continuity problems in this video still stand. The "past episode" featured here was started in early winter of 2008, and was finished in late summer of 2009 due to setbacks. Now, to move away from my continuity ramblings, I really enjoyed this episode. It was a good stab at your past reviews, and a good look into Harvey's character. (I do have 2 notes. You could of squeezed the image so you would appear thinner, as you were back when this "past episode" would of been made. Also, the commercial bumpers weren't used during the old days of the show, but I'll let that slide)
Yes we do want you to keep the opening and titlecards.
nice episode by the way:)
Not bad, but the Superman one last week was funnier. I just really want you and the Comic Strip Critic to lambaste both the "Spider-Man v. Clown-9" storyline, or FUNKY WINKERBEAN. Tom Batiuk thinks people are picking on him. Wait till you get through with him.
IMHO it should just be taken as a "lost" episode from an ambiguous when, especially when one watches the stingers.
I'm more curious about who "Charlie" is in Harvey's past. And does this mean something in Harvey's potential future will be undone or something in Harvey's past, like they did on Dr. Who.
Very much enjoyed this ep. Having the old lighting, 'wall' and opening was a nice touch, as was cropping the wide-screen back off.
So excited to learn more about Harvey, though not sure where you're all going with this. Though that is half the fun, I like to be surprised story-wise.
In universe, does Harvey check his twitter on the road or just when he's home?
*Loved* your reaction to the vulture-selling pet shop. :)
Great episode. Loved the footage of Harvey at Youmacon. Also loved the surprise cameo of Nostalgia Critic.
The ending is incredibly dark -- with a side of Harvey that was trying to cope with the loss of his son and dissolution of his wife. I think this arc is focusing on Harvey coming to terms with the death of his son (I think it was Charlie right?).
So I guess we're calling this a "lost" episode? Really convient that you finally posted this episode when Harvey Finevoice need to explain his backstory. It's almost a shame you didn't start this last week, have an overlap with Secret Origins month.
Speaking of Mr. Finevoice, my god his voice is so spectacular that he can bring a crowd to thunderous applause at the beginning of a song.
Archie Comics...I don't get it either, unless its because its the closest American comics has to a harem series.
Nice to see the old title sequence again, makes me feel all nostalgic...oh, hey I see what you did there. Actually, that makes me wonder, I know you've got a second verse to the theme song and you've updated the opening credits...did you ever make a new version of the credits to the second verse?
And kind of odd that you put the story bit before the end credits, although with the stingers at the end I guess it makes sense.
Not the best review, but the nostalgia and the plot really make this a great episode!
I enjoyed the episode, but I do have one question: have you always considered this as Harvey's backstory, or is this something you developed later as you got to know the character better?
like
Did you know the original artist did "risque" art in the same style as archie before he did archie:
http://www.amazon.com/Pin-up-Art-Dan-DeCarlo/dp/product-description/1560976195
just wanted to kick that out there!
I honestly prefer your quiet voice to your loud one. You exaggerate it in this episode: I understood you 99.99% of the time in the earlier episodes. Your quite voice is just far more pleasing to the ears in my opinion. You can use it without being unniteligible if you make an effort and increase the volume, whereas your loud voice is sometimes irritating even when my volume is set low.
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