John Hansen

‘Buffy’ flashback: ‘BTVS Classic’ Issues 28-38 (2000-01) (Comic book reviews)

Writers Tom Fassbender and Jim Pascoe begin the second major run of consistent authorship on Dark Horse’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Classic” in steadier fashion than Andi Watson’s work early in the series. The new writers wonderfully capture the gang’s voices, and after getting their feet wet in the first five issues, they unleash confident, […]

‘Buffy’ flashback: ‘Revenant’ (2001) (Book review)

“Revenant” (January 2001) is a big step up from Mel Odom’s “Buffy” debut, “Unnatural Selection,” although if memory serves, he’ll go on to do even better work on “Angel” books and “Buffy”/“Angel” crossovers later. Freed from the constraints of short YA fiction, this story – ostensibly set somewhere between “The Zeppo” (3.13) and “The Prom” […]

Celebrating 50 years of ‘Apes’: ‘Battle for the Planet of the Apes’ (1973) wraps saga with relative whimper (Movie review)

This series celebrates 50 years of the “Planet of the Apes” film franchise. Here, we look back at the fifth and final film in the original series. “Battle of the Planet of the Apes” (1973) is not a particularly revered film, but it is perhaps the most influential within the “Apes” franchise. Caesar’s (Roddy McDowall) […]

‘Buffy’/‘Angel’ flashback: ‘Past Lives’ (2001) (Comic book review)

The “Angel” monthly writing team of Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski deliciously digs into Buffyverse lore and smoothly ties together the two titles with the comics’ first major crossover story. “Past Lives” (January-February 2001) goes from “Angel” Issue 15 to “Buffy” Issue 29 to “Angel” Issue 16 to “Buffy” Issue 30. Prolific “Angel” artist Christian […]

Celebrating 50 years of ‘Apes’: Saga gets bloody in ‘Conquest of the Planet of the Apes’ (1972) (Movie review)

This series celebrates 50 years of the “Planet of the Apes” film franchise. Here, we look back at the fourth film in the original series. The “Apes” series simultaneously moves into a more immediate nightmare scenario and a less personal sci-fi commentary with “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” (1972), which is a cinematographically […]

‘Buffy’ flashback: ‘Doomsday Deck’ (2000) (Book review)

Diana G. Gallagher’s third “Buffy” entry – and her first in the young adult line – is a big step down from her first two, “Obsidian Fate” and “Prime Evil.” The 193-page “Doomsday Deck” (December 2000) has its soul cut out to fit the shorter format. While the Scoobies speak correctly and everyone is in […]

‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ and 9 other movies John wouldn’t mind seeing in Summer 2018

The idea of “summer movies” is already past its time, as “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War” prove that “summer” is now year-round in the movie business. Still, old habits die hard – such as my annual Summer Movie Preview post. Here are one blatantly obvious and nine not-so-obvious films on the summer schedule that […]

‘Angel’ flashback: ‘Angel’ Classic Issues 8-17 (2000-01) (Comic book reviews)

Since Tom Sniegoski joined Christopher Golden as a co-writer, and once Wesley joined Angel and Cordelia in the crime-solving trio, the “Angel” comic hit its stride. The back half of the Season 1 comics would turn out to also be the back half of the entire first volume from Dark Horse, as Joss Whedon – […]

Celebrating 50 years of ‘Apes’: ‘Escape from the Planet of the Apes’ (1971) pulls off smart shift in perspective (Movie review)

This series celebrates 50 years of the “Planet of the Apes” film franchise. Here, we look back at the third film in the original series. “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” (1971) is proof that you can’t stop sequels from being made. According to the “Behind the Planet of the Apes” documentary (1998), Charlton […]

Westworld movie

Crichton’s ‘Westworld’ (1973) dated but still smart

Movie review: As “Westworld” nears its return to TV, here’s a look back at the Michael Crichton film that launched the franchise.