Between my full time day job, my children (aka the best kids in America), and the lack of extra spending money, I don’t get to go to conventions that often. I go to NYCC, but end up planting myself in a hall that doesn’t clear out after each panel (damn you main stage), furiously writing and posting everything I can for Geeks of Doom. My husband got us VIP tickets for Heroes and Villains Fan Fest in Secaucus, NJ this weekend, and I didn’t know what to expect. I knew the event was more focused, targeting a specific fan – lovers of comic books and comic-based shows. Even more specific – fans of The CW’s hit show Arrow, with Gotham, Heroes, The Flash, Comic Book Men, Agent Carter, Legends of Tomorrow, and wrestling mixed in.

More below.

Arriving at the Heroes & Villains Fan Fest in Secaucus, NJ early this morning, my wife and I settled in for a long day meeting some of the biggest stars in entertainment, primarily in the DC TV Universe. Stars of the CW’s Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow as well Fox’s Gotham were there, including headliner Stephen Amell, fresh off the conclusion of Arrow season 4 and his role as Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Also at the convention was Amell’s arch nemesis from the world of pro-wrestling, Cody Rhodes; formerly Stardust in WWE. The two had engaged in a public twitter war for over a year, culminating in Amell participating in a tag team match against Rhodes and fellow wrestler Wade Barrett at WWE’s Summerslam last August at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center. During a joint panel between the two former foes, it didn’t take long for Amell to drop the big news; Cody Rhodes will appear in Arrow next season.

More below.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Director: Dave Green
Screenwriter: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec
Cast: Megan Fox, Stephen Amell, Will Arnett, Pete Ploszek, Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Gary Anthony Williams, Stephen Farrelly, Brian Tee, Tyler Perry, Laura Linney
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Rated PG-13 | 112 Minutes
Release Date: June 3, 2016

I gave Jonathan Liebesman’s 2014 film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a pretty definitive thumbs-down:

“I wish someone had regarded this movie as something more than an opportunity to sell action figures and create product placement opportunities for Pizza Hut and Orange Crush. I wish someone involved would’ve given at least one shit – but of course we’re talking about the same people who churn out brain-dead Transformers movies filled with racist stereotypes and giant robots with wrecking balls for testicles.”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows does something its predecessor didn’t. It tries. Is it successful? Not entirely, but at least Paramount Pictures and Platinum Dunes are making an effort to deliver an experience fans of Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman‘s beloved characters can appreciate.

Arrow
Season 4 Episode 23: “Schism”
Directed by John Behring
Written by Wendy Mericle and Marc Guggenheim
Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Starring Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, John Barrowman, Paul Blackthorne
The CW
Air Date: Wednesday, May 25th, 2016, 8:00pm

Last week on Arrow, Felicity and her long lost dad (Emily Bett Rickards and guest Tom Amandes) fought to keep Rubicon offline, and got some help from Curtis (Echo Kellum), while upset Donna (Charlotte Ross) stood by. Merlyn (John Barrowman) drugged Thea (Willa Holland) into fighting Oliver (Stephen Amell), as he and Diggle (David Ramsey) tried to rescue her. She shook it off pretty quickly though. Anarky was running around the H.I.V.E. ark ready to get revenge on Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough), and started by killing Ruvé Darhk (Janet Kidder). The heroes saved the little girl, and the geeks saved the world by shutting Darhk down.

Spoilers below.

Arrow
Season 4 Episode 22: “Lost In The Flood”
Directed by Glen Winter
Written by Oscar Balderrama & Brian Ford Sullivan
Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Starring Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, John Barrowman, Paul Blackthorne
The CW
Air Date: Wednesday, May 18th, 2016, 8:00pm

Last week on Arrow, nuclear weapons started readying for a strike, seemingly on their own. Rubicon had started “Genesis.” Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) realized she needed her father Noah (Tom Amandes), the Calculator, to hack into the unhackable system. Darhk (Neal McDonough) realized that too, and it was a race for him. Oliver, Diggle, and Felicity (Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, and Rickards) won, and the computer geniuses were able to stop all but one missile for a 24-hour period (after Felicity got fired and they stole stuff – in that order). Lance (Paul Blackthorne) will also probably get fired for being honest about the Black Canary. Lonnie Machim (Alexander Calvert) showed up at the ark for revenge against Darhk. He tried to get Thea (Willa Holland) to stop being a follower. She kicked his ass (to Alex’s detriment).

Spoilers below.