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[TV Review] “Agent Carter”: Episode 1.04, ‘The Blitzkrieg Button’

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Reviewed By Katy Rex. ‘Blitzkrieg Button’ has Peggy navigating moral ambiguity and who to trust, it´s almost the overarching theme of the episode, but it seems like the show runners are really trying to hammer home concepts of privilege in society. And Agent Carter is the perfect vehicle to discuss who is included and excluded — not only is it set in an era pre-Civil Rights, notorious for a strict social class system, but the post-WWII government angle gives them ample opportunity to bring up Nazis as often as possible.

Tonight is perhaps the most disheartening hour for Agent Carter’s character, as with every turn her position as a woman in a male-dominated social structure is reinforced. She still does her signature Peggy move, allowing herself to be underestimated and using it to her advantage. But where there had previously been a tone of hope for the future, this week Agent Chad Michael Murray literally says to her that the Natural Order of the Universe is that no man will ever consider her equal.

Agent Susan also has his chance to confront privileged experiences this episode, as he doggedly pursues the leads he believes in regardless of the agency’s lack of faith. He’s such a likable, relatable guy, it’s really hard not to cheer for him, even though we know he’s (unknowingly) trying to foil Agent Carter. He’s the least villainous antagonist we’ve encountered in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His lead starts to pan out, he finds a bum who may have witnessed the anonymous tip that Jarvis called in last week, and then we get an amazingly touching character development scene in which Susan tries to relate to the bum, one broken veteran to another.

Even effing Howard Stark, at one point in the episode, goes off about the ways the world is weighed against certain people based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status, and that growing up poor left him with a complex. That’s a bit far, don’t you think? Come on.

The thing is, the trust/morality/loyalty theme is maybe less obvious, but it’s way heavier this episode. Stark’s face is charmingly covered in lipstick marks from a different woman every time we turn around, which he clearly thinks is roguish and cute, but you can see Peggy’s patience wearing thin. This is where she has placed her loyalty– but was it the right thing to do? The way she’s questioning authority in this episode actually is very similar in tone to the way Steve Rogers himself questioned the moral right of authority in Winter Soldier.

Not everything about this episode was strong; there was absolutely not enough Angie in this episode, for one, but you can’t have it all. But, Peggy’s weird apartment situation gets more and more interesting each episode, as evidenced by a truly bizarre conversation the girls have about stealing food from the main room and having a special pocket built into a sweater to smuggle chicken. And the new girl, Dotty, we were wondering about last episode? Hold on to your butt, Peggy, because maybe you’re not the only pretty girl who’s being underestimated around here.

Also, I won’t spoil why specifically, but I might have squealed a little when Stark and Jarvis got their shoes shined. You’ll get it when you see it.

What did you think of ‘The Blitzkrieg Button?’

yoyos2Katy Rex writes comics analysis at endoftheuniversecomics.comcomicsbulletin.com, and bloody-disgusting.com. She also writes scholarly articles for various academic journals. She really likes butt jokes, dinosaurs, and killing psychos and midgets in Borderlands 2. She has a great sense of humor if you’re not an asshole.
Twitter: @eotucomics
Instagram: @katy_rex

 

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‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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