Heroes and Villains of the Spectrum - the Rest

There are a lot of characters who choose red, green, or black for their names, but the rest of the colors are a little cheated. Here is our final list of "color name" characters, filling the gaps from the colors I've missed...

Booster Gold

Now called "The Greatest Hero You've Never Heard Of", Booster Gold's image has changed dramatically since he got his latest series.

He was little more than a walking joke--a self-absorbed hero--until the events of the DC maxi-series 52 kicked him square into the spotlight and killed him...before bringing him back again. 

Now Gold goes through time changing what he can and fixing the little anomalies that pop up here and there. I've followed the series since the first issue and I can honestly say it's one of the best I read now. Each storyline seems consistently strong, and the fact that Blue Beetle still pops up from time to time makes it that much better.

Bronze Tiger

Originally a member of the Suicide Squad, Bronze Tiger started out as a villain before becoming the anti-hero he is today.

Recently he battled Catman to the brink of death for both of them, and I have to give him credit on that. DC has upped Catman's cred a lot with recent storylines, and letting Bronze Tiger keep up with him shows the respect they still have for the character.

In one alternate universe, he was a character called "Blackwing", their version of Batman. That would mean he was the only character who made it onto two lists...but I didn't think that would be fair since he was only Blackwing for the one issue.

Silver Sable

She's bad, she's a secret agent, and she has her own minimate! Not bad for a kind of obscure character!

She has tangled with Spider-Man on more than one occasion and sometimes it's hard to see which side she's playing on. For the most part, however, she usually leans toward the good guy angle. She's not above twisting the law where needed though.

Currently, she leads her own group of highly-trained heroes and mercs wherever the money leads

White Tiger

Hector Ayala was the first major Puerto Rican superhero way back in the 70's. Using the magic amulets of the Sons of the Tiger, he became a martial arts madhouse with one of the simplest costumes every created. Since he made his debut in the "Deadly Hands of Kung Fu" magazine and it was black and white, he was a perfect fit.

Eventually he moved into the "Spectacular Spider-Man" title and was a regular for the first 50 issues or so. When his secret identity was revealed on television, his family became a target. Cancer began to kill him as well, so he gave up the amulets to face his sickness on his own.

Hector was killed in Daredevil a few years ago after being framed for murder, and is replaced now by Angela Del Toro.

Purple Man

A more sinister guy you'd be hard to find. Anything he tells you to do, you're going to do it. He's been around for a long time, but it was the 2000's that saw him become the truly twisted person you'd think he would be.

He started and stayed as a Daredevil villain for a long time, able to control anyone and force them to do whatever he wanted. He held Jessica Jones for a long time as a personal servant until she finally escaped during a battle with the Scarlet Witch.

A very short stint with the Thunderbolts saw him returned to the Raft. Once there, Luke Cage got the opportunity to settle the score for what Purple Man had done to the woman who eventually became his wife. It wasn't pretty.

Yellowjacket

Does it really count as a color-named hero when your name is one word? Yeah, it's close enough. Hank Pym has had many different identities, but the most infamous would have to be Yellowjacket.

He started out in this identity claiming to have killed Hank Pym and eventually marrying the Wasp before getting his memory back. Then when he was forced out of the Avengers it was again as this character.

After Janet's tragic death in "Secret Invasion", Hank decided to become his own version of the Wasp as a tribute to her. To most comic book readers, however, he'll pretty much always be remembered as either Yellowjacket or Ant-Man.

Silver Surfer

Herald of Galactus on more than one occasion, the Silver Surfer has been more of a tragic hero than anything else since his introduction. Trapped for years on Earth because of a field Galactus placed on it as punishment for his siding with the humans, the Surfer eventually was able to break through and get back out into space again in his own book. He was one of the original Defenders and has teamed up with just about every major hero in the Marvel universe.

His treatment in the second Fantastic Four movie is a polarizing subject. Some people feel he was treated almost perfect to character, while others think it was a horrible take on the character. Either way you feel about his role in the film, you can't deny they did a great job of bringing him to life. Galactus, on the other hand, got robbed.

Honorable Mentions: Doctor Spectrum and Rainbow Raider

The Squadron Supreme character Doctor Spectrum has to win the "Best of Show" title since he carries all the colors in his name. Of course, I guess Rainbow Raider would get upset if we did that, so we'll just say both should get their names in this list just because.

Rainbow Raider...heh...still gets me every time I hear the name. How on Earth did he ever expect to strike fear into the heart of any hero?

I briefly considered adding Crazy Quilt to the list because he used colors as his weapon, but it has to be the name or they don't make it. 

Guys I Missed That Should Have Been In Previous Lists:

Black Mask

Dr. OTR made mention of this fellow. Thanks again!

I guess he would have to be considered the "Kingpin" character of the DC Universe (though, ironically, you'd think he would be the Red Skull counterpart or something). A crime boss extraordinaire, he was a major force in Batman comics for a while and even played a major part in the death of the fourth Robin (previously the Spoiler).

He was eventually killed off and has since been replaced. He did pretty well for himself for a guy with no super powers to speak of. He definitely wouldn't win any beauty awards or anything, that's for sure.

Black Vulcan

Oh man, how could I have missed this one? During the 70's Super Friends cartoon craze, they needed to add some minority characters. We ended up with greats like Apache Chief, Samurai, El Dorado, and of course, Black Vulcan. Originally, they wanted to use Black Lightning for this spot, but due to a dispute with the creator of the character they ultimately decided it was easier to just make their own and move on. To my knowledge, he's never appeared anywhere but in the Super Friends show and comic book, and one other place I'll mention below.

He was able to turn into a living lightning bolt to fly and could fire lightning from his hands. But perhaps the greatest moment in his career came when he appeared in one of the first episodes of Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law and created the catchphrase "...in my pants."

Black Widow

There may be two of them now, but the original will always stand out for me. Natasha began as a villain and hooked up with Hawkeye early on in her career. Soon she became a hero and spent a large part of the 70's with Daredevil, even becoming his regular sidekick in the series.

She was one of the charter members of The Champions, and has served as an Avenger also. She even spent some time with SHIELD for a while. She's currently the girlfriend and partner of Bucky Barnes and has helped bring this newest Captain America to true hero status. She's one well-traveled lady, that's for sure.

Black Cat

Felicia Hardy was a cat burglar who developed a rather unhealthy fixation on Spider-Man. Her love affair for him faltered when he wanted to remove the mask, however. She wanted the Spider, and he wanted her to love the Man. They worked it all out over time, and he finally chose Mary Jane over her (and then stabbed MJ in the back for Aunt May...but don't get me started).

How popular is this character? Go to any comic book convention and see which cosplay babe has the most fanboys lined up to get their picture taken with her. She has more fans than Lara Croft!

I'd love to see her fight Catwoman, but I'm sure the writers would give the fight to Selina over Felicia. I prefer to think it would be a pretty close match.

Red Raven

This forgotten character was a member of the Liberty Legion in the 70's during the Invaders comic book's first run. He was sort of like the Angel from the X-Men in that he could fly and fight. He actually did make his first appearance in the Silver Age fighting the Angel in X-Men #44.

To find his first appearance, however, you've got to go waaaaaaay back...to August 1940. Red Raven was one of the earlier costumed heroes to appear. It wasn't the same character, but the similarities are too close to ignore.

The Marvel version of this character died in a battle with the Sub-Mariner.

Blue Jay

Another one suggested by Dr. OTR, this relatively unknown character has recently stepped back into the DC Universe in JLA comic books.

Originally created as a Hank Pym-type knockoff (his other hero identity is Massive Man...sound familiar), the pint-sized hero has one of the more unfortunate names out there. I can't think of many bad guys who would tremble at: "Oh no! Here comes Blue Jay!" He sounds more like a sidekick than a main hero.

Hey, if Blue Jay, Red Raven, and Robin formed a team, they could be "The Bird Boys"! Just sayin'...


And that's it! We've looked at colors galore and I hope I managed to introduce you to a few characters you might have missed. Of course, I didn't hit them all, so feel free to comment away on any colorful named heroes or villains you think should have been included!

All The Futures Past: Terminator Salvation Book Reviews

As a devoted fan of the Terminator franchise, it's frustrating to know that its future has not yet been set. While the rumor mill claims that Universal is looking to produce a fifth Terminator film with Justin Lin (Fast and Furious) directing and Chris Morgan (Wanted) writing the script, the rights to the franchise are still in limbo and will probably remain so for some time to come. Thus, as a killer robot aficionado who is still suffering from severe withdrawal due to the cancellation of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, I've been jonesing to get my hands on any Terminator stuff that I can find.

This post is my review of four books that were released under the Terminator Salvation title. This selection consists of three novels--Cold War by Greg Cox, and From the Ashes and Trial By Fire by Timothy Zahn--and the Terminator Salvation prequel graphic novel (its actual title is Sand in the Gears) by Dara Naraghi and Alan Robinson. Each provides an interesting picture of the post-Judgment Day war with the machines from various locations and perspective, and each do a great job of showing what kind of harsh, desolate and desperate place the world has become since the rise of the machines. They also provide insight regarding how survivors initially perceived the threat of Skynet. Since none of these stories feature the most advanced infiltrator Terminator models such as the T-800, T-1000 or T-X, there's a lingering mood of confusion and fear among the characters in these stories as they fight against a faceless, unfathomable enemy.

Overall, I think that each book makes interesting contributions to the Terminator saga, and they are worthy additions to the collection of any Terminator fan. Read on ...

Before getting into an in-depth review, here are some basic details about the books:

• As the overarching series title implies, each of the books take place in the Terminator timeline that branches from the events in Terminator 3.

• None of the books feature any kind of time travel--no time paradoxes, no parallel timelines.

• These books are part of the first series of Terminator stories that I've read since the long-defunct NOW Comics' Terminator series that take place entirely in the future. However, the storytelling style and quality of the Terminator Salvation books are far superior than that of NOW Comics.

• Of the four books, only Trial By Fire takes place after Terminator Salvation.

• While the books have connections to each other, they don't make any references to the events in Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series, which took place in 2016.

• Sand in the Gears and Cold War are about resistance fighters in areas outside of Los Angeles and who only have fleeting contact (if any) with John Connor and the main leaders of the resistance movement. In contrast, From the Ashes and Trial By Fire were written as narrative bookends for the Terminator Salvation movie. This review will be approached along the lines of these differences.

Both Sand in the Gears and Cold War feature narratives that shift between two locations and two casts of characters. Sand in the Gears alternates between a resistance cell in Detroit and a cell in Niger. Both cells are part of a coordinated resistance strategy called "Sand in the Gears", a strategy designed to shock and awe Skynet (so to speak) before launching the signal-jamming plan that's a major part of Terminator Salvation. Cold War's two intertwining subplots not only involve two locations, but two different times. The one subplot takes place in 2003 aboard the Gorshkov, a Russian nuclear submarine commanded by Captain Dmitri Losenko, in the days, weeks and months after Judgment Day, while the other subplot takes place in 2018 Alaska where a small resistance cell led by ex-park ranger Molly Kookesh plans to destroy a uranium mining operation run by Skynet. Both subplots become more intertwined as the novel progresses, until they merge into a single plot in the intense final act.

Since the word “Terminator” is on the title of both books, I don't think that I'm ruining anything by saying that the human casualties are pretty high in both books, including major characters. In a nice touch of continuity between the two books, Cold War makes a brief reference to the Niger story in Sand in the Gears.

While both books are good reads, Cold War is the juicier, more involving story. Not only does Cox go into greater depths regarding his characters, but he also provides plenty of details about the war against Skynet between 2003 and 2018. In particular, Cold War provides additional glimpses into the background of General Hugh Ashdown, the founding leader of the resistance who was played by Michael Ironside in the Salvation movie, including the notion that Ashdown was directly involved in the development of Skynet itself. After reading Cold War, I think that it would be fun to read a novel about key events in the Terminator universe--such as those surrounding Miles Dyson, the aftermath of the police standoff at Cyberdyne in Terminator 2, the Judgment Day events in Terminator 3, and the immediate years afterwards--told exclusively from his point of view.

In contrast, Timothy Zahn's From the Ashes and Trial By Fire focus mostly on the characters in Terminator Salvation--John Connor and his wife Kate, Kyle Reese, Star, Barnes, and Blair Williams--as well as introducing a few new characters into the Terminator saga. From the Ashes explores what life is like for survivors in post-Judgment Day Los Angeles, as well as adding some background to Salvation's plot points such as Kate's pregnancy and why Los Angeles is so deserted by the time Marcus Wright arrives there. Of particular note is the introduction of Sergeant Justo Orozco, an ex-marine and surrogate father figure for Reese and Star who protects a group of survivors in a run-down apartment building.

The only thing that disappointed me about From the Ashes is that even though it is a prequel novel for Terminator Salvation, its plot does not involve the research base seen in the beginning of Salvation or Skynet's command center in San Francisco seen towards the end. However, the plot of Trial By Fire revolves around both of these locations and their larger significance for the resistance.

Trial By Fire picks up almost immediately after Terminator Salvation, and Zahn does a great job at expanding upon the repercussions of the events in Salvation. The novel has two major subplots: Reese's first mission under the command of John Connor, and Barnes and Blair's examination of Skynet's desert lab, which provides more tantalizing clues about Marcus. Their search leads them to a town named Baker’s Hollow, a town with many dark secrets of its own. Dr. Serena Kogan, who was played by Helena Bonham Carter in Salvation, is not mentioned in this book; however, Zahn’s story provides more clues as to how Marcus ties in to the development of the T-800, and how Skynet's usage of humans as guinea pigs leads up to the creation of an effective infiltrator unit.

The Terminator Salvation books prove that there are many more stories just waiting to be told in the Terminator universe, particularly those that don’t involve time travel. Given the franchise's fractured record of who owns the rights to which characters, it’s uncertain as to whether we’ll be seeing the likes of Ashdown, Barnes, Blair, Kookesh and Orozco again. Nevertheless, these books feature some great stories that should keep Terminator fans happy until the next chapter of the Terminator saga appears on the silver screen.

Vote Now for Your Favorite Monsters and Madmen for the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards

If there's anything of which Hollywood has in ample supply, it's award programs. The Oscars, the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the list goes on and on. Fortunately, there's an award program that's exclusively for the horror genre of entertainment AND fans can both propose and vote for their favorites. That award program is the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards (a.k.a. "The Rondos").

Now on its ninth year, the Rondos are completely fan-based and have no connection to any commercial sponsor. The Rondos will be accepting votes until March 27, 2011, and the winners will be announced on the following night, March 28, on both the Rondo Award site and the Classic Horror Film Board. There are 30 categories on the ballot, which includes:

• Best Movie of 2010
• Best Television Presentation
• Best Classic DVD
• Best Classic DVD Collection
• Best Restoration
• Best Commentary
• Best DVD Extra
• Best Independent Film or Documentary
• Best Short Film
• Book of the Year
• Best Magazine of 2010
• Best Web Site
• Best Blog of 2010
• Best Convention of 2010
• Best Fan Event of 2010
• Best Horror Host of 2010
• Best Horror Comic
• Best Toy, Model or Collectible

The Rondo Awards are a real who's who of horror entertainment, both past and present, so be sure to cast your votes before the March deadline. Click the banner ad below for more details and to see the lists of past Rondo winners. Enjoy!

Trailer Thursday: Superman Classic

This isn't really so much a trailer as it is an actual cartoon short (very short). The cool thing about this is the fact that the original Superboy from the 80's TV series does the voice of Superman in it! If it's not already pulled down by WB or DC Comics, here it is:

Vote Now for Your Favorite Video Games for Smithsonian Exhibit

It's about time that the Smithsonian got around to this. From March 16 to September 30 of 2012, the Smithsonian will be hosting an exhibition entitled "The Art of Video Games." According to the Smithsonian Web site:

"The Art of Video Games is one of the first exhibitions to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. The exhibition will feature some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early developers such as David Crane and Warren Robinett to contemporary designers like Kellee Santiago and David Jaffe. It also will explore the many influences on game designers, and the pervasive presence video games have in the broader popular culture, with new relationships to video art, film and television, educational practices, and professional skill training. ... The exhibition will feature eighty games through still images and video footage. Five games will be available for visitors to play for a few minutes, to gain some feel for the interactivity--Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, and World of Warcraft. In addition, the galleries will include video interviews with developers and artists, large prints of in-game screen shots, and historic game consoles."

But that's not all. Not only is the Smithsonian giving video games the recognition they deserve, but they're also letting video game fans contribute to the selection of which games will be included in the exhibition. From February 14 through April 7, 2011, you can vote for 80 games from a pool of 240 proposed choices in various categories, divided by era, game type, and platform. The video games listed on the ballot were selected by exhibition curator Chris Melissinos, founder of Past Pixels and collector of video games and gaming systems, who worked with the Smithsonian and an advisory group consisting of game developers, designers, industry pioneers, and journalists.

Do your part for American culture--click here to vote for your favorite games today so they can become part of a Smithsonian exhibit tomorrow!

Heroes and Villains of the Spectrum - Black

I don't know if it's because black goes with everything, or it looks tough, or what, but black is definitely the color choice for character names. Settle back and enjoy this extra-long list...

Black Bolt

This silent leader of the Inhumans and member of the Illuminati has been around since the 60's. His slightest whisper can obliterate mountains. And yet he doesn't shoot any kind of bolts, nor are any of his powers black. So where'd he get the name?

Relegated pretty much to guest-star status in most comics after a very brief dual-branded comic title in the 60's, Black Bolt led the Inhumans for years as they protected themselves from one attack after another. Even moving to the moon didn't save them.

In the recent "War of Kings" storyline, Black Bolt was killed. His wife, Medusa, now rules in his stead. You and I both know he's coming back at some point in the future though.  

Black Panther

This character made it onto one of my earlier lists as one of those pretty-much useless guys who can't carry a title for squat. Still, he deserves a place on the list. He was an Avenger, after all.

Formerly the ruling king of Wakanda, he now patrols Hell's Kitchen for Daredevil while Matt's off getting his mind straight. After that, he'll disappear again for a while until some other writer thinks, "Hey, who could we bring into this title so we can sell two or three extra copies?" 

Black Canary

The eternal girlfriend of Green Arrow, this lady is one tough woman. She's an expert hand-to-hand fighter, and even though she's no Black Bolt, when she screams at you, you know you've been screamed at!

Dinah took over the role of Black Canary from her mother. Her past is pretty much crazy to try and follow, and her relationship with Green Arrow is equally frustrating (she even made out with Batman in the "All Star Batman and Robin" series). For now though, she's been an active member of the Birds of Prey since their inception and even pops up on "Smallville" every once in a while.

Black Goliath

Seen here fighting the most fearsome of all Marvel villains, Stilt Man, Black Goliath was a character who never really took off in the 70's. 

He got his ability to grow from Hank Pym, and made a lot of guest appearances in the 70's in comics like The Champions and others. It wouldn't be until the 80's that he would get a necessary reboot and a new name (as Giant Man).

His death during the Civil War storyline was the catalyst for the support momentum turning to Captain America's team over Iron Man's. Now he's on his way back thanks to Hank Pym and Ant Man.

Black Lightning

Another 70's hero who never took off no matter how hard they tried, Jefferson Pierce finally found footing as a member of the Batman and the Outsiders. He stuck around for the whole run of the original title.

Much later, Pierce would become a member of President Luthor's cabinet and a trusted adviser. He considered himself undercover trying to help the heroes, but the position did lead him to a showdown with Batman and Superman in the "Public Enemies" storyline (and cartoon!). He lost.

Black Manta

Aquaman's arch-enemy and constant foil, this villain has resurfaced (ha! Get it?) recently thanks to his son becoming the new Aqualad.

Initially, he started out as the standard bad guy that Aquaman would have to face. When the 70's brought us the cartoon "The Challenge of the Superfriends", Manta managed to beat out Ocean Master to be the resident "water guy" for Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom.

As they do with all characters today, DC brought him back as a darker version of himself now, killing without remorse and out to destroy Aquaman (again) in Brightest Day.

Black Beetle 

This mysterious villain has been in and out of the Booster Gold comics for a long time. His identity and true motivations remain an enigma for now.

Initially, he presented himself as a hero from the future out to save Ted Kord by reuniting all the Blue Beetles, but that was just a lie. He fought the newest Blue Beetle and attempted to convince him that he was a future version of himself, but I highly doubt that. More likely he will probably be revealed as either some multiple universe version of Ted Kord or Dan Garrett (the first Blue Beetle).

Black Knight

Dane Whitman is the latest man to hold the title (after his uncle was a villain named "Black Knight"). He's had a pretty eventful life for a guy with no superpowers other than his ebony blade.

He was a member of the Avengers for years, holding many roles. Throughout their many cosmic adventures he was able to hold his own. Not as smart as Hank Pym (who is?), he is still a brilliant tactician and scientist. Just recently he joined MI-13 with Captain Britain.

Black Adam

This "black sheep" (ha! Get it!) of the Shazam family has a twisted history. He was a hero in ancient Egypt who became a villain...who became a member of the JSA before becoming a tyrannical ruler of his own nation again...then a bad guy...then a anti-hero...now, who knows?

He's been able to hold his own against Superman thanks to his magic-based abilities, but he has a mean streak that you wouldn't like to be around. This is the guy who started off the "52" maxi-series by ripping a guy in half (long before Sentry thought of doing that to Ares).

Black Hand

A pretty much obscure Green Lantern villain, Black Hand somehow became the key player in the "Blackest Night" miniseries. Geoff Johns was able to take a character who never really got much respect and turned him into a major hitter for a little while. The most interesting turn is where he is now in the stories (a Purple Lantern controlled by love...at least he is at the time I'm writing this).

He definitely wins as the most painful moment in the "Green Lantern:Rebirth" miniseries. While trying to steal a GL ring and being stopped by Green Arrow, Hal Jordan shows up as the Spectre to punish him for his sins. The punishment: his right hand is turned to coal and crumbles off so he becomes his name sake...a black hand. Ouch!

Honorable Mention: Obsidian

Another tragic hero-turned-villain, Obsidian is Jade's brother and the son of Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern. He found his way to Infinity Inc with Jade, but eventually the dark side of his powers became too much for him to deal with.

After a brief stint as a villain, he's now pretty much an ambiguous figure in the DC world. He does have an awesome action figure out now though!


Next week, we look at the leftovers. We'll take a look at all the colors who just had a couple of guys in there and didn't warrant an entire list of their own. White, yellow, orange, purple, and the rest are waiting for their turn!

Batman:Odyssey R.I.P.?

Just got word yesterday from my comic book pre-order that "Batman:Odyssey" issue #7 is not coming out and has been canceled by the supplier. Not "delayed"..."canceled".

Does this mean the end of the Caped Crusader???

To be honest, I've been confused and underwhelmed by the series. I was so excited to see Neal Adams back drawing Batman again (and writing it this time), but the first six issues were a complete letdown. I don't know if his plans were to wrap things up neatly and nicely in the final six-issue story arc, and it appears we'll never know now. I hope he gets the chance to do it again, perhaps this time with another writer.

It's All About Family: A Spoiler-Free Review of Paranormal Activity 2

One of the things that I really enjoy about "found footage" movies such as The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield and Quarantine is that unlike other horror films, what you see and hear are strictly limited by the non-cinematic audio and video equipment used to make the film. If the characters are walking blind in the dark, you are too; if the characters hear something unusual but can't hear it clearly enough to understand what it is, you're just as clueless as they are. This is also why I think that the first person perspective is usually the best format for horror video games. (Given the high number of security cameras it has in its streets, I'm still surprised that a blockbuster found footage film hasn't arrived from the UK yet.)

Yet to have an effective found footage movie, you have to provide a convincing reason within the movie to explain why a camera or cameras are capturing enough footage to tell a complete story. The found footage films that have disappointed me the most are the ones that unexpectedly break character, so to speak, to include footage that would not qualify as found footage. This is usually done to include some kind of twist ending; The Last Broadcast and The Last Exorcism are noteworthy examples of this jarring, mood-breaking practice.

With these thoughts in mind, I finally got a chance to see Paranormal Activity 2, the sequel to the low-budget found footage fright flick from 2007. Read on for my review of the movie, which was better than I anticipated.

For as much as I liked this movie, Paranormal Activity 2 does have its share of shortcomings, some of which feel like the sequel's crew painted themselves into a figurative corner by making the creative choices that they did. For the most part, Paranormal Activity 2 lacks the narrative tension that was present in the first film. For example:

• In Paranormal Activity, latent insecurities within the relationship between Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) bubble to the surface as they continue to be haunted with increasing intensity, thus providing an effective dramatic counterweight to the haunting. In the sequel, even though Daniel Rey (Brian Boland) is in his second marriage with Katie's sister Kristi (Sprague Grayden) and they have a newborn son Hunter (alternately played by William Juan Prieto and Jackson Xenia Prieto), Daniel's teenage daughter from his first marriage Ali (Molly Ephraim) has no lingering ill will toward her stepmom or muted jealously over her new half-brother. With little emotional tension between the sequel's characters, the scares have less of an impact on them and by extension the audience.

• Likewise, Katie and Micah take the concept of haunting seriously very early in first film, which further adds to the tension. In contrast, the Rey family in the sequel doesn't take the idea of haunting seriously until the second half of the film, which leaves the audience waiting for the Reys to come to the inevitable conclusion that a haunting is taking place. In fact, it appeared to me that the sequel's crew chose to do supernatural scares on a lesser scale than the first film (no self-propelled, spontaneously combusting Ouija boards in this sequel) so that the family's acceptance of the supernatural could be plausibly delayed until later in the film.

I can see why the makers of Paranormal Activity 2 made the choices they did to avoid copying the first film too closely, since the sequel already has to follow a pre-set narrative trajectory similar to Paranormal Activity--a series of increasingly ominous events that lead up to a shocking conclusion. In doing so, Paranormal Activity 2 resorts to other plot threads and shortcuts that are clichés within the horror subgenre of haunted houses: For example, the Reys’ Latina nanny Martine (Vivis Cortez) and their family dog both notice the menacing supernatural presence before the Reys do. Such clichés emphasize the limitations that filmmakers have to accept when they are limited to stationary cameras and home video cameras when telling their story.

That said, while Paranormal Activity 2 may not be as effective a shocker as the first movie, it is nevertheless a worthwhile sequel--especially if you are interested in having a greater understanding of what happened to Katie in the first movie and why. Probably the best idea that this sequel has going for it is that it is mostly a prequel to Paranormal Activity, and it stays within the conventions of the found footage genre to effectively lay out the relationships between the haunting of the Reys and the haunting of Katie and Micah. While the familial relationship between Katie and Kristi is the obvious connection between the two films, there's a second connection revealed towards the end of the sequel. I won't spoil it for you, but it made my jaw drop when I saw it and it added a dimension of tragedy to both movies. For that reason, I would strongly recommend that you watch the Paranormal Activity movies in sequence to get the maximum effect. Also, when the scares kick into high gear towards the end of the sequel, they don't disappoint and are well worth the wait.

If you could care less about the true story behind Katie and her family's past (you know, if you're like this guy), then you probably won't like Paranormal Activity 2. However, if you're still interested in watching found footage of unseen, demonic menaces who stalk mere mortals for generations at a time, then Paranormal Activity 2 is your kind of movie. I don't know where Paranormal Activity 3 could go from this point but if they keep up this level of quality, it should be interesting to see what they do next.