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Review/Recap : Umbrella Academy S3E1: “Meet the Family”

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Umbrella Academy S3E1: “Meet the Family”

Where We Left Off: When we last saw the wayward Hargreeve siblings they had just averted another apocalypse and used a Time Commission briefcase to return to the day after the first apocalypse they averted in season one. They arrive back at the mansion where their “father” is waiting and meet their replacements, the Sparrow Academy. 

What’s Happening: Everything. Like for real. This episode gave us an epic fight scene, showed off some cool new powers, there was drama, comedy, action and suspense packed into 52 minutes of non stop awesomeness. This episode gave us everything we have grown to love from the Umbrella Academy and then some, even the mellow moments set us up for something bigger and exciting.

The episode starts on a subway in Seoul Korea October 1,1989 where get to watch a cute couple flirting before we witness the birth of Ben. The narrator, the voice of Pogo (who is nowhere to be found in this timeline) , tells us a story about 16 women giving birth on the same day who weren’t pregnant when the day began. 16 is the part that catches your ear because that’s a number that’s a whole lot less than previously mentioned in the intro of season one. We are reminded that Sir Reginald adopted seven of them but this time around besides Ben there are six new team members and they call themselves the Soarrow academy.

Umbrella Academy S3E1: “Meet the Family”

The New Guys: Meet the Sparrow Academy, this time lines more put together version of the Umbrella Academy. Ben is back in the corporeal flesh and kind of a jerk as #2 making it hella hard for the Umbrella kids to fight him because, it’s Ben and they’re still reeling from his second death when he saved Vanya in season 2. Marcus aka #1 is strong and a skilled fighter who is all about his reputation. Fei aka #3 can summon birds, Christopher aka #7 is a floaty orb who resembles a large Hellraiser cube, Alphonso aka #4 is for lack of a better phrase a rubber man, Sloan aka #5 has telekinetic powers and maybe a hold on Luther’s heart and Jayme aka #6 can spit on people and induce hallucinations which is both gross and kind of cool if you’re into happy and fun acid trips.

Umbrella Academy S3E1: “Meet the Family”

The Bad Guys: Every season so far as introduced a clear villain or at least one of them by the time the end credits roll on the season premiere. This time around, there doesn’t seem to be a clear villain, except the glowing fire ball in the basement that so far seems kind of benign but, off-putting. So, it’s a bit early to call on who the big bad is this time around but, we know that there’s one in there somewhere because Marcus and a dog at the Hotel Oblivion have already disappeared into parts unknown. There’s also a guy on a bus with a bunch of audio tapes headed somewhere and based on his behavior , I think it’s an all grown up Harlan but, he couldn’t hurt a fly… or could he? There’s a red herring of a bad guy in here somewhere and I can’t wait to figure out who it is.

Best Lines: Too many to count. Sir Reginald is a one way zinger machine and Klaus is still the crowned prince of sass so, this episode was full of witty reads and fun asides so, the only way to pick a best line would be to have a multiple way tie and give you the whole script.

Umbrella Academy S3E1: “Meet the Family”

Episode MVP: Lila. In her brief and surprising cameo she managed to steal the show in her usual off kilter way. She pops up with a present of sorts for Diego and it isn’t the briefcase she stole. She manages to inject some levity and weight to the episode in a way that only her character could and now that she’s dropped the bomb that she has , I can’t wait to see how it all turns out and fits into this seasons story. She stole the show in that short but sweet drop in just like she stole the briefcase and Diego’s heart.

Best Scene: A tie between Vanya meeting in secret with Marcus to discuss a truce and basically telling him to leave her and her family alone in an ultimatum that was basically the classiest way I’ve ever seen someone simultaneously say “F*** around and find out” AND “You don’t want this smoke” leaving Marcus who is clearly aware of what Vanya can do shook and ready to make a deal and, the epic drug induced dance off to Footloose between the two academies because honestly, we all live for the dancing scenes in this show and it wouldn’t be a proper Umbrella Academy season without one.

Umbrella Academy S3E1: “Meet the Family”

Overall: Without giving too much away because seriously, you should watch it , this episode was for me the strongest series premiere of The Umbrella Academy. They introduced a lot of new characters , gave vibe checks for our returning faves (and not so faves) , gave us possible ways of how they’re going to have to save the world this time around and hinted at multiple possible story lines, side quests and new adventures for our favorite academy. The actress who plays Robot Mom deserves some kind of award for her micro facial expressions, demeanor and speech patterns because she is selling TF out of being a robot and it’s a complete 180 from her portrayal in the first season where we were shocked when we realized she was a robot. She is a perfect blend of the real life prototype person we met in season two and the Mom we saw in season one and I’m here for it , even if she’s worshipping an ominous glowing orb in the mansions basement. The new academy on the block have this kind of arrogance and suaveness that makes them seem cool AF , in a d***head kind of way where you can acknowledge that they’re way to cocky but, also you find yourself respecting their swagger. Overall , I thought this was the warm and chaotic welcome back that we have come to love, respect, admire and expect from the Umbrella Academy and I cant wait to see how it all unravels in the next nine episodes.

Rating: 9.5

Take the Umbrella Academy on the Go with Pop! Television: Umbrella Academy Keychains!

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It’s the Umbrella Academy in miniature form with Pop! Keychain: Umbrella Academy from Funko. You can choose from Klaus, Number 5, Pogo, and Vanya (with a chase version).

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Umbrella Academy Goes from Comics to Television to Funko Pop!s

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The world of Umbrella Academy has been captured in the form of Funko Pop!s with Pop! Television: Umbrella Academy.

Choose from Allison, Ben, Diego, Klaus, Luther, Number 5, Vanya, and Baby Pogo.

This site contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from these sites. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Comics Deserve Better Episode 18: Breaks Volume 1 by Malin Ryden and Emma Vieceli (ft. Rebecca Hart)

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The amazing Rebecca Hart joins Logan, Brian, and Darci to chat about the first volume of the queer, British YA comic Breaks by Malin Ryden and Emma Vieceli. They also break down the latest indie comics (or comics adjacent) news like Umbrella Academy‘s Elliot Page coming out, a new Witchblade creative team, and David Lee Roth‘s foray into the world of graphic novels (And VR?) Other comics mentioned on the show, include Porcelain, Legend of Zelda by Hand Drawn Games, Gunnerkrigg Court, Grind Like A Girl, Ind-Xed, Home Sick Pilots, Stillwater, and Gorillaz Almanac. (Episode art by Emma Vieceli)

Dark Horse to Produce a New Water Bottle Line with a Portion of the Proceeds Donated to the Environmental Defense Fund

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Dark Horse has announced a brand-new line of environmentally friendly products for a new age, collectible water bottles. With designs from some of the comics Dark Horse has to offer, including Umbrella Academy, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher, with more to follow! The first line-up will arrive February 2021. 

Each 17-ounce stainless-steel water bottle is double-wall insulated, so whether you’re time traveling or fighting monsters, your water bottle will keep your beverage the perfect temperature, either hot or cold.

A portion of each bottle Dark Horse sells will be donated to the Environmental Defense Fund, an organization dedicated to preserving the world’s natural resources.

Review: You Look Like Death: Tales from the Umbrella Academy #1

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YOU LOOK LIKE DEATH TALES UMBRELLA ACADEMY #1

Everyone’s favorite member of the Umbrella Academy, Klaus Hargreeves aka Seance, finally gets his own solo series in You Look Like Death: Tales from the Umbrella Academy #1 from writers Gerard Way and Shaun Simon and the (sadly underrated in the United States) artist I.N.J. Culbard. The book also acts as a bit of a prequel to the main Umbrella Academy series and is set after Klaus is expelled from the Academy for drug use and other shenanigans by his exacting adoptive father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves. But it’s an entertaining story in its own right full of, well, drug use, vampire chimpanzee crime lords, a dash of humor, and clean, evocative art and colors from Culbard.

With a varied power set and a charismatic personality in both the Umbrella Academy show and comics, Klaus’ escapades are ripe fodder for a solo spinoff. Way, Simon, and Culbard spend the first small bit of the book establishing why Klaus is so out of place at the Umbrella Academy and establishing his frenemy-ish relationship with his siblings Luther, Allison, and Diego as well as his enmity-filled relationship with Sir Reginald through zippy, humorous vignettes. Culbard uses grid-like layouts to show how Klaus is trapped in the orderly world of the Academy before opening up the page when he hits the road to The City and beyond with a dream and a cardigan. (And a suitcase for accuracy purposes.) His color choices also match this mood going from neutral tones to basically candy with the ever-present green whenever Klaus uses his abilities, such as possessing people or communicating with the dead.

Something I love about Umbrella Academy is how much it embraces the strangeness of superpowers and the folks that wield them starting in the first issue of the series when the young Umbrella Academy fights Zombie-Robot Gustave Eiffel in Paris. Gerard Way, Shaun Simon, and I.N.J. Culbard continue that tradition in You Look Like Death #1 while maintaining laser focus on the character of Klaus and what he does to keep busy/have fun/keep the talking to dead people pain away while being away from his siblings. The miniseries has been advertised to take place in Hollywood, but the lion’s share of You Look Like Death #1 takes place in The City.

Way, Simon, and Culbard dig into the generic superhero city, NPCs, and all aspect of the setting as soon as Klaus packs his bags. I will probably never stop laughing at a place where you can obtain drugs at a shop with a neon sign that says “Drugs” and is probably part of larger 7/11-esque franchise owned by the aforementioned chimpanzee vampire drug lord. This playful approach to setting persists even when Klaus hits the West Coast, and he goes from standing out to being just part of the scenery. And speaking of the scenery, I.N.J. Culbard adds all kind of wonderful background dressing when Klaus goes out and about, like interesting back tattoos or darkly humorous posters in adoption centers, that add to the liveliness of the world that he, Gerard Way, and Shaun Simon have crafted. I am definitely down to follow Klaus down some dark alleys and into buildings with fun graffiti patterns and even more fun denizens inside.

You Look Like Death #1 is a direct hit to the pleasure-feeling parts of your brain. I got the same feeling from reading this comic as I did driving into cop cars and hapless civilians in the Grand Theft Auto games sans all the unnecessary carnage. Klaus uses his powers for pure hedonism, angers authority figures, and has a good time, rinse and repeat. There’s also a bit of void-filled darkness because what else would you expect from a co-writer, who sang lead vocals on “Helena”. However, that’s background radiation. For now, You Look Like Death is the feel-good party comic with queer lead of 2020, but drink plenty of water and get ready for that hangover in subsequent issues…

Story: Gerard Way and Shaun Simon
 Art: I.N.J. Culbard Letters: Nate Piekos
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Pre-Order: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Early Review: You Look Like Death: Tales from the Umbrella Academy #1

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YOU LOOK LIKE DEATH TALES UMBRELLA ACADEMY #1

Everyone’s favorite member of the Umbrella Academy, Klaus Hargreeves aka Seance, finally gets his own solo series in You Look Like Death: Tales from the Umbrella Academy #1 from writers Gerard Way and Shaun Simon and the (sadly underrated in the United States) artist I.N.J. Culbard. The book also acts as a bit of a prequel to the main Umbrella Academy series and is set after Klaus is expelled from the Academy for drug use and other shenanigans by his exacting adoptive father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves. But it’s an entertaining story in its own right full of, well, drug use, vampire chimpanzee crime lords, a dash of humor, and clean, evocative art and colors from Culbard.

With a varied power set and a charismatic personality in both the Umbrella Academy show and comics, Klaus’ escapades are ripe fodder for a solo spinoff. Way, Simon, and Culbard spend the first small bit of the book establishing why Klaus is so out of place at the Umbrella Academy and establishing his frenemy-ish relationship with his siblings Luther, Allison, and Diego as well as his enmity-filled relationship with Sir Reginald through zippy, humorous vignettes. Culbard uses grid-like layouts to show how Klaus is trapped in the orderly world of the Academy before opening up the page when he hits the road to The City and beyond with a dream and a cardigan. (And a suitcase for accuracy purposes.) His color choices also match this mood going from neutral tones to basically candy with the ever-present green whenever Klaus uses his abilities, such as possessing people or communicating with the dead.

Something I love about Umbrella Academy is how much it embraces the strangeness of superpowers and the folks that wield them starting in the first issue of the series when the young Umbrella Academy fights Zombie-Robot Gustave Eiffel in Paris. Gerard Way, Shaun Simon, and I.N.J. Culbard continue that tradition in You Look Like Death #1 while maintaining laser focus on the character of Klaus and what he does to keep busy/have fun/keep the talking to dead people pain away while being away from his siblings. The miniseries has been advertised to take place in Hollywood, but the lion’s share of You Look Like Death #1 takes place in The City.

Way, Simon, and Culbard dig into the generic superhero city, NPCs, and all aspect of the setting as soon as Klaus packs his bags. I will probably never stop laughing at a place where you can obtain drugs at a shop with a neon sign that says “Drugs” and is probably part of larger 7/11-esque franchise owned by the aforementioned chimpanzee vampire drug lord. This playful approach to setting persists even when Klaus hits the West Coast, and he goes from standing out to being just part of the scenery. And speaking of the scenery, I.N.J. Culbard adds all kind of wonderful background dressing when Klaus goes out and about, like interesting back tattoos or darkly humorous posters in adoption centers, that add to the liveliness of the world that he, Gerard Way, and Shaun Simon have crafted. I am definitely down to follow Klaus down some dark alleys and into buildings with fun graffiti patterns and even more fun denizens inside.

You Look Like Death #1 is a direct hit to the pleasure-feeling parts of your brain. I got the same feeling from reading this comic as I did driving into cop cars and hapless civilians in the Grand Theft Auto games sans all the unnecessary carnage. Klaus uses his powers for pure hedonism, angers authority figures, and has a good time, rinse and repeat. There’s also a bit of void-filled darkness because what else would you expect from a co-writer, who sang lead vocals on “Helena”. However, that’s background radiation. For now, You Look Like Death is the feel-good party comic with queer lead of 2020, but drink plenty of water and get ready for that hangover in subsequent issues…

Story: Gerard Way and Shaun Simon
 Art: I.N.J. Culbard Letters: Nate Piekos
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Pre-Order: comiXology

Recap/Review: Umbrella Academy S2E10 “The End of Something”

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Umbrella Academy Season 2

The good news is the Academy averted the apocalypse, the bad news is they’re now tagged as terrorists (except for Five who the government thinks is being held as a hostage). Elliot’s loft is no longer a safe place since the Commission is clearly on the hunt for them and can find them anywhere and at any time. And, they still can’t stop arguing with each other from their individual insecurities long enough to figure something out we’re in for another bumpy ride with our favorite ragtag group of supernatural siblings.

The Vanya Connection: When calling to check in on Sissy, Vanya realizes her connection to Harlan and heads back to the farm to help her. After finally accepting her place in the family she asks her siblings for help and after some initial resistance, they all come along to help her save the kid.

Time Isn’t on Their Side: While Vanya is trying to save Harlan, the Handler and Lila show up to bring Five in for killing the board and she came with all of the available agents the Commission had on hand, so basically an army.

Say What? Remember last season when we were trying to find out what happened to the other kids? Well, it looks like the Handler found one and she’s basically Rogue. Also, Diego can control metal? That’s infinitely cooler than being able to hold his breath underwater for a long time. Vanya finally has control of her powers and Klaus can raise an army of the dead.  And, let’s not even talk about the WTF ending!

Side Note: Is it just me or does anyone else wonder why the Commission keeps coming for Five? He’s like a walking, talking, ass-kicking DMX lyric. Why do they keep coming for his level of smoke?

Final Thoughts: Because of the time period this season dealt with some pretty serious things and they did it in a brilliant and beautiful way. They had a realistic 1960s lesbian love story, tackled segregation, AND managed to have an ASD kid who didn’t get “cured” and have that be the ideal end result. All of these different types of people and different issues and they dealt with them respectfully and with integrity. Season One was amazing but, Season Two showed us something even better. The creative time kicked some serious ass, between the color palates and the beautiful shots,  the amazing acting and killer scripts, Season Two was an off the chain ride that is binge-worthy AF. This season dives deeper into the Academy member’s lives and origins leaving us to want to keep following their stories and lives.  Season Three has got some pretty big shoes to fill and some pretty big questions like do Vanya and Sissy ever meet up again? Does Dave go off to war and if he does, does he remember what Klaus told him and make it back alive? Does Ray become a civil rights icon? What’s up with Herb? Where in the (timeline) world is Lila Super Powered?  What’s the deal with the Sparrows? Is Five ever going to grow up?

Recap/Review: Umbrella Academy S2E9 “743″

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Diego, Klaus, and Allison walk into the FBI. There isn’t a joke in there it’s how this episode of Umbrella Academy starts, right where we left off, trying to save Vanya from the FBI because their torture has caused her to go full White Violin. Diego and Allison can’t get through so it’s up to Klaus, we’ll actually it’s up to Ben because he’s the only one who can get close enough to turn off the rage in Vanya’s head.

On the Fives: Old Man Five doesn’t trust Teenage Five and they both seem to have a case of Paradox Psychosis so, neither one trusts the other one and they both want to kill each other. Poor Luther is stuck playing babysitter because he thinks that Old Man Five has a better plan.

UMBRELLA ACADEMY S2E9 “743"

Best Line(s) : “I will beat you…and NOT the way you like it.” – Diego to Klaus on the Vanya rescue mission

“You fought in Vietnam.  You survived a family of seven. You went to a fraternity party in a sarong and came home with a bunch of numbers. You can do this!” – Klaus to himself in the world’s greatest pep talk.

Episode MVP: Ben. Save the Vanya and save the world. Ben has spent most of the season being the voice of reason to Klaus and whether or not they know it, he has solid advice for his other siblings as well. His longing to reconnect with them and with life itself is emotional to watch on its own but, the lengths that he goes to in order to save his siblings with no regard for his existence in one of the more emotional scenes this season is beautiful AF and, earns him this episodes MVP status.

Double Trouble: I’ve been feeling all kinds of sorry for Luther this season but, it’s actually kind of fun to watch him have to ping pong between being the caretaker of the older version and the younger version of Number Five. The two of them trade barbs with each other and make all kinds of digs at Luther for his appearance and his intellect but, with the Paradox Paranoia setting in on both of them it’s kind of funny to watch it all play out. Watching the two Fives try and off each other adds a  whole three stooges level hilarity to the situation giving much-needed levity to an otherwise heavy episode.

Side Stories: Carl is mediocre cis toxic white male little d*** masculinity at its finest so, watching Sissy stand up to him,  take her son back and go off to live her best life was nice to see. The fact that he didn’t care that she wasn’t happy because since he did the bare minimum and felt that she should be happy with that. It was a real-life glimpse into how lesbians and women were treated in the time and it was well done and clever AF.

There’s also the matter of Lila finding out that Five was the trigger man on her parent’s murder and why she was an orphan and there may be more to her story than we know. But, now we’ve got to worry about Five because he doesn’t know she’s coming.

But, Why Tho: Watching the Handler snatch AJ out of his fishbowl and swallow (yeah, I said SWALLOW) the fishy chairman of the Commission’s board in one gulp, with a painful swallow after her meeting with Lila was gross AF but, on-brand for her character and the show.

The Final Countdown: Diego still wants to save Kennedy now that Vanya is no longer a bomb that starts the apocalypse. The season could have ended right here but, adding one more episode after Daddy Hargreeves “Told you so…” note to Diego as he tackled a decoy version of him on the grassy knoll, that whole secret Cabal murder meet cute and reveal and, the Handler’s call to war at the commission, I’ve got questions!

Recap/Review: Umbrella Academy S2E8 “The Seven Stages”

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Diego gets kidnapped by Lila and misses the jump, she also makes him an offer to join the commission. Klaus shows up just in time to help Ray and Allison bury a body. Luther and Five are pissed the other siblings going MIA made them miss the jump. Vanya is being held by the FBI because she has a Russian name, speaks Russian, and seems to have some special power. Daddy Hargreeves comes across Grace finding out that he’s not who he appears to be and, all of this goes down in the first five minutes and those are the least intense moments of “The Seven Stages.“

Mission Statement: While Diego slips into his role at the commission, Luther and Five head out to meet Old Number Five and convince him to give up his briefcase so that they can return home since he doesn’t need it because he can jump forward by himself.

UMBRELLA ACADEMY S2E8 “THE SEVEN STAGES”

Poor Vanya: Vanya is being tortured by the FBI and Diego learns that once again Vanya is the bomb that goes off. Kennedy lives but, the country goes to war with Russia.

Go, Diego, Go: Knowing that Vanya is the cause of the apocalypse again he used Commission agent Herb and a rogue briefcase to get Klaus and Allison to go stop Vanya. Because he went to those two instead of Luther and Five, I believe that he’s going to try and help her this time instead of killing her, which makes me happy because that poor girl has been through enough.

Episode MVP: Diego. Someone is finally making a good call and the usually hot-headed, guns ablaze, ask questions later Diego is taking his time and trying to do the right thing by his sister. The character finally has the nuances that his siblings have had the opportunity to take advantage of for almost two whole seasons. This is the episode where Diego gets his layers and it’s wonderful and exhilarating to watch.

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