Radioactive Man (S07, E02-130)

"My eyes!  The goggles do nothing!"

Plot Summary
Bart and Milhouse learn from the comic book store owner that a movie about comic book hero Radioactive Man is in pre-production.  When learning to see who is going to be in the title role, comic book guy learns that it'll be Rainier Wolfcastle (of McBain fame), and that the movie will be filmed in Springfield, as it possesses a nuclear plant, a gorge and support from public officials.  Despite that, as soon as that news hits everyone in town starts price gouging at incredible rates.  In addition, the producers of the movie look to the elementary school to find a young man to become the movie's Fallout Boy (Radioactive Man's 'Robin', as it were).

Bart feels this is a dream opportunity for him, and makes every effort to not let it escape.  He more than dazzles at his audition for the part, however he's turned away by the otherwise impressed director for being an inch too short.  Bart attempts to grow that inch overnight, but grows 'only' half an inch instead.  He tries to go back wearing thick-heeled shoes to make up the height difference, but its too late and the direction has found his Fallout Boy: Milhouse, who only auditioned because his parents made him.  Instantly the fame is too much for Milhouse to handle, while Bart is advised by Lisa to be a good friend to Milhouse by sucking up to him now.

As filming of the movie goes on, Milhouse becomes all the more tired and irritated of the process and repetition of filmmaking.  Before a major, one-time scene, where Fallout Boy is supposed to save Radioactive Man from an incoming wave of real acid, Milhouse goes missing, running away from the scene, and the shot is ruined.

Production is halted as the search for Milhouse begins.  Bart eventually finds Milhouse in his treehouse, but neither he nor the incoming Mickey Rooney can convince Milhouse to return to his role.  Despite Mickey's best attempts at filling in the role instead, combined with having their entire budget gouged by the town, the producers are forced to stop production and head back to Hollywood where, as they say, "people treat each other right" apparently.

Quick Review
Radioactive Man, another good, fun episode, was also the first episode to use digital coloring, whose effects can clearly be seen as everything looks crisper, cleaner, if slightly not as smooth.  Its something that would be used once more in Season 12 before the series switches to it permanently in Season 14.  The jokes in this episode, not to mention the references to comics, were excellent, and continues Season 7's strong start.

Final Score: 9.1

Three Men and a Comic Book (S02, E21-034)

"They're fine."

Plot Summary
At a comic book convention, Bart (in his "Bartman" persona for the first time on the show) sees Radioactive Man #1, being sold by the comic book guy (also making his first appearance) for $100, a rather low price for what seems like a mint condition #1.  Must be one of those relaunch #1s or something, I dunno.

Anyway, not nearly having enough money to buy it, Bart scrounges for money, but its hard to come by.  A dime from a bottle deposit, three cents from exchanging old coins, selling Homer's beer illegally for nickels at a time.  Bart's efforts culminate when Marge sends him to Mrs. Glick for back-breaking chores.  When a week's worth of chores only nets Bart 50 cents, giving him a grand total of $35, he gives up on work (which Homer praises him for).  He goes back to the comic book shop to lament his situation, but finds that Martin Prince is trying to buy the comic for $40.  When Milhouse comes in to buy a Carl Yastrzemski with sideburns card for $30, Bart gets the idea to have the three of them pool their money together to buy the $100 comic.

They buy the comic this way, but quickly find out that sharing one comic between the three of them is no simple task.  At Bart's treehouse, paranoia begins to spread amongst the three of them, especially Bart who absolutely refuses anybody to leave under the possibility that they'll take the comic with them.  Bart and Milhouse tie up Martin who they believe was trying to sneak out, but then the two of them start brawling as well.  With the storm outside, strong winds begin to fly the comic out of the treehouse.  The brawl sends Milhouse out, clinging onto Bart so that he doesn't fall to the distant, wet ground.  Deciding between his friend and his $100 comic book, Bart finally decides to save the former, but by the time he does, the comic flies out, lands in some mud, gets torn up by the dog (didn't that get fixed?) and gets hit by lightning for good measure.  The comic is not salvageable, and Bart notes that it was all because they couldn't share (though Bart admits he wasn't really making a point by saying that).

Quick Review
This was quite the informative episode, with a lot of lessons to be had.  Those lessons being:

1) Working is for suckers
2) Sharing is, uh, something or other

These are the main themes which this episode covers.  This episode wasn't quite as strong as some of the ones that directly preceded it, although there were some good laughs to be had (the scene in the image, where Homer feigns paying attention to the otherwise perilous situation, is the best part of the episode).  Its still a good episode, but it is slightly lacking compared to other episodes from this season.

Final Score: 7.6