A teenager's corpse is found in a superhero costume(of his own making), soon discovered through forensic study by the Brennan and the Jeffersonian team that the kid was dying of leukemia and killed with a bevel knife, his spinal cord severed by someone much stronger than him. This teen, Kevin(known to his comic book fantasist pals as Citizen 13; an avid comic book collector and aficionado), had helped create his own comic book, drawn by the owner of a store(which distributes comics and graphic novels)he frequented. The book's story outline and characters could have details which lead Booth and Bones to his killer, concerning a muscular brute known as the Twisted and his horrible treatment of a damsel in distress, Opalescense. The investigation leads B & B to a bowling alley, possible domestic abuse, and a bone fragment from the person responsible for murdering Kevin. Beautifully realized story about the not-so-subtle links between the real and fantasy, printed on page by an artist or writer; not to mention, one's desire to be heroic while understanding his limited time remaining, the courage it would take and the willingness to confront an antagonist hurting another weaker than him. The episode also allows us to enter the world of a dying artist, while also seeing how some might take the comic book fantasy world a bit too seriously. I imagine this is a warm and loving shout-out to those who are active participants and customers at Comic-con.
8 Reviews
I've Changed My Mind
Hitchcoc13 January 2023
I was ready to give this a much higher rating until I did some reading. I agree with the person who found Booth's comments (as well as the parents') offensive when it came to judging the kids who have a passion for the comic book world. If it were sports that took up 16 hours a day, he would have said nothing. The same thing goes for kids who are musically talented in schools--bullied and demeaned by their peers. There are a million interests in the world. Having those doesn't make one weird--it shows they have a love of something. The boy in this episode is ill. He wants to give back something. We also have a simplistic view of domestic abuse presented. I enjoyed that they finished his graphic novel. Maybe Seely will grow up a little as well.
ok episode
Lythas_857 April 2021
Nothing stood out in this story.. basically your typical "monster of the week" episode just a random case and an opportunity to show Bones being fearless while facing a dude like 100lbs heavier than her... but anyway, that was the hype back then.. she never got shot every time she just pushed past Booth while entering a hostile environment and never got her ass handed to her all those times when she got to a bad guy's face and taunted him or her.. lol.
One of the worst Bones episodes
xbatgirl-3002920 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Obviously, an ongoing theme of Bones is that hyper-intelligent, high succeeding people (the unfortunately named squints) must also be social misfits who don't have healthy emotions, or street smarts, or know what's really important in life. Booth is the presumed audience stand in for "average" people who of course must believe themselves to all have attributes like being cool, instinctual, attractive, street smart Alpahas. It's a standard Hollywood trope that the writers think will make audiences feel good about themselves. It's usually bearable and can be overlooked with an eye roll.
This episode is way worse than most in that it really leans hard on that stereotype. They are investigating a withdrawn, isolated kid. Booth makes a point of insulting Brennan by saying she and the victim have a lot in common. There is nothing we ever see about Brennan that shows her being withdrawn or isolated. She routinely has romantic relationships, has two successful careers, has multiple close friends and coworkers, and regularly travels the world. I *wish* I was withdrawn and isolated like that. This is such insultingly, lazy writing, just leaning into that American stereotype that intelligent people are solitary weirdos no one likes, whereas the less-smart are salt of the earth, good guys.
Then we get the pair questioning teens basically just having a D&D session. Even Brennan makes a point of calling them creepy. Of course we also get five minutes of Booth insulting them. Booth, who we see cosplaying as a hockey player and gushing over his fandom on many occasions. But that's sports so it's acceptable cosplay. Then we get Zack moaning, literally calling intelligence a handicap. Later, we cringe as Booth ecstatically sniffs a bowling alley and says "this is America!"
Of course the plot itself is poorly written. When Booth and Brennan first question the parents. They describe him as someone who barely left his room. But when they say they just assumed he ran away, no one asks why he would want to leave or where he would go. That's the natural question at that point. But the episode wouldn't happen if it was logical. Just as it would be pretty much impossible for a kid to have advanced leukemia to the point of death, while hiding it from his friends and family who suspected nothing. But who needs logic when you can have this Proud Boy wet dream? That's not even going into the boy's crush on the simple blonde, while being repulsed by the nerdy girl who throws herself at him.
This episode is way worse than most in that it really leans hard on that stereotype. They are investigating a withdrawn, isolated kid. Booth makes a point of insulting Brennan by saying she and the victim have a lot in common. There is nothing we ever see about Brennan that shows her being withdrawn or isolated. She routinely has romantic relationships, has two successful careers, has multiple close friends and coworkers, and regularly travels the world. I *wish* I was withdrawn and isolated like that. This is such insultingly, lazy writing, just leaning into that American stereotype that intelligent people are solitary weirdos no one likes, whereas the less-smart are salt of the earth, good guys.
Then we get the pair questioning teens basically just having a D&D session. Even Brennan makes a point of calling them creepy. Of course we also get five minutes of Booth insulting them. Booth, who we see cosplaying as a hockey player and gushing over his fandom on many occasions. But that's sports so it's acceptable cosplay. Then we get Zack moaning, literally calling intelligence a handicap. Later, we cringe as Booth ecstatically sniffs a bowling alley and says "this is America!"
Of course the plot itself is poorly written. When Booth and Brennan first question the parents. They describe him as someone who barely left his room. But when they say they just assumed he ran away, no one asks why he would want to leave or where he would go. That's the natural question at that point. But the episode wouldn't happen if it was logical. Just as it would be pretty much impossible for a kid to have advanced leukemia to the point of death, while hiding it from his friends and family who suspected nothing. But who needs logic when you can have this Proud Boy wet dream? That's not even going into the boy's crush on the simple blonde, while being repulsed by the nerdy girl who throws herself at him.
Offensive
lythis-love12 June 2022
Insensitive to Domestic Violence
leighanders-8628425 June 2015
The reason I gave this episode the lowest of low marks, was due to the insensitivity to the plight of domestic violence in our world.
Your writer(s) made that segment seem like it is the "woman's" fault for being in that circumstance, without knowing what it is truly like. In fact, you made the character feel personal guilt for her "husband" killing the boy. Your writers were more "giving and understanding" to the parents who had isolated and had no love for him. Really... that's the problem with writers, you can shift people's views on public issues... and in this case, you shifted it the WRONG WAY.
Try to understand that it is sometimes a brave act to stay, as well as a brave act to leave. A woman will need to make decisions for her own safety, and sometimes the safety of her children, that you may not understand. She will need to find the confidence and the right time to act.
She will know when it is time to leave...
Your writer(s) made that segment seem like it is the "woman's" fault for being in that circumstance, without knowing what it is truly like. In fact, you made the character feel personal guilt for her "husband" killing the boy. Your writers were more "giving and understanding" to the parents who had isolated and had no love for him. Really... that's the problem with writers, you can shift people's views on public issues... and in this case, you shifted it the WRONG WAY.
Try to understand that it is sometimes a brave act to stay, as well as a brave act to leave. A woman will need to make decisions for her own safety, and sometimes the safety of her children, that you may not understand. She will need to find the confidence and the right time to act.
She will know when it is time to leave...
Hi Bones Booth Pod!
queen_of_drama-3458624 December 2020
Hey huge fan of the podcast! Although i don't think any episode of Bones is completely terrible this was my favorite ep. There were moments that were good always love the Booth/ Bones banter. I also enjoyed seeing Judith Hoag ( the mom from Halloweentown) as the victims mother. She seemed to care alot more than the parents from the girl in the fridge. Excited to enjoy the next episode with all of you :)
The One With The Superhero In The Alley...
taylorkingston13 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I don't absolutely love this episode. In my opinion, it's okay, worth watching, and not too bad.
In this episode, Bones has to postpone her research contribution to a 9600-year-old case, in order to help Agent Booth with a case. The body of a boy in a superhero costume is found, and they learn that the boy was a "self-proclaimed" superhero, who dressed up to actually fight crime.
Best part of this episode: Nothing in particular.
Worst part of this episode: Nothing in particular.
Overall, I give this episode a 5 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Okay.
In this episode, Bones has to postpone her research contribution to a 9600-year-old case, in order to help Agent Booth with a case. The body of a boy in a superhero costume is found, and they learn that the boy was a "self-proclaimed" superhero, who dressed up to actually fight crime.
Best part of this episode: Nothing in particular.
Worst part of this episode: Nothing in particular.
Overall, I give this episode a 5 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Okay.
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