'Amazing Stories' Episode 3 Review: 'Dynoman and the Volt' is a lovely comic book trip with late Robert Forster
Spoiler Alert for 'Amazing Stories' Episode 3 'Dynoman and the Volt'
Does art imitate life, or life imitate art? Is the world of fantasy and fiction a mere rug pieced together with scraps of real stories? 'Amazing Stories' puts a question mark on this very thought in its third episode. A treat for comic book fans, 'Dynoman and the Volt' jumps straight into the fray and holds fascination at every step.
The story begins with Dylan (Tyler Crumley), a school kid who makes a Batman mask and pretends to be as mighty as the superhero. "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman. I am what Gotham needs me to be," he mutters under his breath. His Halloween plans take a new turn when Grandpa Joe (Robert Forster) steps into his life. The fact that it was the late veteran actor's last act only takes the intrigue one notch higher and the plot doesn't dampen spirits.
A set of comic books in his grandson's room pulls Joe's attention. However, the old man and the kid's first interaction is not pally at all. Joe was in deep pain, and physiotherapy doesn't seem to work. To make matters worse, he has been told to take retirement from work.
Like a bolt from the blue, a surprise package for grandpa Joe changes the game. It is a mysterious ring from William Comics. When Grandpa remembers how he ordered it when he was crazy about the superhero Dynoman as a child, Dylan suggests it may have been stuck in the mail. "For 60 years?" Joe wonders.
The ring helps the grandfather-grandson duo bond. "What's the story of Dynoman?"
Joe narrates, "He was a miner. Like my dad. One day, he was working underground and a stick of dynamite blew up and shot three radioactive rocks into rings. Each one has special powers. Strength, speed and flight."
The story isn't just about Dynoman. It has another main character, Volt ― Dynoman's archenemy. Dynoman destroyed Volt's village with a ring. A chunk of debris smashed the house, killing a man and woman inside while their son played outside. The boy vowed vengeance and Dynoman found all the remnants of the medium which had absorbed the power of ring and began to glow.
The Volt saw that glow and knew he could have that power too. From those remains, he built his helmet and became as powerful as Dynoman.
Fascinated by the tale, Dylan tells his grandpa, "So, you were the villain? Pretty standard stuff." Opening up about his deep-rooted interest in superheroes, Grandpa Joe reveals he wrote a few stories back in the day. "Why did you stop?" Dylan asked. He answered, "Can't play with superheroes forever."
On his grandson's request, Joe wears the ring and calls it another "piece of junk, a toy." It's weird that the ring doesn't seem to come off from his finger.
At dinner, grandpa has an argument with his entire family, especially his son Mike (Kyle Bornheimer) ― with whom he has been distant for years. In his rage, the ring glows. He catches a ball and squashes it in the air. While the scene adds marvel, it also makes you look back at all the superhero stories that have the same plot twist. Generating magic through anger is getting increasingly outdated.
Nevertheless, as the story moves forward, it does instill a sense of curiosity and joy. To test his powers, Grandpa Joe breaks a table with his bare hands. Meanwhile, Dylan faces teenage high school trouble when his classmates mock his Batman costume. At home, Grandpa asks him, "What's wrong? Why you got such a long face?" "I am toxic," Dylan replies.
To cheer him up, Grandpa promises to join the little kid for trick or treat.
However, a work commitment keeps him busy. Like a real-life superhero, he constructs a table in one day to satisfy a pissed customer. His co-workers are surprised to see his sudden bout of energy.
However, Dylan is disappointed when Joe doesn't turn up on time for Halloween. Seeing his son sitting in a corner, Mike asks where his grandfather is. Dylan reveals the big secret of superpowers to his dad and complicates their life.
Through several dramatic turns, the threads interweave into each other. Turns out, in real life, Grandpa is Dynoman himself and Dylan becomes Volt. An adventurous mayhem follows suit, and in the end, Grandpa Joe unites with his son and grandson. Oh, and don't miss the flight power! While Forster's performance is simply brilliant, Bornheimer and Crumley are just as radiant in the hour-long drama. The story may seem like a rip-off from old superhero movies, but the suspense and subtlety make it an enjoyable ride.
In the end, the three bury the ring and a plant with magical sprouts in its place. Dylan asks his grandfather the same question that we have in our minds: "So, that's it?"
Joe replies, "The ring only comes when you need it."
Just like that, the episode shows that magic will find you when you need it the most and that is all we need to know, don't we?