wscomics: September 2015

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

5-STAR REVIEW: Gaiman & Williams' "The Sandman: Overture" #6 is Exquisite

Neil Gaiman and J.H. Williams III's "The Sandman: Overture" #6 "is a celebration of the series... as well as a thoroughly enjoyable new chapter."

'Agents of SHIELD' Post-Show Analysis: Season 3, Episode 1: 'Laws of Nature'

Agents of SHIELD made its return to TV screens last night for its third season, and our first impression is that it's already a much-improved show. But there's always room for a second --- or third --- opinion, so we're kicking off a brand new format for Agents of Something, our regular post-show analysis of the latest Agents of SHIELD episode. We've invited two CA contributors, Ziah Grace and Chris Haley, to share their thoughts about the show. Neither of them have been keeping up with the agents 'til now, so they'll offer a fresh new perspective, and they'll probably have quite a few questions... Continue reading…

Miller & Lord to Adapt "Serial" Podcast for Television

"Lego Movie" writer-producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord will work with Fox 21 Television Studios to adapt the "Serial" podcast as a cable series.

Mad Magazine's Keil and Kerschbaum Present 'The Substitute Teacher's Manual' [Preview]

We're now several weeks in to the new school year, which means disillusioned and exhausted teachers may have started calling in sick to work already, and it's time for the substitutes to step up. Thankfully Mad Magazine's usual gang of idiots --- specifically Kenny Keil and John Kerschbaum --- have provided a helpful illustrated guide to the challenges of substitute teaching in the upcoming issue #536, and we've got an exclusive first look. Of course, it's about as respectful of the profession as you might expect. Continue reading…

"iZombie's" David Anders Gets a Taste of Humanity in Season 2

"iZombie's" undead villain is now a living, breathing human, but according to Anders, that doesn't mean he's not dangerous.

Art of Color: The Infinite Horizons of Sloane Leong

Comics coloring is one of the most unappreciated aspects of the medium, despite enhancing the thematic subtext of a work and just making it look better. In this series I’m going to shine a spotlight on some of the best and most interesting colorists in comics.

Sloane Leong colors horizons better than any other colorist in comics. Any artist worth her salt knows that you can't just plop down a single color for the sky and sit with your feet back, but Leong has a particular knack for punctuating the emotions of a scene with a unique gradient.

Forget That Hole In The Ground, This Hobbit Treehouse Is Incredible

This getaway in the Black Hills of South Dakota may be just the place for the discerning Tolkien fan, or for a Baggins. (No Gollum allowed.)

REVIEW: Dysart & Kano Craft a Grand Experience in "Book of Death: The Fall of Harbinger" #1

Joshua Dysart and Kano's "Book of Death: The Fall of Harbinger" #1 "is an artistic and literary masterpiece."

Yang Makes Clark Kent Face the "Truth" in "Superman"

Gene Yang won't reveal the mysterious villain in "Superman" #44, but the writer tells CBR about Hordr Root's connections to a classic DC character.

Ho, Ho, Ho? Jabba The Hutt Is The Perfect Holiday Lawn Ornament

While you may not be the envy of the neighborhood, you'll undoubtedly earn the admiration of "Star Wars" fans with this nearly life-size inflatable Jabba the Hutt.

PREVIEW: Bennett, Jacinto & Hans Make "Angela" the "Queen of Hel"

Angela has been stolen from Asgard and exiled from Heven, and now she wants revenge. She'll stop at nothing to save Sera in "Angela: Queen of Hel."

Feige Reveals "Civil War" Will Complete the "Captain America" Trilogy

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige described "Civil War" as "the completion of a Captain America trilogy" at a recent press event.

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 2" Opens Fire With Final Poster

Jennifer Lawrence takes aim in the final poster for conclusion of the blockbuster sci-fi franchise, which opens Nov. 20.

Kevin Feige Promises More Marvel Film, TV Connections

Marvel Studios' President explains why its television series reference the films more than the reverse, while promising tighter ties overall in the future.

Kansas Governor Declares October "Zombie Preparedness Month"

A proclamation signed this morning by Gov. Sam Brownback kicks off a month-long initiative designed to prepare residents for natural disasters. Or the walking dead.

EXCL. PREVIEW: "Snowpiercer 3: Terminus" Explores Life After the Icebreaker

The Icebreaker's endless loop has ended, but the survivors need answers in the new "Snowpiercer" story from Olivier Bocquet & Jean-March Rochette.

Jessica Jones Don't Give a Damn About Her Reputation in New Teaser

A new teaser for the upcoming Netflix and Marvel Studios series features a small glimpse into a night in the life of Jessica Jones.

Exclusive: Feel the Heat in Candelaria and Slominski's 'Ashes' [Preview]

Up-and-coming publisher Z2 Comics is hoping to set itself apart with a slate of truly intriguing titles in the coming year, including Ian McGinty's weirdly wonderful Welcome to Showside, and books from standout talents like Paul Pope, Dean Haspiel, and the late Harvey Pekar. The publisher also hopes to make names of some of its emerging talents, including Mario Candelaria and Karl Slominski, the creators behind Ashes: A Firefighter's Tale.

Ashes is an intense tale focusing on a New York City firefighter named Matt who has to find his way back from a personal trauma. As our exclusive preview shows, Slominski brings a striking visual style to the story that captures the energy and claustrophobia of firefighters in action, matching it with a dramatic emotional charge.

Guggenheim Describes "Arrow's" Mr. Terrific as "an MVP of the Cast"

"Arrow" executive producer Marc Guggenheim weighed in on Echo Kellum's role as Mr. Terrific in the upcoming fourth season of the show.

Comics Alliance Presents The Question: What's The Best Comic About Women By Women?

The comics world is full of questions, from, “Who would win in a fight?” to, “Who came up with that weird idea?” Here at ComicsAlliance, we spend a lot of time thinking about all of it, from the big questions that matter a lot to the small ones that probably don’t matter at all but are still kinda fascinating. With The Question, we’re going to give our writers the opportunity to answer some of these brain-ticklers, because if we’re thinking about these things, you might be thinking about them too. This time we asked our writers; what's your favorite comic by women about women? This year's Ignatz and Eisner wins suggest that women in comics are beginning to get the recognition they deserve, both as creators and as an audience. But there have always been great comics by women and great comics about women, and some comics that are both, and they exist across genres, borders, and cultures. Continue reading…

Review: 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Breaks the 'Laws of Nature' in Season 3

Marvel's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' gets Inhuman-ly good in its most confident, ambitious premiere yet. Our full review, plus answers to Simmons' fate from tonight's premiere, "Laws of Nature"! Continue reading…

Amazon Gives "Jack Ryan" Full Commitment

Amazon has landed a television series from "Lost's" Carlton Cuse and writer Graham Roland based on the character created by Tom Clancy.

David Tennant's 'Jessica Jones' Villain Spotted Filming 'Luke Cage' Scenes

Marvel’s Jessica Jones already upped the inter-connectivity of Netflix’s four Defenders by the inclusion of Daredevil characters and Luke Cage himself, and it seems Mike Colter’s Hero-for-Hire will return the favor. Jessica Jones baddie David Tennant has been spotted filming Luke Cage scenes as Zebediah Kilgrave, but what does it mean for the so-called “Purple Man”? Continue reading…

PREVIEWS: "Justice League," "Sandman Overture" & More DC Comics on Sale September 23, 2015

Check out a slew of annuals, the latest installment of "The Darkseid War" and the final chapter of Gaiman & Williams III's "Sandman Overture."

Chip Zdarsky Declines Harvey Award For 'Sex Criminals'

Other than that one time that NASCAR Heroes was nominated a few years ago, the Harvey Awards are not usually rocked with controversy. This year, however, has been marked by one notable exception: Chip Zdarsky's refusal to accept the Special Award For Humor In Comics for his work on Sex Criminals.

In a post at his website, Zdarsky discussed his reasons for declining the award, specifically citing the inherent unfairness of not including writer Matt Fraction, who, in Zdarsky's words, "supplies 90% of the humor."

Jobs @ CBR - TV Recappers Wanted

CBR seeks additional TV recappers to provide weekly commentary and analysis during the current fall TV season.

New 'Flash' Trailer Drops a Major 'Legends of Tomorrow' Spoiler

Apart from a few peeks at Zoom and Jay Garrick, The Flash has kept most of its major Season 2 spoilers under wraps in advance of next week’s premiere. Now, however, a new look brings with it a major spoiler for Legends of Tomorrow, and could well spell doom for a Flash friend ahead.

Robert Englund Wants to Star in a "Freddy vs Michael Myers" Film

The "Nightmare on Elm Street" star revealed the hypothetical films he would come back to star in, how he would like to see the franchise updated and more.

Exclusive Clip: 'Power Rangers' Hits Its 800th Episode Milestone This Saturday

It feels like I've said this somewhere before, but Power Rangers is arguably the most successful live-action superhero franchise of all time. It's been running virtually uninterrupted since 1993, and this week, it's about to hit a major milestone. "Sync or Swim," the episode airing on Saturday, isn't just the 13th episode of the current season, Dino Charge --- it's the 800th episode of the series. To mark the occasion, we've got an exclusive clip of the episode featuring a team-up between the Gold Ranger and the Red Ranger, and as someone who has actually watched all 800 episodes, I am almost positive that they're celebrating with the show's first-ever use of the phrase "stinking scallywag." Continue reading…

"Pacific Rim 2" Removed from Universal Pictures' Calendar

Universal Pictures released a statement confirming that "Pacific Rim 2" has been removed from their calendar and will be redated at a later time.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Patrick Atangan's 'Fires Above Hyperion' Finds the Universal in One Love Life

The first line of copy on the back of Patrick Atangan's Fires Above Hyperion reads, "Imagine if Sex and the City were written by a gay Charlie Brown..." So of course, I thought, 'I don't just want to imagine that. I want to read Sex and the City written by a gay Charlie Brown, and I want to read it as soon as possible." And so, in all likelihood, will you. Continue reading…

Teddy Sears Shares New Look of Jay Garrick in Costume on "The Flash"

With one week before "The Flash" season two premiere, here's a look at Teddy Sears in costume as Jay Garrick, DC Comics' original Flash.

Batman is a 'Cornerstone' for Warner Bros Interactive, Earth is Round, Water is Wet

Over the weekend, Warner Bros. confirmed that Batman remains a big part of its interactive future. In an interview with the PlayStation Blog, Ames Kirshen, vice president of product development for the Arkham and DC Comics games at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, stated, “Batman is one of the cornerstone IPs for Warner Bros. With the Arkham series, we were finally able to realize the full potential of the character.” It's not a very bold statement, though it is an obvious one.

Since Lego Batman first arrived on the scene in 2008, the Dark Knight has had quite a run of success with his various video game incarnations. Combined with the Batman: Arkham series, the pointy-eared millionaire has easily recorded tens of millions of game sales over the past seven years. Given the recent success with Batman: Arkham Knight (horrible PC launch notwithstanding), it makes a lot of sense for Warner Bros. Interactive to keep the big guy around in some form or another, even if current fan-favorite developer Rocksteady Studios is claiming to be done with Batman.

Scott Elaborates on "Alien: Paradise Lost," Recalls Ford's Reaction to "Blade Runner 2" Script

Director-producer Ridley Scott elaborated on the plot of the "Prometheus" sequel and how he enticed Harrison Ford to return for "Blade Runner 2."

The Amazing Powers Of Entitlement And Misanthropy: Should You Be Reading 'They're Not Like Us'?

When you look at the sheer range and number of original stories being told in comics form today, it’s hard to imagine a better time to be a comics reader. Online and in print, from all around the world, artists and writers are telling stories with their own voices and styles, and there’s so much to choose from that it’s sometimes difficult to know what to read next. With Should I Be Reading… ?, ComicsAlliance hopes to offer you a guide to some of the best original ongoing comics being published today. A troubled young woman discovers that the mental problems she's been struggling with all her life are actually a form of telepathy, and that there are others with gifts similar to hers. The setup is very familiar, but in They're Not Like Us, our hero Syd discovers that the group that takes her in is a little different: they're entitled, narcissistic jerks. Continue reading…

X-POSITION: X-Editors Bring the X-Men Into "All-New, All-Different Marvel"

The editors behind Marvel's X-Men titles answer your questions about the mutants' place in the greatly changed post-"Secret Wars" Marvel Universe.

"Agents of SHIELD" Showrunners Answer Your Pre-Season 3 Premiere Questions

Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon answer your questions about the new season, from the status of Ward to potential supernatural threats.

Christopher Lloyd Returns As Doc Brown In Teaser For ‘Back To The Future’ Short

The 30th-anniversary re-release of the "Back to the Future" trilogy will include a Doc Brown short film starring Christopher Lloyd.

Warner Bros.' "Death Note" Casts "Paper Towns" Star Nat Wolff

“The Fault in Our Stars” actor will play a student who finds a deadly supernatural notebook in director Adam Wingard's adaptation of the hit manga.

Colossal Titan Builds His Ideal Home In This Wonderfully Weird Video

The 60-meter-tall giant from "Attack on Titan" proves he can do more than destroy walls, emit steam and terrorize the last remnants of humanity.

WATCH: "Avengers: Age of Ultron" Honest Trailer Expresses Concerns for Joss Whedon

The Honest Trailer for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" attempts to pinpoint how the latest MCU installment failed to live up to the first "Avengers" film.

Mikkelsen Would Be "Over The Moon" To Join "Doctor Strange" -- If Marvel Calls

The former "Hannibal" star reveals what he knows about his rumored involvement in Marvel's "Doctor Strange."

PREVIEW: Yang & Holmes Unlock Mysteries in "Secret Coders"

Gene Luen Yang & Mike Holmes team for a new First Second graphic novel series that follows the junior detectives, AKA students, of Stately Academy.

Matt Damon Faces Death By Disco In New Clip From "The Martian"

Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig and Chiwetel Ejiofor star in the latest clip from Ridley Scott's sci-fi adventure, which opens Friday nationwide.

12 Facts You May Not Have Known About the Teen Titans

Everyone loves comic book trivia, but with 75 years of superhero comics behind us right now, there’s always some new obscure fact to learn. That’s why ComicsAlliance is going deep into the minutiae of your favorite characters in our continuing video series. You think you know comics? Well, here’s a few things you might not know! This week we're taking a look at DC's most famous team of sidekicks and other adolescent heroes, the Teen Titans! Find out about some of the team's lesser known members, the surprising number of race-related firsts that occurred in the book, and how Nabisco led to the creation of an all-new team member, as well as several other equally interesting facts. Continue reading…

"Superman: Red Son" Batman Statue Is Ready To Spark A Rebellion

Sideshow Collectibles has officially unveiled the final Premium Format figure in its "Superman: Red Son" trilogy.

Bizarro Back Issues: Aliens Give Batman The (Giant Glowing Green) Finger (1960)

Last weekend marked the official Batman Day, and while I hope I've made it clear over my years of writing about comics that I strive to keep Batman in my heart the whole year 'round, I think we can all agree that it's nice to take some time and talk about the many wonderful things that he's done in his 76 years of crime-fighting. The thing is, you always hear about the same stuff. It's always "Dark Knight" this, and "Year One" that, and "that time he fought Bane and got knocked out of comics for like two years because of an actual professional wrestling move." Don't get me wrong, those are important events, sure, but they're a tiny, tiny fraction of what Batman has done, and I think it's time that we honor some of the more unloved --- but just as deserving --- examples of heroism from his considerable career. Like, say, that time that he saved Gotham City from having all of its metal stolen by a giant green hand from another dimension by proving that aliens should be able to speak foreign languages. Continue reading…

PREVIEW: "Squirrel Girl" #1 is All-New, All-Different, Still "Unbeatable"

Ryan North & Erica Henderson continue Squirrel Girl's unbeatable adventures in the post-"Secret Wars" Marvel Universe -- and now she's an Avenger!

New Firestorm Debuts in "The Flash" Season 2 Promo

A behind-the-scenes featurette for the returning superhero series reveals what appears to be a major spoiler concerning Firestorm's identity.

LOOK: "Agents of SHIELD's" Lash Arrives in First Photo

Matthew Willig appears Inhuman in the first photo of the character, who astute viewers may have caught in some earlier teaser trailers for the season.

Mondo's Donatello Goes Up For Pre-Order Tomorrow, So Get Your Refresh Button Skills Ready

When it comes to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it seems almost everyone is either on team Raphael or team Michelangelo. Leonardo gets a little bit of love, but almost no one will admit to being a fan of Donatello. Perhaps it falls back to the playground, where we'd all pretend to be the Turtles, and the last guy you wanted to be was the smartest guy in the room. Now as an adult, I can see the err of my ways. I mean, I'm still totally on team Raphael, but I get Donatello now.

Last month, Mondo kicked off its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sixth-scale figure line with the leader of the pack, Leonardo. Though there have been a lot of TMNT figures and vinyls making waves over the past few months, Mondo's presents the first time this iteration of the characters will be available at this scale and with this many accessories. Tomorrow, Donatello finally get his chance to shine, and he's bringing a bunch of cool stuff with him.

"Gotham" Recap: "Knock, Knock" Delivers A Punchline of Crazies & Character Deaths

While the pre-Joker nutjob leading a team of crazies makes for fun TV, "Gotham" continues to fail with its core characters.

Watch Six Comic Artists Go To Japan (And Immediately Start Shopping For Comics) In A Video Travelogue

If you had to guess what six comic book artists would do first on a trip to Tokyo, you might feel there were just too many choices to narrow it down. It's a big city with a lot of history and a huge number of tourist destinations, from the culture to the food. But then you'd probably remember that you're talking about people in comics, and then you'd realize that of course the first thing they're going to do is go shopping for manga. That, at least, is the impression that I got from watching a video from Felix Comic Art, a company dealing in original pages, that took six of its artists on a trip to Tokyo last month and documented the entire thing in a fun little ten-minute travelogue. Continue reading…

"Twin Peaks" Log Lady Catherine E. Coulson Passes Away

The camera assistant and actress passed away Monday after a battle with cancer at the age of 71.

Figma Hulk Shows Up a Little Late to the Party, But He's Still the Hulk So You'll Deal With It

Last year, Good Smile released a trio of Avengers figures based on the 2012 film, The Avengers. While Iron Man, Captain America and Thor made some impressive (and expensive) Figmas, it seemed as if the line would end with just those three holding down the fort. Now, more than a year after those figures were announced, Good Smile is back with what could be the largest Figma ever produced to date.

The Avengers Movie Hulk Figma isn't exactly a timely release. The character's look has changed ever so slightly in the years since that film debuted, and there are plenty of Avengers: Age of Ultron versions currently still available. However, this Hulk is part of the Figma brand, which brings its own fanbase along with it. Additionally, even though the other Avenger Figmas also arrived a few years after the film, they were still rather popular. That's what happens when you have a history of strong sculpts, great articulation and a decent amount of accessories (when applicable).

"DMC" by Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels Headed to Big Screen

A film based on graphic novel by the legendary hip-hop artist and writer Damion Scott is in development from TriStar

Thumbnail: What 'Steven Universe' Can Teach Us About Living Between Two Worlds

Being mixed race is an endless, exhausting lesson in liminality. There are days you’re unshakably confident in who you are and your place in the world, followed by days you are wrecked by the ambiguity of your existence. Genetic caprice digs gulfs of experience between cousins, siblings, even twins. “Authenticity” is a bullseye you never quite seem to hit. And when immigration enters into it — well. You can be certain of disappointing everyone back in the old country just as often as you disappoint the community that surrounds you. Perhaps the worst part of it is the silence. Maybe you have a few friends to discuss this with. Maybe your siblings get it. Maybe you’ve found one treasured piece of media that speaks to the shade of grey in which you live. But in total, there isn’t much that portrays this experience — and even less of it accessible to a wider audience. Enter Steven Universe. Continue reading…

Comics Writer Aims to Document One Month Stay in Clown Motel

Comic book writer Christopher Sebela's Kickstarter looks to fund a stay in the "Scariest Motel in America" with a book and possible documentary following.

'Fear The Walking Dead' Releases First 'Flight 462' Details, Photo

Whatever your take on Fear The Walking Dead, it at least offers some intrigue that AMC will air snippets of a one-off special during The Walking Dead Season 6, one character of which will join the “companion series” in Season 2. Now, AMC has firmed up details of the Flight 462 special, also providing our first photo. Is the new character hidden somewhere within?

"Agents of SHIELD" Take Flight in New Promo Image, Season 3 Episode 3 Synopsis

ABC released the official synopsis for season three episode three in addition to a first good look at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new airbus, Zephyr One.

Monday, September 28, 2015

'Saga,' 'Sex Criminals' And 'Dick Tracy' Win At The 2015 Harvey Awards

Last weekend at Baltimore Comic-Con, the 27th annual Harvey Awards were held, and in one of the least surprising developments in the history of the Harveys, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' Saga took home a few more awards to add to a shelf that I'm sure is already collapsing under the weight of its many honors.

Named for MAD Magazine editor and cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman (who, interestingly enough, did not win the award he was nominated for this year), the Harveys are voted on by industry professionals, and this year's winners represent a pretty interesting crop of current comics, including CA favorites like Lumberjanes, Hellboy In Hell, and even Dick Tracy. Check out a full roster of winners and nominees below!

"The Flash": Gustin Teases New Powers, Patton Wants a Speed Force Suit & More

Former Flash John Wesley Shipp also recounted filming his last episode for the 1991 series with "Star Wars" star Mark Hamill.

REVIEW: Stevenson & Greene Create a Fun, Engrossing Read in "Runaways" #4

"The relationships between the characters drive the energy of the story" in Noelle Stevenson and Sanford Green's "Runaways" #4.

Best Cosplay Ever (This Week): Silk, Spider-Punk, Zipless, Utena & Juri, and More

Although cosplay has been present for decades within the comics, anime, and sci-fi/fantasy fandoms, social media has played an integral role in the thriving communities of costuming that exist, such as Cosplay.com and the Superhero Costuming Forum. Over the years, the cosplay community has evolved into a creative outlet for many fans to establish and showcase some impressive feats of homemade disguise, craftsmanship, and sartorial superheroics at conventions.

In honor of the caped crusaders of the convention scene, ComicsAlliance has created Best Cosplay Ever (This Week), an ongoing collection of some of the most impeccable, creative, and clever costumes that we’ve discovered and assembled into a super-showcase of pure fan-devoted talent.

Donatello Joins The Fray In Mondo's TMNT Action Figure Line

Donatello will join Leonardo in the new line of 1/6th-scale figures inspired by the Kevin Eastman/Peter Laird comic books and the classic cartoon,

Smart Reads: Gene Luen Yang Picks the Best Graphic Novels About Math & Science

With their new book, Secret Coders, writer Gene Luen Yang and illustrator Mike Holmes set out to do something many of us might consider near-impossible; turn the head-scratching world of computer coding into an adventure tale fit for a middle-grade audience. Yet by combining a mystery story with a series of compelling logic puzzles, the authors have actually succeeded in creating the sort of book that could inspire the next generation of computer geniuses.

And it turns out using comics to inspire young scientists and mathematicians is not at all impossible. Gene Luen Yang provided us with five more examples of excellent educational comics that turn potentially daunting topics into engaging comic book tales. Check them out below.

Mulder "Can’t Do It Alone" In First "X-Files" Revival Trailers

The agents of the FBI's weirdest cases get the band back together in the first footage from the Fox comeback mini series.

Chip Zdarsky Declines Harvey Award for "Sex Criminals"

Citing the collaborative nature of "Sex Criminals," Chip Zdarsky has stated he can't accept his Harvey Award, which did not recognize Matt Fraction.

New 'Walking Dead' Season 6 Trailer: Has Alexandria Been Invaded?

Much of the focus going into The Walking Dead Season 6 has honed in on new faces among the cast, rather than the downfall of Alexandria outright. It can’t be long before walkers breach the gates, but what about the latest trailer suggests a decidedly more human invasion within the walls?

Updated: Daryl Dixon, Captain Phasma, Stan Lee, Boba Fett and Every Other Funko NYCC Exclusive

With October just around the bend, that means it's time for cooler weather, cooler costumes and the biggest comic book convention on the east coast. Yes, New York Comic Con is bearing down on us faster than we're prepared to deal with it, but that's okay. We'll make do. In addition to incredible amount of stuff happening at the show, there will be a lot of great stuff up for grabs. As busy as Funko was at San Diego Comic-Con, its plate looks to be equally as filled at NYCC this coming year. This week, Funko is unveiling all of its planned exclusive items, with a new batch coming every single day. While the availability of each is likely to be a bit more open than it was at SDCC, these things will still be limited. If you're hoping to get any, definitely plan ahead and around any and all panels you hope to make it to this year. Continue reading…

Robbie Thompson Swings Back To High School In "Spidey"

The new Spider-Man series from "Supernatural's" Thompson and artist Nick Bradshaw tells new tales set during Peter Parker's time at Midtown High.

"Arrow's" Oliver Queen Calls Himself the Green Arrow in New Clip

The new "Arrow" clip debuts alongside a mashup of promos for The CW's "Flash," CBS' "Supergirl" and NBC's "Heroes Reborn."

PREVIEW: It's Dodgeball Time in Waid & Staples' "Archie" #3

Veronica arrives, dodgeballs fly, and hormones are in the air in "Archie" #3, the latest chapter of Mark Waid & Fiona Staples' acclaimed relaunch.

REVIEW: Venditti, Gill & Braithwaite Make "Book of Death" #3 Grossly Entertaining

Robert Venditti, Robert Gill and Doug Braithwaite "team up for some equally beautiful and disturbing imagery" in "Book of Death" #3.

Watch The Animated TV Spot For Toyota's Gundam-Inspired Car

A special-edition Auris RS, the Zeonic Toyota is inspired by the "Gundam" franchise character Char Aznable.

SpiderMable Becomes Edmonton's Hero in Children's Wish Foundation Caper

SpiderMable, a six-year-old hero battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia, has teamed up with the wall crawler thanks to the Children's Wish Foundation.

PREVIEW: Space Suits Hold Secrets in "American Vampire: Second Cycle" #10

Scott Snyder & Rafael Albuquerque take their vampires into outer space to continue the war against the beast in Vertigo's "American Vampire."

PREVIEW: Clark's Secret Claims Casualties in "Superman" #44

Gene Luen Yang and John Romita, Jr. bring "Truth" to its finale as Clark's Daily Planet co-workers are in trouble in DC Comics' "Superman" #44.

5-STAR REVIEW: Aaron & Del Mundo's "Weirdworld" #4 is "Unpredictably Brilliant"

Jason Aaron and Mike Del Mundo's "Weirdworld" #4 "is nothing short of comic book perfection."

"Pan's" Japanese Trailer Has Mermaids, Tinker Bell, Giant Birds And Tears

A new international for the fantasy adventure reveals plenty of new footage while playing up the mystery of Peter Pan's mother.

Goonies Never Say Die: Sean Astin is Certain a "Goonies" Sequel Will Happen

Although he doesn’t known when it will happen or whether he’ll be involved, the actor is convinced there will be a sequel to the 1985 classic.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Marvel's 'Jessica Jones' is Super-Strong, Super-Groggy in First Footage

Marvel’s Netflix Jessica Jones took her sweet time in delivering actual photos from the forthcoming Defenders series, but ahead of the cast’s arrival at New York Comic-Con 2015, we finally have our first footage. A new Jessica Jones teaser shows the down-and-out superheroine displaying her super-strength, and boy, does she hate alarm clocks.

Mark Millar's Millarworld Launches Talent Search

Think you could write or draw the likes of "Kick-Ass," "Kingsman," or "Starlight?" Well, Mark Millar's giving you your chance.

BCC: "Saga," "Daredevil," "Southern Bastards" Take Home Harvey Awards

Held once again at the Baltimore Comic-Con, find out the complete list of Harvey Awards winners inside.

BCC: The Marvel Comics Panel Talks Totally Awesome Hulk, Black Knight, Daredevil and Inhumans

Day two of Baltimore Comic-Con comes knocking with big news from the Marvel camp and creators Greg Pak, Frank Cho, Frank Tieri, and more.

BCC: Snyder, Pak, Palmiotti Talk All Things Bat at Batman Day Panel

To celebrate Batman Day, the creators currently writing the Bat-family books came together and teased what's coming for the Dark Knight.

VOTE: Cast Your Ballot for the Greatest DC and Marvel Characters of All-Time!

There's less than a week left for you to cast your vote in CSBG's Greatest DC and Marvel Characters of All-Time countdown! Click here to vote!

EXCL. PREVIEW: Shots Ring Out in IDW's "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" #4

Tensions rise quickly when Dirk has a gun pulled on him in Chris Ryall & Ilias Kyriazis' "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" #4 from IDW.

Did Iron Man's Toys Sell So Poorly They Became "Armored" X-Men & Spider-Man Figures?

In the mid-'90s, ToyBiz had a toy line based on the "Iron Man" cartoon, but the company would never just slap new heads on Tony Stark... would they?

STORE TOUR: Ground Zero Comics In Tyler, Texas

Owner David Seigler reveals to ROBOT 6 how a hostage situation, and a suggestion from a therapist, led him to turn his love of comics into a business.

"That Time Tony Stark Worked for Kang & Was Replaced By His Teen Self" Plus More Forgotten Plots

Some stories have never been retconned, but maybe they should, like when teen Tony Stark came to our present to fight the evil "real" Tony Stark!

Fall Into Fall with 67 Falling Superheroes

Grab a pumpkin spice latte, put on a cardigan and check out these 67 covers featuring heroes falling to their doom.

That Time the Blob and a Few Other Guys Defeated Both the East & West Coast Avengers

CSBG's latest look at "bad" superhero fights revisits when the former Brotherhood of Evil Mutants took out the combined forces of the Avengers.

EXCL. PREVIEW: IDW's "Jem and the Holograms Outrageous Annual" #1 is a Dream Come True

The girls' sleepover turns into a night of bad dreams in IDW's "Jem and the Holograms Outrageous Annual" #1 by Thompson, Mebberson & many more.

REVIEWS: The Good, The Bad, The Archives

Check out CBR's comprehensive review archive featuring everything from this week's releases to classic gems (and duds). Ready for re-reviews?

Friday, September 25, 2015

Everyone's Going To Die In 'Book Of Death: The Fall Of Harbinger' But On The Bright Side, There Are Robots [Preview]

With a title like Book of Death, I don't think anyone really expected Valiant's big crossover to be a cheerful affair, but jeez, things are starting to get pretty grim for the future of the Valiant Universe. Like, really grim. Like everyone on Earth is going to die from the psychic impact of the most powerful superhuman who ever lived returning to the planet from a journey out into space where he transcended his physical form.

But on the upside, there's a robot named for the legendary soul musician and composer of the Super Fly soundtrack Curtis Mayfield, so hey, at least we've got that going for us. For the rest of the bad news though, read on for a preview!

An Asgardian Returns in New "Agents of SHIELD" Season 3 Photos

The search for Simmons continues in new stills from the second episode of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Season 3, "Purpose in the Machine."

I Will Fight You in the Street to Get My Hands on a Figuarts Captain Phasma

Aside from BB-8, the most-wanted action figure/collectible for Star Wars fans this season has to be anything Captain Phasma. A bit of that desirability comes from how rare the figure has been at retail, as both the Disney Elite, Hasbro Black Series and the Hasbro 3.75" versions have all be very hard to get your hands on. That of course springs from the character's mysterious nature and kick-ass costume. Also, she's played by Gwendoline Christie, making Phasma immediately one of the most bad-ass characters in Star Wars canon. And she hasn't uttered a single word yet. Phasma is basically the Boba Fett of The Force Awakens from a collector's standpoint. As difficult as it's been to track down the current crop of collectibles, you can believe that the upcoming SH Figuarts Captain Phasma will be equally as hot when it hits the market. It's a bit of a challenge to get Figuarts figures here in the States already, but when you add in the fervor around this character, it starts to shape up into a perfect storm of impossible odds. That is, if you hope to pay normal, human prices, and not the "time to sell a kidney" prices the second-hand market often deems as "fair" and "reasonable." Continue reading…

WATCH: New "Walking Dead" Season 6 Featurette Brings an End to Idyllic Alexandria

A new behind-the-scenes video features the cast and crew discussing their expectations for the show's forthcoming sixth season.

Peggy Ditches the Hat in First 'Agent Carter' Season 2 Poster

Marvel’s Agent Carter proved endlessly stylish as Peggy kicked bad guys all up and down the East Coast, but with a move to Los Angeles on the horizon, the SSR’s best gal needs some warmer wardrobe. Ditch the hat, but keep the gun, Peggy’s on the prowl in a new Agent Carter Season 2 poster. Entertainment Weekly debuted a first look at the new Season 2 key art, in advance of the Captain America spinoff’s presence at New York Comic-Con 2015. And while there isn’t very much to gleam from Peggy’s stylish pose, those in attendance of NYCC itself can pick up a copy of the poster at the Marvel booth (#1354). Continue reading…

"Flash" Season 2, Episode 2 Synopsis Revealed

In the forthcoming "Flash of Two Worlds," Barry Allen meets Jay Garrick, the Flash of Earth-2.

New Photos Forecast (Jon) Snow in "Game of Thrones" Season 6

Pictures from the set of the series during filming of the sixth season in Belfast reveal Jon Snow actor Kit Harington.

Try Not to be Super-Grossed Out By Tweeterhead's Classic Two-Face Statue

I'm a grown man who writes about toys, games and comics on the Internet, so when I tell you this Two-Face statue makes me want to throw up, you know I mean it as a compliment. Tweeterhead's latest Batman Classic statue is a fairly spot-on rendering of the man formerly known as Harvey Dent from the Dick Sprang era. As gnarly as Two-Face's design has gotten over the years, there's something to be said for how gag reflex-inducing this incarnation still is all these decades later. Now, you might be thinking this Two-Face isn't actually that bad-looking. Why on Earth would this version be more terrifying to look at than the Aaron Eckhart version from The Dark Knight, or the version from the Batman and Two-Face storyline? Well, I'll tell you. It's all about trypophobia. The paint app on this Two-Face's scarred eye is eerily reminiscent of the louts seed head, which is commonly used to give people with trypophobia the heebie-jeebies. Two-Face is already repulsive enough, but this version's eye just keeps staring at me, giving me the immediate urge to look away. It's not often you can say that about a character design from the '50s, so good job, Tweeterhead. Continue reading…

POLL: Did "Gotham" Season 2 Improve with the "Rise of the Villains"?

There's no Batman -- not yet -- but Bruce Wayne & Jim Gordon are making a difference. Did "Gotham's" second season premiere improve from Season 1?

The Powerpuff Girls Hit The Runway In Milan

Fresh from protecting the city of Townsville, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup have inspired a new collection by designer Jeremy Scott from Moschino.

Has Love Found Its Limit in Colinet and Charretier's 'Infinite Loop' #6? [Preview]

A time-traveler whose job is to fix anomalies finds an anomaly that she falls in love with. That's the elegant high concept behind Pierrick Colinet and Elsa Charretier's The Infinite Loop, a stunningly beautiful and mind-bending love story about two women whose romance has more than the usual sorts of hurdles to overcome. If you haven't been following the series, this preview of the final issue won't give too much away. Our time-tossed lovers face the sort of choices you expect to find in a final act -- be together or make a sacrifice. But these pages will also show you why you really should have been reading the series from the start, because Elsa Charretier's art and colors are breathtakingly lovely. Continue reading…

How Did the Arc Reactor Get From the "Iron Man" Movies to the "Iron Man" Comic?

CSBG's latest spotlight on outside media plots migrating into comics examines how the Arc Reactor moved the "Iron Man" movie into Marvel's comics.

Ask Chris #259: How I Learned To Love 'Achewood'

Q: What in the world is so great about Achewood? I've tried it a couple times , and it's always seemed average at best. -- @DylanJBurnett A: Believe it or not, Dylan, there was a time when I was just like you. Much as I love it now, Chris Onstad's Achewood didn't click with me the first time I read it, or the second. Or the third or fourth, for that matter, and every time one of my friends would respond to a joke about Airwolf or the Smiths with a link to the strip, I'd wonder why anyone liked this comic about the weird dog running around in his underwear. Then one day it just clicked. It might have been when I finally realized that Ray was a cat who was running around in his underwear, and it might've been when I finally sat down to read a complete story, but it all fell into place, and I came away firmly standing behind the idea that The Great Outdoor Fight is the single best comic of the 21st century. Continue reading…

Idris Elba Breaks Silence on "Groundbreaking" "Star Trek Beyond" Villain

The star of "Luther" and "The Wire" opens up on his villainous character and what makes him different from other "Star Trek" villains.

Marvel's 'Luke Cage' is a Barber-For-Hire in First Set Photos

Production is officially underway on Marvel’s Netflix Luke Cage, and the hero-for-hire has hit the streets to film scenes for his post-Jessica Jones return. See what Wire alum has joined the cast, and get a first look at the big baddies before Luke Cage officially arrives on Netflix next year!

REVIEW: Gage & Isaacs Make "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10" #19 Fantastic

Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs' "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10" #19 "is a high point for 'Buffy' as a whole, comics or otherwise. "

Weekender: The Wild Frontier, The Oyster Tour, and Something New from Lucy Knisley

The week’s over! And with it we reach the final days of September --- which you've all done a dazzling job with, by all accounts. But while you’ve been off working and living and doing all those things that humans do, what have you missed in the world of comics? With Weekender, ComicsAlliance is here to give you a heads-up on some of the stories that you might have overlooked, and to showcase some great writing on comics for you to enjoy over buttery crumpets this weekend.

"Agents of SHIELD" EP Says 'Different Dynamics' Shape Season 3

"Agents of SHIELD" executive producer Jeffrey Bell talks to CBR about season three, set to deliver new combos of characters and plenty of Inhumans.

PREVIEW: Soule & McNiven Break the Silence in "Uncanny Inhumans" #1

"Death of Wolverine" collaborators Charles Soule & Steve McNiven reunite to tell all-new stories of Medusa, Black Bolt and the Inhumans in October.

James Bond Has A Secret In New "Spectre" TV Spot

Christoph Waltz's delightfully sinister character emerges from the shadows in the latest television ad for the 24th Bond film.

"Gotham" Casts Raul Castillo as Eduardo Flamingo

The "Looking" star will play Eduardo Flamingo, "one of Gotham’s most dangerous hitmen," in "Gotham" season two.

Ridley Scott Teases "Alien: Paradise Lost's" "Connections with Ripley"

Director Ridley Scott hinted at the "Prometheus" sequel's connection to his original "Alien" franchise and more.

"Kingdom Hearts" Leaps To Life In These Incredible Cosplay Photos

These amazing cosplay portraits offer an idea of what a live-action "Kingdom Hearts" movie might look like, right down to the impractical keyblade and shoes.

Updated: DC Reveals 'Dark Knight III' Variants From Gibbons, Murphy, Allred, Sale, Albuquerque and More

We are quickly approaching the November 25 release date for Dark Knight III: The Master Race, Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson's eight-issue miniseries chronicling the final adventure of an older Batman. And, as is the way of things, there are going to be plenty of variant covers for collectors to get their hands on.

In addition to the usual variants --- including the 1:5000 sketch variant by Jim Lee that was announced back in August --- there are also going to be retailer-specific covers.

"Heroes Reborn" Premiere Earns Solid, But Not Super, Ratings

"Heroes Reborn" premiered to 6 million viewers, and a 1.9 rating among adults 18-49, on par with the February 2010 finale of the original series.

Desperately Seeking Sea King: Happy Aquaversary, Aquaman

When Aquaman debuted on this day in 1941 in More Fun Comics #73, in a story by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris, he was not the first aquatic superhero—Marvel's Namor the Sub-Mariner had him beat by about two years—but thanks to nearly seventy-five years of more or less continual publication, a choice spot as a founder of the Justice League, and starring roles on Super Friends and The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, he is surely the best-known underwater adventurer in comics. This fame, however, has proven to be a double-edged sword (trident? harpoon?) for the king of the seven seas. Aquaman ran as a feature first in More Fun Comics, then Adventure Comics and World's Finest Comics before finally landing his own title in 1962. Not many superheroes survived the post-Wertham interregnum between the Golden and Silver Ages—Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman being notable exceptions—but Aquaman (and his long-time co-feature Green Arrow) survived the superhero drought unscathed, perhaps because he was a pet creation of editor Mort Weisinger, or perhaps because he kept his head down as a modest supporting feature in a string of anthology titles who didn't even appear on a cover until nineteen years after his first appearance (not even in his own title, but in the first appearance of the Justice League in Brave and the Bold). Continue reading…

Thursday, September 24, 2015

PREVIEWS: "SHIELD," "Inferno" & More Marvel Comics on Sale September 30, 2015

It's the end of the line for "M.O.D.O.K. Assassin," S.H.I.E.L.D. calls in "The Cavalry" plus "Ghost Racers," "X-Men '92" and tons more.

ICYMI: Scooby-Doo And The Gang Are Teaming Up With Harley Quinn And Poison Ivy

We are living in an era where the strangest crossovers imaginable are actually being published at an almost alarming rate. I mean, we just got through Archie vs. Predator, in which Riverdale's teenage population had their collective spines ripped out by an alien hunter, and once we've seen that happen, there's not a whole lot that is no longer on the table. Those books, however, tend to be isolated incidents. DC's digital-first Scooby-Doo Team-Up, on the other hand, is based entirely around that premise, and while they've done team-ups with classic cartoon properties like The Flintstones and Jonny Quest, the most notable stories are always the ones where they're hanging out with super-heroes, and those are getting a whole lot weirder. So in case you missed it, this week's issue had them teaming up with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, and it's pretty great. Continue reading…

"Heroes Reborn" Recap: Exploring the "Brave New World" and "Odessa"

"Heroes" is back, with a two-hour season premiere that proves the five-year break was beneficial for Tim Kring's superpowered NBC drama.

Review: 'Heroes Reborn' Feels Like NBC Drunk-Dialing an Old Ex

NBC's 'Heroes Reborn' drops the cheerleader, but can't save world (or itself) from repetition. Our early spoiler-free review, before the superhero series takes flight once more in Thursday's premiere! Continue reading…

Artist illustrates Damian Wayne's Family Tree

A Deviantart artists has created a Family Tree for the latest Boy Wonder, featuring almost every member of the Bat-family and adorable art.

"Mockingbird" Ongoing Series on the Way, "X-Men '92" Extended

Chelsea Cain will write more "Mockingbird" for Marvel, and the "X-Men '92" series will extend beyond "Secret Wars" into an ongoing series.

Super: The Whole World Is Waiting For You To Come Out As Bisexual

This week is Bisexual Awareness Week, an annual event intended to raise bisexual visibility and combat the marginalization of people who are attracted to both their own and other genders. Bisexuals face challenges not only within heteronormative mainstream culture, but within LGBTQ culture as well. Their identity is often challenged by straight and gay alike, and they're frequently compartmentalized as straight or gay based on their past, current, or preferred partners. Bisexual Awareness Week exists to challenge these preconceptions.

To mark the occasion, artist Kris Anka posted an image of some of his favorite bisexual comics heroes and villains on Twitter. His picks included John Constantine, Catwoman, Psylocke, Mystique, and Prodigy --- all confirmed on-panel bisexual characters --- plus a sixth character that some fans were surprised to see; Wonder Woman. Is Wonder Woman bisexual?

"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" Comics Writer, Release Month Revealed

Kyle Higgins will write the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" series for BOOM! Studios, with issue #0 scheduled for release in January 2016.

Updated: DC Reveals 'Dark Knight III' Variants From Gibbons, Murphy, Lee, Risso, Albuquerque and More

In addition to the usual variants --- including the 1:5000 sketch variant by Jim Lee that was announced back in August --- there are also going to be retailer-specific covers.

Slott & Allred's "Silver Surfer" to Return, Lemire & Smallwood Join "Moon Knight"

Dan Slott & Mike Allred will resume their "Silver Surfer" run in 2016, and Jeff Lemire will join "Moon Knight" with artist Greg Smallwood.

Star Wars Battlefront Beta Is Coming on Oct 8

EA and DICE have announced even more details about next month's big Star Wars Battlefront beta. The beta itself will run for five days, giving PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gamers access to Survival Missions on Tattooine, where you'll have to survive ongoing waves of Imperial forces, including Stormtroopers, AT-ST walkers, TIE Fighters and more. You can also try the Drop Zone mode on Sullust, which is comprised of 8v8 multiplayer matches with king of the hill-style gameplay. Lastly, you can partake in the big Walker Assault multiplayer bouts on Hoth. It's a massive 20v20 war between the Rebel Alliance and Empire with Y-Wings, Snowspeeders, AT-ATs and more. Continue reading…

Weep at the Glory of Mondo's Batman: The Animated Series Vinyl Boxset

Frequent thorn in my wallet's side, Mondo, which also happens to make some outstanding posters, limited run vinyls and toys, has just put the final nail in my bank account's coffin. To celebrate Batman Day, Mondo has announced (via IGN) an eight-record box set featuring the soundtrack to Batman: The Animated Series. Unlike Mondo's previously released Batman: TAS vinyls, these aren't going to be just the opening and ending themes on a cleverly-cut record. This box set will include the full scores to 16 different episodes, hand-picked by Mondo as favorites. What's more, each vinyl will have a unique sleeve with art from Phantom City Creative spotlighting the episodes featured on each side. There will also be six different 4x6 handbills for each of the villains from the fan-favorite episode, "Almost Got 'Im." The whole shebang comes in a black and yellow slipcase featuring the Gotham City skyline in the shape of the bat-symbol. It's probably the most beautiful collection Mondo's crafted to date, which means it's going to be one of the most sought after items of the holiday season. Continue reading…

EXCLUSIVE: Jim Starlin Enters Adam Warlock's Mind In "Infinity Entity"

Jim Starlin takes Warlock on a cosmic quest in "Infinity Entity," the next chapter in his unfolding Marvel saga that features art by Alan Davis.

Medicom's Bank Robbery Joker Lets You Relive Those First Few Minutes of The Dark Knight Again

Seven years ago, Christopher Nolan tapped Heath Ledger to play arguably the most iconic comic book villain in his sequel to Batman Begins. As the Joker in The Dark Knight, Ledger made a lasting impression on the fanbase that's often remembered as one of, if not the, most memorable performance in a comic book film. At least part of that reverence comes from the fact that it was Ledger's final film role, but it's also due to the fact that his Joker was so different, strange and captivating. Since that film's release, Joker action figures have constantly been in the rotation from various companies, including Hot Toys, NECA, and recently, Medicom. The Japanese manufacturer has been slowly releasing figures based on the final two films in the past year or so, including a Batman, Catwoman and a purple-suited Joker. Next, Medicom's MAFEX line will introduce the Joker from his brief time as a bank robber in the earliest moments of The Dark Knight. Continue reading…

Michael B. Jordan Must Prove Himself to Sylvester Stallone in New "Creed" TV Spot

In a new "Creed" TV spot, Adonis Johnson must prove himself to be as special as his father Apollo Creed so Rocky Balboa will help him train as a boxer.

And Then We Make His Night Worse: Ryan K. Lindsay on 'Negative Space' [Interview]

This week saw the release of the second issue of Negative Space, the sci-fi horror comic from Dark Horse, which features art by Owen Gieni (Manifest Destiny, Shutter) and story by Ryan K. Lindsay (Headspace, CMYK). The book centers on Guy Harris, a suicidally depressed man who discovers that his own dark emotions are being harvested by a secret corporation. ComicsAlliance spoke with Lindsay about what inspired the book, how he layers on the horror, and why he chose to step outside of his own experiences to write Guy.

EXCLUSIVE: Humphries & Boyle Play Cupid with Creator-Owned "Jonesy"

Sam Humphries talks to CBR News about teaming with artist Caitlin Rose Boyle for a "shipping"-inspired new series from the BOOM! Box imprint.

'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Recruit First 'Secret Warrior' in New Season 3 Clip

We’re only days away from the Season 3 premiere of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and already Inhumans are running amok. Check out the action packed opening scene of Season 3, as Daisy Johnson quakes through downtown in an effort to rescue a rogue Inhuman!

Fantastic Five: Most Underrated Justice League Members

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our years on the Internet, it’s that there’s no aspect of comics that can’t be broken down and quantified in a single definitive list, preferably in amounts of five or ten. And since there’s no more definitive authority than ComicsAlliance, we’re taking it upon ourselves to compile Top Five lists of everything you could ever want to know about comics. The Justice League is known for having not only the heavy hitters of the DC Universe, but some of the most popular fictional characters in the world, so it’s really no surprise that numerous worthy heroes fall through the cracks and never get the attention and accolades they deserve. Today we’re going to try to remedy that just a little and give five such characters their moment in the sun. Continue reading…

It's Official: Nickelodeon To Launch "The Splat" Block On Oct. 5

TeenNick will air eight hours of classic shows, including "Rugrats," "All That," "Ren & Stimpy," "Salute Your Shorts" and "Hey Arnold!"

REVIEW: Palahniuk & Stewart Escalate the Mind Games in "Fight Club 2" #5

Chuck Palahniuk and Cameron Stewart's "Fight Club 2" #5 "is the issue that amps up an already engaging and complex story."

BEHIND THE ECLIPSE: Tim Kring Answers Your "Heroes Reborn" Questions

With "Heroes Reborn" debuting tonight on NBC, series creator Tim Kring answers the big questions about the show's return after more than five years.

This "Mega Man X" Figure Is Reason Enough For Fans To Flock To NYCC

TruForce Collectibles has revealed its New York Comic Con exclusive "Mega Man X" action figure, which features die-cast armor and LED X-Buster.

Jason Momoa Teases "Some Bit of Orange & Green" in Aquaman Costume

Slated to appear in "Batman v Superman," Momoa hinted his outfit is inspired by the classic costume and revealed where he'll stand in the conflict.

Philip Winchester Strikes Back With NBC's "The Player"

The "Strike Back" veteran talks about the new NBC action thriller, performing his own stunts and starring opposite Wesley Snipes.

Clark Gregg Promises Life Remains 'Complicated' for Coulson in "Agents of SHIELD" Season 3

CBR News talks one-on-one with "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" star Clark Gregg about the challenges facing Phil Coulson as season three begins.

Gibbons Pays Homage To Miller In "Dark Knight III: The Master Race" Variant

Legendary "Watchmen" artist Dave Gibbons shows off his take on Frank Miller's Batman and Robin in this "Dark Knight" variant cover.

Hugh Jackman Reveals "Wolverine 3" Will Address Father/Son Relationship with Professor X

The "X-Men" star teased some aspects of the "Wolverine 3" plot as well as what he's doing to prepare for his final appearance in the role.

Marvel Phase One Retrospective Looks Back on the First Years of the MCU

It may seem hard to believe, but Marvel has now completed two phases of films, ending Phase Two with Ant-Man before entering Phase Three next summer with Captain America: Civil War. The new MCU kicked off back in 2008 with Iron Man and ended with the first Avengers in 2012 — which already seems so, so long ago. As we prepare for Avengers: Age of Ultron to hit Blu-ray and DVD, one fan has put together this 10-minute retrospective looking back on the films of Phase One.

HBO NOW Ad Features "Wire" Reunion, "Game of Thrones"

A new ad for HBO NOW reunites two former "Wire" stars and features reference to "The Wire's" shared connection with "Game of Thrones."

The Best There Is: Aquaman Vs. Cyclops

They're perhaps the two most commonly mocked heroes of their respective fictional universes; DC's Aquaman, created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris in 1941, and Marvel's Cyclops, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963. One is the stalwart ruler of an underwater kingdom; the other is the redoubtable leader of a group of outcast mutants. They're both heroes who have overcome great obstacles, lived extraordinary tales, fought terrible villains, and experienced remarkable romances. To some fans, they're incredibly cool. To others, they're irredeemably dorky, perhaps especially in contrast to their more beloved colleagues like Batman and Wolverine. In fact, some comics fans would say that Arthur Curry is the worst. Others would say the same about Scott Summers. Today we're asking you to decide... which of them is the best? Continue reading…

This "Simpsons," "Wire" Mash-Up Tickles the Humor Way Down in Your Soul

The long-running animated comedy series meets the hard-hitting socio-political drama in this entertaining mash-up video.

"The Walking Dead" Reportedly Seeking to Cast Negan

A new casting call for AMC's "The Walking Dead" has surfaced online, and the character it describes sounds a lot like fan favorite antagonist Negan.

'Walking Dead' Officially Annoints Tom Payne as Paul 'Jesus' Monroe

Just last week, Walking Dead Season 6 set photos overwhelmingly pointed to the arrival of comic favorite Paul ‘Jesus’ Monroe, though few could identify the actor under under a beard and beanie. Now, AMC has confirmed that Luck star Tom Payne will portray the Robert Kirkman figure, bringing about some eye-opening changes with him.

Artist Imagines a DC Live-Action "Crisis on Infinite Earths"

This "Crisis on Infinite Earths" homage ponders, what if "Gotham," "Batman & Robin" and much more took place in the same fictional multiverse?

Humble Bundle And CBLDF Launch Pay-What-You Want Bundle Of Banned Comics

From October 27 to September 3, the American Library Association, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and a dozen other organizations made up of creators, publishers, teachers and journalists will be celebrating Banned Books Week. Well, maybe "celebrating" is the wrong word for a 33 year-old campaign designed to raise awareness of censorship by championing books that were challenged or banned from libraries across the country, but there's at least one good reason to have a good time with it. To mark the occasion, the folks over at Humble Bundle have launched a pay-what-you-want collection of banned and challenged comics, including Jeff Smith's Bone, Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neil's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Keiji Nakazawa's Barefoot Gen and more --- complete with reasons why they were challenged. Continue reading…

Daryl Dixon Sights Deadpool, Batman, Jack Skellington and More in Funko's NYCC Exclusives

Genndy Tartakovsky Still Interested in Finishing His Luke Cage Series for Marvel

The "Samurai Jack" creator, who developed a four-part "Luke Cage" miniseries for Marvel Comics, revealed he's up to completing the story.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

WATCH: "Avengers: Age of Ultron" Cast Masters the Art of Dance in New Gag Reel Clips

A handful of new scenes from the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" gag reel features the cast boogieing in addition to some unusual relationships and more.

NECA Recreates Classic Aliens vs Predator Mini-Comic With Figures For Latest Kenner-Inspired Set

It's been some years since Kenner held the rights to either Alien or Predator, but current rights-holder NECA has been steadily paying homage to the Kenner Predator era with a few different releases. Soon, it will be venturing into Kenner's Alien line as well, but to kick things off, NECA is releasing a two-pack through Toys 'R Us commemorating the original Kenner set. Continue reading…

'Legends of Tomorrow' Adds 'Mr. Robot' Star as Soviet Villainess

We still don’t have the clearest picture of what DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will look like on a weekly basis, even as Arrow and The Flash have seemingly already begun the crossover to launch it. Now however, we have our first time-displaced villain, and the unsettling gaze of Mr. Robot star Stephanie Corneliussen to back it up.

"Robot Chicken" Crew Open the Doors to "SuperMansion" with Bryan Cranston

"Robot Chicken" veterans Zeb Wells and Matthew Senreich discuss "SuperMansion," their new stop-motion animated series on Crackle.

Manga Is Still Hugely Popular, So Why Don't We Talk About It More?

Despite its important market share, huge visibility and ever-rising, record-breaking sales numbers, manga is still largely ignored or scorned by the Western comics community — a term that here means retailers, readers, publishers and some creators — while the critical press and general public thinks of manga as something separate from comics. But why?

These A Capella Covers of "Batman" & Other Cartoon Themes Will Leave You Smiling

Meet Mr. Dooves, the smooth crooner with dozens of amazing cartoon theme song covers, all done a capella, including "Teen Titans" & "Justice League."

The Transformed Man, Act 24: The One Where They Go To Earth

I've never liked the Transformers. The franchise didn't get its hooks into me as a kid, and while I've tried to give it a shot as an adult, it never really clicked. But now, with a recommendation from almost everyone I know and a well-timed Humble Bundle sale that left me with three years worth (and counting) of IDW's More Than Meets The Eye and Robots In Disguise comics, I'm going on a quest to see if these comics can turn me from someone who has never cared at all about Optimus Prime into someone who uses words like "Cybertron" and "alt-mode" with alarming regularity. And Primus help me, it's working. This week, it's the final installment. We're all caught up, and the man stands transformed by his journey into comics about talking robots that turn into cars and planes. Continue reading…

TV LEGENDS REVEALED: Did Bruce Willis Appear On "Friends" Because He Lost A Bet?

Discover whether Bruce Willis' Emmy-winning guest role on "Friends" really came about because he lost a bet to Matthew Perry.

Thumbnail: Pacing And Violence In 'Stray Bullets'

As endemic as violence is to mainstream comics, it's rare when you see a representation of it that inspires an appropriate level of shock. That's to be expected in superhero comics, where the gap between art and reality is wider, but even in books that maintain a closer relationship with the truth there are only a few books that portray violence in an un-stylized, un-sensationalized manner that still conveys how jarring it really is.

There are some great examples, from Scalped to the work of Johnny Craig (still a little sensationalized, but he gets a pass) to almost everything Garth Ennis has ever written. Even among that company, what David Lapham does in Stray Bullets is unique.

That Time Spider-Man Accidentally Hit Mary Jane

CSBG's latest spotlight on comic book plots gone bad looks at the time Peter Parker accidentally struck Mary Jane during the "Clone Saga."

Meet The "Ash vs. Evil Dead" Cast In New Featurette

This new look at the upcoming Starz series catches fans up with where Ash is now and introduces his new sidekicks in battling the dead.

"Legends of Tomorrow" Casts Stephanie Corneliussen as Negative Woman

The "Mr. Robot" star will play Cold War-era Valentina Vostok, a.k.a. Negative Woman, in the "Arrow"/"Flash" crossover show.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Video Allows You To Explore Jakku

Lucasfilm puts viewers in the driver's seat of Rey's speeder as it races across Jakku in this 360-degree immersive video.

Funko Reveals "Arkham Knight" and Daryl Dixon NYCC Exclusives

As we begin the countdown to New York Comic Con, Funko has unveiled its first wave of event-exclusive merchandise.

This "Attack On Titan" Stop-Motion Fan Short May Be Better Than The Film

It's Mikasa versus giant wooden mannequins in this inspired "Attack on Titan" short that blends stop-motion and CG animation.

Ridley Scott Plans Three "Prometheus" Sequels

The filmmaker reveals he may need as many as four "Prometheus" films before he can make the connection to "Alien."

John Boyega Reveals The "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Script Made Him Cry & More

The "Star Wars" star admitted the script brought tears to his eyes, discussed the intensive training he endured and more in a new interview.

5 Previously Uncanceled DC Series, Before "Omega Men"

DC Comics canceled "The Omega Men" before reviving the series a few days later, and it's not the first time DC has brought a title back to life.

Explore "Star Trek's" Enterprise-D In This Fan-Made Virtual Tour

Set a course for the Enterprise-D from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in this impressive virtual tour that offers just a glimpse of an ambitious fan project.

"Walking Dead" Adds Tom Payne As Jesus

The "Luck" actor joins the cast in a recurring role as Paul "Jesus" Monroe.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Okay, NOW 'The Walking Dead' Season 6 Might Be Casting its Next Big Bad

Faithful fans of The Walking Dead well-know that the AMC series has only time before casting its next biggest big bad since The Governor, and that day may finally be upon us. A recent casting call unmistakably alludes to one of Rick Grimes’ most frightful enemies, and a hell of a finale to Season 6.

X-Men, Spider-Man and More Become Hieroglyphics in Art Series

Artist Josh Ln has reinterpreted the X-Men, Avengers, Spider-Man and more in the style of Egyptian hieroglyphics, in his "Hero-Glyphics" series.

'Arrow' and 'Flash' Suit Up in 'Game Changing' New Crossover Tease

Both Arrow and The Flash have kept busy readying for their fourth and second respective seasons, yet a first look of the next crossover may already have emerged. A new photo from Stephen Amell teases a game-changer for Oliver and Barry, and one that could prove deadly … or joyous!

PREVIEWS: "Batgirl," "The Flash" & More DC Comics on Sale September 23, 2015

Get your first looks at "Batgirl" #44, "Astro City" #27, "We Are... ROBIN" #4, "Sinestro" #15 and tons more on sale from DC Comics this week.

Nightwing and the Tumbler Come to Arkham Knight, Catwoman and Batman '66 on the Way

As promised, there's a new update for Batman: Arkham Knight available today that brings the Tumbler from Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy to the video game. There'll be a pair of new race tracks based on those movies, too. You'll also be able to use the Tumbler on the streets of Gotham itself... provided you've already eliminated every single drone tank in the game. It's another of Arkham Knight's instances where it almost got something right. I mean, the Tumbler is pretty dang close to the Arkham Knight version of the Batmobile, but it still has these weird restrictions on how it can be used. The same was true of the Batman '89 Batmobile and will likely also be true of October's Batman '66 Batmobile, which shouldn't be confused with the Batman '66 Batmobile skin that was offered as a PlayStation 4 pre-order incentive. Of course, weird restrictions has been the story of the Batman: Arkham Knight add-ons ever since they first started dropping. You could play as all the characters so far individually (Batgirl, Harley Quinn and Red Hood) in their specific stories, but none of them were accessible in the open world of Gotham's streets. At least, not without modding on a PC. The same will hold true for the Nightwing adventure, GCPD Lockdown. The first actual story content developed by Rocksteady (previous add-ons were from WB Montreal), there's a chance this little bit of Dick Grayson goodness will be the first DLC worth the price of admission. Hell, it might even actually last longer than 20 minutes. You know what still won't be coming? The ability to play as Nightwing throughout all of Gotham. Continue reading…

Michael Bay, Carlton Cuse Shopping Jack Ryan TV Series

Tom Clancy's CIA operative is in the midst of a bidding war as Bay's Platinum Dunes and Paramount TV want to bring the character to television.

Clive Barker Adapting "Weaveworld" Fantasy Novel for The CW

Author and horror icon Clive Barker is producing and adapting his 1987 dark fantasy novel as a television series for The CW.

'Flash' Season 2 Reveals More Jay Garrick, Zoom in New Featurette

Network TV will get its fall 2015 premiere on all through the week, but poor Barry Allen will wait for October to debut The Flash Season 2. Thankfully, there’s an all-new preview to tide us over, including new looks at fellow speedster Jay Garrick, big bad Zoom, and all manner of new Season 2 footage.

CALL FOR QUESTIONS: Interview the "Agents of SHIELD" Showrunners!

With the third season debuting in a week, CBR is once again giving you a chance to interact with "SHIELD" EPs Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen.

Archie Brings Back The Teen Scene Investigators For A Digital Collection Of 'Archie's Mysteries' [Preview]

Every time Archie announces a digital collection, I get more excited than I think anyone could reasonably expect, mainly because we've finally gotten to the point where they are unearthing some of the weirdest parts of the company's past and making them as easy to access as possible. Sure, those first few were just stories about Veronica's dad or whatever, but last time we got Jughead's Time Police and now? Now it's time for Archie's Mysteries, featuring the Teen Scene Investigators. Continue reading…

Pierce Brosnan Gives His Predictions on Next James Bond

The former star of "Goldeneye" and "The World is Not Enough" gives his thoughts on who he thinks will get cast as Bond next.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze Take on New 'Black Panther' Series at Marvel

We all knew a Black Panther title had to be on the way from Marvel, given the character's upcoming movie appearance in Captain America: Civil War. We also knew it was a title the publisher had to get right. Black Panther is arguably the most important black superhero in comics, not just because he's the first, and not just because of the resonance of his name, but because his strength, status, and ingenuity mark him out as an icon of black excellence. Marvel needed to pick a creative team that showed due respect to everything the character stands for.

Today Marvel revealed that writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and artist Brian Stelfreeze are the creative team for a brand new Black Panther series. Hey, Marvel; good job.

The Surprising Comic That Solved a 14 Year-Old X-Men Mystery

In the latest spotlight on long-resolved comic book plots, CSBG looks at a long-standing X-Men mystery resolved in the pages of... "Quasar"?

"Batman: Arkham Knight" DLC Trailer Teases Tumbler, Nightwing and More

The trailer video from Rocksteady Studios highlights the upcoming downloadable content available this month.

Herocross Extends Hybrid Metal Justice League Invitation to Green Lantern

As far as Green Lanterns go, Hal Jordan may get all the headlines, but everyone knows Kyle Rayner is the greatest hero to ever don the the uniform. You could make a case for Guy Gardner if the person you were trying to convince had never heard of Green Lantern before, and John Stewart is in a league all his own, so nobody is even close to his tier in the conversation. You got all those other weird dudes like Mogo and Stel, and of course there's that one guy that will always be championing Kilowog over in the corner. Good for him.

Anyway, since Hal Jordan is the name that draws the most attention for reasons, he always seems to get preferential action figure treatment, too. Most of the rest of the Lanterns have at least been honored by DC Collectibles over the years, but when it comes to third party manufacturers, it's almost always Hal who gets the nod. Such is the case with Herocross' latest Hybrid Metal Figuration. He'll join the existing multiple Batmen, Superman, Robin and the Flash in the line, bringing the Justice League roster that much closer to completion.

"LEGO Dimensions'" "No Walls, No Rules" Approach Brings DC Universe to Blocky Life

TT Games' Mark Warburton promises a confrontation between LEGO Batmen and explains what separates this "toys-to-life" game from the rest.

"Gotham" Showrunner Says Court of Owls Planned for the Series

According to showrunner Bruno Heller, the Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo-created antagonists will make its way to the show sooner or later.

Jamie Lee Curtis Still Proudly Wears The Crown On "Scream Queens"

The legendary scream queen talks with SPINOFF talks about her role on the new horror-comedy, and her love for her devoted fan base.

iPhone Owners Prefer Superman, Android Users Side With Batman

A survey of smartphone users found that more iPhone owners leaned toward Superman, while Android users went with Batman. How did Wonder Woman fare?

Get Your '90s On With The Crystal Method At Blood-Soaked "Blade Rave" At NYCC

A night club recreation of the iconic rave fight scene from 1998's "Blade" will go down after dark during New York Comic Con.

X-POSITION: Guggenheim Puts Overlooked Mutants On "X-Tinction Agenda's" Frontlines

"X-Tinction Agenda" writer Marc Guggenheim answers reader questions about his X-Men-centric "Secret Wars" series for Marvel.

JK Rowling Expands Harry Potter With New "Potter Family" Story

A new story of Harry Potter's family sets off a redesign for the expanded world of Pottermore as new films and stage productions are in the works.

Jake McDorman & Jennifer Carpenter Boost Your Intelligence About "Limitless"

The stars of the new CBS drama talk with SPINOFF about the TV sequel to the big-screen thriller, and tapping into the mind of Bradley Cooper.

"Gotham" Slides In Season 2 Premier Ratings

Facing tough competition from "Monday Night Football" to "The Voice," the Fox drama dropped from its Season 1 finale numbers.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze Launch Marvel's New "Black Panther" Series

"Black Panther" returns to Marvel in the spring with a new series from acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates and artist Brian Stelfreeze.

Open This Chest To Reveal Your Destiny: An Interview With The Red And Pink Rangers Of 'Power Rangers Dino Charge'

If you've been paying attention, you've probably already figured out that I'm a pretty big fan of the Power Rangers, and with that love comes a whole lot of questions about how that show works. This week, with Power Rangers Dino Charge returning to Saturday afternoons on Nickelodeon, I had the chance to talk to two members of the current cast to finally get my answers: Brennan Mejia, who plays Tyler, the Red Ranger, and Camille Hyde, who plays Shelby, the Pink Ranger. Over the course of the interview, Mejia and Hyde talk to us about interacting with fans, their subtle tributes to Japan's Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, and --- in what I can assure you is something you're going to want to read --- the truly amazing audition process for becoming a Power Ranger. Continue reading…

Maniax Run Wild in 'Red Band' "Gotham" Trailer

Things are set to get very, very violent next week on "Gotham" as evidenced by a new "red brand" trailer focused on the city's worst criminals.

12 Facts You May Not Have Known About the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Everyone loves comic book trivia, but with 75 years of superhero comics behind us right now, there’s always some new obscure fact to learn. That’s why ComicsAlliance is going deep into the minutiae of your favorite characters in our continuing video series. You think you know comics? Well, here’s a few things you might not know! This week we're taking a look at one of the biggest multi-media juggernauts in comics history, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Find out how a night of goofing around turned into a multi-million dollar enterprise, discover the byzantine publication history of the heroes in a half-shell, and gawk in amazement at the bevy of parodies, blatant imitators, and wannabes that arose in the Turtles' wake. Continue reading…

A "Sinister Six" Movie Could Still Happen, According to Drew Goddard

Despite the deal between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures to share Spider-Man, Drew Goddard says the "Sinister Six" film remains a possibility.

On The Cheap: Comixology's 'Batman' Day Sale Has 1,001 Comics For A Buck Each (Literally)

Gather 'round, children, for Batman Day is once again upon us! Yes, it's that magical day in September (or sometimes June, and probably March) when we all put the teeth of criminals beneath our pillows so that Jolly St. Batman can drive down from the North Pole and leave Batarangs for the good children and severe beatings for the bad. Right? Is that how it works? Listen, I'll level with you: I have no idea what the mechanics of Batman Day are actually meant to be, but I do know that the folks over at Comixology has offered up a gigantic sale to mark the occasion, featuring over a thousand comics dropped down to a dollar each. If you've got Bruce Wayne money, that's no problem, but if you need a guide, well, read on! Continue reading…

Monday, September 21, 2015

'Spider-Man' Director Jon Watts Reveals Peter Parker's Age in the Reboot

We’ve known for some time now that Peter Parker would be heading back to high school in Sony and Marvel’s upcoming Spider-Man reboot — Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has mentioned John Hughes’ coming-of-age ’80s films as inspiration for the tone of the new standalone movie, and the casting of Tom Holland further indicated that Spider-Man is indeed skewing a bit younger this time around. But just how young? Director Jon Watts has an answer. Continue reading…

"Gotham" Recap: "Rise of the Villains" Offers A Surprising Breakout Episode

In an unexpected twist, "Gotham" returns to TV with its black humor tone fully under control and a bevy of fun villains to lead the charge.

Latest Marvel Hip-Hop Variants Homage Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and More

Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Digable Planets and Method Man get the Marvel hip-hop treatment in variant covers for "Old Man Logan" and more.

The Original Concept Art For 'Pokemon' Is The Most Important Historical Document Of Our Time

There are few things in this world that I am more interested in than the history of Pokémon. They are, after all, the single most important thing in the world, helping us with every aspect our lives --- as long as the most important aspects of our lives involve running around fighting organized crime at the age of ten and making our pets fight each other so that they can double in size, turn into lamps or, in some cases, sprout literal guns from their shoulders. But I'm getting off track here. The point is that the history of Pokémon is fascinating stuff, which is why I was so excited to find Glitterberri.com's collection of original art and design documents for the franchise. Continue reading…

Jared Leto, Chris Evans Looking to Board "Girl on the Train"

The two actors are currently circling the adaptation of the best-selling thriller novel by Paula Hawkins with Emily Blunt already set to star.

Best Cosplay Ever (This Week): Saga, Luke Cage, Ultron, Anti-Monitor and More

The Funko Awakens in the ComicsAlliance and ScreenCrush Star Wars Pop Giveaway

Have you guys heard about the Stars Wars? Have you also heard about Funko Pops? These are two things that seemingly came out of nowhere to dominate store shelves, social media, and websites over the past few days, and quite frankly we're alarmed. But because we don't want to look like we're behind the times, we've snapped up a bunch of these Star Wars: The Force Awakens Funko Pop figures to giveaway to the loyal readers of ComicsAlliance and ScreenCrush. The whole first wave of figures has been rather hard to find all in one place, but through the grace of the internet god's favor, we managed to procure all your favorite heroes and villains from the upcoming movie nobody has seen, such as Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma and Rey. We've even got some of the classic heroes who actually have proven their worth already in Chewbacca and C-3PO, but we know everyone is really after that cute little BB-8. For all we know, that guy is just a mini-Death Star, and the real villain. You can't prove us wrong. Deal with it. Continue reading…

Kinberg Calls "X-Men: Apocalypse" Culmination of Trilogy

The producer/screenwriter sees the upcoming film as the end of a mini-trilogy and an emotional payoff.

Zombies, Aliens, And Magician Murder Take Center Stage In '2000 AD' #1950 [Preview]

It was only a few days ago that we brought you the news that Chris Burnham would be providing an extremely violent cover for 2000 AD prog 1950, but there was another piece of the story that you might have missed on account of being distracted by Judge Dredd blowing people's fingers off right there on the cover. Every now and then, 2000 AD will take the opportunity to give readers a new jumping on point, and when #1950 hits shelves on September 30, it will have four brand-new stories. Check out a preview.

The CW Highlights "The Women of Arrow"

In anticipation of "Arrow: The Complete Third Season," the network has released a supercut showcasing the female stars of the show.

Review: 'Gotham' Season 2 Is Still the Worst Show on Television

FOX's 'Gotham' Season 2' tries to narrow its focus with a "Rise of the Villains," but proves just as mean-spirited and messy as before. Our early spoiler-free review, before the Bat-prequel returns for another round in Monday's premiere! Continue reading…

AMC Looks for Dismissal of Darabont's Contract Claims in "Walking Dead" Lawsuit

The latest development in the ongoing litigation sees the network seeking dismissal of Frank Darabont's latest "Walking Dead" contract claims.

Comics Alliance Presents 'Kate or Die' in 'Pack It Up!'

ComicsAlliance Presents “Kate or Die,” a series of exclusive comic strips created by one of our favorite cartoonists, Kate Leth! In this episode, Kate's making a move, and that means taking everything she owns and packing it up into boxes. Sometimes, quantifying your life presents an interesting picture of who you really are.

Larry Hama Debriefs G.I. Joe's "Cobra World Order"

Legendary "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" writer Larry Hama sheds light on IDW's impending "Cobra World Order" story launching in #219.

Exclusive: The Aliens Are Among Us in Abnett & Culbard's 'Wild's End: The Enemy Within' [Preview]

Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard's Wild's End is most aptly and succinctly described as War of the Worlds meets Wind in the Willows; a classic alien invasion tale set in an English village in the 1930s, with the unusual twist that all the characters are anthropomorphic animals --- an approach that allows readers to make a different kind of attachment to the book's beleaguered cast. Sometimes animal heroes are actually easier to identify with and sentimentalize. In the first Wild's End story, the residents of Lower Crowchurch averted the threat of alien invasion --- or so they believed. The sequel, The Enemy Within, posits that the aliens may already be among us. Of course, the 'us' in this situation consists of adorable talking squirrels and cats and foxes as they wrestle with the paranoia, violence and horror of alien infiltration. Check out an exclusive preview. Continue reading…

Premiering "Heroes Reborn," Kring Teases "The World Always Needs Saving"

Creator Tim Kring premiered "Heroes Reborn" at the Toronto International Film Festival, explaining the importance of his multicultural, global approach.

Ranger Station Episode 6: Food Fight

With almost 800 episodes over the course of 22 years, the Power Rangers television show is arguably the single most successful live-action superhero franchise of all time, and certainly one of the strangest. Adapted from Japan's long-running Super Sentai series, created by manga legend Shotaro Ishinomori, the Power Rangers combined the giant robots and monsters of their Japanese counterpart with a completely different set of secret identities and problems, and became a pop cultural phenomenon. That's why we're looking back with an in-depth guide to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, including its source material, Kyuoryu Sentai Zyuranger, in ComicsAlliance's Ranger Station!

This week, the Pudgy Pig goes on a rampage, and Zyuranger gets weird. Really weird.

Titan Comics Announces "Snowpiercer 3: Terminus"

The comic publisher announced a third volume to the best-selling series previously adapted into a live-action film starring Chris Evans.

Women Triumph at Ignatz Awards with Wins for Foster-Dimino, Goldstein, Carroll, Carre, and J. Tamaki

The Eisner Awards at San Diego Comic-Con back in July were a great night for women in comics, but this past weekend's Ignatz Awards at Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland, recognizing achievements in small press and independent creator-owned comics, went one step further in celebrating women's contributions. Women claimed victory in every category.

REVIEW: Thompson & Vieceli "Bring the Fun" in "Jem and the Holograms" #7

Kelly Thompson & Emma Vieceli kick off "Viral," the second arc of IDW's "Jem and the Holograms," by impressively building on what came before.

"Attack On Titan: Junior High" Gets Even Weirder, Adding Live-Action Segments

The voice cast of the comedy anime will set off on their own adventures in two live-action segments airing with each episode.

Simone & Calafiore Are "Surviving Megalopolis" in New Miniseries

Writer Gail Simone and artist Jim Calafiore discuss their "nasty" follow up to "Leaving Megalopolis," coming soon from Dark Horse Comics.

"Gotham" Showrunner Says Season 2 'Much More Focused and Character-Driven'

Bruno Heller weighs on what makes the new season of "Gotham" different from the first, including the "grotesque, larger-than-life underworld."

RCCC: DeConnick, Van Meter, Moustafa & Phillips Talk Representation in Comics

Kelly Sue DeConnick, Ibrahim Moustafa, Jen Van Meter and Gary Phillips discuss women and minorities' comics treatment, and how to write them as characters.

WATCH: Ronda Rousey Takes On Floyd Mayweather in "Street Fighter IV" Mod

Balrog and Cammy morph into Mayweather and Rousey, respectively, in this fictional battle between the two real-world fighters.

"Spider-Man" Director Confirms Peter Parker's Age

Director Jon Watts confirms the age of high schooler Peter Parker in the upcoming franchise reboot and not showing Spider-Man's origin once again.

Tattooed Jaimie Alexander Is Ready To Reveal NBC's "Blindspot"

The "Thor" actress talks about her new action thriller, performing her own stunts, carving out a niche in Hollywood, and the future of Lady Sif.

Production Wraps on "Ghostbusters"

Production wrapped on the upcoming film and Paul Feig, JustJared and more tweeted images from the final day of filming.

Beware the Power of… This Green Lantern Figure's Adorability

Standing 6 inches, the figure features more than 20 points of articulation, two pairs of interchangeable hands and much more.

"Gotham's" Cory Michael Smith Teases the Riddler's Jekyll & Hyde-like Transformation

The actor discusses Edward Nygma's deteriorating mental state, and what makes "Gotham's" Riddler so deadly.

15 Things You Might Not Know About the 'Star Wars' Prequel Trilogy

Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams made a concerted effort to return more practical effects to his Star Wars film and the new trilogy. While no one will come out and say it, this seems like a direct response to George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, which featured a lot of CGI. In fact, in The Phantom Menace, there’s only shot in the entire movie that has no CGI. That’s just one of the facts packed into the latest episode of You Think You Know Movies, which goes back in time with the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy!

Official Synopsis for "Agents of SHIELD" Season 3, Episode 2

ABC has released the plot synopsis for the forthcoming second episode of the Marvel series' third season.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Tom Hiddleston Isn't Sure When He'll Play Loki for Marvel Again

Tom Hiddleston is one of the most delightful stars of the MCU, delivering a Loki that is both charismatic and insidious in his mischief-making. The events at the end of Thor: The Dark World pointed to more Loki to come, but Hiddleston himself doesn’t seem so certain of his place in Marvel’s future.

Shawn Hatosy Brings Military Forces to "Fear The Walking Dead"

"Fear The Walking Dead'" actor Shawn Hatosy discusses joining the AMC series, delivering military firepower and visiting the makeup chair.

CBS 'Supergirl' Shares a Vision of DC Comics' Red Tornado

The establishment of CBS’ Supergirl as its own separate DC universe left us curious as to how the super-series might handle design on some of the comics’ more outlandish characters differently than Arrow or The Flash. To wit, we have our first look at Iddo Goldberg as DC super-android Red Tornado, and he’s certainly a vision of … well, something. Continue reading…

Meet the Crew of the Ares 3 in "The Martian" Mission Guide

Get an in-depth look at the crew of the Ares 3 space mission as well as the equipment they use and the structure of mission control.

REVIEW: Fraction & Ward's "ODY-C" #7 'Takes Chances and Makes Bold Choices'

The "graphic experiment" of Matt Fraction and Christian Ward's "ODY-C" continues in issue #7, with the series "starting to transcend comics."

'Captain America: Civil War' Star Sebastian Stan Teases More Winter Soldier, Responds to Zack Snyder's Diss

Last week Zack Snyder served Marvel a diss while discussing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and reiterating that the film is very serious and mythological. Shots were effectively fired, and this week they’re being returned by Sebastian Stan, who serves a diss right back at Snyder and DC while talking up Winter Soldier’s role in Captain America: Civil War.

Batman Co-Creator Bill Finger: The Man Who Made the Dark Knight Detective

Following the news that Bill Finger will receive credit on "Gotham" and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," revisit Tom Bondurant's 2012 column on the writer.

Report: Warners Wants a Booster Gold/Blue Beetle Team-Up Movie

Although most of their creations remain unexploited on the big screen, DC has just as deep a roster of cool characters as Marvel. Maybe deeper; the bizarre nooks and crannies of the DC Comics universe feature tons of fascinating heroes and villains. Like, for example crime-fighting buddies Booster Gold and Blue Beetle.

Exclusive: Titan Announces 'Snowpiercer 3: Terminus'

A brand new volume of Snowpiercer from Jean-Marc Rochette and award-winning writer Olivier Bocquet is set to debut in France next month, and Titan will race to publish the English edition in February, giving us the entire set in gorgeous matching hardcover.

"The Legendary Artist Who Wanted You to Know His Comic Was 5H17" & More Meta-Messages

One Silver Age artist used numbers & letters to spell out a curse word to let readers know what he thought about his latest project, and more meta.

Bill Finger To Receive Credit On 'Gotham' And 'Batman V Superman'

For the past 75 years, every Batman story across all media has carried one --- and only one --- credit with regards to the character's origin: "Batman created by Bob Kane." Now, that's going to change. Today, DC Entertainment announced that when Gotham returns to television next week, and when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters next year, they'll both feature a credit for Bill Finger, who co-created Batman with Kane in 1939 and was responsible for some of the most enduring elements of the character. Continue reading…

Watch: Dramatic Reading of Joker's Monologue from "The Killing Joke"

Check out this black-and-white video of actor Aaron Williams as he delivers Joker's monologue in "The Emergency Exit."

Nuclear-Powered Helicopter Action Is Finally Here In 'Airwolf: Airstrikes' [Preview]

With the possible exception of Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death, I'm not sure there's anything in the history of our language that has a better name than Airwolf. There are thrills to be found in the word itself, and once you get to the part where it's actually the name of a nuclear-powered stealth helicopter that ran explosive secret missions for four seasons on network television, well, of course it was. How could that word describe anything else?

And now, Airwolf is back --- in comic book form! Next week sees the release of Airwolf: Airstirkes Vol. 1, a new collection of helicopter action stories from an impressive roster of creators, including Barbara Kesel, Mike Baron and Marc Andreyko --- and you can check out a preview below!

EXCL. PREVIEW: Scott Keeps Getting Smaller in IDW's "Shrinking Man" #3

Ted Adams and Mark Torres bring their Richard Matheson adaptation to its penultimate chapter in "The Shrinking Man" #3, on sale September 23.

'The Flash' Teased Aquaman in a Season 1 Deleted Scene

We’ve spoken at length about the curiosity of DC withholding its most recognizable superheros from the TV universes of Arrow and The Flash, while insisting on either medium having their own freedom of continuity. And however much Arrow nods to a Green Lantern we’ll never see, it seems The Flash once had an Aquaman tease much earlier.

STORE TOUR: Little Island Comics In Toronto

Take a tour of Little Island Comics, the spinoff of Toronto's renowned store The Beguiling devoted entirely to comics for children and teens.

36 More Totally Awesome Hulks

Amadeus Cho is the latest in a long line of Marvel characters to get a dose of gamma radiation, and we take a look at greenest and meanest.

Everybody's Talking in the CBR Community

Join the conversation and interact with fans of comics, movies, TV shows and pop culture on the CBR Community.

EXCL. PREVIEW: Dan Parent Helps "Betty & Veronica" Celebrate Halloween

All of Riverdale's ladies want Archie to win "Best Boyfriend of the Year" plus spooky surprises in Dan Parent's "Betty & Veronica Halloween Annual."

That Time That Black Panther Put Silver Surfer Into an Armlock

In their latest spotlight on "bad" superhero fights, CSBG looks at the time that Black Panther somehow successfully put the Silver Surfer into an armlock.

Captain America Goes Red, White and Cute in New Statue

Based on artwork by Skottie Young, the statue is available for preorder from Gentle Giant for $65.

Stephen Amell Apologizes for Tweet on Texas and Ahmed Mohamed

The "Arrow" star, who took heat on social media for comments about reactions to the 14-year-old Texas boy who brought a clock to school, apologizes to his fans on Facebook.

Spider-Man's Five Most Ridiculous Temporary Costumes

CSBG counts down the wall-crawler's most ridiculous temporary costumes -- and the time he wore an FF costume and a bag on his face isn't even #1!

Dad Surprises Son by Turning Car into Lightning McQueen

A Tennessee father took home the Piston Cup for parenting by turning his car into a replica of the star of Pixar's "Cars" films.

TOYING AROUND: DC Heroes, Iron Man, Star Wars & More!

DC Collectibles revealed December goodness while Kotobukiya upgrades Iron Man's armor, Hot Toys chills with some Snowtroopers and much more.

Ernie Hudson to Appear in Paul Feig’s ‘Ghostbusters’ Film

The actor, who appeared in the original film and its sequel, will play an unknown role in the reboot.

REVIEW: "Black Canary" 'Hits New High Points' in Issue #4

In DC Comics' "Black Canary" #4, writer Brenden Fletcher and guest artist Pia Guerra tell the origin of singer-turned-villain Bo Maeve.

Snoopy Flies Again in 'Peanuts: Where Beagles Dare' [Preview]

Charles Schulz was a master humorist whose enormous Peanuts library will surely be remembered as one of the great works of the 20th century, and while he will never be replaced, I'm glad to see his work live on with new entry points for modern audiences that may help lead them back to his work.

One of those entry points is the Peanuts movie coming out in November. Another, aptly timed ahead of the movie's release, is next week's original graphic novel Peanuts: Where Beagles Dare, from Jason Cooper and Vicki Scott, published by Kaboom. It's a full-length Snoopy adventure that sees the hound in his World War I Flying Ace mode --- and therefore emboldened and no doubt headed for trouble. Check out an extended ten-page preview.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

COMIC REEL: 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Asks 'Are you Inhuman?'; Hiddleston Teases Loki's Future

Robin Lord Taylor dishes on the future of the Penguin on "Gotham," while Warner Bros. gives screen credit to Bill Finger.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Update: 'Omega Men' Reprieved From Cancellation. Barnaby Bagenda Talks About the Art of 'Omega Men' [Interview]

Barnaby Bagenda, Romulo Fajardo Jr, and Tom King's The Omega Men from DC Comics has become a critics' favorite since its debut in June, though it unfortunately never found the audience it deserved. The book is filled with twists, turns, questions of morality, questions of politics --- and some absolutely gorgeous art and colors.

Omega Men has helped elevate the profile of penciller and inker Barnaby Bagenda, making him one of the artists to watch out for in 2016. ComicsAlliance sat down with Bagenda to hear about his inspirations and his thoughts on structure.

Todd McFarlane Responds to Drake-Inspired Twitter Hack

An unknown perpetrator hacked Todd McFarlane's Twitter account and filled it with Drake lyrics, and the "Spawn" creator has responded.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Kubert's "Dark Knight III" Graces NYCC Program Cover

Andy Kubert's "DK3" take on Batman covers New York Comic Con's official program for its 2015 show.

Kotobukiya Isn't Quite Finished With the Age of Ultron, Shows Off New Iron Man MK XLV Statue

Just because there's not a new movie on the slate for a few years doesn't mean you've seen the last of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Avengers, my friends. Aside from guest-starring in each others movies at an increasingly exponential rate, there's still an endless array of collectibles based on these silver screen heroes coming, too. Kotobukiya's been steadily putting out Avengers: Age of Ultron collectibles to bolster its already impressive Marvel line-up, and next up the company will be bringing Iron Man's latest armor to life in 1/6 scale. While there have been a multitude of Iron Man pieces over the past seven years, the collectible market is always just a tiny bit behind when it comes to the most recent incarnation of Tony Stark's armor. Very rarely are the most current suits available when they first appear on film. However, just as the Age of Ultron is about to hit home video, Koto has announced pre-orders for its Iron Man MK XLV ArtFX statue. Even though it won't be actually available until January 2016, this first look at the piece does show plenty of promise in Iron Man's new duds... which will be outdated just a few months later in Captain America: Civil War. Continue reading…

DC's Original Power Couple is "Unbreakable" in Jurgens' "Superman: Lois & Clark"

With his post-"Convergence" series featuring multiple Clarks and Loises, Dan Jurgens explains what each couple's mission is and if they'll meet.

'Gambit' Solo Movie Loses Director Rupert Wyatt

Following last month’s brief (very brief) confusion over whether Channing Tatum was fully committed to the Gambit solo movie comes news of an actual shakeup behind the scenes. Director Rupert Wyatt has exited the project, leaving the director’s chair vacant and 20th Century Fox in need of a quick replacement if they hope to make their fall 2016 release date.

New "Hunger Games" Stills Show the Cast Ready for War

A new series of stills from the upcoming film feature Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss ready for all-out war against the forces of President Snow.

'Daredevil' Season 2 Confirms Scott Glenn's Return as Stick

We like to have our fun at the internet’s expense when it comes to the Daredevil Twitter account, but at last social media has wrought real Season 2 news. Scott Glenn will return to Hell’s Kitchen as Matt Murdock’s old mentor Stick, but what might it mean for Daredevil Season 2?

Idris Elba as James Bond... in New York Magazine YouTube Video

As part of the magazine's "Vulture Remix" series, they've smash-cut the actor into scenes from the trailer of the latest Bond installment, "Spectre."

'Arrow' Season 4 Premiere Photos: Oliver Suits Up Against Damien Darhk

Where yesterday The Flash broke ahead of the pack to deliver his own premiere photos, Oliver Queen has finally caught up in time for Arrow Season 4. Get a closer look at all the new costumes, as well as our new big bad Damien Darhk in full photos from the October premiere, “Green Arrow”!

"G.I. Joe" Creators Seeks to Re-obtain Rights from Hasbro

The inventor of the much beloved toyline -- which since spawned multiple media adaptations -- is seeking to grab the rights to the $100 million franchise.

Your Necessary Reminder That Daniel Acuna is Ridiculously Talented, Courtesy of 'Sam Wilson: Captain America' #1 [Preview]

Daniel Acuña is ridiculously talented. These unlettered preview pages from the upcoming Sam Wilson: Captain America #1, with writer Nick Spencer, are a testament to that truth, which probably ought to be acknowledged more --- though the fact that Acuña has been selected for such a prime gig as the new Captain America book is also a pretty good indicator of where he stands in the industry. Daniel Acuña is very, very good. Continue reading…

"Gambit" Shakeup: Director Rupert Wyatt Leaves Film

Rupert Wyatt has left 20th Century Fox's upcoming X-Men spinoff film "Gambit," citing scheduling conflicts.

Still Dreaming: A Celebration of the Cover Art of 'Astro City'

September 16th should become some kind of comic national holiday because it’s the birthday of both Mike Mignola and Kurt Busiek, and as far as making quality comics goes, that is one heck of a dynamic duo. Today is Busiek’s 55th birthday, and this month marks the 20th anniversary of Busiek’s ongoing masterpiece with Alex Ross and Brent Anderson; Astro City.

In celebration, we’ve compiled a collection of some of Ross’ best covers to showcase how the world of Astro City has changed over the years.

Anime and Video Game Art Brightens Stairs of Japanese Schools

Japanese students have transformed their school stairwells into colorful anime- and video game-inspired art for culture festivals.

Marvel Still Pissed at Fox, Now Using The Inhumans to Kill Off The X-Men

The Marvel Cinematic Universe was built out of spare parts. With heavy-hitters like Spider-Man and the X-Men owned by different studios, Marvel Studios bet big on less popular characters and emerged victorious. Suddenly, Iron Man and Captain America became a big deal for ordinary, non-nerd people. Marvel no longer needs their big guns to matter. And now, they’re showcasing their clout by ruthlessly removing the X-Men from the comic book landscape using the characters they intend to replace them with – the Inhumans.

CALL FOR QUESTIONS: Talk "Heroes Reborn" with Series Creator Tim Kring!

Got a question for "Heroes" creator Tim Kring about the imminent return of the series? CBR offers you the chance to ask him about the NBC revival.

Chris Onstad Is Taking Commissions For Original 'Achewood' Paintings, So I'm Gonna Need $800 Before Christmas

Even though there hasn't been a new strip in over a year, there's still hardly a day that goes by without me heading over to Achewood.com for some reason, usually because I'm talking about something that was covered in the comic. Today, it was a conversation about Airwolf, and when I went over there to find this strip --- an all-time favorite --- I noticed something I hadn't seen before: A link to an original art gallery where Chris Onstad is selling commissions and paintings of his characters. And now, there's nothing in this world that I want more than an $650 oil painting of Roast Beef, the cat who has depression. Continue reading…

LOOK: A Year’s Worth of Marvel's Early-'90s Cool-O-Meters

From 1991-92, Marvel featured monthly "Cool-O-Meters" in its comics. Luckily, CSBG has collected 'em all!

MOVIE LEGENDS REVEALED: Were Luke & Leia Intended To Be Twins When They Kissed In "Empire"?

We figure out just when George Lucas decided that Luke and Leia were twins: Was it before or after he had them kiss in "The Empire Strikes Back"?

'The Walking Dead' Season 6 Adds Xander Berkeley as New Big Bad?

The Walking Dead Season 6 still has some major comic roles to cast (one of which we got an exclusive look at earlier today), but has the next big bad finally arrived? Xander Berkeley will join The Walking Dead in a major new role, but is he the comic big bad we’ve been waiting for?

Scott Glenn to Return as Stick in "Daredevil" Season 2

The "Bourne Ultimatum" star will reprise his role as Stick for three episodes in "Daredevil's" second season.

Guggenheim And Williams Launch 'Jonas Quantum' At Legendary [Preview]

I'd have to think that in most stories, trying to find a cure for death --- like, an actual recipe for immortality that would prevent anyone from dying - would be the entire plot. I mean, that's a big idea and it seems like there are a lot of adventures that you could have getting there, right? Well, in Marc Guggenheim and Freddie E. Williams's The Infinite Adventures of Jonas Quantum, that's something that's already happened before we even get to page one. Continue reading…

EXCL: Conner & Palmiotti Go From Superheroes to "Superzero"

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti explain how they're exploring the inspirational aspect of superheroes in their new AfterShock Comics title.

Attack on Titan Video Game Looks Much More Exciting Than the Anime

Even at just a hair over two-minutes long, there's more action in this new trailer for the Attack on Titan game than there was in the majority of episodes from the first season of the anime. Sure, Eren and Mikasa and the Survey Corps get into it with some titans during a few episodes of the show, but for the most part, each episode is a competition between characters to see who can whine the most. Attack on Titan does have some nice design work though, so even I can't front on the visual appeal. Fortunately, those sweet uniforms, weapons and monsters take center stage in this trailer. Ahead of Tokyo Game Show, which kicks off later this week, Koei Tecmo teased the first gameplay footage of its upcoming PlayStation-exclusive Attack on Titan game. There's not a whole lot to see, but what is shown does give us at least an idea of what to expect from the upcoming action title. First and foremost, the cel-shaded graphics look fairly tight. It's not outside the norm for games based on an animated property to get that kind of presentation, but it looks to be working to AoT's advantage. Since Attack on Titan will be available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, that cel-shaded style also gives the engine some flexibility across the board. It's a similar idea of what Telltale's done with its cross-generational games like The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us. Continue reading…