“HE OVERSHOT THE TIME PERIOD BY A GOOD THIRTY YEARS…” – SCOTT LOBDELL ON ARMY OF DARKNESS / XENA10/23/16 @ 9:16 pm EST
Source: Bleeding Cool | Categories: Dynamite | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentScott Lobdell talks to
Byron Brewer about
Army of Darkness/Xena: Forever…And a Day #3, on sale in December from
Dynamite. Cover by
Nick Bradshaw.
BYRON BREWER: Shiver me timbers! We are gonna see the return of Pirate Xena, in issue #3 on sale in December! Scott, what prompted you to touch on one of my favorite incarnations of the warrior princess?SCOTT LOBDELL: The theme behind “Forever… And a Day” is essentially Ash trying to discover the exact moment he can be most helpful in aiding Xena’s defeat of a Deadite army. We saw in issue #2 that he overshot the time period by a good thirty years – and in this issue he winds up encountering Xena during one of her darker days. (That is, to me, one of the most fascinating parts of Xena as a character – yeah, by the time she got to her own series she was pretty darn noble, or trying to be, but there are a lot of things she’s done in her life of which she’s not particularly proud. No offense to, say, Peter Parker or Steve Rogers, but neither of those two heroes had a history of being villainous before we met them!
BB: Can you tell us around what period of time this chapter of “Forever…And a Day” is taking place, and did you and artist Elliot Fernandez do any research into piracy of the day? Y’know, more than just your average “Arrrrr,” puffy-sleeved pirates with singles eyes, single legs and single parrots?SL: I’m not sure really how to answer that question. I always got the sense that Xena existed in a “mythical time” – you know, when Gods and Monsters roamed the Earth. Is there an exact time when that happened?I don’t recall any of those clichés in the story or the art. That said, pirating and kidnapping and life on the seven seas was, from everything I’ve ever read, pretty damned horrific… an actual representation of which would be quite unpleasant in most comics and certainly in a comic that is an action/comedy/genre piece. (It would be like reading an Indiana Jones comic and saying “I see you have Nazis. I hope we can expect to see some scenes set in a concentration camp!”)
BB: Er uh … we’re not going to see any Deadites with eye patches and cutlasses shouting “Shiver me timbers!” … are we? (I kinda like it!)SL: Not a big fan of clichés. That said, I haven’t seen the artwork yet, so for all I know everyone who isn’t Xena and Ash are wearing eye patches. Maybe two!
BB: Why would a competent warrior in any situation like Xena ever make Ash her first mate?SL: Ash has fought more than one army of Deadites. I don’t think he is as incompetent as one might think. (And considering she has to kill her current first mate when we meet her, well, she has to hire someone!)
BB: There seems a great chemistry between Ash and Xena. I know they have “met” before, but this shared chemistry – was that something you planned, or just something that came naturally to the characters as you wrote the series?SL: As they are both POA (People Of Action) who have to keep a healthy sense of humor amidst the madness of invading hoards, it only makes sense they would have a shared chemistry. (That said, Gabrielle is the Ash fan, because she thinks that even if he’s not the sharpest pencil in any given box, the truth is his heart is in the right place. I kind of think Xena tolerates Ash because her beloved believes in him – and that is good enough for her.)
BB: Scott, can you hint at where (in time?) we are headed in this book going forward?SL: Nazis!
For more information on
Army of Darkness / Xena: Forever… and a Day #3,
click here.
'BLUEY' CAPTIVATES AUDIENCES ON DISNEY+ WITH RECORD DEBUT04/22/24 @ 10:10 pm EST
Source: Deadline | Categories: Disney | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentThe
Bluey-mania continues.The series’ first special, titled “The Sign,” made its Disney+ debut on April 14. After seven days of viewing, the episode drove 10.4M views globally, according to the streamer.In fact, the company says that’s the largest seven-day premiere audience for any Disney Junior episode — and any episode of
Bluey — ever on Disney+.Disney+ rarely releases viewership figures, and this is the first time the streamer has done so for
Bluey. However, the company did reveal Monday that it is consistently among the top five series on Disney+ by monthly views. (via
Deadline)
CHIP ZDARSKY’S 'PUBLIC DOMAIN' COMIC KICKS OFF NEW ARC AHEAD OF SPINOFF SERIES04/22/24 @ 10:05 pm EST
Source: Image Comics | Categories: Image | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentMultiple Eisner, Shuster, and Harvey award winning writer/artist Chip Zdarsky (Batman, Newburn) will kick off a new story arc to the Eisner Award winning series Public Domain this July. This new chapter in the beloved comic book series will begin with issue #6 and hit shelves from Image Comics. “Public Domain is the most personal work of mine to date, so I’m incredibly happy to be putting more issues of it out into the world again," said Zdarsky. "I’m writing, drawing, coloring, lettering and desigining every element of the book, so it’s as pure a form of 'Chip Zdarsky' as there can be! Is that a good thing? I’ll let history judge." Zdarsky will also be teaming with fan-favorite artist Rachael Stott (Fantastic Four, Dr. Who) and stellar colorist Eren Angiolini (Justice League: Last Ride) to bring fans the in-universe comic book at the center of the Public Domain—The Domain—this July as well for double the Public Domain impact. In Public Domain #6, Dallas Comics is up and running! But can Syd put aside his feelings and make a Domain comic for a new generation before Jerry Jasper and Singular Comics beat him to it? And who is the mysterious British hunk, Carter Dusk? Nobody knows, but it’s his first appearance, so you better buy this issue and get it graded just in case! Public Domain follows Syd Dallas, the legendary comic book artist responsible for pop culture’s greatest hero: The Domain! But his sons Miles and David have a complicated relationship with both the creation and their creator. Can they come together and create a comic worthy of Syd’s legacy? This thought provoking series shines a light on the all-too-common battle between creators and corporations in a world where the billion-dollar creations dominate the cultural landscape.
Public Domain #6 (Lunar Code 0524IM245) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 3.
The Domain #1 will be available at comic book shops the following week, on Wednesday, July 10:
Cover A by Stott - Lunar Code 0524IM229
Cover B by Angiolini - Lunar Code 0524IM230
Both Public Domain and The Domain will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.
‘DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE’ TRAILER: RYAN REYNOLDS AND HUGH JACKMAN UNITE04/22/24 @ 1:05 pm EST
Source: Deadline | Categories: Marvel | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentThe bickering duo of Marvel are at it again: The trailer for
Deadpool and Wolverine dropped today, and finds Ryan Reynolds‘ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine doing what they do best. “Hi peanut,” Deadpool says to a drowning-his-sorrows Wolverine. “I’m going to need you to come with me right now.” The trailer contains enough quips, fights, insults and R-rated verbiage to satisfy a universe, Marvel or otherwise. It's alll set to the tune of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer.” (via
Deadline)
Trailer:
https://youtu.be/cen0rBKLuYE 'THUNDERCATS' CHEETARA POUNCES INTO HER OWN COMIC BOOK SERIES04/22/24 @ 12:55 pm EST
Source: Dynamite | Categories: Thundercats | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentDynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products invite fans to pounce into the big new companion comic book series for the smash-hit
ThunderCats mythos, as Cheetara rockets into her own title led by the stellar Soo Lee (
Carmilla: The First Vampire).
In a historic first for the franchise, the fierce feline warrior famous for her lightning-fast speed is being showcased in a multi-issue story of her own. Writer/artist Soo Lee is joined by rising artist Domenico Carbone on
ThunderCats: Cheetara, with the first issue releasing this July!
Before the founding of Third Earth, before the destruction of Thundera, Cheetara was a young woman with secrets. Now, for the first time, these secrets will be revealed. Wrapped in a stifling life of Thunderian nobility, she seeks to find her place in an unsure universe, and to understand why she's experiencing alarming visions of both the ancient past and the near future...
"There are some very cool things about Cheetara that have been overlooked in the original cartoon, things that I really want to make the center of her story," said writer Soo Lee. "She's also iconic and very strong, it makes sense she gets her own series. It's a look into one of the most important supporting characters.
The new era of
ThunderCats comics have been blazing up the charts, with fans hotly anticipating each new issue in the flagship series by Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss. For the new series spotlighting Cheetara, Soo Lee has been following the title and collaborating with Shalvey, alongside some binging of the original show and fandom resources to guide her own tales. All that said, this is a separate series that fans can jump right into and not worry about tight chronology with the preceding ongoing.
Lee also contributes a stunning cover to the series in her style. She's joined by superstar Sozomaika, Lesley "Leirix" Li, Rebeca Puebla, and Edwin Galmon.
No matter how fast Cheetara can run, she can never outrun her own past!
THUNDERCATS: CHEETARA #1
will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!
THE POWERPUFF GIRLS BLAST BACK INTO COMICS04/22/24 @ 12:50 pm EST
Source: Dynamite | Categories: Powerpuff Girls | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a Comment
Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products are excited to announce sugar, spice, and everything nice! Three of the most powerful superheroes are back together for new comic stories starting this summer from a team of superstar creators in Kelly Thompson and Paulina Ganucheau!
Professor Utonium added a little extra to that famous recipe, when some Chemical X was thrown into the concoction. And lo,
The Powerpuff Girls were born! Since that day, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have dedicated their lives to fighting evil in all its forms. Their awesome powers and teamwork tirelessly defend their idyllic city from the likes of petty criminals, marauding monsters, and diabolical super-villains alike.
They're sweet, they're petite, and they can't be beat! Eisner Award-winner Kelly Thompson is one of the biggest names in comics and she's the perfect match for this trio of fearless heroes. She is known for DC's critically acclaimed
Birds of Prey, acclaimed runs on
Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Deadpool, and contributions to both
Spider-Man and
X-Men. Thompson has also knocked it out of the park on other franchises from television and animation like
Jem and the Holograms and
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Taking the reins on artwork, Paulina Ganucheau is acclaimed for her brilliant "Adventures of Young Diana" feature in issues of DC's
Wonder Woman. She's also contributed to titles like
My Little Pony, Zodiac Starforce, and
Rainbow Brite. The duo's shared grasp on superheroics and balancing their storytelling for diverse ages fits the
Powerpuff Girls to a tee — topped off only by their passions for the franchise!
"I have to say, I am a very big fan of
The Powerpuff Girls," said writer Kelly Thompson. "So much so that when I was young — just out of art school — I even wrote a few short stories and began to storyboard them in hopes I could get a job on the show! So this just feels… exactly right. I was over the moon to get the offer."
Artist Paulina Ganucheau added, "I grew up obsessed with them. Had my own PPG OC and everything. I was on a
Powerpuff Girls oekaki board way back in the day where all we did was draw in that style. I remember calling into Cartoon Network for PPG merch giveaways even. So yeah, safe to say: very exciting!"
Editor Nate Cosby added, "I was like, y’know who’d write an unbelievably awesome Powerpuff Girls story? Probably Kelly “Eisner-Freaking-Award-Winner” Thompson. And then I was like, y’know what artist’d blow people’s minds drawing The Powerpuff Girls? Probably Paulina “Eventually-Will-Be-An-Eisner-Winner-Too” Ganucheau. And after seeing what KT/PG have cooked up, I can confirm that my “probably’s” have turned into “definitely’s.""
In talking about the series, Thompson made sure to emphasize that just like the show, this comic is aimed at both younger and older audiences. The comic is aiming to capture a magic mix of heart and fun, with clever self-awareness that makes it rewarding for everyone. While artistically, the show's iconic designs and popping colors translate perfectly to the comics page. Uniquely rare today in comics, stories will be done in one so fans can pick up any issue and enjoy!
Fans can of course look forward to seeing plenty of the titular super-trio, as well as their father Professor Utonium, the Mayor of Townsville, Miss Keane, and iconic villains like Mojo Jojo, HIM, Fuzzy Lumpkins, Sedusa, the Rowdyruff Boys, and perhaps even more as the series goes on!
Ganucheau delivers the lead cover, an eye-catching vision of the girls taking on several of their infamous foes. Thompson's
Birds of Prey and
Hawkeye collaborator Leonardo Romero contributes a cover. Two more from Karen S. Darboe and Nicoletta Baldari round out the colorful classics on the first issue.
Dynamite has even more surprises in store for this series that fans will not want to miss!
POWERPUFF GIRLS #1
will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!
MICHAEL DOUGLAS WANTED HANK PYM TO GO OUT WITH A BANG04/21/24 @ 2:23 pm EST
Source: Entertainment Weekly | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentOne of my favorite scenes in
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and yes, I liked the film, was when Hank Pym showed up with his ant friends to save the day. I’ve been a Hank Pym fan since I was a kid, never really happy with what comics did to him later on, but really liking
Michael Douglas’ performance as the character. That was Hank’s hero moment, and I was all there for it. Douglas has since said that he would only return to the character if he was going to be killed off. Turns out, Douglas wanted that to happen in
Quantumania. He was on The View promoting his new series Franklin and said: “[Getting killed off] actually was my request for the third one. I said I’d like to have a serious [death], with all these great special effects. There’s got to be some fantastic way where I can shrink to an ant size and explode, whatever it is. I want to use all those effects. But, that was on the last one. Now, I don’t think I’m going to show up [for a fourth].” It’s unclear what the future of the Ant-Man franchise will be with the poor performance of the most recent film, but
Kevin Feige never forgets about characters, and you never know just where he might show up again if Douglas is willing.
SKYBOUND ADDRESSES RUMORS ASSOCIATED WITH SANCTIONED COUNTRY04/21/24 @ 1:48 pm EST
Source: Twitter | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentSkybound Entertainment is getting ahead of a potential scandal. The studio created by
Robert Kirkman and home of titles like
The Walking Dead and
Invincible put out a statement this morning addressing concerns that they might be working with a North Korean company. They explain that there is an unconfirmed report of a cloud storage server connected to a North Korean IP address and that it contains an Invincible animation sketch. It was followed by an official statement that reads: “We do not work with North Korean companies, or any affiliated entities, and have no knowledge of any North Korean companies working on our animation. Our policies strictly prohibit any subcontracting to any third-party without our express prior written consent, which, in this case, was neither sought nor granted. We also mandate that all our service providers fully comply with all applicable rules and regulations and prohibit disclosures of materials by our service providers to third parties. Skybound Entertainment takes these allegations seriously and has initiated a thorough internal review to verify and rectify any potential issues. We have also notified the proper authorities and are cooperating with all appropriate bodies.” The sanctions on North Korea would prohibit Skybound from using animation studios based in North Korea, hence the company wanting to nip these rumors in the bud.
GUNN'S LATEST POST HAS FANS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT04/21/24 @ 1:33 pm EST
Source: Threads | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentThis morning
James Gunn posted a simple image to
Threads and of course multiple articles were written about it. What did the writer/director of the upcoming
Superman movie post to get this quick a reaction? The original Superman logo, the simple red “S” on the yellow badge that
Jerry Siegel and
Joe Shuster first put on the early sketches of the character in 1936. It appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938 but would change to a triangle shape with red borders quickly that same year. The logo changed a lot in the first few years and wouldn’t settle on the most recognized version until 1944. We already know that the logo for his Superman is going to be similar to the one created by
Alex Ross for
Kingdom Come but with yellow instead of black. Many of the articles posted try to figure out what Gunn is trying to say by the post. There’s no text with it, he just posted the first logo. It’s possible that Gunn isn’t trying to send a message with this anymore than he was with the picture he shared of his cat the day before. The people who follow these films and the websites that cover them are always looking for clues and Easter Eggs and that’s mainly because the people that produce these films love teasing their fans… but sometimes what Sigmund Freud said is true, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
IS JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX GOING TO BE A TRADITIONAL MUSICAL?04/20/24 @ 2:20 pm EST
Source: Twitter | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentWhen word came out that the upcoming
Joker: Folie à Deux was going to be a “jukebox musical” a lot of fans of the original
Todd Phillips film became nervous. The original 2019
Joker was extremely gritty and dark, so the idea of the sequel having the main characters bust into popular songs didn’t sit too well with a few people. Now director Phillips is setting the record straight, saying,
"We've never really talked about it like that but it's a movie where music is an essential element and, to me, it doesn't veer to far from the first film." He went on to say that this fits with the character introduced in the first film,
"Yeah, Arthur is weird and aloof...but he has music in him." This does go against the original report that the film was going to have 15 covers of popular songs from the recent past, but it also said that the film would break the mold of traditional musicals. The
Joaquin Phoenix lead Joker made over $1 billion and Warner Bros is hoping that the sequel, with addition of
Lady Gaga, will do just as well when released this October.
DOES TAYLOR SWIFT'S NEW ALBUM HAVE AN MCU CLUE?04/20/24 @ 2:00 pm EST
Source: The Direct | Comments (0) | E-mail Article | Add a CommentOne of the big, rumored cameos associated with the upcoming
Deadpool & Wolverine is the potential of megastar
Taylor Swift appearing in the film as the mutant/singer Dazzler. The character has an extremely interesting creation, having been a collaboration between Marvel and Casablana Records as a multi-media disco star that could appear in comics, make music, and eventually go into film. Where the idea originated is debated, but the initial design was based on singer/actress
Grace Jones at first, but when
John Derek showed interest in doing the movie, Dazzler’s look changed to appear very similar to John’s wife
Bo Derek who was coming off the film
10. The movie never happened, but Dazzler had her own solo series, and she would eventually be retconned into being a mutant, her powers to turn sound into light, and would work with the X-Men. There have been rumors floating around for some time about Swift being part of the movie because of her friendship with star
Ryan Reynolds and his wife, actress
Blake Lively. We move to yesterday’s release of Swift’s new album,
The Tortured Poets Department, which was a surprise double album, and one of the songs,
Clara Bow, ends with the line: “The future is bright, dazzling.” While it might seem like a stretch to see that as a tease for her potential role, we know that Swift loves to put “Easter Eggs” into her album and the
Deadpool & Wolverine is believed to have a bunch of surprise cameos, so who knows. This one could be true.