‘Shade The Changing Girl’ Is An Emotional and Beautiful Tonal Poem Of A Comic

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Megan is a typical popular teenage girl in a small American town. She leads her clique with an iron fist and threats of high school hierarchy banishment. But after a night of partying Megan falls into a deep coma. She awakens, but someone else is inside her head. That someone is Loma Shade, an Avian alien from the planet Meta. Using the hijacked Madness coat once worn by the mad poet (and original Shade the Changing Man) Rac Shade, Loma possesses Megan’s body in an effort to explore the planet Earth, a world she has been obsessed with since old TV shows began to stray into Meta’s airwaves. Soon she is forced to live the life Megan had left behind, and become a fugitive from her own world; a world where it seems the forces searching for Loma have a nefarious plan for the Madness coat as well.

Shade the Changing Girl #5
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Art by Marley Zarcone
with Ryan Kelly
Coloring by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Shade created by Steve Ditko
Published by Young Animal, an imprint of DC Comics.

Writing

This has to be the most solemn and introspective issue of Shade so far. Most of it is filled with an interior monologue that borders on being a poem; it brings out the loneliness that an alien observer would feel in a different world. Even surrounded by newfound “friends” in the shape of Megan’s clique, Loma can’t seem to feel much except a yearning to return home. And as much as she has tried to shape her environment around her, and has tried to learn about this new world, it hasn’t been enough. Her thoughts reveal her to be distant and depressed.

This comic was strange from the beginning, but this new hyper-melancholic tone is new. It actually adds a lot of weight to the character and story, and some of the writing is quite beautiful. It really takes an artful feel.

However, there is a story being told, as the issue ends with two cliffhangers. Not only do we learn why the authorities on Meta want the madness coat for themselves, but Megan’s consciousness also seems to return and desperately wants to reclaim her own body.

Cecil Castellucci continues to write one of the most original books out there (especially for a mainstream publisher). Kudos to DC/Young Animal for putting this out there.

Art

Marley Zarcone and Kelly Fitzpatrick (along with guest/aid on inks by Ryan Kelly) are a team to be reckoned with here. They are creating some of the most striking, eerie and beautiful images in modern comics. The sense of page layout and design is the stuff of pop-art perfection. And as bizarre and unique as everything is, there is a simplicity in the lines and shapes used that make it so deceptively easy to look at. It’s pop-surrealism at it’s best and you will be hard-pressed to find a better-looking comic book these days. I swear I want to frame some of these pages ad panels

I also want to add that the cover for this issue was done by the always fantastic Becky Cloonan, and it’s frame worthy in its own right. I’d love to see more artists do their take on this new Shade.

Conclusion

With what seems to be one installment left in this first arc, Shade The Changing Girl #5 is a pivotal chapter, yet still accessible due to it’s emotional, relatable writing and gorgeous and arresting art. Pick it up now.

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‘A Cure For Wellness’ Feels Like A Homage To David Cronenberg

By

EJ Moreno

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February 8, 2017

‘A Cure For Wellness’ Is An Entertaining and Uncomfortable Thrill Ride!

Gore Verbinski returns to the horror genre with one of the most shocking studio films in years. ‘A Cure For Wellness‘ opens February 17th and I’m awaiting the pubic’s reaction to this shocking piece. Verbinski holds very little back but by the end, he doesn’t push the boundaries enough. When the story has seemingly delivered the final blow, there’s still about 20 minutes left. The film goes from an unnerving pieces and shifts into a more familiar Hollywood third act. Until that sudden shift, ‘A Cure For Wellness‘ reminds me of the masterful horror films of David Cronenberg.

The Cronenberg Connections:

To start off, I’ll give a little background on who David Cronenberg is. The Canadian filmmaker began his film career creating shocking films filled with vomit-inducing body horror. Cronenberg’s film then began taking a more cerebral twist, diving into social commentaries and personal strife. His body of work includes films like ‘Shivers‘, ‘The Brood‘, and ‘Scanners‘. Cronenberg has also directed more popular pieces like ‘Videodrome‘, ‘The Fly‘, ‘Naked Lunch‘, and ‘A History of Violence‘.

Almost every one of those films mentioned seem to have influenced ‘A Cure For Wellness‘. When I first saw the trailers, I felt the H.P. Lovecraft influence but actually seeing the film…it’s totally David Cronenberg meets ‘Cocoon‘.

First, it’s all the body horror that screams CRONENBERG! Hollywood horror usually has some gore or only gore if you’re ‘Saw’ but the way Verbinski uses it in this film is tremendous. One scene that sticks out in particular is the drilling of a tooth. It starts out with a tooth falling out of Dane Dehaan’s character Mr. Lockhart but it only gets grosser from there. He asks for help from one of the doctors at the wellness center and this leads to one of the most intense and brutal scenes I’ve seen a while.

There’s also a lot of social commentary in ‘A Cure For Wellness‘, something David Cronenberg is known. I admire Gore Verbinski for taking a brash but less preachy route to delivering his message. Like Cronenberg, Verbinski dives into deep thoughts about how society is being corrupt and we need to cleanse the filth of the world. It’s something I didn’t expect from the film but it’s an intriguing change from all the gross stuff!

Paving Its Own Way:

Yes, ‘A Cure For Wellness‘ is inspired but that doesn’t mean it’s not original.

The way this film breaks down age is wonderful. It’s deep and impactful. There’s something sad about how bad these people want to be cured from their horrible normal lives that they’d run to this place. That speaks deeply into the beauty culture as well as how society views aging in general.

Another thing that separates this from many other “body horror” movies is the Gothic/Victorian flair. From start to finish, it feels like a classic morose fairytale. This is when Gore Verbinski starts calling back to himself as the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean‘ franchise, as well as ‘The Ring‘, have a gothic feeling.

Final Thoughts:

‘A Cure For Wellness‘ isn’t perfect but close. It’s almost there with the terrifying body horror and unique screenplay but it starts to lose its originality near the end. Also, the film expect you to put aside any sort of realism from the get-go so this film isn’t for everyone.

I personally loved it and would recommend it to obscure horror fans!

Synopsis:An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious “wellness center” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. He soon suspects that the spa’s miraculous treatments are not what they seem. When he begins to unravel its terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests there longing for the cure.
– [FoxMovies.com]

Genre: Psychological Horror
Country: USA/Germany
Directed By: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Dane Dehaan, Mia Goth, and Jason Isaacs

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Orphan Black Sets Season 5 Premiere Date

By

Ashley Carter

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February 7, 2017

Orphan Black has a date for its fifth and final season, BBC America announced Tuesday.

Clone Club will meet again on June 10.

Tatiana Maslany reprises her role as several Leda clones who try to unravel a conspiracy that links them all.

The 10-episode season will focus on the mystery of how Neolution founder P.T. Westmoreland is still alive.

BBC America confirmed in June that Orphan Black would end with season 5, breaking the hearts of sestras everywhere.

Co-creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson said in joint statement last year:

“We are excited to deliver an epic conclusion to the tale of Sarah and her clone sisters. The past four seasons have been a phenomenal adventure and we are eternally grateful to our loyal fans who have loved the twists and thrills of our weird little show. We are thankful to our partners at Temple Street, and to BBC America and Space for their support and giving us the opportunity to end on a high.”

Since its 2013 debut, the sci-fi thriller has gained critical praise and a massive fan following.

Last year, Maslany won her first Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

In addition to Maslany, the cast includes Jordan Gavaris, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Skyler Wexler, Kevin Hanchard, Evelyne Brochu, Kristian Bruun, Ari Millen and Josh Vokey.

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CW Orders Pilot for “Black Lightning” Series From Berlanti and Akils

By

Jen Schiller

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February 7, 2017

Yet another superhero drama was recently given the green light by the CW–but Black Lightning has a few elements other shows lack. Most obviously, the show’s lead DC Tv’s first African-American superhero Jefferson Pierce. The shows writers are black husband-and-wife duo Mara Brock and Salim Akil, according to Deadline.

Black Lightning Will Not Be Just Another Berlanti Production

Black Lightning Writers — Mara Brock and Salim Akil

Producer Greg Berlanti has his fingers in many other television pies. Most recently, he produced Riverdale, the noir/mystery/teen drama barely based on Archie Comics. Berlanti also produces Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. Black Lightning will likely be darker than any of the other DC shows on the air.

Deadline explains the show’s plot: “[Pierce] made his choice: He hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hellbent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend — Black Lightning.”

Black Lightning is based on the DC character created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden. The book premiered in 1977, making Pierce one of DC’s first African American heroes. No premiere date is set.

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Comixology Adds Image Titles to Unlimited in Honor of 25th Anniversary

By

Karen Walsh

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February 7, 2017

Image fans all know that February 1 marked the 25th anniversary of the much loved publishing house. Back in November, Image announced 25 cent comics to celebrity 25 years. However, Comixology is also including some new series to its sometimes-woeful collection of Unlimited subscriber content.

Comixology announced today that it would be adding the following titles for its unlimited subscribers.

Bitch Planet

(Issue #1-8 & Vol. 1)
created by writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Valentine De Landro

When women are deemed to be “non-compliant” by earth’s male leaders, they are sent off world to Bitch Planet in a win or die trying prison. Complete with strongly feminist values, the book also incorporates essays by scholars and other media to enhance the reading experience.

God Hates Astronauts

(Issues #1-10 & Vol. 1-3, adding issues 6 – 10, Vol. 2-3) complete series
created by Ryan Browne

Beginning with an immortal superhero deformed by boxer John Sullivan who is boxing a bear, this book never gets less weird. With colors reminiscent of Allred, Browne’s artwork adds an additional layer of surreal to an already strongly surreal story.

Wytches

(Issues #1-6 & Vol. 1 new and available today) complete series
created by writer Scott Snyder and artist Jock
When rumors follow Sailor and her mother from one town to their new home of Litchfield, the mother and daughter learn that rumors are the least of the monsters out to get them. Jock’s art in the series harkens to The Blair Witch Project in the dark woods but also brings pops of pinks and greens that startle the viewer.

For those seeking out some new-old comics to read, Comixology’s additions allow for exploration of some more recently published works upon which maybe you’ve been unwilling to take a $3 chance.

In addition to announcing the arrival of these three major names, Comixology also announced that there will be continuous Image additions to its Unlimited service through May.

What other titles are you hoping to see?

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‘Aftermath’ Trailer: Arnold Schwarzenegger is Seeking a Complicated Vengeance

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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February 7, 2017

Aftermath, originally titled 478, stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a man seeking revenge on someone who killed his family.

That all sounds familiar and very much in the vein of classic Arnie. But Aftermath is based on a true story and has little more on its mind; and judging by this trailer we are getting even more of that somber, aging, Maggie-esque Schwarzenegger, and less a man tearing through baddies to exact his pound of flesh.

Check out the trailer:

Much more subdued that I expected. The synopsis on IMDb simply says the film is “Based on the airline accident that occurred in July of 2002 and the events that took place 478 days later.” However, there is so much more to the story.

Schwarzenegger is clearly after Scoot McNairy, who plays the air traffic controller whose mistake caused his wife and daughter’s plane to crash. The grieving father and husband in the real-life story was Vitaly Kaloyev, who eventually tracked down air traffic controller Peter Nielsen in his apartment and stabbed him to death. Yeah, heavy stuff…

This is definitely more of the complicated moral gymnastics Schwarzenegger tried in Maggie, the low-key zombie family drama he did back in 2015. Even though it may not be his strongest talents as an actor, it’s fascinating to see this former muscleman try his hand at something different late in life.

Aftermath is directed by Elliott Lester, and aside from Arnie and Scoot McNairy, stars Maggie Grace, Kevin Zegers, and Hannah Ware. Schwarzenegger returns to theaters and On-Demand on April 7.

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Valiant Unveils New VALIANT PREMIUM Format For X-O MANOWAR #1 – Debuting On March 22nd!

By

Manuel Gomez

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February 7, 2017

As the all-new X-O MANOWAR #1 prepares to begin its war-ravaged journey into deep space on March 22nd, Valiant is proud to reveal that one of the year’s most anticipated comics debuts will now ship in the VALIANT PREMIUM format — a brand-new form of deluxe packaging created specifically for Aric of Dacia’s battle-worn conquest of a savage alien world!

Beginning with the release of X-O MANOWAR #1 – the FIRST ISSUE to THE EPIC NEW ONGOING SERIES from New York Times best-selling-writer Matt Kindt (Divinity, Ninjak, Mind MGMT) and a rotating cast of all-star interior artists, including Tomas Giorello (4001 A.D.: War Mother, Bloodshot Reborn), Doug Braithwaite (Armor Hunters, Bloodshot U.S.A.), Clayton Crain (Rai, Carnage), Ryan Bodenheim (The Dying & The Dead), and Mico Suayan (Bloodshot Reborn) – fans and readers everywhere can look forward to the VALIANT PREMIUM format appearing on each issue of X-O MANOWAR in 2017 and beyond. Then, don’t miss Aric of Dacia’s one-man domination of a battle-scarred alien world… one that will force him onto the front lines of an eons-old extraterrestrial battlefield, and will send him into the deepest reaches of space!

Features for the all-new X-O MANOWAR #1, the first release to showcase the VALIANT PREMIUMformat, will include:

Deluxe matte finish cover stock covers.
Upgraded, heavyweight interior pages.
An oversized, 34-page first chapter.
Minimal advertisements for an uninterrupted storytelling experience!

Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce said:

X-O Manowar is Valiant’s most important series launch of the year – so much so that it has inspired us to create an entirely new format of publishing that’s designed to highlight the visionary and epic work of Matt Kindt, Tomas Giorello, and every stunning artist that will join them across the title’s first year. Valiant’s first truly cosmic series starts here, and it’s an absolutely relentless adventure from the first page. Moreover, the VALIANT PREMIUM format will be an additive addition – at no extra cost to the consumer – that will enhance the storytelling and narrative impact of one of our biggest release to date. These are can’t-miss comics for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the medium.

In contrast to VALIANT PRESTIGE — an ads-free format designated for the publisher’s most important standalone event and limited series — VALIANT PREMIUM will only be applied to X-O MANOWAR. However, the VALIANT PRESTIGE format will continue to be utilized as needed.

Born under the oppressive thumb of the Roman Empire, Aric of Dacia learned warfare at an early age. It was amid such violence that he was abducted by an alien race. Forced into slavery, he survived where others perished. His escape would come from bonding with a weapon of immeasurable power: the X-O Manowar armor. With it, he returned to Earth…only to find himself stranded in the modern day.

But that was a lifetime ago.

Now, far from home on a strange and primitive new world, Aric has begun a new life. Liberated from his past, he tends to his crops. Free from war. Free from violence. Free from the armor.

A brutal, deep-space saga awaits Valiant’s premiere hero here, as he enters a herculean voyage through the cosmos unlike anything fans have seen before! Alien planets, all-new characters, and out-of-this-world adversaries will stand revealed as Aric of Dacia rises from SOLDIER to GENERAL to EMPEROR to VISIGOTH in a star shattering adventure!

On March 22nd, the new VALIANT PREMIUM format blasts off in visceral detail as Matt Kindt and Tomas Giorello begin the space-faring, sci-fi odyssey of the year, only in X-O MANOWAR #1 – featuring covers by Lewis LaRosa (Bloodshot Reborn), Kenneth Rocafort (Inhumans vs. X-Men), Mico Suayan (Thor), J.G. Jones (Final Crisis), and Monica Palosz (Divinity III: Stalinverse)!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com

X-O MANOWAR (2017) #1
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by TOMÁS GIORELLO
Cover A by LEWIS LAROSA (JAN172113)
Cover B by KENNETH ROCAFORT (JAN172114)
Interlocking Variant Cover by MICO SUAYAN (JAN172116)
X-O Manowar Icon Variant by J.G. JONES (JAN172117)
Brushed Metal Variant Cover by MONIKA PALOSZ (JAN172117)
$3.99 | 40 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PREMIUM | On Sale MARCH 22nd (FOC – 2/27/17)

X-O MANOWAR (2017) #2
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by TOMAS GIORELLO
Cover A by LEWIS LAROSA (FEB172049)
Cover B by KENNETH ROCAFORT (FEB172050)
Interlocking Variant by MICO SUAYAN (FEB172052)
X-O Manowar Icon Variant by KAARE ANDREWS (FEB172053)
Blank Cover Also Available (FEB172051)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PREMIUM | On Sale APRIL 26th (FOC – 4/3/2017)

Check out some interior preview pages below and tell us what you think in the comments!

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5. X-O MANOWAR (2017) #1 – Interior Art by Tomas Giorello with Diego Rodriguez

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‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2’ Director Discusses ‘Thanos’ and Awesome New BTS Pics

By

Emma Nicholson

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February 7, 2017

News of the Guardians of the Galaxy has been showered upon us this week, and the latest is a selection of new behind the scenes shots, as well as an explanation from director James Gunn regarding the surprising absence of Thanos (a.k.a. the Mad Titan) who was debuted in the first instalment. The news comes courtesy of Comic Book Movie around three months before the film’s late spring release date.

We’ve already heard Kevin Feige’s slant on the Thanos affair and his placement in the Marvel Extended Universe, and now James Gunn, director of Vol.2 has had his say. In an interview with Collider, Gunn explained that despite the Mad Titan appearance in the first film, he will not feature in the sequel so as not to detract from the central storyline. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 focuses on the dynamics of the team, particularly the relationship between the sisters Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana).

“It’s about two sisters. It’s not about the sisters and their father. It’s about two sisters and what were the sisters’ problems with each other? And, you know, some of those things were caused by being raised by the ultimate abusive father. But it really isn’t about Thanos, and frankly, I just wasn’t inspired to put him in the movie. You know, I kind of go with my gut on these things and it just wasn’t what I wanted to do. It wasn’t the most fun part of the movie last time for me and I just didn’t really wanna do it this time.

“And again, the relationship with Thanos has nothing to do with it. It’s not about their relationship with Thanos. It’s about their relationship to each other, and what is that? And that was interesting to me, and I thought that was important to our story, and that was important to our characters. What happened with them in the past—there’s a lot of stuff that happened with them in the past that affects our characters presently.”

So, although he may have no physically presence, we can expect a mention at the very least if some rekindling of sisterly, family bond is to be expected between Gamora and Nebula.

There’s not long to wait now before our speculation can be put to rest. In the meantime, we’ve been gifted with a set of energetic behind the scenes photos to whet our appetites.

The official synopsis is as follows:

Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.

Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 sees the return of Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, and once again borrows the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper for Groot and Rocket respectively. New cast include Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha, Chris Sullivan as Taserface and Kurt Russell as Ego.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 hits theaters on May 5th.

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‘Blood Blister’ Is A Gross And Disturbing Addition To Horror Comics

By

Manuel Gomez

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Brandon Hull is a morally corrupt lawyer who abuses his power, neglects his family, and thinks himself above most people. He also suffers from a mysterious blister that never seems to stop bleeding. When Hull enters what he thinks is a children’s Halloween haunted house to pick up his son, he encounters hellish images and literal demons that may just reveal the depths his human soul has sunk to.

Blood Blister #1
Written by: Phil Hester
Art by: Tony Harris, Eric Layton and Guy Major
Published by: AfterShock Comics

Writing

Seasoned comics veteran Phil Hester brings some visceral horror in this book. But it’s not without dark humor (at least initially) as the opening scene with the redneck family brings to mind gory splatter comedies like Re-Animator and Basket Case with its depiction of grossness for laughs. But even then there is an underlying feeling of true horror, specifically “body horror” (think David Cronenberg) that isn’t lost on the reader. The main character constantly bloodletting his blister is fairly disgusting, and every time it does it builds a bit of intrigue.

So when the tone changes toward the end and gets serious, it doesn’t seem jarring. In fact, the ending is the best part for me, as it really starts to open up the story, which I felt was starting to get a little slow. The paced eased a bit in the middle, but the ending will leave you hooked and awaiting the second issue.

Art

The art in this is great. Tony Harris, Eric Layton, and Guy Major create a look that is stylized but still disturbing when it needs to be. It actually invokes EC Comics style horror, but with a very modern sense of page layout and panel structure. It’s very inventive and visually pleasing. And again, like the writing, there is an overall feeling of “not right’ that swims beneath the surface.

The line work is inked thick and dense, which really makes the art jump off the page. Everything is outlined in black, which is subtle art move, but one of the most effective ways to give comic book art a look that draws attention to each figure.

The character design is also fantastic, and the very expressive faces really allow for the horror to come through when needed. The entire haunted house sequence at the end is a high-light, with an excellent use of space and color. It’s great stuff.

Conclusion

Blood Blister seems poised to be an intriguing mystery, with serious horror elements. There is enough originality in it to help separate it from other horror titles out now. AfterShock Comics continues to pump out very interesting non-superhero genre work, and that is always welcome in the medium. Give this a shot; you will be amused, disgusted, and maybe even a little disturbed.

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‘Kong: Skull Island’ Has So Many Incredible Posters

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

-

February 7, 2017

We are just art a month away from Kong: Skull Island, and if the movie itself is half as great as the trailers suggest, and a tenth as wonderful as the endless barrage of posters, we are in for a treat.

The latest awesome poster from Kong: Skull Island comes from Japan, and the Japanese certainly know how to frame big monster action in their artwork. Check it out:

Amazing. And it’s just the most recent in a whole collection. Previously released American posters really look to amp up the whole Vietnam era Apocalypse Now vibe of the movie. This IMAX poster is my personal favorite because it resembles AN fan art despite the fact it comes from the studio:

And if we didn’t have these, we would still have the first one. It’s magnificent as well, and the palette of blues and oranges is perfection.

Scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean. Cut off from everything they know, they venture into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery soon becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape from a primal world where humanity does not belong.

Kong: Skull Island stars Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, and a wacky John C. Reilly who is already my favorite character from the film. It’s directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, and is intended to set up a showdown between Kong and Godzilla some time in the future. We still have to get that second Godzilla movie up and running first.

We will see just how great this thing is March 10.

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