This is a minor spoiler alert, Superman didn’t die at the end of ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’ WHAT!? I know, I just blew your mind. (I should stop talking like ‘Mr. Robot’ now.)
Filming for Zack Snyder’s ‘Justice League’ is underway and it appears that Superman will have a subtle new look. I wonder if Geoff Johns does hair now? The iconic Superman curl is back.
According to Dark Horizons, The Instagram account TravelByHart was able to arrange for two kids to visit the set of the movie where they met and stood for a photo of Henry Cavill in full costume which includes the signature hair curl.
‘Justice League’ follows the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, and features Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Ezra Miller as The Flash.
Uninspired, overblown headlines such as this one aside, Suicide Squad is not a good movie. Summer 2016 has been an blockbuster disappointment to say the least and DC’s latest universe-building installment disappoints greatly after looking as if it might have been the light at the end of the tunnel.
The UnPOP Podcast goes full Jared Leto method and dives into the characters of Harley Quinn and The Joker while discussing the movie. The guys also bemoan “news” media and the propagation of gossip and talk some Shazam! and Black Adam news in “What’s Cookin’ in The Rock’s Kitchen”.
Check out the hosts’ Hollywood makeup conversion (One goes drag! The other joins 30 Seconds to Mars!) on Facebook here!
Each week here on Monkeys Fighting Robots, we are looking at every DC Rebirth title and tracking its progress. Books will be rated on a scale of “Buy It”, “Borrow It” or “Bin It”. Spoilers ahead.
Supergirl: Rebirth #1 (Steve Orlando, Ray McCarthy and Emanuela Lupacchino)
Did you know that Supergirl had lost her powers? No? Me neither. It doesn’t really matter either way as this opening issues sees the Girl of Steel regain her extraordinary abilities just in time to fight off a monster linked to her father’s increasingly questionable past. DC has made strives to create interesting female-led series following the unexpected cult status of the Batgirl of Burnside revamp. Stylistically, this series attempts to capture a similar voice that humanises an otherworldly character. It misses out on adding some artistic flare to character by remaining firmly dedicated to the DC house style, but it is difficult to fault the interiors themselves. Focusing the story on a young Kara Zor-El/Danvers trying to adjust to human life is an interesting reversal of the traditional Superman version of the hero’s journey, but that isn’t new. It’s quite clear that DC is attempting to capitalise on the success of the Supergirl TV series by situating Kara as an undercover agent of the D.E.O. For our money, the Adventures of Supergirl provides the perfect accompaniment to the show and the Batgirl of Burnside, but in its absence this core Supergirl provides an intriguing entry point for the character.
Recommendation: Buy It.
Suicide Squad #1 (Rob Williams, Scott Williams and Jim Lee)
Amanda Waller is one of the most interesting characters in the DC universe. She walks the grey in a way that few other characters do, being one who feeds on the morally dubious nature of pro-active American exceptionalism. This is the focus of this issue, a character study that goes through the process of how one can live with the choices Waller had to make, as the Squad begin an incursion into Russian territory. There is an element of DS9‘s “The Pale Moonlight”, an examination which allows you to understand, if not condone the actions involved. The main story is followed by a back-up feature which analyses everyone’s favourite sharpshooter, Floyd Lawton aka Deadshot. This is one of the few stories in recent memory that have truly questioned the influence of super-heroics on the populous and the oft-cited escalation of the criminal element. The result is a touching piece that truly understands and expands the character. Overall, we have a surprisingly deep issue that is extenuated by the wonderful interiors of Scott Williams and the king of comics himself, Jim Lee.
Recommendation: Buy It.
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #1 (Shawna Benson, Julie Benson and Claire Roe)
It’s refreshing to have the Birds of Prey back on our shelves, but alas there is no subtly in this issue. The thematic clash between the ruthless tactics of the re-emerged Huntress and the “by the book” nature of the Batgirl-Black Canary combo is as classic as it gets, but something is lacking. Instead of trusting its audience to be able to understand this conflict, it bombards us with expository, nonsense dialogue that violates the cardinal rule of “show don’t tell.” It’s wooden, unnatural and unbecoming of the creative team behind it. The revival of the Birds of Prey, with the central Oracle mystery along with fantastic artwork, should be a no-brainer. The problem is that it becomes a literal no-brainer, by hand-holding its audience throughout. Rather than challenge or trust its readers to intuitive some of the series finer nuances, it hits us over the head with those themes until they lose all meaning. This is series needs to do better. Shoddy writing cost us a Birds of Prey book last time around, we can’t allow it to happen again.
Recommendation: Borrow It.
Harley Quinn #2 (Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi and Chad Hardin)
Sometimes, even critics need to put your hand up and say that a book isn’t for them. Every so often, a critic can recognise that the work they are examining may be put together well, but that it doesn’t resonate with them personally. Harley Quinn doesn’t deserve that benefit of the doubt. Unlike Deadpool comics, which many will agree are finely crafted although they do not speak to them, there is something about the Harley Quinn ongoing series which does not sit well with me. There is nothing inherently wrong with the current trajection of the Harley Quinn ongoing series, in which the former clown princess of crime goes on a number of misadventures as a fun-loving, roller-derby playing anti-hero. The problem is that, in doing so, they have shed the character of the complexity which makes her interesting. Deadpool on the other hands remains interesting because even though it is wacky; Wade Wilson is a deeply flawed character that can have touching relationships with those around him. Harley, on the other hand, focuses on Looney Tunes inspired antics without anything of substance beneath it. Having her move on from the yolk of the Joker creates so much potential for story-telling, but it is squandered if we are left with a character without a purpose. Comedy comics are all well and good, but even they need something to ground them. If you don’t believe me, give Archie Andrews a call and see what he tells you. Could I be out of touch? No, it’s the fan-base that is wrong. This is wasted potential of a character whose pedigree is deserving of more respect. If this is what we consider to be the fourth pillar of DC Comics, then our medium needs to take a serious look at itself.
Recommendation: Bin It.
Justice League #3 (Bryan Hitch, Sandu Florea and Tony S. Daniel)
Reading stories like this make me ashamed. This is an embarrassment, a story with no consequences and no heart. It’s a story that merely exists, thematically void of anything that would make it appealing. Hitch arms those who would dismiss comics as a refuge of inept story-tellers, for those lacking the necessary talent for prose. There is nothing wrong with a popcorn book, indeed they are often refreshing when the industry takes itself too seriously, but they aren’t memorable. There is misconception that existential threats are uninteresting because within the realm of super-heroics, there are no true stakes. Superman will save the day and all will be as it were. Yet, those world-shattering crises need not be emotionally empty. When they are used as a lens to examine relationships or provide a character study, they are remarkable tools for growth. Infinite Crisis worked because the story wasn’t really about Superboy Prime’s attempt to influence the multiverse, but rather accepting change in one’s life. The best artists in the world can’t save a book that doesn’t have a heart. This creative team don’t get that and do a disservice to what should be the flagship book. The fact that this book was the top-selling comic in July shows the brand power of a name like Justice League, even if the quality of the story within should leave us all with a bitter taste in our mouths.
Recommendation: Bin It.
As DC Rebirth continues, the numbers of book grows, and when coupled with the bi-monthly publication schedule, some books are read but don’t merit their own reviews. Batman, Aquaman, and Green Arrow, in particular, are three books which do not require more praise. If you’ve been following these series, you will know that they are some of the finest examples of comic storytelling on offer. Meanwhile, Green Lanterns maintains its mundanity, and don’t expect anything other than bland callbacks to the 90s in the continuing adventure of Superman. Sales indicate that the DC Rebirth has been a tremendous success even if perverse incentives are rewarding the least worthy. The Book of the Week goes to Suicide Squad as an effective example of a character study in comic form. The Dishonourable Mention lands firmly at the feat of Justice League which will endure regardless. This week’s offering would merit a bronze, but DC is going to have to up its game if its flagship title dares to aim for gold.
Review copies were kindly provided by the publisher.
Will Smith can be seen in the current hit DC Comics’ film adaptation Suicide Squad, but as anyone knows, he has not been shy about discussing political topics in the past. According to Entertainment Weekly, Will Smith took time during a Suicide Squad press conference in Dubai, India to discuss “Islamophobia” in America.
Donald Trump and his supporters eventually became the target of Smith’s commentary, as Trump has been under fire since last year for his statements about putting a temporary ban on those of the Islamic faith from immigrating to America.
The general Leftist thought, since Donald Trump shot his mouth off last year, was that he specifically meant to attack a religion, and is a terrible, evil, racist, bigot, but it is this entirely the truth or simple media exaggeration? Have other presidents taken a similar path? Let us analyze.
Will Smith Vs. Donald Trump: The Smack Talk
Will Smith has made his opinions of Donald Trump known prior to his Suicide Squad sit down in Dubai, as he went after Trump for his “fat pig” comments about Rosie O’Donnell, and honed in on Donald Trump’s candidacy as being part of a “separatist, non-inclusive, racist, xenophobic wave” across the world, as Breitbart News reported.
Smith went a little further when discussing “Islamophobia” at a Dubai press conference for his current flick Suicide Squad(Nope. This writer is not making the connection either).
“In terms of Islamophobia in America, for me, that’s why it’s important to show up. The Middle East can’t allow Fox News to be the arbiter of the imagery, you know. So cinema is a huge way to be able to deliver the truth of the soul of a place to a global audience,” said Smith.
No source seems to indicate how the topic arose, but celebrities tend to enjoy injecting themselves into politics. The usual talking points and tropes of “Fox News” this and “Fox News” that came out. Not defending Fox News, but CNN and MSNBC aren’t exactly quality journalism 99 percent of the time either(Think Wikileaks and the DNC).
In any case, it is hard to say definitively why Will Smith chose to delve into this discussion, but his next comments added Donald Trump and his supporters with a curious comment.
“As painful as it is to hear Donald Trump talk and as embarrassing as it is as an American to hear him talk, I think it’s good. We get to know who people are and now we get to cleanse it out of our country,” said Smith.
Will Smith isn’t unfair in his embarrassment and disgust with Donald Trump, as he certainly can rub people the wrong way, but looking to “cleanse” your country of people purely because they support a candidate you do not, seems a little ludicrous. Before we review a little of Will Smith’s knowledge of civics and politics, let’s see what “The Donald” actually said.
The official statement, which The Guardian has a more detailed version of him reading and explaining it, reads that Trump was calling for a “total and complete shutdown” of immigrants of Islamic persuasion because of data he found from the Center for Security Policy’ that stated “25 percent” of the Muslims polled had agreed that violence against Americans here in the U.S. is justified “as a part of the global jihad,” and 51 percent agreed that American Muslims “should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah.” The statement continued below.
“Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” said Trump.
The actual statement seems less caustic, in context than the reactionary media presentation of it. Donald Trump, love or hate him, may have a reasonable issue that is addressed in this statement. Maybe…maybe not.
So, is this statement and opinion unprecedented? Let us review the history.
The History: Donald Trump, Will Smith, And Past Presidents
Donald Trump is not the first presidential potential to suggest a change in immigration policy due to Islamic issues, though, the others were presidential… actuals.
President Jimmy Carter, formerly the most disliked president, once banned a Islamic people from a certain Islamic country in 1979. Carter banned Iranians from immigrating to America, signed an executive order to round-up 50,000 Iranian students, extra border screening, cancelled visas, et cetera during that time.
Carter based this off a prior immigration law called the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that was authored by Democratic Senator Pat McCarran and Democratic Congressman Francis Walter. The ’52 law instituted quotas, and elements that many on the left loathe, but have started to round out Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
For anyone thinking Islamic terrorism and the issue with such radical philosophies are a 20th/21st century issue, look up Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary pirates.
Donald Trump and Will Smith are both Democrats. Both have supported or donated to leftist Democratic politicians and political causes. More on Donald Trump’s leftist background can be found here. Americans are quite clear on Donald Trump’s knowledge of politics, but is there any example Mr. Smith’s?
A few years back, Will Smith was on another promotional tour that landed him in France. This was around the time that France’s new Socialist President Francois Hollande had taken the reigns, and instituted a weighty tax on wealthier French people in the country. Smith bragged about how it was essentially out of patriotism that he was thrilled to pay taxes. He paid 30 percent in taxes he boasted.
The French interviewer explained to him that the new taxes there were 75 percent on someone in his tax bracket. A stunned Smith choked, gasped, and comically said: “That’s why I’m proud to be an American.”
So, the final question to be answered is Who is right? Wrong? Did this even really matter?
The Verdict
It’s a draw. Will Smith has every right to hate, make fun of, and yes be embarrassed in other countries by him (Lord knows we all are). However, that really doesn’t extend to his bizarre, and kind of creepy comments about him and especially his supporters. One hates to say it, but if the shoe were on a Republican foot, would there have been more outrage?
Donald Trump’s comments are often mean-spirited, and he can be a bit of jerk, but there’s “nothing new under the sun” as they say. Nothing in what he said is unprecedented, and it’s been partially clarified.
Following years of speculation and rumors, John Turturro’s long-proposed The Big Lebowski spin-off — centered around his scene-stealing supporting character, the aforementioned purple-loving, bowling-enthused sexual predator Jesus Quintana — is finally getting in front of cameras. According to Birth.Movies.Death., Turturro is already a couple weeks into production in New York — which the actor was making in secret, until now — and he’s joined by co-stars Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou and Susan Sarandon. Evidentially, Turturro is not fucking around.
Turturro’s spin-off is reportedly inspired by the 1974 comedy Les Valseuses, which translates to Going Places. It will focus on two petty thieves, Jesus and Petey (Cannavale), competing to give a woman her first orgasm after she’s robbed by the criminals. Sarandon will play another criminal whom just got out of prison after a long stint. It currently has no distributors. Of course, there are many other questions now left in its wake.
For one, did Turturro get any input from Joel and Ethan Coen, the original creators of the character? They’re not creatively involved, according to the original report, and they’ve been hesitant to give their wholehearted blessing, despite years of insistence on his part — although that either changed recently or Turturro decided to make a spin-off anyway. The actor said he wanted to make a spin-off this year if he got the filmmakers’ seal of approval, according to THR.
Second, what ever happened to the bus driver plot Turturro suggested a few years back? Is that worked into the film, or completely strapped? But most important of all, is Jesus still bowling these days? Surely the league has lost one of their greatest if Jesus decided his ball-licking days are done for good.
Details will likely emerge in the days to follow. With the cat now officially out of the bag, it’s likely Turturro will give some more insight in the near future. Even though The Big Lebowski is unquestionably one of my favorite films of all-time, not merely one of my favorite comedies, I’m as hesitant as I am excited.
It’s clearly a passion project, so it shouldn’t feel like Turturro is aping from one of his most beloved characters. But I wonder if his character can truly carry an entire film. We’ll just have to wait and see when Going Places (or whatever it’ll be called) comes to a theater near us.
Once again, the entertainment industry is giving Sherlock Holmes a screen adaptation. There have already been many movies and television series about the detective, starring various big-name dramatic actors. But Deadline reports that a new adaptation of the Arthur Conan Doyle character is in the works, and it’s unlike any other. We’ve seen various dramatic takes on the Holmes universe – such as Sherlock, Elementary, and the Robert Downey Jr. films. Now, we’ll be getting a comedy entitle Holmes & Watson, featuring the Step Brothers stars.
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, the duo known from films like Talladega Nights, are set to star in the Sony Pictures comedy. The film will be written and directed by Etan Cohen, whose past films includes Get Hard, Tropic Thunder, and Idiocracy. Ferrell will be playing the lead, Holmes himself, with Reilly playing the faithful sidekick Watson. Initially, Sacha Baron Cohen was attached to costar in the film, but that fell through. No other talent is attached, beyond the stars and director, but perhaps we’ll see Jean Girard playing Professor Moriarty.
The film will hopefully begin production after Thanksgiving.
Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Comedy Central would be cancelling ‘The Nightly Show’ due to poor ratings. According to the report, the network decided to throw the gauntlet on Larry Wilmore’s show after only two season as it had struggled to connect with audiences. As Wilmore and a lot of his crew members were up for renewal, CC found it easier to cancel the show outright rather than holding on for another season.
Wilmore, a former The Daily Show correspondent, said in a statement that he never wanted his show to focus on viral content along the same lines as his fellow late night hosts. Instead, he wanted to make meaningful content that dug deeper into issues relating to race in America. While that’s an admirable approach to late night entertainment, it is also where The Nightly Show fell short of reaching its true potential.
The news comedy show consisted of three segments just like fellow Comedy Central co-hort The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Two scripted around recent stories, and one discussion section with a daily guest. For the first two segments, the shows looked almost identical. Both Wilmore and Trevor Noah delivered funny, clever, and insightful commentary on recent events. However, due to the fact that Wilmore had The Daily Show as a lead in, whenever they covered the same stories, he could only repeat what Noah had already said.
With the last section of the show however, Wilmore had a real chance to lead a discourse about issues relating to minorities and race in the 21st century. Beyond himself, and the daily guest, two correspondents from the show would usually be the ones to add to the dialogue on the chosen issue of the night. The discussions were often quite shallow, and came off as dull since you had four people that usually shared the same view of the world. Had Wilmore instead brought in three different perspectives, and placed himself in the middle as an objective moderator, the show could’ve created content that evaded any comparison to its lead-in. If the show had instigated a real debate about the issues they brought up, it could’ve presented an unrivaled sociological insight during a time slot engulfed by desperate attempts to achieve viral success.
Though it’s no guarantee that viewers would’ve tuned in to watch a proper discussion, it would’ve elevated the show to a concept that tried to bring its viewers insightful and original content, rather than one that could never escape the comparisons to its better established lead-in.
No, not that Black Cat–the kinds with tails and ears on top of their heads. Did you know that many shelters have to put a hold on black cats around Halloween to avoid people adopting them to kill them? Did you know that black cats and dogs are more likely to be left at a shelter than other kinds?
Black cats get a bad reputation, and for reasons largely based on myth. As a very proud black cat “mom” myself, I’ve got to say, they’re just as lovely as any other passive-aggressive claw monster you could have in your home.
August 17th is #blackcatappreciationday, to raise awareness and visibility of black cats around the globe. Today we celebrate with some of our favorite fictional felines of the noir variety.
The Black Cat with Style: Salem Saberhagen
Sabrina the Teenage Witch has been a figure of comics, television, animated television, and now a horror series from Archie Comics. In every iteration of Sabrina, we also get a new version of Salem. Perhaps the most popular is the animatronic cat from the ’90s television show, Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Voiced by Nick Bakay, Salem often got his own subplot, complete with ridiculous costumes and props.
The Black Cat with A Plan: Thackery Binx
If you haven’t seen Hocus Pocus yet, congratulations! You’re either living in a hut in the mountains, or actively avoiding this cult classic. Much like Salem, Binx was portrayed by both a real and mechanical black cat, depending on what the scene called for. He and Salem also have their humanity in common. That’s right–both black cats are actually humans trapped in feline form.
Unlike Salem, however, Binx is immortal and cursed with protecting the city of Salem, MA from the Sanderson sisters’ return. We know. He’s not great at his job.
The Helpful Black Cat: Jiji
The Cat Equivalent of finding your name on a keychain.
Jiji “belongs” to Kiki about as much as any black cat can belong to a human. In Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji is Kiki’s familiar, and steps in when Kiki loses a delivery. Jiji and Kiki have trouble closer to the end of the film when they can no longer talk to one another. Some critics say this loss of communication is a marker of Kiki leaving adolescence behind, even though it coincides with her regaining the ability to fly. Whether or not they can talk to each other, Kiki and Jiji are best friends forever.
The Rudest Black Cat: Luna
Luna is the second black cat on our list from anime. Sailor Moon introduces Luna in the first episode, though she’s just a creeper kitten with weird band aids on her face. Once the band aids are removed, however, she’s the sassiest cat on the block. Luna spends the rest of the series telling Sailor Moon exactly what she thinks, whether it’s relationship advice or tips on how to stave off the negaverse. Mostly, her commentary is unwelcome, but Serena and the rest of the team love her none the less.
The Black Cat With the Moves: Mr. Mistoffelees
Perhaps the most dividing subject in musical theatre is the Weber classic Cats–based, of course, on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Whether or not Eliot planned for his book of poems to become a full-realized musical complete with special effects and insane dancing, I suppose we will never know. What we do know, however, is that Cats DOES HAVE A PLOT–all of the cat characters present their life story to Deuteronomy, the wisest of cats, on why they deserve to head on up to the “heavy side lair” (cat heaven), and be reborn into a new cat life. Mr. Mistoffelees presents his case in the form of a magic show, and it is magnificent. The show is back on Broadway. Just go see it.
The Bonus Black Cat: Sif the Warrior Princess
Alright, she’s not fictional. She’s my cat. Ain’t she the sweetest? (of course, as I type this, she’s knocking over everything on my desk.)
Show us your favorite cats for #blackcatappreciationday!
Deadline is reporting that Hulu has ordered a pilot for Marvel’s Runaways, which is aiming for an eventual full season.
Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, creator of Gossip Girls, are set to helm project.
Schwarts expressed his interest in the property, saying:
“I’m a long-time fan of Runaways and couldn’t be more excited to bring Brian and Adrian’s characters to life,” .
Created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, Marvel’s Runaways tells the story of six teenagers who discover that their parents are members of a vile crime organization.
Runaways will be excecutive produced by Jeph Loeb (Jessica Jones) and Jim Chory (Daredevil).
Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker has been periodically posting the title for each episode on his Twitter account. Following this pattern, he recently dropped the episode titles for 9 and 10.
To summarize, here are the episode titles we know so far:
Episode 1: Moment of Truth.
Episode 2: Code of The Streets.
Episode 3: Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?
Episode 4: Step In The Arena.
Episode 5: Just To Get A Rep.
Episode 6: Suckas Need Bodyguards.
Episode 7: Manifest.
Episode 8: Blowin’ Up The Spot.
Episode 9: DWYCK.
Episode 10: Take it Personal.
“Luke Cage is a former gang member who is framed for a crime. In prison, he volunteers for a medical experiment that goes awry, giving him super strength and bulletproof skin. Using his newfound powers, Cage escapes and becomes a hero for hire. His archenemy is Willy Stryker, a former childhood friend from Harlem. The two committed petty crimes together, and both fell for the same woman, Reva Connors, which led to their eventual falling out. It was Stryker who framed Cage for a drug deal that sent him to prison.”–Screencrush.
Season one of Luke Cage hits Netflix on September 30.
Supergirl: Rebirth #1 (Steve Orlando, Ray McCarthy and Emanuela Lupacchino)
Suicide Squad #1 (Rob Williams, Scott Williams and Jim Lee)
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #1 (Shawna Benson, Julie Benson and Claire Roe)
Harley Quinn #2 (Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi and Chad Hardin)
Justice League #3 (Bryan Hitch, Sandu Florea and Tony S. Daniel)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch has been a figure of 
Luna is the second black cat on our list from anime. Sailor Moon introduces Luna in the first episode, though she’s just a creeper kitten with weird band aids on her face. Once the band aids are removed, however, she’s the sassiest cat on the block. Luna spends the rest of the series telling Sailor Moon exactly what she thinks, whether it’s relationship advice or tips on how to stave off the negaverse. Mostly, her commentary is unwelcome, but Serena and the rest of the team love her none the less.
Perhaps the most dividing subject in musical theatre is the Weber classic Cats–based, of course, on T.S. Eliot’s 