Movie Show: Marvel Comics’ Mike Perkins On The State Of The Comic Book Industry

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April 29, 2015

Matthew Sardo of Monkeys Fighting Robots has an in-depth conversation with New York Times bestselling artist Mike Perkins of Marvel Comics. The two discuss the state of the comic book industry, the convention scene, diversity in the industry, and Free Comic Book Day.

Mike will be at Heroes Haven Comics in Tampa for 10am – noon this Saturday for Free Comic Book Day.

Bonus: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ review – a bit darker with a few more surprises.

About Mike Perkins:
Mike Perkins believes that he first picked up a comic at the age of two – swiftly followed by a pencil and a piece of paper. There are vivid memories of illustrating a striking full-figure resemblance of the Lone Ranger in nursery class – which must place him at, about, four years old.

Jump ahead eight years and the young Mike Perkins is making his own anthology comics (FutureTense, Warp 10), photocopying them and selling them at school during lunchtime – with a cunningly attached fun-size Mars bar offered as further incentive to the hungry hordes.

Fast forward another three years and, having been nurtured on a steady diet of 2000AD, Captain Britain and Doctor Who monthly, Mike Perkins – now working a Saturday job in a local comic shop – is not only exposed to a wider world of comics but also to the professional side of the industry when attending comic markets around England.

To read Mike’s complete bio go to MikePerkinsArt.com

Monkeys Fighting Robots holds two weekly podcasts, the Movie Show and the Comics Show. The Comic Show goes live Wednesday with the Movie Show going live on Friday (holidays could change scheduling).

Reviews are greatly appreciated – How to Rate and Review a Podcast in iTunes

If you are looking to sponsor either podcasts email matt@popaxiom.com as well.

Thank you for listening!

About the Movie Show:

A Gen Xer and a Millennial debate the latest topics in pop culture. One guy is a filmmaker and the other is a journalist, but both are nerds. We make your slowest days at work better. Hosts, Matthew Sardo and EJ Moreno.

Never heard of Matt Sardo?
For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.

Who’s EJ Moreno?
Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. But what we know for sure is he’s a writer, filmmaker, and pop culture enthusiast. Since film school, EJ has written & directed several short films. He’s used his passion of filmmaking to become a movie critic for MonkeysFightingRobots.com.

Places you can find the show:
iTunes
Blog Talk Radio
Stitcher

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Review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Goes Dark With Some Surprises

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Matthew Sardo

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April 29, 2015

With an insane cast of superheroes, it’s impressive that Joss Whedon held Avengers: Age of Ultron together. The film just takes off from the beginning and continues to run for the next two plus hours.

Avengers: Age of Ultron has a much darker tone than it’s predecessor, with the seeds of Civil War firmly planted for next year’s Captain America film. The Scarlet Witch brings out the team’s darkest fears, and Black Widow’s story is just tragic. The original Avengers seemed like the “Tony Stark / Iron Man Show” and Age of Ultron has a greater balance of the characters. My biggest issue with The Avengers is at no time did I feel the team would lose, Age of Ultron, on the other hand, kept me guessing throughout the film and I was fearful for everyone’s life.

James Spader is just a brilliant actor that understands evil. His interpretation of Ultron and his evolution was perfect for the film. A stronger villain always helps out a movie, and this is where Age of Ultron gets a big boost over The Avengers. Tom Hiddleston is an excellent Loki, but he is no James Spader.

The Whedon stamp on this film is Clint Barton. In a way Age of Ultron is a Hawkeye tale. I don’t want to spoil the movie for the people who have yet to see the film, but by the end, I was more connected with Hawkeye than any other character. That in itself is pretty remarkable because I wasn’t expecting that to happen. Barton is the one character that grounds the Avengers and gives them a soul.

“The city is flying, we are fighting an army of robots, and I have a bow and arrow,” said Hawkeye.

It may have only been a 15-second battle between Captain America and Iron Man, but it got me so pumped for Captain America: Civil War. The question, “Whose side are you on?” is asked about ten times in the film. Tony Stark has seen the future, and he’s scared. Steve Rogers will defend the innocence, even if means he’s dead. The build up for next year is intense!

My negative Nancy moment, Marvel Studios still has no clue what to do with the Hulk. During major battle scenes, you’re wondering where is the big green guy. For as organized as the Avengers are, they never really have a plan for the Hulk. Plus, the Hulk has no lines!!! To counter that, the relationship between Black Widow and Bruce Banner was another pleasant surprise.

Does Avengers: Age of Ultron dethrone Guardians of the Galaxy as my all-time favorite Marvel film? No, but the awesome look of The Vision gives this film a solid hold on second place.

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Viral: Epic G1 Transformers Stop Motion Film

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Matthew Sardo

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April 29, 2015

Harris Loureiro Films took six months to create this 15-minute G1 Transformers stop motion film.

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Trailer: Nicole Kidman Returns To The Outback For The Thriller, Strangerland

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Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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April 29, 2015

Native Aussie Nicole Kidman returns to the Australian Outback for her new film, Strangerland, which looks like an intense missing persons thriller. The film focuses on a married couple whose two daughters disappear in the midst of a ferocious dust storm, and paranoia consumes them. The trailer showcases the panoramic beauty of the Outback, and juxtaposes it with the grit and grime of those stuck in the towns in this unforgiving land.

Here is the Strangerland trailer:

Aside from Nicole Kidman, Strangerland also stars Joseph Fiennes, Hugo Weaving, and Maddison Brown as one of the daughters. It is directed by Kim Farrant in a feature-film debut behind the camera. The film hit the festival circuit earlier this year, and will find a broader audience this summer.

Strangerland hits both theaters and VOD on July 10.

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Hulu Secures Exclusive Rights To AMC’s ‘Fear The Walking Dead’

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Matthew Sardo

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April 29, 2015

AMC Network programming chief Craig Erwich announced Wednesday that Hulu has secured exclusive SVOD rights to the spinoff to The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead. According to The Hollywood Reporter this is a multi-year deal with AMC Networks.

“We believe in the combination of compelling content and technology to engage audiences and deliver viewers back to the linear television experience,” said AMC Networks COO Ed Carroll. “We are excited about this new partnership with Hulu, a growing company that has created a network-branded environment for content in a highly competitive space.”

The deal also gives Hulu exclusive SVOD rights to new and upcoming scripted programming from AMC, IFC, BBC America, Sundance TV and WEtv.

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Asa Butterfield Is Your Next Peter Parker, a.k.a Spider-Man?

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Matthew Sardo

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April 29, 2015

According to Kellvin Chavez of Latino Review, his sources have Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game) landing the role of Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War in 2016 and Spider-Man: New Avenger in 2017.

Latino Review reached out to Asa’s reps who have given us a “no comment.” They also reached out to other industry sources who have confirmed that he is indeed the front runner including one who believed that he already had has the role.

“Marvel had liked him since day one,” unnamed source from Latino Review.

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Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) Sings About His Super Powers

By

Matthew Sardo

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April 29, 2015

Avengers: Age of Ultron star Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) sings about his super powers on The Jimmy Fallon Show Tuesday night.

Hawkeye from “Avengers” sings about his lesser-known powers.

When you’re on a team with the Hulk and Thor
And we’re all up there on the movie screen,
Will the people believe that I’m not quite as tough?
Will anyone even notice me?

But listen I’ve got powers too, they’re pretty sweet.
I promise I can do so much more than just archery.

I’m serious guys.
I’ve got a collection of scarves and berets.
I play trombone in a ska band.
I once got to second base on my Tinder date.
And my cat has got its own Instagram.

I tell you now
I kick ass at Mario Kart.
This year I played an extra in Paul Blart.
I can open a pickle jar.
I’m friggin’ Hawkeye.
Maybe I’m as super as they are.

So maybe I still haven’t lost my virginity.
But when I bowl I always score at least 70, after six beers

Yes I know ’bout Captain America’s strength.
Hulk becomes a towering man.
But I got seventh place in my fantasy league.
And I once butt-dialed Jean-Claude Van Damme.

When I go to Chipotle I get free guac.
I flirt with the cashier and she says I rock.
I own water-resistant socks.
I’m friggin’ Hawkeye.
Maybe I’m as super as they are.

Maybe I’m as super as they are.
Maybe I’m as super as they are.

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The Punisher Spotted at Baltimore Riots

By

Jacob Rosen

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April 29, 2015

Check out this man in Baltimore, sporting a Punisher t-shirt, standing between an angry mob and law enforcement in an attempt to diffuse the situation and prevent anymore violence from erupting.

They not showing this on the news #BaltimoreRiots https://t.co/ZRS1Vvvco2

— AC (@ACFromDaBranch) April 27, 2015

The riots in Baltimore, sparked over the death of Freddie Gray in police custody after sustaining severe spinal cord injuries, have led way to violence and looting in the city. It is nice to know there are real heroes out there!

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Indie Comics Spotlight: Bitch Planet, Descender, The Infinite Loop

By

Sarah Yeazel

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April 28, 2015

It’s Tuesday night, and you’re excited for new comic book day! Tomorrow you will go into your local comic book store and pick up another arm-crippling stack of comic books to tear into as soon as you get home. Do you need more titles thrown onto your pile? Of course you do. Here are a few indie comics that are out now that you can grab tomorrow!

Bitch Planet – Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro

If you want one of the best [if not the best] independent monthly series, pick up Bitch Planet. The comic tells the story of a not-too-distant dystopian future in which women who are judged as “non-compliant” are sent to an off-planet prison known as “Bitch Planet.” Women who do not fit in with the societal standards constructed by men, or flat-out refuse those standards, are condemned to Bitch Planet by the oppressive patriarchal government. This book is the new, electrifying wave of feminism in comics. The second printing of the first issue was recently released, so it’s easy to jump into the series from the beginning. This title is perfect if you enjoy feminist literature, stories set in dystopian futures, punk rock, and really fantastic comic book writing and art. If Penny Rolle isn’t your hero, you’re reading it wrong.

Descender – Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen

If you’re like me, and I know I am, you like stories about robots. Descender is the new ongoing science-fiction series by Sweet Tooth‘s Jeff Lemire. The story begins with the nine planets under the control of the United Galactic Council having their orbits invaded by The Harvesters, massive interplanetary robots that obliterate life from the planets and disappear. Life that remains works to purge their worlds of artificial intelligence and robots, but one companion robot boy, Tim-21, remains. Once he is discovered, it is believed that Tim-21 holds in his make-up the key to The Harvesters. Soon, Tim-21 is hunted by humans desperate for answers. The artwork in this book is hypnotic, and the story is beautiful thus far. It’s the perfect union of a great script and captivating artwork. This book is perfect if you like breath-taking art, stories about robots, the film AI that we deserved instead of the one we got, and good science-fiction.

The Infinite Loop – Pierrick Colinet, Elsa Charretier

This crowd-funded French series is now available in English through IDW. The story begins with Teddy, a woman who works hard correcting time paradoxes. At the end of the first issue, Teddy encounters a time paradox that challenges her: the woman of her dreams. What is Teddy willing to risk for true love? How will it affect time and space? The Infinite Loop promises to be an interesting adventure in love and time-travel. This title is perfect if you like time travel, dinosaurs, philosophical questions, queer fiction, and love stories.

Enjoy your Wednesday, everyone, and be sure to take a moment to pick up something new at your local comic book shop. If you pick up any good titles this week, let me know in the comments section below! Happy reading!

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‘Avengers: Age Of Ultron’ Thor Hammer Prank Is Awesome!

By

Matthew Sardo

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April 28, 2015

Do you remember this line:

“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.”

To celebrate the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Trollstation decided to stick Thor’s hammer to the ground with super,super no nails glue.

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