Yesterday, the first official image of Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger in Black Mass surfaced, indicating that this may be the first film in several years Depp has truly sunk his teeth into. Now, the first trailer for the crime drama has dropped, showcasing a frightening Depp as Bulger.
Watch the Back Mass trailer here, courtesy of Apple trailers:
The cold blue-eyed stare is enough to send shivers up your spine. That, coupled with the fact that Whitey Bulger was a vicious gangster, and a massive all-star cast make this one of my most anticipated films of the fall movie season.
Facebook announced their quarterly earnings yesterday and the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg posted a statement and picture on his wall.
“We just announced our quarterly earnings and gave an update on our community’s progress to connect the world.
Our community now has more than 1.44 billion people. Here are some other highlights from our quarter that show the scale of what we’re all building together.
Thank you for being a part of our community, and for helping to connect the world,” said Zuckerberg at Facebook HQ.
The company’s monthly active users were 1.44 billion in March, a 13% increase over last year. Mobile users were at 1.25 billion, 70% of all users.
With this new data Facebook’s monthly user number officially surpassed the population of China.
After what can only be described as a veritable sh*tstorm that erupted over Frank Cho’s Spider-Gwen cover — which he stated on his ComicArtFans.com page as, “my nod and a wink to the much-maligned Manara’s Spider-Woman cover” — we now ask ourselves; what ever happened to Frank Cho’s Spider-Gwen cover and was it really such a big deal?
So, what did happen to this infamous illustration and where did it end up? Well, like most things that are surrounded with controversy and the potential to make a quick buck, it found its way to the one place where you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy… eBay.
But, that’s not really so surprising is it? No, what is more surprising is the price tag — $6000.
The listing has since been ended by the seller from eBay because, “the item is no longer available”. Does this mean it sold elsewhere? Or did the owner (this listing was a consignment listing) decide not to part with it; even for that kind of cash?
More importantly, was Frank Cho’s Spider-Gwen cover really controversial enough to justify that amount of money? Well, according to Cho, he actually raised the price of his sketch cover commissions to $800+ because of several on eBay that he had found going for much more than he originally charged. Factor in the recent controversy that this image had — although let’s be real, this argument is so 2014 — also account for the popularity of Spider-Gwen, and to a potential collector even crazier than myself… well, maybe.
You see, in terms of original artwork, $6000 can get you quite a lovely and published piece. The problem with Cho’s Spider-Gwen cover is that it is only a blank variant (a practice which has become popular for collectors). Despite what some might have you believe, this is not a special published variant cover — in which case I could see the justifications behind the outrage, such as the Manara cover, which was intended for publication. It was something Cho did as a tongue-in-cheek homage to sell at his table at MegaCon and Big Wow Comic Fest. That’s it. However, because there was such an uproar by a handful of individuals on the Internet that eventually grew into an angry mob with torches and pitchforks, including Spider-Gwen co-creator Robbi Rodriguez, the infamy and value equally grew around this cover and…
That’s all well and good, but did Frank Cho’s Spider-Gwen cover really warrant the hatred and outrage it deserved and is Cho the sexist pig he has been made out to be? The short answer — no.
Whether you found the illustration to be in poor taste or not, the end result of all this venom being spit at Frank Cho and his work has led us to a drawing of an over-hyped character becoming controversial enough for someone to justify a $6000 price tag. While people are busy arguing about this illustration, Frank Cho and the owner of this book are laughing all the way to the bank.
Does the comic book industry need to stop with its over-sexualization of women and rethink the way they are portrayed? Yes, absolutely. Does Frank Cho need to apologize for his drawing — which, mind you, is a homage and not even his own original design — because it is offensive? No. Should I be upset that I just spent $6000 for this thing? A resounding YES!
Just kidding, I didn’t buy it (I wish).
You can read more about what Bill Sienkiewicz had to say about this controversy HERE.
Do you agree or disagree? Leave a comment and let us know what you think! Tweet Jacob @semperfilm
Krishnan Guru-Murthy of Channel 4 News apparently went too far with Robert Downey Jr. during an interview in London to promote Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Guru-Murthy was looking to get questions answered about Downey’s past but wasn’t prepared for when the interview went sour. Downey even calls out the reporter when Guru-Murthy starts to get nervous.
“Your foot is starting to jump a bit, you better get to your next question,” Downey said.
In full Tony Stark mode Downey just gets up and leaves the awkward interview.
Amy Schumer mocks hollywood ageism in a sketch for Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer. The comedian stumbled across a picnic where Patricia Arquette and Tina Fey were helping Julia Louis-Dreyfus celebrate her “last f—kable day.”
“In every actresses life, the media decides when you finally reach the point that you’re not believably f—kable anymore,” said Louis-Dreyfus.
Johnny Depp is popular among the “just-released set photos” this week. Yesterday, he was shown in his pirate garb for a fifth (yawn) Pirates of the Caribbean film. This time, however, he appears in the first still from a much more interesting project, playing White Bulger in the Scott Cooper film Black Mass.
Depp, sporting some thinning hair, a hefty midsection, and a dangerous firearm, plays Bulger, a vicious mobster turned FBI informant in Boston. Here is the first shot of Johnny Depp in action in Black Mass, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly:
Seeing Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger in a film like Black Mass is much more exciting, at least to me. We will see what comes of it. Black Mass opens September 18.
Maggie is about a teenage girl in the Midwest becomes infected by an outbreak of a disease that slowly turns the infected into cannibalistic zombies. During her transformation, her loving father stays by her side.
Maggie is directed by Henry Hobson and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, and Joely Richardson. The film film will be in limited release on May 8th.
This spring, Marvel brings its A-game to a truly unique show that puts the fans center stage – the Atlantic City Boardwalk Con. Every turn at ACBC will offer fans, both old and new, an experience that has been designed to capture your attention and excite your senses and Marvel Comics will be there to headline this all-new pop culture event. From May 14th to May 17th, ACBC will be gathering some of the largest names across film, television and the comic book industry and presenting them for those who truly matter – the fans!
Guests who attend the first year of ACBC will be the first to witness as Marvel Comics takes center stage and introduce the building blocks for what comes next within the Marvel Universe at the Marvel Booth and ACBC exclusive Marvel panels.
“Being able to host Marvel Comics at Atlantic City Boardwalk Con during this amazingly exciting time in their history is an honor,” says ACBC’s CEO Michael D’Alessio. “We know the ACBC fans are anxiously awaiting the happenings on the Marvel stage and at Marvel panels.”
“With great fans, comes great responsibility! Marvel is honored to be invited to ACBC and we plan to bring some bold announcements and big names to this new and exciting convention,” says David Gabriel, Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing.
Also scheduled to appear at ACBC: Stan Lee (Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron), Michael Rooker (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy), Kevin Smith (Comic Book Men), William Shatner (Star Trek), Georgina Haig (Once Upon A Time), Elizabeth Lail (Once Upon A Time), Rebecca Mader (Once Upon A Time), Sean Maguire (Once Upon A Time), Tom Cavanagh (The Flash), Manu Bennett (Arrow), Willa Holland (Arrow), many more and several yet to have been announced!
Comic-Con International announced the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2015 this morning. Seven nominations were for books published by Image Comics, and an additional seven nominations were shared with other publishers, bringing the total nominations for Image Comics to 14.
FULL LIST OF IMAGE COMICS EISNER 2015 NOMINATIONS:
Best Single Issue (One-Shot):
MADMAN IN YOUR FACE 3D SPECIAL by Mike Allred
Best Continuing Series:
SAGA by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples
SOUTHERN BASTARDS by Jason Aaron & Jason Latour
THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, & Stefano Gaudiano (Image/Skybound)
Best New Series:
THE FADE OUT by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips
THE WICKED + THE DIVINE by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie
Best Writer:
Jason Aaron, SOUTHERN BASTARDS (shared nomination)
Kelly Sue DeConnick, PRETTY DEADLY (shared nomination)
Brian K. Vaughan, SAGA (shared nomination)
Best Penciller/Inker:
Mike Allred, MADMAN IN YOUR FACE 3D SPECIAL (shared nomination)
Fiona Staples, SAGA
Best Cover Artist:
Jamie McKelvie/Matthew Wilson, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE (shared nomination)
Best Coloring:
Laura Allred, MADMAN IN YOUR FACE 3D SPECIAL (shared nomination)
Matthew Wilson, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE (shared nomination)
“I could not be more proud of all the phenomenally brilliant men and women currently working with us right now, and seeing so many of them nominated for these awards is always extremely gratifying,” said Eric Stephenson, publisher at Image Comics. “Few things make me happier than watching all these incredible people follow their dreams by turning exciting ideas into amazing comics, and I think our strong showing on this year’s Eisner ballot only further emphasizes the importance and vitality of creator-owned comics.”
Voting for the awards will be open soon at www.eisnervote.com. All professionals in the comic book industry are eligible to vote. The results of the voting will be announced in a gala awards ceremony on the evening of Friday, July 10 at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
ABOUT THE EISNER AWARDS:
Named for acclaimed comics creator the Will Eisner, the awards are celebrating their 26th year of highlighting the best publications and creators in comics and graphic novels.
Secret Wars is Marvel’s huge event that will redefine the universe for decades to come (but isn’t a reboot). The Marvel epic is written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Esad Ribic.
Kwame Opam of The Verge, asked Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, would you say that there are certain characters that take a central role in the overarching conflict? Characters who really bear the weight of this conflict more?
“I’m reluctant to give spoilers, but I will say that people who overlook [the upcoming] Ultimate End run, featuring Ultimate Spider-Man, do so at their own peril. Miles is a very, very important character to the story. And he’s not alone. So too with the female Thor. You’ll see when you read,” said Alonso.
Ultimate End #1
The wheels are in motion, and the Ultimate Universe is set to crash headlong into the monumental Secret Wars. The end is nigh…but is there any hope for the Ultimate Universe or its most beloved hero?
ULTIMATE END #1 BAGLEY SPIDER-MAN VARIANT (FEB158574)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art & Cover by MARK BAGLEY
On-Sale – 05/20/15
