The God Of Symbiotes Invades The Marvel Universe This December

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July 11, 2020

This December, Knull will invade the Marvel Universe with Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman’s next installment of their take on Venom, KING IN BLACK. This next chapter promises an epic showdown between a devastating enemy and the likes of the Avengers, the X-Men and the current Venom, Eddie Brock.

According to Venom series writer Donny Cates, “As far as event books go, this is the coolest, darkest, most heavy metal, Cthulhu dark horror thing I’ve ever been able to do.” It’s no surprise Cates would invoke the phrase “heavy metal” given the explosive momentum Marvel competitor, DC Comics, has been able to leverage coming out of the Coronavirus lockdown with their event – DARK KNIGHTS: DEATH METAL. A momentum Marvel has so far been unable to match with it’s current releases. Perhaps KING IN BLACK will give Marvel just the boost it needs.

Check out the full press release and preview trailer from Marvel below.

The Venom series has been very popular under Cates and Stegman. Are you excited for this new villain to arrive on the Marvel stage? Are you keeping up on the current Venom run? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media.

THE NEXT SHOCKING CHAPTER IN DONNY CATES AND RYAN STEGMAN’S VENOM SAGA REVEALED

KING IN BLACK CONQUERS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE THIS DECEMBER!

New York, NY— July 10, 2020 — This December, the entire Marvel Universe braces itself for KING IN BLACK, the latest installment in writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman’s revolutionary take on the Venom mythos. Knull is coming, and when he arrives, everyone from the Avengers to the X-Men will learn just how unprepared they are to face off against the God of the Symbiotes. Everything in Cates and Stegman’s landmark run on VENOM has led up to this monumental story, and readers will finally witness Eddie Brock’s climatic standoff with one of Marvel’s most terrifying villains.

With each mind-bending twist and turn, the stakes will be raised like never before as KING IN BLACK flips everything you thought you knew about Venom and the world of the symbiotes upside down and inside out. Learn more in a special video announcement from the mastermind creative team, and stay tuned for more news about what to expect when KING IN BLACK lands later this year!

“As far as event books go, this is the coolest, darkest, most heavy metal, Cthulhu dark horror thing I’ve ever been able to do,” promises Cates. “I still can’t believe that Marvel is letting us go as dark and scary as we’re going.”

“One of the things I’m most proud of in this series… is the creation of the character Knull,” Stegman says. “We have some new designs that we’ll be unveiling throughout the series that are really cool and really creepy.”

Ready or not, don’t miss KING IN BLACK #1 when it hits stands this December!

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Review: KILLADELPHIA VOL 1 Gives New Life To An Old Enemy

By

David Weber

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Killadelphia Vol 1 is a beautifully drawn horror comic book published by Image Comics that breathes new life into the age-old enemy of vampires by presenting them in a realistic modern-day setting.

About the book:
When small-town beat cop Jimmy Sangster returns to his Philadelphia roots to bury his murdered father, he stumbles into a mystery that will lead him down a path of horrors and shake his beliefs to their core. The city that was once the symbol of liberty and freedom has fallen prey to corruption, poverty, unemployment, brutality…and vampires.There’s a reason they say you can’t go home again. Welcome to Killadelphia.

Through the writing of Rodney Barnes, the art of Jason Shawn Alexander, the coloring of Luis NCT, and the lettering of Marshall Dillon, Killadelphia comes together to be an incredibly enjoyable vampire tale.

Killadelphia Story

Killadelphia vol 1 does not spend much time developing the characters before the action begins, but this surprisingly has little impact on whether the readers care about the characters. The book has a clear emphasis on action, and this is wonderfully supported by the artwork, so it is alright that the characters’ stories take a step back. Killadelphia makes up for this light characterization by having the stories of many of the characters be familiar. James Sangster Sr. is a police detective that cares about seeing justice in his city, James Sangster Jr. suffered from an emotionally distant father, and one character is deeply affected by the passing of his grandmother. All of these are character traits that we are familiar with through other media or possibly our own lives. This gives us an emotional connection to these characters before we’ve even had the chance to get to know them, and we can enjoy the characters surviving through the horrors without dwelling on characterization that can be developed more later.

Art

The art of Jason Shawn Alexander is enough reason alone to pick up a copy of Killadelphia Vol 1. The semi-realistic art style gives the horror story a more serious tone and is simply a pleasure to look at. The ultra-violent scenes also have a much more lasting impact when the characters look real and are more prone to shock readers than a different art style.

Luis NCT used a limited color palette for most of Killadelphia, which helped set the tone of the volume. The use of dark and dirty colors and textures made the characters, clothes, and city seem more realistic and is a refreshing change from most of the comic books on shelves today. In scenes featuring blood and violence, different shades of red almost completely overtake the scene, which causes panels to boldly stand out from the rest of the scenes, and highlights the viciousness of what is occurring on panel.

Marshall Dillon picks his moment to stand out in volume one of Killadelphia. When the vampires begin to attack, the lettering plays a significant role in terms of sound captions. Onomatopoeias such as the “Skreee” of a shrieking vampire written in blood red and an entirely different font helps to highlight the inhumane nature of the creatures and is a wonderful instance of how important lettering can be. No sound or a less energetic font could have completely slowed the energy of the scene, and ruined the fast-paced action of the scene. There are several other instances where sound captions are used, and Dillon does an amazing job so that each of these has an impact on the reader.

Conclusion

Killadelphia Vol 1 is, without a doubt, something to check out. It’s vampires brought into the modern-day, complemented by fantastic art, coloring, and lettering. The action scenes flow so smoothly and are visually stunning in so many ways. Barnes, Alexander, NCT, and Dillon absolutely knocked it out of the park with this first story arc, and it will be exciting to see the path the story continues to take.

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DC Cover Reveal: “Joker War” Finale In BATMAN And DETECTIVE

By

Kevin Sharp

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July 10, 2020

October may bring the conclusion of “Joker War,” but that doesn’t mean things in Gotham City will suddenly be calm and peaceful. Check out DC’s cover reveal for Batman issues #100 and #101, along with Detective Comics #1028:

This October, there’s more trials and tribulations than tricks and treats in store for Batman and Gotham City! As his ferocious battle with the Clown Prince of Crime comes to an end, there are more questions than answers ahead for Gotham’s guardian (including a completely unexpected guest star)!

Here’s an early reveal of covers and art from some must-have Bat-books coming your way in October!

BATMAN #100

Written by JAMES TYNION IV

Art and wraparound cover by JORGE JIMENEZ, GUILLEM MARCH, CARLO PAGULAYAN and DANNY MIKI

Card stock variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

1:25 card stock variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ

On sale OCTOBER 6, 2020

In this extra-sized finale issue, “The Joker War” comes to a city-shattering conclusion as Batman battles The Joker in a brutal, no-holds-barred final duel! This is a fight 80 years in the making, and its outcome won’t just change Batman’s life—it will change Gotham City for years to come!

DETECTIVE COMICS #1028

Written by PETER J. TOMASI

Art by NICOLA SCOTT

Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

Card stock variant cover by LEE BERMEJO

On sale OCTOBER 13, 2020

Spinning out of the events of “The Joker War” and Detective Comics #1027 comes a tale of the beginning of the end for Gotham City’s status quo. With tensions flaring and a new mayoral candidate making his anti-masked hero agenda known to the city, Batman and his allies are stretched thin to keep the peace. But just as things couldn’t look any worse, a string of gruesome murders has left a trail of the most corrupt in Gotham City losing their heads…literally. If Batman doesn’t quickly find the killer— the Dark Knight will be next.

BATMAN #101

Written by JAMES TYNION IV

Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH

Batman/Grifter card stock variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

1:25 Grifter card stock variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ

On sale OCTOBER 20, 2020

A new day dawns in Gotham City, and the horrific aftermath of “The Joker War” is only starting to unfold…how has The Joker’s rampage affected the citizens of the city? What legacy did the Clown Prince of Crime leave, and how it will hit the Dark Knight? And why does Cole Cash—a.k.a.—Grifter, now work for Lucius Fox?!

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New Preview For HARLEY QUINN BLACK+WHITE+RED CH. 3: “Get Yer Story Straight”

By

Gabriel Hernandez

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July 10, 2020

The next weekly installment of DC Comics digital series, HARLEY QUINN BLACK+WHITE+RED, is out with Chapter Three. The chapter, entitled “Get Yer Story Straight,” tells the story of three thieves who stole the wrong item from the wrong person, leading to a whole lot of problems for the thieving trio.

Penned by Eisner Award-winner Saladin Ahmed and drawn by artist Javier Rodriguez, the chapter is now available on participating digital platforms. You can check out the full press release, and a preview of the chapter, below.

Have you been enjoying this series so far? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media using the links below.

We told you that each chapter of the new anthology series Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red would be unique, and we meant it! Saladin Ahmed and Javier Rodriguez, the team behind Exiles, have delivered the today’s chapter of DC’s Digital First smash hit series with their signature style…and plenty of classic Harley Quinn red all throughout!

For immediate release: https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2020/07/10/harley-quinn-black-white-red-chapter-three-get-yer-story-straight

Harley Quinn Black + White + Red Chapter Three:

“Get Yer Story Straight”

Announced just two weeks ago and hammering fans weekly with Harley Quinn stories in the vein of Batman: Black & White, the third chapter of Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red has arrived! Eisner Award-winner Saladin Ahmed and Javier Rodriguez’ take on DC’s Clown Princess of Crime is now available on participating digital platforms, including readdc.com, Comixology, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and more!

In Ahmed and Rodriguez’ story, three crooks just managed to do the unthinkable: they stole something invaluable from Harley Quinn herself! But as they compare notes on how the job went down, they start to notice some…discrepancies in what they saw…

Harley Quinn Black + White + Red Chapter Three by Saladin Ahmed and Javier Rodriguez, lettered by Clayton Cowles, is available now, along with previous chapters by Stjepan Šejić and Mirka Andolfo. Tim Seeley and Juan Ferreyra’s chapter—“Who Diss?”—will publish next Friday July 17.

Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red promo art is by Jorge Jiménez.

DC’s comics are available on participating digital platforms seven days a week, including readdc.com, Comixology, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, DC UNIVERSE, and more.

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Review: THE OLD GUARD VOL. 1 – OPENING FIRE – Do You Want to Live Forever?

By

Matthew Brake

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With Netflix releasing a movie based on the original story by writer Greg Rucka and artist Leandro Fernandez on July 10, 2020, it is worth taking a look back at The Old Guard Vol. 1 – Opening Fire. Joined by colorist Daniela Miwa and letterer Jodi Wynne, Rucka and Fernandez’s story is an action-filled tale taking on themes that are as old as humanity: death and the hope of immortality.

Writing

The strength of Rucka’s writing has always been the grounded characters he places in his stories. In this case, soldiers Andy, Booker, Joe, Nicky, and newcomer Nile, a group of nigh-immortal humans and guns for high. When they are betrayed by their business associate Copley (and later we find out, one of their own) to the villainous Steve Merrick, a self-described ruthless big pharma businessman who hopes to unlock the secret of immortality by kidnapping these soldiers, they all figure out exactly what it is that they’re living for.

Honestly, the villain of this story is pretty forgettable. Think of Merrick as any douchey, ‘roided up Vin Diesel antagonist. He’s a pretty two-dimensional villain, but this story isn’t about a compelling villain, but the struggle with immortality for those for whom life has ceased to be meaningful. As time marches on and loved ones pass on, what is left but their fading memories, followed by more of the same? This is what makes Rucka’s tale compelling, learning to live, and find meaning in a world that one has grown tired of.

Art

Fernandez’s art is serviceable for the story. He certainly never shies away from blood, but he doesn’t distract from the thematic heart of the story by overemphasizing the gory parts of the story. A story like this, with a bunch of nigh-immortals who easily heal from their injuries, particularly lends itself to highlighting the wounds and injuries of the protagonists. However, while Fernandez doesn’t shy away from portraying the injuries of the story’s protagonists, he relies on the use of blood splatter and shading that communicates the extent of the injuries without focusing an undue amount of attention on them.

It’s not that the grotesqueness of their injuries are never shown, but for such an action-heavy comic, Fernandez’s portrayal of the violence inherent in the story is pleasantly restrained in a way that services the story.

Coloring

Miwa relies on a muted color palette, which fits the tone of the story. Old Guard is about a world that has “lost its shine” for its protagonists. They’ve lived long enough to long for the endless cycle of life to end. Of course, Miwa, along with Fernandez, should be credited with the restraint they show in portraying the violence in this comic. Rather than highlight every bit of brain and viscera that the protagonists’ injuries lend themselves to, they opt for something that services the story in a modest way.

Lettering

The lettering in this issue is great. Wynne doesn’t add any flourishes to necessarily distinguish one character’s dialogue from the other, but whether she’s lettering dialogue in person, over the radio, or narrated voice-over, she keeps the story moving.

One part of the lettering I particularly enjoyed was the sound effects. There is a memorable scene where Andy and Booker get into a fight and start shooting each other. Nile, in her frustration, decides to put an end to the fight.

I may have laughed out loud when I flipped the page to this scene! Great use of sound effects here, and again, while I don’t show it here, Andy’s and Booker’s injuries aren’t shown in overly graphic detail.

Conclusion

As a long-time fan of Rucka’s work at DC, it was a pleasure to read some of his creator-owned material. While dealing with extraordinary circumstances and weighty themes, Rucka keeps the story grounded in the lives of his characters. I will say, per my comments about Merrick earlier, that I am afraid that Old Guard will receive the Bloodshot treatment in its film debut. Bloodshot was certainly a serviceable film, but still a relatively shallow Vin Diesel action flick. My fear is that the thematic richness of the story will be lost in a film adaptation, but we’ll have to wait and see.

What did you think of The Old Guard Vol. 1 – Opening Fire? What did you think of the Netflix movie? Tell us in the comment below!

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Marvel Announces New YA Graphic Book Line With Scholastic

By

Gabriel Hernandez

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July 9, 2020

In a strong move to capture the YA market, Marvel Comics has announced a partnership with Scholastic to produce a series of graphic novels focused on readers from 12-18. The first Original Graphic Novel (OGN), entitled Miles Morales: Shock Waves, will star the titular wall crawler as he works to solve a mystery surrounding the disappearance of his friend’s father.

Following the Miles Morales/Spider-Man OGN, Marvel is actively working on books starring Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel and Shuri. More details on those books will be released in the near future. You can read full details in the official Marvel press release below.,

What other Marvel characters would you like to see in YA OGN’s? Let us know in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media using the links below.

Marvel and Scholastic To Launch All-New Line Of Original Graphic Novels For Young Readers

The new line of middle grade OGNs kicks off with a Miles Morales story in Spring 2021

New stories to be written by bestselling authors including Justin A. Reynolds, Nadia Shammas, and Roseanne A. Brown

New York, NY—July 9, 2020 — Marvel Entertainment and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today announced a multi-year Original Graphic Novel program featuring some of Marvel’s most iconic Super Heroes including Miles Morales, Kamala Khan, Shuri and more! These new stories will launch as part of Scholastic’s Graphix Media line, building from the success of Marvel and Scholastic’s prose collaboration program that kicked off earlier this year.

Next spring, Marvel and Scholastic’s new OGNs will make their debut with Miles Morales: Shock Waves, written by bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds (Opposite of Always and the forthcoming novel, Early Departures) with art by Eisner Award-nominated artist Pablo Leon (The Journey)! Following one of Marvel’s most popular characters, Miles Morales: Shock Waves will introduce readers to a riveting new story that will thrill both new and well-versed comics readers alike.

“Ever since he entered the Marvel Universe a few years ago, Miles has struck a deep and personal chord with fans around the world,” said Lauren Bisom, Editor of Marvel’s juvenile publishing. “As Spider-Man, he embodies that classic coming-of-age story. But as Miles, he represents so much more—and his life experiences, his culture, and his ability to embrace his inner strength make him one of the most important and inspirational heroes in the Marvel Universe.”

In Miles Morales: Shock Waves, Miles Morales is a normal school kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. After a disastrous earthquake strikes his mother’s birthplace of Puerto Rico, Miles springs into action to help set up a fundraiser for the devastated island. But when a new student’s father goes missing, Miles begins to make connections between the disappearance and a giant corporation sponsoring Miles’ fundraiser. Who is behind the disappearance, and how does that relate to Spider-Man?

Following Miles Morales: Shock Waves, Marvel and Scholastic will debut all-new adventures following Kamala Khan, written by rising graphic novel writer Nadia Shammas, and Shuri, written by New York Times bestselling author Roseanne A. Brown! More details on these new OGNs will be released in the coming months.

Earlier this year, the collaboration between Marvel and Scholastic launched to critical acclaim with Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone; soon to be followed by Avengers Assembly: Orientation by popular middle grade author Preeti Chhibber this August. In addition to releasing new OGNs starting in 2021, Marvel and Scholastic will continue its prose collaboration with new and sequel novels for readers everywhere.

“Our relationship with the Marvel publishing team is a true collaboration and partnership,” said Debra Dorfman, VP & Publisher, Licensing, Media & Brands. “As we grow our OGN list in licensing under Graphix Media, we can’t think of a better team to work with. How lucky are we to have Justin A. Reynolds and Pablo Leon collaborating on the first book about Miles Morales? We are equally as thrilled to welcome Nadia Shammas and Roseanne A. Brown to Scholastic.”

“The first books in our collaboration with Marvel have been enthusiastically received by critics and readers alike,” added Michael Petranek, Executive Editor and Manager, Graphix Media. “We are thrilled to bring fans of these amazing characters more stories to enjoy. We can’t wait to take our readers on new adventures and expand the breadth of our storytelling with Marvel.”

“After launching our prose novels with Scholastic earlier this year, we’ve seen a huge demand for more Marvel stories and entry points into the Marvel Universe,” said Sven Larsen, Vice President, Licensed Publishing, Marvel. “These middle grade OGNs are the perfect next step to bring more readers in with the visual storytelling Marvel fans know and love. We’re thrilled to build our collaboration with Scholastic and tell brand-new stories that represent the world around us, both through our characters and the creative teams behind them. We can’t wait to introduce you to this next chapter for Marvel’s heroes.”

More information about Marvel and Scholastic’s upcoming OGNs, creative teams, and new middle grade novels will be released later this year. Stay tuned to Marvel.com and Scholastic.com for new details and look out for these titles at book stores and comic shops starting next year!

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INTERVIEW: Stunt Coordinator Hiro Koda On Meeting Idols And Making Cobra Kai

By

Ruben Diaz

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July 9, 2020

Cobra Kai is a hit series first presented by YouTube, which continues the story of the heroes and villains from 1984s The Karate Kid, and amid all the high-flying action is Emmy award-winning stunt coordinator Hiro Koda.

You see them in just about every TV show and film in some form or another. Stunt actors seamlessly replace actors in perfectly edited sequences in heart-stopping action sequences or even the simplest of prat falls. Hiro’s work appears in Cobra Kai starring William Zabka (The Karate Kid) and Ralph Macchio (My Counsin Vinny). Hiro’s action-packed work also appears in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things and Ozark plus Big Little Lies and The Outsider on HBO.

PopAxiom put on a harness for no reason because we spoke to Hiro on the phone regarding his decades in the stunt business, transitioning to directing, and more!

Hiro’s Journey

We’re familiar with child actors, but there are also child stunt actors. Hiro started faux fighting and falling at a young age. “I got my SAG card when I was twelve-years-old. Between the age of 12 and 16, I had a family friend, that my father trained, a martial artist and kickboxer, she was a Hollywood stunt woman, and she took me to sets to watch her stunt rehearsals.”

Young Hiro, simply put, fell in love. “That’s what I want to do. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

From there, Hiro’s story is a movie waiting to happen. “I moved out to LA at 16 years old, trying to figure out how to be a stuntman. I got one of my earlier jobs doing a few Roger Corman (Galaxy of Terror) films, and then I did the first seven seasons of Power Rangers.”

The happy ending to the Hiro film: “I performed for many years … “ But the story continues, “… I started fight coordinating and moved into stunt coordinating.”

Hiro’s also done a lot of second-unit directing, including on the series Stranger Things. “I’m a filmmaker; that’s my passion. I want to direct. I got my DGA card in 2000. I have a short film that made it into the Arizona International Film Festival. I’ve directed one feature, some television shows as well, and looking forward to more.”

About Cobra Kai

Hiro’s decades of experience brought him to Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions and Overbrook Entertainment’s series Cobra Kai. The half-hour episodes are ambitious and stuffed with comedy, drama, and increasing levels of action with every episode. “We never have enough time. There’s so much action. Season two had more action than season one, and season three has even more action.”

If you haven’t watched Cobra Kai, you’re missing out on a show that delivers quality on many levels. [SPOILER ALERT] Season two ends with an epic fight scene in a high school. “It was very complicated. We were shooting at a college that was not allowing us to shoot on weekdays. So we had four days to shoot that sequence. One full day was shooting scenes that didn’t require stunts. So we had that day to practice on location.”

“We shot the action of that sequence,” Hiro says of the well-executed twisting and turning melee, “… in about two days.”

Before those two days, there was a lot of practice. “Rehearsal time, we did several rehearsals prior. There was a lot of planning going into it because we didn’t have a lot of time, and we were working with young adults who have a time limit on set.”

Without a doubt, Hiro asserts, “It was a tough shoot, but we got through it.”

Any show with a great cast involved in fight sequences and stunts begs the question: How much of the stunts do the actors do themselves? “Every sequence that we do, the actors come in and rehearse all their fights. I’m able to use them as much as I can according to their ability and what they are comfortable doing. Stunt doubles will take the hard hits and falls.”

About working on Cobra Kai, Hiro says, “It’s a fun show to be on. The cast is incredible.”

Wrapping Up

Hiro started young in the filmmaking business and shares a bit of movie magic that surprised him. “Early in the business, it was learning the ‘Texas Switch’”

As a young stunt actor turned coordinator turned director, who inspired Hiro growing up? “I’ve been a huge fan of Jackie Chan my entire life and Sammo Hung. Those two guys. Jet Li is another one. But Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan are two of my idols.”

Hiro’s admiration and dedication to the stunt craft brought him face-to-face with his idols. “If you remember, Sammo Hung did a TV show called Martial Law. I ended up on season two and three as a double for Hung, which is interesting because he’s a much bigger person than I am. I didn’t have to do too much. That guy’s incredible fight-wise. He did all of his fights. But I did do quite a bit of stuff for him like falls and flips.”

A few years later, Hiro met idol number two. “I got to work on Rush Hour 3 and got into a huge fight with Jackie Chan. It was such an honor.”

It’s easy to think a stunt coordinator turning director would want to do action movies. Hiro’s undoubtedly an action fan, but says, “I would love to do a thriller or something stripped down from action.”

Cobra Kai season three is wrapped up, and it was recently announced that the series would be moving to Netflix. The season three premiere date has not been announced yet. Hiro’s excited about viewers watching the continued story. So, what’s next? “Nothing for now as we figure out how to deal with the pandemic. Eventually, more work on Stranger Things season four.”

Is Cobra Kai on your watch list?

Thanks to Hiro and Impact24 PR for making this interview possible.

Want to read more interviews like this? CLICK HERE.

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Pandemic Sifi Satire, PLANET DIVOC-91, Fully Funded By UK Scientific Orgs

By

Gabriel Hernandez

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July 9, 2020

On July 15, 2020, WEBTOON will be releasing a totally hilarious, sometimes ridiculous, satire about a distant space colony dealing with a Pandemic called PLANET DIVOC-91. This new project will be created by a small army of comics and writers from all over the globe and released in nine parts.

What makes this collaboration unusual is the funding source: “PLANET DIVOC-91 is produced by Dr Bella Starling, Director of Vocal at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Sara Kenney, Creative Director at Wowbagger Productions, in association with the UK Academy of Medical Sciences.”

You can read all about this timely project in the press release below.

Are you ready to have a good laugh at the expense of a serious subject? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this on social media using the links below.

Acclaimed Comics Creators — including WALKING DEAD artist Charlie Adlard, FRIENDO writer Alex Paknadel, and UK Comics Laureate Hannah Berry — Present PLANET DIVOC-91

A SciFi Satire About a Pandemic in the Far Reaches of Outer Space

Funded by Some of the Most Prestigious Scientific Organizations in the UK

Featuring Covers from All Star Artists Elsa Charretier, Marco Finnegan, Leslie Hung, VV Glass, Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, Matt Kindt, Alitha Martinez, and David Rubín

And Mixes from Music Producers Including Grandmixxer, LCY, and Juice Aleem

The 9-part, Webcomic Debuts July 15, 2020 on WEBTOON

(July 9, 2020) This summer, an ambitious storytelling experience will bring the world of science to comics like never before. An impressive roster of comic book creators — including WALKING DEAD artist Charlie Adlard, FRIENDO writer Alex Paknadel, UK Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, colourist and designer James Devlin, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou — are collaborating on PLANET DIVOC-91, an ambitious webcomic debuting July 15, 2020 on WEBTOON. The nine-part webcomic, which is funded by some of the most prestigious scientific organizations in the UK, is an offbeat sci-fi satire about a pandemic outbreak in the far reaches of outer space. In PLANET DIVOC-91, all young adults between the age of 16-25 have been transported to an earth-like planet which has been terraformed, so that both humans and aliens can breathe the air. Each chapter features the work of a different creative team and cover artist and is interspersed with short articles, links to videos, and other pieces of art by young adults about issues related to COVID-19, and mixes from world renowned DJs and Producers.

PLANET DIVOC-91 follows the adventures of two earthlings: Sanda Oung, a 23-year-old girl from the UK, and Champo Oung, Sanda’s 19-year-old, non-binary sibling. In the series, 15% of the world’s population of 7.5 billion people are now stuck on another planet, miles from the safety of home. Sanda learns that humans have been brought to Planet Divoc-91 because the Earth is at risk of an extinction level event – and young adults have been moved to safety by the Board of Adversity Scientists for Intergalactic Leadership’ (BASIL), led by a charismatic and fearsome alien named ADRO.

The series will feature covers from all-star artists Elsa Charretier (NOVEMBER), Marco Finnegan (LIZARD IN A ZOOT SUIT), Leslie Hung (SNOTGIRL), Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (MR. HIGGINS COMES HOME), VV Glass (DR WHO), (GRAFITY’S WALL), Matt Kindt (BANG!), Alitha Martinez (OMNI), Anand RK (GRAFITY’S WALL), and David Rubín (ETHER). The series’ first chapter is written by Sara Kenney and illustrated by legendary WALKING DEAD artist Charlie Adlard. “I’m thrilled to be working on such a project. It’s in times like these that we all need to pull together and help, and, in my own little way, this is something I can feel useful in doing,” said Adlard. The first chapter features a cover by acclaimed artist Elsa Charretier (NOVEMBER), 17 pages of comic storytelling and 17 pages of extra material. Subsequent chapters will feature between 6 and 8 pages of comic storytelling, in addition to the essays and reporting.

“Although the topics we’re discussing in the series are incredibly serious, PLANET DIVOC-91 is full of humour and is occasionally ridiculous,” said Kenney. “We’re aiming for more of a District 9 or The Good Place feel than, say, Star Trek.” Chapter 2 is written by Charlotte Bailey and illustrated by Nick Brokenshire. Chapter 3 is written and illustrated by UK Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, who also provides an afterword for PLANET DIVOC-91’s first chapter. Creative teams for later chapters will be announced in the coming months, including contributions from Rachael Smith (HOUSE PARTY), Karrie Fransman (THE HOUSE THAT GROANED), Martin Simmonds (DEATH SENTENCE), Alex Paknadel (FRIENDO) and Zara Slattery (COMA COMIC).

PLANET DIVOC-91 is produced by Dr Bella Starling, Director of Vocal at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Sara Kenney, Creative Director at Wowbagger Productions, in association with the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. “Bella and I were already working together on creative projects to engage audiences in sharing their views about antibiotic resistance and immunisation and when lockdown hit, it became obvious that our thinking could be refocused on the COVID pandemic,” said Kenney. “We realized there was a ton of information and advice about the pandemic out there, but it’s so difficult to know what to believe and who to trust, and there were virtually no young voices in the mix.” The project has since grown in scale and ambition, and there is a young editorial team from UK, India, South Africa, and Malawi who are interviewing experts from scientists to historians, ethicists to anthropologists, and from that material curating articles, creating art and videos in reaction to the interviews.

“Being teenagers and going through the most challenging stage of our lives is hard in itself — but now the impact of this new virus is resonating through our lives without any sense of when this will end,” writes Shanjida Hossain, one of the young adults contributing to the comic, in an interview with Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor; “Having studied hard since the age of five, getting to the very end of our educational journey to face this global pandemic wasn’t something we could have ever planned for, yet here we are, left with nothing but insecurities and confusion.” Shanjida’s interview will accompany PLANET DIVOC-91’s debut chapter.

“Whenever our worlds are turned upside down and we find ourselves crying “what the hell”, we call upon stories to explain “this: this the hell,” Berry writes in the afterword to PLANET DIVOC-91 Chapter One. “Our brains are hardwired with a furious need to find patterns as a means of survival, and we hunt for them – and for their subsequent meanings – everywhere, in everything. Stories bring shape and meaning to random events. They are about the conflict and the resolution; the breaking apart and the coming together; they help us to find hope in darkness and rally us when we are lost and, ultimately, they help us overcome. Faced with the greatest upheaval of a generation, and the strict social obligations keeping us all apart, where better to seek that sense of connection and meaning now than in stories?”

“PLANET DIVOC-91 is a thought experiment, one that’s a metaphor for what we’re currently experiencing around the world with COVID-19,” said Kenney. “We’re releasing the series on WEBTOONS, because it’s an inclusive, wide-reaching, digital platform, with a global audience of 10 million readers daily, and we want to foster a dialogue in the comments section, about the pandemic and where we go from here. We’ve also got some exclusive mixes hidden as Easter Eggs in the comic starting with one of the best UK Grime DJs, and a uniquely talented and much loved producer in his own right Grandmixxer. Chapter 2 features a mix from one of the most important new-generation experimental UK club music producer, artist and label owner LCY. Chapter 3 features an Afrofuturism playlist from one of the UKs best loved MCs Juice Aleem. And at the end of the day, we want readers to come back each month for the story and art. Why is Planet Divoc-91 inhabited only by 16-25 year old humans? Who are these strange aliens? Sanda Oung, a bit of a conspiracy theorist at first, has to figure out what is real and who to trust.”

The project was kick started via NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre seed funding who are providing continued support. Additional supporters include The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC); Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC); The University of Manchester through the Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund award; Sarah Iqbal, DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance; Anita Shervington, Blast Fest and Nabeel Petersen, Interfer (South Africa). The series was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our aim is to empower audiences to make sense of a pandemic situation, to create a forum for their ideas, and to use participatory arts to inform science research and influence science policy,” said Kenney.

“We’re creating a crazy, exquisite corpse with writers and artists taking on the same characters that will be accessible, entertaining and informative,” said Starling. “The wider project will capture young people’s thinking and ideas about pandemics and related research, to feed into scientific research and policy, as well as helping and challenging our research communities to think about the best ways of actively involving young adults in ongoing and future research”

PLANET DIVOC-91 debuts July 15, 2020 FREE on WebToons: https://bit.ly/planetdivoc91.

For more information, follow PlanetDivoc91 on Twitter and Instagram.

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DC Goes All-In On Monsters For Halloween 2020

By

Gabriel Hernandez

-

July 9, 2020

DC Comics has no shortage of monsters within their expanded universe, and this Halloween, DC is bringing out some of their scariest creatures for two heart-stopping, one-shot anthologies.

LEGEND OF THE SWAMP THING HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR #1 will tell six short stories focusing on the green giant in all his swamp-tastic glory. DC: THE DOOMED AND THE DAMNED #1 brings together a collection of ten separate horror tales starring the likes of Batman, Man-Bat and Etrigan.

You can read the full details in the official DC press release below.

Does this add a little more sweetness to your Trick-r-Treat goody bag? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this on social media using the links below.

LEGEND OF THE SWAMP THING HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR #1 AND

DC: THE DOOMED AND THE DAMNED #1: TWO ANTHOLOGIES GUARANTEED

TO HAVE FANS READING WITH THE LIGHTS ON THIS OCTOBER!

DC Doubles Down on the Scary This Halloween!

October always brings stories of ghosts, goblins, fright and picking out our favorite candies for Halloween. But this year, DC’s got twice the spooks and scares for comic book fans with two anthology titles featuring the World’s Greatest Super Heroes in tales of fear and terror!

LEGEND OF THE SWAMP THING HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR #1

DC invites you to welcome Swamp Thing to your witching hour festivities. In this 48-page collection of six all-new stories, the Guardian of the Green reveals past lives and the unforgettable horrors that befall those who cross his path. From ancient Rome to present day, Swamp Thing stalks these ghostly and ghastly tales—all of which are best read by the light of a jack o’ lantern!

Writers Tom King (Strange Adventures, Swamp Thing: Roots of Terror, Swamp Thing Winter Special), James Tynion IV (Batman), Vita Ayala, Phillip Kennedy Johnson (The Last God: The Fellspyre Chronicles) and Ram V (Catwoman, Justice League Dark) are among the writers penning these creepy tales with Domo Stanton (House of Whispers), Mike Perkins (Lois Lane), Emma Rios and Christian Ward providing the bone-chilling artwork.

Legend of the Swamp Thing Halloween Spectacular #1 is priced at $5.99 and debuts on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at all open and operating comic book stores and participating digital retailers.

DC: THE DOOMED AND THE DAMNED #1

It was a dark and stormy night when the creatures of the DC universe began to emerge from their lairs into the cool evening air. Tales of the macabre, the murderous, and the morbid abound in this spine-chilling special about monsters and mayhem! What happens when Batman encounters a true urban legend after speaking its name three times in a mirror, or when Madame Xanadu enlists the help of Man-Bat to take town shadowy specter? And who can stop an intergalactic demon from turning people into frog beasts? Only the unlikely team up of Green Lantern and Etrigan! All this and seven more fang-tastic tales to trick your treats and bob your apples!

This prestige format one-shot features some of comics best scary storytellers, including writers Carmen Maria Machado (Hill House Comics’ The Low, Low Woods), Marv Wolfman, Ken Porter, John Arcudi, Saladin Ahmed, Alyssa Wong, Travis Moore and others. Artists contributing to this blood-curdling comic include Riley Rossmo (Martian Manhunter, Constantine: the Hellblazer), Mike Perkins, Leonardo Manco, Travis Moore, Tom Mandrake and others.

This 80-Page one-shot is priced at $9.99 and arrives at open and operating comic book stores and participating digital retailers on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

For the latest list of local area comic book stores, check out DC’s Comic Shop Tracker, www.dccomics.com/comicshoptracker and follow on social media @DCComics and @thedcnation for the latest on the World’s Greatest Super Heroes!

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Review: BATMAN #94 Sees Joker’s Designs Complete

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

-

Batman Sees the Dark Design Come to Fruition

The ultimate plan for Batman’s Rogues has gone terrifyingly well. As Batman dealt with the assassins hired to take down people in Gotham, the Designer had set all the pieces up for it to improve his empire. Batman, tired of this, takes on the villain of yesteryear in a climactic swordfight. After disarming him, Bruce deduces the truth: The Designer is dead, and he had been fighting his corpse. The real mastermind behind this was the Joker all along. The clown prince orders Deathstroke to wound Batman as his new sidekick, Punchline, transfers Wayne’s money to him. How will Batman survive?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

We open up with a flashback to Bruce’s past during Batman training. After leaving Ducard(Ras’ Al Ghul’s alias), Bruce seeks out a man named Cassander Wycliffe Baker, formerly the world’s greatest detective. The old detective stepped away from the world view after his last encounter with his enemy, The Designer, went wrong. Baker reveals he deduced who Bruce was and promises him to teach him how to lose. Meanwhile, back in the present, Batman is recovering from his battle with the corpse of the Designer and Deathstroke. Lucius finds him and gives him a rundown of what the Joker has done: Left Bruce penniless, on the run, and with no allies.

This issue was definitely a slow one, but not one without merit. After the several battles we had over the course of the arc, it’s nice to have the last issue show off the aftermath. Obviously, it’s not the victory we hoped, but it sets up the coming Joker War story damn near perfectly. While there are Batman losses that make it seem all hope is lost in the past, this one feels like the stakes haven’t been higher. It’s clear the next six issues will be monumental, to say the least.

The problem with this issue sadly is the pacing. While it’s nice to get these slower issues, especially since we had so much gone on so far, it’s just a lot of standing around and talking. We get a brief shoot out, but it comes and goes so quickly that I passed over it the first time. Even the opening, while interesting and will definitely come back in coming issues, feels drawn out. I get why this issue had to be like this: The coming war is going to be tough for Batman. It doesn’t mean we can’t have a little more flair in the issue.

Art:

Guillem March and Rafael Alberquerque provide an overall fantastic looking final issue for the arc. Batman looks incredible, while Joker has never been more terrifying. The emotions that the team can show off throughout makes this issue worth at least one read through. The colorwork of David Baron is able to take the illustrations to the next level by providing colors that convey a sense of dread that is coming over Gotham. The best-looking page, the art team makes, is definitely the final image of Batman looking over Gotham with menacing red clouds looming overhead as lightning strikes. This team does fantastic work, and I need more.

Conclusion:

This honestly serves as a good bridging epilogue between Their Dark Designs and Joker War. It’s a bit slower for my tastes, but there is enough here to set the stage for the next Batman epic. The art team does a fantastic job establishing a tone as Bruce’s world crashes around him. The next issue begins the Joker War, and this reviewer can’t wait to see how Gotham changes, for better or worse.

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