Writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos, co-creators of breakout character Jessica Jones, join forces again to bring us the first Jinxworld title from DC Comics, Pearl, a crime comic set in the worlds of tattoo shops and Yakuza gang members.
Pearl #1 Written by: Brian Michael Bendis Art by: Michael Gaydos Letters by: Joshua Reed Design by: Curtis King A Jinxworld Title Published by: DC Comics
PEARL is the story of an exceptional tattoo artist and accidental assassin for one of the modern-day San Francisco Yakuza…She was born into one life, but another is calling to her. When Pearl accidentally meets one of her peers, her doppelgänger from another clan, she starts to dream of a better life. But Pearl has a very special ability that keeps pulling her back into the violent world she is desperate to escape.
Writing
Brian Michael Bendis is arguably one of the most important creators in modern comics. Now at DC, he spent almost two decades at Marvel. But he got his start writing gritty crime books like Goldfish, Torso and the book that he named his publishing company after, Jinx. Pearl is exactly that kind of book and it’s great to see him back in this genre. This is an unsafe world populated by dangerous people. A place where violence can just happen at any moment. There is a perilous tension that slowly rises too.
What sets Pearl apart is the added element of the main character also being a tattoo artist on top of being a Yakuza assassin. Bendis has also always been great at immersing readers in worlds and having two to play with here holds a lot of possibilities.
Pearl herself is fleshed out enough to make her likable, interesting and the right guide into this world. She’s humanized first so when her assassin skills are exposed it feels more grounded.
If there is one complaint, it’s the heavy amount of ‘talking’ (especially in the opening). This can fill a page with one two many word balloons, which can cover up art (though letterer Joshua Reed does wonders with his placement). But Bendis is also a good writer of dialogue and the words lessened toward the end, becoming less of an issue.
Art
Michael Gaydos is not just a penciler, he is a bona fide fine artist (just check out the cover!). With Pearl, he is doing the usual excellent work he does, but he seems to be playing with color and tone more; the Yakuza hit in the bar is a perfect example, not to mention the way he illustrates Pearl’s much discussed, strange, and perfectly pale white skin.
Gaydos is also gifted at facial expressions, using subtle movements to portray emotions and personalities; just look at the charming looks Pearl has/gives right before the guns come out in the aforementioned bar scene. It’s fantastic work.
Conclusion
Pearl is a return to classic early era Bendis. That means heavy, but well-written dialog, pop-culture references, strong female leads, dense/twisting plots and the perfect collaborator that produces the perfect art.
Devil Within is a true story of possession coming soon from Black Mask Studios, and we got to talk with writer Stephanie Phillips about the story, her inspirations, her collaboration with artist Maan House, and more.
Issue one hits stores September 26th; you can pre-order it at your local comic shop with code JUL181686. The series is written by Phillips, drawn by House, colored by Dee Cunniffe, and lettered by Troy Peteri.
Stephanie, first off, thanks for taking the time to talk with us.
Your new comic is Devil Within at Black Mask Studios. Can you tell us a little about it?
Devil Within is rooted in classic ghost stories. When Samantha and her fiancé Michelle buy a house in the Philippines, they start to experience strange events around the house. This includes ghosts, misbehaving reflections in mirrors, and even possession. While Devil Within explores Filipino mythology and folklore, it is also a love story wrapped in a very creepy package. As the title might suggest, this is not the happiest of love stories and really asks readers to consider that the monster we fear most is sharing a bed with us.
And I read that this is based on a true story – is that right? What was it about the story that jumped out at you that you had to make it into a comic?
Yes! One of my best friends is from Cebu and told me this story to keep me entertained when I had eye surgery. I could not open my eyes after the surgery and she decided that was a perfect time to tell about “that one time” her girlfriend just so happened to experience a possession. While this is the jumping off point for Devil Within, I really wanted to explore the relationship at the center of the horror story. According to my friend, her girlfriend would “relapse” into possession-mode once in a while. Living day-to-day with someone presumably possessed is a literal nightmare. Best-case scenario, her partner is faking an ongoing possession… either way, there is something horrific about a relationship trying to function in the middle of a horror film.
Issue #1 Cover A: Maan House (A), Dee Cunniffe (C)
How did you come to work with Maan House on this book?
Maan and I met through a mutual friend. We talked a little about the project, and after seeing more of Maan’s work I knew it would be a perfect fit. His style is made for creating horror stories.
What’s your collaboration process like with Maan? Are your scripts very detailed or is there a lot of room for his interpretation?
The script is very much a collaboration. Maan is a great storyteller, so I always leave room for him to interpret a page how he wants. I would say each book is a good balance between my descriptions and Maan’s interpretations. But, I suppose, that’s what a good partnership should be like.
In terms of writing the script, I like to think of it more like writing a letter to the artist. Maan is trying to bring to life what I see in my brain, so I do my best to give him all the information he needs in the script.
In the first issue, I noticed that there are a lot of moments where characters are completely cast in shadow. Whose idea was this, and what was the thought process behind it?
This is a combination of both of us. Sometimes the scariest thing is the thing you can’t see, or can’t see clearly. We wanted to leave some things to the reader’s imagination, so the book has an overall dark, shadowy tone to it. Let your mind start filling in some of those horrific shadows. No one really likes the dark. There’s a reason I still sleep with my Batman nightlight on…
Issue #1 Cover B: Meghan Hetrick
Horror comics can’t rely on the same tactics that other mediums use to scare people, like music. How do you generate horror and tension on the page?
Since we can’t rely on the kind of jump scare of other mediums, we are attempting to leave more of a lasting impression on the imagination. Like I was discussing with the purpose of the shadows, we want to leave just enough room for creative interpretation on the part of the reader. I don’t want to give too much away, but during a particularly gory scene there is a page that just turns black. Instead of watching all of the killing unfold in painstaking detail, we give the reader just enough to let their minds wander.
I also think Maan does an amazing job of building tension leading up to an action or reveal. Again, I don’t want to give anything away, but before the reader sees anything truly horrific, Maan does a really nice job of building the anticipation with smaller panels that show facial expressions and body language in minute detail. It’s almost like he is stretching a very intense moment to show how nervous or scared characters are. Then, you flip the page and there is… okay, read the book for that part.
What are some of the horror stories – from any medium – that you looked to for inspiration while writing Devil Within?
I reread Carey and Perkins’ Rowan’s Ruin from Boom! before diving into this project. Devil Within is a very character-driven story that focuses primarily on just two characters. I really admire how well Carey and Perkins built an engaging world that also focuses almost entirely on one character.
I also look to anything Joe Hill when I take a stab at the darker side of storytelling. Locke & Key is a favorite, but I love anything he has written.
Currently, I am reading Gideon Falls from Lemire and Sorrentino, and Infidel from Pichetshot and Campbell.
Issue #2 Cover: Maan House (A), Dee Cunniffe (C)
My mom saw The Exorcist in theaters when she was 12 and it scarred her for life (they tricked her friend’s mom into bringing them by telling her it was a “religious” movie). What’s your favorite possession story, and why do you think possession horror affects people so much more than say zombie horror or slasher stories?
I really love the look and feel of The Witch: A New-England Folktale. It may be one of the most recent possession movies I have watched, but I really like how the creative team made every aspect of this movie feel unnatural and haunting.
I love a good slasher movie, but I think possession stories have to rely on that unseen element that I was discussing earlier. What’s a zombie film without some finger-lickin’ brain eating? With possessions, on the other hand, you don’t typically see the force that possesses someone. The possessed person is just your neighbor Susan, except she’s saying weird things and maybe crawling backwards down a dark hallway. There is something very deceptive and psychologically manipulative about a possession story. Just think about the religious component associated with possession: demons are trying to trick God by possessing the bodies of worshippers. These forces seek to corrupt the good, and they are difficult to detect when they consume the shape of the familiar, like your neighbor Susan. Poor, possessed Susan…
What do you hope people take away from Devil Within other than nightmares?
At the root of this story is a messy relationship. Perhaps it’s hyperbolic to call your loved one possessed, but I want to explore the concept of living in fear of the person sleeping next to you. The reader can question the validity of the haunting in this story, but it is undeniable that there is something doomed between Sam and Michelle.
And finally, when readers think of Devil Within, what’s the one word you hope jumps to their head?
Darkseid joins the fun, Skeletor has secret plans, and He-Man explores Earth as Tim Seeley continues the battle for the Injustice Universe against an evil Superman tyrant in INJUSTICE VS THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #2. Let’s jump in and see what happened!
WRITTEN BY: Tim Seeley
ART BY: Freddie Williams II
COLORS: Jeremy Colwell
LETTERS: Wes Abbott
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
INJUSTICE VS MOTU SPOILERS TOO!
To see what happened the last issue, click on the writer’s name below.
Summary
He-Man goes out for a walkabout to explore Bludhaven and comes across Bane and Copperhead, two of Wonder Woman’s Suicide Squad members. After easily taking Bane and Copperhead down, He-Man manages to free the two villains from the Kryptech Brainiac Mind control devices. Later, Prince Adam takes their Kryptech suits and develops a plan of attack.
Meanwhile, on Eternia, Darkseid invaded with his entire force of Apokoplis while Granny Goodness released all of the prisoners from Darksmoke Prison like Evil-Lyn, Tri-klops, and Trap Jaw. Granny planned to remold these He-Man villains in her image. Who will save Eternia while He-Man is helping our Injustice heroes? We’ll have to wait until next issue to find out!
The Goods
Seeley uses imagination and creativity to make this issue fun, familiar and exciting. Seeley isn’t limited to current continuity and can be as innovative and clever as he wants. For example, Orko’s magic works perfectly in the Injustice DCU as opposed to backward and flawed in Eternia. Heck, Seeley even joked about Orko’s power problems last issue as well as this one.
Seeley also takes a moment to put a refreshing message in this fun, adventurous tale. A woman tries to commit suicide only to be saved by He-Man. Afterward, Prince Adam has a heart to heart with the woman, Regina Taylor. He-Man uses his mother’s tale of determination, perseverance, and hard work to explain to the woman she is valued, and she matters. Many people may overlook this page as a minor plot point in the issue, but it resonated with this reader and was well received. Our current world can be cold, cruel, and calculated at times. But Seeley is totally right; every life matters. This was so refreshing to see physically written in words.
The Art
Jeremy Colwell’s colors are exceptionally bright, vibrant, and easily lead the reader’s eyes across the page. For a comic universe like Injustice that’s dark and twisted, Colwell’s color choices are cheerful and spirited. However, Freddie Williams’ painted style isn’t quite for me. Williams’ style comes across as two dimensional, sketched, and at times the lines and textures put characters out of proportion. That said, Williams’ art doesn’t throw you out of the story and Wes Abbott’s lettering adds a good rhythm and flow to the story.
Should you buy this issue?
Totally! If you are an Injustice fan, He-Man fan, Seeley fan, or simply enjoy excitingly fun storytelling, this series is for you. Readers get Granny Goodness, Skeletor, Bane, Copperhead, and an evil Superman using Brainiac pre-cognitive technology to control and imprison the world. Orko’s powers work great, and Darkseid is going to take over Eternia. As readers can already assume, He-Man will be fighting Darkseid and Skeletor at some point. It’s only a matter of when.
Should you add this to your pull list?
Absolutely! Seeley could take this series in any direction at any time. Darkseid has entered Eternia and it’s only real protector is in a different multiverse. Also, the Injustice Universe has two Batmen and one that Superman calls the “original” is hooked up to the pre-cognitive Kryptotech from Brainiac. Who knows what Seeley will give readers next? At this point, would anyone be shocked to see the Thundercats make an appearance? Add this series to your pull list for an amazing nostalgic trip down memory lane and an inventive tale that’s simply entertaining and enjoyable.
What did you guys think of INJUSTICE VS THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #2? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu. If you would like to read more of my reviews, click HERE!
Speed Force race cars, new ancient artifacts, and a broken Bat all in this week’s JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 as Scott Snyder makes the plot even deeper and Jorge Jimenez’ spectacular art holds the issue together.
WRITTEN BY: Scott Snyder
ART BY: Jorge Jimenez
COLORS: Alejandro Sanchez
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
JUSTICE LEAGUE SPOILERS TOO!
To see what happened last issue, click on the writer’s name below.
Summary
Superman and Martian Manhunter, piloted by Lex Luthor and Joker, make their way to the center of the Totality. Just as Lex is ready to grab the universal power, Batman attaches to his ship and throws Lex out of it. The two battle for Luthor’s Doorknob but Luthor literally kicks Batman’s butt and teleports everyone outside of the Totality.
Meanwhile, John Stewart realizes that the Justice League needs to accept these ancient forces to stop the Legion of Doom. So, the Flash tries to become “one” with the Still Force, John opens up to the Ultraviolet Spectrum, and Martian Manhunter mentally links every human on Earth together. The issue ends with Hawkgirl fighting Luthor inside the Totality in hopes to gain control of the Doorknob.
The Art
By far, the best part of this issue was Jorge Jimenez’ art, Alejandro Sanchez’ colors, and Tom Napolitano’s lettering. Together, this creative team grabs the reader’s attention and immediately throws them into the story. From the opening page, Jimenez’ art was spectacular with a splash page of Joker that was so incredibly detailed and horrifyingly evil. Joker’s sadistic smile brightens up the page in such a way that sends shivers down the reader’s spines.
To add even more to the setting, Jimenez drew Martian Manhunter smiling and resembling the Joker perfectly. J’onn Jones genuinely looked as if he was being controlled by a maniac. Napolitano’s lettering added even more to the Joker by writing his speech as shaky, jagged, and eerie while Sanchez’ colors were dark, distressing, and violent. Jimenez, Sanchez, and Napolitano painted such a vivid picture of the Joker that it would give any reader nightmares for weeks. There is no doubt that Jimenez, Sanchez, and Napolitano are the backbone of this issue.
Joker Is The Star
Snyder writes an amazing Joker. During the Lex and Batman fight scene, Joker refers to Martian Manhunter as “old girl” as he pilots his body. Snyder makes Joker witty and comical while also continuing to keep him creepy and demented.
Also, Snyder and Jimenez worked well together to showcase Joker’s true villainous potential. The Joker uses Martian Manhunter to turn his fingertips into tentacles and enter Superman’s brain through Clark’s eyes battling Batman from inside of Superman. That’s just nuts!
The tentacle scene was intricate, detailed, and so much fun that it showed Snyder’s creativity and Jimenez’ knack for detail within the story. These two examples, along with Jimenez’ fantastic art, help show readers the real star of the issue, the Clown Princess of Comedy.
Total Confusion
After rereading JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 more than three times, I still left confused, puzzled, and with countless questions. To be fair, I was genuinely confused before reading JUSTICE LEAGUE #6, but I thought readers would gain more understanding and explanation throughout this comic.
Typically, a writer leaves questions to be answered in the first two or three issues and begins to reveal some of the plot threads by issue four and five. Since Snyder didn’t write the last issue, readers should have been able to decipher the plot threads and the basis behind the story by now. However, the reader is still left confused, questioning even more plot threads, and have no answers in sight with the first arc wrapping up soon.
Questions After Issue 6
1) What is the Totality? Is it creation itself? Shouldn’t readers know exactly what the Totality is by now and what it does?
2) Is Umbrax the avatar of the Ultraviolet Invisible Spectrum just like Parallax is the embodiment of fear for the Yellow Lanterns?
3) Why doesn’t Batman or Lex need something to breathe with while inside Superman’s body? I feel like there should be fluid surrounding them. Yet, Bruce and Lex move and fight with ease inside Superman’s body.
4) I liked that Batman brought Kryptonite into Superman’s body. However, that still doesn’t answer how Bruce escaped the mutated cells that were eating him and how Batman swam fast enough to catch up to Lex. How did Batman do all of that? Merely saying Bruce has Kryptonite isn’t enough.
5) Who is narrating this story? Is it Scott Snyder, Lex Luthor, or even Martian Manhunter? This is a big deal. Heck, am I the narrator?
Even More Questions
6) Batman got wrecked. His legs are broken and twisted backward. But how did Batman, who was inside Superman, who was inside the Totality, somehow emerge outside of Superman on the floor in the Hall of Justice with Superman and Martian Manhunter? Please don’t tell readers it was the dang Doorknob of Doom! And, after how mangled Batman was, will he need to go to the Sanctuary?
7) How are Lex and Hawkgirl still inside the Totality? Both were each inside different bodies that were inside the Totality. Plus, Superman and Martian Manhunter went in because their bodies wouldn’t be affected like everyone else inside the Totality. So, why can Lex and Hawkgirl now fight there unaffected?
8) Why does John Stewart need a race car that’s connected to the Speed Force? What’s John trying to do with the Ultraviolet Spectrum that’s required him to race a fast car around the world?
9) What is the Key to the Graveyard of Gods and the Tear of Extinction? Snyder, please don’t introduce new questions without answering any of the old ones first. Furthermore, why does Black Manta wish he went first to get his artifact? Snyder makes it a point to state Black Manta’s frustration twice in the issue.
10) And finally, the cover says “At the Mercy of Grodd.” Grodd was barely in the issue and had no connection to what’s happened in this issue. The cover also made it seem like Wonder Woman was going to fight Aquaman, which they were doing two issues ago. Covers aren’t required to resemble the story exactly, but this cover should have been on issue 4!
Should you buy this issue?
I honestly don’t know. This issue has three of the most dynamic and exciting artists right now in Jimenez, Sanchez, and Napolitano but the story fell flat. Snyder added even more questions to the ones that were already there. Readers get no answers to anything and will leave the issue even more lost than before they read it. I truly don’t know what happened this issue. If anyone else knows or can answer any of my questions above, please message me, comment, or find me on Twitter but I’m just not seeing the answers to these questions.
Should you add this to your pull list?
I really loved this series. Sure, issues 1-4 had questions that I wanted answers to, but part of the reason I rated them so high was that I assumed Snyder would finally give us answers in this issue. It looks like this will turn into another DARK NIGHTS: METAL. Everything will get wrapped up in one issue on the last page with something magical.
As disappointed and lost as I was with this issue, I would see this first arc through. However, if readers don’t get answers to any of these questions above or our heroes magically escape defeat at the last second, I’m out! Also, is this series in continuity with BATMAN or DETECTIVE COMICS? I only ask because, after Batman’s crippling defeat by Luthor, he’s done! There is no coming back from the horror show that Snyder put Bruce through.
What did you guys think of JUSTICE LEAGUE #6? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu. If you would like to read more of my reviews, click HERE!
Netflix looks to dominate in the animation department with the release of Next Gen coming in September, the streaming service dropped the first trailer Tuesday afternoon.
Next Gen is written and directed by Kevin Adams and Joe Ksander, featuring the voice talents of John Krasinski, David Cross, Michael Peña, Charlyne Yi, Jason Sudeikis, and Constance Wu.
About the film: NEXT GEN is an animated action-adventure film about the bittersweet power of memories. It tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a rebellious girl and a runaway combat robot, as they unite to stop a madman’s plan for technological world domination.
Next Gen hits Netfix on September 7.
What do you think of the animation of the film? Comment below.
There apparently is evidence to show Gundam Build Divers is not doing so hot in the ratings and could be one of the worst Gundam shows in recent years. While this is not the case overall, episodes like this do not help to dispute this claim.
Summary
The girls of team Build Divers and Nanami participate in a tournament.
Review
While the previous episode touched on using an existing episode themes and were able to make it just as entertaining, this one fails miserably. Having a similar format to episodes in both Gundam Build Fighters and Gundam Build Fighters Try, where ladies only events took place, this one becomes the lesser of all three.
Why? Simply, purpose. With Gundam Build Fighters you got a chance to see China grow as a character and experience what it was like to pilot and train with a Gunpla. The entire episode was looking at how she was able to discover the passion for Gunpla Tournaments. In Gundam Build Fighters Try, the episode focused on Mirai and her dedication to become an idol. This is expressed for her having to participate the Gundam event and express compassion for the Gunpla she made.
Here though you have the female cast doing things which are related to Gundam but there is no purpose other than trying to win a meaningless competition. The closest purpose is Nanami finally enters the Gundam Build Network but there is no drama over her trying it out. Sure, Nanami wishing to win the competition to be an icon could have been meaningful if it was addressed any sooner but this was never established. Instead all of the female members of the team are competing just because they think it’s fun and want the fame.
Just as Gundam Build Divers was establishing itself just a little bit more on par with others shows, an episode like this comes along and lowers the average for the entire series. The cast can do better and the fans deserved. What gives Sunrise? You were able to make an engaging episode where Riku fights his teacher and one where were Yukki bonded with a rival teammate but you were unable to give the female cast do anything except take Instagram photos and just be comedical? You are better than this Sunrise.
Gundam Build Divers is Streaming on The GundamInfo YouTube Channel
Moth & Whisper #1 doesn’t hit your local comic book still until September 12th, but luckily you don’t have to wait that long AfterShock gave Monkeys Fighting Robots a four-page exclusive preview. AfterShock goes bold with a young adult cyberpunk thriller starring a genderqueer super-thief.
Moth & Whisper is written by Ted Anderson, with art by Jen Hickman, and letters by Marshall. The first issue features two covers by Hickman and Jorge Corona.
About the new series: Everyone knows that the two greatest thieves in the city are the Moth and the Whisper. Very few know that the Moth and the Whisper disappeared six months ago. And what nobody knows is that the new Moth and Whisper are actually one person pretending to be both of them. One supremely skilled but uncertain young genderfluid thief: Niki, the child of the Moth and the Whisper.
Niki has been trained by their parents in the arts of stealth and infiltration, but they’re still just a teenager, and now they’re alone, searching for their parents in a hostile cyberpunk dystopia. Corporations run the streets while crime lords like Ambrose Wolfe run the alleys—identity is a commodity and privacy is impossible. The truth about Niki’s parents and their disappearance is out there, but can Niki survive long enough to find it?
Check out the preview below.
What do you think, are you going to add Moth & Whisper #1 to your pull list? Comment below.
Recently it was announced that Neill Blomkamp is going to direct a new movie in the Robocop franchise. The film is set to be a direct sequel to the original 1987 film and isgoing to be based on a screenplay written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner – the writers of the original movie.
Barring a time jump of 30 years in the film series, like Blade Runner 2049, it would be unlikely that Peter Weller would return to his iconic role as the titular Robocop. Another actor would be required to follow in Weller’s heavy footsteps. The part would need an actor in the late-30s to mid-40s – a man who would have a young family and need to be able to show emotion – and have a sharp comedic tone despite speaking with a robotic video delivery and wearing a helmet. It would be a challenge and here are some actors who would be able to face it.
Joel Edgerton
Australian actor Joel Edgerton is a man who has proven himself as an action and dramatic actor. He has developed a reputation as a character actor and worthy of a lot of the praise he receives. Edgerton was physically imposing as an MMA fighting in the sports drama and handled firearms in Zero Dark Thirty, and Jane Got a Gun.
One of his most recent roles was in the Netflix fantasy-action film Bright. While the film was criticized by critics Edgerton was praised as Nick Jakoby – the first Orcish police officer in the LAPD – a well-meaning fella on the receiving end of discrimination and racism. The role was particularly challenging because of the makeup and prosthetics he had to wear – so it wouldn’t be a stretch for Edgerton to don the Robocop suit.
Ben Foster
Ben Foster is a talented actor who flirted with the action genre. He has appeared infranchise films like X-Men: The Last Stand, Warcraft, and Inferno, although he never had the lead role. It is time that should change.
Foster started his career as a pretty boy actor but as he got older he has developed a more everyman look, and he could follow in Peter Weller’s footsteps as Alex Murphy, a hardworking family man who succumbs to tragedy. Throughout his career Foster has the range and surprisingly played a large number of villains – he was a saboteur in 30 Days of Night, the leader of a group of outlaws in 3:10 to Yuma, a corrupt wizard in Warcraft and a mad industrialist who plans to release a virus in Inferno.
Foster is also an award-winning actor for some of his dramatic roles – nor is his a stranger to special effects. He wore prosthetic wings when he made X-Men: The Last Stand and worn fantasy costumes, so he would be able to don the Robocop suit.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an actor who is quite selective with the roles he plays, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a major action film under his belt. Like many actors on this list, he has proven himself in roles, earning numerous nominations including two Golden Globes and worked with directors like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and Rian Johnson. Working with Blomkamp would be a big incentive to do Robocop because Blomkamp generally gets good performances from his actors and his fondness for social and political commentary he would raise Robocop to be more than just an action film. The Robocop sequel will be aimed towards savvy, adult audiences.
Gordon-Levitt is no stranger to action and special effects – he had a zero gravity fist fight in Inception, cycled like a madman around New York in Premium Rush and had to work with a lot of green screen in The Walk. Gordon-Levitt does have a youthful look but he is approaching 40, and it would be conceivable for him to play a man who had a young family.
Ryan Gosling
Whoever plays Robocop has a tough role because they need to outwardly seem robotic (for lack of a better word), but has many emotions and conflict underneath. An actor who has managed this difficult balance is Ryan Gosling.
Gosling is a pretty boy and a sex symbol, and he has proven himself to be a talented actor throughout his career: he has been charming, funny, emotionally pained and willing to play against type, being a thug or a loser. Despite his looks, Gosling has been willing to ugly himself up like in films like Blue Valentine and when he was cast for The Lovely Bones he put on 20 pounds and grew a beard – it was a role he ended up getting fired from. Whoever plays Robocop needs to put on the iconic costume.
The two roles that should put Gosling in contention are The Driver and Officer K from Drive and Blade Runner 2049. Gosling played characters who are focused; remorseless yet has a lot bubbling under the surface. Both had an intensity and a pain to them and Gosling could bring these characteristics to Robocop.
Boyd Holbrook
A few years ago Boyd Holbrook was seen as the next big thing, being considered for roles like Kyle Reese in Terminator Genisys. Throughout his career, Holbrook has proven himself to be a talented actor. Holbrook started his career as a model, but he has played angsty types – he was a homeless drug addict in A Walk Among the Tombstones and one of the villains in Logan. He is set to play one of the lead roles in The Predator.
Holbrook is clearly still on the rise and a playing a major role like Robocop would cement his stardom. He already has action experience, and as shown in Logan he had robotic body parts. He could make the character even darker as he re-adjusts with society beyond his law enforcement duties.
Christopher Meloni
I like there to be at least one wildcard entry, and that honor goes to Christopher Meloni. Meloni is a character actor with a long career – having main roles in Oz, Law, and Order: Special Victims Unit and the Syfy channel show Happy! Superhero fans will recognize Meloni as Colonel Hardy in Man of Steel.
Meloni is 57-years-old, making him the oldest individual on this list. If the Robocop sequel a long time after the original, say 15-to-20 years, the film would need an older actor to play Murphy/Robocop – the character is half-human and his human parts still age.
Meloni is still good shape for age and Happy! allows him to flex his action muscles. He usually plays serious roles, but he does have experience in comedy – Happy! is a dark comedy, he has appeared in two episodes of Veep, and the Amy Schumer film Snatched. If Meloni can combine both these two type of performances he could make a great older Alex Murphy.
Anson Mount
Marvel’s Inhumans was hated by fans and critics, yet one of its stars came out being praised – Anson Mount. Mount played Black Bolt, the king of the Inhumans and had such a powerful voice that it could destroy buildings. But because of Black Bolt’s destructive voice, Mount had to remain silent during most of the show, and he had to use his eyes and facial expressions to show any emotions. Because of this Mount should be all about playing Robocop – a role where for most of the runtime only his lower face is visible and speaks with an altered voice. It would be a difficult challenge but Mount should be up to it.
Aaron Paul
Aaron Paul is best known for TV work, appearing in shows like Big Love, The Path, Bojack Horseman and his most significant role, playing Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad. Paul even won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Emmys three times for his role in Breaking Bad. Big things were expected of him, leading the 2014 action film Need for Speed. Despite this flop, Paul is a capable actor and should be given another chance to lead a blockbuster. Paul has shown he can be dramatic and funny, especially in his voice role as Todd Chavez and he can use his these skills to play Robocop. Like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Paul has a youthful look despite approaching 40.
Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgård, son of Stellan, is a Swedish actor who deserves more recognition than he already has. Skarsgård is most famous for his role as sexy vampire Eric Northman in HBO’s True Blood and he been a fine actor throughout his career.
Most audiences would have first come across Skarsgård for his lead role in the HBO mini-series Generation Kill, playing a professional Marine sergeant. Skarsgård has a grand resume of military types – he played a Naval officer in Battleship and a German army officer in the war film The Last Drop. Skarsgård needed to speak with authority for these roles, and he would need to do it again if he played Robocop.
Skarsgård recently a man with mutism in the Netflix sci-fi film Mute. It was a challenging role because he had to emote without the speaking and Skarsgård could translate these skills to play Robocop with his monotone.
Skarsgård also got to flex his action muscles in The Legend of Tarzan, a decent historical action film where the Swede got to show off his body.
Karl Urban
Last but certainly not least is New Zealander actor Karl Urban. Urban has had a long and successful career, playing roles like Éomer in Lord of the Rings and Dr. McCoy in Star Trek. Yet the part that would honestly put him in the hearts of fans was when he played Judge Dredd in the 2012 comic book film Dredd. The original Robocop film was inspired by Judge Dredd, and Urban would have no issue wearing a helmet throughout a movie. Urban’s Dredd was a hard-boiled figure who had a dry sense-of-humor, and he would be able to make Robocop authoritative yet still have a wit about him and if the new film looks at Alex Murphy’s family Urban would be able to portray Robocop’s emotional state – physically a machine but emotionally a human.
The sports entertainment world lost yet another legend today. Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart has passed at the age of 63.
ESPN’s Tim Fiorvanti reported that Neidhart fell in his home, hit his head, and “succumbed to his injury” this morning. According to family statements to the Associated Press, as stated in Fiorvanti’s article, Neidhart got up to lower the thermostat in his bedroom and possibly suffered a grand mal seizure.
Neidhart began his professional sports career playing for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys where he participated on their practice squads and in preseason games. His football career didn’t pan out, and he then turned to professional wrestling.
Neidhart moved to Calgary to train with Stu Hart and worked for Hart’s Stampede Wrestling from 1978 to 1983 and again in 1985. He was a two-time Stampede International Tag Team Champion with both Hercules Ayala and Mr. Hito.
During his tenure with Stampede Wrestling, Hart wanted extra publicity for Neidhart and entered him in an anvil-throwing contest, which Neidhart won. Neidhart’s nickname then became “The Anvil.”
Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart Photo: WWE.com
While still working for Stampede Wrestling, Neidhart had regular stints with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Mid-South Wrestling, Continental Wrestling Association, and Championship Wrestling from Florida.
Vince McMahon purchased Stampede Wrestling from Hart in the mid-80s and with the purchase came the contracts of Neidhart and Stu’s son Bret. The two were eventually paired up to form The Hart Foundation.
The Hart Foundation Photo: WWE.com
The Hart Foundation was in full force in the late-90s when the faction included Neidhart, Bret Hart, Bret’s brother Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith and Brian Pillman. The team was dominant until the “Montreal Screwjob,” and then Bret Hart and Smith left the WWE.
Neidhart stopped wrestling full-time in 1998, but had special appearances with both WWE and TNA in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
Neidhart became a household name again while appearing on the E! Network reality show Total Divas. Neidhart’s daughter, Natalie performs with the WWE under the ring name Natalya, and she has been a long-time focus of the show, which will soon debut its 8th season. Natalie is married to TJ Wilson, who previously wrestled under the name Tyson Kidd but now works behind the curtain with the WWE.
Jim Neidhart & daughter Natalie Neidhart-Wilson Photo: Instagram @natbynature
Tributes began trending online soon after the announcement of his passing:
Twitter: @BretHart
Twitter: @RealJimmyHart
Twitter: @JRsBBQ
Twitter: @TripleH
Neidhart is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Ellie), and daughters Natalie, Kristin, and Jenni.
The Package on Netflix is a comedy that takes the concept of a running joke to a whole new level. Adam Schiff is a composer who created the music for the film and dozens other projects like Hear No Evil (2017) and The $100,000 Pyramid. Adam works with Russell, the co-founder of Bleeding Fingers Music, a sound-making collective of composers, sound designers, and more. One of Russell’s partners is Hans Zimmer, the music-maker behind modestly successful films such as The Dark Knight and Inception.
Monkeys Fighting Robots spoke with Adam and Russell about their work on The Package and more about Bleeding Fingers Music.
What better way to start off an interview than asking total strangers “Tell me about The Package …” Cue the laugh track.
About The Package
The Package is a throwback to the sex comedies we don’t see much of anymore. So, what did director Jake Szymanski say to Adam and Russell to inspire the music for the film? Adam replies “Early on when we met with Jake to watch the film he said, ‘You know, farts and boner music.’” Russell, the “disruptor” as listed on the Bleeding Fingers website injects “Boy have you come to the right place.”
Russell: “They wanted to do comedy without the standard comedy solutions. I think it’s a dreaded genre for composers. Action and drama is a sort of comfort zone. It’s something composers love to score. Comedy is a challenge.”
Adam: “They wanted to keep the tension of time running out as well, and they wanted the score to help with that.”
Russell: “There are twelve hours to get the pecker to the hospital, and so the music helps keep that established throughout.”
Russell: “We’re very fortunate that the on-screen talent and chemistry of this film is there. You’re scoring a film and watching it again and again. By the 100th time you’re still laughing.”
Adam: “It really is funny every time.”
About Bleeding Fingers Music
Bleeding Fingers Music works on a variety of projects. Their work is “all over the map,” but Russell thinks “… it speaks to the skillset and team of composers that are so varied but also so collaborative.”
Adam: “It’s a real collaborative space. The different composers, we’ll talk about the latest software or brainstorm problems together.”
Russell: “We have an incredible team, we’re very fortunate. The whole purpose of Bleeding Fingers is to accelerate new and exciting talent in this business.”
Take a look at their filmography and you’ll see they’re mission is going great.
Spreading the Love …
Who’s a composer today whose work you admire? I add a caveat, it can’t be anyone from Bleeding Fingers Music.
Adam: “Oh, there’s so many. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Russell (cheeky): “You wouldn’t?”
Adam: “A lot of great work is coming from TV I think. I love Sean Callery, Ben Firth, and Christian Henson.”
Russell: “I’m going to steal a credit. Yesterday, Hans introduced me to the music of Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer (Babylon Berlin).”
What’s Next?
Bleeding Fingers houses dozens of music makers. So, what’s coming soon from the house that Hans help build?
Russell: “Ahh, we can’t tell you! It’s called an NDA, not a frieND-A. I will say we’ve got this sort of global project going on. Let’s just say that next year is the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. So, space will be a big deal.”
Thanks to Adam Schiff, Russell Emanuel, and Impact24 PR
for making this interview possible.
