The US premiere of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was held in Los Angeles Tuesday night at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, check out what Chris Pratt had to say.
About the film:
It’s been four years since theme park and luxury resort Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs out of containment. Isla Nublar now sits abandoned by humans while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves in the jungles.
When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event. Owen is driven to find Blue, his lead raptor who’s still missing in the wild, and Claire has grown a respect for these creatures she now makes her mission. Arriving on the unstable island as lava begins raining down, their expedition uncovers a conspiracy that could return our entire planet to a perilous order not seen since prehistoric times.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is directed by J.A. Bayona from a script by Colin Trevorrow, and stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall, Isabella Sermon, BD Wong, and Jeff Goldblum.
This issue of Man of Steel delivers an emotional gut-punch to longtime Superman fans.
The last issue of The Man of Steel had the galactic circle of leaders shocked by the destruction of Krypton. They believe that Rogol Zaar, their champion, has gone rogue and destroyed the planet. Since then, Rogol has been on the run. In the present, Superman has been saving the day but avoiding the conversation about his family. It worries the Justice League and the Daily Planet, but Clark keeps marching on. Meanwhile, across the galaxy, an alien has learned of there being living Kryptonians. That alien is a still living Rogol Zaar. He proceeds to make his way to Earth to finish the job he started all those decades ago. Will the Man of Steel be ready for this threat?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
The story opens with Rogol landing in the Arctic and finding the Fortress of Solitude. He breaks his way in and is shocked by such a place existing. After destroying the caretaker robot, Kelex, the warrior proceeds to wreck the Fortress. Back in Metropolis, Superman has asked Batman to assist in the Arson case. Before they can make any progress, however, Clark hears the destruction and rushes off to see what’s going on.
Well, the past and present storylines are beginning to come together. The problem is that this entire issue is only the build-up to the confrontation. Superman doesn’t even come face to face with Rogol until the end of the issue. We are at the halfway point of the miniseries, and the hero just now meets the villain. We have three issues to go, and a ton of questions that need answers.
That being said, the emotional gut-punch this buildup created is spectacular. Seeing what Rogol has done to the Fortress will break any Man of Steel fan’s heart. You can feel the pain that Clark is going through as he goes through each part of the Fortress. His inner monologue during his search is emotional and nails the character of Superman perfectly.
Art:
Ryan Sook takes over illustrating this issue and does a fantastic job to tug at the heartstrings. The detail in the Man of Steel’s reaction is well done and grips onto the reader. It will break your heart to see Clark cry over the destroyed statues of his parents. It isn’t all emotional pencils, however. We also have some pretty cool action scenes that are drawn well. But the best part of this issue is the design of present Rogol Zaar, who looks menacing. His design tells a story that has happened since we saw him in issue one and I would love to see it. Sook took it to the next level with this issue.
Conclusion:
We have reached the midpoint of the miniseries, and while it is flawed, I can’t say I’m not intrigued. While it is worrying to see the story take this long to have the faceoff, the emotional build up was great. The art helped capture this emotion and action with its masterful detail. Now that we have our hero mad and villain ready, it’s time for the throwdown that has been building since Action Comics #1000.
“Flash War” has turned from action-packed to emotional, and improves the story with it.
The last issue of The Flash had laid the groundwork for the war to come. During a break from the action, a group called The Renegades appeared from the 25th century. They were sent back in time for Iris West, who was charged with the murder of Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash. Barry, Wally, and Kid Flash stood together and took on the Renegades, but Iris agrees to go anyway. When they arrive in the future, Wally is lead away from the group by Hunter Zolomon, another Reverse Flash. Hunter reveals that Wally’s kids from pre-New 52, Iris II and Jai, are alive and trapped in the Speed Force. He shows the only way to get them out is to break the Speed Force open. Will Wally go through with it and potentially remove speedsters from the DC Universe?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
Wally is a bit skeptical at first, as he cannot remember them. When he comes into contact with Hunter, however, the memory comes back, both of his kids and Hunter. Hunter explains that he had lost his powers a while ago and that because of this made him realize how many more people were missing. He also reveals that Wally wouldn’t be the first speedster to do something like this, as Barry had done the same for Flashpoint. This causes Wally to begin questioning if this idea could work. Meanwhile, Barry and the Renegades look for Wally, hoping to save him from a terrible fate.
If fun is the one word of how I describe the previous issue, emotional is this one. Wally learning of his family and history that he lost is both relief and heartbreak. Relief in the case that we are still returning to the old DC continuity, and heartbreak from the realization that the Flash family is trapped. This continues to push that mindset that readers can connect and agree with Wally’s actions. However, on the flipside of that, the result was revealed too soon for readers to hop on board with either side. It’s clear now that what Wally plans to do will cause more damage than good. Despite this, it was still a very well written issue that will do its best to get you on Wally’s side anyway.
Art:
Howard Porter’s illustrations for this story continue to be hit or miss. Unfortunately, there are more misses this time around that can’t be ignored. Weird expressions and bizarre depth are the prime examples here. That being said, there is still plenty of good pieces that are breathtaking. When Barry and Wally finally begin their conflict, it looks fantastic. The masterful colorwork of Hi-Fi helps this further by allowing it to pop off the page with vibrant wonder.
Conclusion:
The Flash War continues to get better and better with each issue. This chapter has plenty of action and emotion to grab readers of all kinds. While there are some hiccups, the art continues to impress, especially when it’s on Wally. Overall, it’s a great issue and, if you haven’t started reading the arc yet, I highly recommend hopping on now.
Odinson takes the main stage this week in Thor #1 written by Jason Aaron with art by Mike Del Mundo.
My comic book tastebuds were all over the place with this book. Some aspects of the book I fell in love with and wanted more of, whereas others parts of the book might not be for me no matter how much ranch I put on it.
Did Thor just pull ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ on us?
Aaron once again proves why he is one the best comic book writers in the biz with a brilliant concept of Thor hunting around the cosmos looking Asgardian relics. It’s a procedural show I want on CBS now! Aaron lays the groundwork for a ton of great stories. With that said, there are a few flaws. One of my biggest pet peeves in cinema is when the primary action takes place off-screen. This happens in this first issue, and at a cover price of $5.99, the reader is paying to see an epic battle. Give the fans a historic two-page spread that we will talk about for generations to come.
My other slight concern is Thor’s ability to summon weapons from his sidekick, and the conversations that ensue between them. It comes off very Iron Man-ish, and Thor is not Iron Man. This is also an elementary writing tactic to get a hero in and out of trouble. The character of Odinson has evolved under Aaron’s writing, but this aspect changes the tone of Thor into more of Marvel Cinematic Universe version than previous versions. New readers picking up the book after watching Thor: Ragnarok might love the concept, but for readers who carry Walt Simonson baggage, this might not be for them. It is purely a personal preference issue.
Del Mundo is an amazing artist. The one-page spread of the Juggernaut is beautiful, but there is something that is just a bit off. Marco D’Alfonso works with Mundo on the colors, and the mix of textures leaves the book off balance and lack details. The blurred backgrounds to create depth are distracting and take away from the story.
Thor uses hundreds of hammers in this issue, and the cover of the book has great detail of several weapons, but Mundo doesn’t give us enough detail to appreciate the different hammers on the inside of the book. Thor trying out new hammers is a great concept; let the fans enjoy it. While we are critiquing design elements, lose the current helmet. Its design is flawed as the helmet drastically changes its look due to perspective.
Overall the cliffhanger at the end of the book is enough to compel you to read the second issue. The backup story, “The Grace Of Thor” has an even more significant cliffhanger / WTF moment that has me freaking out inside.
Sidenote about reviewing comic books from Marvel and DC Comics. I treat the big two like professional baseball teams. You expect more from them because Marvel and DC Comics are charging top dollar for its product. Like professional athletes, artist and writers can have good days and bads. Discussing a below average performance in a comic book doesn’t mean I want to see a person fail. It’s the opposite. I want everyone at Marvel and DC Comics to succeed at a high level, but it’s not easy, and that is why only a few make it. When a company charges $5.99 or $9.99 for a comic book, that book is going to get critiqued twice as hard because that is some serious cash for a comic book.
This issue of Suicide Squad is action packed with a surprisingly fun team-up.
This recent story arc of Suicide Squad sees a team-up many would have never seen coming: Batman and Deadshot. Recently, the villain Kobra has kidnapped Zoe Lawton, Deadshot’s daughter, to use her as a sacrifice. Batman catches wind of this and breaks Deadshot out of Belle Reve to go after her. The two proceed to go on a hunt for information, all the while the Suicide Squad chases after them. After clearing a town, the pair finds themselves surrounded by Kobra’s half-snake, half-man minions. How will Batman and Deadshot get out of this?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
Batman and Deadshot work together to take down the small army of Kobra with one astonishing fight scene. Although constantly bickering, the two characters get a chance to show off their skills against dangerous opponents. After defeating the last minion, Deadshot shoots one of them in the head, angering Batman. The pair gets into an argument, which turns into an all-out brawl. While these two bicker, however, Kobra begins final preparations for his ritual to bring back the original Kobra. He plans to use Zoe as a vessel for the spirit of Jeffrey Franklin Burr, but another member of the cult plots against him.
I wasn’t expecting to have as much fun as I had in this issue. The past few arcs have been darker and focused more on character development for the Suicide Squad. It feels nice to have a comic that has the characters fighting an evil organization without character development eclipsing the fun. There are great character moments, especially with the comparing of morals between our lead characters. While it is apparent he’s doing it for the right reasons; Batman calls out Deadshot on his killing ways. Lawton retorts by calling out all the criminals Batman lets live, causing trouble for Gotham. These two being on the opposite ends of the moral spectrum makes this team-up so interesting, and I can’t wait to see more.
Art:
We have two illustrators penciling this issue, and they make a helluva team. Philippe Briones covers the first half of the book where the battle with Kobra occurs, while Hugo Petrus covers the second. The detail in the characters are top notch, down to the shine in Deadshot’s armor. The art transitions between the two artists so flawlessly, I forgot there were two different artists. The masterful colorwork of Hi-Fi caps off this issue with enough color to pop every shot off the page.
Conclusion:
Overall, this was a solid issue of Suicide Squad. It had great action with the epic team-up of Batman and Deadshot. It has great character as those same characters have a throwdown with their morals. All of this is presented with fantastic art from an art team that knocked it out of the park. It’s a great issue, and you won’t regret picking it up.
The first issue of Plastic Man brings humor and mystery to the forefront.
Plastic Man is a very bizarre, but funny character. His adventures that see him walk a line between being good and falling back into crime are a hilarious staple for the character. When the New 52 began, it appeared that Plas was written out of the universe in an attempt to be more serious. In Dark Days: The Forge, the introduction toDark Nights: Metal, it was revealed he had been here for a while, but trapped in an egg to keep him secure. In the aftermath of the event, he was released and joined the new team, The Terrifics, going on new adventures. Now it is time for an all-new adventure, written by comic veteran Gail Simone, with the Man of Elasticity! What kind of trouble will Eel O’Brien get himself into now that he’s back?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
This first issue does a combination of things that cater to a variety of readers. We get the origin of the character, the humor, and a darker mystery, all tied into 23 pages. Eel O’Brien was a crook who, during a heist, got splashed with chemicals. While escaping, his gang tosses him from the car, leaving him alone to transform into the superhero he is now. He spends his days stopping evildoers and being a general oddball until an agent of Spyral approaches him with a mission. Villains are hiding amongst the heroes and Plastic Man is the only one who can go undercover.
This book is NOT for kids. It gets violent, dark, even has a few adult jokes thrown in for good measure. That said, it fits the character of Plastic Man so well. I had plenty of fun in this bizarre, anachronistic world reminiscent of 1940’s comics. The action pulled off by Plastic man brought a big smile to my face due to the ridiculousness of it all. It is an entertaining issue, but it feels familiar. Many people will pick up this issue and claim it is just a try for a Deadpool style of character. They won’t be entirely wrong, as there is a lot of humor that lines up with the Merc with the Mouth. However, there is enough of an interesting world and intriguing story to push past the similarities.
Art:
Adriana Melo is the illustrator for this issue, and she steals the entire show. Plastic Man himself is an artistic wonder to behold. Every page is a silly expression or form that will bring a smile to any reader’s face. The details in Cole City and references sprinkled throughout are a nice touch that makes the world feel alive Kelly Fitzpatrick takes it further by making the city colorful enough to pop. The art fits the world spectacularly, and I can’t wait to see more.
Conclusion:
For a first issue of a C-List hero miniseries, this was a pretty good time. I laughed, I became invested, and am already excited for the next issue. Plastic Man, the City, the mystery, all of it comes together to form one fantastic looking issue. Go pick this one up today.
Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will and the whole gang will soon be in paper format. The publishing deal aims to expand the show’s ever-growing mythos with the release of two titles this fall with Stranger Things: World Turned Upside Down: The Official Behind-the-Scenes Companion, which will spotlight the current first two seasons, as well as a still-untitled novel, which will offer advice, wisdom and warnings from the Stranger Things universe.
The series of books will continue in the spring with a prequel book that will zero-in on Eleven’s mother and her involvement with the MKUltra Program. Look for more books to be released over the course of 2019, as well as the premier of the much-anticipated third season on Netflix.
Not much is known about the upcoming third season, except that Cary Elwes, Francesca Reale and Jake Busey, will all be joining the show. Reale will serve in a bigtime role as a lifeguard at the Hawkins Community Pool, as she becomes the centerpiece of a dark mystery, while Elwes will serve as Mayor Kline and, Busey, a journalist for The Hawkins Post.
Audio editions of all books will be released by the publisher as well.
The Affair made its much-anticipated return Sunday night showcasing strong performances, and an intriguing storyline focused on how individuals heal.
What’s made this series a staple of programming for Showtime is how keenly the writers are aware of perspective. Since the beginning, each episode has been divided into two parts, each from the male and female perspective.
Rather than delve into some trope ridden territory (I mean it’s not exactly unique for a TV show to have tension resulting from some infidelity), The Affair keeps the focus on how we as individuals interpret specific events. What one person might think is flirting, another might see as being kind to someone. The same can be said about the aftermath of going through a life-changing event such as a divorce. Each person can easily interpret themselves as being the victim, especially when children are involved. It appears that in the new season we are focusing on whether people can change or are they doomed to repeat previous transgressions.
In the first episode, our focus is squarely on Noah (Dominic West), his ex-wife Helen (Maura Tierney), and her boyfriend Vic (Omar Metwally). Helen moved to Los Angeles with Vic and the kids for a fresh start. Vic has received a promotion and is one of the most respected surgeons at the LA-based hospital where he works. Helen is trying to adjust to this new lifestyle and is trying to put the past behind him. However, sometimes the past refuses to go away. Noah has moved out to Los Angeles and is working at a private school so he can be closer to his children. Can these three peacefully co-exist?
Hagai Levi and Sarah Treem’s ability to construct a narrative that’s equal parts realistic and compelling is one of the big reasons for The Affair’s longevity. Instead of steering this show towards moments which were irrational, Sunday’s show was rooted in the emotions associated with the significant changes in these characters lives. Noah’s interaction with Helen (seen from both perspectives) in the parking lot after their son’s open house was a wonderfully crafted moment dripping with elements of authenticity.
The same could be said about what took place at the Mexican restaurant. Yes, any show called The Affair has to have a fair share of “steamy” moments, but Treem and Levi have not forgotten that these moments have emotional origins (whether it’s lust, pain, or even suffering).
The performance which stood out to me was the one given by Tierney. She made ample use of her facial expressions and even an occasional gaze to enhance a sense of instability that plagues her. At times, she also envisions earthquakes (which aren’t occurring). Helen, in many ways, has PTSD due to what has happened in recent years. It indeed emphasizes the stress these moments can have and the lingering impact they have.
Overall, The Affair got off to a great start and left us with a bit of cliffhanger. Not only am I excited to see where the show is headed in season 4, but fans should also start to get a glimpse into where Cole (Joshua Jackson) and Alison’s (Ruth Wilson) stand after what took place last season.
Suicide Squad #43 features a very raw, physical and emotional confrontation between ‘Squad regular Deadshot and the Dark Knight himself, Batman. Series writer Rob Williams was awesome enough to answer a few questions (and provide us with some exclusive images) for tomorrow’s issue. Check out the interview and preview gallery below, and be sure to check out our review of the book too.
Monkeys Fighting Robots: Obviously, Deadshot and Batman have always been two fan-favorite characters but what is it about their relationship and dynamic that appeals to you as a writer? Rob Williams:They have history. It was Batman who inspired Floyd Lawton to start living the life. So there’s a connection there. They’re both fathers. That’s a key aspect of this tale. But clearly, they’re very different. Deadshot’s a killer-for-hire. But Batman, I think, sees more in him. The chance for redemption. Whether Deadshot’s beyond that? We’ll see.
How do they appeal to you as a fan then? Are you kidding? It’s BATMAN. Writing him’s a joy. And Deadshot’s such a cool character. I’ve loved writing him in the 40-plus issues I’ve had on Suicide Squad. Pairing them together to go on the run in a mismatched super-buddy ‘movie’? It’s a blast.
What made you chose to tell this story from Floyd/Deadshot’s point of view? Suicide Squad‘s a team book, so it’s a nice change of pace to concentrate on one character. Deadshot, traditionally, always wanted to die on his missions. But his relationship with his daughter has changed that for him. It’s not the usual Deadshottale as he’s not got a target to hit for money. He’s trying to save his daughter, who’s been kidnapped by Kobra. So, he’s in the hero position here – trying to save someone.
Did you always have this fight in your mind for these two? Yeah, there’a desert punch up that I was very keen shouldn’t be a traditional super-fight. It’s a brutal, Raging Bull–esque, final round of Rocky bare-knuckle bruise-up.
Why do you think Batman has faith in Deadshot? Batman saves people. That’s what a hero does. But I think he sees something more in Deadshot. He may be wrong.
So can there be true redemption for him? You’ll have to read the story to find out. But Deadshot’s killed a LOT of people in his life. There’s a good reason he’s behind bars.
Any big plans for Zoe Lawton going forward?
That’s not for me to say. She may not make it out of this alive.
Do you have a favorite ‘Squad member to write for? Boomerang. All day long. The biggest scumbag of the lot. But with a heart of gold… No, wait. He’s not got a heart of gold at all. He’s a wrong ‘un. But he’s so cowardly and not that bright – he brings the joy.
Did your time on Judge Dredd influence anything in your DC work? I’m not sure there’s direct influence. Suicide Squad does have a rather subversive, acerbic 2000-esque tone, I guess.
Suicide Squad #43 is out tomorrow (June 13th, 2018) in comics shop everywhere.
Game of Thrones fans, the ravens have brought us great news! The wait is finally over, HBO has officially ordered a prequel TV series pilot for the hit show that first aired in 2011.
The talk of five possible prequel shows in the works started in 2016. A slew of writers have been developing the scripts, but it was Jane Goldman’s pilot script that was chosen to be the first to be green-lit. Goldman and George RR Martin co-created the story, while Goldman herself wrote the teleplay for the upcoming prequel show and will also serve as the showrunner. Last year, Goldman hinted that her series would include humor and gore. “Those are things I love, and things I like to do,” she told Digital Spy. “It would be remiss of me not to put them in.” Some of Goldman’s other notable work includes Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, and Kingsman: The Secret Service.
According to HBO, the pilot will take place “thousands of years before” the events of the current Game of Thrones series. “The series chronicles the world’s descent from the Golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour,” the statement continued. “And only one thing is for sure: From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’s history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend…it’s not the story we think we know.”
George RR Martin has shared an update on the new prequel on his blog on Monday.
None of the characters or actors from ‘Game of Thrones’ will appear in the new show. All of the successor shows we’ve been developing have been prequels, as I have mentioned before. This one really puts the PRE in prequel, since it is set not ninety years before GAME OF THRONES (like Dunk & Egg), or a few hundred years, but rather ten thousand years (well, assuming the oral histories of the First Men are accurate, but there are masters at the Citadel who insist it has only been half that long). We’re very early in the process, of course, with the pilot order just in, so we don’t have a director yet, or a cast, or a location, or even a title. (My vote would be THE LONG NIGHT, which says it all, but I’d be surprised if that’s where we end up. More likely HBO will want to work the phrase “game of thrones” in there somewhere. We’ll know sooner or later).
The name Mr. Martin suggested excites me, the Long Night is a Westeros historical event 8,000 years before the Targaryen Conquest, during which the winter lasted an entire generation.
HBO’s programming president, Casey Bloys, revealed that the first prequel show will not air until at least a year after the main show ends. The final season of the original show will air in 2019 with Bloys referring to it as “six one-hour movies.”
Are you looking forward to the Game Of Thrones prequel show? Let us know in the comments.
