The SENSE8 Special Finale Looms: Predictions For The End

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June 6, 2018

On June 8, just over a year since its cancellation and then the sudden revival, the Sense8 special finale is coming to Netflix. After two jaw-dropping seasons of unraveling mystery, will a two-hour special be enough to wrap up the loose ends and bring closure to all eight sensates?

It’s hard to say. The ambitious Wachowski project was canceled early into its run, and it was amazing that it got the special at all. Also, there are (unsubstantiated) rumors going around that there is still hope for a third season.

An open letter to my twitter followers:#Sense8 #SaveSense8Again #Sense8All5Seasons pic.twitter.com/XH1gGJ07pf

— Kate McCrea (@kate_mccrea) May 27, 2018

All that being said, here are some predictions for what the two-hour Sense8 special on June 8th will hold.

More Cluster v. Cluster Combat

Sense8 Season 2 gave us an incredible cluster versus cluster battle with the great introduction of Lila and her cluster of sensates. It’d be a shame if the Sense8 special finale didn’t follow up on some more of that. It’s nice to see the sensates evenly matched against somebody and having to draw on all of their skills.

With the number of clusters apparently working for the evil corporation BPO, it’s hard to imagine there won’t be at least one showdown. Bring it on!

Who is the Chairman?

The trailer features a reference to The Chairman, who appears in voice only saying the distinctly spooky line, “For millennia, my kind have subjugated yours.” The line is distorted beyond recognition, and the Chairman himself doesn’t appear in the trailer or in any casting information.

So, who has been cast as the Chairman for the Sense8 special? Some fans think it’s Hugo Weaving, the long-time Wachowski actor. Others are betting on Christopher Walken.

However, there’s another potential reason to keep the Chairman’s secret: they’ve already appeared in the show. Jonas has already made some incredibly shady decisions. Has he been pulling the strings all along? Or, even worse, is Angelica dead at all?

We’ll find out when the special airs!

Nomi Will Birth The Next Cluster

It would be appropriate for the Sense8 special to end as the show began; with the birth of a new cluster. Nomi and Amanita celebrated their engagement last season (aww), and it would be a fantastic shout-out to inclusiveness to have Nomi, somebody assailed on all sides by accusations of not being a ‘real’ woman, have the opportunity to give birth to children of her own.

There’s more to it than that. Nomi’s tech skills connect everybody around the world, much like their sensate powers do. And while all of the sensates have a connection to their mother Angelica, Nomi and Riley have the closest relationship to her. Riley has followed up on this connection with both the Season 1 finale and her subplot as Will’s caretaker – now it’s Nomi’s turn.

What do you think will happen in Sense8‘s last outing – or whether it will be the last outing at all? Comment below!

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REVIEW: The Gravezord Appears In GO GO POWER RANGERS #10

By

Anthony Wendel

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The “Shattered Grid” event from BOOM! Studios continues and the inexperienced team of Go Go Power Rangers are not prepared for the evil from another dimension. Will they be able to defeat this new threat or be destroyed in the process?

Summary

As the team works to keep their normal lives together, they find themselves overwhelmed by the awesome destructive power of The Gravezord.

Writing

With two Power Rangers series being published at the same time, it is essential that each focuses on different elements of what makes the franchise so entertaining. With Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the focus is more on dimensional crossing action and the vast mythology such a long-running story has amassed. Issue 10 of Go Go Power Rangers helps to showcase what its mission continues to be: a look at the human drama which comes being forced into a war between good and evil.

Writer Ryan Parrot offers a lot of great character moments to highlight the inner turmoil the Rangers have to face while at the same time fighting against monsters. Jason asking for Zordon’s help with his dad’s medical condition, Matt telling Kimberly about how he’s investigating the Power Rangers, and Zack having to apologize to his date for ditching her during the dance all bring light to the personal struggles these characters face. This is without even mentioning the intense action which comes from the Dinozords fighting against the Gravezord, a combination of several different zords from another dimension. Needless to say, the balance of action and drama comes out elegantly.

Artwork

The artwork helps the fight scenes to stand out and deliver some impressive blows. The inks and pencils by Dan Mora help to express how outclassed the Dinozords are, as they face against the Gravezord. A lot of great robot on robot destruction occurs thanks to the attention to detail.

The colors by Raul Angulo accentuates the emotion which is taking place in different scenes. This is especially true as Zordon suffers an attack and the color work convey the pain the ancient sage experiences.

The lettering work by Ed Dukeshire is integral to controlling the flow of the narrative. The line deliveries happen in an organic and natural way which aids the art in syncing everything together.

Conclusion

The series keeps pushing the team to their limits and offers an intriguing story the entire time. Though Mighty Morphin Power Rangers has the more epic side of this event, Go Go Power Rangers is supplying great character moments and drama. This is one crossover event which is properly making sure of every issue to tell an incredible story.

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Review: In BATMAN #48 The Joker Takes An Unexpected Hostage

By

Manuel Gomez

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In Batman #48 by Tom King, Mikel Janin, and June Chung, the Joker makes his first bold move toward crashing the Batman/Catwoman wedding by taking a very unexpected hostage.

Batman #48
The Best Man Part 1
Written by: Tom King
Art by: Mikel Janin
Colors by: June Chung
Letters by: Clayton Cowles

Batman and Catwoman decide it might be better to elope rather than go through some big, stodgy wedding ceremony, but no sooner do they put their marriage on the fast track than The Joker appears! And when The Joker kidnaps the Caped Crusader, will he give his old foe a piece of his mind or bash in his brains?

Writing

The first thing you will notice when you finish this book is that it is essentially one long monologue delivered by the Joker. The book starts with the Joker having taken a church by force; we open with a frightened church goer praying and quoting scripture. What King has done in this issue is make Joker the main character. He’s in almost every panel and certainly on every page. And as much as King’s portrayal of Joker in War Of Jokes and Riddles was fantastic, what he does here is even better. Joker is unhinged, violent, and funny; exactly as he should be. The body count is high in this issue as is the fright factor. It’s seriously one of the best Batman/Joker standoffs in years. Oh, and the ending sets up a puuurfect encounter as well!

Art

Mikel Janin and colorist June Chung have created some of the best Batman pages ever. Their Joker has echoes of Brian Bolland’s medium-defining version in The Killing Joke but still has subtleties that make it completely unique. Just take a look at Joker’s wide-eyed expressions and body language. They also fill the background with gorgeous, detailed backgrounds and atmospheric settings. These are images to be poured over slowly and several times.

Notice has to be given to letterer Clayton Cowles as well, as this is an issue with a heavy amount of word balloons, sound effects, and narration boxes. All of it works beautifully with the art and is an integral part of why it all works.

Conclusion

As much as this issue is very firmly placed in the build-up toward the wedding, Batman #48 really works as an excellent stand-alone standoff issue between two of the greatest enemies in comic book history. Pick it up today.

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New SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Trailer Visually Stuns

By

Jackson Hayes

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June 6, 2018

In a year packed with comic book movies, one that is being forgotten is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The film will bring the debut of fan-favorite Miles Morales, who will enter a universe that is much bigger than he once thought.

The movie’s first trailer grabbed fans with its stunning visuals and unique style. With the second trailer debuting today, did it stand up to the first? You be the judge! Check out the new trailer for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse below:

The trailer confirms the rumor that New Girl star Jake Johnson will be taking on the role of Peter Parker in the film. He will join a cast that includes Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Liev Schreiber, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez and Lily Tomlin.

Here is the synopsis for the film:

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.

Did this trailer get you excited for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? Let us know in the comments!

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JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 Opens The Hall’s Doors, Making DC Feel Like Home Again

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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DC’s Rebirth era has been more hit than miss, but with a major Achilles Heel. The publisher’s flagship title, Justice League, had been an inconsistent snooze-fest. Enter one of DC’s top talents, hot off of Dark Knights: Metal and Justice League: No Justice, Scott Snyder.

Justice League #1 comes out of the gate strong, hellbent on breathing new life into the universe’s super powered population. In the era of superhero movie domination, both Marvel and DC have focused more on their big-name characters, shrinking the number of active peripheral characters. This has made the universe feel small and eventually stale.

The tide seems to be turning lately, the flood gates opening more and more. Scott Snyder has been at the forefront of DC’s recent efforts to widen their focus and repopulate a once flourishing world. Snyder’s Justice League looks to be the series leading the charge.

Returning character favorites, lineup shuffles, Earth-shattering threats, and the good ol’ Legion Of Doom. Snyder’s introductory issue promises the classic flagship title we’ve all been hungry for without playing it safe.

Snyder sets the stage in spectacular fashion. Martian Manhunter, the new JL Chairman, is the heart of the issue (and rightfully so). The weight that his return carries is not lost on the writer; patient fans will be satisfied with his comforting presence. As he’s done in the past on his brilliant Batman run, Snyder takes us into Martian Manhunter’s head and shows us the character’s complicated dilemma.

Justice League #1 has a cruising tempo, not too fast or slow of a pace. Tension starts to rise towards the issue’s cliffhanger through a strong script and well-orchestrated dialogue. There’s a sense of pride that shines through in this issue, for both fans and the creative team.

Artist Jim Cheung more than pulls his weight in making this feel like a classic DC staple as well. There’s not a ton of action in the issue, but the spectacle of this story is palpable. Our cast in concerned with the impending doom headed their way, but even they seem to take a second to look around at their familiar settings and get a warm feeling.

When our true antagonists show their teeth, Cheung is the one to sell it. It’s a superbly satisfying display of villainy that’ll surely be a page every reader remembers. Tomeu Morey’s coloring and Mark Morales’ inks make these beautifully crafted panels sing. They give Cheung’s pencils a bold and striking edge.

What plagued the preceding Justice League title was a limited cast with alternating creative teams that never really hit the nail on the head, despite a few solid stories. There was no connective tissue that really stuck and no compelling dynamic within the “vanilla” core of heroes. Snyder doesn’t go to work without an extensive blueprint, which is exactly what this comic needs.

Justice League #1 is exactly what it needed to be. Scott Snyder and his creative team do not disappoint on the big stage when DC needs a JL resurrection. The Hall Of Justice’s doors are open again, to everyone, and the DC Universe is much better for it.

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Review: THE MAN OF STEEL #2 Continues To Push A Story, But Not The Kent Mystery

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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There is plenty of action in the second chapter of The Man of Steel, but the mystery has little progress.

The first issue of The Man of Steel laid the groundwork for the introduction arc into Bendis’ Superman run. A long time ago, a warrior named Rogol Zaar believed Krypton would advance and take over the Galaxy. He proposes the idea to eradicate the planet to a galactic circle of elders, who shoot down the idea. In the present, we see Superman investigate a slew of fires believed to be arson while reporting it as Clark Kent. All the while, he thinks of his wife and child who has gone missing from the public. What could have happened to Clark’s family that has him so focused on his job as The Man of Steel?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

Continuing the two stories of the past and present, we see both turn towards each other. In the past, the galactic circle is thrown into array due to Krypton’s destruction. One member, Lord Gandelo, blames Appa Ali Apsa for the destruction, as he was the last to see Rogol. The Guardian of the Universe then points out that if Rogol did destroy Krypton, that means an unstoppable soldier has gone rogue. In the present, Superman continues to do his jobs, both as the Man of Steel and Clark Kent. However, in both identities, he has been avoiding the topic of what happened to his family. As a result, the Justice League and the Daily Planet have begun to investigate.

There is some fun in this issue, thanks to some fantastic action scenes sprinkled throughout. The fight with Toyman reminded me how interesting of a character he is and how the battles in Superman should be larger than life. I had a big grin on my face as the Man of Steel faced off against a giant toy gorilla. It made me feel like a child reading his first comic.

There is some progression in the mystery of what happened to The Kents, but not by much. The flashback of what happened to Lois and Jon continues with the family seeing a weird alien device appear before them. As intriguing as the Rogol Zaar story is, we need answers to the mystery that has been laid out for months. This reviewer fears that the longer this mystery is dragged out, the harder it will fall.

Art:

We have a trio of artists working on this issue, and it feels a bit off. While the flashback artist does a good job, the other two have to match each other. Doc Shaner illustrates the first half, which gives off a colorful classic Superman feel, but it transitions to Steve Rude in the back half, which has gone a bit overboard regarding inks. If it were one artist or the other, it would be great, but being just different enough, it throws off the book.

Conclusion:

While the scenes of Superman action are great, this issue was a bit of a letdown. We have been waiting for answers since DC Nation #0, but that’s a story that is being pushed further into the background. Hopefully, the mystery won’t be dragged out for much longer, or at the least be related to the other two. The Rogol Zaar and present-day Superman story are aimed towards each other; now it’s time to figure out the missing link.

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See The Cast For ‘The Addams Family’ Animated Movie!

By

Parish Hodges

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June 5, 2018

MGM announced the star-studded cast for the upcoming ‘Addams Family’ movie!

Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, and Chloe Grace Moretz have all signed on to voice the spooky characters.

Theron and Isaac are Morticia and Gomez, while Moretz will voice their daughter Wednesday. Stranger Things Finn Wolfhard will play Wednesday’s brother Pugsley.

Sausage Party directors Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan will be directing the film.

“Greg and I have always been a fan of the Addams Family in past versions, so when we set out to make this movie, we were excited to do something new,” said Vernon. With that in mind, I drew from the brilliantly original Charles Addams New Yorker cartoons for the look of the film and decided to tell the story of how Gomez and Morticia meet, find their house and start their family.”

“This unique approach is what drew me in to direct the film, he continued.

“The reimagining also extends to the stellar cast we’ve put together who will each bring their own spin to our film that will appeal to longtime fans of the Addams and introduce them to a new generation.”

Deadline tells us, the film is brand new take on Charles Addams’ classic New Yorker cartoon series which has been adapted into various formats since its debut in 1938 including a black and white ABC TV series during the early 1960s, a Hanna-Barbera cartoon during the ’70s, two Paramount features which made over $240M WW during the early 1990s and a recent Broadway show.

Other cast members include Bette Midler, Allison Janney, and Nick Kroll.

President of MGM Motions Picture Group Jonathan Glickman says,

“Conrad and Greg are masters of animation with the keen ability to create something both kids and their parents will enjoy for different reasons. Adding to that a world-class caliber of talent with Oscar, Charlize, Chloë, Finn, Nick, Bette, and Allison – we can’t wait to bring their fresh and modern take on The Addams Family to the worldwide audience,

The Addams Family hits theaters Oct. 11, 2019.

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Celebrate THE WALKING DEAD DAY with TWD #1 15th Anniversary Variant

By

Michael Stagno

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June 5, 2018

Just when you thought The Walking Dead couldn’t garner any more accolades, Image Comics, in conjunction with Skybound Entertainment, has announced that October 13 will forever be known as The Walking Dead Day!

October 13, 2018, will serve as the 15th anniversary of the release of TWD #1, which was originally released on October 8, 2013. This will be an all-day and globally-celebrated event to pay homage to one of the most-popular, longest-running survival horror indie comics of all-time.

Fans of Robert Kirkman’s series should have the 15th Anniversary #1 variant on their radars, which will be released on TWDD. It will feature art from current series artist, Charlie Adlard, with colors by Dave Stewart, and be a throwback to the original Tony Moore cover, with some slight modifications.

The cover will showcase walkers invading comic book shops, but will still feature Rick Grimes, front-and-center, loading his shotgun. A select-few shops will become part of the story with their very own special edition cover, featuring their logo incorporated into the artwork. Shops will also have special promotional swag available as part of the celebration.

The Walking Dead #1 15th Anniversary Variant Cover will be available on Saturday, Oct. 13, with a final order cutoff set for Monday, July 9th. Contact your local shop to get in on the fun. Before you leave, check out this sweet TWDD Anny Box Set ahead of its release.

Are you excited for the variant cover? What swag and promotional items do you want to see Image dish out? Let us know in the comments section below.

Click HERE for more information regarding the anniversary event.

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Prayers Answered: Doug Liman to Direct CANNONBALL RUN Remake

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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June 5, 2018

Director Doug Liman is the most recent name to attach himself to a remake of Cannonball Run, one of Burt Reynolds’ more ridiculous ’70s comedies that has since found cult status over the years.

Liman will take over for Rawson Marshall Thurber, according to Deadline. For anyone not as ancient as myself, Cannonball Run was a cameo-laden race-across-the-country spoof that starred Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Roger Moore, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., and a whole host of other celebrities of the time in bit parts. There isn’t much to the story, and it’s been done over and over for years, but it’s been a while since Rat Race.

Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant are writing the screenplay – at least the first draft. This new Cannonball Run still has quite a long road to travel, as we have been on this section of highway before. There is still no shooting schedule, finished draft, or a single star attached. Hopefully Doug Liman can reach far and wide to fill the movie with solid cameos. He does have a strong relationship with Tom Cruise it seems…

Stay tuned for any release details or casting announcements. In the meantime, check out the original Cannonball Run. If we’re in the trust tree here, it is pretty fun.

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Review: HEREDITARY Is Frighteningly Fantastic And Extremely Unsettling

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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Director Ari Aster’s feature debut, A24’s Hereditary, is a crackling journey oozing with terror which slowly builds to a horrific conclusion.

Mix in a terrific cast with a performance that’s undoubtedly Oscar-worthy and what audiences have is one of the rare instances where a film lives up to the hype. Hereditary gained a tremendous amount of buzz after blowing away crowds of moviegoers at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s not unheard of for a film to garner awards consideration this early (ask Jordan Peele), but it seems we might have a case of history repeating itself.

The narrative centers on Annie (Toni Collette) and the passing of her 78-year-old mother. While she seems sad about her mother’s death, Annie is far from devastated by the news. At the funeral, she keeps up appearance, but in the grief-counseling group, she tells them about her madness. Gabriel Byrne plays her husband and appears to be the only sane person in the house. Their daughter, Charley, is played by Milly Shapiro and is a compulsive teen who likes to click her tongue. When her brother Peter (Alex Wolff) is forced to bring her to a party, a shocking twist of fate occurs which will leave audiences stunned. These events send Annie’s life spiraling into a living hellscape, and her family is along for the ride.

Everyone in the cast of Hereditary is outstanding and has a deep understanding of the roles they play in Aster’s fiendish yet well-constructed narrative. Just as Shapiro’s character slowly appears to be succumbing to these evil spirits, Wolff’s creeps closer to the edge of insanity. Each actor shows terrific restraint as the story unfolds, allowing the tension to reach uncomfortable levels. Collette’s performance is equal parts chilling and awe-inspiring. Seeing this actor lose herself in the role of Annie brought back memories of the way Reese Witherspoon became June Carter Cash in Walk The Line.

Cinematographer Pawel Porgorzelski shows a creative flair utilizing Annie’s mini models — she’s an artist who creates miniatures of her life — to enhance the tale. Porgorzelski starts by showing a closeup of the miniature portion of the house Annie created and pulls back gradually as it fades to the real section of the house. Are the models and Annie’s home somehow connected? Porgorzelski makes ample use of the lighting, shadows and other details to enhance the scares in Hereditary.

Colin Stetson’s score is haunting, but the slow build makes it pleasant to listen to. Aster’s narrative seems to have been influenced by some classic horror films (most notably, Rosemary’s Baby and Poltergeist). Yet, he manages to still make Hereditary feel distinctive. Nothing in the movie lags. The pacing of each frame is so precise that it allows the unspeakable moments to really make an impact. Do not go into the film expecting anything close to an acceptable resolution. Aster seemingly wants to leave theaters full of people shaken, and he certainly achieves that.

Overall, Hereditary is a delicious dose of horror that’s extremely well crafted and will resonate with audiences. With the success of A Quiet Place and now Aster’s feature debut, it seems horror might be going through a bit of renaissance, a trend which should delight fans everywhere.

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