Soon to be conjuring spells and reshaping reality, The Sorcerer Supreme is en route to the ‘house that Mickey built’.
That’s right, Disney parks is getting weird with Doctor Strange in the near future at Disneyland, California.
“Guests will soon get a glimpse into his magical, mind-bending world when he appears for the first time,” the Disney blog stated. “Doctor Strange travels great distances in an instant by opening portals between dimensions. There’s no telling where and when he might appear.”
Fresh off the announcement that the theme park brand, also including those in both Paris and Hong Kong, were expanding their parks to include Marvel-specific lands, news is starting to trickle in on the specifics of each land.
Exact details regarding the good doctor’s place in the park have yet to be announced, but look for more information regarding him and other characters to start to come in ahead of various unveilings over the next few years and in completion by 2020.
Dan Slott and the Amazing Spider-Man train keeps on rolling towards #800 with tons of momentum. This issue delivers a classic Green Goblin scenario before finally unveiling the Red Goblin.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Green Goblin bursting through a Daily Bugle wall – in his classic costume no less – triggers all sorts of nostalgia for Spidey fans without being cheap. It feels good to have Norman Osborn completely consumed by madness again. The difference this time is that the general public knows it’s him under that gorgeous green mask.
It’s actually really funny when you realize that Norman knows Peter Parker is Spider-Man and still waits for Pete to go summon his alter-ego. Osborn loves to put on a show and respects secrets.
It’s great to have Flash Thompson back in the symbiote again as Agent Anti-Venom. We’ve yet to see him utilize being Anti-Venom in the way that Eddie Brock was years ago. So far, it’s just a great re-design of a great character that will make a great toy.
One of the best elements of this new era for Spider-Man comics we’re entering is the status of J. Jonah Jameson. Between Slott’s Amazing Spider-Man and Chip Zdarsky’s Spectacular Spider-Man, JJJ has been getting a heroic treatment that is so satisfying and longer overdue.
It’s interesting to see Dan Slott’s approach to ending his long-term tenure with Spidey. We’ve seen Bendis do his goodbye tour the last month or so, bringing back all his characters for one last ride. Slott is going another route, pushing everybody to their limit for one last over-the-top finale.
He’s focusing on going out with a bang, rather than tooting his own horn to remind everyone what he’s contributed in his run. Bendis did a little horn tooting, but it wasn’t obnoxious and the guy has earned the right to do so. Good on Slott for digging in and focusing on a new story.
Stuart Immonen is also bringing his A-game. He makes every panel with Green Goblin a stunner. Giving his eyes a bigger, more bug-like alteration was a nice touch. The texture of his fish-scale armor is definitive, he makes it easy to imagine what it feels like just by looking at it.
When we finally get to see the Red Goblin in action, it doesn’t disappoint. We were already sold on the story uniting Norman with the Carnage symbiote, but Immonen needed to seal the deal. There are way too many Venom offspring running around the 616, a lot of them are forgettable as well. That’s not the case with Red Goblin and his awesome Carnage-Bombs.
This was another fantastic issue from begging to end. That final page with Red Goblin looking onto Spidey’s burning “white flag” is a powerful image we won’t soon forget. The next issue should be more red than your Maximum Carnage SNES cartridge.
One of individuals behind the creation of the legendary animation company, Studio Ghibli has passed on. Isao Takahata, 82, died after a year long battle with a cardiac related illness. This is a sad day for not only fans of anime but for any who enjoy the work of animation and the power it can have on the audience.
When looking at the history of anime in America, two films were big influences in the 1980s and helped the media to come to be seen as being iconic. These films were Akira and Grave of the Fireflies, which Takahata directed. The film helped to show a message of the horrors of war and presented a film which even today is visually striking, emotionally powerful, and remains on the best film of all time list by several prominent film critics.
Takahata would continue to work at Studio Ghibli for years as a director, writer, and producer. His film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya was nominated for an Oscar at the 87th academy awards. Truly this is a sad day for many anime fans.
If any one message can be taken from his long catlog of titles he would created, it would be to hold onto hope and learn to smile even through the hard times. You will be missed Director Takahata.
Digital Spy got a chance to check out an extended, 30-minute preview of Avengers: Infinity War. The outlet couldn’t share much, but they called the film “ambitious,” noting its different tones. Here’s their full reaction:
“We’ve just seen 30 mins of #AvengersInfinityWar. Can’t say too much but it’s way ambitious, it’ll switch tones between different groups (the Guardians sequence had a very different, look, feel and soundtrack to the New York scenes) and it’s going to be funny. Still no Hawkeye!”
We’ve just seen 30 mins of #AvengersInfinityWar. Can’t say too much but it’s way ambitious, it’ll switch tones between different groups (the Guardians sequence had a very different, look, feel and soundtrack to the New York scenes) and it’s going to be funny. Still no Hawkeye! pic.twitter.com/FehX5anmB9
As we get closer to release, more reactions are likely going to land online. With any big release comes potential for spoilers, so be wary when browsing certain online communities ahead of Avengers: Infinity War.
“As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.”
Avengers: Infinity War features Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Sebastian Stan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, and Josh Brolin as Thanos.
Whether Marvel Studios knows it or not, it has created the greatest MCU villain in Fitz aka Fitz-Simmons aka Leopold Fitz on their show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, portrayed by Iain De Caestecker. While Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. puts him to great use, he would be wasted if he isn’t used as a villain on a larger scale. We have been watching the perfect villain origin story unfold since the end of season one. He may not be able to face the Avengers alone, but as a behind the scenes super-villain he would rule the MCU.
Insane
In general, insane may seem like a bad thing and well it might be for most people, but with Fitz’s advanced mind, his bouts with insanity have only helped him. His first was after his near-death experience by Grant Ward. (End of season one, the beginning of season two) Ward dropped Fitz-Simmons to the bottom of the ocean, at which time Fitz gave up his oxygen to save Simmons. He lived but his mind was severely damaged, he suffered from gaps in his vocabulary and loss of individual motor skills because of cerebral hypoxia. Though those things were setbacks, he gained something he needed, independence. With Simmons being out of the picture Fitz’s mind made its own Simmons to bounce his thoughts off of when she did return the two grew apart, which at this point in his life was what he needed. In season five he is hit with another significant bit of insanity while the stress of fixing the rift in space and time brings out the Framework version of his mind, Leopold. This moment is the most important, once Fitz realizes that Leopold is not one of the living fears created by the rift, his split Framework mind, and rational mind finally become one. He becomes the Leopold Fitz that can not only think of the tough choices but can also carry them out without regret.
Genius
He is the co-creator/creator of some of the best inventions/upgrades on the show. His official title is an engineer but come on let’s be honest, though not there yet he is quickly reaching Stark’s level. For the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Fitz’s inventions have been a core piece of how the team moves. The Zephyr One, S.H.I.E.L.D.s newest mobile base of operations is just one of many notable contributions. Now that his split mind is seemingly one (season 5), his genius is even more of a force to be reckoned with. Fitz created the Framework, which was later improved upon by Holden Radcliffe, and along with it came Aida. Artificial Intelligent Digital Assistant or A.I.D.A. was created by Radcliffe but perfected by Fitz and was the first of the Life-Model Decoys or L.M.D.s. The original intent of these L.M.D.s was to protect S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the field, but Aida went full-on Terminator and was almost unstoppable. One L.M.D. for each of Tony’s suits, or better yet an L.M.D. Tony wearing one of Tony’s suits. (Insert evil laugh here)
Complete Knowledge of S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA
Fitz has been a part of S.H.I.E.L.D. through all of the major events of the MCU, even its fall. Which means he knows everything there is to know about its heroes, S.H.I.E.L.D. had contingency plans for some of them which include’s the containment modules he created. His evil half was second in command of Hydra and in charge of all their whacked out experiments. His role in Hydra gives him the knowledge and experience needed to command and deal with the darker side of the MCU. Let’s not forget Hydra won in the Framework world, so they could have a way to beat Earth’s mightiest heroes.
With a Hydra mastermind lurking around in his head, the ability to create killer robots, portals to other worlds, and heck other worlds completely, Leopold Fitz could easily be the MCU’s public enemy number one.
Do you think Fitz could take on the MCU? Leave a comment below.
The HBO documentary Andre The Giant (which airs April 10th at 10 pm) is a gripping look at the tragic circumstances surrounding one of the all-time great sports entertainers.
The filmmakers stayed away from making a movie solely biographical look at one of the biggest icons in wrestling. They instead meticulously sought to find out what drives a French athlete afflicted with acromegaly to sacrifice his body night after night for a sport which was predetermined (what a refreshing approach). While most assume the answer would be a complex one, a news clip of Andre reveals it was because he wanted to make a living.
While the disease impacted his appearance in such a drastic way resulting in crowds of fans jamming dimly lit arenas/armories just to catch a glimpse of him, it was the Giant’s work ethic which catapulted him to stardom. The documentary provides accounts of Andre wrestling in various territories (back when there were territories around the globe) connecting with anyone he came in contact with. In the beginning, Andre would wrestle under the name Le Géant Ferré, and as he grew in height/stature, the name became more menacing. However, no one ever mistook him for a villain when he would compete in the ring. His smile could win over even the most skeptical of spectators.
As his fame grew, so did the exposure to all sorts of vices. The documentary tackles alcoholism directly. Through interviews with Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, and Vince McMahon we learn about how much of a party animal the eighth wonder of the world was. Flair gleefully explains how one night Flair was with Andre and he managed to drink 106 beers in the span of a few hours. Lawler and McMahon later explain how the biggest wrestler in the world would drink to dull the agony of his daily life. His stature and girth were already impacting his life.
One of the more bold moments of the documentary was when they examined the detachment promoters have with their wrestlers. Vince Sr. (Vince McMahon’s dad) was the man who originally signed him to an exclusive deal but had no problem loaning him out to various territories all in the name of making money. Regardless of his condition, Andre never said no and would work night after night. When McMahon took over for his dad, the dynamics changed instantly. While he adored the most prominent athlete in wrestling, he viewed the aging star as a product more than a person.
The most engaging portion of the Simmons documentary was concerning Hulk Hogan. Hogan was McMahon’s vision of what a wrestler should be. The director Jason Hehir used news footage along with clips of everyone talking about Andre becoming a villain in the wrestling world and putting Hogan over. The result is a recount of one the most significant sporting events ever: WrestleMania 3.
Overall the documentary delivers a very balanced look at an icon whose mere presence ignited a passion for wrestling which still burns today.
Steven Spielberg is ready to take Indiana Jones in a new direction.
The Ready Player One director feels the next Indiana Jones should be a woman.
After the upcoming fifth film, Spielberg says its time for the character to take a different form.
During an interview with The Sun, he discussed the many female influences in his life.
“My mom was strong. She had a voice, she had a very strong opinion.
“I have been very lucky to be influenced by women, several of whom I have just loved madly — my mom and my wife.”
The upcoming fifth film “will be Harrison Ford’s last Indiana Jones movie, I am pretty sure, but it will certainly continue after that.”
“We’d have to change the name from Jones to Joan. And there would be nothing wrong with that,” he added.
Since the original Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford is in his 70s, fans thought it was time for a younger actor to be cast. Many suggested Chris Pratt but Spielberg said no one was in consideration at the time.
“It’s certainly not my intention to ever have another actor step into his shoes and the way there have been many actors that have played Spider-Man or Batman,” the director said. “There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones and that’s Harrison Ford.
As Greg Pak’s creator own series Mech Cadet Yu continues to battle against the alien invaders, the comic has proven to be a hit for Boom! Studios. Does the latest issue continue the trend or does it fail its mission?
Yu and his team have disobeyed orders to save the world and now there remaining teammate wants to bring them in.
Writing
This issue picks up moments after where the previous one left off. It becomes apparent not everyone is happy with the major secret which was revealed. It’s hard to really make anymore commentary on what went down in this issue without spoiling the recent revelation the series but there are still a few details which can still be looked at.
As Standford and his team fly into space to take on the invading aliens, there seems to be hints this will not be the only invasion force the earth will face. Leave it to writer Greg Pak to be planning out more to his giant robot saga. Hopefully there will be much more of Mech Cadet Yu and the upcoming battle will not be the end of everything.
Artwork
The art in this issue is once again up to the impeccable standard previous issues has set. Thanks to the illustration by Takeshi Miyazawa the battle feels intense and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The color work by Triona Farrell helps to cement the tone and flow of the story. With the lettering by Simon Bowland helping to land the perfect emotional impact, everything comes together in a way which makes the entire issue so visually pleasing to take in.
Conclusion
The series has been a great ride so far and hopefully there is much more to come. If not, and the battle in next issue is the end, then it will be an incredible, knockout, edge of your seat battle which everyone will need to check out.
The penultimate chapter of the “Bizarroverse” arc is fun, as well as a bit insane, but still has time to tug your heartstrings. In the DC Multiverse, there is an Earth whose population is made up of backwards versions of the main universe. The most iconic of these is the backwards bruiser Bizarro, who has been revealed to have a son, Boyzarro. The latter finds a portal to the main universe, where he runs into his equivalent, Jon Kent the Superboy. He takes Boyzarro to his dad, Superman, and after some convincing, they go back with a group to Htrae. Unfortunately, Bizarro sees Superman as a threat to his ideal lifestyle and starts fighting with him. What will be the outcome of this clash of opposites?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
While Bizarro and Superman fight on Htrae’s moon, the kids feel the planet shake. Keeping in line with this Superman‘s story in the series thus far, Bizarro is giving a peculiar reaction to this world. The more he fights against his position as the father figure, the planet breaks more. Hoping it was set Bizarro’s head straight, Superman sends the children to find the Bizarro League, who have been captured by the Legion of Fun, The Legion of Doom’s Bizarro doppelgängers.
This is a fantastic climax to the Bizarroverse arc. It has kick-ass action, humorous moments, but most of all, it makes you feel emotional over these backwards people. The stars of the issue are, without a doubt, Bizarro and his son. They have a shocking amount of humanity and emotions that will pull readers in. Bizarro wants to be the hero of his world, but the moment Superman arrives, the world loves him more. You end up feeling bad for the backwards bruiser; he’s the worlds protector, possibly creator, and no one gives him the recognition he deserves. The only one you’d feel worse for is Boyzarro, who just wants a Dad. It’s actually a very tragic story, but a well told one.
There is one slight problem that may irritate readers. Like the first chapter of this arc, most of the dialogue is in Bizarro’s backwards dialect. There will be some difficult parts to decipher if you aren’t used to it by now, but the issue is still worth the read.
Art:
It’s not a secret that I am not the biggest fan of Doug Mahnke’s art, but it works extremely well here. His creepy style of illustrations fit the world of Bizarro, making the people look monstrous enough to stand apart from their doppelgängers, but still have enough detail for emotion. Wil Quintona takes that skill further with his expert color work. When the team’s work melds together, it creates a wide range of emotions. There are panels that’ll make you laugh and some that will punch you in the gut with emotion. The team knocked it out of the park.
Conclusion:
This was an excellent issue and one I recommend to any fans of Bizarro. Does it have flaws? A few, such as Mahnke’s art for the heroes from the main DC Earth and the Bizarro speech, but it doesn’t detract from the quality of the story. If you need a comic to read, go grab this one. You won’t be disappointed.
With just a few weeks until Avengers: Infinity War lands and our lives change forever, Marvel Studios is pushing the marketing with a bunch of new character posters.
The posters include a look at most of the main heroes, which naturally includes Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), along with a bunch of other Marvel characters.
Check out the posters below:
Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War is directed by The Russo Brothers and stars Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Scarlet Johansson (Black Widow), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Paul Bettany (Vision), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Vin Diesel (Groot), Dave Bautista (Drax), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Benedict Wong (Wong), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier) and Paul Rudd (Ant-Man).
Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet — the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artefacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.
