Sonic and Pac-Man are crossing over into each other’s mobile games for the next month. From now until March 20, Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man will be playable characters in Sonic Dash to celebrate its five-year anniversary. While the blue hedgehog will be a playable character and have his own Green Hill Zone-styled levels in Pac-Man. Instead of ghosts and Power Pellets, the “blue blur’s” levels in the game will contain Moto Bugs and rings.
People who play any of the six Sonic stages in Pac-Man prior to March 20 will unlock those stages forever. Also according to a press release by Sega and Bandai Namco, it’s also possible to keep Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man in Sonic Dash forever as well. All players have to do is collect enough berries, bells, and keys during the event.
There is also a very small story arc that connects the two games centering around Dr. Eggman teaming up with Bash the Ghost and kidnapping Sonic’s animal friends and taking them to Pac-Man’s game. Why? Well because Eggman is mad that he was not invited to his anniversary party. Cue the party scene from Wreck-It-Ralph.
The crossover also comes the same day The Hollywood Reporter dropped news about Paramount’s plans for Sega’s mascot. Reporting the speedy hedgehog will be hitting the big screen once again on November 15, 2019. Jeff Fowler will be making his directorial debut. While Pat Casey and Josh Miller provide the script. Deadpool DirectorTim Miller signed onto the project as the executive producer back in October of 2016.
If you are looking to play both Sonic Dash and Pac-Man they are available now for Android and iOS devices.
As Boom Studios moves closer to beginning “Shattered Grid”, the first event book between Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Go Go Power Rangers, Kyle Higgins uses this issue to set up what to expect in the crossover.
Summary
On top of dealing with what Billy has discovered, the Power Ranger must deal with Finsters’s monster surfacing all over the planet.
This story is a mixed bag. Finster plot seems thrown out in favor of getting ready for Shattered Grid. Since the first storyline came to an end, the new plot has revolved around the idea Finister has planted hidden monsters all across the world and can activate them at any moment. This has led to an element of suspense and dread as there was no telling where the monsters would appear. Unfortunately, Rita isn’t patient and orders Finsister to release them all at once which leads to their ultimate downfall. Kind of anticlimactic when you get down to it.
On the other hand, the parts of the issue which are meant to lead towards “Shattered Grid” are phenomenal. Kyle Higgins starts right off by showcasing how things are going to change and nothing is safe as the story unfolds. This is as much as can be said without giving away spoilers. Needless to say it’s really good but points must be take off for the Finister plot wrap up.
Artwork
The artwork for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #24 is up at the usual level of quality which has come from this series. The pencils and inks by Jonas Scharf offer a visually pleasing way of presenting how the action is unfolding all at once. Especially the creative panel layout helping to showcase what is going on in the world at the same time.
The coloring offers some great effects and intensifies the action scenes. Joanna LaFuente has an eye for keeping the colors perfect depending on the situation despite the characters teleporting to different times of the day through the book.
The dialogue by Ed Dunshire helps to make the action feel alive. The sound effects and emphasis drives the point home of what to expect as event unfold. A true success of good lettering is helping to add to the action and not draw away from it.
Conclusion
The Power Rangers comics by Boom Studios have been a joy to read and review. With the approach of Shattered Grid, you owe it to yourself to pick up this book so you are ready for what will come. You will not be disappointed if you do.
The following sentence is a severe understatement: Black Panther is a hit. It is breaking box office records left and right, spawning marketing stunts, and changing history.
Among this overwhelming success, it would seem difficult for any one individual to stand out from the crowd. And yet, that is precisely where Letitia Wright finds herself.
Wright portrays T’challa/Black Panther’s genius-engineer Shuri. Her comedic timing, as well as her chemistry with both Chadwick Boseman and Martin Freeman, made her an instant hit. Understandably wanting more, fans have already clamored to social media asking for her return, if not her own solo-spinoff.
This time, however, it seems Marvel may be ahead of the game. They have been laying a faint trail of breadcrumbs, and for those who follow it, there is a surprising but welcome destination: Letitia Wright just might be our new Iron Man. And here’s why.
*Warning: Spoilers ahead*
The Precedent: Riri Williams, a.k.a. Ironheart
The best clues to Marvel Studios’ intentions are the actions of Marvel Comics. A truth that is often seen as cynical is nonetheless true; once acquired by Disney, the comics branch of Marvel became a vital testing ground. Characters, costume designs, and at the most, entire storylines are first produced on the page. Then, slowly but surely, if they are successful, they make their way to the big screen.
During the summer of 2016, the mantle of Iron Man was passed off to a young African-American genius engineer from Chicago named Riri Williams.
She is presented as a wunderkind, attending M.I.T. at 11 years old. While attending school, she decides to take on a unique project: building her own version of Iron Man’s armor.
Riri succeeds in building the suit and is eventually endorsed by Stark. After he falls into a coma, she takes on the mantle Ironheart, to both honor him, and take his place.
Ironheart still has an ongoing series, as well as appearing in many Marvel events and crossovers.
All this to say that Marvel has tested out a genius young black woman as Iron Man’s replacement – and it worked.
The Evidence: Marketing the smartest woman on Earth
Did you notice anything about the marketing before Black Panther‘s release? Before the trailer played in theaters, there was a little introduction portion featuring Chadwick Boseman and Letitia Wright. They joke, play up the movie, and convey the chemistry between their characters.
The marketing is important, despite how unassuming it may seem. They could’ve put Michael B. Jordan, or Danai Gurira, or Lupita N’yongo – all just as present and essential to the film. Intentionally, they chose Wright.This same exposure was replicated in TV spots, trailers, merchandising, and more.
Even more important than the exposure is what was said about Wright’s character. Last February, in an interview with Black Panther producer Nate Moore, he had this to say about Shuri:
“As far as the technologically-advanced side, in our mind, and in our incarnation, Shuri is the head of the Wakanda Design Group. She’s the smartest person in the world, smarter than Tony Stark but she’s a sixteen-year-old girl which we thought was really interesting.”
Marvel is (in)famous for their control over information. Moore’s quote here is not an accident – especially since it was included as part of a canon comic.
In Infinity War Prelude #1, a prequel comic set immediately after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Shuri compares her genius to Tony Stark in a conversation with her brother. The inclusion in this comic is important – the similarity to Moore’s comments are no accident. This is not an opinion. It is a Marvel directive. Shuri is smarter than Tony Stark.
So, we have Marvel intentionally setting up both her comparative intelligence to Stark and giving her character heavy exposure. But it is with one line in Black Panther that the foundation for her future is laid plain.
The Possibilities: Shuri-Q, or Shuri-James Bond?
At the end of the film, T’Challa brings Shuri to Oakland, California, to the site of their uncle’s murder at their father’s hand. He tells her that he has bought the surrounding buildings, and will develop Wakanda’s first international outreach center. Then, he gives her the key to her future: T’Challa instructs Shuri to handle the science and technology exchange.
With this simple line, the possibilities for Shuri’s future begin to reveal themselves.
On one path, she can be the “Q” to the actual Riri Williams, this time, based in Oakland. While Riri’s character builds the suit herself in the comics, it is massively upgraded by Stark and his A.I. Friday. In this case, Shuri would fill this role, essentially becoming the outfitter, Jarvis, and perhaps remote pilot for Riri.
On another path, Shuri can be the “James Bond” and become the new Iron Man herself. She derides the area T’Challa brings her too, wishing he had taken her to Disneyland or Coachella instead. This sets up a nice arc of Shuri discovering an obligation and attachment to Oakland, standing in for the non-Wakandan black population of the world.
Well, maybe! But why replace Iron Man anyway?
Why else? The House of Mouse is interested in one thing and one thing only: merchandising power.
Robert Downey Jr.’s contract ends after the still-untitled Avengers 4. While he has extended before, and that Disney money is no joke, Downey and several of his co-stars have expressed interest in moving on. All good things must end.
Except for that merchandising money.
That’s why it’s a near guarantee that Black Panther was setting up Sebastian Stan as the next Captain America. It’s why new characters continue to come down the pipe so late into the game, including Captain Marvel and the Wasp. And you’d better believe its why Disney was willing to invest whatever it took to get Spider-Man.
But the anchor for the entire MCU has always been Iron Man. The larger story is connected through his multi-film character arcs. And he’s on the toys. Lots and lots of toys.
Iron Man isn’t going anywhere. Robert Downey Jr., yes. Tony Stark, yes. But that iconic helmet? That’s going to be worn by somebody, at least until Disney deems it no longer profitable.
With Black Panther‘s success, Letitia’s Wright magnetic charisma, and their already comics tested-character, you can place safe money on Shuri being Marvel’s first choice to take the mantle.
Superman can never just get a break. After the events of Super Sons of Tomorrow, the Man of Steel decided to teach Superboy about Krypton. As the lesson goes on, the pair receives a distress signal from a far-off planet. This planet is suffering from destabilization and could explode like Krypton at any moment. Superman, refusing to let anyone suffer Krypton’s fate, goes off to save the planet with his son. When they arrive, they learn a terrible truth: the people of the planet WANT to die. The inhabitants see the destruction of their planet and their deaths as the ultimate sacrifice for their god, Dhermet. Superman tries to convince them otherwise, but the religious race turns violent and attacks him. Before Superboy and he are hurt too bad, a scientist picks them up and takes them to his lab. Will Superman save these people?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
After getting rescued from the zealots, Superman and Superboy are led to a lab. The scientist named Klain explains that most of the scientists of the planet had been killed by the zealots, including his wife. Knowing that there is no hope for his planet, he hopes to send off his and his wife’s eggs to a suitable world with a small spaceship. Before the launch, however, the zealots find them. Superman and Superboy now have to defend the eggs to keep the race alive.
When I first read this, I was ready to write off as a run-of-the-mill, anti-religion storyline. The Zealots kill the voice of reason and praise their god as their world crumbles. Open and close, right? That’s when I took a step back and looked at the story as a whole.
At the beginning of this two-part story, Superman was teaching Jon about the destruction of Krypton. If you have never read/watched any Superman origin, Krypton exploded in a near identical manner. The key difference between the two is their beliefs. Where the race of this story believed that they should die for their god, the Kryptonians would focus more on the statistical probability. While it was a low probability, Krypton did explode and everyone died. It was science that failed Superman’s race.
So, if religion was wrong and science was wrong, what was the story trying to answer? It was trying to say that belief is important, but it’s more important to be willing to accept. It’s okay to believe in God, but be open to the scientific answers. Science can give people results, but that doesn’t mean bash those who seek comfort in a god. The ideal example of this issue’s message is Klain, who despite seeing the science and wants to save the world, believes in his people’s god. Be open to everything and get along with everyone.
Art:
Ed Benes has taken over this half of the two-part story and it’s a massive improvement. Superman and Superboy have never looked better and the alien world looks amazing. While it does lack the frightening edge Doug Mahnke’s pencils brought in the last issue, Benes’ pencil work is great. Dinei Ribeiro’s colors help the world drawn by Benes feel more alive. Together the team has created a beautiful yet tragic end for this planet and its people.
Conclusion:
This was a surprisingly good ending for this two-parter. The story is deep and leaves you with a thought-provoking message that’ll stick with you for days. The art was fantastic, fitting the tragic end for this tale. The story isn’t for everyone, but for this reviewer, it has left a strong impact.
Atlanta’s Hardsfield-Jackson International Airport is now offering (a fictional picture of) flights to Wakanda, according to Hollywood Reporter.
Wakanda on Social Media
Following Black Panther’s record-breaking opening weekend, the airport’s official twitter shared an image from one of their gates with a flight boarding for T’Challa’s homeland. I guess that’s how he gets to Avengers meetings?
[easy-tweet tweet=”Following Black Panther’s record-breaking opening weekend, the airport’s official twitter shared an image from one of their gates with a flight boarding for T’Challa’s homeland. I guess that’s how he gets to Avengers meetings?” user=”Jenisaur”]
The Atlanta airport frequently hosts superheroes and their travel essentials. Marvel has filmed many of their films in Atlanta and other locations around Georgia. The list includes Captain America: Civil War, where T’Challa made his film debut as The Black Panther. Booking a ticket is as easy as tweeting at the ATL Airport account. Atlanta citizens do not need a visa to travel to Wakanda. The welcoming committee greets all travelers with a flower necklace made of The Heart Shaped Herb.
We’ve gotta have some music on the in-flight entertainment too. Now streaming: Killmonger Me Softly, T’Challa Back Girl, M’Baku That Thang Up, Straight Outta Wakanda, N’Jadaka Said Knock You Out.
Black Panther has both set and broken many records since its US release last week. Ryan Coogler directed the film, which earned $242 million over the weekend—the biggest opening in history for an African-American director. Black Panther’s opening numbers came in second for highest revenue in its first four days. The only film that has it beat is The Force Awakens, with $288.l million. The film is also the highest ranked Marvel film on Rotten Tomatoes with a 96% fresh rating as of publication of this article.
Marvel
Black Panther is based on the Marvel Comics property of the same name. The film stars Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther), Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), and Danai Gurira (Okoye). The cast also includes Martin Freeman (Agent Ross), Andy Serkis (Ulysses Klaue), Daniel Kaluuya (W’Kabi), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Forest Whitaker (Zuri) and Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda). Black Panther is directed and written by Ryan Coogler, with additional writing by Joe Robert Cole.
Since ITfloated into theaters back in September 2017, everyone has been speculating on who would play the adult versions of “The Losers Club” in the much-anticipated sequel IT: Chapter 2. Countless names have been dropped, and now it seems that at least one of the internet’s favorite considerations could be a done deal.
Variety reported that an unnamed source has confirmed that Jessica Chastain is in talks with New Line Cinemas to play the adult Beverly Marsh in the upcoming sequel to the smash horror flick. Sophia Lillis portrayed Beverly in the first film.
Their source stresses “that negotiations are early and that the script is still being worked on, but both sides have officially begun discussing her coming on to the project.” Production on the film is set to begin this summer with the planned release on September 6, 2019.
Andy Muschietti will return to direct the sequel and said in a 2017 Variety interview with sister and movie producer Barbara Muschietti that Chastain was always a choice to play Beverly:
Do you have any ideas for actors for the kids as adults? Sophia (Lillis) does kind of look like your “Mama” star Jessica Chastain.
Andy: I don’t know, does she? [Laughs] Jessi is an amazing actress and very good friend and I would love her to play Beverly.
Barbara: She also loves this movie.
Andy: Yeah, she loves the movie and it feels like the planets are aligned in that sense, but we still have to make that happen. There are a lot of ideas for the rest of the cast that I’m playing with, but it’s a bit too premature to say those names right now.
Since dream casting is the thing to do these days, I’ll throw my hat in the ring of listing my picks for the rest of the adult members of “The Losers Club.” I agree with some of the choices from fellow writers at Indie Wire and Screen Rant and even the child actors themselves when they were asked by Entertainment Weekly who they’d chose to play their adult counterparts. However, let’s throw some different names at you and let me know what you think of my choices in the comment section below.
Diving into the horror genre may not be a bad move for Josh Gad. He’s a well-rounded and talented actor who could pull off the bashful yet sweet Ben. Do you think he knows the words to any New Kids on the Block songs?
Screamfranchise alum Jamie Kennedy has been doing voice acting and working on direct-to-video films as of late. Perhaps a project of this caliber would skyrocket Kennedy back into mainstream Hollywood. Beep beep, Jamie.
Perhaps it’s time for this boy to meet the blockbuster world. Savage has solidly worked in television, most recently reprising his role of Cory Matthews in Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World. He’s done small-budget films in the past, but never spent a significant amount of time on the big screen. Savage was also raised in Reformed Judaism, which would fit perfectly considering the character of Stanley is the son of a Rabbi.
Kaluuya was the breakout star of last year’s horror flick Get Out, for which he received Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, and BAFTA Award nominations. So, yeah, this guy knows what he’s doing.
Eddie Spaghetti Spiderman? Perhaps. Garfield has been spending his days gracing the stage in London in Angels in America, which is set to move to Broadway later in 2018.
IT was one of my favorite movies of 2017, and I’m looking forward to more news of these roles being cast for IT: Chapter 2. Do you agree with my choices? Who would you like to see play these characters?
Netflix just released the first teaser trailer for the Lost In Spacereboot, which looks like a more serious and high-quality project than you might have expected. The teaser doesn’t reveal too much about Lost In Space, although we get a look at the Robinson as they board a pretty cool looking spaceship on a mission to find a new home for the human race. Naturally, things don’t go to plan and the final moments of the trailer reveal how the Robinson family gets lost among the stars.
Watch the trailer below:
The Robinson family, part of a highly trained mission to establish a new colony in space, is unexpectedly pulled off course forcing them to crash land on a lost planet.
Lost in Space premieres on Netflix on April 13, 2018.
Robert Kirkman has made a living out of putting average people in extraordinary environments and then punching you in the gut with emotion. His latest project, Oblivion Song, continues the trend.
Combined with the art of Lorenzo De Felici, the colors Annalisa Leoni, and the letters Rus Wooton, the Oblivion Song team takes you on a fast-paced adventure that sets up the story, introduces the characters, motivations, and smacks you in the face with a cliffhanger.
The first 12 pages are an epic action sequence that introduces the world of Oblivion Song with vivid colors and bizarre monsters. Kirkman then puts protagonist Nathan Cole on your lap, almost like a rescue dog from the shelter. Immediately you want to like the hero of the story, but Kirkman introduces enough emotional elements to keep you off-balance and question all the characters involved. The last page cliffhanger is vintage Kirkman, and it compels you to need Oblivion Song #2.
De Felici style is somewhere in the middle of Ryan Ottley’s Invicible and Charlie Adlard’s The Walking Dead. De Felici’s action style is reminiscent of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Samuri Jack and the original Clone Wars on Cartoon Network. On the third page, when Kirkman and De Felici introduce the main character and the barrel of the gun is pointed directly at the reader, this is brilliant direction and design, creating an emotional intensity to the action sequence at hand.
Oblivion Song is unlike any other monster universe with Leoni’s bright vivid colors. The little details of the page pop with color. Even the colors choices of Wooton’s letters balance the actions. The Oblivion Song team is working in harmony artistically and it shows.
The next few issues will determine if Oblivion Song is a hit. Cole is an intriguing character, but Kirkman left enough questions as to where the plot of the story is vague and can go in any direction. Aspiring comic book writers should use Oblivion Song #1 as a template for how to launch a series and keep the reader engaged.
Oblivion Song hits your local comic book store on March 7, 2018.
Are you excited about this new Kirkman series? Comment below.
The comic book series, which was created in 2015 by Brandon Montclare, Amy Reeder and Natacha Bustos, follows Lunella Lafayette, a preteen super genius, with inhuman capabilities, who wants to change the world. Her world is literally turned upside-down when a savage, red-scaled prehistoric tyrannosaurus rex, that is red, is teleported to the present. The pair form an amazing team known as Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur!
No news yet on a cast or what Disney medium it will actually air on, but once green lit, should land on Disney XD, Disney Channel or possibly its new streaming service, which launches in 2019.
The book has featured such cameos as Hulk, Silver Surfer, Riri Williams’ Ironheart, Ms. Marvel, the X-Men, among others, and is definitely worth your time. Catch up on the comics series, which currently sits at issue No. 27.
The official announcement from Marvel can be found HERE.
In Dynamite’s latest one-shot James Bond: M, Declan Shalvey (Injection, Savage Town) and PJ Holden (2000AD, Judge Dredd) explore the hereto unexplored history of the man leading Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Before his life as a spy, the man would become “M” began his career as merely a foot soldier in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Like many men of his era, “M” had to navigate this complex political landscape during the tumultuous period know as “the Troubles” when Republican and Unionists clashed over not only religion, but national identity. Belfast and “M” may have changed, but some wounds don’t heal so easily and as our hero soon learns, the past has a habit of coming back to haunt you.
PJ was kind enough to join us to talk about his work on the project as well as all things comics and craft. Throughout our discussion we explore what is was like to collaborate with Declan Shalvey, the hidden history of the setting, and PJ’s desire to show a different side to Belfast.
“The very first published work I ever did was a book called Holy Cross, published by Fantagraphics in 1995 which was a story set in Belfast…but drawing something in 1995 and drawing something now, coming back to it twenty years later is just radically different. It’s a radically different looking place. What’s interesting about the story is the flashbacks to M in Belfast and the flashbacks to now…it’s an interesting exploration of the city and how it has changed. In some ways it speaks to what M is like as well.”
You can listen to our full interview below.
Here’s the official synopsis: “James Bond’s superior, code-named M, scrambles MI6’s secret agents across the globe. Sometimes, he knowingly sends them to their deaths, for the greater good. But a traumatic event from M’s early days in the field returns to haunt him, forcing M to return to the scene of a crime…HIS crime.”
James Bond: M is written by Declan Shalvey, with art by PJ Holden, colours by Dearbhla Kelly, and letters by Simon Bowland. The cover is done by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire.
James Bond: M hits your local comic book store on 21st February 2018. The creative team will be signing copies of James Bond: M at Big Bang Comics in Dublin at 7pm on 21st February and The Comics Guys in Belfast on 22nd February at 6pm.
The bags are packed 😂😩 
