Review: WONDER WOMAN #35 Gives Us The Origin Of Jason, Wonder Woman’s Twin

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At the conclusion of 2016’s “Darkseid War,” we learned that Wonder Woman has a twin brother. The Amazonian princess has finally come face-to-face with her brother in the wake of Hercules’ death. This reunion, however, turns sour as it is revealed that Jason teamed up with Grail, daughter of Darkseid, to take down Diana.

Despite there being a cliffhanger at the end of the last issue, this issue has us going back in time – dedicated to the secret origin of Jason. What was the childhood of the Amazonian brother like? Where Diana was raised as a mighty warrior, how was Jason raised? How did a boy from an island of women get raised by the last Argonaut, Glaucus?

**Some Spoilers Ahead**

Story:

The origin of Jason begins when he finds that he can lift a boat above his head as a child. While he is shocked, he goes to show his father, Glaucus, who reveals to him the truth of his birth. Glaucus explains to Jason that he is the son of Zeus, that he was asked to hide from Hera, Zeus’ wife.

Jason takes all of this news well…too well. It’s implied that he already had a happy childhood, but his reaction to learning his father is Zeus is not believable. Not just with Zeus either, but with other members of his godly heritage. Glaucus asks Hercules to train Jason how to fight and control his demigod powers. When Hercules reveals he is Jason’s brother, he doesn’t seem shaken by it at all. This issue is meant to give us insight into this new character, but I’m left wondering why this man was so willing to accept these facts.

Despite this distracting detail, I actually do like the origin that was presented. It’s almost a parallel to Wonder Woman’s with one distinct difference. Both were raised by legendary Greek heroes. Both were trained by Olympians to fight. The real difference is that when both parental figures tell them not to be a hero, only Jason listens. Diana disobeys her mother and goes off to become Wonder Woman, where Jason stays a fisherman. Now that the twins are together, we’ll just have to see if he becomes a hero.

Art:

The art is the best part of this issue. Emanuela Lupacchino, known for the first volume of the Starfire series, shows her skill in creating characters. They are unique enough to make them stand out from one another, yet still look human.

The colorwork also helps the issue feel more realistic. The different tints and shades in the character’s skin make the characters look more real. The more vibrant colors help capture the feel of the Mediterranean area that Jason grew up in. Together with the pencil work, we get a beautiful book to look at.

Conclusion:

This issue is a pleasant break from the heavy betrayal of the last issue. While the character of young Jason is a bit hard to believe, it’s fascinating to look at the parallels between his and Diana’s life. The book is beautiful to look at, with every turn being a colorful yet realistic take in this comic book world. It was nice to take this detour, but next time we head back to the war of the demigods.

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Willem Defoe Compliments Both Sam Raimi & James Wan, Talks Horror As a Genre

By

Aric Sweeny

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November 22, 2017

Willem Defoe was recently a guest on Variety’s podcast, Playback. The discussion was intended to be centered around The Florida Project, but it diverged in a way that allowed Defoe to talk about his experience working on comic book movies with Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and the upcoming Aquaman film, directed by James Wan. Here’s what the actor said:

“James Wan and Sam Raimi are both personal filmmakers. They really have a strong personal stamp. They both have a good sense of play. They come from the handmade world and they come from the horror world, and the beautiful thing about horror movies is the film language is very rich, because you can get away with it. There’s a fantastical quality but you can also make a popular movie because it’s a very accessible genre.”

It’s interesting that Defoe notes the horror background of both directors. The genre hasn’t had much of a place within superhero films, but that trend could be flipped a bit with Aquaman. Although the movie shouldn’t be a full-blown horror movie, there is potential to sprinkle some elements from the genre into the film.

Aquaman hits theaters on December 21, 2018. Are you looking forward to it? Sound off in the comments below.

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Rumor: Joss Whedon Departs From The BATGIRL Film

By

Aric Sweeny

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November 22, 2017

Joss Whedon has reportedly left the Batgirl movie, as stated in an exclusive report from SuperBrosMovies.

Although Whedon was originally set to direct the picture, the decision for him to leave was made months ago, per the source. A firm answer isn’t known, but it’s assumed that no announcement was made as Warner Bros. wanted to see how Justice League performed at the box office.

SuperBrosMovies, after deleting the original article breaking the story, had this to say in a tweet:

On behalf of Warner Bros, we have been asked to delete the article on Joss Whedon no longer directing Batgirl, out of respect for the industry and company we will be. They are preparing to put out an official statement as well.

If this is true, Warner Bros. should be releasing a statement on this rumor. However, nothing has been confirmed yet, so take the report with a grain of salt.

Do you think Whedon should stay on to direct Batgirl? Start a conversation in the comments below.

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TWISTED ROMANCE – A Weekly Anthology Series Coming In February From Image

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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November 22, 2017

Image Comics announced Twisted Romance this week, a 4-issue weekly anthology series written by Alex de Campi with a rotating team of artists. The series will focus on love, “love gone right, wrong, and everything in between.”

“This project is a dream for me,” said de Campi in the official press release. “I’m getting to collaborate with some of comics’ coolest creators and some amazing prose fiction voices. Everything everyone is doing looks so amazing. I’m just giddy that Image basically handed us the reins and said, ‘do whatever you want. This looks cool.’ So, yeah: come February, we’re going to break your heart, fill you with joy, and give you awkward pants feels. Sometimes in same story. Occasionally, even on the same page.”

Each issue of Twisted Romance will be 48 pages long, and will feature a main comic story, a backup comic story, and a prose story. The series will cover a variety of themes, “including the commoditization of breakups, the love of a shy girl and a wildly famous guy, forbidden love on an intergalactic dreadnought, and the deceptive lure of childhood as seen by a princess who’s afraid to grow up.”

Image will be releasing sneak-peeks at all four issues throughout December and January. Monkeys Fighting Robots will host the exclusive sneak-peek of issue two on January 8th. EW.com, SYFY Wire, and A.V. Club will host the other sneak-peeks.

You can see all four covers for Twisted Romance as well as solicitation info and quotes from the artists here:

TWISTED ROMANCE #1: “Old Flames” (Diamond code: DEC170607) arrives February 7th, featuring art from Katie Skelly (My Pretty Vampire, Nurse Nurse), a backup comic from Sarah Horrocks (Goro, The Leopard), and a prose story by Magen Cubed (Crashers). The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, January 15th. Look for an exclusive sneak-peek at EW.com on Monday, December 11th!

TWISTED ROMANCE #2: “Twinkle and the Star” (Diamond code: DEC170608) hits shelves February 14th, with art from Alejandra Gutiérrez (Love is Love), a backup comic from Meredith McClaren (HINGES), and a prose story by Vita Ayala (Batman Beyond). The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, January 22nd. Look for an exclusive sneak-peek at Monkeys Fighting Robots on Monday, January 8th!

TWISTED ROMANCE #3: “Invincible Heart” (Diamond code: DEC170609) will be available February 21st, with art from Carla Speed McNeil (NO MERCY, Finder), a backup comic from Margaret Trauth (Decrypting Rita), and a prose story by Jess Bradley. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, January 29th. Look for an exclusive sneak-peek at SYFY Wire on Monday, January 22nd!

TWISTED ROMANCE #4: “Treasured” (Diamond code: DEC170610) hits stores February 28th, with art from Trungles (Mirror Mirror, Fauns & Faeries), a backup comic from Sarah Winifred Searle (Fresh Romance), and a prose story by Naomi Salman. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, February 5th. Look for an exclusive sneak-peek at The A.V. Club on Monday, January 29th!

“I’m thrilled to be working with Alex,” said Skelly. “I think our comic will show off our love of ’70s film—and the darkest reaches of our brains. It’s going to be such a standout on the comics stand. I think the right people will find it and really appreciate it.”

“I am psyched to work on something bold and heartfelt, a story that knows where it’s going from the outset, that may end up somewhere surprising, but that surprise will be perfect,” added McNeil. “That’s the best thing, always.”

“Being the comics baby of the bunch, I’m really excited for people to see the fun world we’re creating,” said Gutiérrez. “Honey, get into this boots-the-house-down realness for your nerves!”

“Alex is an incredibly versatile writer!” said Trungles. “I love stories that explore the nature of love and agency, and I’m really stoked to work on this one.”

Keep it tuned to Monkeys Fighting Robots, and be sure to come back in January for your exclusive look at issue two!

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Joe Quesada Speaks About Marvel’s New EIC C.B. Cebulski

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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November 22, 2017

Joe Quesada spoke with Newsarama about hiring C.B. Cebulski as Marvel’s new Editor In Chief. With Axel Alonso stepping down, and Brian Michael Bendis leaving, Marvel undergoes a major shakeup.

Here’s what Quesada had to say about Cebulski:

Like every new E-i-C, C.B. is coming in with a new and distinct editorial voice. Qualification-wise, C.B. is without parallel. He’s done everything at this company and outside it from editing books to managing divisions to now working in Asia to make Marvel an even stronger international brand. He understands so many aspects of the business.

And C.B.’s reputation among creators and our staff is top-notch. They love him. So much – so much! – of this game is talent relations. I came in with a lucky advantage in that I had knowledge from both sides of the desk. I understood what it was like to be talent in need of management, and could also see from the other side, driving creative and helping talent with their stories and their dreams. And this is one of the big reasons C.B. was hired back in the day. I saw so much of that exact same thing in him. He truly cares about the people he works for, and the work they produce. That’s such an important part of being E-i-C – getting the talent know that you genuinely care, and more importantly, that they can trust you.

C.B.’s a creative guy to begin with, and has a great eye for talent. He’s done every aspect of this job, and has always been an amazing advocate for Marvel. Now as Editor-in-Chief, he’s now the face of our publishing division. And that “face” is a big part of the job as well. He’s always had a good public and private persona, and again, creators adore him.
He’s also one of my dearest friends, so selfishly speaking, one of the things that gives me great joy about his new job is that we get him back in New York.

Check out the full interview with Newsarama here!

Are these changes anything to be concerned about? Probably not, change is good for the publisher, industry, and fans.

C.B. Cebulski brings a fresh mindset to the massive Mavel sandbox just after Marvel Legacy proved to be a step in the right direction. These changes should be an extension on the goodwill that Marvel has been buying from its readers lately.

We haven’t heard much from C. B. yet as far as plans or vision are concerned. Like any longtime Marvel fan/employee, we assume he’s fond of the Fantastic Four. Perhaps this change could expedite the first family’s return.

Stay tuned for more developments!

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Nicolas Winding Refn Shared His TOO YOUNG TO DIE Cast in The Most Refn Way Possible

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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November 22, 2017

Nicolas Winding Rein enjoys his theatrics, and he loves to indulge in artistic expression to the point where it feels like he’s trolling his critics. I submit to you evidence #462: Refn’s unveiling of his cast for Too Young to Die.

It’s nothing too shocking or avant garde, it’s just Refn doing Refn things, introducing the cast via Twitter, with headshots of the actors. The one he’s holding is especially interesting:

https://twitter.com/NicolasWR/status/933064087595991040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fbirthmoviesdeath.com%2F2017%2F11%2F22%2Fnic-refn-poses-with-the-cast-of-too-old-to-die-young

Yeah that’s uh… that’s Billy Baldwin huh? Welp, it’s better than Stephen that’s for sure. Aside from Billy Baldwin making a comeback, you have an impressive cast: John Hawkes, Miles Teller, Callie Hernandez, and Jena Malone.

Reminder, Too Young To Die will be a 10-part TV miniseries. Here’s a little information on the plot from IndieWire back at the beginning of the year:

Co-written by Ed Brubaker, who also serves as executive producer, “Too Old To Die Young” explores the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles and is described as “being in a similar vein to Refn’s ‘Pusher’ trilogy, which looked at Danish criminals caught up in the drug trade. It explores various characters’ existential journeys from being killers to becoming samurai’s in the city of angels.”

Did anyone else just think about that cop show Billy Baldwin was in with Kristen Bell in Forgetting Sarah Marshall? Just me? Ok.

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Everything is a Holly Jolly Disaster in Netflix’s EL CAMINO CHRISTMAS Trailer

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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November 22, 2017

There’s always a place for pitch black, foul-mouthed Christmas comedies on the calendar; enter El Camino Christmas, director David E. Talbert’s crass Yuletide comedy. The cast is, well, eclectic, and even though Tim Allen pops up in the first few seconds just give it a minute. He might be the best part.

Check it out:

Here’s a little plot info from Deadline:

The story follows a young man (Grimes) who seeks out a father he has never met and, through no fault of his own, ends up barricaded in a liquor store with five other people on Christmas Eve. The story takes place in the fictitious town of El Camino, NV. It was scripted by Melfi with Chris Wehner.

The Grimes in this description is Luke Grimes. Joining him in this madness is Vincent D’Onofrio, Jessica Alba, Dax Shepard, the aforementioned Tim Allen cutting loose, and the great Kurtwood Smith.

It’s an unusual assemblage, but there’s some funny shenanigans in this trailer. El Camino Christmas is Talbert’s follow up to last year’s Almost Christmas. The guy must have a specific niche.

It debuts on Netflix December 8; if you need a couple of hours away from the family it might be worth a look.

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EA Under Investigation By The State Of Hawaii For “Predatory Practices” Involving Loot Boxes

By

Nick Battaglia

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November 22, 2017

Despite announcing at E3 all of its DLC for Star Wars: Battlefront II would be free, EA is in trouble. As the state of Hawaii has announced an investigation into the publisher’s use of loot boxes and in-game purchases. State Representative Chris Lee called the game a “Star Wars-themed online casino” in a recent press conference. Later, Lee announced steps towards new legislation.

If passed, the legislation would deem loot boxes as a form of gambling, and ban the sale of loot box laced games to people under Hawaii’s legal gambling age of 21. “We’ve been talking with several other states as well, legislators who are looking at the same thing,” said Lee. On Tuesday, Belgium ruled loot boxes as a form of gambling after last week’s investigation by its gaming commission. Belgium’s Minister of Justice Koen Geens stated, “Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for the mental health of a child”.

Geens also wants to ban in-game purchases outright if it is unclear what the player is purchasing. The blowback involving Star Wars: Battlefront II started when someone wrote on Reddit that it took 40 hours to unlock Darth Vader, and thousands more when it came to other items in the game. But this is not the only EA game that is affected by microtransactions, loot boxes, and a pay-to-win. Another new EA title Need For Speed: Payback suffers from this trio of trappings.

Giving players only two options. Either grind away for hours to make your virtual cars competitive or dip into your real bank account and save yourself some time. In order to save face, EA has tried to reconcile by giving players more in-game XP. Instead of doing what they did with Star Wars: Battlefront II (albeit temporarily) and disable in-game purchases altogether.

Even after turning off in-game purchases in Star Wars: Battlefront II, EA told investors not to worry. Saying disabling them will not have a “material impact on EA’s fiscal year”. So this brings up an even bigger question. If no in-game purchases in their biggest game of the year will not impact their finances, why have them in there at all?

Especially when they made $4.39 billion in 2016. It is going to be interesting to see how this all pans out going forward. Below are highlights from Hawaii’s announcement.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_akwfRuL4os[/embedyt]

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Episode 21: DOOMSDAY CLOCK Finally Strikes Midnight!

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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November 21, 2017

Welcome to the twenty-first episode of the Comic Show by Monkeys Fighting Robots! Doomsday is here! We’re talking Doomsday Clock #1 from DC, the follow-up Rebirth and the sequel to Watchmen. It’s been hyped as one of the biggest comic events of the year, but does it live up to that mantle?

Buckle up, True Believers! Episode 21 of the COMIC SHOW by Monkeys Fighting Robots is here.

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

**0:00 – Doomsday Clock #1 SPOILER Review**
Anthony – 4 Monkeys
Matt – 4 Robots

Thank you for listening!

Do you want to be our FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.

Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show? Email your questions to matt@popaxiom.com.

Reviews are greatly appreciated – How to Rate and Review a Podcast in iTunes

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Rashida Jones Reportedly Left TOY STORY 4 Because of John Lasseter

By

Jen Schiller

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November 21, 2017

Earlier today, The Hollywood Reporter published a memo from Disney and Pixar Executive John Lasseter. The memo made vague apologies and suggested that, after meeting with other Disney executives, Lasseter would take a sabbatical.

Less than an hour after the memo went public, news broke that Rashida Jones and writing partner Will McCormack left Toy Story 4 after Lasseter made an unwanted advance. Lasseter’s memo was vague in places, except for one section where he apologized to “…anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way, shape, or form. No matter how benign my intent, everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected.”

Lasseter’s Track Record

The official word on Jones and McCormack leaving Toy Story 4 is “creative differences”. However, multiple employees and industry insiders had another story to tell. Apparently Lasseter’s lechery is well-known. Some of the women who worked with him developed a defensive maneuver “…they called ‘the Lasseter’ to prevent their boss from putting his hands on their legs.”

Rashida Jones John Lasseter — John Lasseter in 1985

Stories about Lasseter’s behavior are not new. The company has either ignor ed or covered for it for more than a decade, according to one source. The source told Hollywood Reporter “he once noticed an oddly cropped photo of Lasseter standing between two women at a company function. When he mentioned that to a colleague, he was told, ‘We had to crop it. Do you know where his hands were?'”

Prior to this afternoon’s reports, Lasseter’s public image was relatively clean. His textbook apology, however, was confusing at best, bouncing back and forth between industry lingo and oddly specific references. The conclusion to the memo was that he needed to step away from the company for a limited break. “My hope is that a six-month sabbatical will give me the opportunity to start taking better care of myself, to recharge and be inspired, and ultimately return with the insight and perspective I need to be the leader you deserve.”

Once news of Jones’ allegations broke, his reason for stepping down became more clear.

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Story:

Art:

Conclusion:

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

0:00 – Doomsday Clock #1 SPOILER Review Anthony – 4 Monkeys Matt – 4 Robots

Lasseter’s Track Record

**0:00 – Doomsday Clock #1 SPOILER Review**
Anthony – 4 Monkeys
Matt – 4 Robots