Though the media and fans often pit Marvel vs. DC, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige doesn’t understand the rivalry. Speaking to Crave about Thor: Ragnarok, the topic of division regarding DC and Marvel came up. Here’s what Feige said:
“I think movies are awesome and people should go out and support awesome movies, and I go support those movies and I thought Wonder Woman was awesome. I can’t wait to see what Geoff Johns and Joss [Whedon] and the gang has done with Justice League. I guess people like rivalries, I guess? I don’t know. But I’m seeing Geoff Johns in a couple weeks for dinner. We went to this Dick Donner event together. Dick’s Superman is still the best archetype of superhero films. So yeah, just go see cool movies. What are you fighting about?”
Hear that, comic book fans? Listen to Feige.
There’s no reason for the constant antagonistic behavior between DC and Marvel fans. It’s fine to prefer a company’s content over the others, but at the end of the day, these are profit seeking firms attempting to get your money and attention, not friends, family, or colleagues.
Thor: Ragnarok is in theaters now. DC’s next blockbuster, Justice League, comes to theaters on November 17.
When it comes to DC Comics, this week has been a major one in terms of breaking comic book news. First came the news of its multi-year deal with Writer Brian Michael Bendis. Fast forward a few days later and the publisher revealed it has major plans for Mera the queen of Atlantis. In February she will star in her own six-issue comic book series.
Titled Mera: Queen of Atlantis, Dan Abnett (Aquaman) will serve as writer and Lan Medina (Aquaman and the Others) will provide the artwork for the books. While Artist Nicola Scott (Wonder Woman) will be working on covers for the limited series and provided the first look at the cover for issue #1. Abnett’s story will revolve around the continuing Atlantean civil war. During its continuation, Mera finds herself having to keep the peace between the surface world and Atlantis.
This task will not prove easy as Oceanmaster makes his return for what he believes is rightfully his. The throne of Atlantis and title of the city’s savior. Issue one of her first solo series hits comic store shelves on February 28th, 2018.
The Archies have fixed their van and are back on the road. But getting to Hollywood, California is still far away and a gig is needed to help get there. But what happens when Veronica’s plan for a fancy hotel falls apart and worse yet, so does their much-needed gig! Is the tour over before it even starts?! Will The Archies find a place to stay where they can do more than taking a much-needed nap? And will Jughead get some food?! Find out as the hijinks continue in The Archies!
The Archies #2 Written by: Alex Segura and Matt Rosenberg Art by: Joe Eisma Colors by: Matt Herms Lettering by: Jack Morelli Published by: Archie Comics
Writing
Issue two of The Archies continues everything that made issue one such a great read. Once again Archie narrates directly to the reader, but there is a bit of added suspense as Archie is leading us up to what has happened as he drives the van. It has the feel of a friend telling you a story, catching you up as the details come to them. It’s an infectious way to drive the narrative.
The characterization also remains solid. By now everyone knows these characters and how they relate to each other, but Segura and Rosenberg continue to find ways to make the Archie gang fresh, relevant and funny.
The plot this issue has the planned gig falling apart right after Veronica’s credit card, well her dad’s actually, get’s declined. Vernocia dealing with her usual comforts being taken from her is always fuel for humor, and it’s nice to see that the Lodge’s money isn’t going to be a deus ex machina to get them out of a jam. Each of the gang’s individual reaction to this situation is great, further emphasizing the classic personalities we love about these characters. And as I expected Jughead continues to be my favorite.
Of course, things eventually sway back in The Archie’s direction and things end up better for them then they imagined. The issue ends with a great bit that sets up the first real-life band set to make an appearance; Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches.
Chvrches
Art
Eisma and Herms expand on the great work they did on both the one-shot and issue one. There seems to be more comfort in expressing physical humor through some great cartooning. They also continue to really capture the mood and energy of music being played (not an easy feat for something with absolutely no sound.) The stage scenes, in particular, have the layout, design, and feel of a concert poster. Those pages, in particular, are fantastic to look at. But the art overall is great, and this is the best looking mainstream Archie book on the stands.
Conclusion
The Archies is a book that will appeal to a very broad range of Archie fans, and issue two shows why audiophiles and pop-music fans need to take note as well. This issue is where we really start to see what this title has to offer and following The Archies on tour is something you definitely want to do!
When it comes to DLC in video games, NetherRealm has always been keen on thinking outside of the box. After recently adding Hellboy to Injustice 2, the developer is once again turning heads with its newest DLC Fighters Pack. In the trailer posted below, Ray Palmer (The Atom) and Enchantress are about to square off. But then out of the shadows, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles appear.
While their addition to the fighting game has caused people to tweet and post their surprise and support, others have questioned why the “Turtles In A Half Shell” are a part of the game at all. Though no reason has been provided, the answer does have comic book ties. In 2015, DC Comics and IDW Publishing joined forces to publish a Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover series. The crossing of the characters continued afterward as the turtles met up with Batman again, but the animated series version.
Recently DC and IDW announced a Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sequel. Which will bring back the creative team of James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II. So there is a basis for their inclusion outside of their general popularity. But what remains to be seen is how the characters will be used in the game when it comes to fighting. As Leonardo says in the trailer “We fight as a team”.
While this could mean we will see all four turtles fighting at the same time, odds are this will not be the case outside of a super move, and combos. What we could likely see is a variety of skins and move lists for each turtle. This is pure speculation. As no gameplay has hit the internet.
These new characters will be a part of the Ultimate Edition of Injustice 2, and can also be purchased separately in the upcoming Fighter Pack 3. The Atom will be available for early access on December 12. What are your thoughts on these new fighters? Comment below!
Those fans who stuck with the very decisive first season of Marvel’s Inhumans got a treat last night as ABC released an action-packed teaser for the upcoming fifth season of Agents of SHIELD. The clip was also posted on Twitter, but you can check it out below.
It looks like the Agents are going back into space! That is most definitely a Kree we see in the trailer, but is that other weird creature we get a glimpse of the MCU version of The Brood? Comic fans know The Brood as an alien race introduced in 1982 by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum in Uncanny X-Men#155. The Brood have a hive mentality, infect hosts like parasites and follow a queen (much like the Xenomorphs in the Alien franchise who were an inspiration and are also referenced in this clip). And who is the guy in the helmet?
No matter who is in it or what is going on, season five of Agents of SHIELD looks like it’s going to continue the quality both fans and critics liked about the much celebrated season four. What do you guys think? Comment and discuss below.
Agents of SHIELD season five premiers December 1st on ABC. The showstars Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Henry Simmons, Ian De Caestecker, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Elizabeth Henstridge, Nick Blood, Jeff Ward, Eve Harlow, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Coy Stewart.
Kristen Stewart has done an amazing job of shedding the last remnants of that Twilight glitter trail these last few years. Her work in independent film has been captivating, and she appears to have slipped into a creative groove.
Now, Stewart has tried her hand at directing with Come Swim, an avant garde meditation in steely blacks, whites, and blues. It is certainly an expressionistic work, but it has the energy and introspection of a woman hitting her creative stride.
Check it the 18-minute short here:
Kristen Stewart discussed the project at length with Refinery29 back before Sundance in January. You can find the full interview here, but here’s a few things she had to say:
“[T]his movie is like full-frontal heartbreak. I’m definitely not shying away from that, that’s absolutely what it’s about… It’s that first fall to this existential netherworld. You can attack yourself with memories or, depending on perspective, you can take a step back and say, ‘Actually, it wasn’t so bad. That was fun, we did have fun and it was nice.’”
It is heavy thematically stuff, and technically it’s fascinating to see cinema through the eyes of Stewart, who is a special talent. The sound design and the music from St. Vincent set up an unnerving dreamscape, and Stewart clearly has an eye for composition and an ability to create nightmarish imagery.
It will be fun to see where she goes from here as a director.
Batman Lost #1 hit your local comic book shop this week, and we try to make sense of Scott Snyder’s deconstruction of the character.
Trapped in the Dark Multiverse, Batman must face his greatest fears! The book starts off with an older version of the Batman we know; the issue ends with him a shell of his former self.
What does this mean? Did we just lose post-Flashpoint Batman, will Grant Morrison’s Batman return to save the day? Only Snyder knows the answers to these questions. What we do know is now that Snyder has broken down Batman, he can now rebuild him. Only a few creators have wielded such great power; it will be interesting to see Batman looks like post-Metal.
Watch our Metal conversation below.
Dark Nights: Metal (4 of 6) has a street date of December 20.
We are at the half-way point of Dark Nights: Metal, how do you think it will end? Sound off in the comment section below.
Disney plans to launch its own streaming service, and it could be a strong rival to Netflix.
The price for the service will be “substantially below” that of Netflix.
CEO Bob Iger added that price reflects the service’s smaller library of content.
The price would change, of course, once more content is adding to the service, according to Iger. For reference, Netflix’s most popular plan costs $10.99 a month.
Disney’s service will launch with tons of “high quality” content that includes Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and TV series based on other Disney-owned properties.
In August, Disney announced it would pull its content from Netflix starting in 2019.
Disney could increase its content from other sources.
A recent report from CNBC suggested that Disney was in talks to acquire most of 21st Century Fox, including the film rights to X-Men. Talks are not currently active. However, the deal could have given Disney numerous properties, including 20th Century Fox, Futurama and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Disney’s streaming service is expected to launch in 2019.
Warner Bros. lifted the Justice League embargo at 9 a.m, on Friday, November 10, and some journalists who were treated to early screenings shared their thoughts.
“JUSTICE LEAGUE! It’s okay. Narratively it’s a mess, the stakes don’t work & the villain isn’t great. HOWEVER, the heroes ARE great, it’s funny, & there’s some surprisingly effective character work. I didn’t love it, but there are enough good pieces to excite me for the future.”
JUSTICE LEAGUE! It's okay. Narratively it's a mess, the stakes don't work & the villain isn't great. HOWEVER, the heroes ARE great, it's funny, & there's some surprisingly effective character work. I didn't love it, but there are enough good pieces to excite me for the future. pic.twitter.com/OY4ARJ5vDY
“#JusticeLeague is a fun, bumpy ride that succeeds in character, but fails in narrative. It’s a mixed bag of execution that’s saved by the actors, who rise above the shortcomings to deliver an engaging, funny and hopeful, yet flawed, entry to the DCEU.”
#JusticeLeague is a fun, bumpy ride that succeeds in character, but fails in narrative. It’s a mixed bag of execution that’s saved by the actors, who rise above the shortcomings to deliver an engaging, funny and hopeful, yet flawed, entry to the DCEU. @joblocom
“SO I saw #JusticeLeague -twice. Still under embargo, but: This is a fun superhero flick. Funny but still hero adventure. Reminds me of JL Unlimited ep. Likable interaction amongst recognizable heroes. There is a villain problem (no worse than Marvel’s)”
SO I saw #JusticeLeague -twice. Still under embargo, but: This is a fun superhero flick. Funny but still hero adventure. Reminds me of JL Unlimited ep. Likable interaction amongst recognizable heroes. There is a villain problem (no worse than Marvel's) – @aaronsagers
“#JusticeLeague was entertaining for a good portion of the time though thin on storytelling and character development. There’s more fun, humor and heart than BvS but it also feels very rushed with some scenes given zero time to develop.”
#JusticeLeague was entertaining for a good portion of the time though thin on storytelling and character development. There's more fun, humor and heart than BvS but it also feels very rushed with some scenes given zero time to develop.
“Justice League is better than expected, but not a home run. The interaction between the team is a lot of fun. The film sends the DCEU in a hopeful direction in line with where the brand should be headed. Flash and Aquaman steal the show. Cyborg and villain are the weak links.”
Justice League is better than expected, but not a home run. The interaction between the team is a lot of fun. The film sends the DCEU in a hopeful direction in line with where the brand should be headed. Flash and Aquaman steal the show. Cyborg and villain are the weak links.
Fans have wondered when the popular show would end. It won’t be anytime soon because Showtime just renewed Shameless for a ninth season.
Season 8 of Showtime’s highest ranked and most watched series kicked off this past Sunday to 1.86 million viewers.
“As challenging as it can be for any show simply to maintain viewers in the current TV landscape, Shameless is adding them in droves,” Showtime Networks president and CEO David Nevins said. “But it’s no mystery why. The series’ reputation for rich and resonant characters and for deep – and deeply twisted – comedy has drawn not only faithful longtime viewers but a steadily growing audience. And creatively, the season that kicked off this past Sunday is stronger than ever.”
Shameless was created by Paul Abbott, and produced by Bonanza Productions in association with John Wells Productions and Warner Bros Television. Deadline tells us Wells developed the U.S. series from the UK original; he show-runs and executive produces with Nancy M. Pimental and Sheila Callaghan.
“We are so grateful to Showtime for giving us the opportunity to continue making Shameless,” showrunner and executive producer John Wells said. “It’s a labor of love (and a blast) for all of us.”
Production for season 9 begins in 2019 with the whole cast set to return.
