Gal Gadot is in the earliest of early talks to join Bradley Cooper in Deeper, a new thriller about an astronaut hired to explore the depths of the ocean where all manner of hell presumably breaks loose.
Sounds like a solid premise, could be a good film, no? Don’t get your hopes up… Deeperis written by internet troll, generally terrible screenwriter, and the very definition of nepotism gone horrible wrong, Max Landis.
Oh, and David Goyer is producing with Landis, so there’s the slightest possibility he can steer this out of the ditch. Slightest.
Max Landis spends most of his days waxing idiotic online, inciting people from all over the map, spouting off terrible opinions on pop culture, and somehow managing to keep churning out painfully mediocre screenplays to movies nobody cares about anymore. News of his involvement with this story upends any excitement one might have with the prospect of a Bradley Cooper/Gal Gadot collaboration.
Archie fans, it’s time to get excited! Hot off the success of Riverdale, Archie Comics and The CW are bringing another one of their beloved properties to the small screen; Sabrina The Teenage Witch!
Comic fans have been enjoying a new version of Sabrina in the current Archie Horror title The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (check out my review of the most recent issue here. You can also listen to me ramble on about the title in general on an episode of the MFR Comics Show Podcast.) It really is a fantastic comic/property and unlike anything on the stands.
The new show will be written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer and RIVERDALE Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, directed by Lee Toland Krieger and produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Brothers Studios. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schecter, Jon Goldwater, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lee Toland Krieger serve as executive producers.
According to Archie Comics:
Sabrina will draw from the critically acclaimed ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ comic book series from Archie Comics written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Robert Hack, detailing the compelling and shocking re-imagining of Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s occult origins. This dark coming-of-age story deals with horror, the occult, and witchcraft and will see Sabrina struggle to reconcile her dual nature of being half-witch and half-mortal while protecting her family and the world from the forces of evil.
Casting and additional news on the new series will be revealed in the months to come, and you can stay tuned to Monkeys Fighting Robots for all that!
What do you guys think? Personally, this is awesome news and gives me hope of something along the lines of another Buffy The Vampire Slayer because that potential IS there. Comment and discuss below!
It was the greatest superhero event of all time, a multiversal crisis. Black Hammer, Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Barbalien, Colonel Weird, and even Madame Dragonfly they united to take down Anti-God, the ultimate evil, on the streets of Spiral City.
For ten years, the former heroes have been living in exile. But a new arrival from the main timeline brought new hope. And maybe, finally, its time for them to relaunch . . .
Writing/Story
This issue seems to start with a lot of random events. A character being teleported away, Abraham being brought in about the what happened to the Sheriff, and Lucy’s continued quest for answers. Everything feels a bit all over the place with when this is happening until it clicks on when these events are suppose to happen. Also, the drama between Abraham and Tammy doesn’t feel as hard hitting as it should given what plays out. Overall this seems much less intense than previous issues and unfortunately it requires a second read to really understand what all went down. Though this leaves the issue feeling less than perfect, writer Jeff Lemire finds a way to bring it all home with a final page which will leave the reader on bated breath for the next issue to come around.
Pencils/Inks
Dean Ormstron’s artwork is fantastic. He employs detailed line work to show the concern and aging of different characters. The look he gives characters when they heard depressing and shocking news helps to connect with their reaction.
Colors
The colors by Dave Stewart are on point. Vibrant when they need to be and down to earth during the less intense moments. All of it helps to set the tone the series is known for.
Lettering
The different changes in style help to show who when Lucy as the narrator takes over and when the dialogue is meant to represent a regular conversation. This impressive display is all thanks to Letterer Todd Klein.
Conclusion
This issue feels like the calm before the storm for Black Hammer. Big things are about to explode and if you haven’t taken the time to check out this series you will soon regret it.
The Meyerowitz Stories, Noah Baumbach’s latest dysfunctional family dramedy, has been getting tremendous buzz in the festival circuit this year. It’s even brought up the notion of (stop me if you’ve heard this one before) an Adam Sandler Oscar nomination.
Who knows about all that, but this first trailer is pretty damn great. The introduction of the actors is especially brilliant. Check it out:
From writer/director Noah Baumbach, The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) is the emotional and comic intergenerational tale of adult siblings (Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and Elizabeth Marvel) contending with the long shadow their strong-willed father (Dustin Hoffman) has cast over their lives.
I like Noah Baumbach. His films are like acerbic, twee-less Wes Anderson films. What’s most impressive about this trailer is how it didn’t remind me of the Fockers movies at all despite Dustin Hoffman playing Ben Stiller’s dad. I promise.
As for the Sandler buzz, well, this is a road we have traveled at least twice before. He’s getting some attention, that’s for sure, but can we really see this coming to fruition.
Either way, he looks great and everyone else looks great. The Meyerowitz Stories will open in limited release and on Netflix October 13.
Netflix has released a full-length trailer for The Punisher, their upcoming Marvel series with Jon Bernthal in the title role. This trailer brings all the violence with it, the appropriate fetishistic glimpses of weapons, and arguably the best Metallica song of all time.
Check it out:
There’s a plot here, but it doesn’t really matter, does it? The plot to The Punisher has become an archetype in action filmmaking, the more important part of this is they absolutely nail the aesthetic of the comics. I dig the inclusion of “One” in the trailer, the look of the skull feels right, the settings are sharp light and shadow. Solid.
Jon Bernthal is perfect for Frank Castle, because he’s kinda perfect for everything he does. His appearance in the second season of Daredevil was a definite bright spot for that show (which nobody really talks about anymore, huh…), so this might be worth your time. LEt’s hope it has at least a little more than The Defenders brought to the table. Anyone remember that one?
The Punisher will drop on Netflix… some time this year? No official date yet, but expect that before long.
Monkeys Fighting Robots has teamed up with Uncanny Heroes in Tampa for a new show – Wednesday Comics. This episode is an origin tale as we introduce our characters; Ivan Plaza the owner of Uncanny Heroes, Chuck Fenech of Big Red Vintage Toys, and Matthew Sardo the founder of Monkeys Fighting Robots.
Picks of the week:
Batman: The Red Death #1
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Cover: Jason Fabok
Writer: Joshua Williamson
As the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL rock the DC Universe, the creatures of the Dark Multiverse stand ready to invade our world! How can even the World’s Greatest Heroes stop a horde of deadly beings that appear to be powerful, nightmare versions of familiar figures? Find out in these special tie-in issues!
ANGELIC #1
Story: Simon Spurrier
Art / Cover: Caspar Wijngaard
Humanity’s long gone. Its memory lingers only as misunderstood rituals among mankind’s leftovers: the genetically modified animals they used and abused for eons. But for one young flying monkey, QORA, the routines are unbearable. All she wants is to explore. Instead, she’s expected to settle down, to become a mother…to lose her wings.
Batman, Kite Man and The Riddler (with a little help from Catwoman and a few other villains) make a final move to infiltrate the Joker’s hideout. But what they find is a terribly unhinged Joker who will do anything to win this war. Can a well intricate plan defeat a man of true chaos and madness? Or have Batman and his ragtag team made a horrible and fatal mistake? A mistake that seems to haunt Batman to this very day.
Batman #31 “The War Of Jokes and Riddles” Part 5 Written by: Tom King Art by: Mikel Janin Inks by: Mikel Janin Colors by: June Chung Lettered by: Clayton Cowles
We are right back into the action after last month’s interlude and we finally get to see Batman, Kite Man (who becomes more heroic by the page) and Riddler make a physical play for the Joker. This is a fast-moving issue that features a great action scene, some much needed and welcome humor, grand visuals and one truly disturbing and out of control Joker who seems to have given completely into his madness and chaos.
Art by Mikel Janin
Writing
Tom King has really shown us all his cards in this arc. This issue is filled with not only some nice, soaring action but some of the funniest exchanges between characters I have read. The back and forth between Killer Croc and Kite Man actually made me chuckle out loud.
On the flip side of that, his Joker is certainly no joke. The entire sequence with Joker mentally, emotionally and then finally physically torturing a man is one of the most brutal things I’ve read in any recent comic.
King also continues to make Kite Man completely endearing, giving us a complete 180 from the one-page joke we had seen before. “Hell yeah!”
And although it’s brief, we also do get another great scene and exchange between Batman and Catwoman that not only adds levity but is also filled with charm. It’s a great beat that shows you how much affection King has for these two lovebirds, and just gets us even more riled up to finally see how Selina will answer Bruce’s proposal.
Art by Mikel Janin
Art
Art-wise, this issue (the whole arc really) is a thing of beauty. The scene of the kite winged hero and villains flying into the Joker’s stronghold is a masterclass in illustration, layout, and design. It’s fluid, crisp and beautiful. In short, worthy of being framed.
But it’s not just the ‘big’ moments that are rendered well. Even the subtle moments, the slight expressions in faces and body language and movement are all great.
June Chung colors are vibrant without being overly glossy or distracting. They serve the pencils and inks by helping create a complete package and also adding atmosphere.
And it’s not often I notice or mention lettering, but Clayton Cowles creates almost audible voices and cadence with his fonts, sizing, and letter placement. It’s great to read a comic where something often overlooked stands right out with the writing and the rest of the art.
Art by Mikel Janin
Conclusion
‘The War Of Jokes And Riddles’ has proven to be so unique, giving us so many different tones, so many variations, and pacing. This has been a hell of a ride, and this issue had a little bit of everything that has made the arc great as a whole. Next month we find out how this war ends and I can’t wait.
Todd Haynes has been quietly churning out brilliant films for years now, and his latest work, Wonderstruck, has been making the rounds at film festivals this year.
While it hasn’t set the world on fire the way his Dylan docudrama I’m Not There did, or the way Carol did a couple of years ago, Wonderstruck still looks like a heartwarming fantasy adventure movie about two kids in different eras.
Check out the trailer:
Based on Brian Selznick’s critically acclaimed novel Ben and Rose are children from two different eras who secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known, while Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his home and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out on quests to find what they are missing that unfold with mesmerizing symmetry.
Wonderstruck stars Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Jaden Michael, Oakes Fegley, and it will open October 20th. Are you excited or nah?
Whether anyone wants it or not, this new Terminator reboot thing is a real thing. James Cameron is going back to the tiredest of tired wells, and the thought of another Terminator film has sure sounded horrible, until now. Linda Hamilton, Sarah Connor herself, will return to the franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter had the story last night, and from their report it seems like the only exciting thing about Linda Hamilton returning is the fact she’s… returning. Because this explanation from Cameron is… oof:
“We’re starting a search for an 18-something woman to be the new centerpiece of the new story… We still fold time. We will have characters from the future and the present. There will be mostly new characters, but we’ll have Arnold and Linda’s characters to anchor it.”
You see? They will still “fold time.” Everything should make total sense and not be confusing and stupid at all.
Oh yeah, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is coming back as well, but that’s hardly news. Arnie can’t say no to his most iconic character, and he was pretty much the only watchable part of Genysis anyway, so… whatever.
Linda Hamilton back on board isn’t enough to excite me for another Terminator film, but it’s at least an interesting surprise. Tim Miller is directing for some reason, and David Goyer is working on a story. That’s not the most promising development, but maybe they will surprise us all.
Welcome to the thirteenth episode of the Comic Show by Monkeys Fighting Robots! This week we are interviewing creators Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky about their hit series over at Image Comics, Sex Criminals. We’re also reviewing Batman #31, Batman The Red Death #1 (a book that finally gives event tie-ins a good name), and Savage Town, an Image original graphic novel from about Irish gangsters.
