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Our 4 Favorite Marvel Elementals

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There are a number of apparent themes within the Marvel Comics Universe, but few are as exciting and interesting as elements and elementals. In the comic book world, elementals are individuals with the abilities to control Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Wood or sometimes a combination, though atom and matter manipulation also fall under this bracket occasionally. There are plenty of elemental heroes in the Marvel world, so we thought we’d find out favorites.

Storm

As we’re sure you know, or at least can guess from her name, this iconic member of the X-Men can control the weather. Lightning, rain, wind; whatever the weather, our favorite white-haired witch controls it all. What could be more elemental than that? It’s no surprise at all that she continues to appear in movies and almost every X-Men game to this day.

Storm was first introduced into the world of Marvel Comics back in 1975 when she traveled from Cairo, Egypt to work at the Xavier Academy as a professor and X-Men member after losing her parents. It took Storm a good few years to truly control her mutant abilities but, sure enough, she has become the most powerful weather elemental in the entire Marvel world. Except for maybe Thor, but he’s literally a god.

The Human Torch

How could we ever write a list about Marvelementals without mentioning Marvel’s first family and The Human Torch? Published in 1961, The Fantastic Four was Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s first superhero comic ever and featured Reed Richards as Mr. Fantastic, Susan Storm as The Invisible Woman, Ben Grimm as The Thing and, of course, Johnny Storm as The Human Torch.

Johnny can set himself ablaze with ease, enabling him to cause chaos while flying around as well as protect himself and his family. His good buddy The Thing could also be classed as an elemental as he is made entirely of rock, plus he’s probably the best character in The Fantastic Four movies. This is likely to be down to the fact that the actor, Jamie Bell, is a veteran of the industry, having starred in ‘Billy Elliot’ as a child. That movie placed at #11 on Lottoland’s recent list of inspirational movies that can change your life, along with classics like ‘Goodwill Hunting’ and ‘Rocky.’

Alas, though the movies based on The Fantastic Four may not be particularly great, The Human Torch is perhaps the greatest fire elemental in the comic book world.

Ice Man

In fact, The Human Torch was so incredible that Lee and Kirby decided to create another character based on him but with the opposite powers. Enter Robert “Bobby” Drake, otherwise known as founding member of the X-Men Ice Man. Considering both The Human Torch and Ice Man are the wild cards and comic relief of their respective groups, we’d love to see them together at some point. Alas, for now, we’ll have to play games like Lego Marvel Superheroes. We can all have dreams.

Anyway, Ice Man is able to freeze water wherever it may be and can transform his body into ice. More recently, the comics have shown Bobby creating ice clones of himself as well as ice monsters, which he then went on to use to scare his peers at the Jean Grey Academy.

Groot

Finally, we have our favorite plant-based life form of all time: Groot. Back at the beginning of Marvel Comics, Groot first appeared as an evil monster in Tales to Astonish #13 before eventually joining up with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

As film fans will know, he is only able to say “I am Groot” and yet manages to be one of the most likable, funny and adorable characters in comic books. He shares the abilities of Earth-based plants and can grow new bark at will, exude spores and even create leaves from time to time. Thankfully, he can also regenerate, which means there will hopefully be a never-ending cycle of baby Groots and big Groots that we can watch forever.

Let us know who your favorite elemental Marvel characters are, and tell us if we’ve missed someone out. For now, let’s all just continue to hail baby Groot!

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‘Green Room’ Director Jeremy Saulnier Signs On For ‘True Detective’ Season 3

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HBO had already announced three things regarding the upcoming third season of True Detective. One, it was starring Mahershala Ali (Moonlight/Luke Cage) as a Nebraska police detective named of Wayne Hays. Two, it will tell the story of a crime in the heart of the Ozarks and a mystery that spreads over decades and plays out in three different time periods. And finally, that writer David Milch (Deadwood) whould be writing one episode (series creator Nic Pizzolatto will be penning the rest).

The Hollywood Reporter has now announced that Green Room writer/director Jeremy Saulnier has officially signed on to helm all episodes of season 3.

Personally, I think this is amazing news. Green Room was my favorite film last year, and Saulnier’s film before that, the gritty revenge movie Blue Ruin, was also fantastic. The filmmaker has a talent for capturing tension and mood on an intimate scale that could bring back the excellence of that first season of True Detective.

What do you guys think? Can HBO resurrect this franchise after the very decisive season 2? Comment and discuss below.

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Yet Another Theory About Why Tyrion Was Creepin’ During [SPOILER]

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There’s a pattern to watching Game of Thrones episodes. First, you avoid the internet like the plague during it. Second, you are enraged, excited, exasperated, etc. during the show. Third, you immediately jump on the internet to read the onslaught of theories about whatever mess you just lived through.

It’s exhausting.

So here’s another theory, because why not?

Also, and we cannot possibly say this with more emphasis, ***spoilers ahead***.

Like, *a lot* of spoilers. So don’t read on if you haven’t seen the most recent episode. Stop now.

Here’s some more space in case you messed up.

Last chance.

Ok so Danyreas and Jon Snow finally seal the deal. The dragon and the wolf join in carnal union. Fire and Ice make a puddle. They get down to business, basically.

Meanwhile, Tyrion stood outside like a real creep, and looked on worryingly at the door. Which, I mean each to their own, but still. It’s a big ship. He could be somewhere else.

So what’s up with Tyrion? Here’s our best guesses:

Tyrion made a deal with Cersei

OK so this isn’t new, but it’s been theorized without a lot of supporting evidence. The gist is this – Tyrion made some kind of deal with Cersei to betray Dany, and therefore is worried about the strengthening alliance between Dany and Jon.

Let’s look at the scene between Tyrion and Cersei. The primary conflict of the scene is apparent – Tyrion wants Cersei to ally with Dany. However, most of it is spent on a discussion of whether Tyrion is justified in feeling sadness or regret surrounding the deaths of Cersei’s children.

There are two crucially important parts of the scene: Tyrion no longer cares if Cersei hates him, he still feels the sadness that his actions caused, in a roundabout way, the death of his nephews and niece. Tyrion also “discovers” that Cersei is pregnant.

If there’s one thing we can say for Cersei, it’s that she is intentional, in word and action. So Tyrion’s “discovery” after she places her hands above her stomach feels like a trap of sorts. Whether she is pregnant or not is irrelevant; Cersei wants him to believe that she is.

After the discovery, the scene ends, and cuts back to Dany’s party waiting in King’s Landing. We don’t get to see what else was said, or if Tyrion succeeded. It is simply implied.

The biggest argument against this is one is, “why the hell would Tyrion make a deal with Cersei and betray Dany?!” Well, in short – he wouldn’t.

But he would do anything for the unborn child of Cersei. Tyrion carries immense guilt with him over the deaths of the children he really loved. The idea that he cares for Cersei is wrong: he hates her, and for good reason. But her children should not carry her sin.

The idea that the unborn child can inherent the sins of the parent is a big deal for Tyrion’s story line. He was blamed for killing his mother in childbirth, and has been blamed for being a Lannister (largely because of Tywin, his father) since Season 1. Most recently, he tried to save Dickon Tarly’s life from Dany’s wrath, after she lumped him and his father together.

On the other end of the spectrum is Dany, who fled the continent as an infant after the murder of her parents by the Lannisters. He has a good case for worrying about what Dany would do if she discovered Cersei’s child.

He also has reason to worry about Dany’s rule. Tyrion has spent most of the season worrying about her choices of Fire and Blood. She is a conqueror, and seemingly not interested in extended rule, per their conversation about succession.

Tyrion isn’t going to betray Dany out of any loyalty to Cersei, or disbelief in Dany as a ruler. It will come because he cannot bear the death of one more child because of his action – or inaction. And that’s why he looks on so worryingly on at the possible conception a true heir.

Tyrion is worried about them falling in love

Here’s one from the left field: Tyrion isn’t so keen on love. Let’s look at the facts:

Tyrion hasn’t been a romantic relationship on-screen since he was smuggled out of King’s Landing.

His last love betrayed him to his father (not that Tyrion was blameless in this; he screwed up big time).

His brother, Jaime, whom he deeply cares for, has stuck by the side of the despotic Cersei out of nothing but love, even though he knows she’s a monster.

At this point, Tyrion’s arc has taken him to a dark realization that love is contrary to good leadership and sense. Marriage is fine – it’s a political move, and good for alliances.

Jon and Dany falling for each other could lead to mistakes, like say, Dany losing a dragon past the wall. His look signals that their alliance may have become something more, and that could be dangerous.

Tyrion is generally a worried dude and he’s actually fine

Game of Thrones likes to give red herrings. Tyrion could just be worried. He has a lot going on, what with the end of the world and all. He might be thrilled that those two crazy kids finally got together, but he’s still going to furrow that brow.

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Cara Delevingne Joins Orlando Bloom in Amazon’s ‘Carnival Row’

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Amazon has finally cast the second half of Carnival Row’s leading couple, announcing that the role will be filled by rising star Cara Delevingne (Suicide Squad, Paper Towns). Aside from being an Amazon original series, the reason Carnival Row had previously attracted attention was its casting of Orlando Bloom, who marks yet another silver screen actor making their transition to television. The straight-to-series fantasy drama is the product of Legendary Television, with Rene Echevarria, Travis Beacham, and Paul McGuigan.

Amazon describes Carnival Row as being set in a modernized, steampunk-esque Victorian city, with its genre classification being something along the lines of a “noir-fantasy.” War has ravaged the world, and many different mythical creatures have found themselves as refugees in this strange city, where conflict begins to foment between the original cities and its new immigrant population.

Bloom plays an investigator, Rycroft Philostrate, who is attempting to solve the muder of a faerie showgirl from the titular Carnival Row. This murder is just one in a recent outbreak of deaths which threatens the fragile peace of the city. Delevingne, on the other hand, will play the also quirkily-named Vignette Stonemoss, a refugee who must contend with the prejudice of humans as well as circumstances which arise from her mysterious, secretive past.

Echevarria will serve as the showrunner and main writer, though Beacham is the author of the original feature script. McGuigan is currently set to direct all eight episodes of the series.

Neither Delevingne nor Bloom have ever starred in an original television series before, so this marks a significant departure for both actors. At the moment, Carnival Row is set to begin filming sometime this fall, with the producers predicting a release date sometime early in 2019.

What do you think of this news? Are you excited to see these stars join the growing league of A-list actors defecting to the TV screen?

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Funko Unveils “Game Of Thrones” Night King Pop

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If you love Funko Pops and Game of Thrones, you’ll definitely love what I’m about to say next.

Funko has just unveiled it’s newest pop featuring the evil faced blue eyed Night King riding on the back of an un-dead Viserion.

Funko!

Its description reads: The terrifying Night King sits astride the resurrected dragon, Viserion, as they charge into Westeros. Funko brings the Night King and Version to Pop! Ridez, complete with glowing blue eyes, the tattered wings of an undead dragon and a frosty coloring. The Seven Kingdoms have never seen something so frightening, and neither has your collection. This Game of Thrones Viserion Pop! Vinyl Ridez with Night King Figure comes packaged in a window display box.

The pop is available for pre-order and will ship in January.

The popular HBO series stars Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Aidan Gillen as Petyr Baelish, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, John Bradley as Samwell Tarly, Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth, Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark, and Hannah Murray as Gilly.

No premiere day has been set for the 8th and final season, but it will premiere sometime in 2019.

 

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Lord of the Flies Is Getting an All-Woman Adaptation – for Some Reason?

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Soon to join the ranks of classic book film re-adaptations is Lord of the Flies, according to Deadline. Except this time around, the story will feature a cast of entirely young women. Because…well…it’s hard to say.

This adaptation comes by way of Scott McGehee & David Siegel, directors of What Maisie Knew, the Bee Season, and The Deep End.

 All of these are dramatic stories, and their ability to tell a coherent story through the eyes of children isn’t in question. The choice for an all-women adaptation is.

Before the trolls of the internet cry in triumph at the prior line, no, I’m no advocating for women to never have parts written for men. 99% of the time, it does not matter that the part is led by a man. This, however, is the 1% where it does.

Lord of the Flies, for those who didn’t catch it in high school English class, is an iconic William Golding novel about a group of young white British school boys who crash land on an uninhabited island. Their supposed civilized nature descends into chaos as they try to survive.

The important part here: it’s a story about the toxicity inherent in masculinity, and the adult form of social order that the boys attempt to replicate.

Golding has commented before on his choice to include only boys, wanting to show what happens when boys try to replicate government. As in the government that, both then and now, is primarily made up of men.

There’s something to be said about telling a story of aggression and toxicity in a group of young girls stranded on an island.

That story, whatever it might be, is one best told and brought to life by a woman. And it shouldn’t be called Lord of the Flies.

So then why make it at all? From the directors’ own comments, it seems like a sincere – though inherently flawed – desire to look at gender conventions of aggression and tell an interesting story using a source material they both love.

From Warner Brothers? It sure looks like a cashing-in on what they perceive as a “trend” of women-centric films, a la Wonder Woman, Girls Trip, etc.

While they’re support, whether genuine or not, for women-plentiful films is a good thing, WB needs to think more critically about what projects they are adapting, and who they choose to do it.

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The Titans Finally Have a Leader With Nightwing/Dick Grayson Casting

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The live action Teen Titans adaptation finally has a team captain in Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson/Nightwing.

Thwaites is best known for his starring role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. He previously appeared in films like The GiverGods of EgyptMaleficentOculus,The SignalSon of a Gun, and the Australian TV show Home and Away.

Dick Grayson is the adopted son of Bruce Wayne, and dons his own cape as Robin alongside Batman to save Gotham. In Titans, we’ll see Grayson as young man looking to be his own hero, alongside other famous former teens – Starfire (Anna Diop) and Raven (Teagan Croft).

Titans debuts in live-action next year on Warner Bros.’ DC-digital service. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Akiva Goldsman and DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns are on as executive producers, with Goldsman, Berlanti, and Johns writing the script.

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‘TMNT Dimension X’ A Triumph In Weird

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Our favorite mutant teenage brothers recently hit a milestone with their ongoing series. It became the longest running TMNT series of all-time. Now is a great time to be a Turtles fan, they’re firing on all cylinders through multiple titles. TMNT Dimension X is a cosmic trip through the weirdest of the weird, which is often the best of the best.

Dimension X 5 cvr

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

Krang is going to trial and the Turtles have to collect a number of high profile witnesses to testify against him. Our four heroes and their Dimension X allies must race against the cybernetic assassin, Hakk-R, hired to eliminate the witnesses.

The witness featured in this issue is Totus, a planet entity composed entirely of living plant organisms. Krang experimented on the planet, leaving a portion of it as a wasteland. The story of the mutated outcasts in the wasteland is a tragic one, but not without an uplifting resolution.

Hakk-R

This is the fifth and final installment of this mini-series, each issue has been an intoxicating delight. Taking the characters deeper into the strangeness that Dimension X offers is spectacular fun.

Every creature, planet, environment, and sequence is well crafted and chock full of eye candy. Reading like a Saturday morning cartoon special with the weird cranked up to eleven.

As always, the dynamic between the four brothers is excellent. Dialogue is crucial with these characters in comics, Devin Grayson makes them sing. The witness featured in each issue instantly clicks with the turtles, whether they be a classic character or new creation.

Dimension plants

Dimension X‘s script transports readers back to their favorite Saturday morning cartoon memories. Krang and his hired assassin are deliciously dastardly and function like an old school villain duo.

Krang Hakk-R

Issue five isn’t the strongest of the bunch visually, but it still delivers and hits hard when it needs to. The colorful layouts and creative character designs have been a major highlight throughout the series. Craig Rousseau and Leonardo Ito do wonders together in filling each panel with life.

This mini-series will easily become an essential for all TMNT fans. Kevin Eastman’s ongoing series is fantastic, Dimension X is a perfect compliment and timeout from the main book.

Tmnt supes

Hopefully readers who enjoy this strange five issue arc will jump onto the regular series to finish out the trial of Krang and stick around after that. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans have a lot to be happy about right now.

Overall, the book and series are nonstop fun from top to bottom. A perfect balance of lighthearted silliness and explosive ninja action with so much character it’ll make your heart swell.

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What The Jon Snow Twist Means For Game Of Thrones’ Eighth Season

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Jon Snow still knows nothing.

Yet that will change in Game of Thrones‘ eighth season.

“The Dragon and Wolf” reveals that Jon (Kit Harrington) is now in love with Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). It also ends with the two engaging in sex. Further marking it icky, the two of them do no realize they are aunt and nephew, respectively. Incest seems to be a common thing in Westeros, doesn’t it?

Jon Snow and Daenerys in Game of Thrones

In Game of Thrones lore, Daenerys is the much younger sister of the late Rhaegar Targaryen. Twenty-odd years prior, he falls in love with Lyanna Stark, sister of Ned. They would run off together, prompting Robert’s Rebellion to start.

In the seventh season, Samwell Turly learns Rhaegar got an annulment for his first marriage in order to marry Lyanna. After the Rebellion ends, Ned finds Lyanna on the verge of death with an infant Jon Snow. Lyanna dies after making Ned promise to look after her son.

According to Bran Stark, Lyanna tells Ned that Jon’s real name is Aegon Targaryen. Thus he is not a bastard but rather heir to the Iron Throne. Bran and Samwell plan to tell Jon as soon as possible.

Game of Thrones lineage
Talk about elaborate!

The question is what will happen now? Technically, Jon is within his rights to claim the Iron Throne, but he needs proof of his origins. Bran’s visions might be hard to prove, but Samwell has evidence of Rhaegar’s second marriage. It begs one to wonder if Jon will believe them, but he did listen to Bran’s warnings about the Night King. Yet we must remember he never did want to be the King in the North.

There is also the issue of how Daenerys will respond. While Jon swore fealty to her, the truth would affect their relationship. Furthermore, Dany is still hell-bent on taking back the Iron Throne.

One thing is clear: Cersei Lannister will not welcome the news. Since she’s lost her children, she remains fixated on preserving her status as Queen. However, two Targaryens will be a major threat to Cersei’s reign.

Then there’s still the issue of the undead…..

Game of Thrones‘ final season will premiere in 2018 or 2019.

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Neil Gaiman’s ‘Likely Stories’ Premieres Today on Shudder

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Today, the horror streaming network Shudder is releasing all four episodes of Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories, adaptations of short tales written by the author of American Gods and Sandman.

The miniseries is described by Shudder as follows:

“Adapted from Gaiman’s dark tales, this collection of distinct, odd and brilliant short stories is both cinematic and strange. In each film, each character is compelled to share their story and we’re drawn into their very act of telling tall tales. While each episode has its own lead character, they are backed by an ensemble cast that play across all four bold and original films.”

Check out the teaser here:

From Gaiman’s short story collection Smoke and Mirrors, Foreign Parts tells the tale of a celibate young man who suddenly contracts a venereal disease which makes him more confident.

Also from Smoke and Mirrors, Looking for the Girl is about a photographer who tells an interviewer about his endless search for a seemingly ageless model.

Feeders and Eaters is a more traditional horror story of an elderly woman with an insatiable hunger for raw meat.

From another Gaiman short story collection called Fragile ThingsClosing Time is about a man remembering a story of when he was young, when a gang of peers took him into a sinister house in the woods.

Check back for reviews on the miniseries shortly.

Will you be checking out Likely Stories on Shudder?

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