The proof everything must come to end is becoming apparent for everyone’s favorite blue blur. Rumors and speculation are swirling around the possibility of Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series coming to an end after being with the company for over two decades.Though there has been no official cancellation, the property has been put on a “hiatus” which is never a good thing in today’s market. In the film industry, a delay is usually the first nail in the coffin for a project and in this era of intense “need it now” style of media consumption, any time of holdup could prove to be fatal for product or service.
Unfortunately, the comic community doesn’t seem to be rioting through the streets in an effort to do something about this development. Upon researching this article, few other news stories were mentioning it and the main coverage seem to be from an article or two from other pop culture based websites. Why aren’t fans making this more of a big deal? Where is the all the passion and dedication Sonic and all his friends have received over the years?
If the series would come to an end, it would mark the finale of a series which ran for over 25 years, had a collective issue count (including spin offs and miniseries) of over 500 issues, and be the death of what was the quintessential grounding point for Sonic fans for ages. Whenever a bad game featuring the character would come out, fans would always have the better stories in the comic for evidence the franchise was indeed worthwhile and still entertaining.
Previously, when franchises were coming to a close the fans would join hands and find a way to solve the situation. Fans of Firefly and Green Lantern, found ways to protest and stand behind their products to try and save the media they love. Where is the same level of commitment for a series which has been around for 25 years? Where are the Sonic The Hedgehog fans when he needs their help?
If there is some kind of petition for the series to keep going and we haven’t heard of it, please post a link in comment section and let us know. Perhaps the more active members of the Sonic fan community are up in arms and devising a way to save him. It would be a shame if such a well loved series came to an end with a whimper instead of a Sonic Boom.
In 1987, a team of ex-military mercenaries was sent into the jungles of “Val Verde” to track down a downed military helicopter carrying a high-ranking official. Only one member of the mercenary team survived, and it was Arnold Schwarzenegger. Of course, I’m talking about the classic action movie Predator. The film turns 30 today, and it’s every bit as good as ever.
As even the Black Lodge itself calls out for Cooper to regain his senses, Twin Peaks continues to delay offering any easy answer. But in a surprise twist, a face is finally attached to a name.
The Case
Janey-E proved she is built of sterner stuff as she tackles Dougie’s infidelity, debts and Coop’s condition. She offered a speech about the heartlessness of bookies even as paying off a pair of greasy men (Jeremy Davies cameo!) $20,000 and some interest.
Meanwhile, at Lucky 7, Coop’s scribblings on the case files led Dougie’s boss to a surprising discovery. Not that the show gave us any insight into those findings. Perhaps Tom Sizemore’s Anthony Sinclair is a greater peril than he ever thought. Or maybe the mystery Vegas millionaire is about the be revealed.
Which may be the case as his assistant took out a hit on both Dougie and another woman. The killing blow on the woman was delivered by Ike “The Spike” Stadtler (Christophe Zajac-Denek) — needlessly violent, but par for the course Twin Peaks death. Her connection to Dougie is yet another mystery to add to the pile.
Back in Twin Peaks, the current drug trade became more solidified as Red (Balthazar Getty) granted Richard Horne (Eamon Fadem) a distribution concession in town. Not that the negotiation was conducted in any normal fashion. Red blew Richard’s mind with a bit of close-up magic involving a dime (or was it two) and the classic adage, “Heads I win, Tails you lose.” Now, how the second dime appeared in Richard’s mouth is anyone’s guess.
And for those drawing maps and charts, Richard was the cruel grouper in the Roadhouse last week. His last name also suggests a certain family tie. He added to his list of crimes by callously running over a child in the street. In fact, it appeared to be the same intersection where Gerard accused Leland Palmer of stealing the corn. Even if it is not the same spot, Richard certainly added to the pain and suffering for one family.
At the station, Hawk found pages behind a bathroom stall door thanks to yet another dime and the Nez Perce Manufacturing Company. It is unclear if these pages are the missing element, but one hopes Hawk is finally on the right track.
The Updates
Making only his second appearance in Twin Peaks is Harry Dean Stanton as Carl Rodd. As manager of the Fat Trout Trailer Park, he appeared in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. But as readers of The Secret History of Twin Peaks, Carl has a connection to Margaret and the late Doug Milford. Maybe this connection allowed him to see the soul of the boy Richard hit escape the mortal coil. If nothing else, Carl was able to offer the mother some sympathy while the rest of the town looked on in horror.
Elsewhere, we learned Heidi, the German waitress, still works at the Double R and everyone still loves Norma’s pies. It also seems, despite the trouble with her daughter, that Shelly is happy still working there. You almost have to wonder if, someday, she’ll be running the place.
The troubles with Sheriff Truman’s wife Doris took on a deeper meaning this week as we learned their son committed suicide. Not that Deputy Chad Broxford (John Pirruccello) had any empathy for her. Chad is the worst.
The Questions
Who was Richard delivering the drugs to?
If Richard is a Horne, is he Audrey’s son? A product of one of Ben’s many dalliances? An unlikely heir to Jerry’s pot fortune? An … attempt to keep the line alive via Johnny?
Is Sinclair the secret Vegas millionaire? And does he have any ties to the secret New York billionaire?
How screwed up was Dougie that people find Cooper’s behavior only slightly more bizarre?
Why did Janey-E marry Dougie in the first place?
Did Tamara offer Gordon the glass of Bordeaux?
Is the Linda living at the trailer park the Linda mentioned at the very beginning of the new season?
Not about Judy
While the path of Phillip Jeffries went seemingly cold this week, the hunt for him led to the most show-altering appearance. At long last, viewers saw the face of Diane. In the form of Laura Dern, it is unclear if Diane (now given the last name of Evans) still works for the Bureau. She did not seem happy to see Albert. Presumably, she is the person Gordon referred to in Part 4 that needs to see Bad Cooper.
And while not directly connected, the scene of Richard’s latest crime ends with a shot of power lines, a well-known means of travel for Jeffries.
Close-Up Magic
The mysteries continue to pile up. And it’s difficult not to think of a discussion between Major Briggs and Doug Milford in The Secret History of Twin Peaks about their respective viewpoints on mysteries. Milford believed they deserved to live without answers, otherwise they just become secrets. One wonders if author Mark Frost was preparing the audience for the ambiguity of the new season.
But one thing which is crystal clear is Lynch’s willingness to film horrific accidents and stabbings. Thanks to digital technology, the boy’s gruesome end could be realized without a cutaway, making it almost needless cruel. Similarly, the Ike the Spike’s brutal — and at this point senseless — stabbing also adds to the out-of-tone level of violence in the new Twin Peaks.
Of course, that may be part of the point. The series always stood at the crossroads between a quirky nighttime soap and something darker and brutal. But the added brutality of late almost punishes the viewer for being interested in garmonbozia.
What do you think? Add your thoughts in the comments below.
The Mummy was all set to be Universal’s launching pad for its Dark Universe, an MCU/DCEU shared universe digging up all their classic monsters to make all the money. IT didn’t get off on the best foot.
Turns out, people (in the U.S. anyway) don’t really care about another Mummy movie since, you know, we just finished up with Brendan Fraser’s Mummy movies and The Rock’s Scorpion King spinoff about a decade back. And it also turns out, this Tom Cruise-led version of The Mummy is a soulless, messy, incoherent, tonal disaster from the top down, a bad movie that commits the cardinal sin of intentionally bad movies: it’s boring as hell to boot. Nevertheless, it brought in plenty of dough intentionally, so no matter how stillborn the star may have been, this Dark Universe is here to stay.
And yet, for the life of me, I cannot understand why Alex Kurtzman and the other creative “masterminds” behind this Dark Universe thought The Mummy was the right place to kickstart this new extended, multi-movie franchise. The Universal monsters are a big group of iconic characters, some of whom we haven’t seen in decades. Many, in fact. Unless my memory is failing me, the last appearance of The Creature from The Black Lagoon in any capacity was the 1987 horror comedy The Monster Squad. The invisible man has had it’s different versions in John Carpenter’s awful Memoirs of An Invisible Man and Paul Verhoeven’s pretty sweet Hollow Man. But even Hollow Man was almost twenty years ago.
Same thing can be said for Frankenstein’s monster, even though he has become basically part of the thread in the pop culture fabric. There were so many opportunities for Kurtzman to kickstart the Dark Universe with a new version of a classic character whom we haven’t seen in a long time on the big screen. Instead, they decided to ape off a mildly successful pile of garbage franchise (don’t try and tell me the first Fraser Mummy is “actually” good) that started in 1999 and gradually deteriorated over the next 7 or 8 years. It’s the very definition of laziness, and it could have been avoided had the producers and Universal not been so eager to start this entire universe before even making one movie.
Next in line is supposed to be The Bride of Frankenstein, which is a good direction. However, James Whale’s original Bride of Frankenstein is one of the greatest horror films in the history of motion pictures, so there’s that little hurdle to clear. Javier Bardem has been cast as the monster, and Gods and Monsters director Bill Condon is set to direct; both of these are infinitely more fascinating than a Tom Cruise adventure movie masquerading as a horror.
Now, Kurtzman and the producers need to get the fuck out of the way. Seriously, the last thing Condon and Bardem need is a team of franchise-focused #brand nuts swooping in and undercutting any artistic vision the two may have when it comes to bringing something fresh and original to a classic character. Don’t try to incorporate analytics into the structure of the story, don’t try and check off boxes in the screenplay. And while we’re at it, hire someone competent to pen a script; don’t bring in six (SIX!) screenwriters to cobble together an empty-headed screenplay with six different tonal directions. Let someone creative do the creating, and sit back and think about marketing.
And speaking of that marketing, why don’t we make this Dark Universe dark? It’s supposed to be a horror franchise, correct? Let it happen! Stop showing me The Cruiser running, show me tortured should and ghoulish castles and laboratories and jump scares and science gone awry. Show me women screaming and monsters terrorizing, all without a CGI cloud of indistinguishable dust destroying cities. Been there, done that. And let’s tap the brakes on Dr. Jekyll turning into the franchise’s Nick Fury. Awful idea.
Of course none of this will be considered as we churn along to the next movie in the Dark Universe. Screenplays will be thrown together quick enough to get to work on what really matters: explosions and CGI. At least the U.S. seems to have gotten its shit together with this movie and will deny any terrible subsequent films by not going to see them in the theater; hopefully the rest of the world will figure it out before it’s too late.
Bethesda had a relatively short press conference to close out Sunday E3 2017. Yet in that short time they revealed some exciting new tech, games, and platforms. Check out the whole show here, or just read Monkeys Fighting Robots’ five highlights of Bethesda’s press conference below.
Their first announcement of the night was VR for both Doom and Fallout 4. The former, called Doom VFR, is coming to Vive and PSVR, though no date on that one. The latter, Fallout 4 VR will be coming to HTV Vive this October. Both games showed gameplay footage that demonstrated their VR capabilities. Given the popularity of these titles already and the ever increasing presence of VR, not to mention the VR capability of the Xbox One X, Bethesda’s future looks bright.
More support for Skyrim and Fallout 4 is coming your way this summer, with the Creation Club. This new platform will marry Bethesda, third-party, and community designers to create new content for their famous open world RPGs. Included in this is new items, weapons, outfits, and accessories. Anything created will be fully compatible with all saves, add-ons, etc. Look for it Summer 2017.
For the first time, a Bethesda game is coming to a Nintendo platform. Skyrim is coming to the Nintendo Switch, though no release date was given. This isn’t technically news, since Skyrim was first seen in the Switch teaser trailer almost a year ago. However, their official confirmation and gameplay trailer was welcome to any Nintendo fan looking to slay dragons on the go. Perhaps even more exciting for them, Skyrim will have Amiibo support, with players able to unlock the Master Sword with the Link Amiibo. No release date at this time.
The sequel to the popular survival-horror game, The Evil Within, is getting a sequel, aptly titled The Evil Within 2. It will be developed by Tango Gameworks (Bethesda subsidiary), run by Resident Evil‘s Shinji Mikami. The game will focus on saving your daughter Lily, though the heavily cinematic trailer did not reveal much more about the plot. For fans of horror games, this is a definite must watch. Be scared October 13, 2017.
Homefront meets Fallout meets Man in the High Castle. The Wolfenstein sequel, The New Colossus, is here. Series protagonist BJ Blazkowicz is back, with all the size and gore of the first game. The game trailer had a fantastic retro-American feel, mixed with interesting steampunk-esque weapons and mechs. You can join the revolution on October 27, 2017.
Microsoft led the way for Sunday’s E3 2017 press conferences. They covered a lot of territory during their presentation, what with 42 games and a console revealed. If you’ve got some time, check out their 2 hour show here. Here were the 5 highlights for Monkeys Fighting Robots:
For a year now, Microsoft has been teasing Project Scorpio, their upgraded console. Well thankfully today we finally got all the details, starting with a name. Officially called the Xbox One X, the new console will be their smallest to date. It packs an 8-core Custom AMD CPU, clocked at 2.3GHz, 12GB of graphic memory, and a 6 teraflop GPU to render 4K environments. It will be hitting living rooms on November 7th, priced at $499. Personally, Xbox One X sounds worse than Scorpio, but it does clear up the “is this a new console, or isn’t it?” question.
That’s right, Original Xbox games are coming to the Xbox One/S/X. Part of their Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program, players will now be able to experience their oldest Xbox games, but with updated graphics and gameplay. One of the announced titles is classic favorite Crimson Skies, which is sure to excite a lot of fans.
BAFTA award winning Life is Strange is getting another-another installment. Earlier this year, developer Dotnod Entertainment announced a sequel to their critical and commercial hit, which would feature a new setting and cast of characters. Today’s announcement regarded a mini prequel series, Life is Strange: Before the Storm. It will be released across three episodes, and follow at least some of the original cast. Look for the first of these episode on August 31st.
Though pigs haven’t flown yet, Cuphead does finally have a release date. The highly anticipated indie game from Studio MDHR was first announced in 2014, and featured a hand-drawn animation style that left fans drooling for more. Which made the multiple delays even harder. Worry no longer – pick up Cuphead on September 29th.
Crackdown 3 was announced two years ago, and nothing has been seen or heard since. That is, until today, when Terry Crews introduced the next installment of the critically acclaimed open-world action shooter. The trailer, which Crew opens, is packed with all the explosives, weapons, and robots that fans have come to expect. And of course it’s all in series’ neon. Crackdown 3 will be an Xbox/Windows 10 exclusive, and is set for release on November 7th.
E3 2017 got underway yesterday, with Electronics Arts kicking it off with their annual press conference. Their show largely concerned games that we knew were coming, like Star Wars: Battlefront II, Need for Speed: Payback, and FIFA 18. But it also had some surprises, especially when it came to new IPs. If you’ve got 4 hours to kill, you can watch the full press conference here. If not, then check out the 5 things Monkeys Fighting Robots found most exciting from their show:
A large chunk of the show was devoted to Battlefront II, revealing a full gameplay trailer (see above) and some awesome multiplayer footage. The highlights include a single player campaign, free DLC, and prequel and sequel characters, vehicles, and maps. Oh, and Darth Maul. Basically, EA/DICE heard what everyone wanted after the first game, and delivered. Play Battlefront II November 17, 2017.
Bioware announced their newest IP during EA’s conference, Anthem. It’s a shared-world action-RPG, in which you (and friends) play as Freelancers, a group of Javelin exosuit-clad adventurers. The suits can be crafted and customized, helping the player navigate a contiguous open world. Hopefully we see more from the game in the future, but for now here’s some gameplay footage to tide you over.
It’s downright baffling that Fast and Furious, one of the largest film franchises on the planet doesn’t also have video games. Need for Speed seems to be moving into that space with their newest game, Need for Speed: Payback. The entire gameplay trailer above plays just like a Fast and Furious movie, with choppy dialogue, fast and shiny cars, and a truck heist. One of the characters even does the famous truck jump. Even for those who have never played the games, being able to essentially play Vin Diesel and company has got to feel good. Look for Payback on November 10th, 2017.
2. Madden got Mahershala Ali to be their game (somehow)
Madden is now falling the suit of many sports game franchises, and adding story mode. In Madden NFL 18, players can experience and play the story of Devin Wade, a young man trying to make his way in the NFL. His dad, Cutter, is motion captured and voiced by Academy Award winning actor Mahershala Ali. Honestly, that’s more exciting than the game mode, as he’s one of the greatest actors working today. It might be worth the purchase for him alone.
A Way Out is being developed by the makers of Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons, and it looks fantastic. The novel gameplay was met with fanfare during the presentation. The game is designed to played in split-screen, regardless of if you’re playing online or on the couch with a friend. Each player will control either Leo or Vincent, two men who find each other in prison, and work to get out. The entire game is played with a friend, and designed for couch co-op. Together, the players will accomplish their breakout and getaway in unique ways, with each situation having multiple solutions and consequences. Look for this innovative game in 2018.
The Current Line-Up Is Good But A Women’s Money In The Bank Could Be Better!
I’m taking nothing away from how talented WWE’s women are now but there is an era with even more star-power! Think back to the very first Money In The Bank Ladder match at Wrestlemania 21. This was right in the middle of the “Ruthless Aggression Era” and featured some of the best female wrestlers ever. Those women facing off in a ladder match for a chance at the Women’s Championship would’ve torn the roof off any arena.
Below is the eight women I would fantasy book in a Money In The Bank ladder match. The only rule is the wrestler must’ve been an employee of WWE around the time of the “Ruthless Aggression Era” (2002-2008).
Honorable Mentions:
Torrie Wilson
Jillian Hall
Jazz
Gail Kim
– Gail Kim’s time in WWE is short compared to others. Though, the time spent is impressive. Seeing her technical style tested in a gimmick match would’ve added depth to her character. Gail Kim came into her own later but a ladder match could’ve started it.
Beth Phoenix
– The most recent female inductee to the Hall of Fame is one of the best powerhouses of all time. Beth Phoenix also wrestled in one of the best ladders matches during her run in OVW. That experience puts her as my pick to win this Money In The Bank ladder match.
Molly Holly
– Molly Holly retired right before the first Money In The Bank ladder match but she’s too good to not mention. She is very well the most underrated female wrestler of all time. In this match, Molly Holly would adapt and shine like she did in everything else.
Victoria
– During this time, Victoria wasn’t the lady to mess with. If it was hardcore matches or comedic moments, Victoria did it all. I’d imagine a ladder match is a place where our favorite crazy lady could do some real damage.
Melina
– Melina debuted shortly after the first Money in the Bank match and quickly rose to fame. First as a manager and then as a formidable competitor. She’d play the part of a sneaky villain in this match and try to steal the win from everyone.
Mickie James
– Mickie James is the only woman on this list still wrestling for WWE. That alone proves why she should’ve been in a history-making female ladder match. Going into a match like this, Mickie Jamie can be the odds-on favorite.
Lita
– No other female wrestler pairs with a ladder quite like Lita. As part of Team Extreme, Lita earned her status as the Queen of Extreme. Any great Money in the Bank match has at least one memorable spot and the daredevil Lita would provide that for us.
Trish Stratus
– You can’t talk about women in WWE and not mention Trish Stratus. Trish elevated every match she was in. A Money in the Bank ladder match is another place where she could make history. She’d easily win this if she can pull her focus away from arch-enemy Lita.
What do you think of my lineup for a “Golden Era” Women’s Money in the Bank match?
Let me know in the comments below and tell me your picks!
2017 is going to be remembered as the year of Stephen King. Not only are we getting two new movies, “The Dark Tower” and “It”. We’re also getting three new TV shows from the master of horror. “The Mist”, which is a tie-in to the 2007 movie starts on June 22nd. J.J Abraham’s “Castlerock” which hasn’t been given an air date. Finally the crime based horror “Mr. Mercedes” which airs August 9th.
The Teaser Trailer
The ten episode series will be drawing from the first book of the Bill Hodges trilogy “Mr. Mercedes”. Starring Brendan Gleeson as the titular Bill Hodges, a recently retired police officer who is dragging back into a cold case against his will.
Behind The Scenes Teaser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8SM18XrqjQ
As the trailer and the teaser show, this isn’t another monster tale from King. “Mr. Mercedes” is more horror and crime than a scary monster under your bed. The book and now show, centers on a psychotic killer who taunts a retired police detective with a series of letters and emails, forcing the retired police officer to undertake a private, and potentially felonious, crusade to bring the killer to justice before he can strike again. Mr. Mercedes aka Brady Hartsfield is played by Harry Treadaway.
The book was published in June 2014 and shot to the top of the New York Times best-seller list before going on to win the Edgar Award for best novel. It marks a step away from monsters, as director Jack Bender says “It’s Stephen King, writing about the monsters inside people.”
Gleeson and Treadaway aren’t the only confirmed cast members either.
Kelly Lynch will be playing Brady’s mother, Deborah Hartsfield. An alcoholic monster in her own right. Her special type of parenting has played a large part in making Brady the monster he is today.
Justine Lupe will be portraying Holly Gibney. A nervous woman connected to Mr. Mercedes who joins Hodges in his fight against Brady.
Mary Louise Parker has been cast as Janelle Patterson. She will be one of the driving forces behind Bill’s decision to come out of retirement and face the ghost of his past.
Over the course of the ten episode series, viewers will get to witness a cat and mouse game like no other. When you’re dealing with a tech savvy psychopath nothing is off limits. As Bill Hodges is about to find out.
“Mr. Mercedes” premieres on 9th August on the Audience Network. Will you be tuning in? Are you excited about another Stephen King show? What do you think of the casting? Let us know in the comments below.
During EA’s press conference at E3 2017, the official Battlefront II gameplay trailer was revealed. They also had a 15 minute multiplayer gameplay session which showed off some exciting new features. Check out that gameplay below, and five reasons to be excited for Battlefront II!
What can be said but “finally.” During their conference, EA showed a series of social media requests – led by Star Wars star John Boyega – recognizing the demand for a campaign. As a result of the overwhelming demand, a single player story was developed. It follows protagonist Iden Versio an elite Imperial special forces officer that sets out to avenge the death of The Emperor. It runs between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, giving a good 40 year timespan to play with. Test plays from the floor of E3 have lauded the visuals, though the gameplay mechanics remain largely the same. In any case, this is a sigh of relief to fans of the original franchise.
4Prequels and Sequels
Battlefront primarily included maps, weapons, and characters from the original trilogy of films. Through DLC released before Rogue One, players were able to expand from the OT and experience the beaches of Scarif. Battlefront II will finally give players the chance to explore the other two cinematic time periods of the franchise: both the prequel and sequel trilogy. Players will be able take control of B-1 battle droids, clone troopers, First Order troops, and members of the Resistance. But it’s not just troops…
3Saga-Spanning Heroes
It’s the heroes too. Shown off in the multiplayer gameplay and confirmed so far are Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey, Kylo Ren, Boba Fett, Yoda, and Darth Maul. If the original game is any clue, there are likely many more heroes to come. Expect perennial favorites like Darth Vader, Leia Organa, and many more.
2Free DLC – No, Seriously
Yep. You read that right. EA announced that the first DLC, based on The Last Jedi, will drop in December ahead of the film, and is free. Every subsequent DLC will also cost you nothing. That’s a fantastic departure from EA’s typical playbook of season passes. However, the tradeoff will be micro-transactions that allow you to upgrade your gear and aesthetics. Hopefully there is still a wealth of free content for those who don’t want to purchase loot boxes.
1A Badass Leading Woman of Color
That’s right: for the first time in franchise history, a canon Star Wars story is being led by a woman of color. Imperial Officer Iden Versio was both voiced and motion captured by Janina Gavankar, an alum of Sleepy Hollow, The League, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, and Far Cry 4. Her character is still largely a mystery, though it has been confirmed that she is in command of Inferno Squadron, an Imperial special forces unit. After the destruction of Death Star II and the death of Emperor Palpatine, Inferno and Versio look for revenge, and begin their hunt for Luke Skywalker. No matter their story, having yet another leading lady in a Star Wars story is welcome. Having a woman of color leading a terrifying sounding special forces unit in a Star Wars story is downright thrilling.
Battlefront II will be released on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 17, 2017.
Are you planning on picking it up? What are you most excited for in the sequel? Let us know in the comments on Twitter, Facebook, and below!
