The CW has released the first trailer for their upcoming Black Lightning show, the next series in their expanding universe of DC Comics property based shows. You can watch the trailer below.
Pretty cool if you ask me! So far Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl have all been successful with both critics and audiences. And with a fifth show, we can conceivably have a DC Comics-based show on every weeknight!
Black Lightning will debut as a midseason show on the CW this winter.
What do you guys think? Does the CW have another superhero hit? Comment and discuss below!
The story of Star Trek by now is a familiar one. But if you’ve been living in a cave then let’s break it down. In 1966, Gene Roddenberry produced a western in space, filled it with a host of characters who represented the best of humanity, and put them in science fiction stories with a little intellectual meat on them.
Before anyone goes crazy, this isn’t to say Star Trek was Shakespeare. It was a network show after all, but it was a smart one by comparison to contemporary shows like Lost in Space which were essentially monster-of-the-week stories. Star Trek was somewhere in between Lost in Space and Twilight Zone.
The original series lasted all of three seasons before getting canceled. A decade later, after Star Trek’s fandom continued to grow during the 70s, the movie series began. Another ten years later and Star Trek: The Next Generation (ST: TNG) hit the scene.
From ST: TNG and on, there’s rarely been a moment where a Trek show or movie isn’t around. By 2001, when Enterprise premiered, Star Trek overload was in full effect, and the show suffered. Enterprise lasted four seasons and ended in 2005, leaving the world without new Star Trek on TV for the first time in 15 years.
But Hollywood doesn’t leave records playing for long
without doing a little turntable ninjutsu.
In 2009, Jar Jar Abrams re-invented Star Trek on film as a poor man’s Star Wars. Three movies later and the Abrams-verse is a hotly debated issue among fans. Love them or hate them, the new Trek movies make money, and so they will likely go on as is.
A curious thing about Star Trek though, unlike many other intellectual properties, is that several companies own the rights and have a say in the franchise. These rights allow CBS to effectively do Star Trek however they wanted. In 2015, CBS announced StarTrekDiscovery, a new show that would be the flagship of CBS All Access streaming service.
Over the past few years, news trickled out. A new Producer here, an actor there. The picture was slowly coming together. What would CBS do? Would they connect to the Abrams-verse or the fan-favorite Next Generation timeline or be something entirely different?
The trailer premiered yesterday and here’s are some random thoughts about what I saw:
Yay! A prequel. Can you feel the sarcasm oozing through the screen? I’m sorry if it messes up your computer or phone. Star Trek as its best when it’s about PROGRESS. It’s about where humanity is going, not where it’s already been. Not to mention, both Enterprise and the Abrams-verse already covered plenty of prequel territory. Why mine that drying up vein again? With a nearly endless foundation for stories to tell, why limit yourself to a period? Let alone open yourself up to canon violations and nerd rage. Star Trek: The Next Generation built on the original series. Discovery should have kept building, not gone back to rearrange furniture.
Why do Klingons look like they’re made of dough?
Why, Lord, why, did you adopt the awful lens flare/flood of the Abrams-verse?
How is it possible that Fox’s The Orville seemed like a better reboot of Star Trek than Discovery? Consider the two trailers:
THE ORVILLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9sKeCE8V0
In, The Orville, we learn the basic premise, a little bit about each character, and the villain.
In Discovery, we learn of a Captain who gets promoted (but not really?) in the oddest of ways. An alien whose entire species is bred to sense death? Is this a joke from the Orville? We learn … ‘splosions and action. And almost nothing at all about anyone else on the show. Oh, we see pudgy Klingons and a sarcophagus, too.
Perhaps no question will loom over Star Trek Discovery more than the monthly fee. CBS expects Discovery to be the flagship for its CBS All Access streaming service. After episode one airs free on CBS, the rest will only be available for $5.99 a month. If that’s the case, your trailer needs to be a tour de force that no one can deny is amazing. Instead, here’s something that some liked and some didn’t. That’s not a great way to start hyping up a pricey product.
Will you be watching Star Trek Discovery? Did the trailer convince you a monthly fee will be worth it?
The Alien film franchise is one of the great additions to Science Fiction and this week ‘Alien: Covenant’ hits theaters to answer some lingering questions from ‘Prometheus.’ Filmmaker Ridley Scott revived the franchise with 2012, but fans wanted more, Matt and EJ explain exactly what we got in this week’s episode.
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 122 of the Monkeys Fighting Robots podcast is here.
Do you want to be our SUPER-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.
About the Monkeys Fighting Robots Podcast:
A Gen Xer and a Millennial debate the latest topics in pop culture. One guy is a filmmaker and the other is a journalist, but both are nerds. We make your slowest days at work better. Hosts, Matthew Sardo and EJ Moreno.
Never heard of Matt Sardo? For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.
Who’s EJ Moreno? Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. But what we know for sure is he’s a writer, filmmaker, and pop culture enthusiast. Since film school, EJ has written & directed several short films. He’s used his passion of filmmaking to become a movie critic for MonkeysFightingRobots.com.
The second day of OCC 2017 was much busier than the first, full to bursting with cosplayers attending for the masquerade, or just there to show off their hard work. There were also more panels than the first day, including a Q&A with Arryn Zech (RWBY, Red vs. Blue), “Your Fuzzy Sidekick: Puppet Building 101” and a concert from Rock, Paper, Cynic.
HIGHLIGHT PANEL: John Barrowman Q&A
John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Arrow, Torchwood) is known for his antics both on and off-set, but that didn’t stop a cheer of joy from the audience as he danced onto the stage in a TARDIS dress and leggings. He kept the energy going all the way through his panel, with a wonderful mix of hilarious and heartwarming answers. The panel was definitely geared at an older audience, with raunchy jokes galore. Barrowman was definitely one of the most energetic guests of OCC 2017.
One audience member asked if he’d ever considered funding Torchwood, his canceled Doctor Who spin-off focusing on Captain Jack Harkness.
“No, because that would look desperate. I’ll leave the crowdfunding up to you. It’s not about the money, it’s about the politics – there’s always an excuse,” said Barrowman.
He also welcomed a shy LGBT+ teen up to the stage, giving her words of encouragement – another LGBT+ teen who called him a role model got a selfie with him. Barrowman, as an openly gay man, proved in this panel that he continues to be an inspiration to people both in and out of the closet.
“Don’t cry for being you. Celebrate being you. Never cry when describing who you are. Have a voice,” SAID BARROWMAN.
Another highlight was his musical performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”, in which he encouraged the audience to participate. It’s easy to forget that half of his career has been on Broadway, especially after his roles in Doctor Who, but after this impromptu performance, nobody in the audience is likely to forget again.
HIGHLIGHT ARTIST: Peter Chiykowski of ‘Rock, Paper, Cynic’
Peter Chiykowski went full-time as a webcomic artist eight months ago, but it’s far from the only thing he does. His concert on Saturday was packed to bursting, as he performed classics from his album ‘Borken Telephone’, as well as new songs. Some of the highlights of the concert included his rendition of ‘The Internet Doesn’t Make You An Asshole”, “Hello NSA” and “Ivan the Worst”.
“The internet doesn’t make you an asshole,
being an asshole makes you an asshole,
don’t blame being an asshole on the Internet!” said Chiykowski, “The InternEt Doesn’t Make You An Asshole”
At his booth, Peter sold prints of his one-panel comics as posters, as well as his first book, H.M.S. Bad Idea, and USB keys with all of his songs and comics on them, minus the most recent year. He is a frequent and welcome guest at Ottawa ComicCon, and OCC 2017 was no exception.
Peter Chiykowski (left), pictured with boothmate Simon Colwell (right).
These amazing cosplayers got the Voltron Paladins dead-on! From left to right: Shiro (anonymous); Pidge (kaneki_ken_cosplay), Keith (cipheral), Lance (summ.jpeg), and Hunk (anonymous).
HIGHLIGHT MERCH: Pascaluna
Selena Pascal is an Ontario artist specializing in handcrafted polymer clay figurines. At her booth, she sold her figurines alongside notebooks and other creations from her store.
The House, a new comedy starring Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as money-strapped parents who open a casino to pay their daughter’s tuition, looks like an actually funny Will Ferrell movie. We haven’t had one of those in about a decade.
This new trailer has a ton of laughs, and quite a bit of salty language, so be careful when you click play:
That severed finger bit near the end had me rolling.
I have been itching for a new funny Will Ferrell movie. I love the guy, but his last run of movies have been pretty awful. I didn’t watch Daddy’s Home, but I tried to make it through that overtly racist one where he went to jail and Kevin Hart helped him be a tough guy. Made it about twenty minutes.
The magic ingredient here might be Poehler, however, who really feels like the perfect goofy partner for Ferrell’s manchild style.
Aside from Ferrell and Poehler, The House looks to have a pretty impressive cast of comedic talent around them, namely the great Jason Mantzoukas from the How Did This Get Made? podcast. It’s directed by Andrew J. Cohen, who wrote both Neighbors films.
Following the conclusion of writer David F. Walker’s stellar Power Man & Iron Fist, Luke Cage gets his own series. The first issue in this new ongoing series was released this week. David Walker is proving his voice for the character is the definitive one as Luke Cage starts off strong.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Harlem’s hero finds himself back home, doing what he does best. His brand of justice, available to anyone in need with one simple phone call, takes a back seat after an exciting open. A tragedy, tied to Cage’s past, demands his attention and forces him into a messy mystery.
David Walker has such a firm grasp on the character, he could write Luke Cage Vs. A Laundry Machine and it would be entertaining. This is one of those creator/character chemistries that don’t happen very often.
Power Man & Iron Fist was over too soon, it’s an under-appreciated masterpiece of old school comic book fun. A Marvel book that many internet voices claimed they were so desperate for. Regardless, Walker moved on, this new series is a chance to fine tune his characterization of Power Man even more.
There’s an infectious light sarcasm about Luke that makes him more real than even the wonderful Netflix version of the hero. Luke’s dialogue about his line of work and the people he helps add an extra layer of character that wasn’t there before. Walker quickly takes readers through a surprising and effective emotional arc as Power Man revisits his past.
Every interaction Cage has with anyone in this issue is a standout moment of his character shining through. His slightly arrogant but majorly wholesome mindset provides plenty short and sweet scenes that never linger too long.
Nelson Blake II and Marcio Menyz pull their weight as well, Luke Cage #1 is a beautiful book. The art solidifies every character moment and action sequence as a memorable one. Every panel provides a clean and stimulating visual without wasting any space.
It’s a drastically approach than that of Power Man & Iron Fist, but very much stands on its own. Luke appears as much less of a teddy bear than the previous series’ interpretation.
David Walker wrote a wonderful Danny Rand, but taking him out of the equation allows his Luke Cage to really stand out. There aren’t many comic writers right now that have this clear and deep of a connection with a character’s voice. Walker continues to grow as a force of nature for Marvel comics. One that deserves more attention.
Luke Cage really couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. New readers from the Netflix series and longtime fans alike can enjoy Walker’s interpretation of Harlem’s hero.
The Mummy has a new trailer and, yeah, it still looks totally bonkers.
But this trailer primarily focuses on Tom Cruise, who is seen running, shouting, doing all manner of Ethan Hunt-esque stunts and tricks, and that’s not all terrible. Check it out:
The action looks great, and Cruise looks as dedicated as always. That’s enough to make The Mummy worth seeing. But traditional fans of the Universal Monsters can’t be that excited. This is clearly an action adventure kickstart to the new Universal Monster Universe, and the real scares will be nonexistent. Need more evidence? Where is the trailer that spends any time at all focusing on the mummy itself, Sofia Boutella?
Boutella’s mummy sure seems to take a backseat to the Tom Cruise olympics. That’s all well and good, yeah, but this isn’t Jack Reacher or Mission: Impossible. Now that I’ve complained enough about it, let me be the first to say I will be there opening day for this wild ass movie.
Brian Fuller’s Katrina: American Crime Story has it’s Bush.
Dennis Quaid has been cast as the maligned 43rd President, who came under fire after his mishandling of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans back in 2005. Quaid joins Annette Bening, Matthew Broderick, and Sarah Paulson.
Quaid will be the second actor to play George W. Bush after Josh Brolin donned the twang for Oliver Stone’s W (not counting arguably the best portrayal of Dubya, Will Ferrell). He will be great, no doubt, and it will be fun to see who Ryan Murphy and Co. cast as Dick Cheney. And maybe Mike Meyers and Kanye can reprise their roles in the whole fiasco…
Murphy is already working on the season 3 follow up to Katrina: American Crime Story. The third season will focus on the murder of Gianni Versace. It will star Ricky Martin, Penelope Cruz, and Darren Criss.
Katrina: American Crime Story won’t premiere on FX until 2018.
Generation-X debuts, focusing on the school side of this new era of X-Men. ResurreXionhas been great so far, now it’s time to dive into the strange mutant youth. This crop of students will be Jubilee’s class of weirdos.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
With Kitty Pryde acting as not only X-Men team leader, but also headmaster of the school, she’s stretched pretty thin. Jubilee is brought in to teach and mentor a group of misfit mutants. Some old, some new, all strange in one way or another.
Newcomer Hindsight gets a full taste of what students at the Xavier Institute can expect along with their education. He witnesses a teen mutant brawl, has his thoughts invaded, sees a colorful cast of fellow students, and anti-mutant extremists. It’s become the standard for this kind of book to initially star a reluctant young mutant, overwhelmed by their first day.
Writer Christina Strain does a fine job making sure this doesn’t feel like a stale introduction that readers are all too familiar with. Any X-Men fan has read this story multiple times before, Strain makes it feel fresh. There’s an effective balance between new faces and old favorites that immediately buys trust from readers.
A book like this is absolutely necessary to make the world of X-Men comics feel populated and real. For every powerful physic, there should be an Eyeboy. Not all mutations are glamorous or superheroic. When it comes to mutants, the weirder, the better.
It’s also important to have a title focusing on the school, since it’s the heart of what X-Men comics are. Xavier’s dream lives and dies with the school, Kitty knows that. Her being overwhelmed by this new dual-role is relatable and satisfying. Not only is she dressing the part of headmaster, but she also made it clear to Quentin Quire who’s in charge.
The success of this book may heavily rely on Strain’s voice for Quire. His characterization sets a tone, he’s always an important figure in the mutant youth. Grant Morrison and Jason Aaron portrayed Quentin best, he was the fiery heart of a lot of great stories. His character has also been mishandled in the past, let’s hope Strain can wield the narrative power of Kid Omega justly and this book can reach its full potential.
The rest of the class is fun, once Hindsight buys in and starts interacting with the other students the book should begin finding it’s hopefully very weird identity. Generation-X cannot be an effective title by being “cookie cutter”, it seems Christina Strain is up to task and ready to embrace her abstract side.
Visually, the art team (Amilcar Pinna & Felipe Sobreiro) also appears to be ready and willing to unleash their inner-weirdo. A strong script can make for compelling mutants, but the art is crucial to make these lesser known characters really sing.
Already this looks and feels very different from the other X-Men titles. The brief displays of powers and gifts act as a preview of splendid things to come. There’s a lot of personalities to juggle here, Amilcar Pinna illustrates each character in their own disctinctive way. Generation-X looks like it’s a lot of fun to create and it translates well into a beautifully strange visual reading experience.
Generation-X is definitely worth your time. This first issue scratches the surface of its potential, let’s hope the creative team dives deep and delivers a wild ride. Their hearts and heads are in the right place, readers should expect a fun comic book going forward.
What did you think of Generation-X? What’s your favorite ResurreXion title so far? Let us know in the comments below!
In a recent interview with Cinemablend, Logan director James Mangold talked about why he thinks the film’s ending is positive.
“Something gets born of every tragedy. In many ways, I look at the movie and I realize what a happy ending it is. At least from the perspective of Wolverine’s character. I think, unlike anything you have seen in the previous seven or eight movies, he’s happy in his final moments on this earth. He’s happy. He feels somehow satisfied, and I think that’s something very few of us might be able to say in our parting glances from this world. That we suddenly taste and know everything and feel like we got to experience everything. And I think in some way, and Hugh’s performance is really transcendent there, he communicates that and leaves us more moved than bereft.”
Do you think the Logan ending is a “happy” one? To me, it’s both happy and sad. On one hand it shows a Wolverine character, that we’ve known for 16 years, finally get what he wanted – however, the negative outlook on it is obvious in the death.
“In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.”
Logan stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/ Logan, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Dafnee Keen as Laura Kinney/X-23, Boyd Holbrook as Donald Pierce, Doris Morgado as Maria, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Zander Rice, Stephen Merchant as Caliban, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Gabriela, and others.
The movie is now available on Digital HD. For all those physical media fans out there, you’ll be able to get your hands on Logan on Tuesday, May 23.
