Comicbook.com has posted up a new TV spot on their Youtube channel – the footage features Baby Groot in action.
Are you excited for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2? Comment below, let us know!
“Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.”
GotG Vol. 2 stars Chris Pratt as Star-Lord/Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Kurt Russel as Ego The Living Planet, Karen Gillian as Nebula, Dave Bautista as Drax, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, and Sylvester Stallone in a currently unknown role. The film is directed by James Gunn.
That’s right, it is finale season and we start with ‘Arrow’. This season has kept us guessing, and been surprise after surprise. Even Stephen Amell (Arrow himself) has said this is the best finale in the shows history. With flashbacks being a prevalent thing, it will finally catch us up to current times. We may even get a glimpse of stuff we have never seen before.
We finally get to see all the lines connect, and see where the next season could possibly take the team. We will also get to see the complete Oliver origin story, something we have been waiting for all five seasons.
Synopsis
Newly appointed Mayor Oliver Queen finds himself challenged as he fights on two fronts for the future of Star City. With Diggle back in the military and Thea adamant about hanging up her hood as Speedy, Team Green Arrow is down to just Oliver and Felicity – but they’re no longer the only vigilantes in town. Green Arrow’s public defeat of Damien Darhk at the end of Season Four has inspired a new crop of masked heroes to step up and defend the city. Though their painful inexperience makes them obstacles, rather than allies, in the field. The arrival of a deadly new adversary will force Oliver to confront questions about his own legacy, both as mayor and as the Green Arrow.
After a long awaited hiatus, we finally get to see Barry Allen talking to… well, Barry Allen. Future Flash comes into play when Barry decides to go travel through space and time to the future. There, he will encounter himself- something he has done before, and has regret.
Barry, travels to the year 2024 to find out who Savitar really is, and in doing so, encounters himself. Touching on things the show has never before, it’s expected to be the best episode of the season thus far.
Another reason this episode is special, is their own Tom Cavanagh, (HR Wells) directed this episode. It made it more special for both Gustin and Cavanagh to share the experience. Cavanagh and Gustin are also working together on a crowd-funded short film, called ‘Tom and Grant.’
Synopsis
Barry (Grant Gustin) travels to the future to find out Savitar’s still unknown identity in the hopes of saving Iris (Candice Patton). Upon his arrival in 2024, Barry encounters future versions of his Team Flash friends, who, following the death of Iris, have become very different people, profoundly impacted by their showdown with Savitar. It will be up to Barry to infuse a sense of hope back into the team, as he proves to be hero his future friends have been waiting for. Meanwhile, back in 2017, the hunt for Killer Frost (Danielle Panabaker) continues.
This week’s FemmeGeek of the Week Icon, The Wicked and The Divine, represents all the diversity that femmegeek represents. Originally, I chose just Lucifer as this week’s FemmeGeek. Thinking about the book, I realized that doing so would alienate a large portion of the characters and those who identify with them.
The Wicked and The Divine has been touted for years as a comics touchstone for the LGBTQIA community. The Wicked and The Divine represents almost every variation of queerness and gender identification on the spectrum. Most importantly, from the position of being a FemmeGeek icon, it represents genderqueer feminine identities in meaninful ways.
For those who haven’t followed The Wicked and The Divine, the book’s premise is that every ninetey years the pantheon of gods is reborn. For two years they will be loved, adored, and powerful. At the end of the two years, they will die. Over the course of those two years, well, over the course of those two years a lot of shit goes down.
Lucifer, the first pantheon member readers meet in The Wicked and The Divine, is constantly referred to as female but presents as gender nonconforming.
Lucifer’s lore represents the angel of hell as mascuine. In fact, the first instance of Lucifer in The Wicked and the Divine states as much. However, Lucifer in Wic/Div was born as Eleanor Rigby and constantly called Luci or she/her. The masculine David Bowie-esque representation with short hair and white pantsuit represents Luci as visually gender nonconforming.
Image: Image ComicsImage: Image Comics
In the context of femmegeek representation, The Wicked and the Divine presents readers with a wonderfullly unique look at a modern representation of femininity that goes beyond the gender binary. For those women who identify as gender fluid or nonconforming, this important representation was one of the very first to address femininity in this manner.
Moreover, Inanna later on in the story is represented as similar to The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. This presents a male character with gender nonconforming feminine identity. Inanna is a goddess in a nontraditional male identified body who exhibits feminine qualities.
Image: Image Comics
Inanna clearly identifies as male while also calling himself the queen of heaven. Additionally, he notes in his introduction to protagonist Laura that he was always afraid of who he was but that upon being granted godhood that he can be “whoever I want to be. I can be whoever I am.” The implications from seeing pre-god Inanna and the final Inanna he becomes in The Wicked and the Divine was that he had been hiding as a traditionally gender identified male who did not feel comfortable in his representation. Being granted godhood allowed him to become more than society had previously allowed.
The importance of these particular representations within the identity of femmegeek cannot be overstated. Femmegeek desires to define all variations of feminine on the gender spectrum. Those identities include ones outside the traditional binary.
The Wicked and the Divine, however, does not simply represent the gender nonconforming identities but also the hypermasculine homosexual Baal, the traditional masculine heterosexual Baphomet, the bisexual traditional feminine Laura’s narrative, the catlike feminine hypersexual Sakhmet, the traditional heterosexual feminine Amaterasu, the patriarchally mysogynistic Woden, the powerfully feminist feminine Morrigan, and the female identified thought to be asexual lesbian Norns. Each of these different gender and sexual identities provides an opportunity for readers to see themselves in the characters. The Wicked and the Divine represents the spectrum of feminine identity making it the perfect touchpoint for femmegeeks.
Over the last week, discussions of feminine representation have become more immediate. While one mother insists that her child is not transgender but simply a tomboy, the transgender community has noted that the article denies the child a say in their gender decisions and reinforces certain gender binaries. The Wicked and the Divine provides a fictional and visual narrative that helps promote going beyond the binary.
Binary representations of gender in the world continue to harm young people. Whether they are girls who identify as tomboys or boys who like to wear tight fitting women’s style clothing, society forces them to choose between male and female, boy and girl. These limits have been placed on people for hundred of years, with media continuing to perpetuate the myths. As young people choose media, they choose that which represents their identities. Traditional identifying women may choose a character like Black Widow, but for years those gender nonconforming readers have been unable to find characters like themselves. Therefore, with this in mind, we thank The Wicked and the Divine for providing a comics manual for representation across the spectrum that allows for meaningful identification for all femmegeeks.
There comes a time in a relationship when things start to get real, this episode Matt and EJ unexpectedly turn off the filters and have a candid conversation about Star Wars Celebration, ‘The Last Jedi,’ and ‘The Fate of the Furious.’
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 118 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.
In Rotation, a listicle for music lovers, and seekers of new and different things to listen to. So, if you’re looking for new music, something different, or maybe music to suit your mood this week, here is the place to get a diverse offering each week.
In Rotation this week,we have a few first projects and side projects of more popular bands. There is a chaotic, Hardcore/Electronica act, a ’90s Emo/Indie Rock band, an ’80s/Darkwave/Electronica band, a soulful ’90s Alternative Rock/Melodic Hardcore/Psychedelic Rock band, and finally a Darkwave/Shoegaze/Electronica duo.
Not sure why there is so much Electronica going on this week, but in any case, let’s get this gloomy electronic musical rollercoaster under way.
Artist: Neon Blonde Album: Chandeliers in Savannah
Unless you know Johnny Whitney’s music, and myriad other bands, then this album might seem odd to you. It is The Blood Brothers goes Electronica sans any of the members except Johnny Whitney, and it would have been unique unto itself, if Whitney did not eventually form and eventually break-up, a band called Jaguar Love.
Jaguar Love is a toned down version of Neon Blonde, but with more members. If you like Hardcore, Electronica, and most anything Johnny Whitney creates, give it a spin.
Artist: Flake Music Album: When you land here, it’s time to return
As the moniker of the label that was on the album when this writer found it in the discount bin stated “Before there was The Shins…,” apparently, there was this band known as Flake Music. If you already love The Shins’ music, or at least the Indie Rock/Pop Rock scene that surrounds it, then your ears are peaked already. It is important to note ,however, that Flake Music’s …music differs somewhat sharply from their future successful act.
Ranging from the 90’s Emo of Mineral to The Get Up Kids, Flake Music carries with it a more distorted,grittier, Emo side to the music, despite the fact that the opening track sounds like The Shins.
There are elements that certainly show you they could eventually become The Shins, like how there is a track entitled “The Shins.” So, it is fair to say that if any of this interests you, or even maybe early Death Cab For Cutie, then you need to own this and take it for a spin.
Artist: Black Marble Album: It’s Immaterial
Black Marble is a relatively new band, but to stumble upon and listen to their album before ever looking into them at all, their music would make you think they are from the decade of Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Sad Lovers and Giants, and the other Darkwave, Darkwave/Electronica, or other Post Punk bands that hail from that time period.
Sticking closer to a Shoegaze/Darkwave/Electronica combo they still manage to carve their own niche and sound from a well-worn genre that tends to never be too worn out for those of you that enjoy this kind of stuff.
So, all of you dark souls yearning for that decade and all its gloom, should give this a spin.
Artist: Action Reaction album: 3 is the Magic Number
Lyrically sharp and musically unique, 3 is the Magic Number is an under the radar epic that is only missing their pulse pounding Bang, Bang from an earlier EP.
There is some Alternative Rock and Psychedelia, for some reason The Who comes to mind, and a heavy dose of what Jason Gleason brought to his tenure with Further Seems Forever.
If you like Jason Gleason and his myriad bands, including Sunken Ships and Old Wives, you would be doing yourself a disservice to not let this have at least one spin. At least one.
Artist:
Have a Nice Life Album:
Deathconscienciousness
Have a Nice Life proves that longer band names are apparently okay now, and that there might be shortage of names in general. Echoing, layered, dark, sounds all lie underneath this Shoegaze/Gothic Rock/Electronica band. The vocals, though ambient and dissonant, cut through the dark blend of drums, possibly guttural, distorted, Shoegazing guitars, and keys that is not normally part of a Darkwave, Gothic, or even your standard New Wave band.
However, not unlike the odd Yin and Yang contrast of their band and album name, Have a Nice Life’s music does. There are lyrics in there, but good luck separating the layers and layers and layers of noise and sound to find them.
Still, this is to be expected in Shoegazing. It is hard to nail down a comparison, but if any of the aforementioned genres interest you at all, it is worth one spin.
This concludes this week’s In Rotation music listing, and come back next week for another eclectic helping of the new, the old, and the weird in music. Thank you for taking a short journey into a vast collection of various genres that hopefully will give you something new to listen to this week.
Stay tuned or next week’s In Rotation.
[Images Courtesy Of The Respective Bands In This List]
I normally never watch anime, but the one series I make sure to constantly keep up with is Gundam. There are a few reasons, most notable are that its action is fast paced and its lessons aren’t preachy. Imagination pales in comparison to how they are animated.
With Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans ending, there was little hope for anything else to fill the gaping hole it left. Every Sunday morning was made a bit more colorful with every new episode, but that’s all over now.
In an effort to recapture the feelings of having a show to look forward to, I went on a hunt. The offers were meager as I had already caught up on Gundam: The Origin and Gundam Thunderbolt. What was left? That’s when I heard that the GundamInfo Youtube channel was rereleasing the remastered version of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
Before Zeta, I had watched the compilation movies for the original show and most of the alternate timelines. I had never before seen this particular series because the Universal Century timeline is too dense and scared me. With nothing to watch, I had to take the jump. Now was as good a time as any to see what the hype was about.
Most of my knowledge of the UC timeline comes from the wiki page, some video games, manga and anime. As of this time, I’ve only caught up to episode 12, so bear in mind that these thoughts may not feel complete. You should watch Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 before starting Zeta.
Plot
Like with most Gundam shows, the plot starts with a young protagonist getting their hands on the eponymous prototype mobile suit. They are then thrown in the middle of a war as the main pivot of the story.
Kamille finally gets the traditional Gundam colors around episode 5.
The past
To fully understand Zeta, we need to look back in time. A war between space colonies, led by the Principality of Zeon, and the Earth Federation was the source of conflict in the past. Many people died at the hands of giant robots called mobile suits and other destructive weapons. At one point Zeon even dropped a colony on Earth in an attempt to destroy the federation headquarters. That’s how serious the war was. Australia was destroyed instead. After a year of intense warfare, the conflict was won by the Earthnoids.
Due to the aforementioned colony drop, tensions ran high even after “peace” was achieved. Both sides were angry due to casualties and could never truly forgive each other.
The present
Returning to the present time, new groups emerged from the ashes of the Federation and Zeon.
The Titans who are in charge of hunting down any Zeon remains are the main antagonists for the season’s first half. The interesting part is that they are an offshoot of the Earth Federation, the main protagonists of the first war. This would be like having the Jedi turn around and be the bad guys in a Star Wars movie. Titans’ brutality knows no bounds as they didn’t hesitate to gas an entire colony to quell a protest, killing millions.
The protagonist group is the Anti-Earth Union Group which was created after the gassing incident. They fight to keep the Titans accountable and to eliminate their dictatorship. Interestingly enough, the AEUG is made up of Federation officers dissatisfied with the state of things and Zeon officers posing as Federation forces. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that.
The Federation returns as a minor force for the first part, working beneath the Titans. Zeon also returns as a third hidden force as there are mentions of the remains possibly joining one side.
Characters
Protagonists
Kamille Bidan is the main character. He initially comes off as annoying and hot headed, which often lands him in hot water. The entire story can be traced back to him overhearing a Titans’ officer saying his name was a girl’s name. Instead of ignoring it, like a normal rational human being would, he instead chooses to punch him. As the series progresses he does mature from a naïve child into a soldier. His development is aided by the countless number of slaps everyone else gives him.
Kamille is joined by the single most important and interesting character of the Universal Century timeline: Char Aznable. Char the main antagonist of Gundam 0079, returns as Quattro Bajeena. His identity is supposed to be a secret some characters suspect, but we as the viewers 100% know it’s him. His mobile suit color scheme and the way he knows information only Char would, gives him away. He initially fought for Zeon to get revenge on their leaders, the Zabi family, for killing his father. Accomplishing his goals, he needed something else to fight for.
As Quattro he becomes a mentor to Kamille, teaching him about the finer points of war and guiding him away from hatred based decisions. He is one of the best, if not the best, pilot in the UC timeline. Lieutenant Bajeena also has great infiltration skills and is a great shooter. He is a natural born leader with high charisma. When compared to Kamille, he is very relaxed and confident in the choices he makes.
These two are joined by the crew of the Argama ship.
There are other returning characters such as Amuro Ray, Captain Bright Noa and other less important people.
How could you not know the guy in red is Char?
Antagonists
The main antagonist isn’t a character as much as it is an entire organization. Some people might argue Jerid Messa is the main antagonist, but the man is so incompetent he barely registers on the scale. Jerid also happens to be the dude who called Kamille’s name girly.
As such, the Titans as a whole are the main villains.
Art Style
In looking at the art, we have to keep in mind the original came out in 1985.
You’d think the art is outdated and doesn’t hold up right?
Surprisingly the art is really crisp and there aren’t that many recycled frames. The art truly shines when depicting mobile suits. The detail is insane and we can get a really good idea of how the machines work. The animation is choppy in some places but the story grabs your full attention so that it’s not noticeable.
The really enjoyable part is that everything drawn has a purpose.
And so, with a loud thud, the infiltration mission starts now.
Watch it
Based off my viewing of the first 12 episodes, I would definitely recommend you watch this. Be aware that you will definitely need to watch 0079 or the compilation movies to get a better idea of where everyone stands and why the war is happening. I am truly looking forward to every week as new episodes get released.
You can catch the full episodes now on GundamInfo.
Mark Gibbon, known for smaller roles in Man of Steel and Smallville, has been cast as General Zod in the CW’s Supergirl. He is expected to be introduced in the season 2 finale.
Gibbon has appeared in numerous roles on film and TV, including Smallville, Arrow, Stargate: Atlantis, and The X-Files. He also has a voice-acting resume that includes playing the Incredible Hulk, The Thing, and Nick Fury in various Marvel animated films and shows. In Man of Steel, he played an oil rig worker saved by Superman.
Kara and company already have a lot to deal with. There’s Rhea, Mon-El’s murderous mom played by Teri Hatcher. Lillian Luthor and Cadmus are still making life on earth difficult for extraterrestrials. And then there’s President Olivia Marsdin, played by Lynda Carter, an alien with unknown intentions sitting in the Oval Office.
Perhaps Zod’s appearance will somehow fit into one of these story lines. What is more likely, however, is that he will make a brief cameo at the very end of the episode, setting up season 3 of Supergirl.
Zod is one of Superman’s most formidable foes in the comics, movies, and TV shows. He is a radical leader of Krypton’s military forces, who is imprisoned in The Phantom Zone just before the planet’s destruction.
In 1980’s Superman II, General Zod was played by Terrance Stamp and later by Michael Shannon in 2013’s Man of Steel. In 2010, Callum Blue took on the role of the menacing Kryptonian in the 9th season of Smallville.
Supergirl returns Monday, April 24 at 8pm on The CW.
What do you think of the casting of Gibbon as Zod? Let us know in the comments!
Exercising restraint can be hard. Some creators are just more suited for writing to a more adult audience with their work and when they have to scale it back for a younger crowd, not all of the material comes off as entertaining. So a series created by the American Greetings Entertainment, a group known for creating content for younger audiences, and produced in conjunction with Stoopid Buddies Stoodios (the team behind Robot Chicken and SuperMansion) could easily create a show which many would find awkward and cringe-worthy. Worry not dear reader, for instead, this collaboration has created something unique entirely: Quality family programming.
Writing
The story focus on titular character Buddy Thunderstruck, a semi-truck racer in the town of Greasepit who enjoys nothing more than winning, hanging with his best friend/mechanic Darnell, and munching down hot wings. Together, the pair get into hijinks focusing on Buddy’s obsessive need to always be number one while making life difficult for their rivals, Big Tex, Big Tex Jr. and the mystery man (later revealed to be named Belvedere Moneybags).
The show features some very off the wall and random bits of comedy. Story lines include Buddy becoming a repo man, break dancing to get out of jail, racing the pizza delivery service which is faster than him, and becoming a cop with an obsession for justice. The writers are able to produce a large amount of humor despite the show being for a family audience. The series makes frequent references to adult entertainment like The Big Lewboski, CSI: Miami, and Office Space. They also make use some creative wordplay to make nods to more adult terms such as “Son of a buck” and using a beaver dam to mean the explicative instead.
There are plenty of great moments for the younger crowd as well. Physical humor moments such as when Buddy throws a billy club at a car with an expired meter causing it to explode will have kids giggling hysterically. Also, Hoysenberry, the deputy who is an adorable character who is too cute and friendly to be a cop. She is the kind of character you feel for but can’t help but snicker at as they experience misfortune. Also the kind of character who would be perfect as a stuffed animal.
Acting
Family entertainment also has a stigma when it comes to voice acting. Many actors simply phone in their roles and deliver bland performances. Not here though, as the entire cast of Buddy Thunderstruck delivers the perfect amount of energy and style to their characters.
Brian Allen as Buddy is perfect. He seems to be channeling Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights with a hint of Jason Lee from My Name is Earl. Darrel is played by Ted Raimi (Ted Hoffman from the Spiderman Trilogy), who performs a dual role as Darnell and Moneybags. As Darnell he is the perfect best friend who will be there for a person no matter what. As Moneybags he plays the perfect snide villain who just wants to prove how much better he is than everyone else. The entire cast delivers a phenomenal performance and creates characters which are a joy to behold.
Animation
The team created this show with some fantastic stop motion effects. Unlike some of their Robot Chicken sketches, where the figures have their joints exposed or there are moments where you can tell where the clay didn’t seal properly, there are no flaws to be seen here. There isn’t a moment of the show brought down by a bad effect or poorly created character in the cast. Every visual seems to be a great representation of the studio’s work and sells the physical comedy moments employed in the first season.
Conclusion
This show finds the balance between comedy intended for young and older audience and succeeds in being a perfect show for the family. All it needs now is more viewers so there can be a possibility of a second season. If you find yourself needing a show which is binge-worthy than blame it on the thunder and check out Buddy Thunderstruck! Kaboom!
This week’s episode of Attack on Titan played to one of its great abilities by being able to create atmosphere. By surrounding the characters in danger and putting them in impossible situations, the viewer’s pulse skyrockets as it looks like everyone may easily become a meal for the Titans. Previously this has involved waiting for Titans to move into position for counterattacks or riding on horseback at top speed, all to put the cast into situations which leave the audience concerned for their safety. Once again, the original creator of the series found a way to reproduce the same feelings by leaving characters stranded and without a way to get out.
The rookies are stuck in an old castle in the middle of nowhere. They are no weapons of their own, a horde of Titans trying to kill them, and the senior officers with equipment are soon overwhelmed by the odds. A typical day for this anime. There are a few moments of character introspective though mixed in with the suspect as Ymir teases Connie as a way to distract him so he is not worrying about his family and Reiner remembers a companion who saved him from being eaten by the Titans. By the look of it though, both of these characters seem to know more than they are letting on. At least Ymir’s secrets should be expanded upon very soon. Probably will be awhile before it’s revealed what else happened in Reiner’s past.
At the end Ymir reminds Christa of a promise they made before, which thanks to the preview will be revealed in the next episode. Not like it will be hard to get people to come back. This episode ends on an insane cliffhanger which is guaranteed to get the audience to return. Intense action, good character moments, and just the right about of horror so it’s impossible to relax makes this episode pretty satisfactory overall.
Attack on Titan: Season Two is streaming on Crunchyroll.
