A Spider-Man: Homecoming teaser has been released to let fans know that a full length trailer is hitting tomorrow, March 28. Until then, feast your eyes on the short teaser released today.
As soon as tomorrow’s full length trailer is dropped, Monkeys Fighting Robots will have it posted!
“A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.”
Spider-Man: Homecoming features Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Donald Glover, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Tyne Daly, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Hannibal Buress, and Martin Starr.
This series will be a brief, semi-comedic review of the CW superhero shows. You can check out last week’s review post here, or see the tally of winners below. The only shows discussed will be ‘Arrow’, ‘Flash’, and ‘Supergirl’. There WILL be some spoilers discussed, so only look at the reviews you’re up to date on!
Supergirl, “Star-Crossed” (Mar 20)
Meet the Daxamites
Supergirl has one of its most soap-opera episodes yet. Turns out, Mon-El wasn’t totally honest about his Daxamite heritage. Rather than being the guard FOR a prince, he IS said prince – and Kara just can’t take that! It feels a bit forced, especially the way it ties into Winn’s relationship. Winn’s relationship, on the other hand, fits well into the tone of semi-comical action romps. The parents could make for compelling villains, depending on how Mon-El’s anger with them pans out. Just as long as we don’t get any more super-on-the-nose “Make Daxam Great Again” lines. We get it, sometimes fictional characters are kinda like real people. Just show us the aliens punching other aliens.
SCORE: 7/10 Paintings
The Flash, “Duet” (Mar 21)
Super Speedster Footloose
For a super-hyped crossover, this episode felt rather disappointing. Primarily because, for a “musical” episode, there wasn’t a whole lot of singing. The musical aspect was only fancy dressing for a bland, cheesy episode meant to repair the romances of Barry and Kara. The reveal that Music Meister is a good guy, and that the heroes are saved by kisses, doesn’t help much. The songs were obviously shoe-horned in, as The Flash struggled to make the lyrics of songs match the dialogue. That’s the problem with doing musical episodes without original music. It’s a shame the CW didn’t utilize their musical powerhouse for more than one song. But hey, at least everyone in the show could actually sing. That makes it better than La La Land. Sort of.
SCORE: 6.5/10 Dads
Arrow, “Kapiushon” (Mar 22)
Oliver, struggling to remember who Artemis is
Arrow has a big week for characters that disappeared halfway through this season. Not only does Artemis make a comeback (only to die) (but not really), but Dolph Lundgren returns to the flashbacks (only to die) (but not really)! It seems like the flashbacks are building to a boiling point, and hopefully they’ll end after this season. Adrian yelling about Oliver’s “secret” feels hokey, and makes for obnoxiously repetitive dialogue. That being said, the torture of Oliver Queen makes for pretty interesting viewing. It’s nice to have an episode of Arrow that actually focuses specifically on the Green Arrow.
SCORE: 7/10 Ruined Tattoos
WEEKLY WIN TALLY:
Arrow: 7 Weeks
Supergirl: 6 Weeks
The Flash: 4 Week
What show did you think won the week? Does Legends of Tomorrow take your vote? Do you think A.o.S. or Gotham outshines all the CW shows? Let us know in the comments below!
What’s better than one superhero? TWO superheroes! Everyone loves a good team up, and today we’re breaking down the most iconic duos that comic books have ever seen.
What’s your favorite super-duo? Did it make our list? Sound off in the comments!
Ty Johnson and Tandy Bowen were a couple of runaway teens who were injected with drugs which triggered their mutant abilities. Ty was granted powers of darkness and became Cloak, while Tandy gained powers of light and took the name Dagger. The pair took to the streets, taking on mostly common thugs and declaring a war on drugs (though they’ve also battled some of Marvel’s toughest rogues, like Thanos, Doctor Doom, and Mephisto).
Do you like buddy cop movies from the 1980s? Then you’ll love the adventures of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold! One’s a genius inventor without any real powers, and the other’s a showboat from the future who just wants to prove his worth. Together they make for one of the most endearing partnerships in modern superhero comics. Their friendship began in the pages of Justice League International, and rumors have been circulating for a few years now that the duo is on their way to the silver screen.
4. Green Lantern & Green Arrow
You want to talk about iconic team ups? The Green Lantern/Green Arrow book of the 1970s is by far one of the most important series in comic book history. Neil Adams and Denny O’Neil took these heroes out on a politically charged road trip where they learned lessons about race, drugs, pollution, and much more.
This duo taught readers how to be better people, and their adventures are still relevant today.
3. Captain America & Falcon
Steve Rogers had Sam Wilson by his side long before reuniting with Bucky. Cap and Falcon’s partnership was popular enough that the Captain America comic was retitled Captain America and the Falcon for most of the 70s.
Sam has been a staple in Cap comics ever since, ultimately becoming a Captain America in his own right. Even when Steve donned the red, white, and blue once again, he let Sam keep the signature round shield. That’s friendship.
2. Power Man & Iron Fist
Take two heroes with nothing in common, both on the verge of cancellation, put them together and what do you get? The original Heroes for Hire – one of Marvel’s most popular books of the 1970s.
Luke Cage and Danny Rand are a fan favorite team that has stood the test of time. Their dynamic simply works; it’s funny, and just so pure. Marvel recently launched a new Power Man and Iron Fist series that gives fans everything they’ve loved about this team, plus some new elements (it’s hilarious seeing how Luke’s wife Jessica Jones feels about his partnership with Danny). And later this year fans will be able to see this bromance come to life in The Defenders on Netflix.
1. Batman & Robin
Who else could be at #1? Batman and Robin’s partnership is so legendary that their nickname – the Dynamic Duo – has transcended pop culture and become synonymous with “perfect teammates.”
It doesn’t matter who’s behind the masks either. Whether it be Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake, or Dick Grayson and Damien Wayne, the Caped Crusaders will always reign supreme as the most iconic duo in superhero history.
Corinth, an introverted goth girl, picks up trash alone on the seashore when she hears a voice and almost drowns. That’s how The Sea in You starts off – and it’s beautiful so far. With only 23 strips, it’s still a young story, but it’s filled with promise and a tantalizing narrative that’s only just begun to unfold.
THE SEA IN YOU: WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
So far? Mermaids, and human relationships. Corinth is troubled, but not in the ways you expect a “goth girl” to be troubled. She’s shy, with a domineering boyfriend (who uses some very, very questionable tactics to keep her attention), but she has a determination that shines through on every page she’s in.
The mermaid character is an unknown so far. However, if you like good mermaid designs and suspiciously dangerous mythical ladies, she seems like a good bet.
Corinth meets the mermaid.
THE SEA IN YOU: THE ART
This comic’sart is fully-coloured, and intricately stylized. Webcomics are usually known for simplistic or cartoony art, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s lovely to see art that has so much time and detail afforded to it. It’s a change, and one that suits the subject matter beautifully.
It’s even more breathtaking once you realize that Jessi Sheron does all of the art herself – sketching, lining, shading and coloring. (Apparently a flatter was hired for one page, but that’s all!) Normally on comics with art this intricate a different person is hired for each stage. A notable example is FreakAngels by Warren Ellis, where they go into detail about the process and people involved.
The downside is that the update schedule is slow. The comic started in 2015, and the pages have been released in spurts since then. I’m excited to see where the story will go, but it’ll be great to see the entire comic as a cohesive whole.
THE SEA IN YOU: THE ARTIST
Jessi Sheron is a freelance illustrator and comic book artist, who previously worked on The Evil Queen. Her website is here, and she also has a very entertaining Tumblr and Twitter account. The Sea In You is her second comic.
Virtual Reality has added a fresh and potentially revolutionary adaption to how people play and consume games. Due to the release of Batman Arkham VR and the much acclaimed Resident Evil 7 we have recent examples of legendary franchises adapting to the challenge of VR creation. Consequentially the idea of having truly immersive game play is a reasonable expectation for the future. Since I’m an old school gamer, meaning my first console was a ColecoVision (yes I’m ancient, moving on), I love reboots. In addition I have a soft heart for the classics. Here is a list of the best of all time that would be amazing given a virtual reality redesign.
5Myst
As a gaming dinosaur, I can still recall the fresh and amazing feeling of the world of Myst. The world of Myst holds a unique charm for me because it was an introduction to what we now know as the open world sandbox. This design schema is what made the original Grand Theft Auto such a hit. This science fiction puzzle based epic seems to be a perfect adaptation for a virtual reality redesign. The most trying aspect of virtual reality experience creation is in keeping participants from being ill because VR sickness is real and hurts. Myst is a slow paced mover which is why it would be perfect to adapt players to an experience that can be overwhelming. Myst is the idea virtual reality starter kit for those who still need to be indoctrinated.
4Final Fantasy VII
Yes this is a nod to the legions of FF7 fans out there. This is selfish and completely based in the idea that I believe we all should get to experience Sephiroth in virtual reality. Final Fantasy 7 has historically been the most popular title in the franchise. The story has long been hailed as the best despite the sometimes glitchy and blocky graphics that accompany game play. With the graphics on hand from Final Fantasy movies such as Advent Children it’s safe to say we can get beyond that with a focused reboot.
The mechanics of the game would need to be warped in a lot of ways. The experience of a Bahamut summons from the ground floor would more than make up for any clunky game play that would have to be badly adapted to a VR setting.
3BioShock 2
This for me is the best first person shooter there is when combined with story, art and game play mechanics. I’ve always wanted to experience the Bioshock world more not less. Bioshock 2 is that quintessential other world experience. Of all of the game potential game spaces to explore in a thorough way none offer the attention to detail and dedication to a world aesthetic such as BioShock in general. BioShock 2 is the sharper more acclaimed title as far as story and gameplay. This title that would generate the most buzz and appeal.
Adaptations would have to be made to combat virtual reality headset sickness. However being a FPS, gameplay already lends itself the immersion of virtual reality. Possibly a suggested time limit on play to prevent a psychotic break leading to the idea that this IS your new world now. Other than that I can see this classic easily being a virtual reality hit.
2Red Dead Redemption
When thinking of this game I sigh Red Dead Redemption in tribute and in agony. Much can be said of Red Dead Redemption, consequently not all of it is good or bad. Yet it has always ended with one demand. The gamer audience wants more. The gamer audience will always want more. A lot of that has to do with the romantic ideas about the Wild West. Mostly the indoctrinated theory of American exceptionalism and meritocracy it brings to the forefront. In laymen’s terms, people like to ride horses, shoot guns and make their own rules. This is the bread and butter of this title. An overarching call to freedom and independence.
Virtual reality is the other side of that coin. The expansiveness of the title is the aspect that lends itself to VR the most. One of the largest issues with the current state of virtual reality content is the lack of content. The worlds are not as large and involved as many users would prefer. Red Dead can be naturally adapted to suit this. With the attention to scenery detail it can immerse a virtual reality user for countless hours just exploring the terrain alone.
1Portal 2
There is not any existing game that is more ready for the virtual reality treatment than Portal 2. The game itself is practically already virtual reality. The only thing missing is to actually play it in a virtual reality setting. It is not a coincidence that this first person puzzle game considered one of the greatest of all time could be the most natural transition to virtual reality. The overarching concept is that games have always sought the immersion that a virtual reality space brings. No game has accomplished that feat quite like Portal 2, due to the fact that natural movement is already integrated into gameplay. One of the most engrossing aspects of virtual reality is implicit or implied movement. The Portal world has excelled at this in ways very few titles can compete with.
Multiple aspects of gameplay would need to be adapted for virtual reality. Mostly by replacing the jump effects with teleportation to avoid the much feared VR sickness. Guess what, Portal 2 already does that. The game performs as if it was developed and designed to one day be converted to its true virtual reality form.
That’s my list. Comment below if you agree or disagree. What titles would you love to see in a virtual reality setting?
In Wilson, screenwriter Daniel Clowes returns to his favorite character type: the misanthrope. As with Ghost World and Art School Confidential, his protagonists — originating from his graphic novels or the comic book series Eightball — are always despondent about life and their part in it. They’re happy around specific, often kitschy objects while people just utterly baffle them. But where the previous films approach the difficulty of wanting to be alone from a youthful and angry place, Wilson approaches it with a middle-aged malaise and the realization that you can still be lonely even if you want to be alone.
Woody Harrelson stars as Wilson, a man seemingly happy with that solitary life until his father’s death wakes him up to fact that he is miserably lonely. His grasps at human connections lead him to his in-recovery ex-wife (Laura Dern) and the daughter he never knew he had (Isabella Amara). The predicament puts Wilson into vignettes that vary from painfully awkward to surprisingly poignant. Many are pulled almost verbatim from Clowes’s Wilson graphic novel, but even the scenes devised for the movie illustrate the character’s desire for contact even as he faces a continued exhaustion with the modern world and its ever-present technology.
A lot of these episodes will feel familiar to fans of Clowes’s work. Some of them will, sadly, feel tired; particularly in the first half-hour as Wilson meanders his way toward the main plot. But Harrelson anchors the material admirably, offering a boyish charm whenever Wilson attempts to connect to a stranger out in the world and quickly switching to venomous contempt when his entreaties are rebuffed in favor of earbuds. By the end of the film, it is easy to see that Harrelson’s voice is the one Clowes has been looking for since he began his foray into movie making.
Dern also gives a solid performance, offering her all to the hot mess that is Pippi. While perhaps not as realized a character as possible in the writing – she’s practically a cipher in the graphic novel – Dern provides a real lived-in quality that makes the character’s choices feel more organic than they might seem in the script. The film also features a number of cameos and one great rebuttal to Wilson’s know-it-all persona thanks to Judy Greer’s Shelly.
Director Craig Johnson maintains a lot of the style first pioneered in Clowes adaptations by Terry Zwigoff’s Ghost World while also creating a fairly credible world for Wilson to inhabit. Some of the situations could easily be realized in more cartoonish sets, color palettes and framing – in fact, Clowes’s art style invites a cartoony look – but Johnson lets the writing and performances take prominence to highlight how these absurdities can still occur in real life.
But at the same time, it means Wilson and Pippi can be insufferable and it is easy to see how audiences would fine their interactions off-putting. The script attempts to give the viewer time to breathe and empathize with the pair, but the final film never quite finds the right balance of sour and sweet to make them both truly sympathetic.
Then again, Clowes never really asks that of his audience, even if the language of film almost always demands it. This may lead to a disconnect for some viewers; particularly in the last third of the film, when Wilson finds himself in a situation many — including this reviewer — may not think he’s earned.
The end result is a film that is faithful to the graphic novel, but not completely satisfying. It attempts to be wish-fulfillment for the lonely loner, but Clowes’s world-weariness never sits at ease with that mission statement. While not the worst of the Clowes adaptations – that dishonor still belongs to Art School Confidential – it still lacks a certain freshness, even as it tries to mine some new ground. Like the character himself, Wilson never connects in the way it desperately wants to.
A few years back, Nintendo ditched the live press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) for something called a “Nintendo Direct”, in which executives and officials from the company deliver information through pre-recorded messages and videos. The format has worked up until this point, but I feel that to maximize their presence at the event, the Big N needs to hold a live press conference once again.
Mistakes? Don’t worry about it.
Although the conferences can endure mistakes, bloopers, and downright awkward moments, the good far outweighs the bad in my book. The live audience’s cheers, screams, and whistles are something that can’t be copied in any other format.
Build the hype!
In terms of delivering a large mass of information, maybe a Nintendo Direct is the best platform; however, if the company is looking to excite the fanbase and attract new Nintendo Switch buyers, they need to hold a live conference jam packed with surprises, sneak peeks, and trailers. Most of the greatest E3 moments of all time have come from conferences – take the DS’s reveal, for example. If it were to have been done through a Nintendo Direct, in which fans are watching through their computer screens and have no live audience to react with, the hype wouldn’t have been the same.
Our bodies are ready.
Additionally, these live conferences give members of each respective company time to shine in the spotlight and reveal their personality. Fils-Aime is quite the character, and acts as a face of Nintendo. The company would be best suited to let him lead the charge and usher in a new era of Nintendo gaming to a massive crowd filled with industry analysts, fans, and the general press.
Do you think Nintendo should hold a live press conference at E3 in 2017? Comment below and let me know!
E3 2017 will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 14-16. Click here for more information on the event.
Samurai Jack is gravely injured, but still decides to face one of the deadliest foes he’s ever faced, Assassins from the Cult of Aku.
It’s hard to follow up on a perfect episode but the third episode of this adult swim oriented season tries its hardest. It utilizes a lot of striving visuals to help in this task. The near lifeless body of Jack as he’s taken by the river, the use of a silhouetted figure covered in red to show damage reminiscent of Sin City, and figures running through pure white background to demonstrate a blizzard are employed in the episode. All of which are very impressive and really helps to show the passion which went into this season.
This episode features a flashback like never before. It showcases Jack’s father, The Emperor having to fight off some bandits who wish to rob them. With no other way to protect his family, the emperor kills the bandits and Jack is traumatized by the event. Only now as he himself has to use excessive force to defeat his enemies does he understand what his father went through. It’s a nice bit of personal growth, especially for a character which is being tormented the rest of the season.
The dichotomy of the Daughters of Aku is also shown this episode. It seems like all they know is killing to the point they are like children in the outside world. They don’t recognize what a deer is or understand the concept of affection. Being raised by a cult would obviously not be the most loving environment but you would think the elders should educate the girls in basic wildlife classes. Without understanding how nature works, how could they hope to succeed in trapping Jack, a man who has lived off the elements for most of his life?
The episode is a great ride and maintains the heights were have been established would be in this final season. It’s good, just not as good as the previous one. Yet, it is still an episode which must be seen to be believed.
Despite being announced in July 2016, virtually nothing has been revealed about Batman and Harley Quinn, the animated movie set to be directed by Bruce Timm. Now, thanks to an iTunes listing discovered by World’s Finest Online, a sneak peak image has been released.
Next to nothing is known about this film. Warner Bros. Animated slated Batman and Harley Quinn for a release sometime this summer.
Are you excited for the movie? How do you feel about the image? Comment below, let us know!
The Legion of Doom has won, creating a whole new reality and life as we know it. Things are looking quite grim for the Legends and it seems the only way out of this mess is to do something even bigger. Is it even possible at this point?
Executive Producer Mark Guggenheim spoke this week to EW.com, and from his cryptic quote, things aren’t looking too good with the writers crew either.
“We’re going to do the one thing on the show we said we would never do. Without spoiling too much, clearly they’re going to have to do something very significant and break a major rule in order to fix things.”
What exactly does this mean? We can only guess. With the ups and downs of the season, it really could mean life or death to the characters. Literally. The show has had a twisted, fun year. I can’t wait to see the end results!
After obtaining the Spear of Destiny, the Legion of Doom rewrites reality, leaving the Legends changed, perhaps forever. Frightfully, the Legends’ and the world’s hopes rest with Rory (Dominic Purcell). Being the “hero” is not easy for him. Meanwhile, there is tension within the Legion of Doom and the reason why the Spear of Destiny needs to be destroyed is revealed.
“Doomworld” episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow airs Tuesday, March 28 at 9/8c.
Based on the characters from DC Comics, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Marc Guggenheim (Arrow, Eli Stone, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Andrew Kreisberg (Arrow, The Flash, Eli Stone, Warehouse 13), Phil Klemmer (The Tomorrow People, Chuck), Chris Fedak (Forever, Chuck), and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash).
