DC https://comicbook.com/dc/feed/rss/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 03:41:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 DC RSS Generator James Gunn Teases How New DC Studios Updates Could Be Announced https://comicbook.com/movies/news/james-gunn-dc-studios-dcu-updates-teased/ Tue, 27 Feb 2024 23:03:00 +0000 Adam Barnhardt 56af5931-d926-49ef-a08e-fa2ac5e4ea4b

DC Universe announcements could be coming soon in a variety of formats. Taking a break from pre-production on Superman: Legacy, DC Studios boss James Gunn has spent some time Tuesday responding to fan questions on Threads. In one of the inquiries, a fan asked if more DCU announcements would take place either at San Diego Comic-Con or during a livestream.

"Those are our only two choices?" Gunn responded, hinting announcements could surface through means other than a Hall H panel or social media video.

Post by @jamesgunn
View on Threads

The fan question comes just days after Warner Bros. boss David Zaslav teased impending announcements regarding the franchise, though he didn't set a clear timetable on more announcements.

"I've had a glimpse into what James and Peter are doing, and it really does serve as an exciting indicator of where the new DC is headed under their leadership," Zaslav said in the company's latest earnings call. "There'll be more you'll hear from them in the months ahead...We'll have James and Peter take you through in the next few months a full spectrum of what they see over the next 10 years."

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

"It's not an origin story," DC Studios co-head Peter Safran told reporters last year. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

The DC Universe officially kicks off with Creature Commandos, which has yet to set a release date, and Superman: Legacy, which enters theaters July 11, 2025.

What part of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters excites you most? Let us know your thoughts either in the comments section or by hitting our writer @AdamBarnhardt up on Twitter!

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Halle Berry Shares Video of Her Epic Catwoman Razzie Award Speech While Holding Her Oscar https://comicbook.com/irl/news/halle-berry-catwoman-razzie-awards-speech-worst-actress-with-oscar/ Tue, 27 Feb 2024 22:16:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 53f2c7bd-55f1-4fee-8b0a-a7f606dadc21

Halle Berry is letting social media "rediscover" one of her most epic moments in the movie business: the speech she gave at the Razzie Awards after winning the "Worst Actress" award for Catwoman at the 25th Razzie Awards in 2004.

Berry had just won the Oscar for "Best Actress" in 2002 for her performance in Marc Forster's Monster's Ball, before taking on the role of (wait for it) "Patience Phillips," the version of Catwoman created for director Pitof's 2004 superhero movie - which had nothing to do with Batman, Selina Kyle, or any DC lore outside of an Easter egg photo of Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman from Batman Returns. Instead of becoming a major superhero franchise star, Halle Berry saw her career stumble out of its 2000s heyday of X-Men, Bond girl franchise stardom and Oscars glory; she would give solid performances in hit-or-miss projects for years thereafter. At the very least, Berry got a whopping $12.5 million payday for doing Catwoman - and despite it stlll being regarded as one of the worst comic book movies ever made, Catwoman has aged into being appreciated as ironic cringe, and comes with the now-standard Film Twitter apologists.

More than anything: no one can argue at this point that Halle Berry's Catwoman was one of the hottest superhero characters we've seen onscreen - or that the actress didn't handle the "infamy" around the film like a total champ. Case in point:

WATCH: Halle Berry's Epic Razzie Awards Speech for Catwoman

"I never in my life thought that I would be up here, winning a Razzie! It's not like I ever aspired to be here, but thank you," Berry says at the start of the speech, mockingly recreating her emotional winning speech at the Oscars. "When I was a kid, my mother told me that if you could not be a good loser, then there's no way you could be a good winner."

"I've got so many people to thank because you don't win a Razzie without a lot of help from a lot of people." Berry continued, in clear winking sarcasm. "First of all, I want to thank Warner Brothers, for putting me in a piece-of-sh*t, godawful movie. It was just what my career needed! I was at the top, and then Catwoman just plummeted me to the bottom. Love it! It's hard being on top. It's much better being on the bottom."

While Halley Berry cut the clip of her speech of there in the Twitter X post, the actual speech went to a much sharper place. Berry actually called out her manager at the time, Vincent Cirrincione, as the reason she had to do Catwoman:

"I want to thank my manager Vincent Cirrincione. This guy loves me. He loves me so much that he convinces me to do projects even when he knows they're sh*t! That's how much he really loves me. My only advice to you is next time I do a movie, if I get a chance to do another movie, maybe you should read the script. Just counting the zeros behind the one really isn't enough. You really have to read the script. I love you, man. Love you."

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(Photo: Warner Bors. Pictures)

Cirrincione closed his agency in 2018 after receiving multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against several women. Halle Berry soon after revealed in a public statement that tshe had broken off her 25-year working relationship with Cirrincione years prior due to hearing allegations from other women in the industry about his conduct.

Given all the circumstances surrounding it, it's even more comforting to see that Halle Berry can now look at Catwoman and laugh with so many of us about it.

Catwoman (2004) is currently streaming on Max and Amazon Prime Video.

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Superman: Legacy's James Gunn Debunks New Rumor About Budget https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-legacy-james-gunn-debunk-new-rumor-budget/ Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:43:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson e27abb67-d058-4a38-aa5d-95f1cd369ae2

James Gunn and Peter Safran are confirmed to be resetting the DC Universe, debuting a string of movies and Max-exclusive television shows in the next few years. The first cinematic venture for the new DCU will be Superman: Legacy, which is written and directed by Gunn and is set to begin production in the very near future. In a recent post on Threads, Gunn set the record straight on one new reported aspect of Superman: Legacy -- its potential filming budget. A report from BizJournals.com suggested that the film's production budget is $364 million, which would be the second-most-expensive superhero movie of all time after only Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Gunn confirmed that the report does not accurately reflect Superman: Legacy's budget at all, writing "Absolutely not. ? How in the world do they think they know what our budget is?"

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(Photo: James Gunn / Threads)

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

"We got James Gunn and Peter (Safran) working very hard on DC, which is going to be a very big growth driver for this company," Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav explained last year. "We are very bullish on DC. The Superman script first draft is done. Gunn is on a mission from god. It is a really good moment to prove out on DC what we got and how strong it is globally for long-term sustainable growth."

Who Will Star in Superman: Legacy?

Superman: Legacy will star David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Terence Rosemore as Otis, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho.

"We've been having a lot of great conversations, David and I, with James Gunn, the director," Brosnahan revealed in a recent interview. "We've been talking a lot about where this project fits into the canon of the Supermans that we know. So hopefully, this'll be... we'll be putting our own stamp on things."

When Will Superman: Legacy Be Released?

Superman: Legacy is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025, with Gunn previously confirming that the film will not be delayed due to last year's Hollywood strikes.

"It may seem far away to many of you, but it's close to me!" Gunn previously wrote of the release date on social media. "We have a lot to do between now and then. But I haven't been more excited about a project in forever... and this cast, slowly coming together... holy cow..."

Are you excited for Superman: Legacy to begin production? What do you think of James Gunn's new comments about the film's budget? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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The Weekly Pull: Green Arrow, The Immortal Thor, The Savage Sword of Conan, and More https://comicbook.com/comics/news/new-comics-this-week-february-28-2024-marvel-dc-image/ Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:32:00 +0000 Jamie Lovett 120cf961-1adb-415e-a92f-e9569273f127
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DC Universe: Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Teases More Plans Announced Soon https://comicbook.com/movies/news/dcu-james-gunn-more-plans-coming-soon-confirmed/ Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:56:00 +0000 Adam Barnhardt e9b50008-5944-42fa-b5f8-5691dacb32d8

It's now been over a year since James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled the first few projects that'd make up the new DC Universe. From Superman: Legacy to a Booster Gold series, Swamp Thing film, and everything in between, it's been said the first unveil is only a segment of DC Universe Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. Now, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav says fans can expect to find out more details about the franchise much sooner than initially thought.

"I've had a glimpse into what James and Peter are doing, and it really does serve as an exciting indicator of where the new DC is headed under their leadership," Zaslav said in the company's latest earnings call. "There'll be more you'll hear from them in the months ahead...We'll have James and Peter take you through in the next few months a full spectrum of what they see over the next 10 years."

According to Gunn and Safran, they expect the first two chapters of the DCU to last between eight to 10 years. Judging by Zaslav's comments, that means fans could theoretically find out the remaining shows and movies part of Chapter 1 and the entirety of Chapter 2 yet this year.

"A lot of people think it's going to be Marvel 2.0, and definitely I learned a lot of stuff at Marvel. I think that we have a lot of differences," Gunn explained at a press event last January. "We are telling a big, huge, central story that is like Marvel, except for, I think that we're a lot more planned out than Marvel from the beginning because we've gotten a group of writers together to work that story out completely. But we're also creating a universe that is like Star Wars, where there's different times, different places, different things, or Game of Thrones, where characters are a little bit more morally complex."

The DC Universe officially kicks off with Creature Commandos, which has yet to set a release date, and Superman: Legacy, which enters theaters July 11, 2025.

What part of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters excites you most? Let us know your thoughts either in the comments section or by hitting our writer @AdamBarnhardt up on Twitter!

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Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Gets New Update From Warner Bros. Discovery Boss https://comicbook.com/movies/news/supergirl-woman-of-tomorrow-new-update-warner-bros-discovery-dcu/ Tue, 27 Feb 2024 03:08:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson 9a373ade-399c-4f9b-875a-97766dc5a426

James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe is on the horizon, with 2025's Superman: Legacy expected to reignite the modern DC franchise. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the DCU has cast another of its flagship heroes, with House of the Dragon star Millie Alcock set to play Kara Zor-El / Supergirl. Alcock's Supergirl will star in her own live-action solo film, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which reportedly begins filming later this year. During Warner Bros. Discovery's recent quarterly earnings call, CEO David Zaslav very briefly commented on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and teased that other characters are being cast for the project.

"As I've said, we've really targeted DC," Zaslav explained. "We have Superman [and] Supergirl -- great script has been written and that's being cast."

Who Is DC's Supergirl?

Created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino in 1959's Action Comics #252, Kara Zor-El is the cousin of Clark Kent / Superman, who is also sent to Earth from their dying home planet, Krypton. Shortly after her debut, Supergirl appeared in a backup strip in Action Comics, and became a public-facing superhero beginning in 1962. She made an array of comic appearances -- including a 23-issue solo series -- leading up to 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, in which she was killed off in an effort to streamline continuity. The mantle of Supergirl was held by multiple women in the years to follow, including Linda Danvers, Cir-El, and eventually Kara herself when she was brought back to life in 2004.

Supergirl has been portrayed onscreen a number of times over the years, across film, television, and animated projects. In live-action, she has been played by Helen Slater in the 1984 film Supergirl, Laura Vandervoort in later seasons of Smallville, Melissa Benoist on the Arrowverse's Supergirl television series, and Sasha Calle in last year's The Flash movie.

Who Is Writing Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow?

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow does not have a release date or a director attached, but it has been confirmed that Ana Nogueira is writing the film's script. Nogueira was actually previously attached to write an earlier incarnation of a Supergirl movie, which would have starred Calle and spun directly out of the events of this year's The Flash movie. According to the reports, even though Nogueira's previous version of the movie was scrapped, Gunn and Safran liked her work and gave her an overall DC writing deal.

"A hearty public welcome to Ana Nogueira to the DC Studios family," Gunn stated on social media last year. "Ana is an amazing writer whose screenplay adaptation of Woman of Tomorrow is above and beyond anything I hoped it would be. We're excited to be moving forward on this unique take on Supergirl in this beautiful, star-spanning tale."

Are you excited for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow? What do you think of David Zaslav's new comments? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Ramona Fradon, Legendary DC Artist and Metamorpho Co-Creator, Dead at 97 https://comicbook.com/irl/news/ramona-fradon-legendary-dc-artist-and-metamorpho-co-creator-dead-at-97/ Sun, 25 Feb 2024 22:18:00 +0000 Nicole Drum cc836fce-7aab-4021-9797-27e96ac9eb06

Ramona Fradon, comics artist best known for co-creating Metamorpho with writer Bob Haney as well as her long-running work on Aquaman, has died. She was 97 years old. Fradon's death was announced by comic book art dealer Catskill Comics -- which had also announced Fradon's retirement last month -- on Facebook.

"It comes with great sadness to announce that Ramona Fradon has passed away a few moments ago," the post reads. "Ramona was 97 and had a long career in the comic book industry and was still drawing just a few days ago. She was a remarkable person in so many ways. I will miss the great conversations and laughs we had. I am blessed that I was able to work with her on a professional level, but also able to call her my friend. If anyone who wishes to send a card to the family, please feel free to send them to Catskill Comics and I'll be happy to pass them along."

Fradon was born October 2, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in New York City where she graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1950 and, in 1951, was hired by DC Comics. She began her work on Aquaman that year, going on to co-create both Aqualad and Metamorpho, the latter of which is set to make their live action debut in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy. Fradon briefly left comics in 1965 to raise her daughter but returned to DC in 1972.

In addition to her work with DC, Fradon drew an issue of Fantastic Four for Marvel and in 1980 took over as lead artist on the comic strip "Brenda Starr, Reporter" where she worked until 1995 when she retired. However, even in retirement Fradon continued working, shifting to commissioned art, which she continued doing until she announced her retirement from that in January of this year.

"After an extremely long run in the comic industry, at 97 Ramona has decided it's time for her to retire," Catskill Comics shared in January about Fradon's retirement. "She will no longer be doing commissions. She apologizes to all the fans who have been waiting patiently on her wait list to get one. She did say though from time to time she'll do a drawing or two to put up for sale on the website."

Our thoughts are with Fradon's family, friends, and fans at this time.

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WB Says Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Fell "Short of Our Expectations" https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-fell-short-of-expectations-wb/ Sun, 25 Feb 2024 15:12:00 +0000 Marc Deschamps 5d7e0cd8-07af-4580-b0db-89414a03230b

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been out for a few weeks now, and while it might be a bit early to judge the game's performance, it seems things aren't off to a great start. On Warner Bros. Discovery's fourth quarter earnings call, company CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels discussed the gaming side of the business. Wiedenfels noted the strong performance of Hogwarts Legacy, and how that resulted in a positive first quarter for the current fiscal year. By comparison, Suicide Squad sales are off to a slow start, and that could make it very hard for Q1 2024.

"We are lapping the release of Hogwarts Legacy in February last year, which saw the largest portion of its very positive financial impact in the first quarter," said Wiedenfels. "This year, Suicide Squad, one of our key video game releases in 2024, has fallen short of our expectations since its release earlier in the quarter, setting our games business up for a tough year-over-year comp in Q1."

Steam Problems

While the struggles of Suicide Squad are disappointing to see, they aren't all that surprising. The game's concurrent player numbers on Steam have been dismal. According to SteamDB, Kill the Justice League's launch day concurrent player numbers hit a high of 12,667, which is less than half the players Marvel's Avengers attracted on its opening day in 2020. The numbers got a little better for Suicide Squad that weekend, hitting a high of 13,459. Unfortunately, that number has been dropping like a stone since; the game's current high for this weekend is just 968 players.

All of this bodes pretty poorly for Suicide Squad's future, and fans are already fearing the worst. Marvel's Avengers proved to be a huge commercial failure for publisher Square Enix, and likely played a role in the selling of developer Crystal Dynamics. It's impossible to predict what will happen with Rocksteady if Suicide Squad continues on this path, but fans can hardly be blamed for worrying.

Why is Suicide Squad Struggling?

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was developed by a fan favorite studio, it takes place in the beloved Arkham universe, and features one of the last performances of Batman actor Kevin Conroy. All of these factors should have helped generate interest, but the game simply isn't what fans were hoping to see. The previous Arkham games were single-player action/adventure games with strong narratives. Suicide Squad dropped those elements in favor of an online, team-based game with live-service elements. It's a formula that simply didn't work for games like Marvel's Avengers, and it's not surprising it isn't working here either. It's still early, and it's possible things could eventually turn around, but things aren't looking good right now.

How do you feel about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? Do you think the game is dying a quick death? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Video Games Chronicle]

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Nicole Maines Talks Dreamer's Journey in Suicide Squad: Dream Team https://comicbook.com/comics/news/nicole-maines-dreamer-suicide-squad-dream-team-dc-comics-interview/ Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:50:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 56db8692-a0f0-471c-b88d-0cb04771c2f5

2024 is proving to be a big year for DC's Dreamer. Last year, the eagerly anticipated graphic novel, Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story was given a release date and then, soon after that, DC announced that the character would be taking up a major role on an even large stage with the arrival of a new Suicide Squad ongoing series, Suicide Squad: Dream Team, which will see Dreamer/Nia Nal front and center of a new Task Force X. But it's not just a big year for Dreamer; both Bad Dream and Suicide Squad: Dream Team are written by Nicole Maines, who brought Nia Nal to life on The CW's Supergirl, blazing a trail as the first transgender superhero on television before bringing the character to the pages of DC.

Ahead of the arrival of Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 on March 12th and Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story on April 2nd, ComicBook.com spoke with Maines about the next chapter in Dreamer's journey as well as her own in taking the character from screen to page.

ComicBook.com: The last time we spoke it was for Nia's Lazarus Planet experience and now she's tangled up with the Suicide Squad. This feels like a huge evolution for the character. Where is Nia as we walk into this much bigger stage?

Nicole Maines: This whole things sort of kicked off during the Beast World event when she and Jon Kent teamed up to evacuate the alien district of Metropolis and she helped bring them all back to Parthas, her hometown which is a secret alien refugee site where they would be safe and we have the Blue Earth movement going around with all their anti-alien crap, so she was like, let's give them a safe place to evacuate to. And during the course of those events, Amanda Waller became privy to Dreamer and to Parthas and is now using that as a bargaining chip. So, as we open on the Suicide Squad, we find Dreamer, who has been running missions for Amanda and growing tired of the lesser of two evils narrative that Amanda Waller subscribes to.

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(Photo: DC)

There's a moment in the issue that jumps out to me as cementing the idea that we're at a turning point for Dreamer -- it's the line 'do you really think your time as a hero is best spent playing Whack a Mole". What's kind of going on in Dreamer's head at this point because this really does feel like it is do or die.

It's difficult for her because, and you put it perfectly, on this much bigger stage. She is still this inexperienced 18-year-old girl who never thought she was going to have these powers, who doesn't really know how to use these powers, and she's doing her best to live up to the legacy set by her dearly departed mother. But she doesn't know how and so she's doing the best that she can and given the information that she has and what she sees in her visions, she's trying to use her best judgment and she's trying to do the right thing and protect the most people. It's a turning point for the character because that is sort of Dreamer's whole mission and seeing the future, it's, you know, go after the big target, don't, like, little hero of the week or whatever. If you see what's coming down the pipe you have a responsibility to stop it. It's very see something, say something but yeah. Amanda Waller.

You're getting to take on some truly iconic DC characters in this, Waller, Harley Quinn.

A lot of people I've seen online have been like, 'oh, it's gonna be a Harley Quinn story' or they're like, 'oh, it's a backdoor Dreamer story' and I'm like, wrong. Amanda Waller is the main character here, make no mistake. I'm having a blast writing Amanda. She's awesome.

How do you prepare for that? Amanda Waller is a really layered character when you really dig into her. How do you even approach this?

I think the most important part for me was making sure especially as we're moving into this new territory with her where she's really becoming this major villain within the DC Universe, I wanted to make sure that we allotted some amount of time to not reestablishing or reaffirming, but I think reminding people that she's just a human woman who has had a life. She's loved and she's lost. Everything she does comes from a place of hurt and a place of fear and desperate desire for control. I think the thing that interested me the most about her when I first started thinking about this were the similarities between her and Dreamer. They're both women who, through Amanda's position and through Dreamer's powers, have both seen the world come very close to ending a lot of times. And while Dreamer is in a position where she's like apologizing for her power, and she's trying not to abuse it, Amanda has no problem being like 'yeah, I have put myself in a position where I have a tremendous amount of power. I would be stupid not to abuse it.'

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(Photo: DC)

In the issue you actually talk about that. Waller calls out how similar they are and Dreamer is like 'no, we're not". I thought that was interesting. We're getting to see two sides of very much the same coin.

Accurate. One hundred percent they are. And that was intentional to make these two women feel like two sides of the same coin because a whole arc for Dreamer over this series is going to be 'do I subscribe to Amanda Waller's line of thinking to defeat this person to save the future or do I have to adopt this sort of greater good, break a few eggs to make an omelet mentality. She's kind of been stumbling around in this kind of idealistic young way and I think the nature of her powers and the situation she finds herself in is kind of demanding, like 'hey girl, you need to reevaluate some stuff and you need to decide what you want to do. Is your definition of being a hero going to save the day or does that need to change?' And that's true for everybody on the Squad.

It's going to be a wild ride.

I'm excited about this series because it really is looking at what is a hero. How do you act as a hero within the confines of something like the Suicide Squad? We're seeing that with Harley, we're seeing that with Deadeye, we're seeing that with Dreamer, Bizarro, less with Clock King. And Black Alice has reached a point post Lazarus Planet that is complete nihilism so it's sort of we have the full range of how do you be a hero. Do you even want to be a hero? Is there even a point and you know, sort of weighing the consequences of going against an oppressive force.

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(Photo: DC)

This is juxtaposed, for me, against Bad Dream. You've promised that we would get more of Dreamer's backstory, even when you were on Supergirl and brought her to life. Now we get that more. What's it been like for you to finally get here?

I started the process of the graphic novel in 2020. This was my pandemic baby. Bad Dream is so special because that was the passion project that was so much like blood, sweat and tears went into that and the writing.

I started, I went in with a plan and somewhere around Act Two, the entire thing fell apart and it just became a situation of I'm just going to write the thing as it comes. Dreamer, especially on the show, we didn't really get to dig into her backstory and now with the comics not being tied to the Arrowverse, I was free to kind of go in whatever direction I wanted. I think the thing that I was most excited about was getting to decide first of all what Parthas looked like, what that felt like and also Naltor. What rules do they have? What was that like for the people who defended it? With her mother, giving her a little bit more of a backstory and a history aside from oh yes, she very wise. She's been through things. She's broken some rules and it is not without consequence that she's here on Earth. It was just really fun to kind of get to flesh out what Dreamer's world looks like.

These stories are kind of leaning heavily on each other. Not a spoiler because her mother's death happened on Supergirl. But she has these flashbacks to all the failures in her life that are her fault and that's the thing about Bad Dream. We can say oh poor baby, sweetie, oh this wasn't your fault. It 100 percent was. We get why she did the things that she did, but it is her fault her mother is dead. And that's just something she has to live with and something she has to try to atone for so now, finding herself on Suicide Squad is the worst-case scenario.

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(Photo: DC)

What I love about Bad Dream is that we're not getting like on Supergirl where we meet her and she gets these powers as an adult. It's a completely different type of character arc to develop these powers as a teenager and experience a trauma and then still be a teenager trying to apply these powers and healing.

She has the training wheels on, she's like trying to do a triathlon on a training bike and everyone's faster and she's like 'I'm just afraid". And I think that's the thing people have to remember as the stories are unfolding. She's doing her best to put on the hero front and trying to remain in control of the situation. This is scary stuff for anybody, especially a teenager. And she so desperately wants to do the right thing and is right away confronted with oh no, I messed up and I enabled something terrible and it just gets worse. She just kind of hits every single thing on the way down. But it transforms her into what Paul Kaminski and I were talking about when we first started talking about this. He was like, 'I really want to see Dreamer as this Sarah Connor character.' And that's kind of what she becomes here.

You've had this very unique experience where you have gotten to take Dreamer and shepherd this character through two versions and really create her whole cloth. What is this like for you? If you went back to talk to the Nicole who was just cast as Dreamer, what would you say to her?

First of all, I'd be like 'girl, you have no idea how big a part of your life this character becomes.' When I got cast, I was 20 and came at a point in my life when there was so much, like, I was in such a transition period that I sort of came of age along with this character. And I think she and I kind of became entwined in a way that is very profound and hard for me to describe.

This character just means a lot to a lot of people. I just want to see her do cool stuff. And I'm excited to see her in the comics. It just keeps getting better and better and it's just like something that I never would have imagined and she has grown into this character that is so much bigger than I thought likely. I'm just really grateful that I've had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people who have said yes.

What do you hope people take away from both Bad Dream and Suicide Squad: Dream Team?

I want people to come away with either a new love for Dreamer or a reinvigorated love for Dreamer. I just want people to come away with more of a demand for this character. I want people to be like, 'yes, we love this. We love her, we love what she does. We love what she can do. We want to see her go more places.' I want to see what happens next in the story of Dreamer. It's interesting that Bad Dream and Suicide Squad are coming out at the same time because Bad Dream is like her start of everything and her origin and Suicide Squad is where we are now and in stark contrast.

Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 arrives on March 12th. Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story arrives April 2nd.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Invincible Creator Weighs In On Whether Omni-Man Could Beat Superman https://comicbook.com/anime/news/invincible-robert-kirkman-omni-man-superman-fight-winner/ Sat, 24 Feb 2024 22:01:00 +0000 Nick Valdez e1bd8928-2383-4351-820b-afd90e4d43c9

Invincible creator Robert Kirkman has weighed in on the debate on who would win in a fight between Omni-Man and Superman! Fans have been debating Omni-Man's strength and power levels within the Invincible world alone for a long time, but these debates have only picked up steam thanks to the success of the animated series. With Invincible Season 2 returning for its final episodes later this Spring, Invincible fans have started to wonder once more which powerful heroes Omni-Man could defeat in a fight. This usually leads to a debate that wonders whether Omni-Man could take down Superman in a one on one fight.

Invincible creator Robert Kirkman was asked about this debate and his thoughts on Omni-Man vs. Superman during IGN Fan Fest 2024, and cheekily noted that he was trying avoid stirring the pot with fans while noting that Omni-Man "would easily" defeat Superman, "That discussion usually ends with people on the internet mad at me because I say that Superman is lame and that Omni-Man would easily beat Superman. So I didn't want to say that again and get people mad at me all over again. Even though it's true!"

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(Photo: Prime Video / Warner Bros. Discovery)

Invincible Season 2 Episode 5 Release Date

During the same conversation, Kirkman also dashed hopes of a potential Spider-Man cameo during Invincible Season 2 much like their crossover in the comics, "Would that we could pull the powers of Amazon and Disney and Marvel and everybody together!" Kirkman joked. "Wouldn't that be an amazing thing? But I wouldn't count on it. And that's not a tease." Thankfully it won't be too much longer until we get to see more of the season as Invincible Season 2 returns with Episode 5 on March 14th with new episodes releasing weekly after.

Prime Video teases what to expect from Invincible Season 2 as a whole as such, "Based on the groundbreaking comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, the story revolves around 18-year-old Mark Grayson, who's just like every other guy his age--except his father is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Still reeling from Nolan's betrayal in Season One, Mark struggles to rebuild his life as he faces a host of new threats, all while battling his greatest fear - that he might become his father without even knowing it. "

Who do you think wins the fight between Omni-Man and Superman? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

HT - IGN

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Jurassic League Animated Movie Reportedly in the Works at DC Studios https://comicbook.com/movies/news/jurassic-league-animated-movie-in-the-works-dc-studios/ Sat, 24 Feb 2024 04:26:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson a1507b3c-cec9-4e45-a806-fa65b3416f19

The Justice League might be headed back to the movies -- but with a catch. A new report from The InSneider suggests that DC Studios is developing The Jurassic League, the 2022 DC comic miniseries from Daniel Warren Johnson and Juan Gedeon, as an animated movie. As the title suggests, The Jurassic League is an Elseworlds title outside of the main DC continuity, in which the universe's heroes and villains are dinosaurs.

According to the report, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn will executive produce Jurassic League, with Minions and Secret Life of Pets writer Brian Lynch writing the script. Gunn and DC Studios have not officially confirmed or denied the report.

Who Are DC's Jurassic League?

2022's Jurassic League reimagined the heroes and villains of the DC universe as anthropomorphic dinosaurs. In the series, the Trinity, alongside a league of other super-powered dinosaurs, join forces to save a prehistoric Earth from the sinister machinations of Darkseid. Wait ... what? Okay, maybe you don't know the story. So join us and bear witness to a brand-new - yet older than time - adventure and experience the Justice League as you have never seen them before! The events of the series have since been officially canonized in the DC Multiverse as Earth-27. This report comes as the Jurassic League are set to cross over with Booster Gold (another character confirmed for Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU) in May's Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13.

"Jurassic League is all I want to draw: dinos and epic fights," Gedeon revealed when the series was first announced. "My own version of a 90s cartoon or videogame. Expect a story about survival, unity and hope where the strong protect the weak in a world where danger lurks in every corner."

"It's been an absolute pleasure to join Juan Gideon in creating a new world for DC, complete with dinos, cavemen, and extinction level events," Johnson echoed. "Batsuar suplexes a Joker dilophosaurus, you're welcome!"

What Is on the DC Universe Slate?

It has already been confirmed that the initial DC Studios slate for "Gods and Monsters" will include movies for Superman: Legacy, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. It will include the HBO Max television shows Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and an animated Creature Commandos series.

"If you look at the MCU, there are very few traditional superheroes," Gunn previously said of the DCU's approach. "There was never a guy with a secret identity until Spider-Man in the MCU. Their Cap was turned into a soldier even though he wears a mask. Iron Man outed himself at the end of the first Iron Man because they don't want to deal with the whole secret identity stuff. But there is a bit more of a fantasy element to DCU, because there are these larger-than-life superheroes and for me, there's Superman and Clark Kent. They're two different characters, and you have to find a way to deal with them that's as grounded as possible within this world of DC. One of the things that I love about DC, that excites me about DC, is that in a way it's another alternate history. It is Gotham City and Metropolis and Star City and Bludhaven, and all these different places in this other reality, and it makes it a little bit like Westeros in some ways. I love it in that way. I love that we get to create true worldbuilding in DC, it isn't just 'we're throwing some superheroes on Earth.' I think right now, that's one of the key differences."

What do you think of DC Studios reportedly developing a Jurassic League animated movie? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Catwoman Just Stole Another DC Hero's Superpower https://comicbook.com/comics/news/catwoman-dc-hero-superpower-shazam/ Sat, 24 Feb 2024 03:20:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson 0c25a9eb-5daf-4952-b1bd-8bbdbf04a1a0

Over the years, Catwoman has taken on many different roles in the DC Universe, operating as a villain, a hero, and everything in between. The recent Catwoman ongoing series has continued to add to Selina Kyle's lore in some unexpected ways -- and in the series' latest issue, that involved giving her a set of superpowers commonly associated with a completely different corner of DC canon. Spoilers for Catwoman #62 from Tini Howard, Carmine di Giandomenico, Veronica Gandini, and Lucas Gattoni below! Only look if you want to know!

The issue largely follows Selina in a brief stint joining the Suicide Squad, utilizing one of her extra lives to help make good on a debt she has owed to Amanda Waller. Catwoman her teammates are tasked with stealing an artifact from Black Adam in Khandaq -- which gets complicated when she finds her way towards a locked vault. In it, Selina is greeted by Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats, who promises to guide her on her future journeys. Bastet is flanked by a group of cats named Sobek, Hut, Ankh, Zoser, Aten, and Mau, which just so happens to spell out Shazam!. Later in the issue, when Selina is being accosted by Waller, she calls out the word Shazam! and gets the power to escape. While it's unclear exactly how long Selina will have these Shazam! powers going forward, they definitely add a new layer to her current globe-trotting quest.

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(Photo: DC)

What Are Catwoman's New Superpowers?

In addition to the power of Shazam!, the "Nine Lives" arc has explored Selina getting extra lives from Bastet, in the aftermath of last year's Gotham War crossover event.

"Comics thrive on team-ups. Whether it's a team of creators or a heroic partnership, all of my favorite stories are about two strong personalities and the space between them," Howard previously said of that event. "On the page, we've got one of comics' greatest love stories: the world's greatest detective and the world's greatest criminal. And they both love Gotham City. But the course of true love never did run smooth."

Who Is Writing Shazam!?

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that writer Josie Campbell and artist Emanuela Lupacchino will be taking over the main Shazam! title, with its current creative team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora shifting focus to the upcoming Absolute Power summer event. Campbell and Lupacchino's Shazam! run will begin with April's Shazam! #10.

"Moving Day!" the synopsis for Shazam! #10 reads. "After destroying the family home during an epic battle with Black Adam, Billy has hired the gods who grant him his powers to rebuild it. What surprises await the Shazam Family as they enter their new abode?"

What do you think of Catwoman getting her own version of Shazam!'s superpowers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Catwoman #62 is now available wherever comics are sold.

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Players Warned of Progress Issue After Latest Update https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-ssktjl-incursion-missions/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 19:18:00 +0000 Tanner Dedmon 02d74861-f387-4919-a79e-9d56d7898077

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League got its second big update this week which introduced a number of bugfixes and tweaked the rewards that players got from certain missions and actions, but it seems the update also introduced another problem that's blocking players from loading into Metropolis. The issue appears to be tied to a certain type of mission as explained by Rocksteady which means there's some progress there regarding fixing the issue, but the devs don't yet know what's causing it, and therefore, and update to resolve the problem has not yet been released.

Rocksteady acknowledged the issue on socials that deals with Incursion missions and loading into Metropolis. No ETA was provided regarding when the update will be fixed, and now that we're moving into the weekend, it's unlikely it'll get resolved until next week if it's not fixed by tonight, but Rocksteady said it'll have more to share with players when that info is available.

"This week we dropped our second patch for the game with the intention of squashing an initial set of bugs. While we managed to do that, we have received reports of a new issue that blocks progress while loading the Metropolis map after an Incursion mission. We are currently investigating the cause of this issue and we will provide you with an update as soon as we can."

The update in question was released on February 21st with the acknowledgment of the issue shared on February 23rd, so some players were quick to point out that they've been experiencing the problem since the update dropped. In a post accompanying this tweet, Rocksteady said that it started looking into the reports of the issue as soon as they started coming in.

Some have also alleged that the same update made the game perform worse overall, so for some Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League players, this is just one of several problems.

"It didn't manage to squash the bugs it set out to fix at all. What are they talking about??" one player said. "All they did is make the game worse."

However, if you still plan on dong Incursion missions regardless of there being an issue with them, there may be a temporary workaround that'll let you keep playing those. A Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League player on Reddit said that they'd disabled the game's crossplay feature when playing on Xbox, and that doing so had apparently made Incursion missions run just fine without getting blocked off from Metropolis afterwards.

The post from Rocksteady mentioned previously also addressed some of the other issues the devs are looking into. You can read up more on those here.

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Superman: Legacy Filming Start Date Revealed https://comicbook.com/dc/news/superman-legacy-filming-prodcution-start-date-preview/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:07:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 6ad279c1-d095-47ab-ae25-5f099b019631

James Gunn and DC Studios will start filming Superman: Legacy next week (February 26th - March 1st), according to the latest trade reports.

It certainly seemed like Superman: Legacy was ready to roll into production after Gunn posted a behind-the-scenes photo of the principal cast gathered together on the studio lot. That photo included the actors playing Lex Luthor's assistant Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), DC hero Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Superman/Clark (David Corenswet), Luthor henchman Otis (Terence Rosemore), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), producer Peter Safran, the new Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), DC hero Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), director James Gunn, Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and The Authority member The Engineer (Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a). Even though we didn't see him in the photo, James Gunn's brother Sean Gunn will be playing DC villain Maxwell Lord.

Superman: Legacy needs to be getting underway; the film is due out in theaters next summer, and given the obvious demand for extensive visual effects work, principal photography needs to be in the within six months, just to leave time for any necessary additional filming or reshoots, and post-production work.

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

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Per DC Studios, "Superman: Legacy will tell the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned. Superman: Legacy will be written and directed by Gunn, and will serve as the first film installment of his and Peter Safran's DC Universe reboot."

"It's not an origin story," Safran previously stated. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

Behind the scenes, Gunn has tapped a crew of people he's worked with before, including cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

Superman: Legacy is expected in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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Superman: Legacy's Sean Gunn Has the Chance to Redeem Maxwell Lord After Wonder Woman 1984 https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-legacys-sean-gunn-has-the-chance-to-redeem-maxwell-lord-after-wonder-woman-1984/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 12:12:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame 02c7aefb-f6d6-471f-b5d1-ce648b57f749

While he didn't make his way into yesterday's cast photo, we have high hopes for Sean Gunn to redeem the character of Maxwell Lord in Superman: Legacy. The character's previous screen appearance was in Wonder Woman 1984, where he was played by Pedro Pacal and served as the central antagonist of the movie. In Legacy, it doesn't seem like he will have a huge role -- and that's probably good for the character himself. It's possible -- and we're hopeful -- Max won't be a villain at all, in fact...or at least not the straightforward kind of villain he played in both Wonder Woman 1984 and TV's Supergirl.

Originally created by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, Max Lord first appeared in 1987's Justice League #1, at the start of what we now know as the Giffen/DeMatteis (or "bwa-ha-hah") era of the title. In it, he was kind of a slimy '80s businessman, and yes there were a few stories where he leaned more evil than others...but his central role was as the complicated and jerky spokesperson for a version of the Justice League that was subject to human oversight and therefore had a lot more politics to worry about than it had in the past.

In the years since, DeMatteis has often talked about the fact that he's a little bummed Lord has become a mustache-twirling villain, and a Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire miniseries back in the mid-2000s even made fun of the decision to turn him evil.

(This isn't about Pascal, or even Wonder Woman 1984. It's about the fact that the character deserves to be more interesting than that.)

It was Geoff Johns's Countdown to Infinite Crisis and its many follow-ups that took Max from being kind of slimy to a murderer hated by the audience. In it, he not only murdered Blue Beetle Ted Kord, but also revealed that he had been working as a sleeper agent all along to keep the Justice League dumb and ineffective. It's that megalomaniacal version of Max that has dominated both comics and screen since...and it's a disservice to the character and to the great Giffen/DeMatteis years.

On the other hand, it's easy to imagine Sean Gunn doing something nuanced and interesting with Max. Look at what Gunn did in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, where his fairly one-dimensional comic relief character evolved into one of the most complex and likable characters in the MCU over the course of the films.

The fact that Legacy is shooting partially in Cincinnati -- and therefore fans are hoping we might see Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, and company at the Hall of Justice -- could theoretically give us a moment where we find out Max exists in the new DC Universe...in that original role, as the guy essentially holding the door and trying to con Superman into joining the team. And God, that would be an upgrade.

On top of all that, it could tie seamlessly into a popular fan theory that the JLI (Justice League International) could play a role in James Gunn's new DC Universe. So...let's go?

Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as the title character, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Reports emerged soon after the SAG-AFTRA strike wrapped up, suggesting that the movie is likely to start production in the spring, giving it about a year and a half from the first day of filming until its theatrical release. That's roughly in line with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, which started production in November of 2021 and was released in April of this year.

Little is known about the story of Superman: Legacy, other than that it will involve a version of Superman who is settled into his role as the world's protector, but who also has a network of allies to fall back on. Gotham's Anthony Carrigan is set to appear in the movie as Metamorpho, and other superheroes in the film include Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Superman's origin story, already shown in a number of prior film adaptations, won't take up a significant amount of real estate in Legacy, according to prior statements from Gunn.

Gunn is lining up some familiar talent on the project, with cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

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DC and Marvel Crossover and Amalgam Omnibuses Get New Covers https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-marvel-crossover-amalgam-omnibuses-new-covers-jim-lee/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 04:58:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson 0509af05-d06d-4c5f-b7f3-2f402596ef18

Marvel and DC have shaped the landscape of superhero media in some massive ways, and some of their greatest collaborations yet are about to head back into print. Earlier this month, DC and Marvel announced plans to print two new omnibuses of their previous crossovers: DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. Both DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will be available at participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

Now, as part of DC's presentation at the ComicsPRO Comic Industry Conference, some of the collections' covers have been revealed. This includes art by George Perez for the Mass Market versions of DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, as well as the pencilled version of the Direct Market version of DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus from Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair.

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(Photo: DC)
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(Photo: DC)
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(Photo: DC)

What Is DC Versus Marvel Omnibus About?

Who would win: Superman versus Spider-Man? Batman versus Captain America? The X-Men meeting the Teen Titans? DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects crossovers between the core DC and Marvel characters, from 1976's Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000's Batman/Daredevil. Included are stories from some of comics' most revered talents, namely Dennis O'Neil, George P?rez, Dan Jurgens, Chris Claremont, Walter Simonson, J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Bagley, Gerry Conway, John Romita Jr., and more. DC and Marvel fans alike can't miss these thrilling pieces of unearthed comic book history!

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #1, Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1, Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1, Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #28, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Spider-Man and Batman #1, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, and Superman/Fantastic Four #1.

What Is DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus About?

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus features stories, first told in 1996, of the two superhero universes fused together into a new Amalgam Universe, combining DC's and Marvel's heroes, villains, and mythologies. The result was a series of unforgettable one-shot comic books starring the likes of Dark Claw (Batman and Wolverine), Super Soldier (Superman and Captain America), Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern), and many more! These stories, from creators such as Peter David, Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, Dave Gibbons, Ron Marz, Jos? Luis Garc?a-L?pez, Gary Frank, Bill Sienkiewicz, Claudio Castellini, and more, represent one of the most fun and unlikely periods in comic book history, and now are available in one omnibus. Included in this volume are the historic DC Versus Marvel miniseries and its sequels, perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel!

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus collects DC Versus Marvel #1-4, DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4, Unlimited Access #1-4, Bat-Thing #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, Iron Lantern #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1, Super Soldier #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, X-Patrol #1, and more, plus a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.

What do you think of these new DC and Marvel omnibus covers? Which one will you be picking up? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

As mentioned above, DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will both be released in participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

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Superman: Legacy Casts Another Character From the Donner Movies https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-legacy-casts-character-the-donner-movies-otis-terence-rosemore/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 03:10:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson 702bf506-f9ac-4020-ba68-bc078fb2bd32

Production on Superman: Legacy is about to get underway, kicking off a whole new era of DC movies led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The live-action film has already been confirmed to feature a pretty surprising ensemble cast, encompassing both Superman supporting characters and deeper DC cuts. Gunn, who is directing and writing Superman: Legacy, recently took to social media to share a photo of the film's cast after their first official table read -- and in the process, he seems to have revealed another character. Gunn's photo includes Outer Banks and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 star Terence Rosemore, with his caption mentioning "Otis" as one of the film's characters.

Otis first appeared in Richard Donner's 1978 Superman film, as a henchman who works directly with Lex Luthor on his evil schemes. The character of Otis was subsequently folded into the main DC canon, appearing in the Superman Returns prequel comic and events like Forever Evil. Various versions of Otis have appeared elsewhere in projects like Smallville, Young Justice, Supergirl, and Superman & Lois. Otis is the second Superman: Legacy character to have previously debuted in the first Superman movie, after Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio).

Who Will Star in Superman: Legacy?

Superman: Legacy will also star David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho.

"We've been having a lot of great conversations, David and I, with James Gunn, the director," Brosnahan revealed in a recent interview. "We've been talking a lot about where this project fits into the canon of the Supermans that we know. So hopefully, this'll be... we'll be putting our own stamp on things."

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

'It couldn't be more of an honor," production designer Beth Mickle explained in an interview last year. "I'm very happy. We're all very excited to be a part of the team. We're very lucky that he comes with a crystal clear vision of what he wants his movies to be. And that's not often the case. A lot of times you're really finding it, or a lot of times a production designer and the costume designer find it for the director. But he comes always with a brilliant first draft of the script, which is also very rare, and a really clear idea of how the movie's going to be shot, what he wants it to feel like," she continued. "He has strong references. He has fantastical musical references, and he's really articulate about it. He really lays out this wonderful roadmap for my team and me and the other creative departments to follow.

Are you excited for Superman: Legacy? How do you feel about Otis appearing in the movie? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Superman: Legacy is scheduled to be released exclusively in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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The Bat-Man: First Knight's Dan Jurgens and Mike Perkins Take Batman Back to 1939 https://comicbook.com/comics/news/the-bat-man-first-knights-dan-jurgens-and-mike-perkins-take-batman-back-to-1939/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 02:05:00 +0000 Matthew Aguilar 5a5dbb9e-d963-4e15-9b6b-cd16032cbbb5
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The Batman Part II's Jeffrey Wright Is "Waiting Patiently" for Sequel Script https://comicbook.com/movies/news/the-batman-part-2-jeffrey-wright-waiting-sequel-script-delay/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 00:33:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson d3ce7aa3-2ace-43e8-ad7d-1c731439ad3b

2022's The Batman was easily one of the most buzzed-about DC films in recent memory, offering a surprising standalone take on the Dark Knight's iconic mythos. A sequel to the saga, titled The Batman Part II, has been greenlit and confirmed for a fall 2025 release date, and fans are eagerly awaiting any sort of hint at what the film will bring. In a recent interview with Variety's Award Circuit Podcast, Jim Gordon actor Jeffrey Wright joked that although the world might want a breakdown of The Batman Part II's plot, he is actually still waiting on a script from director and co-writer Matt Reeves.

"Here's the beginning, middle, and end laid out for you," Wright joked, before revealing, "I have not read the script. I have not received the script. I'm waiting patiently. But I'll tell you what? As soon as I get it, I'll call you. I'll send a copy right over to you. On the off chance that Matt Reeves hears this, the hairs on the back of his neck are going to stand up."

What Is The Batman Sequel About?

Plot details regarding The Batman Part II are currently a mystery, although it is expected to feature the return of Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, and more of the original film's cast.

"I mean, I can't give an update on that in terms of specifics, except to tell you that we are hard at work on the script," Reeves told ComicBook.com in an interview last year. "My partner and I are deep in it and I'm excited about what we're going to do."

Is The Batman Part II in the New DCU?

It has already been confirmed that The Batman Part II will be operating as a DC Elseworlds project, separate from James Gunn and Peter Safran's upcoming DC Universe of movies and Max-exclusive television shows.

"Matt is working on [The] Batman 2, which he thinks of it as a Batman crime saga, which also includes The Penguin TV series," Gunn previously said when asked about the project. "And it is its own thing, and he's hard at work on that. He came in and pitched us some amazing, really cool stuff the other day. Our plan is for that to continue."

Is The Batman Getting a Spinoff?

In addition to the proper sequel, the saga of The Batman is set to be expanded upon with The Penguin, a Max-exclusive series centered around Colin Farrell's The Penguin. The series is confirmed to be making its debut on the streaming platform at some point in 2024, with an ensemble cast that also includes Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone, Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni, as well as Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Deirdre O'Connell.

"I don't know that it's necessarily tentpole fatigue as much as it is a sameness of storytelling," HBO executive Casey Bloys explained in a recent appearance. "I think the key, even within DC, is trying to tell different stories in different styles, to not try to do the same show over and over and over again. I would say Peacemaker is a very different show tonally than The Penguin. So, there's not a uniformity to the storytelling and I think that helps. Unfortunately, Marvel, as good as their shows are, there's probably been a lot of them. That's one of the advantages we have at Warner Bros. is it's not just one set of stories. There's a lot of stories you can go to."

Are you excited for The Batman Part II? What do you think of Jeffrey Wright's new comments? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

The Batman Part II is currently scheduled to debut in theaters on October 3, 2025.

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DC Announces Move Back to Wednesdays for New Comics https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-announces-move-wednesdays-new-comics/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 23:06:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson c643e572-7d1e-4c08-84fc-2019ae45317f

DC is about to shake up the comic book industry once again. On Thursday, as part of their presentation at the ComicsPRO Comic Industry Conference, DC announced plans to move back to a Wednesday release schedule for their new weekly comics. This move will take effect on Wednesday, July 3rd, and will only affect single issues. New collected editions and graphic novels from DC will still be released on Tuesdays.

DC initially pivoted to Tuesday from the industry standard of Wednesday in 2020, amid supply chain disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. That initial decision also came amid the company's distribution move from Diamond Comics to Lunar Distribution and Penguin Random House, with other publishers like Marvel and IDW soon following suit.

What Is DC's Summer 2024 Event?

Also announced at ComicsPRO, this summer will bring the launch of Absolute Power, a new event miniseries shepherded by writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora, who have partnered on DC series such as Batman / Superman: World's Finest and Shazam!.

Absolute Power shows how Amanda Waller will use the strategic and military might of Failsafe and the otherworldly technology of the Brainiac Queen to steal all metahuman abilities from every super hero and super-villain around the globe, a threat so dire it will take the combined efforts of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Super Heroes of the DC Universe to defeat it.

Absolute Power will kick off with DC's Free Comic Book Day book, which will be available in participating comic shops on Saturday, May 4th. 2024 Absolute Power Free Comic Book Day Special Edition will be a 32-page comic featuring an original 12-page story by Waid with art by Mikel Jan?n, as well as a preview of Absolute Power's first issue. It will be followed by Absolute Power: Ground Zero, an official prelude that will debut in June and bridge the shocking conclusion of the Superman story "House of Brainiac" with Amanda Waller's machinations.

Is DC Reprinting the Amalgam Universe?

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that DC and Marvel will be joining forces to print two new omnibuses of their previous crossovers: DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. Both DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will be available at participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

As the title suggests, DC Versus Marvel Omnibus will reprint a number of iconic issues originally co-published by both DC and Marvel, which have united some of their characters and teams over the years. DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, meanwhile, will reprint portions of the fan-favorite Amalgam Universe, which fused DC and Marvel's characters into some surprising combinations. Many of these stories have been out of print and hard to find for decades. This is the second time in recent years that DC and Marvel have joined forces to reprint a beloved crossover, after a limited run of JLA/Avengers with the help of Hero Initiative, to celebrate legendary creator George Perez.

What do you think of DC moving its New Comic Book Day back to Wednesdays? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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DC Reveals Release Schedule For New Elseworlds Titles https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-release-schedule-new-elseworlds-titles/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 21:57:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson b9754df8-68c6-44be-a7cc-63a2bbc83ba8
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DC Finest: DC Announces New Line of Paperback Collections https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-finest-new-paperback-collections-batman-superman-flash-wonder-woman/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 21:53:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson a9867fdb-9826-4fa4-a34c-0007bafea3a3
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Absolute Power: DC Announces Summer 2024 Event https://comicbook.com/comics/news/absolute-power-dc-summer-2024-event-mark-waid-dan-mora/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 21:52:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson 016c66fe-2dbf-4a6b-b449-a7a8930693f5
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Superman: Legacy Filming Locations Have the Internet Buzzing https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-legacy-filming-locations-have-the-internet-buzzing/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 20:50:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame d32ac636-4a16-468a-99e7-2427a3770fec

James Gunn's Superman: Legacy has plans to film in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, according to the Ohio Department of Development. Those two particular cities have history with the Man of Steel, and already have fans wondering whether certain buildings might show up in the movie. Why? Well, for starters, Superman was actually created in Cleveland, where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster lived growing up. A trip to the Siegel house could be a great, emotional moment for hardcore fans, even if that's less likely than the Cleveland skyline just standing in for Metropolis. The city's big skyscrapers but somewhat generic look have allowed it to stand in for plenty of other cities onscreen, including New York in parts of Marvel's The Avengers.

The production, codenamed "Genesis," will take advantage of tax credits offered in the state, as reported by several sources including The Superman Homepage. And, of course, it isn't just Cleveland that has fans intrigued.

The Cincinnati Union Terminal building is an architectural gem -- and served as the visual inspiration for the Hall of Justice in Super Friends. An edited version of the building was used in the Arrowverse for exterior shots of its own Hall of Justice in the "Invasion!" and "Crisis on Infinite Earths" events.

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Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as the title character, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Reports emerged soon after the SAG-AFTRA strike wrapped up, suggesting that the movie is likely to start production in the spring, giving it about a year and a half from the first day of filming until its theatrical release. That's roughly in line with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, which started production in November of 2021 and was released in April of this year.

Little is known about the story of Superman: Legacy, other than that it will involve a version of Superman who is settled into his role as the world's protector, but who also has a network of allies to fall back on. Gotham's Anthony Carrigan is set to appear in the movie as Metamorpho, and other superheroes in the film include Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Superman's origin story, already shown in a number of prior film adaptations, won't take up a significant amount of real estate in Legacy, according to prior statements from Gunn.

Gunn is lining up some familiar talent on the project, with cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

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Superman: Legacy Photo Gives Us Our First Look at Nicholas Hoult's Version of Lex Luthor https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-legacy-james-gunn-lex-luthor-nicholas-hoult-photo-first-look/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 18:52:00 +0000 Aaron Perine b41fab15-083a-4857-836b-d3c2ba4a630b

Superman: Legacy's Lex Luthor has been revealed by James Gunn. On Threads, the DC boss shared a look at Nicholas Hoult and he looks a little different in the new pictures. For one, the Lex Luthor actor is bald and it looks like that happened fairly recently. Gunn has been joking about shaving Hoult's head this week. A fan asked if the DC Comics president would be the one to do the deed. He replied that he didn't want the actor to be known as "the bloody-headed Lex" so he declined. The script read through has picked up quite a bit of traction on social media.

Another big revelation that fans think they've gleaned from Instagram images is Gunn's take on the Superman crest. In the comics, Kingdom Come's version of the hero used a version that's a bit similar to the one placed on the actor's placards for the read through. However, a similar design was also employed when Superman and the Authority was releasing. So, nothing completely definitive on that front. And Gunn probably won't want to give too much away so far from Superman: Legacy's release date. For now, these small discoveries are going to have to tide fans over.

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(Photo: Threads/JamesGunn)

Nicholas Hoult Becomes Lex In Superman: Legacy

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(Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

With Superman: Legacy's Lex Luthor already cast, fans are already daydreaming about the possibilities in James Gunn's new DCU. When the news of Hoult joining the project became public, the creator confirmed his involvement in Superman: Legacy. 2025 is looking pretty stacked with The Fantastic Four, The Batman Part II and this DC project all on the docket. Gunn also shared that he and Hoult had already begun breaking down what this new version of Lex will be.

"Yes, finally I can answer, @nicholashoult is Lex Luthor in #SupermanLegacy and I couldn't be happier," Gunn wrote on social media. "We went out to dinner last night to celebrate and discuss how we can create a Lex that will be different from anything you've seen before and will never forget. "But, James, we heard this weeks ago, why didn't you tell us it was true?" Because, although we were discussing it, it wasn't final until a couple days ago and I don't want to tell you all something that isn't certain. Anyway, here's to Lex (and Nicholas!), one of my very favorite characters in the DCU."

James Gunn's Inspiration For Superman: Legacy

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(Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage, DC)

James Gunn is the man behind the camera for Superman: Legacy. From the moment he was signed as the DC Studios president, fans expected him to direct at least one of the movies. Well, Superman is the first one up. Despite some detractors questioning the decision, Gunn laid out his case on social media.

"I lost my Dad almost three years ago. He was my best friend. He didn't understand me as a kid, but he supported my love of comics and my love of film and I wouldn't be making this movie now without him," Gunn typed. "It has been a long road to this point. I was offered Superman years ago - I initially said no because I didn't have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved."

"Then a bit less than a year ago I saw a way in, in many ways centering around Superman's heritage - how both his aristocratic Kryptonian parents and his Kansas farmer parents inform who he is and the choices he makes," he continued. "So I chose to finally take on writing the script. But I was hesitant to direct, despite the constant pestering by Peter Safran and others to commit (sorry, Peter). Just because I write something doesn't mean I feel it in my bones, visually and emotionally, enough to spend over two years directing it, especially not something of this magnitude. But, the long and the short of it is, I love this script, and I'm incredibly excited as we begin this journey. #UpUpandAway"

Do you like how Hoult is preparing? Let us know down in the comments!

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James Gunn Shares Superman: Legacy Cast Photo as Production Ramps Up https://comicbook.com/movies/news/james-gunn-superman-legacy-cast-photo/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:59:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame e2e20297-402e-4c85-82cb-ab97bfaae9d3

Following today's table read of the Superman: Legacy script, James Gunn took to social media to share an image of the assembled cast (along with himself and executive producer/DC co-chief Peter Safran). There are one or two actors who aren't in the shot (including Gunn's brother Sean, who is set to play Maxwell Lord), but it's the most complete look at the cast fans are likely to see between now and when the movie wraps principal photography, if Gunn's track record is anything to go by. It's also the first semi-official look at an in-production film for Gunn and Safran's embryonic DC Universe.

The image has some treats, including a new character -- Otis! -- and a fully-bald Nicholas Hoult/Lex Luthor. The characters represented are Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Superman/Clark (David Corenswet), Otis (Terence Rosemore), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), producer Peter Safran, Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Gunn, Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and The Engineer (Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a).

You can see it below.

"I've really enjoyed the collaboration with James Gunn so far," Brosnahan said during a recent appearance at the Critics Choice Awards. "Every single person involved with this production is such a perfect nerd for Superman. We all grew up watching the movies, some of us grew up reading the comics. I feel like it's being made with so much love, and I think this Superman will have a sense of humor. I'm rolling through my brain all the things I'm not allowed to say. But we're excited to both put our spin on things, and also honor this material that we all love so much."

Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as the title character, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. The movie is very close to starting production in earnest, giving it about a year and a half from the first day of filming until its theatrical release. That's roughly in line with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, which started production in November of 2021 and was released in April of last year.

Little is known about the story of Superman: Legacy, other than that it will involve a version of Superman who is settled into his role as the world's protector, but who also has a network of allies to fall back on. Gotham's Anthony Carrigan is set to appear in the movie as Metamorpho, and other superheroes in the film include Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Superman's origin story, already shown in a number of prior film adaptations, won't take up a significant amount of real estate in Legacy, according to prior statements from Gunn.

Gunn is lining up some familiar talent on the project, with cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

Superman: Legacy is expected in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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Superman: Legacy May Have Revealed the Man of Steel's Logo in James Gunn's DC Universe https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-legacy-man-of-steel-logo-james-gunn-dc-universe-kingdom-come/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:13:00 +0000 Timothy Adams 6809458b-59e8-4282-b2ae-a56139a32211

A behind-the-scenes image may have revealed what Superman's new logo will look like in Superman: Legacy. The upcoming film from James Gunn will officially kick off the new DC Universe, as DC Studios co-CEOs Gunn and Peter Safran reboot DC's shared universe on the big and small screen. David Corenswet is portraying the Man of Steel in Superman: Legacy, and the topic of Supe's costume is always one up for debate amongst fans. We've seen versions of the Superman costume with and without tights, and logos that slightly vary depending on the project. However, an image from one of the Superman: Legacy actors reveals how the Man of Steel's logo possibly comes from a fan-favorite Superman story.

Isabela Merced plays Hawkgirl in Superman: Legacy, which held a table read earlier this week. She took a photo of her casting chair with "Hawkgirl" on it and shared it on Instagram, and the chair also contains the iconic Superman "S" symbol. Eagle-eyed Superman fans immediately recognized that the House of El symbol is very similar to the one worn by Superman in Mark Waid and Alex Ross's Kingdom Come from 1996.

CW boss blames Superman: Legacy for Superman & Lois cancellation

The fourth season of Superman & Lois will be its last, with CW announcing the series cancellation last year. For fans of the series, the cancellation felt like a little bit of a surprise given that Superman & Lois was a popular series for the network. Recently, network president Brad Schwartz revealed the real reason the series is coming to an end: James Gunn's upcoming film Superman: Legacy.

According to Schwartz, the decision to end Superman & Lois came down from Warner Bros. because they didn't want a competing Superman product -- and with the upcoming Superman: Legacy, there would be.

"They don't want a competing Superman product in the marketplace," Schwartz said (via The Wrap).

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had previously indicated back in early 2023 when Superman: Legacy was first announced that Superman & Lois was likely to continue for a bit, even with changes happening at The CW as well as the initial development slate for DC Studios.

"It's a show everybody likes, so it's going to keep going for a little bit," Gunn said.

James Gunn confirms two Peacemaker actors aren't in Superman: Legacy

James Gunn recently shared a photo of himself with Peacemaker stars Jennifer Holland and Freddie Stroma, after he was "showing them around" the sets of Superman: Legacy. Gunn confirmed within his post that neither Holland nor Stroma will be making an appearance in Superman: Legacy, either as their Peacemaker characters of Emilia Harcourt and Vigilante, or as anyone new. In a subsequent comment on Threads, Gunn joked he "wouldn't rule out" putting either actor in a random crowd shot of the film.

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James Gunn Confirms Two Peacemaker Stars Aren't in Superman: Legacy https://comicbook.com/movies/news/james-gunn-confirms-peacemaker-stars-jennifer-holland-freddie-stroma-superman-legacy/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:01:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson 7d07b421-db44-4172-962c-aad51c54bc88

James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe reboot is on the horizon, kicking off a whole new world of superhero movies and television shows. The first film set to join the DCU slate is Superman: Legacy, which will be written and directed by Gunn for a summer 2025 release date. Speculation around Superman: Legacy has hit a fever pitch, especially as fans have wondered which DC characters may or may not appear in the film -- and it looks like Gunn himself has debunked two more. On Wednesday, Gunn posted a photo of himself with Peacemaker stars Jennifer Holland and Freddie Stroma, after he was "showing them around" the sets of Superman: Legacy.

Gunn confirmed within his post that neither Holland or Stroma will be making an appearance in Superman: Legacy, either as their Peacemaker characters of Emilia Harcourt and Vigilante, or as anyone new. In a subsequent comment on Threads, Gunn joked he "wouldn't rule out" putting either actor in a random crowd shot of the film.

What Will Peacemaker Season 2 Be About?

Details are currently under wraps about Peacemaker's second season, which was greenlit back in 2022 and will be folded into the new DCU. As Holland told ComicBook.com shortly after the Season 1 finale, there's a lot of potential for where the ensemble's character dynamic goes next.

"I love her character arc through the whole season," Holland said of her character, Emilia Harcourt. "I think it's really, really nuanced and it doesn't rush itself. I really love the way that it was written into the whole series. I think, for me, I didn't want to hold back. I wanted Harcourt to be as cold and closed off as she could be in the earlier episodes, because I wanted her to really have that full character arc throughout the season."

"I think the interesting thing is that we don't know where she goes from here. She's not exactly an open book now. She still has a lot of demons and a lot of stuff to deal with. Emotionally, she's still very closed off. But she -- at this point, I think -- has finally accepted that it's okay to have a team, and it's okay to have a family. Whereas when we saw her at the beginning of the series, she was such a lone wolf. She felt like she was just carrying everyone else, and everyone else was just a liability to her. She thought she would be better off alone. I think she has accepted that there is value in having a team and having a family."

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

The cast of Superman: Legacy will include David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho.

Are you excited for Superman: Legacy? What do you think of Gunn's newest behind-the-scenes update? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Superman: Legacy will be released exclusively in theaters on July 11, 2025. Season 2 of Peacemaker will debut exclusively on Max at a later date.

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Top 10 Comic Books Rising in Value in the Last Week Include Fantastic Four, Secret Wars, and Ultimate Universe https://comicbook.com/comics/news/top-10-comic-books-rising-in-value-in-the-last-week-fantastic-four-secret-wars-ultimate-universe/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 03:26:00 +0000 Matt DeVoe f37cd34d-793b-400c-897a-ff9ae11364ad

The Ultimate Universe is still reigning supreme! Black Panther and Spider-Man return with their cover A variants. They also bring in a BossLogic variant and a second printing cover. Also, the Ultimate Universe book that started it all returns to the top ten. The villains are also returning, as The Joker and Cassandra Nova appear in this week's list due to the new Deadpool trailer. The Deadpool & Wolverine trailer also drove attention to a comic book that was featured in a quick scene. The significance of this book is still unknown. Marvel also made a huge announcement about the casting of the Fantastic Four. Ironically, the family portrait created a ton of interest in a character that has yet to be officially cast. Read on below to find out which FF character is getting their own little spotlight!

Want to know what comic books are trending each week and why? COVRPRICE.COM uses live sales analytics to identify and compile the most robust market price guide, highlighting the weekly top trending comics. No opinions. Just data. Each week, they present a newly updated list of the TOP 10 COMICS trending in the aftermarket. These trends are due to rumors, fan-favorite covers, story-driven content, and content-related news.

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(Photo: CovrPrice)

#10: BATMAN #142 - GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI - FOIL | DC | 2024: In the large ocean of Joker covers, a few immediately catch the collectors' interest. Fans of the Joker immediately wanted to collect the foil cover by Camuncoli. The sudden interest caused this book to surge in value and sales. The aftermarket is still chasing this cover, potentially making it another iconic cover of the Clown Prince of Crime. We tracked it at a high sale of $35 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $22.

#9: ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #1 - BOSSLOGIC - ULTIMATE SPECIAL | MARVEL | 2024: BossLogic has an enormous following, totaling over 2 million followers on Instagram. A huge following collected his artwork once he started producing official comic covers. This book was already trending because of the appearance of the new Ultimate Black Panther. Given that Cover A's are hard to find, collectors are opting for other variants, and who better to collect than BossLogic? We tracked it at a high sale of $50 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.

#8: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - MARCO CHECCHETTO - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: This Spider-Man book is ceasing to slow down! While it is no longer in the number one spot, it is still selling enough to remain in our top ten. Marvel released the second print this past week, proving to be just as popular. This cover A still remains one of the highest-valued covers out of the set. Its value is nearing that of the 1:100 cover at a current FMV of $73 for a raw NM copy! We tracked it at a high sale of $203 for a CGC 9.8 copy.

#7: NEW X-MEN #114 - DIRECT EDITION | MARVEL | 2001: Now that the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer has been out for a week, fans have dissected it, analyzing every scene, and many fans noticed an ominous figure that may be the teased villain, Cassandra Nova. Emma Corrin is the rumored actress who will be portraying the role of the villain. Even with the new trailer, we still do not have official confirmation that this rumor is true. Even so, fans are still banking on her appearance and are picking up copies of her first appearance! We tracked it at a high sale of $190 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a raw NM FMV of $16.

#6: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - R. B. SILVA - 2ND PRINT | MARVEL | 2024: The 2nd print of this book has opened to a fast market. It immediately moved to the aftermarket, and fans could not get enough of Ultimate Spider-Man! The other ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 variants have fallen off the top ten, making room for this newcomer. This book will likely reappear next week as well. However, it is important to note that a 3rd print is on the way and will arrive on March 6th. The pre-sales for the virgin incentive cover have already started increasing in value! We'll see if the 2nd print will remain in the top ten once the next printing drops! We tracked it at a high sale of $24 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $12.

#5: ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 | MARVEL | 2023: As everyone is collecting the Ultimate Universe, an early book returns to the top ten. This book is starting to get notoriety due to being the first cameo appearance of Maystorm and the new Ultimate Black Panther. This book may have been overlooked when it was first released. However, since the popularity of the two characters has surged, this book deserves a second look! We tracked it at a high sale of $48 for a CGC 9.6 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.


#4: FANTASTIC FOUR #209 - NEWSSTAND | MARVEL | 1979: This past Valentine's Day, Marvel took to social media to casually announce the cast for Fantastic Four. Fans entered a frenzy with the project's first official news. One detail that fans noticed was the inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E. in the family portrait. While the first appearance of the Fantastic Four is a grail that the majority cannot afford, the first appearance of H.E.R.B.I.E is well within most collector's reach. The newsstand copy is currently selling fewer copies than the direct edition, which may be due to the difficulty of finding a newsstand copy over a direct edition. We tracked it at a high sale of $63 for a CGC 9.2 copy and a current raw VF FMV of $10.

#3: ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #1 - STEFANO CASELLI - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: The new Ultimate Black Panther has been generating tons of heat. The book itself was already a hot cover before its release, thanks to the massive success of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1. There was also a rumor that a publisher had lost thousands of copies of this first issue. This rumor hasn't been verified or corroborated, but it was enough to keep the aftermarket buzzing. We tracked it at a high sale of $148 for a CGC 9.8 presale copy and a current raw NM FMV of $57.

#2: FANTASTIC FOUR #209 - DIRECT | MARVEL | 1979: H.E.R.B.I.E is here! While casting for the first family's robot was not announced, the family portrait included H.E.R.B.I.E. This led many fans to believe that the casting announcement also announced the inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E in any future Fantastic Four productions. Although there isn't any official announcement for the ever-loving robot, fans are still banking on his appearance by picking up copies of this issue. The direct edition seems easier to obtain, as it sold nearly twice as much as the newsstand edition. We tracked it at a high sale of $350 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw FN FMV of $16.

#1: SECRET WARS #5 - ALEX ROSS - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2015: This book has a small key appearance of Night Machine, an alternate version of Nikola Tesla. However, this isn't the reason the book is trending. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted this cover in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer. There hasn't been any official information about this easter egg, so purchase it with caution! We have no idea if this book was there to reference a specific storyline or simply a nod to the title "Secret Wars." Until we get official clues as to the purpose of this book, buying it at the current prices is a gamble! We tracked it at a high sale of $249 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $28.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 2/19/24! Want to know what your comic books are worth? COVRPRICE.COM offers the ULTIMATE price guide with LIVE ungraded (raw) and graded sales for today's market trends. Manage your collection and track your portfolio's overall value with our robust tracking systems. With a free 10-day trial and several affordable price tiers, discover the value of your comics and sign up today! CHECK OUT THE TOP 10 ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!

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Superman: Legacy's James Gunn Jokes About Shaving Nicholas Hoult's Head for Lex Luthor https://comicbook.com/dc/news/superman-legacys-james-gunn-jokes-about-shaving-nicholas-hoults-head-for-lex-luthor/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 01:52:00 +0000 Jamie Jirak 749b5152-90ec-45d2-b0e6-530fed903bda

Superman: Legacy is scheduled to hit theaters next year, and the film will mark the first entry to the newly rebooted DCU. James Gunn is helming the film with a cast led by David Corenswet as Superman. The film will also see X-Men: First Class and Mad Max: Fury Road star Nicholas Hoult taking on the role of Lex Luthor. The DC villain is typically portrayed as bald, but Gunn has no intention of shaving Hoult's head himself. The director had a hilarious reaction when asked about Hoult's look on Threads.

"Are you going to shave Nicholas Hoult's head personally?" one fan asked. "No because we don't want him to be know as 'the bloody-headed Lex,'" Gunn joked.

Jesse Eisenberg Gives Nicholas Hoult Lex Luthor Advice:

Lex Luthor has been played by many actors over the years ranging from Gene Hackman to Jesse Eisenberg. Recently, Eisenberg shared some advice for Hoult. During an interview with Variety, Eisenberg said Hoult should not "watch me" in order to form his own take on the iconic character.

"Whenever you play a role you feel connected to it," Eisenberg explained. "There's no way around it. Any time you do anything, even if it's a movie that's a Hollywood kind of thing, you connect."

James Gunn Confirms Nicholas Hoult's Casting:

"Yes, finally I can answer, @nicholashoult is Lex Luthor in #SupermanLegacy and I couldn't be happier," Gunn wrote on social media back in December. "We went out to dinner last night to celebrate and discuss how we can create a Lex that will be different from anything you've seen before and will never forget. "But, James, we heard this weeks ago, why didn't you tell us it was true?" Because, although we were discussing it, it wasn't final until a couple days ago and I don't want to tell you all something that isn't certain. Anyway, here's to Lex (and Nicholas!), one of my very favorite characters in the DCU. ????"

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

DC Studios describes Superman: Legacy as the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

In addition to the previously mentioned stars, Superman: Legacy will star Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica/The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, and Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher.

"It's not an origin story," Peter Safran previously explained to reporters when asked about the film. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

Gunn previously confirmed Superman: Legacy would be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.

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Numerous DC Movies Set to Leave Netflix https://comicbook.com/movies/news/netflix-march-2024-movies-tv-shows-leaving-dc/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 22:48:00 +0000 Charlie Ridgely b76bc302-0376-45e4-b8c8-725ed790974e

A new month is upon is, which means more roster changes are coming to Netflix. The streaming service sees new arrivals and departures on a regular basis, and March is no exception to that rule. There are a ton of great movies and TV shows coming to Netflix next month, but there are also some big titles scheduled to exit as well.

Among those films and series that are leaving are several live-action DC movies, which made a highly publicized arrival on Netflix late last year, as Warner Bros. Discovery started sending many of its properties to other streamers. It appears the window for some of those films on Netflix is closing.

On March 31st, quite a few DC movies are leaving Netflix. Those exiting films include Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Birds of Prey, Black Adam, Justice League, Man of Steel, Shazam!, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Wonder Woman 1984.

Everything Leaving Netflix in March

The DC movies are only a handful of the titles set to exit Netflix in March. Here's the full list of movies and TV shows set to depart Netflix next month:

Leaving 3/1/24
Bee Movie
This Is Where I Leave You
Leaving 3/2/24
Lady Bird
Leaving 3/12/24
Miracle in Cell No. 7
Leaving 3/14/24
The Giver
Leaving 3/15/24
Get on Up
Savages
Leaving 3/17/24
The Cursed
Leaving 3/19/24
Carol
Leaving 3/29/24
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
Leaving 3/30/24
Jackie Brown
John Wick
John Wick: Chapter 2
John Wick: Chapter 3
Leaving 3/31/24
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
Black Adam
Community: Seasons 1-6
Hoarders: Season 12
It's Complicated
Justice League
Little Fockers
Man Like Mobeen: Seasons 1-3
Man of Steel
Meet the Fockers
Meet the Parents
My Best Friend's Wedding
Seven Souls in the Skull Castle: Season Bird
Seven Souls in the Skull Castle: Season Flower
Seven Souls in the Skull Castle: Season Wind
Shazam!
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman 1984

Which of these titles are you most disappointed to see departing Netflix next month? Let us know in the comments!

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Marvel's Thunderbolts Movie Was Going to Take a Controversial Move From The Suicide Squad https://comicbook.com/movies/news/marvel-thunderbolts-movie-mission-death-suicide-squad-mcu/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:15:00 +0000 Timothy Adams 99dca6ee-ba9e-40bf-9d21-3cda38cb776d

Is Marvel's Thunderbolts movie stealing the plot from The Suicide Squad? That's the topic of discussion for a new feature looking at how Marvel Studios is undergoing a creative retooling that isn't considered to be a reboot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One of the many projects that has seen changes behind the scenes is Thunderbolts, which just had its release date swapped with The Fantastic Four. The Thunderbolts roster includes heroes such as Yelena Belova, the Winter Soldier, U.S. Agent, and Red Guardians, as well as villains like Ghost and Taskmaster. It's reminiscent of DC's Task Force X from The Suicide Squad, and that may be an adequate comparison.

During The Hollywood Reporter's look at the creative retooling taking place at Marvel Studios, the focus shifted to Thunderbolts. Joanna Calo (The Bear) is reportedly working on the Thunderbolts script, with sources stating previous scripts had the Thunderbolts crew going on a mission that was supposed to lead to their deaths. DC's Suicide Squad films features a similar plot, with Amanda Waller implanting bombs in their neck to help control them. If they fall out of line, the bombs would detonate and kill them. Whether or not the Thunderbolts script will continue to include that plot device remains unknown at this time.

What is Thunderbolts about?

Thunderbolts will bring together Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier, Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell's U.S. Agent, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Valentina Allegra de Fontaine among others to form this anti-hero squadron named after Harrison Ford's Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, who will be President of the United States by the time the events of this film roll around. Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick) will also make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in this feature, portraying Sentry, taking the place of Steven Yeun, who had to pull out of Thunderbolts due to scheduling conflicts following the writers' and actors' strikes.

"I think for me, time passing and things shifting kind of pulled me out of it," Yeun explained to Variety earlier this year. "But [director] Jake [Schreier], I know, is going to do an incredible job."

"I think it's too early to say that," Yeun added, when asked what other Marvel project he would like to join. "I probably pissed off too many people leaving, so I'm just gonna say, 'Thank you for having me.' I have some ideas. But I heard if you put it out there, you'll never get it, so I'll keep it close to my chest."

The events of Thunderbolts will directly follow up Captain America: Brave New World, which is slated for a February 2025 release. That project is centered around Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson and will feature his star-spangled hero embarking on his first solo adventure since officially assuming the Cap mantle in 2021's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Thunderbolts hits theaters on May 2nd, 2025.

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Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 2/21/2024 https://comicbook.com/comics/news/new-comic-reviews-dc-marvel-image-february-21-2024/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Chase Magnett 7e8e4087-ac5a-4363-8856-b8e362bb05c2
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Welcome to this week in comic book reviews! The staff have come together to read and review nearly everything that released today. It isn't totally comprehensive, but it includes just about everything from DC and Marvel with the important books from the likes of Image, Boom, IDW, Dark Horse, Dynamite, and more.

The review blurbs you'll find contained herein are typically supplemented in part by longform individual reviews for significant issues. This week that includes Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1, Nightwing #111, and Cemetery Kids Don't Die #1.

Also, in case you were curious, our ratings are simple: we give a whole or half number out of five; that's it! If you'd like to check out our previous reviews, they are all available here.

DC #1

BATMAN #144

Batman #144 provides the conclusion to "The Joker Year One" arc and ultimately, it all ends up feeling like a needless detour from the general trajectory this run of Batman has been on with the Zur-En-Arrh arc or even the Mindbomb arc. Everything here feels disjointed in terms of how the story plays out as it is set both in the past and in the future, but has to also connect to the present - something that it fails to do. Instead, the issue is a strange clash of things, as though Zdarsky is trying to channel the energy of other Batman writers before him and in doing so completely loses any sense of his own voice or his own interpretation of Batman (which, in my opinion is great when he nails it and dismal when he doesn't). The result in this wrap up is an uneven, frustrating, and confusing story that feels like the narrative equivalent of pattern mixing. That feeling also carries through to the visuals as Camuncoli and Nesi's artwork just do not match up well and there's also just still this deep feeling that we're trying to riff on things that have already been done and done far better. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 2 out of 5

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST #24

Clark and Bruce's time in the world of Kingdom Come comes to an end in spectacular fashion. Waid continues to show his prowess on all things taking place in the DC Universe, while also injecting new life into his futuristic superhero tale at the same time. I wasn't expecting Waid to also continue the story of Kingdom Come here, but this issue sows the seeds for an even brighter future for the legendary comic. Dan Mora continues to do his career best on World's Finest, and I found myself absolutely stunned when it came to his rendition of the Lord of Apokolips. This might be my favorite take on Darkseid that I've ever seen in a comic book before, which is really saying something considering the legendary artists that have tackled one of DC's best villains. World's Finest continues to live up to its name and I find myself continuing to think of new ways to praise the creative team on a regular basis. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 5 out of 5

CATWOMAN #62

The proverbial shot in the arm provided by last month's excellent Catwoman issue seems to carry over to this installment, delivering a jam-packed and largely satisfying chapter. Once again, Tini Howard's script finds a way to cleverly utilize Selina's extra lives, placing her on an adventure with the Suicide Squad that balances fun characterization and a new otherworldly gimmick. Carmine di Giandomenico suits this series' energy very well, providing a sleek but lively approach to even the most mundane of sequences. Once again, this "Nine Lives" arc appears to be brimming with promise and meeting a fair amount of it. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5

GREEN LANTERN: WAR JOURNAL #6

As I've stated in past reviews for War Journal, the series excels when it focuses primarily on John Stewart and what he can do both with and without the ring. While John doesn't have the opportunity to spend much time with his mother in this latest issue, Johnson and Motos are able to keep their grasp on what makes Stewart unique in a sea of Lanterns. The Revenant Queen, as a threat, is an interesting one, though it doesn't feel unique in terms of a personality to match the danger level. There are more than a few interesting angles in John Stewart's solo series, I just wish that the comic would focus far more on those angles specifically moving forward. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: DEAD IN AMERICA #2

Dead in America is moving very quickly as issue #2 delves into New Orleans' lore alongside a slew of familiar characters from both DC Comics and mythology. It's an incredibly dense read and one that rewards repeat readings with seemingly disconnected stories converging in surprising manners. That density reiterates the ambitions laid out in the first issue as Constantine's road trip lays out a thesis on the United States as a 20th century empire slouches forward into the 21st. Even a first glance will be immensely rewarding to readers, though, as artist Aaron Campbell depicts each new encounter in peerless style - an auteur of comic book horror. Both psychedelic trips and brutal monster attacks are depicted in a tense style that simultaneously captures an absurd sense of beauty amidst so much darkness and blood. While readers familiar with Saga of the Swamp Thing and Hellblazer will benefit from how this new saga is in conversation with those classics, all that is required to appreciate this issue can be found on the page in a terrifying sophomore outing. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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DC #2

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(Photo: DC)

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. GODZILLA VS. KONG #5

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong embraces the Godzilla side of things this time around, though much of the issue is focused on setting up the next series of major clashes and moving various pieces across the board. That said, artists Christian Duce and Tom Derenick and colorist Luis Guerrero do not disappoint in delivering epic Kaiju battles, as that's the only way to describe the undersea throwdown between Godzilla and the Kraken. This battle is truly a sight to behold, and there are several other gorgeous scenes that set up future battles and events that have the potential to be just as exciting. Writer Brian Buccellato pivots between that larger fight and all of our heroes across the world throughout the issue, and while these various moments are going to be important at some point, all of the jumping around does kind of take you out of the story at times. While the fight is thrilling, this issue overall isn't the strongest in the series, but what it sets up will hopefully pay off for even bigger things down the line. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

NIGHTWING #111

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Nightwing #111 taps into exactly what made Taylor and Redondo's work on the series so great from the start. It's a hyperexamination of what it means to be a superhero, allowing readers to follow along as Dick Grayson's internal struggles are often bigger threats than the physical fights Nightwing finds himself in from issue to issue. Although Batman might not necessarily be the best one to offer therapeutic advice, there's something charming in Dick turning to his mentor to help the hero over a massive roadblock in his crime-fighting life. If this is the type of stories Taylor tells between now and the end of his story, Nightwing is going down as one of the best superhero stories ever told. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

SUPERMAN #11

Superman hasn't missed since it launched, and Joshua Williamson's ability to keep fans guessing is a major part of that winning recipe. More twists and turns await in Superman #11, though these are made all the more effective in the ripple effects they create and how they affect how you view the extended cast. This is true of Lex especially, and those ripple effects have greatly affected Lena as well, who has quickly stepped into a substantial role in the series and yet has already rewarded that in meaningful ways. The grand plan at work is also something that seems par for the course at first glance but quickly turns into something else altogether, once more showing an ability to defy expectations. The issue wouldn't hit nearly as hard without the wonderful work of artist David Baldeon, colorist Rex Lokus, and letterer Ariana Maher. Their styles are the perfect match for the Pharm and Graft heavy issue, and the two have never looked more diabolical. Superman's more animated expressions are also a brilliant match for the shifts in his demeanor towards the book's end, and those action sequences do not disappoint. Superman has been on a truly stellar run for sometime now, and that doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 5 out of 5

TITANS #8

With "Beast World" out of the way, Tom Taylor and Stephen Segovia kick off a new story arc - one that could have even bigger ramifications for the Titans. On one hand, it's good to see another member of the superhero group; on the other, it's running the risk of this title already running stale given most ideas have asked the question, "What if that Titan were bad?" -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

WONDER WOMAN #6

Let's start with the positives: Wonder Woman #6 is stunning. Daniel Sampere's art is absolutely astounding on literally every single page and it is particularly glorious during the issue's copious fight scenes. But once you get past the beautiful exterior, this issue lacks, much in the way that King's run thus far has. This has been an extremely tedious run and now that we finally get this giant battle and all of this setup for The Soveriegn, it feels like we should have gotten to this point sooner, maybe one or two issues back. This has just been a lot of filler and to an extent, this issue itself feels like filler, padded with fights to drag things a bit further to disguise from the fact that we are six issues in and it's still unclear where exactly this story is going or what it was even about. We started with anti-Amazonian sentiment but where are we now? The issue is also not even about Wonder Woman, as King spends the issue entirely by offering narration by The Soveriegn. It almost seems like King doesn't understand or even want to understand Wonder Woman so instead of writing her, he writes around her, putting on a dreadfully slow song and dance in the hopes that readers won't notice. And we even get someone looking sad in the rain to top it all off. It's tiring. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 2 out of 5

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Marvel #1

ALIEN: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD #1

Marvel's Black, White & Blood anthology series finally comes for the Alien side of their publishing line and proves this franchise is best suited for big ideas being exploded in small bites. The ongoing Alien comics from Marvel have been hit or miss, but Alien: Black, White & Blood hits the ground running with major swings. Writers Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing and artist Michael Dowling start things off with "Utopia," a story that forces an idyllic future built by man to confront the nihilistic face of the Xenomorph. Stephanie Phillips and Marcelo Ferreira's "The Hunt" takes another political slant that feels as timeless as its predecessor, and Ryan Cady and Devmalya Pramanik's "Maternal Instinct" delivers a slick, solid story that feels like it could carry its own Alien movie. Alien: Black, White & Blood starts off this anthology three for three. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 5 out of 5

CAPTAIN MARVEL #5

The bond between Carol and Yuna has steadily coalesced over the past few issues, but it truly comes into its own in Captain Marvel #5, and Captain Marvel's world is all the better because of it. Amidst all the mystical chaos, writer Alyssa Wong delivers one of my favorite sequences of the series thus far. Around halfway through the issue Carol meets Yuna's family, and it's simply delightful in every way. Not only does this move the plot forward, but it's the perfect lighthearted balance to the bigger stakes of the grander story, and yet it manages to also deliver a lovely and impactful emotional moment for Yuna and Carol that will leave a lasting impression. Also worthy of praise is the stellar team of artist Jan Bazaldua, colorist Bryan Valenza, and letterer Ariana Maher, who pivot effortlessly from sweeping magical action sequences to a banter-filled conversation at the dinner table that is no less captivating. There's still plenty of questions regarding The Omen, but as long as Carol and Yuna are in the spotlight , this series will continue to soar. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

DAREDEVIL #6

Six issues in and the new Daredevil finally starts giving some (but noticeably not all) answers on Matt's latest status quo shift. Doctor Strange makes a cameo to help explain why the Seven Deadly Sins are suddenly in Hell's Kitchen and Matt realizes his return from Hell had some unintended consequences. We get the return of the White Daredevil suit and a fun surprise at the end (though how they'll explain what *he's* doing in New York given everything happening in his current comic and the rest of the X-Men is quite beyond me), but this run as a whole still feels like it hasn't quite made it out of first gear and is becoming a little too reliant on cameo appearances. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 3 out of 5

EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #1

It's always fun when Marvel brings back the Edge of Spider-Verse anthology series, because it allows readers to catch up with the favorite Spider heroes, while also meeting new additions to the franchise. It allows creativity in coming up with these new takes on established characters, and plays into the whole multiverse theme that's taken over pop culture recently. While it's fun to reunite with Spider-Byte after her appearance in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the real draw is the Spider-Society that Spider-Man 2099 is caught in the web of. I can't wait to see where all that is heading. -- Tim Adams

Rating: 3 out of 5

G.O.D.S. #5

G.O.D.S. #5 is the most streamlined, quickest read issue of Jonathan Hickman, Valerio Schti, and Marvel Gracia's high-concept Marvel Comics series thus far. There's no Doctor Strange or Aiko in G.O.D.S. #5, let alone the extended cast of Marvel Universe characters or secondary (narratively speaking) centivars that have populated past issues in supporting roles. Instead, the story is focused squarely on Wyn, Mia, their attempt to infiltrate an unorthodox medical facility, and the staff operating there. That staff is enacting arcane rituals in pursuit of the answer to a strange mystery. It turns out that what these beings are really after is purpose, which is somethign that Mia seemingly discovers at the conclusion of the adventure, only to have it ripped away from her immediately. Despite the straightforward plotting of the issue, GODS #4 does more to clearly characterize what The Powers-That-Be and The-Natural-Order-of-Things than past issue, with former trapping being in the current state -- an immediate increase in quantifiable power, comfort, worth for little hope of becoming anything more -- while the latter represents that ogreater, if messier, potential that is lost. There are also some callbacks to Avengers run, further casting G.O.D.S. as its spiritual successor. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ANNUAL #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Even at its most rushed or understated, Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1 is still a magnificent culmination of the team's latest tale. Kelly and Lanzing's script delivers a tender, but chaotic battle that changes the team's standing in some major ways, while still remaining a well-earned and (largely) well-executed celebration. Walker's art helps the team's aesthetic flourish to wacky, but still recognizable heights, perfectly complimented by Hollingsworth's colors and Petit's lettering. While there's no telling what is next for the Guardians after today, this finale further proves why the team has become one of the crown jewels in Marvel's ever-evolving narrative. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #9

New Orleans is a perfect place to take this Incredible Hulk story, as it continues its gruesome and fabulous run. Guest artist Danny Earls does a fantastic job when it comes to the gnarliest and most chilling frames, but there's a lot to be desired when it comes to the more subtle elements of the character. Still, the moments that need to hit really hit, and Hulk keeps chugging along as one of Marvel's most wonderful rides. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

LUKE CAGE: GANG WAR #4

From the introductory montage broadly recapping Luke Cage's place at Marvel Comics through his final broadly heroic speech made to no one in particular, Luke Cage: Gang War #4 is composed of banal tropes played in the most obvious fashion imaginable. This follows the series through an entirely unwarranted mecha battle resembling standard metahuman fisticuffs and action sequences overloaded with start-and-stop dialogue. There's nothing exciting about what is occurring on the page and nothing amusing in the surface-level quips. It all appears quickly dashed off with many panels delivering ill-considered angles and splashes often reading like enlarged panels with vague backgrounds fading into nothing. If one decides to consider the continuity and ideas at play within the story, they will find only frustration. Luke Cage would have been better served sitting out this crisis as mayor. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 1 out of 5

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Marvel #2

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(Photo: Marvel Comics)

MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #4

The fundamental craftsmanship of superhero stories displayed in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld is admirable. Each issue surely delivered a twist to the story's model that heightened the stakes, and the final issue is no exception. What's more is that it plays upon an idea hiding in plain sight, even if a resulting modern reference built into this callback miniseries serves primarily to distract. Although there's nothing especially noteworthy about Spider-Man's final battle against both heroes and villains in this mini-Battleworld scenario, the action sequences are certainly adequate and play upon each character's powers in reliable fashion. The overall effect is a handsome looking comic book that effectively plays upon any nostalgia readers may feel for Marvel's original Secret Wars, of which I certainly still harbor some. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

PREDATOR: THE LAST HUNT #1

Predator: The Last Hunt picks up where the previous Marvel series left off, with Theta on the trail of one of the Super Predators--the bigger versions found in the 2010 movie--and possibly the planet where that film was set. But before all of that gets underway, the book ends on the big surprise of the return of John Schaefer - a character first introduced in the very first Predator comic and the brother of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character from the first movie. Considering how many different creative teams and comics companies have had rights to Predator over the years, it's wild to see Marvel try to link everything together on both the film and comic fronts (though Prey and the AvP films seem to be absent). And while Predator: The Last Hunt #1 is mostly table-setting, this could be a blast. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 3 out of 5

RISE OF THE POWERS OF X #2

One of the most remarkable elements in Powers of X is how neatly it presents an array of original science-fiction concepts within the confines of Marvel Comics. Readers are quickly able to assimilate the timelines being utilized and the mechanics as they relate to plot, character, and setting. That clarity is difficult to deliver, which is why I'm loathe to criticize the ambitions present in Rise of the Powers of X. However, Rise of the Powers of X #2 fails to deliver on the manifold ideas playing into one another that deliver an overburdened series of expository dialogue and action sequences resembling a superhero comic. The Sinister dominion, White Hot Room, Moira's powers, and more are arcane plot devices individually and make for Marvel madlips when assembled with only a single, largely unhelpful infographic to assist. The messiness that is the presentation of story provides a number of excellent excuses to draw cool character designs doing interesting things, even if not all of those interesting things hold much meaning on the page. Perhaps future issues will bring greater clarity, but right now the classified final stage of this plan is eagerly anticipated so "Fall of X" may conclude. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 2 out of 5

SPIDER-BOY #4

Spider-Boy has in short order become one of my favorites each and every month, and Dan Slott has effectively endeared me to the character all the more in Spider-Boy #4. You can't help but feel for Bailey's situation, especially when magnified by Spider-Man's truly inept turn as guardian and mentor. Seriously, how did Peter get so bad at this? Slott's use of this fractured relationship allows Bailey to explore feelings of hurt and betrayal without it feeling stuck in angsty dated tropes, and it's balanced out with Bailey's kindness towards others who are also misunderstood. There are plenty of lighthearted moments to keep things from getting too heavy as well, and surprisingly more of those are found in the villain's side of the story "Missing Pieces." The entire book benefits from the talents of artists Paco Medina and Ty Templeton and colors Erick Arciniega and Dee Cunniffe, and the I'm genuinely interested in where this series goes next. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

SPIDER-WOMAN #4

To say I'm conflicted on the latest developments in Spider-Woman would be an understatement, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Spider-Woman #3 hit longtime fans with a gut punch of a cliffhanger, but issue #4 decided to follow that up with a right hook that had me reeling. Writer Steve Foxe doesn't pull back on that Gerry development, and throughout the issue finds a way to make that reveal hit even harder while shining a light on the effects of Jessica's recent 'death'. The how of it all makes absolute sense and Gerry brings up some rather salient points about his mother's decision making at times, and yet it's not at all what I wanted for this relationship. If I remove my own wants for this mother and son duo however, I can't ignore the gold mine of emotional baggage and potential for growth this premise presents. All of this is beautifully brought to life by the team of Carla Borelli and Arif Prianto, including a Diamondback fight that should not be missed. While this may not be what I hoped to see when Gerry re-entered the picture, the events at play are still quite compelling. When paired with Jessica's own journey with Hydra, those events set the stage for what could be a very rewarding story, and one I am in for the long haul on. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4 out of 5

STAR WARS #43

Unfolding within the meditative world of a kyber crystal, Luke Skywalker confronts Sith Lords, his past, and seemingly his future, all in an attempt to heal the object of the pain inflicted upon it by nefarious forces. By nature, this is one of the more existential chapters in the Star Wars title, which is a seemingly necessary evil, given the heady concepts about the Force and philosophy that the original trilogy aimed to explore. While this installment explored necessary steps along Luke's path to the Jedi he would become in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, it's not necessarily the most thrilling chapter, given it all unfolds within a world where nothing really seems to matter. Still, there are some seeds planted for his attempts at redeeming his father's former self, so witnessing any steps in the hero's journey that were left unexplored between the live-action films does come with some excitement for longtime readers. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 3 out of 5

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2

After the masterful first issue the bar is high for Ultimate Spider-Man, and luckily writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Marco Checchetto prove that it wasn't a fluke of the premiere and their take on the material has legs. The second issue continues Ultimate Spider-Man's trend of remixing what we know and love about the character to keep up a fresh spin on his characteristics and world. Add on to all that the fact that Checchetto (aided by color artist Matthew Wilson) gets the chance to flex his muscles with dynamic action scenes that not only feel quintessentially "Spider-Man" but manage to be defined by this new era in full. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 5 out of 5

X-FORCE #49

Readers who have followed all 49 issues of X-Force thus far are sure to appreciate the finale's staging in X-Force #49 as the series' longest and most interesting threads are drawn together. As Beast embraces his role as the story's biggest bad guy, he notably raises the stakes and--with the introduction of a younger iteration from a perfectly chosen era--plays into the drama. Discussions of how to approach this final mission build upon long-running arcs in the series' core cast and the intersection of character and story in this ongoing build is very satisfying. The action is delivered in fine style by Robert Gill who fits neatly within the pantheon of X-Force artists. His action sequences are well-timed and the strangest elements well presented, but it's an awkward moment between estranged friends that reveals how much he brings to every sequence in this issue. X-Force #49 prepares for its big finale and promises readers that this run is going out on a high note. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Other Publishers #1

ANIMAL POUND #2

Animal Pound #2 considers how the animals liberated from their cages might govern themselves by establishing a democracy. Readers interested in political science will recognize many of the competing arguments at play as a pure democracy devolves into chaos and the subsequent republic debates how to weigh individual votes. It's an interesting thought experiment but also one that readily explains to readers why specific ideas will not work. That didactic approach makes long segments of narration in Animal Pound read like a lecture, especially as the reality surrounding these animals remains so ill-defined. Although much of the world resembles our own, animals are almost magically capable of manipulating a recognizable voting system and internet-based electronics. The question of food, central to the plot, is only mentioned with no consideration actually paid toward it. It's only the naturalistic depictions of dogs, cats, and rabbits that continues to draw interest toward these animals as actual characters and provide readers with concern for their outcomes. But it seems Animal Pound is simply a sermon in the guise of a story. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

ARMY OF DARKNESS FOREVER #5

Like the best elements of the Evil Dead franchise, Army of Darkness Forever #5 continues to focus less on a cohesive or linear narrative and more on delivering an experience that can do anything, anywhere, at any time, jumping from a variety of characters in various centuries, often to a confounding degree. However, writer Tony Fleecs and artist Justin Greenwood know that this franchise isn't about a certain set of plot points or characters and is more about an overall spirit, which this installment continues to channel. Sure, the book feels less like a linear story and more like a sketchbook of a devout Evil Dead fan delivering panels and quips they wish they could see in a live-action movie, but that passion for the material is what makes this book succeed. How well the journey comes together for a fulfilling conclusion is yet to be seen, but this chapter reminds us that it's less about the destination and more about how groovy the ride is, baby. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

BLASFAMOUS #1

This is a wildly interesting way to engage with the dangers that can come with organized religion. It's a great story that deals with our current, capitalistic focused society, as well as a harrowing tale of spiritual warfare. The swings are maybe a little too hard at times, and the book can occasionally get bogged down in its own heavy exposition. But at the core there's something really exciting here. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

THE BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS: TENEMENT #9

The opening pages of Bone Orchard Mythos: Tenement #9 contains the best sequences of the entire series as series creators Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino remix the lore of the first book of the Bible to fit into their cosmic horror den. It's effective on a visual level and from the narrative push that it provides for the entire series, though once it's over Tenement returns to the things that have kept it from really being great this entire time, mostly boring characters with some stilted artwork. This one is shaping up to end on an interesting note, but it may not be able to really push itself past what has held it back.. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

CEMETERY KIDS DON'T DIE #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Cemetery Kids Don't Die is a strong start for this miniseries. It's not perfect, but it does a fantastic job of dragging readers into its world while giving comic and horror fans alike quite a bit of grotesque eye-candy along the way. I'm anxious to see what territory the Oni Press series explores in its three remaining installments, and if it will open the door for more tales of terror from this talented creative team. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 4 out of 5

COBRA COMMANDER #2

It's Cobra Commander vs. Florida Man! After a noble effort to try and give the G.I. Joe's big bad some pathos in the opening issue, Joshua Williams takes the new Cobra Commander series in a strange direction with its sophomore issue, plopping our masked villain right in the middle of the Florida Everglades. The book immediately reminds us that despite the characters involved this is extremely not children-friendly, and while making Cobra Commander the butt of a few jokes is fun it feels like padding for the much bigger story of Megatron being imprisoned by COBRA. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 3 out of 5

CRITICAL ROLE: THE TALES OF EXANDRIA - ARTAGAN #2

Tales of Exandria attempts to reconcile the more sinister depiction of Artagan in Critical Role's first campaign with his more... disarming personality in Campaign 2. The comic does a fantastic job of showcasing his proclivities for lying and harm while framing it from his perspective as a harmless prank. The last page of the issue is particularly compelling as it sets up a "reunion" from Campaign 1 that's been in works for year. I think bringing back Vox Machina is definitely a way to generate interest in the comic and sets up an intriguing next issue. -- Christian Hoffer

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Other Publishers #2

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORTUNE FINDER #4

Fortune Finder heads to Mechanus and reveals some hidden truths about the mysterious protagonist of the series. This is a fun issue that highlights the law-driven Eternus and its Modron inhabitants. While the Modrons are a popular part of D&D cosmology, they haven't been heavily featured in 5th edition, even in the Planescape campaign setting boxed set. Luckily, Jim Zub and Jose Jaro have a strong understanding about what makes the Plane both unique, fun, and dangerous. Another fun issue and I'm interested to see what happens next. -- Christian Hoffer

Rating: 4 out of 5

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #304

Some might say that G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is not inviting to those who haven't read past iterations of the series. Respectfully, I disagree. Sure, this is a 300+ issue series, and the current arc sees long-established factions playing a three-way game of espionage chess. And yes, characters build and act upon backstories established long ago that the issue does not revisit. Fair enough. Counterpoint: Chris Mooneyham is drawing the book, and he's artistically gifted enough to make even this issue's multiple scenes of characters doing nothing but talking while staring at monitors feel tense and dramatic. There is grit and a flair for the dramatic in his style (enhanced by colorist Francesco Segala's lush palettes and a keen eye for dramatic lighting) that feels like all the cool factor of the visual trends from the late '80s and early '90s without the excess and questionable storytelling choices. Similarly, Larry Hama's dialog can be a mouthful to chew on in spots, particularly at the start of issues when he's restacking the narrative. Yet, I can't remember the last time I read a comic book that gave that once-familiar sensation of stepping into an establishing universe and thinking to myself, "I don't entirely understand everything happening, but it's all awesome, and I want to know more." Long-time Joe readers don't need me to tell them this, but I encourage newcomers to let themselves get lost in that sense of well-established wonder. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

A HAUNTED GIRL #4

While I wish A Haunted Girl was a bit more refined and a little less on-the-nose at points--especially because I feel like there is a rich story in Cleo's family history that could be beautifully explored--issue #4 concludes with what might be the most interesting and optimistic representation of someone fighting their demons and winning, It's a little over simplistic, with the big bad (an obvious stand in for depression and intrusive thoughts) trying to convince Cleo to give in and die and Cleo, supported by those who love her and her own reasons to not back down, choosing to live and defeat the big bad, but sometimes simple is the best way to get the point across: you can fight and you can win. It makes for a nice little finish to the series. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

THE HOLY ROLLER #4

If you want an issue that is more or less just a guy beating the snot out of racists and bigots page after page, Holy Roller #4 is great because that's mostly what it is. Just page after page of the Holy Roller dealing with racists. And it's great. But where it's a little less great is where it tries to delve back into the story. Remender's big weakness here is that he tries to paint the bad guys as being kind of dumb or distracted and while there is certainly something to be said about the ego of the upper levels of hate groups, there's a bit that feels missed, nuance wise, in how this is presented. Not to mention it feels kind of tacked on considering the punch the hateful dudes aspect of the front of the issue. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 3 out of 5

THE JAGUAR #1

Archie Comics is bringing Jaguar back out of mothballs with a fresh new story that expands on the character's mythos, while setting Ivette Velez up for future adventures. The art was fun and lively, and seeing Ivette have to deal with learning new secrets about her origin and powers as the Jaguar is fulfilling. The Jaguar #1 is very new-reader friendly, but anyone familiar with the Archie superhero will find things to enjoy and take away from the one-shot as well. -- Tim Adams

Rating: 4 out of 5

JAMES BOND 007 #2

This James Bond comic continues its blend of brutality and humor, with great effect. Honestly, tapping Garth Ennis for this series was a brilliant choice as he's able to depict Bond as a ruthless killer unfazed by almost everything while going with a different route with Bond's signature wit. This feels like a less campy version of Pierce Brosnan's Bond, with much of the gadgets taken away but with a lot of the coolness still intact. -- Christian Hoffer

Rating: 4 out of 5

LOTUS LAND #4

Poelgeest and Filipe are able to continue their noir comic with another strong showing as the mystery deepens for Bennie Strikman. One of the best parts of Lotus Land is its ambience, as the creative team injects that noir feeling into the proceedings expertly. This isn't just thanks to its technological future landscape ala Blade Runner, but also due to the way that Filipe is able to use the panels in capturing some of the emotional scenes herein. The creative team knows what they want with Lotus Land and have a fantastic way of keeping the story rolling without wasting any space on the pages. It's a strong series and one that proves that Boom is having a golden age of running the gamut on different genres that aren't focused on nearly as much as they should be in the comic book world. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Other Publishers #3

comic-reviews-cemetery-kids-dont-die-1.jpg
(Photo: Oni Press)

MECH CADETS #6

The original Mech Cadet Yu story had a clarity of purpose and momentum that Mech Cadets has sometimes lacked, but in the series' sixth issue, it picks up and sprints. The issue gets unexpectedly bleak in moments, and Takheshi Miyazawa's art--which has been sketchier and more gritty in this series than in previous collaborations with Greg Pak--really helps ground that sense of bleakness in the world that has been built up to this point. It leaves the reader off on a cliffhanger that asks way more questions than it answers, and sets up an exciting new status quo for the next installment. -- Russ Burlingame

Rating: 4 out of 5

MIDLIFE (OR HOW TO HERO AT FIFTY!) #5

I've been hard on Midlife over its first four issues, and this latest issue still suffers from the weaknesses of its predecessors, but the strengths found within far outweigh them. Each issue has alluded to different aspects of superhero and science fiction lore, which for me don't hit as hard as I think the creative team intended. There's a story to be made involving how pop culture could influence a real life superhero, though this premise isn't as strong as it could be here. Where this issue excels is both in using interesting art to explore Ruben's origin, while also giving the new crime fighter some life-affirming moments in his present. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, Midlife appears to be growing bigger and more confident in its story, and I hope that this trend continues. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

NIGHTS #5

When Nights focuses more on the supernatural saga at hand and less on lengthy conversations, it is a much more effective series. That's what we have with issue #5. There are some great character moments littered throughout this issue, but they're much more efficient than in the early issues. The horror story really takes center stage here and it almost feels like a brand new start that the series desperately needed. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

PROJECT: CRYPTID #6

Ahoy's anthology series is an experiment of ups and downs, as the stories themselves vary when it comes to the quality of the tales focusing on the beasts of legend. Luckily, the sixth issue of the series is a strong one, as the Chupacabra and Bigfoot get energetic, and often creepy, stories that do well at representing both. Both stories have exagerrated artwork from the likes of Maki Naro and Daniel Irizarri, which fit quite well when it comes to bringing their respective cryptids to life. Unfortunately, this issue marks the list of the mini-series, though here's hoping that Ahoy returns to have new creative teams try their hands at these creatures of myth in the future. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 4 out of 5

RICK AND MORTY: SHERICK HOLMES AND MORTSON #1

A handful of gags and one-liners land in Rick and Morty: Finals Week - Sherick Holmes and Mortson #1, which might be enough to justify the cost for some very dedicated fans. Yet most readers will recognize this issue as a pale imitation of the humor, characters, and aesthetic that made Rick and Morty an animated success. Drawings of the core cast and various new elements are shoddy with many panels resembling an ill-conceived first draft. Many visual gags are unrecognizable with poorly proportioned elements obscuring parts of the panel or not even shown. The disjointed mystery provides no satisfaction as twists and turns seem to be randomly generated from a wheel and then explained by Rick and Morty via hat-on-a-hat dialogue. There may have been potential in examining these iconic characters or the public domain, but what's found on the page in Sherick Holmes and Mortson hardly qualifies as a quality first draft. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

THE SIX FINGERS #1

The Six Fingers from Dan Watters, Sumit Kumar, Lee Loughridge, and Aditya Bidikar offer the other side of the story begun in The One Hand #1. The debut issue acknowledges this interplay immediately with a captioned monologue from its protagonist talking about gaps in knowledge. That protagonist, Johannes, is the opposite of the aging detective lead in The One Hand. He's young, brash, and arrogant, and the city of Neo Novena looks different through his eyes, as reflected in the cleaner, crisper artwork. Kumar employs some creative layouts here that subtly depict power dynamics. One standout page sees Johannes literally talking around his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, verbally corralling her into his narrative until she breaks the flow at the bottom of the page, wresting control back from him. Where The One Hand leaned into noir roots of the cyberpunk genre reflected in Neo Novena's trappings, elements of The Six Fingers seem to hint at yet-to-be-explored speculative fiction elements brewing in the background that may help to explain the strange phenomenon of the so-called "One Hand Killer." Whether those potentially more fantastic genre elements add to the story or break the carefully constructed mood once revealed remains to be seen. Taken as it is, The Six Fingers #1 is a captivating character study that deepens the mystery brewing in Neo Novena. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

STAR TREK #17

It's a credit to Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing's grasp of Star Trek's characters and the subtle touches applied by letter Clayton Cowles that I practically hear Avery Brooks' voices giving one of his dynamic deliveries (often compared to jazz music by his peers) while I read Sisko's dialogue in Star Trek #17. Sisko finds himself in the familiar position of trying to reconcile the Federation's unwillingness to get its hands dirty (at least not where anyone can see them) with the reality of the situation at what may soon become the first front in a new war. Editor Heather Antos has said that she tasked Kelly and Lanzing with assembling the "Star Trek Avengers" from across all of Trek's television shows when choosing their crew for this series, and that plays out in the blending of tones here. On the one hand, the story has plenty of the kind of political intrigue that fueled many of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's most memorable stories blended with the ethical and practical problem-solving that was the crux of most Star Trek: The Next Generation tales. There's also a great use of a data page here, with a simple twist effectively conveying a surprisingly potent dose of desperation and fear. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two Home Video Details Released https://comicbook.com/movies/news/justice-league-crisis-on-infinite-earths-part-two-relese-date-2024/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:52:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame e45da41e-f76c-433a-a220-c22f3d992ab0

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has revealed the release dates and home video information for Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two. Based on one of the most famous and best-selling superhero crossovers of all time, the movie is the second installment in a three-part animated film trilogy that aims to adapt the epic story by Marv Wolfman and George P?rez. A trailer dropped yesterday. In the story, a malevolent, godlike being called The Anti-Monitor is trying to destroy the multiverse using waves of antimatter. The heroes of all DC's disparate worlds are forced to work together with The Monitor, the Anti-Monitor's opposite half, to save all of existence.

The first movie, which was released back in January, centered primarily on The Flash, who was one of the big superhero deaths that shook the DC Universe in the original comics series. The story's other big death, Supergirl, will seemingly be the central focus of the second installment.

"It was obvious because of what was central to what was important in the original Crisis comics, which characters were the obvious ones that we had to build around," executive producer Butch Lukic told ComicBook.com. "So it's obviously Flash, it's obviously Supergirl, and a couple of others. It was more structured toward, because we're limited as far as how much storytelling time we had, that we have to hit those marks."

In the first part of the trilogy, it was revealed that Supergirl had been hiding in plain sight the whole time, acting as Harbinger and doing The Monitor's bidding. Similarly, John Constantine had been recruited by the Anti-Monitor to act as Pariah, a being doomed to be moved from universe to universe to watch them die.

The Crisis on Infinite Earths trilogy marks "the beginning of the end to the Tomorrowverse story arc," according to Warners. that arc, which started with Superman: Man of Tomorrow, is the relatively short-lived animated continuity that was spawned following the cataclysmic ending of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two will be available to purchase on digital and on 4K UHD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-ray on April 23. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One is available now on Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray. The final part of the trilogy will be available later in 2024.

Here's how Warner Bros. describes the movie and its home video features:

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two features returning popular voice cast members: Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, The Boys, The Winchesters) as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Emmy winner Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Glee) as Superman & Earth-2 Superman, Meg Donnelly (Legion of Super-Heroes, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,) as Supergirl & Harbinger, and Stana Katic (Castle, Absentia) as Wonder Woman & Superwoman.

Aside from the returning voice cast, the star-studded ensemble voice cast includes Jonathan Adams as Monitor, Gideon Adlon as Batgirl, Geoffrey Arend as Psycho Pirate/Charles Halstead & Hawkman, Troy Baker as Joker, Zach Callison as Robin, Darin De Paul as Solovar, Ato Essandoh as Mr. Terrific & Anti-Monitor, Keith Ferguson as Dr. Fate & Atomic Knight, Will Friedle as Batman Beyond & Kamandi, Jennifer Hale as Alura & Hippolyta, Aldis Hodge as John Stewart, Jamie Gray Hyder as Hawkgirl, Erika Ishii as Doctor Light/Dr. Hoshi & Huntress, David Kaye as The Question & Satellite, Matt Lanter as Blue Beetle, Liam McIntyre as Aquaman, Lou Diamond Phillips as Spectre, Matt Ryan as Constantine, Keesha Sharp as Vixen, Harry Shum Jr. as Brainiac 5, and Jimmi Simpson as Green Arrow.

Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two is produced by Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau and executive produced by Butch Lukic, Sam Register, and Michael Uslan. The film is directed by Jeff Wamester from a script by Jim Krieg. Casting and voice direction is by Wes Gleason. The film is based on characters from DC and the graphic novel "Crisis on Infinite Earths" by Marv Wolfman and George P?rez

Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two will be available on April 3 9 to purchase digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. On April 30 23 the film will be available to purchase on 4K Ultra HD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-Ray Discs online and in-store at major retailers.

SYNOPSIS:

An endless army of SHADOW DEMONS bent on the destruction of all reality swarms over our world and all parallel Earths! The only thing opposing them is the mightiest team of metahumans ever assembled. But not even the combined power of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and all their fellow superheroes can slow down the onslaught of this invincible horde. What mysterious force is driving them? And how do the long-buried secrets of the Monitor and Supergirl threaten to crush our last defense?

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

Physical and Digital

  • Voices in Crisis
  • The Bat-Family of the Multiverse
  • Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three Sneak Peek

PRICING AND FILM INFORMATION

PRODUCT SRP

Digital purchase $19.99

4K Ultra HD Steelbook + Digital Version* $47.99 USA

4K Ultra HD Steelbook $54.99 Canada

Blu-ray + Digital Version* $29.98 USA

Blu-ray $39.99 Canada

4K/Blu-ray Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

Blu-ray Subtitles: English, Spanish, Dutch, French

Running Time: 95 min

Rated PG-13 for violence, some disturbing images and thematic elements.

*Digital version not available in Canada

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Joe Manganiello Teases Surprising New Deathstroke Plans After Advice From James Gunn (Exclusive) https://comicbook.com/movies/news/joe-manganiello-teases-surprising-new-deathstroke-plans-after-advice-from-james-gunn-exclusive/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame 8e69eb25-ed0d-452f-b4ba-89b74d2e41d9

It has taken a long time to get there, but it appears Joe Managaniello is finally ready to say goodbye to Deathstroke the Terminator. Speaking with ComicBook.com about the upcoming Deal or No Deal Island, the beloved actor and personality said that while he is friends with James Gunn, that connection has pushed him more toward stepping away from Deathstroke than fighting to keep the part. After appearing briefly in Justice League, the actor was set to play the primary antagonist in Ben Affleck's The Batman, until that movie fell apart. Then, Manganiello wrote his own Deathstroke screenplay that apparently had some fans at Warner Bros. before the studio decided to reboot DC's shared universe of movies.

After almost a decade, Manganiello told us that Gunn convinced him to let it go. That's not before DC made one last overture, though -- one that could signal to fans that the comics side is open to revisiting the "dead" universes that lit up screens prior to 2024.

"James [Gunn] is my buddy, and James and I had a conversation about it because Jim lee over at DC Comics wanted me to create a graphic novel series based on the screenplay that I wrote for the Deathstroke origin film that, when they were dismantling the DCEU, that went to the wayside as well," Manganiello said. "Jim read it, and wanted it to be a graphic novel series, but no one could assure me that, if it garnered the attention of directors and producers, that I couldn't be attached. So I had to let it go. James Gunn was just like, 'Let it go.'"

Starting with recasting Superman for the upcoming film Superman: Legacy, nearly every character featured in the "DC Extended Universe" -- an unofficial name for Zack Snyder's shared superhero space which eventually became at least semi-official -- has since been abandoned or recast. The only actors returning for James Gunn's DC Universe so far are the cast of Peacemaker and Xolo Maridue?a's Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle.

Deal or No Deal Island's supersized premiere airs February 26th at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC before moving to its regular timeslot at 10 p.m. ET/PT on March 4th. All episodes will be available next day on Peacock.

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Nightwing #111 Review: Preparing for an Epic Finale https://comicbook.com/comics/news/nightwing-111-review-dc-comics/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Adam Barnhardt 9646de27-4528-4f12-9a8c-4fbf12d75a51 As revealed earlier this month, the current Nightwing run will soon begin its last arc in just a few months as Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo depart the series for other work. It's a move that's already been set into motion, with Nightwing #111 serving as the official beginning of the end. Though it's technically not part of the "Fallen Grayson" arc that begins with Nightwing #114, Taylor's script here begins moving the final pieces into place for a substantial finale.

The thing is, Taylor uses Batman to help tell Nightwing's story. Though it isn't necessarily a full origin, we see Dick's roots for the umpteenth time. That angle is far from necessary, yet it works. Not only that, it works exceptionally well as the story tugs at your heartstrings. Perhaps it's use of simultaneous timelines, mirroring Dick's upbringing and that of Iko Wahid. It's one gut punch after the next, and leaves you feeling for the young protagonist.

Then there's the work of the art team. Though they've each spent some time on Nightwing, the art of the issue really stands out. Between Batman and the setting shifting to Gotham, there's something about the grime and grit of Basri's lineart to pushes the story to an entirely different level. Hundreds of artists have drawn the Caped Crusader for DC Comics and frankly, this team should be among the best of the best to do it.

Most importantly, Nightwing #111 taps into exactly what made Taylor and Redondo's work on the series so great from the start. It's a hyperexamination of what it means to be a superhero, allowing readers to follow along as Dick Grayson's internal struggles are often bigger threats than the physical fights Nightwing finds himself in from issue to issue. Although Batman might not necessarily be the best one to offer therapeutic advice, there's something charming in Dick turning to his mentor to help the hero over a massive roadblock in his crime-fighting life. If this is the type of stories Taylor tells between now and the end of his story, Nightwing is going down as one of the best superhero stories ever told.

Published by DC Comics

On February 20, 2024

Written by Tom Taylor

Art by Sami Basri

Inks by Vicent Cifuentes

Colors by Adriano Lucas

Letters by Wes Abbott

Cover by Bruno Redondo

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Madame Web Is the Spiritual Successor to a Long-Forgotten DC TV Series https://comicbook.com/movies/news/madame-web-spoilers-successor-birds-of-prey-dc-tv-series/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 04:36:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson 7a4c0101-d4a9-47e4-95d6-0c7e3ea35fd3

Madame Web arrived in theaters last week, and the conversation surrounding the Sony film definitely has not slowed down. The film, which is the latest entry into Sony's Spider-Man Universe, has been met with some baffled reactions, including a record-breaking performance at the box office and on Rotten Tomatoes.

Amid the discourse, many have argued that Madame Web embodies a lot of tropes of the superhero movies of the mid-2000s, evoking titles such as Daredevil, Catwoman, and Elektra. But to an extent, a better encapsulation of Madame Web's energy -- down to a handful of parallels within the film itself -- is The WB's short-lived Birds of Prey TV show. Spoilers for Madame Web lurk below! Only look if you want to know!

What Was the Birds of Prey TV Show About?

Premiering in the fall of 2002, Birds of Prey had a distinct place in DC's burgeoning superhero canon. It initially aimed to be a spinoff to the network's Superman-focused Smallville series, which had premiered the previous year to great fanfare. It also, through its marketing and opening sequence, tried to establish connections to the Michael Keaton-starring Batman and Batman Returns, insinuating that Helena Kyle / Huntress (Ashley Scott) was the daughter of those films' Batman and Catwoman. Together, with wheelchair-bound computer hacker Barbara Gordon / Oracle (Dina Mayer) and teenage runaway Dinah Redmond (Rachel Skarsten), Helena works to combat crime in the dire world of New Gotham.

Despite breaking records upon its premiere, Birds of Prey was very quickly canceled, only airing a total of thirteen episodes across its run. The series followed Dinah, Helena, and Barbara across an array of superhero-adjacent scenarios, including a fight against a revenge-filled Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn (Mia Sara).

How Is Madame Web Like the Birds of Prey TV Show?

While Madame Web and Birds of Prey play off of two wildly different superhero canons, their approaches prove to be surprisingly similar. At the time of Birds of Prey being greenlit, the comic had only run for a handful of years with just Dinah and Barbara at the center, as Huntress would not be added to the book until months after the show's cancellation by Gail Simone. Madame Web, meanwhile, involves Cassandra "Cassie" Webb (Dakota Johnson), Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced), and Mattie Franklin (Celeste O'Connor) -- various Spider-Man-adjacent heroines who have (outside of Cassie and Julia) rarely crossed paths in the comics. Madame Web, herself, has only had a limited role in the comics since her 1980 comic debut, a fact that created a meme of sorts once the film first started getting off of the ground. While countless superhero projects have showcased the potential of throwing disparate characters into the same story, it can be argued that both Madame Web and Birds of Prey showed what it's like when some of that potential is left untapped. Despite boasting an ensemble of intriguing female characters, Madame Web still roots itself (for better or for worse) in Cassie's origin story -- similarly to how Birds of Prey regularly treated Huntress like its main protagonist.

The similarities between Madame Web and Birds of Prey extend beyond that, though. The broad archetypes of teenage runaways and/or orphans led by a wheelchair-bound mentor with the ability to view more than most can describe both projects to a tee, especially once the film reaches its final moments and Cassie is blinded and partially paralyzed. There are even some smaller parallels, like precognitive visions (Dinah's in Birds of Prey, and Cassie's in Madame Web) inexplicably changing one of the heroines' comic-accurate last names (Dinah in Birds of Prey and Julia in Madame Web), a deranged villain who inexplicably wants them dead (Harley in Birds of Prey, and Tahar Rahim's Ezekiel Sims in Madame Web), and a subplot revolving around a baby (a fast-growing metahuman orphan in Birds of Prey, and Peter Parker in Madame Web). As some have already pointed out on social media in the time since Madame Web's release, even the base of operations that Cassie and the girls work out of during the film's finale has a spiderweb-shaped window that looks awfully similar to Birds of Prey's clocktower. The very last moments of the film, which show all four women suited up as superheroes in the future and looking out at the city below, is a narrative beat that nearly all of Birds of Prey's episodes ended on.

Sure, these parallels certainly don't absolve Madame Web of some of its faults and flaws -- but they at least contextualize the type of superhero story it ended up telling. Whether by design or by accident, Madame Web might be the closest thing we've gotten to the Birds of Prey TV show in a while.

Madame Web is now playing exclusively in theaters.

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Batman Year One Artist's Edition Is The Ultimate Version Of a Classic https://comicbook.com/comics/news/batman-year-one-artists-edition-is-the-ultimate-version-of-a-classic/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:12:00 +0000 Sean Fallon 6665f7dc-3302-42de-9b9e-fcc906d3556a 81cymv2yxyl-sl1500.jpg

Batman: Year One from writer Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential Batman stories of all-time. It reimagines Bruce Wayne's first year on the job as Batman in Gotham, depicting a man that is far from the iconic crime-fighter that he would eventually become. It's a story that every comic book fan should read, and one that is certainly worthy of a super fancy deluxe edition that Batman fans can cherish for years to come.

David Mazzucchelli's Batman Year One Artist's Edition is a hardcover edition collects Batman #404-407 (1986) and presents them in the same 14 x 21 inch size as most of the pages were originally drawn. It also features a new introduction by Mazzucchelli along with the complete collection of layouts, giving readers "true insight into a master storytellers process from initial spark to completed page".

Of course, a super fancy deluxe edition such as this will have a price tag to match. At the time of writing, Batman Year One Artist's Edition is available to pre-order right here on Amazon for $135, which is 10% off the $150 list price. It will arrive on your doorstep on July 16th, and if the price goes down further between now and then, pre-order customers will automatically get the biggest discount. Additional Artist Edition pre-orders include:

Official description of Batman: Year One: "Before Batman became synonymous with striking fear into the hearts of cowardly and superstitious criminals, there was just Bruce Wayne, an orphaned millionaire who was Gotham City's prodigal son by day and an angry vigilante by night. Despite his best efforts, Bruce knows that his nightly patrols have very little effect in making a difference in a city that has forgotten what justice is. In order to inspire real change, he will need to become something more than a man...he will need to become a symbol.

"Bruce isn't the only crusader trying to clean up the streets. Lieutenant James Gordon is a good cop who's tired of the corruption that has infiltrated every aspect of Gotham, including the GCPD. Together, these two might stand a chance of restoring some sense of order in Gotham City--if the mob or dirty cops don't take them out first!"

Note that Batman: Year One is available in a paperback graphic novel on Amazon for only $10. DC adapted "Batman: Year One" into a standalone, direct-to-video animated film released in 2011, with Ben McKenzie voicing Bruce Wayne / Batman and Bryan Cranston voicing Jim Gordon. You can order the 4K edition here on Amazon for $19.98.

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DC's Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two Trailer Released https://comicbook.com/dc/news/justice-league-crisis-infinite-earths-part-2-trailer/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 20:48:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 466b4b96-57c4-4d3a-ba5a-a4809b9b4257

The Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two full trailer has been released by DC and Warner Bros. Animation - and you can check it out below!

The full trailer for Crisis on Infinite Earth - Part Two shows the DC Trinity (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) under attack by the Antimatter Universe. Supergirl becomes the key to saving the day, but new revelations about Kara Zor-El's origin, and the nature of the DC Multiverse, threaten to everything is, ever way, or might be. A multiversal war erupts, and there's a hint that it could result in some very big casualties.

Indeed, one of the most striking images in this Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two trailer is the teaser of Kara holding the smoldering corpse of some friend or ally, with tears streaming down her face. As older DC Comics fans know, the original Crisis on Infinite Earths comic series had a big twist in issue #7 where Kara saved Superman from the deadly machines trying to merge the Earths - at the cost of her own life. Superman standing in anguish, holding up Supergirl's lifeless body in his arms, has become one of the most iconic pieces of imagery in the DC Universe.

But from the look of things, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two could put a new twist on the story. If it ends up being Superman who gets killed, it would be an interesting new twist on the story and its implications.

What Is Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths About?

dc-justice-league-crisis-infinite-earths-part-2-trailer-bat-family.jpg
(Photo: Warner Bros. Animation)

Death is coming. Worse than death: oblivion. Not just for our Earth, but for everyone, everywhere, in every universe! Against this ultimate destruction, the mysterious Monitor has gathered the greatest team of Super Heroes ever assembled. But what can the combined might of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern and hundreds of Super Heroes from multiple Earths even do to save all of reality from an unstoppable antimatter Armageddon?!

Based on DC's iconic comic book limited series 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' by Marv Wolfman and George P?rez, join DC Super Heroes from across the multiverse in the first of three parts of DC's new animated film Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One, which marks the beginning of the end to the Tomorrowverse story arc.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the all-new, action-packed DC animated film features some of DC's most famous Super Heroes from multiple universes including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, who come together to stop an impending threat of doom and destruction.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two will be available on digital on April 23rd.

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Batman Beyond Gets an Animated Movie Pitch From Spider-Verse Producer and It Looks STUNNING https://comicbook.com/anime/news/batman-beyond-gets-an-animated-movie-pitch-from-spider-verse-producer-and-it-looks-stunning/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:50:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame 46552761-886e-4d89-9224-6920f975d21c

Writer/Director Patrick Harpin (My Dad the Bounty Hunter) and production designer/producer Yuhki Demers (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse) have apparently teamed up to pitch an animated Batman Beyond movie to Warner Bros., and in a sign of either confidence or desperation, they have released a number of still images from the production on social media. In the shots, Terry McGinnis explores Neo-Gotham and faces off with Inque, one of his most dangerous enemies from the original show (who also played a key role in the later comic book adaptations).

According to Demers, the pair have been pitching various folks at Warner Bros. for almost six months, but have not yet spoken to James Gunn. In spite of that seemingly promising progress through the ranks, the animator admits that the very first thing they were told was that they weren't going to get a "yes" on Batman Beyond.

"Before we pitched, they warned us 'there is absolutely no way we can do a Beyond movie,' but they loved our enthusiasm. We pitched the outline for the entire film, and what started as a 'never' turned into a 'maybe'," Demers explained. "In the time since, we've been pitching our way up the company hoping to get to James Gunn. But for now, here's a taste of what we've been cooking."

You can see the images below.

Batman Beyond ran from 1999 until 2001, weighing in at 3 seasons and 52 episodes -- plus a direct-to-video feature film. It also span off The Zeta Project, which ran for two seasons in 2001 and 2002.

In the teaser for part two of Warner Home Entertainment's three part Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation, Terry McGinnis arrives, marking the character's first featured animation role in years. In the time since the original show wrapped up, there has been near-constant talk about doing a live-action adaptation, or a sequel movie, or a reboot. Things have, to this point, never gotten off the ground, perhaps because the show was so beloved that any follow-up would almost be guaranteed to suffer by comparison.

The character has had continued adventures in DC comics, where a 25th anniversary anthology is coming soon. He even (kinda/sorta) joined the main line DC continuity for a while, teaming up with Booster Gold and throwing down with the Bruce Wayne version of Batman.

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The Weekly Pull: Guardians of the Galaxy Annual; The Six Fingers; Alien: Black, White & Blood, and More https://comicbook.com/comics/news/new-comics-this-week-february-21-2024-marvel-dc-image/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:37:00 +0000 Jamie Lovett f9ad80f9-a9c0-4d4e-8329-c0f0ef2cfcac
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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Reveals Max Streaming Date https://comicbook.com/movies/news/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-reveals-max-streaming-date/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:24:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame 3f499ab8-1114-4c14-94d7-ea0096b973f3

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is coming to Max in just one week. Not long after arriving on VOD platforms, the Aquaman sequel will be available to stream for free with a Max subscription beginning on February 27, giving a new audience of fans a chance to see it. Some of DC's poorer-performing recent movies, including Black Adam and The Flash, went on to perform well on Max, so it would not be a surprise for Aquaman to dominate streaming charts when it releases, which comes two weeks before its March 12 home video release date, when it will be available to buy on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom arrived in theaters on December 22, and earned $433 million against a reported budget of between $200 and $215 million. A month later, the film arrived on Digital to buy and rent beginning on January 23, and a month on from that, it's now coming to Max.

Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa--along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman--return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father's death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman's family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.

All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman's half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother's reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis' Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father's death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman is Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.

Directed by Wan, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is produced by Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan. The executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada. The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.

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DC Teases the Return of a Fan-Favorite Team https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-teases-return-team-jurassic-league-brave-and-the-bold-13/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 04:46:00 +0000 Jenna Anderson fc29b4fe-4365-4f2b-9933-87b4ee30f77b

One of the weirdest comic teams in the modern age is about to make a comeback. Last week, DC unveiled their solicitations for their upcoming May 2024 comics, which include the first details surrounding Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13. As the synopsis for Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13 reveals, the dinosaur-themed Jurassic League will be returning in one of the issue's backup stories, which will involve an unexpected crossover with Booster Gold. The fan-favorite Jurassic League were introduced in their own titular series in 2022, written by Daniel Warren Johnson with art by Juan Gedeon.

BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #13

  • Written by TIM SEELEY, MARK RUSSELL, DELILAH S. DAWSON, JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV, JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER, RODNEY BARNES
  • Art by KELLEY JONES, JON MIKEL, SERG ACU?A, LISANDRO ESTHERREN, JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER
  • Cover by SIMONE DI MEO
  • Variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
  • Variant cover by JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER
  • $7.99 US | 64 pages | Prestige | (all covers are card stock)
  • ON SALE 5/28/24
  • Brave and the Bold enters its second year with five tremendous tales! Nightwing and Deadman face the ghosts of the circus, as presented in spectacularly horrific detail by Kelley Jones! Booster Gold (allegedly) causes a disaster that must be fixed by...the JURASSIC LEAGUE?! Artemis's quest comes to its stunning conclusion! Batman and Guy Gardner face high strangeness when a UFO crashes in Gotham! And finally, Jason Shawn Alexander brings his legendary talents to Batman Black and White!
  • batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-13-open-to-order-mattina.jpg
    (Photo: DC)

Who Are DC's Jurassic League?

2022's Jurassic League reimagined the heroes and villains of the DC universe are anthropomorphic dinosaurs. In the series, the Trinity, alongside a league of other super-powered dinosaurs, join forces to save a prehistoric Earth from the sinister machinations of Darkseid. Wait ... what? Okay, maybe you don't know the story. So join us and bear witness to a brand-new - yet older than time - adventure and experience the Justice League as you have never seen them before! The events of the series have since been officially canonized in the DC Multiverse as Earth-27.

"Jurassic League is all I want to draw: dinos and epic fights," Gedeon revealed when the series was first announced. "My own version of a 90s cartoon or videogame. Expect a story about survival, unity and hope where the strong protect the weak in a world where danger lurks in every corner."

"It's been an absolute pleasure to join Juan Gideon in creating a new world for DC, complete with dinos, cavemen, and extinction level events," Johnson echoed. "Batsuar suplexes a Joker dilophosaurus, you're welcome!"

What do you think of DC's Jurassic League returning in Batman: Brave and the Bold #13? Will you be picking up the issue when it arrives in May of this year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Batman: Brave and the Bold #13 will be released on Tuesday, May 28th wherever comics are sold.

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DC: Batman Collection Announced By The Folio Society https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-batman-folio-society/ Mon, 19 Feb 2024 16:32:00 +0000 Jamie Lovett 747bc33c-6fa5-4524-855c-cf7897ef44e8

Batman is getting The Folio Society treatment. The Folio Society, in collaboration with DC, will celebrate the 85th anniversary of Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27 with DC: Batman, a high-end collection of some of the Dark Knight's most important adventures. That includes a replica edition of Batman #1, reprinting Batman's first headlining comic book as it first appeared in 1940. The DC: Batman collection (The Folio Society's second collaboration with DC, following last year's DC: The Golden Age) features comics by talents like Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, and Kelley Jones, as selected by former DC President, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of DC, Jennette Kahn

The 320-page DC: Batman volume includes 12 Batman issues in total, plus the Batman #1 facsimile, scanned from an original copy. The issue includes the original backup stories and vintage, and the stories introduce The Joker and The Cat, later known as Catwoman.

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(Photo: The Folio Society)

"Created towards the end of the Great Depression by artist Bob Kane with writer Bill Finger, Batman is an icon as familiar as James Bond or Tarzan, one who has evolved to reflect the changing attitudes of the twentieth century," said Folio Society Head of Editorial, James Rose, in a press release. "The stories selected for DC: Batman reveal how the character and his billionaire alter-ego Bruce Wayne gradually evolved from the dutiful crimefighter of the 1940s to a man possessed, as crazy as the criminals he puts away. The Caped Crusader faces a rogue's gallery steeped in gothic horror, from the Weimar cinema-inspired The Joker to the Jekyll/Hyde figure of Two-Face and the Moriarty-like Ra's al Ghul."

In her DC: Batman introduction, Kahn writes, "Trauma is a through-line in the Batman mythology. It has made psychopaths of Batman's foes and brought him to the edge of madness himself. Batman's battle is not just against criminals and crime. He fears the day he'll look into a mirror and see, not Bruce Wayne's face, but The Joker's."

"The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Batman: Year One, by Miller and Dave Mazzucchelli, and the terrifying classic The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland are widely regarded as among the greatest comic books ever created," added Tom Walker, Folio Society's Publishing Director. "These stories changed the graphic medium forever with their combination of cinematic storytelling, shocking violence, and literary depth and serve as centerpiece texts for DC: Batman."

The Folio Society provided a list of all the stories in its DC: Batman collection. The book includes:

Facsimile: Batman #1 (Spring 1940)

  • Writer: Bill Finger
  • Cover artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
  • Artists: Bob Kane, Sheldon Moldoff
  • Editor: Whitney Ellsworth

"The Bat-Man"

  • Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)
  • Writer: Bill Finger
  • Artist: Bob Kane
  • Editor: Vincent Sullivan

"Robin--the Boy Wonder"

  • Detective Comics #38 (April 1940)
  • Writer: Bill Finger
  • Artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
  • Editor: Whitney Ellsworth

"The Crimes of Two-Face!"

  • Detective Comics #66 (August 1942)
  • Writer: Bill Finger
  • Artists: Jerry Robinson, George Roussos
  • Letterers: Ira Schnapp
  • Editor: Whitney Ellsworth

"Batman and Green Arrow: The Senator's Been Shot!"

  • The Brave and the Bold #85 (September 1969)
  • Writer: Bob Haney
  • Cover artist: Neal Adams
  • Penciler: Neal Adams
  • Inker: Dick Giordano
  • Letterer: Ben Oda
  • Editor: Murray Boltinoff

"Daughter of the Demon"

  • Batman #232 (June 1971)
  • Writer: Dennis O'Neil
  • Cover artist: Neal Adams
  • Penciler: Neal Adams
  • Inker: Dick Giordano
  • Letterer: John Costanza
  • Editor: Julius Schwartz

"The Dead Yet Live"

  • Detective Comics #471 (August 1977)
  • Writer: Steve Englehart
  • Cover artists: Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin, Tatjana Wood, Gaspar Saladino
  • Penciler: Marshall Rogers
  • Inker: Terry Austin
  • Colorists: Marshall Rogers
  • Letterer: John Workman
  • Editors: Julius Schwartz, E. Nelson Bridwell

"The Dark Knight Returns"

  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (June 1986)
  • Writer: Frank Miller
  • Cover artists: Frank Miller, Lynn Varley
  • Penciler: Frank Miller
  • Inker: Klaus Janson
  • Colorist: Lynn Varley
  • Letterer: John Costanza
  • Editors: Dick Giordano, Dennis O'Neil

"Batman: Year One--Chapter One: Who I Am--How I Come to Be"

  • Batman #404 (February 1987)
  • Writer: Frank Miller
  • Artist: Dave Mazzucchelli
  • Colorist: Richmond Lewis
  • Letterer: Todd Klein
  • Editor: Dennis O'Neil

Batman: The Killing Joke (July 1988)

  • Writer: Alan Moore
  • Cover artists: Brian Bolland, Richard Bruning
  • Artist: Brian Bolland
  • Colorist: John Higgins
  • Letterer: Richard Starkings
  • Editors: Dennis O'Neil, Dan Raspler

"The Last Arkham (Part One)"

  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 (June 1992)
  • Writer: Alan Grant
  • Cover artist: Brian Stelfreeze
  • Penciler: Norm Breyfogle
  • Inker: Norm Breyfogle
  • Colorist: Adrienne Roy
  • Letterer: Todd Klein
  • Editors: Scott Peterson, Dennis O'Neil

"Knightfall Part 1: Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas"

  • Batman #492 (May 1993)
  • Writer: Doug Moench
  • Cover artists: Kelley Jones, Bob LeRose
  • Penciler: Norm Breyfogle
  • Inker: Norm Breyfogle
  • Colorist Adrienne Roy
  • Letterer: Richard Starkings
  • Editors: Scott Peterson, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Dennis O'Neil

DC: Batman is the second release in The Folio Society's DC publishing program, following DC: The Golden Age. DC: Batman is scanned from original copies found in the DC archives. The comics are reproduced in 10" x 7" treasury format within an anti-scratch laminated hardcover sporting Batman's silhouette. The titles are foil-embossed in yellow and midnight blue. The book fits into a pitch-black slipcase emblazoned the Bat-Signal.

DC: Batman will go on sale from The Folio Society on February 20th. Interested readers can place their orders at The Folio Society's website.

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DC Versus Marvel Omnibus Covers Revealed https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-versus-marvel-omnibus-amalgam-age-omnibus-covers/ Mon, 19 Feb 2024 02:00:00 +0000 Cameron Bonomolo 1818ac10-a0de-4080-b34d-892b687e3fc8

It's the age-old question: DC Comics or Marvel Comics? Fans won't have to choose between the two comic book publishers with the DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and the DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, both headed back to print for the first time in decades. The new crossover collections -- featuring the world's finest superheroes and Earth's mightiest heroes from their respective universes -- will each feature a standard cover and a direct-market-exclusive cover available in comic shops. The DM variants are yet to be revealed, but we now have the first look at the pair of DC/Marvel omnibus editions. See them below.

The 960-page DC Versus Marvel Omnibus (left), featuring cover art by John Romita Jr. (Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights), and the 1024-page DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus (right), featuring wraparound art by Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) and Angus McKie (The Dome: Ground Zero), retail for $150 each and go on sale August 6.

dc-versus-marvel-omnibus-cover-dc-marvel-amalgam-omnibus-cover.jpg

The omnibus editions reprint the stories featuring the team-ups and battles between DC and Marvel's superhero rosters, including the classic crossover Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man and the fan-voted showdown of the century: the four-issue limited series DC Versus Marvel. Per the official descriptions:

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus

Who would win: Superman versus Spider-Man? Batman versus Captain America? The X-Men meeting the Teen Titans? DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects crossovers between the core DC and Marvel characters, from 1976's Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000's Batman/Daredevil. Included are stories from some of comics' most revered talents, namely Dennis O'Neil, George P?rez, Dan Jurgens, Chris Claremont, Walter Simonson, J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Bagley, Gerry Conway, John Romita Jr., and more. DC and Marvel fans alike can't miss these thrilling pieces of unearthed comic book history!

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #1, Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1, Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1, Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #28, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Spider-Man and Batman #1, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, and Superman/Fantastic Four #1.

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus


DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus features stories, first told in 1996, of the two superhero universes fused together into a new Amalgam Universe, combining DC's and Marvel's heroes, villains, and mythologies. The result was a series of unforgettable one-shot comic books starring the likes of Dark Claw (Batman and Wolverine), Super Soldier (Superman and Captain America), Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern), and many more! These stories, from creators such as Peter David, Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, Dave Gibbons, Ron Marz, Jos? Luis Garc?a-L?pez, Gary Frank, Bill Sienkiewicz, Claudio Castellini, and more, represent one of the most fun and unlikely periods in comic book history, and now are available in one omnibus. Included in this volume are the historic DC Versus Marvel miniseries and its sequels, perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel!

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus collects DC Versus Marvel #1-4, DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4, Unlimited Access #1-4, Bat-Thing #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, Iron Lantern #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1, Super Soldier #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, X-Patrol #1, and more, plus a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.

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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's Global Box Office Continues to Climb https://comicbook.com/movies/news/aquaman-2-worldwide-box-office-433-million/ Sun, 18 Feb 2024 22:57:00 +0000 Adam Barnhardt a8d4721f-e777-4ae4-a305-b5a6091daa56

Despite being available to purchase or rent on digital marketplaces for the better part of a month, the global box office total of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom continues to grow. Through Sunday, the movie has made over $433 million around the world, effectively making it the highest-grossing DC film since 2018. Coincidentally enough, it also happens to be the last picture part of the DC Extended Universe, the franchise that's been wrapped up in favor of DC Studios' new DC Universe.

It's the highest-grossing movie for a DC-branded property since the first Aquaman was released in 2018. That movie finishes atop the DCEU box office rankings with a monstrous $1.15 billion global box office haul.

Will there be an Aquaman 3?

Even though both films in the Aquaman franchise have performed admirably at the box office, it's unlikely a third film will get made, at least with Jason Momoa in the lead role. New DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran have said the actor won't be playing two roles in the DCU, and most signs have pointed towards the actor being cast the franchise's new Lobo. Still, filmmaker James Wan has said he has plenty of ideas to continue the franchise should the DC Studios powers that be choose to keep it alive.

"What I can speak to that is the Jason Momoa story, definitely, as Aquaman definitely has more places to go, and yes," the filmmaker previously told ComicBook.com. "When we get to the end of this... The answer is yes. I don't know how to answer that without giving things away, because where we go at the end of this movie, it does tee up something bigger... Not bigger but it does tee up a direction for that story, and I don't want to speak to that just because it's the end of the movie."

"My dream would be to create a Seven Kingdom cinematic universe on its own, where we could visit all the different worlds that we sort of touch on these two films," he added. "[Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is] about the growth of Jason's character of Arthur. In the first movie, he was a wanderer trying to still find out who he is, but in this one, he ultimately becomes the king of Atlantis."

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom -- starring Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Amber Heard, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman -- is now available to rent or own on digital HD.

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Superman: Legacy Caused Superman & Lois Cancellation, Says CW Boss https://comicbook.com/dc/news/superman-legacy-caused-superman-lois-cancellation-says-cw-boss/ Sun, 18 Feb 2024 01:56:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 01ff466a-5fcc-4a11-9752-1165df060060

Last fall, The CW announced that Superman & Lois would end with its upcoming fourth season. For fans of the series, the cancellation felt like a little bit of a surprise given that Superman & Lois was a popular series for the network. Now, network president Brad Schwartz reveals the real reason the series is coming to an end: James Gunn's upcoming film Superman: Legacy.

According to Schwartz, the decision to end Superman & Lois came down from Warner Bros. because they didn't want a competing Superman product -- and with the upcoming Superman: Legacy, there would be.

"They don't want a competing Superman product in the marketplace," Schwartz said (via The Wrap).

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had previously indicated back in early 2023 when Superman: Legacy was first announced that Superman & Lois was likely to continue for a bit, even with changes happening at The CW as well as the initial development slate for DC Studios.

"It's a show everybody likes, so it's going to keep going for a little bit," Gunn said.

The series ultimately went on for Season 3 and will have Season 4 -- fulfilling the estimated "one to two more seasons" that was also mentioned at that time.

Superman & Lois Will Be The CW's Final DC TV Show

With The Flash ending last year and the cancellation of Gotham Knights after just one season, Superman & Lois will mark the end of an era for The CW, closing out the network's DC television series, something that began with Smallville in 2001.

"Over the last three seasons, SUPERMAN & LOIS redefined both the superhero genre and family drama as Tyler, Elizabeth and the entire cast effortlessly portrayed these classic characters with new layers of depth and complexity that had never before been explored in the Superman universe," said Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment, The CW Network. "We are grateful for the years of hard work and graceful storytelling from the show's writers, producers, actors and crew, as well as our terrific partners at Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions. As Superman embarks on his final flight, the team is leaving us with an absolutely epic 10-episode must-watch-every-minute farewell to one of the most legendary CW families ever."

Season 4 of Superman & Lois Will See Some Big Changes

When Superman & Lois returns for its final season, it will come with some changes. Shortly after the series' Season 4 renewal, it was confirmed that the cast of the series would be trimmed down, with Dylan Walsh (Sam Lane), Emmanuelle Chiriqui (Lana Lang), Erik Valdez (Kyle Cushing), Inde Navarette (Sarah Cushing), Wole Parks (John Henry Irons), Tayler Buck (Natalie Irons), and Sofia Hasmik (Chrissy Beppo) all demoted to recurring or guest star roles. Tyler Hoechlin (Clark Kent/Superman), Tulloch, Michael Bishop (Jonathan Kent), and Alex Garfin (Jordan Kent) are all set to remain as series regulars with Michael Cudlitz (Lex Luthor) also being promoted to series regular for the final season.

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned. The film will also star Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho.

"It's not an origin story," Safran told reporters last year. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Fans Are Worried About the Game's Future https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-game-reddit/ Sat, 17 Feb 2024 21:55:00 +0000 Tyler Fischer 4a7318fc-3f44-469a-a1e1-a274760e1d9a

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is sitting at a 60 on Metacritic and its 24 hour player count peak on Steam was only 2,312. We don't have every available metric for the game, but the ones we do have reveal a bad start for the new DC game from Rocksteady Studios. Over time, its fortunes could change, but that's a long road away, and right now fans of the game are worried about its future.

On the game's Reddit page this week, there have been a metric ton of posts doomsaying the game, primarily citing its very low player count on Steam. There have been so many of these posts that there are now many posts complaining about the number of posts doing this. That said, while some fans are just trying to avoid the doom and gloom and simply enjoy the game, others have are of the mind the game's make or break point is coming up soon.

"Can we all agree that Season 1 is a make or break moment for this game," reads one of many Reddit posts taking about the future of the game. "I really like this game but Rocksteady needs a miracle if they want to turn this ship around I HOPE they're listening and aware of all the flaws of this game if Season 1 doesn't impress that will be it for majority of people sadly.

What do the comments say? Well, they are a bit divided. The top comment largely echos the sentiment, and it comes from someone with supposedly over 100 hours in the game, which is a lot considering it is not very long.

"Even as someone who's had no issues with the game and put in 125 hours so far, if Season 1 is just more of the same missions but in a different Elseworlds I'm probably done with the grind," reads the comment. "It's definitely a make or break thing for a lot of us."

This sentiment is common in the comments and in other posts, but there are others who think it is too early to panic. Meanwhile, there are also some who have already accepted the perceived fate of the game and made peace with it.

"There's nothing to make. The game is dead," reads another comment. "People completely rejected it and they're not going to suddenly pick it up because of new content. The only possible chance to save it at this point is making it free to play and they won't."

Only time will tell what the future for the new Suicide Squad game is, but right now it seems more fans are talking about the game's seemingly imminent demise than they are the actual game, which is never a good place for a game to be.

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Arrowverse Producer Teases Sequel Series for Brandon Routh's Superman https://comicbook.com/dc/news/arrowverse-marc-guggenheim-brandon-routh-superman-sequel-series-tease-crisis-on-infinite-earths/ Sat, 17 Feb 2024 19:31:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 0f46703a-ed0d-40de-9a94-a3edf60995f7

Brandon Routh's time as Superman might not be over just yet -- at least if former Arrowverse executive producer Marc Guggenheim has anything to do with it. On Twitter/X, in response to fans talking about their desire for a series centered round Routh's Superman, Guggenheim teased that he and Routh have talked about a follow up to Routh's version of Superman, saying that there are some "really exciting ideas."

"Brandon and I have talked about a sequel series," Guggenheim wrote. "We have some really exciting ideas..."

As fans of The CW's Arrowverse will recall, Routh may have played Ray Palmer/The Atom on DC's Legends of Tomorrow, but he also appeared during the Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event as Clark Kent/Superman from Earth-96, portraying a Kingdom Come version of Superman. The role marked the first time Routh portrayed the Man of Steel after playing the character in 2006's Superman Returns. Routh previously told ComicBook.com that he would "absolutely' be interested in reprising the role, "given the story is the right story and Superman portrayed in the way that I see Superman."

"I was absolutely always interested in that. I have made my own investigations about the possibility of something like that. Right now, the truth is that we're flush with Superman stuff, with the success of Superman & Lois -- and Tyler's (Hoechlin) doing an awesome job on that -- and then there's a couple of scripts and stuff going around for features, I think, in different iterations at Warner Bros."

Superman & Lois Final Season Set for Fall Debut

On Friday during The CW's Television Critics Association panel, network head Brad Schwartz updated fans on the fourth and final season of Superman & Lois. While fans had been eagerly awaiting the season and hoping for a summer release, Schwartz said that the final season of the series would be "wasted" in the summer and that itis good enough to rival other networks' fall lineup.

"I watched the first episode last night," Schwartz said. "It will make you cry."

Season 4 of Superman & Lois Will See Some Big Changes

When Superman & Lois returns for its final season, it will come with some changes. Shortly after the series' Season 4 renewal, it was confirmed that the cast of the series would be trimmed down, with Dylan Walsh (Sam Lane), Emmanuelle Chiriqui (Lana Lang), Erik Valdez (Kyle Cushing), Inde Navarette (Sarah Cushing), Wole Parks (John Henry Irons), Tayler Buck (Natalie Irons), and Sofia Hasmik (Chrissy Beppo) all demoted to recurring or guest star roles. Tyler Hoechlin (Clark Kent/Superman), Tulloch, Michael Bishop (Jonathan Kent), and Alex Garfin (Jordan Kent) are all set to remain as series regulars with Michael Cudlitz (Lex Luthor) also being promoted to series regular for the final season.

Would you want to see a Superman series starring Brandon Routh? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

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Reacher Star Alan Ritchson Throws His Hat in the Ring to Play Batman https://comicbook.com/movies/news/reacher-alan-ritchson-batman-rumors-james-gunn-dcu/ Sat, 17 Feb 2024 15:47:00 +0000 Aaron Perine a2e87373-500a-4f55-9a7d-29e7767e43f8

Reacher star Alan Ritchson would love to play Batman if James Gunn came calling. While promoting Ordinary Angels, rumors have swirled around the actor playing the new Bruce Wayne. Comicbook.com had the chance to catch up with Ritchson and ask him about putting on the cape and cowl. James Gunn is planning big things for The Brave and The Bold over at DC studios. I take on a younger Batman with his young son in tow instantly attracted the attention of all the DC fans online. If the opportunity came around, the Reacher star says that James Gunn can hit him up and he'll be ready. Check out what Richeson had to say when Chris Killian asked him to say, "I'm Batman."

"As huge as this rumor mill is, I feel like this part should be offered on a silver platter at this point," Ritchson joked. "I would love to play Batman. But, I'm not yet Batman. I don't know what, I don't know what Gunn's approach is gonna be. But, yeah, that'd be great. What? He's one of the most iconic characters of all the."

Alan Ritchson Would Love To Be Batman

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(Photo: Prime Video)

The Reacher star has been in a talkative mood lately. This week Ritchson also joined BroBible's Post Credit Podcast to talk about Batman and all these rumors. James Gunn has not cast the role yet. But, he's been hard at work filling out the rest of his new DC Universe. With Comi-Con looming in the near distance, you could see the new Bruce Wayne march up onto the stage in San Diego before the year is out. Richton sounds somewhat giddy at the prospect of being the new Batman.

"The fact that people are interested in me playing Batman is a real honor and privilege. It's one of the first characters I fell in love with as a child: I still remember the big, long pistol coming out of Joker's pants as he goes to shoot down the Batplane," Ritchson told BroBible. "Those iconic moments really resonated with me as a child. For there to even be a conversation or a rumor mill surrounding this role, for me... all I can do is laugh. I just think it's wild that's where we are,"

How Is Brave And The Bold Different?

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(Photo: DC Entertainment)

A lot has been made of The Brave and The Bold as DC Comics gets ready to introduce their mainline version of The Capde Crusader. Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves are doing their thing over in another universe with The Batman. Well that movie was very well received, some fans have been waiting to see what James Gunn has planned for one of DC's most iconic heroes. Right off the bat, when the DC slate was announced, it was clear that the filmmaker was pushing for something wildly different than what we've seen on screen before.

"This is the introduction of the DCU's Batman..." Gunn told reporters in 2023. "This is the story of Damian Wayne, who is Batman's actual son who we didn't know existed for the first eight to 10 years of his life. He was raised as a little murderer and assassin. He's a little son of a bitch. He's my favorite Robin. It's based on the Grant Morrison comic book's run, which is one of my favorite Batman runs, and we are putting that all together right now."

Safran chimed-in, "And this is obviously a feature film, and it's going to feature other members of the extended 'Bat-family', just because we feel like they've been left out of the Batman stories in the theater for far too long."

Would you love him as Batman? Let us know down in the comments!

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