Comic Book News, Reviews, Articles

Major Spoiler Death Revealed For Secret Wars #1

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Tomorrow sees Marvel’s latest event kick off with Secret Wars.

Friend to Cosmic Book News, “Richard Rider Is Nova,” sent in some early information about the book.

Spoilers follow.

• The Ultimate Universe battles the Marvel 616 Universe leading to the death of – Rocket Raccoon!

• Rocket Raccoon gets blasted through the chest – as both world’s destroy each other!

Check it out below.

While we are sad to see Rocket go, perhaps Marvel will bring back the version of Guardians of the Galaxy that inspired the near billion dollar movie and get rid of the version that has become a parody of itself.

Update: Check out our Secret Wars #1 advanced review.

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Comic Book News

Justice League Darkseid War Teaser & New Batman From FCBD

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Next month kicks off the “Darkseid War” in Justice League #41, but fans got a tease with this weekend’s FCBD issue of Divergence.

Not only did we see the a glimpse into the future of the “Darkseid War,” but also the new Batman, which was previously leaked.

Justice League #41 hits June 17th, with the next issue of Batman on sale June 10th.

Justice League #41

The critically acclaimed team of Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok present the much anticipated, extra-sized first chapter of “DARKSEID WAR”! When the Justice League investigate a series of unexplained murders on Earth, it leads them to the frontlines of a war unlike any the DC Universe has ever seen – a battle between the two most powerful villains in existence: Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor! Meet Darkseid’s daughter – a mysterious force of evil with a bizarre connection to the Justice League! Plus: The horrible secret of Superwoman’s baby! The ultimate temptation of Batman! Lex Luthor vs. Superman – no holds barred! New villains! New allies! And so much more in the DC Event that has been building since JUSTICE LEAGUE #1!

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Batman #41

The all-new Batman makes his debut! Who is he, and what happens next? Find out here as a new era begins in Gotham City!

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Comic Book News

Spock Mind Melds With Hal Jordan For Green Lantern / Star Trek Crossover Cover

Last month at WonderCon saw the announcement of the Green Lantern and Star Trek crossover with The Spectrum War.

Now IDW has released a look at a new cover by Jae Lee featuring Spock mind melding with Hal Jordan.

Star Trek / Green Lantern: The Spectrum War will be a six issue mini-series released this July written by Mike Johnson with art by Angel Hernandez.

The series is described as: “Set in Star Trek’s 23rd Century, the balance of the universe will be tested when the Green Lantern Corps’ Power Rings come into the possession of certain Star Trek characters while a dark and powerful evil looms around every corner. Only the combined power of the Green Lantern Corps and the Federation stand any chance of stopping those who worship evil’s might.”

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Comic Book News Marvel

Awesome Marvel Inspired NFL Helmets

Check out the “MFL” helmets featuring artwork on NFL helmets inspired by Marvel characters. The images are from JustKozy.com, with the artist’s son posting the following on Reddit. I was always a big fan of Rhino! MFL Helmets

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Batman #40

There are tales in comics that truly reveal how the medium can transcend all others. These instances are swollen with theatrical imagery, drama and action sequences that exceed those of movie or television. Ones that put a microscope on the duality of heroism, eloquently portray the finality of man and grace us with inevitable quest for hope more than prose or poetry can. Tales that dazzle the senses with color and form, juxtaposition and layout more than any art museum could hope for.

Scott Snyder’s Batman #40 is one of those tales.

The final chapter of “Endgame” is a stunning piece that will move readers. It is a cornucopia of themes, burrowing deeper into the mythos of Batman than Snyder has ever gone before. At moments you are careening down an unmanned roller coaster, a journey that will have you gasping for air then, suddenly, you are left completely breathless, hovering above it all not being able to believe where you are or how you came to be in this position. It is a story of life, the inevitability of death and the realization of who we are along the way.

I have often called Scott Snyder the “modern day master of horror,” and I will again now. His portrayal of the Joker as a malevolent, undulating demigod of terror has become synonymous with horror on multiple levels and will surpass many incarnations from the past seventy-five years as THE Joker! But the fear in this book does not solely come from the Joker, it is deeper than that, even though Greg Capullo’s renderings of the “clown prince” and his Cheshire grin will always scare the hell out of me! It comes from Bruce and his final realization that he is not the man he always thought he was. It is that revelation that sometimes, even though we have fought so hard to believe otherwise, we were inevitably wrong about ourselves.

Scott Snyder has created a masterpiece of storytelling that will be beloved and despised like all great works are. He has taken a rich world and made it richer in just forty issues, a feat rarely seen in the medium today. He has taken risks and pushed a hero to the brink and beyond and I thank him for the nerve to give us something never seen before with such an iconic character.

The beginning will ensnare you, the middle will enthrall you and the end will crush you. Who could ask for anything more?

Comic Book News

Batman #40 Spoilers Land Online!

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The finale to “Batman Endgame” hits tomorrow in Batman #40, but a pic from the issue has landed online!

Spoilers follow.

It appears as if Scott Snyder is taking a page from Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns storyline – and flipping it upside down!

Friend to Cosmic Book News, “Superman is not human,” sent over the following spoiler image from the issue.

While Batman took out the Joker’s eye in TDKR with a batarang, we now see it’s the Joker’s turn!

Here is the description from the issue:

The finale of “Endgame” is here! Batman risks everything against The Joker! Who will laugh last?

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Update: Now that the issue is out, more pics and details are known:

Joker kills Batman in an underground tunnel. Joker stabs Batman, burns his face. They beat the hell out of each other. Explosions make the tunnel start to cave in, and they both lay there bleeding. Alfred is in the hospital and refuses to have his hand sown back on because there is no one left to help, he says.

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Comic Book News Marvel Sports

CM Punk To Co-Write Drax Comic For Marvel

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Former WWE Superstar soon-to-be turned UFC Fighter CM Punk has been announced as co-writer on a new Drax ongoing series for Marvel.

Punk, aka Phil Brooks, recently wrote a story for the Thor Annual for Marvel.

The success of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie has spawned many spinoff comics for the different characters. Gamora gets her own ongoing as well from Nicole Perlman, who wrote an earlier version of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie script and is co-writing the Captain Marvel movie.

Regarding the new Drax series, CM Punk made the announcement today at C2E2 with mention the title will launch later this year. The cover for the first issue will be by Ed McGuinness. It’s presently unknown who the co-writer and artist are (Andy Lanning wouldn’t be a bad choice as co-writer) for the series.

While no plot details are known, we see mention of “Intergalactic Fight Club” on the Drax cover, which was featured in Rocket Raccoon #1 as well.

Hopefully Punk will do his homework by reading the 2005 Drax mini-series, Annihilation and Abnett and Lanning’s 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy series that inspired the near billion dollar movie.

Our advice to Punk would be to skip Bendis‘ Guardians series in its entirety.

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Comic Book News Marvel

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy #26

As far as silly situation-comedy-ish cliché goes, I will say that this issue is among the best of the worst. Faint praise, but really that’s all it deserves.

On the up side, the well-worn clichés of someone being unwillingly elected to office, the duck-out-of-water scenarios, the enjoyment of the good life that the group falls backward into, etc. are not over-played to the point of being offensive. But make no mistake – if you read this, you’ll be wading through clichés so familiar that you’ll know what’s going to happen before you turn each page.

On the down side, Bendys just can’t seem to get the character’s voices right. He inexplicably has Drax yelling Shakespearean English such as, “Have at thee!” as if he suddenly channeled Thor. He portrays Drax as completely unfamiliar with Earth culture even though Drax began life as a human. This isn’t the historical Drax from Marvel Comics or even the Drax from Gunn’s movie. This is some inferior, newly created Drax – born of Bendys’ unfamiliarity with the character.

Bendis has never gotten Quill right, either. Quill is no longer a leader capable of single-handedly taking on a Herald and winning. He’s just a goofball screw-up who falls bass-ackward into situations and either has others rescue him from his stupidity or his srew-ups just luckily turn out right.

This incredibly stupid storyline of Quill getting married to Kitty is unspeakably asinine. I weep for what cosmic has become under Bendys, Brevoort, Loeb, and Alonso. This relationship is like every other one you see on any number of clichéd network situation comedies where the woman is the wise voice of reason and the guy is an idiot screw-up who couldn’t tie his own shoes without her. I wish Bendis would just give this comic up and take a job writing one of those television rom-coms. I’d call it good riddance.

The art and coloring has its ups-and-downs, too. Some panels are impressively rendered and colored. Others have Quill and Kitty with distorted facial expressions right out of a Looney-Tunes cartoon.

I suppose the Looney-Tunes comparison is fitting, though. Because, after-all, Bendys is just writing farce. That is the ultimate disappointment of what Marvel is now calling cosmic. It isn’t serious anymore. It is just second-rate farce to their serious Earth-bound superhero stories.

Comic Book News

New Dreadstar Comic Coming From Jim Starlin

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With a Dreadstar TV series on the way, series creator Jim Starlin has also let it be known new comic book material will be published.

“Yes, there’s definitely at least one Dreadstar comic book story in the works,” Starlin announced on Facebook. “All other info on this project will be announced as we go along.”

About two months ago saw word of the Dreadstar TV series of which Starlin will serve as executive producer and series writer.

Starlin’s Dreadstar centers around the last survivor of the Milk Way, Vanth Dreadstar, who forms a motley cast of crewmates that get caught between two powerful evil empires, the Monarch and the Church of The Instrumentality.

The Dreadstar Omnibus can be purchased through Amazon.

Jim Starlin’s Dreadstar is now available in the Omnibus format! The first and complete arc (made up of the first 12 issues) from Starlin’s epic saga is collected in one place! The pages in this new edition have been produced by digitally scanning from the original film! Also featuring the original covers and character art! Dreadstar features the adventures of Vanth Dreadstar and his crew! Dreadstar, the last survivor of the destroyed Milky Way Galaxy, found himself transported to the Empirical Galaxy! There, recruited by the sorcerer Syzygy Darklock, Dreadstar helped bring an end to a two-hundred-year-old war between the corrupt Monarchy and the fanatical Instrumentality. Containing close to 400 pages of story, art and more!

Comic Book News

Frank Miller Returns For The Dark Knight Returns III: The Master Race

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With Batman Vs. Superman inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel, DC Comics has announced Miller will return for the third part of the comic series.

Frank Miller will write The Dark Knight III: The Master Race along with Brian Azarello, with the artist to-be-announced. The eight-issue comic will be released twice per month starting this Fall.

Full details:

“THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE”
Completes Trilogy in Legendary “Dark Knight” Saga

DC Entertainment announced today that bestselling, iconic Batman writer and artist Frank Miller will write the epic conclusion of the celebrated THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS saga.

The “THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE” is the sequel to Miller’s 1986 classic THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS – heralded by TIME Magazine as one of the 10 greatest graphic novels of all time – and its 2001-2002 follow-up series BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN.

Miller will be joined by acclaimed writer Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS, JOKER, and WONDER WOMAN) on the eight-issue comic book periodical, to be published twice a month under the DC Comics imprint. Marking the 30th anniversary of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS original series, this periodical is slated for publication beginning in late Fall 2015.

“Batman remains my favorite comic book hero and a sequel to Dark Knight is going to be daunting,” said Miller, “but we’ll do our best.”

“We are thrilled to have Frank back home at DC writing Batman,” according to Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, Co-Publishers for DC Entertainment. “The story he and Brian have crafted is an astounding and triumphant conclusion to this seminal body of work which influenced and shaped generations of readers and creators alike.”

According to Azzarello, “It’s been an amazing experience collaborating with Frank these past six months. I think we have an epic story that these characters truly deserve.”

Artists for the project have yet to be announced.

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Comic Book News

Review: Convergence #3 (of 8)

Up until now the core Convergence title book has been found wanting. Personally, I enjoyed the Earth 2 series and the World’s End series quite a lot, but I found it hard to get behind Jeff King’s band of misplaced heroes in the first two issues of DC’s “mega event.” The camaraderie seemed forced and even though most of the group have fought side by side before, the reader doesn’t have enough belief in these heroes, enough “history” with these particular heroes, to fully care about them. We are not given DC “core” characters to get behind. We don’t have THE Superman, THE Batman or even THE Dick Grayson to propel us on a nail-biting journey of lost hope for the universe that could lead to the possible demise of an icon. But that may be Jeff King’s purpose all along. The characters he uses DO have great stories attached to them, if you read the aforementioned books, and they can do something that DC would not allow their “icons” to do in this universe rebuilding crossover; they can DIE!

Of course DC has killed off plenty of “icons” before, but we all know how that always turns out. But in Convergence, Jeff King has the unique task of building a stunning story where he can create new icons, ones that may survive the course of eight issues and beyond, or, he can create magnificent, sacrificial deaths for these characters where they have served their purpose for the greater good and exile them into oblivion.

I know that I keep referring to “death” in this review, but it is well warranted. Jeff King steps up the stakes in this issue, and our main band of heroes are not the only ones looking into the eyes of the reaper. Long time DC fans will be astonished with the choices Jeff King makes in this issue. There are things that happen that will set the message boards ablaze with debate! But this book doesn’t JUST revolve around shocking deaths, there is a tale of heroism and loss brewing throughout!

Jeff King has finally found the voice of his characters in this issue. There were moments from issue #2 that were done quite well, but here, King has found the rhythm to string those moments into one riveting story for the entire issue. He weaves in stunning new plot twists that excite and bewilder the reader, ones that can change the entire dynamic of the book through to its finale. But the part that takes this story to the next level is King’s inclusion of popular DC history and spinning it to involve these new characters. For longtime DC fans, it will make the story resonate even more with you as you smile in spite of yourself, and for new fans, well, you get to make some shocking new memories for the very first time!

All in all, this is the best issue yet, and the three distinct cliffhanger pieces guarantee that issue four will be amazing!

Comic Book News

DC & Mattel Launching Superhero For Girls Universe

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WB, DC Comics and Mattel have announced the creation of a new line aimed at girls with “DC Super Hero Girls.”

The initiative will include action figures, LEGOs, digital content, TV specials, made-for-videos, publishing, toys, apparel and other products.

DC Super Hero Girls is slated to launch Fall 2015.

Full info:

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Beginning in Fall 2015, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Mattel join forces to launch DC Super Hero Girls, an exciting new universe of Super Heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Featuring DC Comics’ most powerful and diverse line-up of female characters as relatable teens, DC Super Hero Girls will play out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world.

Developed for girls aged 6-12, DC Super Hero Girls centers on the female Super Heroes and Super-Villains of the DC Comics universe during their formative years—prior to discovering their full super power potential. Featuring a completely new artistic style and aesthetic, DC Comics’ icons such as Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introduction. Each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a Super Hero, including discovering her unique abilities, nurturing her remarkable powers and mastering the fundamentals of being a hero.

“DC Entertainment is home to the most iconic and well-known Super Heroes including Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl,” said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “DC Super Hero Girls represents the embodiment of our long-term strategy to harness the power of our diverse female characters. I am so pleased that we are able to offer relatable and strong role models in a unique way, just for girls.”

The initial launch of DC Super Hero Girls in Fall 2015 will include an immersive digital experience, original digital content and digital publishing—providing opportunities for girls to interact with characters, learn about the storylines, and engage in customizable play. TV specials, made-for-videos, toys, apparel, books and other product categories will begin to rollout in 2016.

“Developing a Super Hero franchise exclusively for girls that includes all of the key components of a comprehensive entertainment experience—from content to consumer products—is something we are excited to be doing in conjunction with our great partners,” said Brad Globe, President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “It’s really an honor to be part of this cultural moment and to be delivering a concept so rooted in a relatable and empowered theme that the characters of DC Comics are uniquely able to present.”

As master toy licensee, Mattel is collaborating with DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Consumer Products on DC Super Hero Girls’ narrative creation, interactive digital activations and ultimately a toy line launching in 2016. Mattel category-leading firsts include a line of characters for the action figure category, an area of the industry that has been primarily developed with boys in mind, and fashion dolls featuring strong, athletic bodies that stand on their own in heroic poses.

“Partnering with the best and being the best partner is of paramount importance,” said Richard Dickson, President, Chief Operating Officer, Mattel. “Together with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment, the DC Super Hero Girls franchise will further expand our already powerful girls portfolio. We know Super Hero is a culturally relevant theme and the DC Super Hero Girls franchise will engage and inspire girls, providing cues to explore heroic acts through play and into real life.”

The Random House Books for Young Readers imprint of Random House Children’s Books has been appointed the master publishing partner for the franchise and will be creating a portfolio of books that will bring the DC Super Hero Girls world to life, beginning in Spring 2016. Random House’s publishing program will be complemented by a series of original graphic novels from DC Entertainment. The LEGO Group will also be key to building the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, leveraging their experience and success engaging girls in creative construction play to bolster this universe through an array of LEGO® building sets designed to inspire girls’ imaginations. Additionally, consumer products partners around the world will be engaged in creating a merchandise line dedicated to DC Super Hero Girls across all key categories.

Comic Book News

Sony & Valiant Comics Announce 5-Picture Deal for Bloodshot, Harbinger & Harbinger Wars

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Sony and Valiant Comics have announced a five-picture deal to bring Bloodshot, Harbinger and Harbinger Wars to the big screen.

The movies will be a part of a shared universe film event.

Full details:

Valiant Entertainment and Sony Pictures today announced a deal to bring two of Valiant’s award-winning comic book superhero franchises—BLOODSHOT and HARBINGER—to the big screen over the course of five feature films that will culminate in the shared universe crossover film, HARBINGER WARS.

BLOODSHOT, arriving in theaters in 2017, will kick off the five-picture plan leading to HARBINGER WARS and will be directed by David Leitch & Chad Stahelski (John Wick) from a script by Jeff Wadlow (Kick Ass 2) and Eric Heisserer (Story of Your Life). Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe from Original Film (The Fast and the Furious franchise) and Dinesh Shamdasani from Valiant Entertainment will produce the film. Matthew Vaughn and Jason Kothari will serve as executive producers.

HARBINGER will follow shortly thereafter from a script by Eric Heisserer (Story of Your Life). Sony and Valiant remain tight-lipped about potential directors. Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe from Original Film (The Fast and the Furious franchise) and Dinesh Shamdasani from Valiant Entertainment will produce.

Both BLOODSHOT and HARBINGER will be followed by sequels before the title characters confront each other head on in HARBINGER WARS—a motion picture directly inspired by Valiant’s critically acclaimed 2013 comic book crossover of the same name. Andrea Giannetti will oversee the five-picture HARBINGER WARS initiative for Sony Pictures.

“Valiant is one of the most successful publishers in the history of comics, and Neal is one of the best action producers in the business today. This is a formidable partnership that will bring two incredibly commercial franchises with global appeal together on the big screen,” said Sony Entertainment Motion Picture Group President Doug Belgrad. “The long-term plan that begins with BLOODSHOT will be a considerable priority for Sony in the months and years to come.”

Brought back from the dead and infused with cutting-edge nanotechnology by private security contractor Project Rising Spirit, Bloodshot is a nearly unstoppable killing machine equipped with enhanced strength, speed, endurance, and healing. Created by Kevin VanHook, Don Perlin, and Bob Layton in 1992, Bloodshot is one of the most successful new comic book characters of the past two decades with more than 100 issues published and lifetime sales of more than 7 million copies in multiple languages around the world. After returning with a sold-out new series in 2012, Bloodshot’s latest chapter recently began with the release of Bloodshot Reborn #1 in April—the first issue of a new series from New York Times best-selling writer Jeff Lemire and artist Mico Suayan.

Centered on telekinetic teenage runaway Peter Stanchek and his recruitment into the mysterious Harbinger Foundation by secretive CEO and philanthropist Toyo Harada, Harbinger was created by former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter and artist David Lapham in 1992. Having sold more than 5 million copies worldwide in multiple languages across more than 60 issues, Harbinger returned with a new series in 2012 to multiple sold-out printings and widespread critical acclaim.

Bloodshot and Harbinger collide in Harbinger Wars—Valiant’s 2013 crossover event from writers Joshua Dysart and Duane Swierczynski with art by Clayton Henry, Clayton Crain, and Pere Perez. Valiant’s first crossover of the modern era, Harbinger Wars would go on to become the year’s best-selling crossover event from an independent publisher and spawned multiple sold-out printings.

“Bloodshot and Harbinger are two of the great untapped franchises anywhere in comics,” said producer and founder of Original Film, Neal H. Moritz. “In partnership with Sony and Valiant, we look forward to building the next great generation of superhero films.”

“Sony Pictures and Neal Moritz are the ideal partners to bring the world of Bloodshot and Harbinger to life,” said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. “They understand exactly what makes these characters tick and the exciting potential that they hold. These films are just the first step in partnership with Sony to bring Valiant’s biggest heroes to new audiences worldwide.”

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2015, Valiant is one of the most successful comic book publishing companies in the history of the medium with more than 81 million comics sold and a library of more than 2,000 distinct characters. Established by a brain trust of legendary comics creators, Valiant’s heroes and villains inhabit the largest independently owned superhero universe anywhere in comics. Re-established in 2005 as Valiant Entertainment, the company returned to great commercial and critical success in 2012, winning a Diamond Gem Award for Publisher of the Year and numerous industry awards and accolades. To date, Valiant’s titles consistently rate among the best reviewed in comics.

Valiant’s comic book universe—which includes the best-selling superheroes Bloodshot, Harbinger, X-O Manowar, Shadowman, and Archer & Armstrong, among many others—is characterized by a grounded, character-driven approach to storytelling. Its stories take place in a world only subtly removed from our own—one inspired by real-world science and inhabited by morally ambiguous heroes that often forgo capes and secret identities.

In March, Valiant announced that it partnered with Beijing-based entertainment company DMG for nine-figures of film financing capital for the production of theatrical films and television programs based on Valiant’s library of iconic superhero characters.

With over fifty films released, Neal Moritz’s worldwide box office gross exceeds $7 billion. His hits include: the Jump Street franchise, The Fast and The Furious franchise, I Am Legend, XXX, Click,Sweet Home Alabama, S.W.A.T., Battle: Los Angeles, and The Green Hornet.

In addition to BLOODSHOT, HARBINGER, and HARBINGER WARS, Moritz also has several films in development with Sony Pictures, including Passengers, Christian the Lion, 23 Jump Street, Cliffhanger, Rockets Red Glare, and A Prophet.

Comic Book News Marvel

Now An Original X-Men Is Gay

The House Of Ideas is no more as it is now the House of the Mouse.

Just ask the Marvel Cosmic fans.

Tomorrow sees All-New X-Men #40 released featuring the ret-con of an original X-Men now being gay.

It’s Iceman.

Pages from the issue have leaked online ahead of tomorrow’s release (via 4chan).

Note: It’s Bendys’ last issue on the title.

I just wish Bendiss would also leave the Cosmic titles.

Update: Bendis offered the following:

“There are thousands if not millions of stories of people who, for many different reasons, felt the need to hide their sexuality. The X-Men, with the conceit of time travel, give us a fascinating platform in which to examine such personal journeys. This is just the first little chapter of a much larger story that will be told.”

Here is the relevant info:

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Comic Book News

DC Comics Fans Break Guinness World Record

DC Comics Super Hero World Record Event Video

Thousands of DC Comics fans have gathered to set the Guinness World Record for most people dressed as a DC Comics super hero in a 24-hour period.

DC announced the news as fans came together from all across the globe ranging from Australia to America.

Fans gathered around the globe to participate in the DC Comics Super Hero World Record Event by donning their favorite costumes inspired by DC Comics’ pantheon of Super Heroes, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Batgirl, Supergirl, Aquaman, Cyborg, Robin, Green Arrow and many more.

“Thanks to all the fans of DC Comics Super Heroes around the world who joined us to set a world record—a record that celebrates the power and appeal of these iconic characters,” said Brad Globe, President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

The DC Comics Super Hero World Record Event kicked off on April 18, 2015 in Queensland, Australia, and came to a commemorative close in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Within the same 24-hour period, additional events took place around the world in: Manila, Philippines; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Madrid, Spain; Rome, Italy; London, Birmingham, Warrington and Cardiff in the UK; São Paulo, Brazil; Paris, France; “Smallville,” USA (Plano, IL) and Mexico City, Mexico.

Fans are highlighting their participation in the heroic event using #DCWorldRecord on Facebook and Twitter. The official Guinness World Record count will be available in the coming days.

Check out a batch of images from the event:

Comic Book News Marvel

Review: NINO #29

When will this waste of paper be over?

The annual sold about 18K. That would be cancellation time for most any Marvel book – but Marvel keeps this trash on life support? To chase a demographic of 7-12-year-old buyers that doesn’t really exist?

Hey Brevoort – you’ve got 18K of buyers with the mentality of 7-12-year-olds, but that’s about it. Few to no actual 7-12 year olds buying comic books. Psssst – here’s a secret: They’re too busy playing video games.

Despite a near unprecedented marketing campaign, a cartoon series, and shoehorning the “little idiot” (Loeb’s own description of this character) into every event – the best you’ve got is 18K for a NINO annual? To quote NINO himself, “Epic fail!”

And Duggan, you can keep underlining Rider’s death and insulting Rider fans as much as you like in your book and on forums, but most of us will NEVER accept or embrace your NINO or your upcoming “Politically Correct NINO-ette.” And we’ll never forgive you or Loeb for mangling the Nova mythos with this puerile garbage or for your continued disrespect for fans of the true Nova, Rich Rider.

Fact is, Duggan, like Bendis and Loeb, has no idea how to write a true cosmic story. He writes farce. That’s it. The space setting is incidental, and the aliens are around purely for comic relief. Substitute any city – New York, Mayberry, Los Angeles – literally anywhere for the space setting and change the aliens to doofus humans, and the story would read exactly the same. Duggan even alludes to this himself when he has NINO dress up like Deadpool in this painfully bad issue. He’s basically writing a less hypomanic Deadpool, throwing in some stars and aliens, and calling it “Nova.” That’s pretty much what passes for “cosmic” at Marvel these days – forgettable, farcical, hackneyed stories aimed at the lowest common denominator.

The cover art looks like graphics from a bad manga-inspired video game, and the interior art is even worse with NINO looking even more ridiculously scrawny than usual wearing his dad’s uniform. That’s not a superhero or a soldier/police officer. NINO literally looks like what he is – a child playing dress-up.

Tell me, NINO fans, how do you conveniently overlook the fact that NINO’s mother allows her minor child, NINO, to go off into space alone for the foreseeable future? How is that decision even remotely plausible for anyone other than an unfit parent?

Tell me, Avengers fans, is it even remotely plausible that the real Captain America, a responsible adult in every other comic but this one, would be supportive of a minor child wielding powers of mass destruction and going into space alone risking his life and perhaps endangering the Earth with his actions (as actually happened in this issue)?

I guess NINO fans and Avenger-zombies have a low bar for plausibility.

So NINO goes looking for his dad, screws things up along the way, Beta Ray Bill and a few others have a few head-slapping “Doh!” moments as they observe his teen antic screw-ups, and the 18K of zombies who buy this clichéd nonsense will take to comic book forums and insist that it’s brilliant and original. It’s like P.T. Barnum said, “There is a sucker born every minute.” If you’re buying NINO, you’re one of those suckers.

Comic Book News

Richard Rider Nova Gets New Hero Clix Figure

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While Marvel Comics continues to bury Richard Rider, we see the merchandising side of things continues to see the benefit of Nova as a new Hero Clix action figure will be coming out.

Check out the image below of Nova from the upcoming Hero Clix Avengers Assemble set.

The real Nova is also a part of the recently announced Marvel Super Hero Mashers action figure set, and fans voted Richard Rider into the Marvel Heroes game ahead of his lower-selling parody. Nova also sold better than any of the Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite movie figures, and he wasn’t even in the film.

Via HeroClix.com (thanks to MysterioHelmet in the CBN forums):

Nova once again brings one of our more popular traits back to the forefront, Share Through the Worldmind. This trait allows for characters friendly to Nova with the Nova Corps keyword the use of Empower; however, this use of Empower can only affect other friendly characters with the Nova Corps keyword. With so many characters now possessing that keyword stretching back to the Marvel HeroClix Galactic Guardians set, you’ll be able to construct an incredibly synchronous Nova Corps squad to take advantage of the traits shared by members of the Corps! And don’t forget the Nova Helmet relic, which grants those holding the relic the Flight ability, Charge, and the Nova Corps keyword!

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Comic Book News Marvel

Review: Guardians 3000 #7

Sadly this is the next to last issue of G3K, and with Marvel’s hostility toward this, their only true cosmic comic book, it will likely not return from hiatus after the silliness of the “Secret Wars” event has reached it’s no doubt too long in coming and astoundingly annoying conclusion.

Interestingly, the apparent cause of the Secret Wars event debuts in this book – but since the zombies aren’t buying this book, I guess they’ll have to wait and read it in whatever generic Avengers title they’re buying en masse these days.

One of the highlights of this book is how it indirectly points out how small and petty Quill’s GotGINO team has become under Bendis and Gunn. Star-Lord is pointed out as lacking in leadership skills and proves that point repeatedly over the course of the storyline. This is not the leader of men that Peter Quill was in times past – a guy who could take out a Herald of Galactus single-handedly. It is Bendis’ and Gunn’s twenty-something goofball who is repeatedly outclassed by the original GotG team.

And, of course, when the situation takes a turn for the worse, what does this weak, pitiful, farcical, buffoon-ish, Bendis-fied version of Quill do? Hits the speed-dial button to call in the Avengers, as always. Vance rightfully points out that the GotG are better qualified to handle the situation. And Quill disagrees! Jeez! This buffoon version of Star-Lord has drunk the kool-aid and bought into Bendis’ propaganda.

I’ll go on record as not being that big a fan of the Korvac Saga, but Abnett is able to weave an interesting tale from that source material.

Leon’s art and Delgado’s colors are vast improvements from the first five issues. The teams look more like themselves and less like some abstract art version of the team.

Rush out and buy this book, and its TPB. Quality needs to be rewarded, and very little of what Marvel is now calling “cosmic” has any quality to be rewarded. Guardians 3000 is the shining antithesis of Bendis. Rush out and buy this book!

Comic Book News

New Convergence Batman Leaks Online From Batman #40

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Spoilers follow for the new Batman for Convergence, Batman #40 and “Batman Endgame.”

We’ve all seen the new Batman, with some comparing it to Chappie or even Big Hero 6.

Now, apparently, a page from Batman #40 has leaked online, with the issue not due out to April 29th.

The image reveals Commissioner Gordon in the new Batsuit.

I gotta say that this is rather surprising to have a big reveal from a DC book like this to leak online. Honestly, I wouldn’t be too surprised if it was leaked intentionally to quell the backlash against the new Batman suit. We even seen Gordon state, “This is the dumbest idea in the history of Gotham,” – which mirrors just about every Batman fan’s opinions, at least to date. Now that Gordon has seemingly become a Batman Robocop, it could actually be pretty cool story written by Snyder with art by Capullo.

Check it out.

Update: The page might actually be from DC’s Free Comic Book Day issue, Divergence, that is out Saturday, May 2nd, as users on reddit are reporting the entire issue leaked online.

Update #2: We’ve been asked to take the image down.

Comic Book News

Top 10 Comic Books For March 2015

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Diamond released their sales chart for March 2015 where, to no surprise, the new Star Wars comics dominate the charts.

Marvel’s Princess Leia took the #1 spot overall, with three more Star Wars comics landing in the top ten, which gave Marvel nine out of ten spots for the month.

DC’s mainstay, Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, didn’t have an issue published in March, but the Batman: Arkham Knight #1 comic manages to squeak in ##9.

We see the Guardians of the Galaxy movie is still in effect as both Guardians Team-Up #1 and Howard The Duck #1 hit the top ten; however, we are guessing that similar to the other Guardian tie-in titles, the issues will quickly fall in sales due to no longer being a first issue and having a gazillion variant covers. Marvel already cancelled most of the GOTG (in name only) titles for Secret Wars. It’s a shame new readers never got a chance to read the comic that inspired the near billion dollar movie as Marvel chose to instead go with a parody version of the Guardians where they murder people over the use of toilets and joke about playing with their penises. I doubt we’ll ever see that from Marvel with Star Wars (and you can thank LucasFilm for that).

Check out the charts:

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Comic Book News

Watch: Gotham’s Robin Lord Taylor Wants You To Celebrate FCBD!

Check out video above featuring Gotham‘s Robin Lord Taylor recommending the upcoming Free Comic Book Day event.

Free Comic Book Day takes place Saturday, May 2nd, with comic book shops across the country offering a variety of free comics.

Robin Taylor Lord stars as Oswald Cobblebot Monday nights on NBC’s Gotham.

Info:

On Saturday May 2nd, anyone that visits a participating comic shop will receive at least one or more of the designated FCBD comics for free. The Free Comic Book Day Committee picked a listing of Gold and Silver sponsors whose comic books include titles that are great for kids and adults. This year’s roster contains 50 free comics that include titles for everyone’s tastes with Marvel’s Secret Wars, DC’sDivergence, Fight Club, The Simpsons, Spongebob, Transformers, Pokemon, The Tick, and many more for fans to discover!

Comic shops will also host community events such as costume contests, drawings by guest artists, creator signings, raffles, door prizes, photos with costumed characters, and other community building activities throughout the day. Every comic shop celebrates FCBD in their own unique way and fans have an opportunity to see their local comic shop’s personality and thriving community of pop-culture enthusiasts on display.

Comic Book News

Watch: Emerald City Comic-Con Cosplay Videos

Check out two epic videos from the Emerald City Comic-Con featuring different cosplayers.

The beatdownboogie YouTube channel put these together.

There are some really cool costumes ranging from Halo to Destiny to Iron Man, Thor, Marvel, Star Wars, Zelda, Warcraft and lots more.

The Emerald City Comic-Con takes place annually in Seattle Washington.

Comic Book News

Review: Invincible #118

Now here’s a true cosmic comic book.

This issue marks a major change in direction for the Invincible storyline with Mark and Even immigrating to Telescria to begin a new life with their new baby. This story chronicles their first day on the planet and their catching up with old friends and relatives. Oliver, now grown, makes a surprise visit and it’s always good to see Alan.

Their new life is not without peril and heartache, though, as you’ll see with Mark’s PTSD symptoms in dealing with his recent rape and with the totally unexpected final page cliffhanger.

Kirkman and Ottley are a writer-artist dream team. Mark’s story remains as compelling today after 118 issues as it was in Issue #1. It just goes to show you that Kirkman can break the mold and allow a character to grow, change, and mature over time – and still keep readers interested. Kirkman can also tell a true cosmic story aimed at adults where the space setting is central. There is humor, but he doesn’t make his cosmic stories into a farce. The humor flows naturally. Marvel could learn a lot by emulating him.

Ottley’s art remains as amazing as ever. I look forward to his work and can’t wait to see what he renders every issue.

This issue is priced at only .25 cents as it’s aimed at bringing new readers aboard for this new phase of Mark’s life. So check it out. Good cosmic comics need to be rewarded and trust me, you’ll be hooked by this one.

Comic Book News

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy #25 (Bendys)

This one is slightly less horrible than usual.

That’s not meant as a compliment. Every once in a while, Bendys screws up and writes something halfway decent. At least this time, he doesn’t make the team seem like guest stars in their own book and he’s able to balance their appearances and contribution to the mission with those of the X-Men, the character’s he’s vastly more comfortable writing and appears to vastly prefer to write.

And I wish Bendis would go back to writing more traditional characters and leave cosmic alone.

It’s still a bad story, made all the worse by the appearance of NINO with all his typical screw ups. He’s even referred to multiple times by multiple characters as a child. Why would these supposed “Guardians of the Galaxy” put a child into combat? Stupid. Typical Bendis. Typical Bonso. Typical Marvel Pseudo-Cosmic. They’ve just turned what they’re calling “cosmic” into a farce – a running joke – that only zombies could love.

The annoying hot-potato game with The Black Vortex continues in this chapter of this increasingly annoying and overly long story about absolute power corrupting absolutely. This excruciatingly hackneyed story could’ve been told in one issue and is not deserving of an “event.” Or in this case, a disappointing “non-event” would be the better descriptor.

At least the art is not bad this time out. Schiti appears to be growing into the role of depicting pseudo-cosmic characters.

Frankly, I’ll be glad when this comic goes on hiatus for the upcoming silliness of the totally un-necessary sales gimmicky Marvel reboot. Maybe Bendys won’t come back to it when the hiatus is over. That would be something worth celebrating.

Comic Book News Marvel

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy: Best Story Ever

Normally, I’m a Tim Seely admirer. I’m a huge Hack-Slash fan and think his work on said comic was absolutely brilliant in that it breathed fresh air into a pretty stale concept.

That’s why it so pains me to have to say that “Best Story Ever” is a terrible misnomer for this comic. It’s certainly not the worst story ever. Bendis writes those. But “best story ever” is quite a stretch. The best stories for this team were written by DnA. It’s all been downhill since they were fired.

The problem with this story is that it tries too hard to mimic the movie. And it fails.

I’ll cut the movie some slack because in order to recoup the rather large monetary investment to produce it, it had to be written to appeal to the lowest common denominator of movie goer. Fine. I don’t like it that the concepts were watered-down, and it was played too much as a farce for cheap laughs, but I’ll tolerate it for the above given reason.

Comics don’t have the same up-front investment as movies. They can afford to concentrate on quality and even be written for a niche audience. So Marvel doesn’t have to try to mimic the movie. Trying to mimic the movie will always just result in what this comic ultimately is – a juvenile farce played for way too many cheap laughs – most of which are duds.

I mean, come on. The entire mission is about stealing a toilet because Rocket broke the only toilet on the ship? Really? Doesn’t this take bathroom humor to an all new low? Murdering dozens of sentients at a warehouse just to steal a toilet? Is the team that amoral?

The art is certainly an improvement over the regular fare on Bendys’ book, but it just can’t make up for the weak story.

Sorry, Seely, but I hope you direct your talents to something else in the future, because this effort is a fail. Only a zombie could love this – another episode of Marvel Cosmic gone horribly wrong – again thanks to Brevoort and Alonso.

Comic Book News

Green Lantern / Star Trek Comic Crossover Announced

Green Lantern is going boldly where no man has gone before as today at WonderCon, IDW Publishing and DC Comics have announced a Green Lantern and Star Trek comic book crossover.

Star Trek / Green Lantern: The Spectrum War will be a six issue mini-series hitting this July written by Mike Johnson with art by Angel Hernandez.

“We’ve looked forward to bringing these two iconic universes together for a long time,” said Greg Goldstein, IDW President and COO. “Star Trek and Green Lantern both share so many of the same science-fiction adventure themes and ideals, that a galaxy-spanning crossover like this is simply…logical.”

“Green Lantern is one of the most popular, storied characters in the history of comic books and a modern DC Comics icon. An entire universe of Green Lanterns and other supporting characters have grown out from his original adventures in the 1940’s, and this series really showcases the intergalactic scope of the franchise,” said Bob Harras, Editor-in-Chief of DC Comics.

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Comic Book News

Review: Guardians 3000 #6

Finally, a good cosmic comic book from Marvel!

And, of course, they’ve cancelled it. They’ll keep NINO on life support and double-down on the bad NINO formula with PC-NINO-ette, but they’ll not keep a good and true cosmic comic like G3K going even though it sells better than NINO. Go figure. Typical Brevoort and Alonso “leadership.”

Abnett winds a fantastic tale of cosmic adventure and time travel – in the first good story featuring both the original team and the movie-influenced team. The pace is rapid, the dialogue is snappy, the humor isn’t forced or overbearing, it’s not played as a farce, the space-time aspects are central to the story. In other words, we have an actual true cosmic comic aimed at adults on our hands! Hooray! It’s about time (no pun intended).

To top it off, we have better art this time out. It’s more photo-realistic with cleaner lines and non-exaggerated features – avoiding the jarring out-of-proportion depictions of the team and toothy facial expressions that plagued the first 5 issues.

In short, this is what cosmic fans have been asking for over the past several years. Brevoort hated it before it ever got out of the gate, and Marvel has given it absolutely no promotion. Yet is sells better than NINO – who has been given every chance in the world. Of course, NINO will be back, but G3K will probably not get such a reprieve. Brilliant leadership, Bonso, absolutely brilliant.

Go out and buy multiple copies of this book. Let it at least go out on a high note. That will send Bonso a clear message. Down with NINO. Give us more G3K!!!

Comic Book News Marvel

Review: NINO #28

What is wrong with Marvel?

They actually think this “story” about playing “hot potato” with “The Black Vortex” is entertaining?

Silly, yes. Entertaining, no. Unless, of course, you’re an easily satisfied zombie who will buy anything and take to the internet to defend it to the end.

It’s just typical Duggan in a typical NINO story. Screw-up after screw-up that somehow works itself out in the end mostly due to NINO’s dumb luck or another NINO screw-up that fortuitously ends well. Of course, the requisite cardboard villains written as if they belong in an episode of Scooby-Doo are prominently on display as always.

Of course, Duggan, not satisfied with his appearances on forums to insult Rider fans, has to throw in an insult to Rider fans in the body of the story. Seriously, if there are any Rider fans still buying this trash, this has to be the final straw for you. Join the rest of us in the boycott.

This is just another episode of Marvel Cosmic gone horribly wrong. It isn’t even cosmic, really, as the space setting is just incidental. It’s just puerile, juvenile trash aimed at 8-year-olds and played as a farce for cheap laughs for chronologically older persons with the mentality of 8-year-olds (aka Marvel Zombies).

The art continues to decline. Thane’s “googly eyes” turn what is supposed to be the only serious dramatic scene in this ultimately stupid story into yet another Scooby-Doo moment of farce.

Cancellation of this garbage can’t come too soon. Marvel needs to man up and admit that this experiment has been a total failure. Unfortunately, Brevoort and Alonso are in charge, so that will never happen. Like NINO, you can only count on them to do the most stupid thing possible and double-down on the failed formula. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for Bonso’s Double-Down: “Politically Correct NINO-ette (PC-NINO-ette).” Join us in boycotting her, too.

Comic Book News

Watch: Top 10 DC Characters Returning in Convergence

DC Comics latest event Convergnece, kicked off with the zero issue, which received mixed reviews online.

Not much really went down to justify the five dollar price tag, but we did get the villain reveal and the motivations behind the series.

Telos (or Braniaic) is bringing back dead worlds and characters and will somehow choose which ones survive.

So I gathered from that: Say we have 10 versions Superman, only one will make it back to the “real” world. What happens to the other nine? No idea, but starting next week, we’ll begin to find out more.

DC released a video above with the “Top 10 DC Characters Returning In Convergence.”

Convergence is here! Next week, your favorite cities and characters from days past come back with a vengeance in a series of spectacular miniseries revealing what’s taken place in the years—or even decades—since you last saw them. In this exclusive DC All Access clip, we count down our top ten returning characters. So which heroic reunion are you most looking forward to?

Who are you looking forward to seeing?

You can check out the preview for Convergence #1, which hits next Wednesday, as well.

Comic Book News Marvel

Marvel Rage of Ultron OGN Trailer

Marvel released a trailer for the new original graphic novel, Rage Of Ultron, from Rick Remender and Jerome Opena.

You can order the HC through Amazon at a discount.

Info:

It was another glorious victory for the Mighty Avengers. Good triumphed over evil and Ultron was shot into space, never to be seen again. Or so they thought. Now, years later, the homicidal artificial intelligence – so long devoted to ending life on Earth – has a new world to conquer…one with its own horrific legacy. When Titan, birthplace of Thanos, falls, Planet Ultron rises in its place! Thanos’ brother Starfox must seek the aid of his former allies – but the Avengers he finds are radically different from the ones he once knew. Among them is Ultron’s creator Giant-Man – and when Hank Pym confronts his now planet-sized “son,” the responsibilities of fatherhood have never loomed so large. Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers) and Jerome Opeña (Avengers) unleash the full robotic rage of Ultron on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!

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Comic Book News

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