Comic Years |
- An Interactive Graphic Novel? The Cursed Swords Logbook Wants To Redefine The Graphic Novel Experience
- Who Is Mongal? A Look At The Suicide Squad Characters
- Xbox Cloud Gaming on Apple Devices Explained
- The Best Gay Superhero Couples – Or At Least Some of Our Favorites
- Returnal Developer Housemarque Acquired by Sony
- Review: Black Widow Is The Perfect First Movie For MCU Phase 4
- Good Omens Is Coming Back For Season 2 On Amazon Prime, Will Draw From Unwritten Sequel By Gaiman and Pratchett
- Aquaman 2 Set Photo Reveals Start Of Filming Plus Major Plot Point
| Posted: 30 Jun 2021 10:32 AM PDT You may have already heard of interactive graphic novels – or IGN for short. For instance, The Boat is an incredibly immersive online comic experience. The Land of the Magic Flute retells Mozart's opera in a stunning, modern way. Even Marvel tried something similar: online motion comics. Some worked, like Spider-Woman (the character of the Marvel movie Olivia Wilde is set to direct, maybe). Some didn't. In fact, not enough worked; it looks like some I wanted to introduce here are unavailable now. But if you notice something about the interactive graphic novels so far, it's that they are all online only. After all, how can you make a printed graphic novel interactive? The team at Bubba Dutch might have figured that out. The Cursed Swords Logbook: An Interactive Graphic Novel You Can Actually Hold…and Smell?Everything about the Cursed Swords Logbook is handmade – everything. Even more impressive is that it's made with material accurate to the 1800s, the era the story takes place. Handbound leather, cotton paper pages, etc. But the best feature, as usual, is the art and the story:
 (Image: Bubba Dutch Studios) As Zack Gutin, Director of Media Relations at Bubba Dutch describes the interactive graphic novel:
It’s an amazing product…but with amazing products come not-so-amazing prices. Because of the production, the first wave costs $100 for the hardcover. Additionally, there’s the softcover for $75. However, they're only making 1000 units in this style, so it's might one day be an awesome collector's item too. And how often can we read something that smells like the 1800s? Whether you’re in it for the collectible or merely admire the handmade concept, this experience is one only for those who can meet the price tag. Yet, if all goes well, this won’t be the last one. Featured image: Bubba Dutch StudioAn Interactive Graphic Novel? The Cursed Swords Logbook Wants To Redefine The Graphic Novel Experience  |
| Who Is Mongal? A Look At The Suicide Squad Characters Posted: 30 Jun 2021 07:46 AM PDT The Suicide Squad trailer dropped earlier this year and the movie is premiering in a little over a month, so fans everywhere are hoping to learn more about some of the new characters that were introduced. We’re here to help! I’m continuing my series of posts looking at each of the new characters in The Suicide Squad and in today’s post I’m going to investigate: who is Mongal? Who Is Mongal And What Are Her Powers?Mongal is a supervillain hailing from the planet Debstam IV. She lives there with her warlord father, Mongul, and her twin brother, Mongul the Younger. She possesses superhuman strength (as in she could throw a bus without breaking a sweat), as well as agility, durability, speed, and invulnerability. Similar to her brother, Mongal has an energy cannon attached to her chest allowing her to fire beams of energy at her enemies. The Beginnings Of Mongal Image via DC Comics Mongal first appeared (unnamed) in Showcase #8 in 1995, which was written by Peter Tomasi and penciled by Scott Eaton. She had a relatively short story arc and only later in 2001 did she get a proper introduction in Superman (vol 2) #170 (her and Mongul the Younger decided to pick a fight with Superman after hearing him talk badly of their father). While Mongal appears in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, she had always been a supervillain to Superman rather than a member of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad. In other comic issues, specifically the Our Worlds At War storyline, Mongal teams up with Starfire, Grayven, Darkseid, Adam Strange, Massacre, Maxima, and others to face the threat known as Imperiex. She later takes over the Crown of Almerac from Maxima, who had perished in the war, and becomes the new warrior queen to the Almeracian people. The Suicide Squad debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on August 6, 2021Are you excited to see Mongal in action in The Suicide Squad? Let us know in the comments! Featured image via Warner Bros. Who Is Mongal? A Look At The Suicide Squad Characters  |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming on Apple Devices Explained Posted: 30 Jun 2021 04:52 AM PDT With the alteration of the Xbox app on iOS devices, you could stream your Xbox to your iPhone or iPad. Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming has arrived on Apple devices in a new way that needs to be explained if you’re aiming to game on this hardware. Let’s say you want to access the growing Cloud gaming library with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. We’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about the experience. How Xbox Cloud Gaming Works on Apple Devices Image Credit: Xbox Wire Overall, Xbox Cloud Gaming is a new approach Microsoft is taking to gaming on the go. While the console experience is still superior, Cloud Gaming is making huge strides. As explained in the latest Xbox Wire blog, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets, via browser, across 22 countries. There’s also a new function for streaming to your Xbox Series X, removing the need to download a game to play it. But we’re here to talk about Apple devices, so let’s do that. When you boot up the Xbox App, you’re still limited to streaming your Xbox console to your Apple device. The new option allows players to stream Xbox Cloud Gaming within a browser to their iPhone or iPad. To do so, you simply log in to your Microsoft Account via a mobile web browser. Next, visit xbox.com/play and you’ll find yourself in front of hundreds of games available to you. Interestingly, you have more than one option for controlling your experience. If you have a Bluetooth controller handy, then go ahead and connect that to your iPad or iPhone. I’d highly suggest checking out the touch control-enable games too, however. Over 50 titles in the Xbox Cloud Gaming library feature a touch control option. As you make progress in these games, you can save your progress for when you return to your gaming PC or Xbox console. When you're streaming games on a PC or mobile device, your game is playing from Xbox hardware in a Microsoft data center. This allows you to make progress from your Apple device and pick back up where you left off on your home console. It also means you can game with friends online. It’s a wild experience, but how does Xbox Cloud Gaming perform on Apple devices? It’s a Beta, But It’s Quite Smooth: Xbox Cloud Performance on iPad and iPhoneMicrosoft is still currently running its Xbox Cloud Gaming experience in beta. That said, I’m having great luck with the experience in my test runs. As of June 29, I’ve spent around four hours playing games on both an iPad Mini 5 and an iPhone 11. I’m not seeing any difference really in performance on either device. Overall, input lag is minimal when connecting an Xbox controller. Likewise, just as you can set up a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for PC, I’ve connected mine to my iPad for Xbox Cloud Gaming. I find more input lag in the touch control experiences. So far, I know that Xbox Cloud Gaming is a work in progress. That said, I’m impressed with what I’m experiencing so far. I’m someone who will likely use the Cloud experience sparingly. I still prefer the experience of gaming on my Xbox at home. That said, if I’m traveling for work, then I could see this being an offering of which I’d take advantage. So far, things are looking strong for this expansion of what gaming with Xbox means. It’s funny to think that Microsoft is more about getting Game Pass on devices than Xbox consoles in homes. It’s a player-friendly move, and if anything, I think it sets them apart from other console makers. If you try out Xbox Cloud Gaming on any of your Apple devices, then let us know how it goes! Drop your review of the experience in the comments. Featured Image Credit: Xbox Wire Xbox Cloud Gaming on Apple Devices Explained  |
| The Best Gay Superhero Couples – Or At Least Some of Our Favorites Posted: 30 Jun 2021 12:46 AM PDT Throughout Pride Month, we've explored the history of queer representation in movies, TV, and comics, and we've had a wonderful time doing so. We all gush over certain couples regardless of our own sexuality, so we put them on a list! However, picking the best gay and Lesbian (another article!) superhero couples was both great and stressful. There are a lot more than we thought, but also some weird inconsistencies. For instance, DC Comics has many queer characters but only a handful of queer couples. Marvel Comics has many, but it also seems like they want to make sure that every queer character in is a relationship. However, we're not here to nitpick the representation. We're here to admire and praise the best of the best. So, here are just five of the best gay superhero couples in comics. The Best, Craziest, Alternate-Reality Gay Superhero Couple: Hercules and Wolverine It doesn't matter what your sexual preference is; that is hot. (Image: X-Treme X-Men, Marvel Comics) In Greg Pak's underrated X-Treme X-Men, we get some really unique versions of the X-Men we love. For instance, Scott Summers is a Black runaway slave. And then there's "Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada" James Howlett. Or, as Pak describes him, "Wolverine meets Teddy Roosevelt but still Canadian). In his reality, he and Hercules were deeply in love, which only pissed off Zeus. However, he wasn't mad that Hercules was in love with a man – the gods are polyamorous and pansexual – but that his son dared be intimate with a mortal. So he banished them to Tartarus, where they had to fight their way out. Sadly, after being separated, they were reunited in X-Treme X-Men #8…but Hercules would die just a few issues later in the crossover X-Termination, and we haven't seen Governor Howlett since. The Gay Superhero Couple That Pissed Off the Character's Creator: Rictor and Shatterstar Really, Strong Guy? Because everyone else did. (Image: X-Factor (2004) #45, Marvel Comics) For years, writers have teased a relationship between Rictor and Shatterstar, two mainstays of the X-Men and X-Force. In 2009, Peter David took the relationship all the way there, with one of the best kisses in comic book history. The moment sent shockwaves through the industry and hit Shatterstar creator Rob Liefeld most of all. In his forums at the time, he wrote:
Marvel, at the time, responded with something like, "well, I guess he's never working here again." Peter David, one of the wittiest writers in the business, had damn good responses. As he told Xtra Magazine at the time:
The Liefield Progress? Even if we can forgive Rob after coming around on Shatterstar, he will never be forgiven for this – And he knows it! (Image: Heroes Reborn (1998) Promotional Art, Marvel Comics) Eventually, and maybe because Marvel offered him a gig, Liefeld changed his mind but tried to make it sound subtle – he failed, replying to a Twitter user, "Don’t worry. Shatterstar’s sexual preferences are not my concern and will not be changed." Going from "this sucks" to "I don't care" is maybe slight progress…right? Hopefully, because he's returning to X-Force for the 30th anniversary one-shot special. Or maybe, like many parents, he just accepted his beautiful creation for who he is. Like David also said, I understand that some parents have the same reaction. They were responsible for their children’s first appearances and, when informed of their sexual persuasion, firmly declare it’s impossible, they can’t be gay." But, like many parents, maybe Rob finally accepts Shatterstar for who he is. The Gay Superhero Couple Who Are Also the Best World's Finest Facsimiles: Midnighter and Apollo A kiss so hot it showers everything in gold. Wait, that's probably not the best way to say it. (Image: Midnighter and Apollo #6, DC Comics) What if Batman and Superman were a gay couple? Well, wonder no more because that's the premise of Midnighter and Apollo, two Wildstorm creations that became two of DC's most popular characters – especially Midnighter. While they aren't as exact copies as Hyperion and Nighthawk from Heroes Reborn, they were always meant to represent Batman and Superman. But they became so much more than that. They became the heroes we need. In 2016, writer Steve Orlando, who wrote a short-lived Midnighter comic series, promoted his Midnighter and Apollo mini-series with Logo. American culture was, to say the least, tense. “Midnighter and Apollo is the book we need right now," Orlando stated. "Queer couple face down a new enemy and show us that we can never give in to fear, hatred, and evil—and they do it with their own brand of action-movie wit and punching." On a Personal Note…Aside from just being one of the best gay superhero couples in comics, Midnighter and Apollo are special to me for another reason. In one of my Graphic Novel Literature courses, I assigned Orlando's Midnighter Volume One. This was for an undergraduate class primarily filled with first-year students. Most of them were just getting into comics, and citing Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Batman, and Wolverine among their favorites. And what did I do? Assign a reader that they had never heard of who was like Batman but not Batman. But as we discussed the book and got into Midnighter and Apollo's marriage, the students came to love them. Some called Midnighter their new favorite superhero. It was a gamble. Other characters on this list are much more familiar for new readers – like an alternate reality gay Wolverine. But Midnighter and Apollo were completely new to them, and through them, my students experienced falling in love with superheroes. Not through a movie but pages and panels. The Best Young Adult, Intergalactic, Gay Superhero Couple: Hulkling and Wiccan OMG, you two are totes adorbs. (Image: Empyre #4, Marvel Comics) They might not have shared the first same-sex kiss in superhero comics, but when they did, in Avengers: Children's Crusade #9, it was a moment fans cheered for. Unlike Rictor and Shatterstar, who had ambiguously gay scenes until Peter David finally brought them together, Teddy and Billy were always a couple, since Hulkling (Teddy) debuted in 2005's Young Avengers. Now, while the two are adorable together (see their wedding scene in Empyre Aftermath: Avengers), they're one of the best gay superhero couples for another reason: they're the most stable and have the least amount of tragedy behind them. That's in part because Hulkling and this version of Wiccan are relatively new characters. They also came after a time homophobic rules the Comics Code Authority put on creators. They were kind of the first two queer characters who really got to be themselves: no ambiguous coding, no strong hints. There are no obvious moments between the characters, but never using the word gay or showing them touching too much. Out of all the best gay and lesbian superhero couples out there, Hulkling and Wiccan have the most beautiful relationship. Plus, Hulkling is the King of Space now, and Wiccan, now his husband, is right there with him. Comics' First Gay Marriage of One and One of the Best Superhero Couples, Period: Northstar and Kyle A historic moment in comics. (Image: Alpha Flight #106, Marvel Comics) Okay, technically, Kyle isn't a superhero, but he and Northstar are incredible. Firstly, we should recognize that Northstar made history as the first openly gay superhero. Well, kind of. After his initial debut in 1979, Marvel tasked John Byrne with an Alpha Flight series. The problem? Alpha Flight's members had no backstory, no known motives other than that they're Canadian, but like, not the super-polite kind. It wasn't until 1992 when Scott Lobdell was writing the series, editor Tom DeFalco greenlit a storyline where Northstar said, not in an ambiguous way, "I am gay." There's a lot of history to how this happened and the before and after, best summed up by Peter David's observations at the time:
Trolls of a Bygone EraAnd, of course, many readers were upset with the idea of a gay superhero. One fan even had the audacity to write about it in fan mail – the old way idiots used to troll others:  Seriously, dude? You gave your name and location and everything. (Image: Alpha Flight #106, Marvel Comics) Which Brings Us, Twenty Years Later, to Astonishing X-Men #51 by Marjorie Liu We shouldn't be surprised that two Canadians became the first gay superhero couple to marry in comics. (Image: Astonishing X-Men #51, Marvel Comics) Matt Fraction and Greg Land introduced Kyle in the pages of Uncanny X-Men. At first, he was Northstar's brand manager. Then they became friends…and then something more. When Northstar moved to San Francisco to join the X-Men in their new home, he and Kyle struggled with the long distance. But they found a way to make it work. Basically, they faced most of the same things as any other couple in the real world yet. Job interference, disagreements with friends and family, having your significant other mind-controlled to try and kill you. You know, normal human things. And like many humans in this real world, they eventually tied the knot. Now they live together on Krakoa, both serving as members of X-Factor. But Kyle has a very awesome honor for Krakoa. He is only one of two non-mutant people, the other being New Mutants' Warlock, allowed to live on the island mutant nation. And they have a very happy relationship. They aren't just one of the best gay superhero couples in comics; they're one that we could all look up to. However, there's a third mutant couple on this list that might have the most tragic story of all. Not every story can have a fairytale ending (literally. At one point, Marvel revealed that Northstar was a fairy from a magical land), which we'll discuss in the best lesbian superhero couples in comics. But we have one last, ridiculous note on Northstar and Kyle. The Best Gay Superhero Couples Get the Dumbest Protestors It's sad that this upset so many people: having a blue furry Episcopalian officiate the wedding! (Image: Astonishing X-Men #51, Marvel Comics) Just to make it that much better, Million Moms, an anti-gay conservative Christian group, called for Christians to boycott Marvel – and DC, who introduced a gay character at the time – because of Northstar and Kyle's marriage. Their reasoning? Well…
There's a lot of stupid here…For instance, the verse that MM refers to has been altered (the NIV Bible is actually removing the word "homosexuality" from their future bibles). The actual meaning of "against nature" wasn't about homosexuality, but looking at the Greco-Roman audience Paul appealed to, it was an attack on pederasty. Other popular interpretations claim the verse means that any sex committed for pleasure was a sin. And as we now know, heroes aren't allowed to have that kind of fun. But here's the crème de la dumb: the X-Men. The X-Men?! Their whole deal is representing those who are oppressed or feel like social outcasts. For instance, when a conservative Christian group wants to boycott a comic book company for featuring a gay wedding. All these "millions" of moms did is prove the entire X-Men thesis. Above All, the Best Gay and Lesbian Superhero Couples Have a Lasting Legacy.Wolverine and Hercules might have been a short plotline explored in a short series, but other queer superhero couples featured here will have an impact for years to come. Midnighter and Apollo will continue being the most powerful couple. Hulkling and Wiccan will go on as the adorable young couple who also rule space together. Rictor and Shatterstar will be the wildest gay couple. Northstar and Kyle will continue breaking boundaries in the best ways by just being together as an interracial gay superhero couple. But we need more. So much more. In the best lesbian superhero couples, we broke down the math on how poorly queer women are represented. Here we go. There are 18000 characters in Marvel and DC. Ludicrously, 73% of these characters are male, so about 13140 characters. Men make up 49% of the US population and about the same worldwide, so we should have no more than 9000 male characters. Now, as far as queer male characters, we're going off that 13140 and the US census (flawed as it is) report that claims only 3.9% of men in America identify as queer. This comes down to, at a minimum, about 515 queer male characters and probably at least 200 couples. And like queer women in comics, we are nowhere near that as even a base number. Imagine a list of the best gay superhero couples if we had that many to choose from. Now, what are your favorite gay or lesbian superhero couples in comics? We only explored five, but there are many others. Tell us – wait. We need to throw a potential curveball in this because we might have our first poly-triad relationship in comics too. A Poly-Triad Relationship In Superhero Comics? Is That Even Allowed?Now, this has only been hinted at in Jonathan Hickman's X-Men and Benjamin Percy's X-Force. And it all started with a graphic:  What do the gaps in the walls mean!? (Image: X-Men (2019) #1, Marvel Comics. Box added) Those three joined bedrooms set the comic community abuzz with speculation. And then we started seeing through House of X and Powers of X that Jean Grey, Wolverine, and Cyclops shared quite a few tender moments between the three of them. Like this warm moment:  Best Superhero Poly-Triads in Comics…coming soon. (Image: House of X #1, Marvel Comics) However, nearly two years into the Age of Krakoa era, we still haven't had confirmation. In fact, it seems like they might have forgotten. But for one of the most intense love triangles in any medium, this is not just the most logical place to take them next – it's the only place to take them. Without Jean to fight over, Wolverine and Cyclops are a force to be reckoned with. Granted, a few years ago, they had a falling out over the direction of the X-Men, and then they both died. And then they came back and mended that friendship. Now that Jean's back after a long-lasting death (for comics), they can't revert back to their petty jealously. It would be just bad writing if they did. But they both love Jean. They love each other, either as friends or more, we don't yet know, and Jean loves both of them. Maybe one day, along with the best gay and lesbian superhero couples lists, we'll also have the best polyamorist superhero relationships list. What do you think? A happy thruple? Or did they just forget to include walls? (featured image: Astonishing X-Men #51, Marvel Comics) The Best Gay Superhero Couples – Or At Least Some of Our Favorites  |
| Returnal Developer Housemarque Acquired by Sony Posted: 29 Jun 2021 07:44 PM PDT If you’re a fan of the PS5 exclusive Returnal, then more good news is coming your way. While the game’s studio has long worked with Sony in a pseudo-exclusive partnership. Like Insomniac before them, developer Housemarque fit well within what Sony looked for in games. For a long time, the lack of an acquisition left some wondering whether the studio wanted to branch out. We can put those ruminations to bed now with the news announced by Sony this morning. Returnal developer Housemarque is officially joining the PlayStation Studios family after being acquired by Sony. Here’s what you should know about the news. Returnal Developer Housemarque is Acquired by Sony and Makes Things Official Image Credit: Housemarque It’s a real will they won’t they scenario. A studio begins working with a console exclusively and things work well. Sometimes putting a label on it seems like it might ruin the magic. Okay, that last part isn’t really true, but it worked great for the rom-com analogy. In reality, acquiring a studio is a pretty big ask of both the developer and publisher. The partnership puts real pressure on both teams to expand their offerings. Given the success of Returnal, Housemarque joining Sony is a huge win for the company. After last summer’s PS5 gaming event rundown, we knew the game would look good. The roguelike nature of its AAA third-person shooter experience is unique to all genres involved. Furthermore, the game provides a really captivating story to explore while you build on your abilities. Sony announced the acquisition of Housemarque in a press release. SIE head Jim Ryan explained that “the addition of Housemarque to PlayStation Studios reiterates our commitment to elevating the best development teams in the industry and delivering new experiences that can only be found on the PlayStation platform.” That might sound like boilerplate PR speak, but here’s my takeaway. The approach for Sony isn’t to go for major moves like when Microsoft acquired Bethesda and ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion. Moves like when Insomniac Games was officially acquired by Sony are much more calculated. Here’s why these studio acquisitions might actually be more impactful than the big paydays Microsoft provides to developers. Sony Knows What It’s Doing in Grabbing Up These Niche Studios Image Credit: Housemarque Overall, does Housemarque hold the same power as a Bethesda? No, of course not. That said, Housemarque does what it does extremely well. Additionally, the studio knows how to work Sony consoles in a unique way that highlights their vision and the hardware’s power. This partnership worked well for both parties involved and now can move to the next level. Additional PlayStation Studios resources can go to the studio. Likewise, the bold style and approach to game-making Housemarque put on display with Returnal is Sony’s to reap. There’s an art to a great acquisition. You want to essentially keep the studio you’re acquiring unchanged except for an expansion of what it’s capable of achieving. We know that Insomniac is still going to make killer Spider-Man games no matter what. With the official PlayStation Studios connections, however, things will only be improved. The established studio that’s killing it with recent projects is a much better grab than just a studio known in name and for a few releases way back when. That’s no shade towards the Xbox Game Studios model either. All I’m saying is that Sony has put out incredible exclusive titles in the past 5 years. Hell, in the past decade, Sony has wiped the floor with Microsoft. If you’re looking at things from strictly a game perspective, it’s not even close. With that in mind, acquiring studios known to put out great work only bolsters that output. If you’re excited that Returnal developer Housemarque was acquired by Sony, then let us know in the comments! Featured Image Credit: Housemarque Returnal Developer Housemarque Acquired by Sony  |
| Review: Black Widow Is The Perfect First Movie For MCU Phase 4 Posted: 29 Jun 2021 03:43 PM PDT It's been just shy of two years since I last saw a new Marvel Studios film, the last being Spider-Man: Far From Home, the film that closed out 'The Infinity Saga.' Since then, we have been blessed with WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and now Loki. All of these shows are, technically, the "start" of the fourth phase of MCU stories. When Black Widow was announced, I was both confused and not all that excited. While I was pleased that Natasha was finally getting her own movie, my non-fiction brain realized this was probably just a kind of parting gift (not say it was unearned) for her actor Scarlett Johannsson. It also seemed like a great way to introduce some new characters to tee up for future films and crossovers. However, having now seen the first MCU series, I better understand why, thematically, Black Widow would have been the perfect film to kick things off. To be clear, we're not spoiling anything for this movie, though references will be made to the Black Widow final trailer (both of them). So, if you've been avoiding all marketing and want to go in cold, just know that Black Widow both a satisfying story about Natasha Romanov, and continues the theme of recent MCU stories in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame. Of course, anyone who saw that film knows that this is, technically, a prequel. In fact, one way this film sets itself in the timeline right after Captain America: Civil War is with the use of very similar location identifiers. The cities and places they travel pop up on the screen in big block letters, just like in the second Marvel movie from the Russo Brothers. Until Now, Black Widow Was Just a Cameo Character for the MCUWe first met the live-action Black Widow in Iron Man 2, where she was assigned to keep an eye on Tony Stark in the wake of his "I am Iron Man," business. Essentially, she was there to look cool and kick ass. Yet, over the next few films she appeared in, she established herself as both a capable operator with a good moral compass and sense of duty greater than even Captain America's. That is what the Black Widow movie is about, how this woman became the one who saved the entire MCU. We get a better look at how the Red Room shaped her and her fellow "Widows" than we did in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Yet, what this movie is really about is what WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and (probably) Loki are about: dealing with the grief and trauma that comes with being a world-famous superhero. Now, let's be clear. This movie is full of the kind of gigantic, destructive CGI action that Marvel movies are known for. The car chase scene we've seen in every trailer is pretty great, and I am not typically a fan of car chases. In fact, the ending of that chase was maybe my favorite car chase ending in all of cinema. It was equal parts thrilling and silly, which I personally believe is the comic book/action-movie sweet spot. The other nice thing this film does is recontextualizes where Black Widow is when we see her again in Avengers: Infinity War. How did she go from being on Team Iron Man to being Team Cap's right-hand woman? This movie doesn't give you a bullet-point rundown of how that happen, but shows Natasha's state of mind from the end of Civil War to when we next catch up with her. Like the Fast & Furious Franchise, Black Widow Is All About Family Image via Marvel Studios We've known from the jump that Florence Pugh would play Yelena, Natasha's sister, Rachel Weisz played her mother figure, and David Harbour would be her father figure. The way these relationships shake out are probably not going to surprise you. Yet, what did surprise me was how these relationships landed with me. It's the rare case of where a prequel story is served by the audience knows how it's all going to shake out. This is Natasha's last chance to remove any red left in her ledger, and it's as red as Red Guardian's suit. Honestly, the biggest complaint I see fans having about this movie is a familiar one from Phase 1 installments. The villains aren't really examined beyond they're bad and need to be stopped. Taskmaster is great in this movie, but this version of the character is, essentially, original to the MCU. What's great about this film is that we meet many (many) other characters that could explore this in a different story. Black Widow is less about the MCU as a whole and more about getting Natasha to the place we find in her Endgame. She's committed fully to the Avengers, being a hero, and that means saving lives, not taking them. If this is the last time we see this version of Natasha Romanov, it's still sad but less so than it was two years ago. In the interest of full disclosure, I am doubtful that there is any argument that could sway me that Natasha should have sacrificed herself instead of Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton. The forthcoming Hawkeye series could have just as easily been a prequel like this film was. However, part of being a fan means accepting the story you get rather than the one you wrote in your head. The End of Natasha in the MCU, But Not the End of the Black Widow Image via Marvel Studios Even thought this is a strange movie to kick off the feature side of Phase 4 of the MCU, Black Widow does what a Marvel Studios movie is supposed to do. (Meaning: Stick around after the credits.) The future for at least some of these characters is hinted at in the last moments, and connections are drawn to other MCU projects we've seen recently and that are coming soon. Yet, these elements of set-up, in my opinion, do not detract from the larger story. Like Captain America, the mantle of "the Black Widow" will be taken up by someone else. In fact, if the title were Natasha Romanov rather than Black Widow, it would work just as well. Because while this is all about what it means to be a 'Black Widow' in the MCU, this is Natasha's story. The audience is, like Natasha herself, asked to reckon with her as an Avenger and her past as an assassin. Perhaps a fair criticism of the movie is the choice Johansson made in her performance throughout her tenure. Natasha has too modes: stoic and quippy. The emotional journey she undertakes is left to subtext, but nothing you'll need a Lit Crit Minor to pick up on. In what feels like a subversion of what's come before, it's the older figures in the story who speak their emotions. There could have, perhaps, been a few more moments of Natasha being a "feeling human being," but that's saved for a character that the audience may or may not really care about. Yet, this character is one that Natasha cares about very much, and saving this person is the last thing she can do to get her ledger to black. Black Widow hits theaters and Disney+ Premier Access on July 9, 2021.What do you think of Black Widow, and what this movie suggests about the future of the MCU? Tell us in the comments below. Review: Black Widow Is The Perfect First Movie For MCU Phase 4  |
| Posted: 29 Jun 2021 02:33 PM PDT It looks like everyone’s favorite angel/demon team is returning to the small screen in season 2 of Good Omens. Author Neil Gaiman announced today that the hit show on Amazon Prime would return for season 2. But what story will it tell? Fans of the original book by Gaiman and the late great Terry Pratchett know that the novel is a standalone. But apparently the authors had plans for a sequel that was never written due to the success of their respective series like Sandman (Gaiman) and Discworld (Pratchett). So now that sequel story will finally come to life on the small screen, in season 2 of Good Omens. Pratchett and Gaiman Always Had Plans For A Sequel That Was Never Written Authors Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman | Image via Gaiman’s Website According to his blog post, Neil Gaiman says that he and Terry Pratchett first came up with the idea for a Good Omens sequel while sharing a hotel room at World Fantasy Con in Seattle (circa 1989). This was before the release of the book in 1990, and also just before both authors became mainstream successes. Despite their shared love of the story and characters, the sequel never came to pass. However, Gaiman says that it was Pratchett’s dream that the sequel story be told someday if Good Omens was ever adapted for the screen.
Returning To Good Omens On Amazon Prime Image via Amazon. Good Omens was a huge hit for Amazon Prime in 2019. It tells the story of an angel and a demon who strike up an odd friendship over the course of millennia. Together they work to prevent the end of the world and the rise of the Antichrist. Because it turns out they are both pretty fond of Earth, and humans in general. The series stars everyone’s favorite immortal being – David Tennant – and Michael Sheen. The chemistry between the two actors is part of what made the show so successful, and fortunately they will both be returning to reprise their roles as the demon Crowley and the angel Aziraphale. Sheen addressed the news in a predictably cheeky way, by saying, "Personally I'm against it. But the world isn't going to just save itself, is it? If David and I can manage to not fall out too badly this time it may even have a chance of getting finished." Tennant adds, "The return of Good Omens is great news for me, personally. As I get to work with Michael again, and I get to say Neil's wonderful words once more. It's probably less good for the universe as it almost certainly means there will be some fresh existential threat to its existence to deal with, but, you know – swings and roundabouts." Good Omens now-first season is streaming on Prime Video.Season 2 of Good Omens is set to begin filming in Scotland later this year. No release date has been set by Amazon Prime as of yet. But you know we’ll be keeping an eye on this sequel series as it develops. To stay up to date on all the latest news, be sure to follow Comic Years on Facebook and Twitter today. Good Omens Is Coming Back For Season 2 On Amazon Prime, Will Draw From Unwritten Sequel By Gaiman and Pratchett  |
| Aquaman 2 Set Photo Reveals Start Of Filming Plus Major Plot Point Posted: 29 Jun 2021 11:11 AM PDT Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has officially started filming, at least according to director James Wan’s Instagram account. He posted an Aquaman 2 set photo, captioning it “Day 1” while also revealing a potentially major plot point. On the movie slate, the production title reads “Necrus,” which references another underwater city and seems likely to play a big role in the Aquaman sequel.
What Is Necrus And Its Potential Role In Aquaman 2?Earlier this month, we learned that the Aquaman sequel would be titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, although what this lost kingdom would be was unknown. After seeing Wan’s Instagram post though, fans think they have an idea. Necrus, also known as “The Black City,” is similar to Atlantis in that it’s another underwater city, but it’s never found in the same location twice. The citizens of Necrus, as well as Atlantis, don’t know this, but the city exists thanks to an alien satellite that occasionally enters the Earth’s orbit as it moves through the galaxy. Earth’s magnetic field triggers a device, built into the satellite, that opens up a hole in dimensional space, and Necrus emerges from this hole, appearing in literally any location on Earth. As the satellite breaks free of Earth’s orbit, Necrus fades away. Given Necrus’s ability to randomly appear out of nowhere, fans are thinking that this is the lost kingdom from the movie title. What makes this seem even more likely is that the kingdom is ruled by a tyrant king named Mongo and the society as a whole is militaristic. They despise the surface dwellers and believe that they should be destroyed. Survey says: Mongo and the people of Necrus are seeming more and more likely to be the main villains! Aquaman 2 will bring back Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, along with Patrick Wilson's Orm (possibly teaming up with Mongo to get revenge for his defeat?) and Amber Heard. Game of Thrones actor Pilou Asbaek also joins the cast in an unknown role, although it would make sense he would be cast as Mongo if Necrus really is going to be part of the plot. Wan is directing as well as producing with Peter Safran. David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick will also be returning as a screenwriter. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be released December 16th, 2022.What do you think of the Aquaman 2 set photo? How will Necrus play into the plot? Let us know in the comments below! Featured image via Warner Bros. Aquaman 2 Set Photo Reveals Start Of Filming Plus Major Plot Point  |
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