Friday, April 8, 2022

Comic Years

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Hugo Awards Nominations Announced: 2022 Nominees

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 02:10 PM PDT

On Thursday, the 2022 Hugo Awards announced their nominees for the best in sci fi and fantasy books, comics, short stories, films, fanfiction, and more. Basically, this is the literary sci-fi and fantasy award. Novel is probably the most brag-worthy prize, but for anyone in the business of telling stories, it is a creative and popular victory just to be a Hugo Awards nominee. Members of the World Science Fiction Society pick the Hugo Awards nominations, and then the winners.

The 2022 Hugo Awards will be given out at the 80th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Chicago on September 4.  Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz, cofounders of the site io9.com, and sci fi writers in their own right will host.   

The 2022 Hugo Awards Nominations Are In

Hugo 2022 Project Hail Mary

Image Courtesy of Penguin Random House

Nominees for Best Novel: 

The frontrunner here might just be The Martian author Andy Weir, whose Project Hail Mary was enthusiastically received by many, including Hollywood who have already optioned it for a film. Another intriguing Hugo Awards nomination is the debut novel She Who Became the Sun, an alternate history of 15 century China. There is also the option of A Desolation Called Peace, which is the sequel to the 2019 Hugo Awards-winning best novel A Memory Called Empire.

A Desolation Called Peace, by Arkady Martine (Tor)

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, by Becky Chambers (Harper Voyager / Hodder & Stoughton)

Light From Uncommon Stars, by Ryka Aoki (Tor / St Martin's Press)

A Master of Djinn, by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom / Orbit UK)

Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir (Ballantine / Del Rey)

She Who Became the Sun, by Shelley Parker-Chan (Tor / Mantle)

Hugo 2022 McGuire

Image courtesy of Macmillan publishers

Nominees for Best Novella: 

Best novella is another prominent category. Seanan McGuire is a Hugo Awards nominations favorite, who broke records with five in 2013. Across the Green Grass Fields is the sixth story in her Wayward Children series of portal fantasies. Adrian Tchaikovsky is another prolific author whose Children of Time won an Arthur C. Clarke award in 2016. His Elder Race sounds appropriately Clarkian with its tale of a young hero going up against an ancient, magic-like power.

Across the Green Grass Fields, by Seanan McGuire (Tordotcom)

Elder Race, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tordotcom)

Fireheart Tiger, by Aliette de Bodard (Tordotcom)

The Past Is Red, by Catherynne M. Valente (Tordotcom)

A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers (Tordotcom)

A Spindle Splintered, by Alix E. Harrow (Tordotcom)

Nominees for Best Novelette: 

The best novelette and best short story nominations are both a great reminder that the age of the short story may be over in most places, but not in the land of scifi and fantasy. A novelette, by the way, is longer than a short story, but shorter than a novella. You probably guessed that.

"Bots of the Lost Ark", by Suzanne Palmer (Clarkesworld, Jun 2021)

"Colors of the Immortal Palette", by Caroline M. Yoachim (Uncanny Magazine, Mar/Apr 2021)

L'Esprit de L'Escalier, by Catherynne M. Valente (Tordotcom)

"O2 Arena", by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (Galaxy's Edge, Nov 2021)

"That Story Isn't the Story", by John Wiswell (Uncanny Magazine, Nov/Dec 2021)

"Unseelie Brothers, Ltd.", by Fran Wilde (Uncanny Magazine, May/Jun 2021)

Nominees for Best Short Story: 

"Mr. Death", by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine, Feb 2021)

"Proof by Induction", by José Pablo Iriarte (Uncanny Magazine, May/Jun 2021)

"The Sin of America", by Catherynne M. Valente (Uncanny Magazine, Mar/Apr 2021)

"Tangles", by Seanan McGuire (Magicthegathering.com: Magic Story, Sep 2021)

"Unknown Number", by Blue Neustifter (Twitter, Jul 2021)

"Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather", by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, Mar/Apr 2021)

Nominees for Best Series: 

Once again, have to root for those Wayward Children. The stories of kids who feel into different worlds, then got dumped back into the real one are poignant, funny, and imaginative character studies. The Kingston Cycle, however, is also a fun-sounding Hugo Awards nomination. The Edwardian era setting sounds perfect for a fantasy world of witches and wizards.

The Green Bone Saga, by Fonda Lee (Orbit)

The Kingston Cycle, by C. L. Polk (Tordotcom)

Merchant Princes, by Charles Stross (Macmillan)

Terra Ignota, by Ada Palmer (Tor Books)

Wayward Children, by Seanan McGuire (Tordotcom)

The World of the White Rat, by T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon) (Argyll Productions)

Nominees for Best Graphic Story or Comic: 

DIE, vol. 4: Bleed, written by Kieron Gillen, art by Stephanie Hans, lettering by Clayton Cowles (Image)

Far Sector, written by N.K. Jemisin, art by Jamal Campbell (DC)

Lore Olympus, vol. 1, by Rachel Smythe (Del Rey)

Monstress, vol. 6: The Vow, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda (Image)

Once & Future, vol. 3: The Parliament of Magpies, written by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain (BOOM!)

Strange Adventures, written by Tom King, art by Mitch Gerads and Evan "Doc" Shaner (DC)

Nominees for Best Related Work: 

The most fascinating Hugo Awards nominee in this sort of meta category has to be the Emily St. James Vox investigation into the backlash suffered by sci fi writer Isabel Fall after she wrote a surreal piece called "I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicoptor" for Clarkesworld magazine.

Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman's Fight to End Ableism, by Elsa Sjunneson (Tiller Press)

The Complete Debarkle: Saga of a Culture War, by Camestros Felapton (Camestros Felapton)

Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985, edited by Andrew Nette and Iain McIntyre (PM Press)

"How Twitter can ruin a life", by Emily St. James (Vox, Jun 2021)

Never Say You Can't Survive, by Charlie Jane Anders (Tordotcom)

True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee, by Abraham Riesman (Crown)

Movie or TV Hugo Awards Nominees

 

2022 Hugo Awards Dune

Image courtesy of Warner Bros.

Nominees for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: 

The 2022 Hugo Awards nominations picked a lot of good films, but the winner has got to be Dune, right? That was a highly-regarded, Oscar-nominated film adaptation of one of the classics of sci fi. And it didn't even involve Sting this time! Second guess for the winning Hugo Award nominee has got to be WandaVision. That Disney+ show was critically acclaimed, and made a big cultural splash when it came out. 

Dune, screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, and Eric Roth; directed by Denis Villeneuve; based on the novel Dune by Frank Herbert (Warner Bros / Legendary Entertainment)

Encanto, screenplay by Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush; directed by Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

The Green Knight, written and directed by David Lowery (BRON Studios/A24)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, screenplay by Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham; directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Space Sweepers, written and directed by Jo Sung-hee (Bidangil Pictures)

WandaVision, screenplay by Peter Cameron, Mackenzie Dohr, Laura Donney, Bobak Esfarjani, Megan McDonnell, Jac Schaeffer (created by and head writer), Cameron Squires, Gretchen Enders, Chuck Hayward; directed by Matt Shakman (Disney+)

Nominees for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: 

Now this is a fierce competition among the Hugo Awards nominees. Maybe we should give it to The Expanse, however. That beloved, but-not-quite-enough-to-get-another season, but-it-should-have series ended this year. On the other hand, the rest of the Hugo Awards nominations come from fabulous, television shows representing fantasy, hard sci-fi, comic book multiverse madness, alternate history, and comedic cartoon sci fi!

The Wheel of Time: "The Flame of Tar Valon," written by Justine Juel Gillmer, directed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield, based on The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (Amazon Studios)

For All Mankind: "The Grey," written by Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi; directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (Tall Ship Productions/Sony Pictures Television)

Arcane: "The Monster You Created," written by Christian Linke and Alex Yee; story by Christian Linke, Alex Yee, Conor Sheehy, and Ash Brannon; directed by Pascal Charrue and Arnaud Delord (Netflix)

The Expanse: "Nemesis Games," written by Daniel Abraham, Ty Franck, and Naren Shankar; directed by Breck Eisner (Amazon Studios)

Loki: "The Nexus Event," written by Eric Martin, directed by Kate Herron, created for television by Michael Waldron (Disney+)

Star Trek: Lower Decks: "wej Duj," written by Kathryn Lyn, directed by Bob Suarez (CBS Eye Animation Productions)

Nominees for Best Editor, Short Form: 

Can’t speak to the best editors, but it is very cool that the Hugo Award honors them. It is a particularly good idea in a complication-heavy genre like sci fi. Good luck to all of these Hugo Award nominees! Editors need more love!

Neil Clarke

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki

Mur Lafferty & S.B. Divya

Jonathan Strahan

Sheree Renée Thomas

Sheila Williams

Nominees for Best Editor, Long Form: 

Ruoxi Chen

Nivia Evans

Sarah T. Guan

Brit Hvide

Patrick Nielsen Hayden

Navah Wolfe

Hugo Awards Nominations for YA Books and New (If Not Young!) Writers

Nominees for Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book (presented by the World Science Fiction Society):

Comic Years loves Charlie Jane Anders, so we have to root for whenever she in nominated, especially for her first YA book. That is Comic Years law. Undoubtedly, the other Hugo Awards nominations are fantastic, however.

Chaos on CatNet, by Naomi Kritzer (Tor Teen)

Iron Widow, by Xiran Jay Zhao (Penguin Teen / Rock the Boat)

The Last Graduate, by Naomi Novik (Del Rey Books)

Redemptor, by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet Books / Hot Key Books)

A Snake Falls to Earth, by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)

Victories Greater Than Death, by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor Teen / Titan)

Nominees for Astounding Award for Best New Writer (presented by Dell Magazines)

Tracy Deonn (2nd year of eligibility)

Micaiah Johnson (2nd year of eligibility)

A.K. Larkwood (2nd year of eligibility)

Everina Maxwell (1st year of eligibility)

Shelley Parker-Chan (1st year of eligibility)

Xiran Jay Zhao (1st year of eligibility)

Which Hugo Awards Nominees Did You Love?

Check out the full list of 2022 Hugo Award nominations and nominees over at their official website. The awards includes lots of fandom and semi-professional critic awards, which is another very cool thing the Hugo Awards nominations highlight.

What did you read and watch this year that won a Hugo Award nomination? Which 2022 Hugo nominees are you cheering for? Let us know in the comments!

Featured image courtesy of Sanna Pudas/Wikipedia Commons

Hugo Awards Nominations Announced: 2022 Nominees
Lucy Steigerwald

Maya Erskine As Mrs Smith – Replaces Phoebe Waller-Bridge In Amazon Series

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 12:56 PM PDT

Some changes were announced in the Amazon series Mr. & Mrs Smith, and we learned that Maya Erskine would replace Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the new leading lady. She will play ‘Mrs Smith’ in the next season of the series that airs on the streaming platform. The main character and co-creator, Donald Glover, said so, highlighting that the new season will be great. The series is based on the movie Mr. & Mrs Smith which starred Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The film follows two spies from different companies who live a married life, unaware of each other’s secret identities. That is until it becomes public, and they have to confront both agencies to save their lives and their marriage.

The Amazon series originated in 2021, with Glover being one of the series’ creators, along with Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Glover stated that they are wrapping up another season of the series, although this one is not being developed alongside Bridge. Glover alleges they parted ways, albeit amicably.

Maya Erskine Will be the New Mrs Smith

With the departure of Phoebe Waller-Bridge from this production, there was a vacancy for the series. The empty spot is nothing more and nothing less than the protagonist. Glover pointed out that a replacement has already been found for this vacancy, which Maya Erskine will fill. The actress will be the next to act as the spy in the Amazon production.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge playing Mrs. Smith

(Image: Amazon Studios)

Glover highlighted that the participation of the actress would give a different touch to the series. He declared how good the actress was for the production and how she aligned with the new twist they were giving to the series. According to him, Maya Erskine will be excellent as Mrs Smith. He stated in an interview,

"She's dope. It's exciting. I really love the show. I'm writing the finale now."

Glover also mentioned that he still likes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and he assumes she still likes him. Apparently, we will see new developments in the series, both in terms of plot and actors. We’ll see what Maya Erskine brings to the character and how the series unfolds with this new twist, which few expected. According to Glover’s comments, the new season has not yet begun to develop, although it shouldn’t be much longer if the writing is already finishing.

Erskine: A Rising Star in the Entertainment Sky

Maya Erskine is an actress who has been on the entertainment radar since November. The critics gave good reviews to Hulu’s show PEN15, the comedy series the actress and her friend Anna Konkle developed and gave them an Emmy award.

Maya Erskine in a scene from Pen15

(Image: Hulu)

For this reason, the actress was in the sights of many companies, such as Disney. Maya Erskine participated in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, the spin-off about the well-known Jedi from Star Wars. Amazon, for its part, has not commented on the incorporation of the actress in the new season of Mr. & Mrs Smith.

Despite the separation of the creators of the Amazon series Mr & Mrs Smith, the show will not stop. In fact, Glover stated that the new script is in development and that they are writing the final parts to develop the new season. This season will feature actress Maya Erskine as Mrs Smith in substitution for Phoebe Waller-Bridge. This new addition to the team gives the producer and director good vibes, considering her a pretty cool actress.

Amazon has not announced a release date, but we can’t wait to see what the new season brings for Mr. and Mrs Smith.

Featured Image via Red Hour Productions

Maya Erskine As Mrs Smith – Replaces Phoebe Waller-Bridge In Amazon Series
Raúl Asensi

Who Is Khonshu – Everything You Need To Know About The Moon God Of Moon Knight

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 12:39 PM PDT

With the release of the MCU Disney+ series Moon Knight, mythological Egyptian Gods take centre stage in prime time once again. The new show sees the character of Marc Spector (Oscar Isaac) take on the role of a vigilante, granted powers by the Egyptian God Khonshu. But unlike many of the — let's call them— mainstream Egyptian Gods, Khonshu is lesser known. So we decided to take a closer look to find out who is Khonshu, and his significance in the Marvel Comics and Cinematic worlds. In the Moon Knight series premiere, F Murray Abraham's Khonshu appears as the voice behind Steven Grant (also Oscar Isaac). But before we can find out who is Khonshu in the MCU, we need to take a look at his actual historical and comic book origins. So read on for a comprehensive deep dive into Who Khonshu is; in the MCU, comics and real life!

Please note: there will be some spoilers here from the Moon Knight series premiere, given that it's the first time we meet F Murray Abraham's Khonshu.

Who Is Khonshu— The IRL Egyptian God?

Khonshu Egyptian God real. .

Image via Louvre Collection.

Before we can figure out who Khonshu is in the Marvel world, let's take a look at the inspiration of this Egyptian God from actual mythology. It's well known that Marvel comics and the MCU depict Gods of various cultures in their stories. Thor comes from Norse Mythology, and even the recent The Eternals' origins come from the history and mythology of many of the world's religions and cultures. Or rather, the other way around. More on that later. With Moon Knight in the MCU, it looks like we'll be diving into the Egyptian Gods this time around.

The Egyptian God Khonshu might not be as well known in mainstream media as the others like Ammun-Ra, Osiris, Horus or Set, but his association with them all makes him pretty significant. In the Moon Knight premiere, Steven refers to an Egyptian Ennead, which literally means 'group of nine’. In actual history, there are many such enneads, but the main one is the Great Ennead of which Ra is a part. However, Khonshu is not part of that Great one. And was only included for the story of the series.

The Egyptian God Khonshu And His Powers

Egyptian God series.

Image via Disney+.

In Egyptian mythology, Khonshu is the son of Ra and Mut, forming instead, the Thebean Triad. Khonshu himself is the Egyptian God of the moon, with his name literally translating into 'traveller'. It's thought that this has to do with the moon travelling across the night sky each day. This connection to the moon iconography continues with myths stating that women conceive during nights of the crescent moon, and cattle became fertile. He was also the God of light in the night, called upon to protect people against wild animals or other dangers while travelling at night.

Being a God, Khonshu obviously has some powers, which consist of the power to raise the dead. Along with granting his chosen avatar of Moon Knight with a healing suit, super strength and otherworldly abilities. Who Khonshu is as an Egyptian God, from a more personality standpoint, differs in opinion. Some myths depict the God as benevolent, while others as ruthless. But the depiction that F Murray Abraham's Khonshu in the MCU seems to be going with, is much more in line with this comic book origins.

Khonshu In The Marvel Universe Is Quite A Character

Khonshu comics.

Image via Marvel Comics.

While we don't know too much about the mythological Egyptian God Khonshu, there's a lot about him in the Marvel comic book universe. The comic book origin retains Khonshu's lineage to his father Ra, however, there is a bitter rivalry between the two. Who Khonshu is in this version, is definitely a part of the Great Ennead of the Celestial Heliopolis, joining the other, more famous Egyptian Gods. This is the version that the MCU series is basing their version on as well, it seems. In the Marvel comics, the Egyptian Gods are unable to enter the mortal realm and directly interfere with the events of man. They, therefore, choose Avatars (no, not the blue guys!) to do their will on Earth. Enter Moon Knight, Khonshu's avatar in the real world.

Striking a deal with Marc Spector after his death, Khonshu grants Spector his mystical powers, to carry out vengeance in his name on Earth. In the comics, Spector is sometimes called Khonshu's servant, subject and described in other subjugated terms. Whereas what we've gotten so far of that dynamic in the MCU series, seems more of a partnership? As seen by F Murray Abraham’s Khonshu berating the Steven Grant character to allow Marc control of the body for whatever mission the two were on.

The History Of Khonshu In Marvel Comics

Khonshu Egyptian God comics.

Image via Marvel Comics.

The Marvel comics' Khonshu has had a storied past. Existing eons ago, Khonshu went up against the pre-historic version of the Avengers, after he wasn’t invited to join them. His avatars of Moon Knight would also often clash with his father's Sun Kings. Which, honestly, sounds like it could be an epic musical! His association with Marc Spector in the modern-day saw him embark more adventures, sometimes as Spector's patron, and other times as the antagonist of the story. Namely, the Avengers: Age Of Khonshu storyline which saw the Egyptian God conquer New York City, renaming it New Thebes City, in an attempt to take over the world. It was only when the Phoenix Force inhabited Spector that the heroes were able to stop him.

F Murray Abraham's Khonshu In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Khonshu Egyptian God show.

Image via Disney+.

In the comics, Khonshu is usually benevolent. But as the stories continue with various writers and versions, the relationship does turn adversarial. Given how the somewhat comedic introduction to F Murray Abraham's Khonshu in the Moon Knight Series is, there might be elements of that in the new show as well. While we only have one episode to go by, it definitely seems like this Khonshu will stay true to its comic book origins. At least in terms of initially existing as a voice in Steven/Marc's head. Even his appearance looks true to the comic books, with the head of a bird and a body adorned in wrappings. Carrying a staff with a Moon shaped ornament at the top.

How the rest of Abraham's depiction of Khonshu in the Moon Knight series will play out is still something we're not entirely sure of. Will it be more of a buddy-comedy dynamic a la Sony's Venom movie? Or will it be true to the comics where Khonshu becomes an agitator and instigator for Marc, even crossing the line into becoming a villain at times. We'll have to tune into the entire run of Moon Knight on Disney+ to find out. But the potential of this iteration of who Khonshu is in the MCU, connected to other aspects, is intriguing.

Khonshu's Connection To Other MCU Characters Already Introduced

Moon Knight. .

Image via Disney+.

Khonshu's history in the Marvel comics universe has him intersecting with many Marvel characters already in the current MCU. One of Khonshu's earliest avatars was actually Ravonna Rennslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), as introduced in the Loki series. This was at a time when Khonshu went up against an iteration of Kang The Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), also introduced in Loki when one of his variants was the Pharaoh Rama-tut. With Kang looking to be (potentially) a major villain in the MCU, Khonshu‘s connections may prove to be significant.

There was a version of the Moon Knight character who battled against the Avengers of the pre-historic era. The members of that team included Thor's father Odin. Not to mention original iterations of Marvel's legacy characters like Ghost Rider, Sorcerer Supreme, the Phoenix and more. The recent Avengers: Age Of Khonshu story actually had the big bad be Mephisto. Mephisto has famously become a popular go-to conspiracy theory for the new batch of MCU shows on Disney+ starting with WandaVision. Although, the connection to Mephisto is slightly stronger with Khonshu here, it all depends on what story the series is telling. And the series is definitely deviating a lot from the source material, adapting it for the new series. But this is not new for come book material. And Khonshu himself is not a stranger to adaptations, given the various iterations of the character that has appeared in other media.

Other Times Egyptian Gods Were Adapted For Television

F Murray Abraham Moon Knight.

Image via Marvel Comics.

Moon Knight isn't the first time that Egyptian Gods were adapted for television or movies. Many different movies have featured the Gods and characters from that mythology in their stories. Some notable movies are Gods Of Egypt, Night At The Museum, The Mummy franchise and more. Even comic books like American Gods and Neil Gaiman's The Sandman had notable characters from the Egyptian Gods. The most notable TV and movie franchise that centers its entire story around Egyptian Gods, is the Stargate franchise.

One of the longest-running sci-fi franchises ever, Stargate is all about the idea that the Egyptian Gods were actually intergalactic aliens. These aliens seeded and subjugated human life throughout the galaxy. Through portals, a new branch of government explores these distant worlds. And along the way, fights these aliens posing as Egyptian Gods. The end goal is to to free the galaxy from their tyrannical rule. Eventually, throughout the series, the idea expanded to include all other mythologies and religions of the world. Such as Hinduism, Buddhism, the age of Camelot, Greek Gods, Atlantis and even Norse mythology. But the introduction of Khonshu in the MCU raises certain questions about their place in this universe.

Does The MCU Have Actual Gods?

F Murray Abraham Khonshu comic

Image via Marvel Comics.

Gods have had a weird relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While there are many Gods in the MCU, they are introduced in more realistic and grounded ways. The first example of this is in Thor, where Norse Gods are explained as just being highly advanced otherworldly beings. Their advanced technology and limited time on Earth over the centuries transformed their legacy into God-like status. But the movie made it clear that they are an advanced alien race. This was the same approach taken to the more recent The Eternals movie. Many members of this alien team have names that connect them to Gods and other mythological beings in history. Gilgamesh (Mesopotamian), Ikarus, Makkari, Thena & Phastos (Greek) and Kingo (Babylonian) are but some examples. The movie implies that these characters' are the basis for their mythological counterparts in Earth's history.

So with the introduction of the Egyptian God Khonsu, will we finally get actual Gods in the MCU? So far, there doesn't seem to be a grounded explanation of why this bird-beaked God exists. But we've still got the rest of the series to go. Along with Khonshu, the series also introduces another God, Ammit, who seems to be the main villain through Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). We still don’t know if the other Gods will also appear in the series. But if they do, Marvel Studios will have to once again explain why Gods who have existed for eons weren't a part of the last 14 years of major MCU events. Something that is increasingly becoming an issue for the burgeoning comic book franchise.

To find out more about who Khonshu is, tune into Moon Knight on Disney+ every Wednesday.

What did you think about how F Murray Abraham's Khonshu in the Moon Knight series? Do you think other Egyptian Gods will appear in the show? And if so, what will that mean for the larger MCU? Let us know about this and more in the comments below.

Featured image via Marvel comics.

Who Is Khonshu – Everything You Need To Know About The Moon God Of Moon Knight
Shah Shahid

Halo Episode 3 Highlights – Where Are The Covenants?

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 12:23 PM PDT

Episode 3 of the Halo TV series has just come out, and the main thing to say about this episode is that it was weird. Spoilers ahead, watch out if you haven’t seen the episode, we’ll be talking about the Halo episode 3 highlights.

The series is getting better in quality as the episodes progress. Many fans comment that this is the best episode. However, there are moments where it suffers a dip, as there are many awkward and weird moments. The anticipation remains high as it sets us up for something much more prominent in the next few episodes. Keep in mind that this show is not canon, the events we see take place in a different timeline, so it is a far cry from what Halo does, perhaps too far. The master chief is different from what we’ve seen in the halo games, and even though we know he’s a different character, it’s almost inevitable for fans of the game to be making constant comparisons.

The Worst of Halo’s Episode 3

The USNC has no urgency to deal with the Covenant, and the USNC doesn’t seem to be on the back foot trying to stay alive against the Covenant. We also don’t see the Covenant following the USNC around, hunting them down, and ravaging planets. Again, admittedly it’s not canon, but it’s very hard not to make the comparison.

Halo TV series

(Image: Paramount+)

Despite being a different story, The Covenants should be tearing humanity apart. The viewers don’t get any sense of urgency from the USNC. It’s also quite strange the Kwan Ha magic subplot seems to be of little importance to the audience. Madrigal and this insurrectionist subplot take a lot of relevance in the show; however, as a spectator, it’s difficult to care about this. We can guess that she is going to go to Madrigal, and Makee will go there to kidnap her, and then the Master Chief will have to go to save her.

It would be highly exciting for the audience if the episode focused on the Master Chief and the fight against the Covenant.

The Best of Halo’s Third Episode

Other than the first 15 minutes of the entire series, we haven’t seen any combat scenes with the Spartans and the Covenant. We briefly saw a hunter, or part of his leg, and worms Lekgolo worms going through the UNSC ship, which was pretty cool and made the viewer a little more interested in what Makee was doing.

We were also introduced to Cortana’s first impression in this episode. It is nice to see Jen Taylor’s reprise of Cortana’s role from the games, and we are guessing that Cortana will get closer and closer to the boss in a strange alliance with Halsey as the season progresses.

Halo introduces Cortana

(Image: Paramount+)

However, one amusing part we have to talk about in this episode is Halsey’s assistant. It’s pretty funny when he’s seen trying to kiss Halsey’s clone. Maybe the showrunners are trying to make him look like a weirdo, which came across very clearly, but that was very interesting.

On the other hand, one of Halo’s episode 3 highlights shows the Silver Team, Cortana and Master Chief. It would be nice if this show focused more on the Silver Team and the dynamic between the four of them. Here we have four characters: Chief, Vanick, Kai, and Riz, and we know nothing about them yet. Maybe it would be better to see more of these characters and Kwan, and the other subplot with magical when it comes to these characters.

A plot much more focused on this team and the fight between the USNC and the Covenant would be much more exciting for fans of the saga. If we wanted to define this episode with one word, it would be “weird”.

Hopefully, episode four will step it up a notch in action and get the Spartans involved. That would be something really worth watching from the Halo TV series. We hope to have more action in the 4th episode to compensate for its lack in the last two episodes. Because honestly, that’s what captured everyone in the first episode, and not seeing the Spartans kicking butts is a little weird at this point in the Halo TV series.

Halo debuts new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+

Are you curious to know what will happen in the next episode? Let us know in the comments.

Halo Episode 3 Highlights – Where Are The Covenants?
Raúl Asensi

New Fortnite Skins Could Include Darth Vader And Family Guy

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 11:24 AM PDT

Recently, information has been leaked on Twitter that opens the possibility of seeing new Fortnite skins including Darth Vader and Family Guy. Fortnite has had several crossovers since Epic Games launched the Battle Royale mode in 2017. The popular game has had several franchises, some from the Marvel universe, others from Disney, and now a new possibility associated with the latter has been leaked.

In a publication about Unreal Engine 5, a photo showed how they tested elements of the game. It accidentally showed folders containing several characters, including Doom, Darth Vader, and Family Guy. Quickly, a Twitter user caught this detail and zoomed in on the photo. The user detailed these folder names and shared the same with the general public.

This tweet opened up the anticipation for all the fans to have these characters in an episode of Fortnite. Although neither Disney nor Epic Games have stated anything yet, there is great excitement to see Darth Vader in Fortnite. Family Guy is another franchise that many fans would like to see in this new season of the game.

New Darth Vader and Family Guy Skins in Fortnite

Rumors continue to grow about the new skins that the new season of Fortnite would have. There might be comments from certain people inside Epic Games that might prove these are not just rumors. For example, Donald Mustard, the company’s creative director, posted an image of Chewbacca and C3PO with the comment, “so many secrets here.”

Mustard posted the same image on his official Instagram account with the caption, “That’s no Moon!?….” For many, it refers to the death star, which was seen in the early Star Wars sagas, implying that this Darth Vader skin may be coming soon.

In the case of Family Guy, no one has made official comments yet. However, the folder’s name in that image gives the show’s fans a good feeling. Moreover, this is not the first time Fortnite would include a skin from animated productions. Previously, Epic Games created some Skins from the popular anime Naruto.

User Discovers Accidental Fortnite Leak on Twitter

This commotion happened because a user discovered several elements in a Twitter post while following the live broadcast exhibition for Unreal Engine 5. A segment showed the cinematic intro for Ch3 – S1 during the State of Unreal showcase.

On a second monitor placed right next to the main screen, we can see folders with the names of various series and characters. Among these, the ones that stood out the most were the iconic character from Star Wars, Darth Vader, Doom, and Family Guy.

This discovery alerted many users and fans of the game, who expect these new Fortnite skins to come out soon. In fact, many expect them to come out along with the new Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series, which would be perfect timing. Neither Epic Games nor Disney has made any official statements regarding this information. However, it wouldn’t be the first time Fortnite includes skins based on the Star Wars characters.

Darth Vader Family Guy Fortnite Skins

Image via Epic Games

Fortnite continues to be one of the most popular games of the decade and is famous for its great crossovers. Remember, the game includes characters from God of War, Stranger Things, and the Marvel and DC comics cinematic universes. It certainly wouldn’t be strange to see Darth Vader, Peter Griffin, or characters from Doom in the new Fortnite skins, but we can only wait for now.

What has been your favorite Fortnite crossover to date? Tell us in the comments.

Featured Image via Epic Games

New Fortnite Skins Could Include Darth Vader And Family Guy
Vanessa Ruiz

Gary Oldman In Star Wars Almost Happened; General Grievous Was An Option

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 10:29 AM PDT

Few people would've thought that Gary Oldman in Star Wars would've been a possibility. It was certainly the case with the prequel trilogy, however. In fact, Gary Oldman as General Grievous almost happened, according to a representative for the actor. It seems as though it was closer to occurring than many people would've believed. The representative also claims that Oldman was "looking forward" to the role. The character, who serves as an antagonist in the films, made an impact when the films first hit theaters. An interaction with Obi Wan Kenobi was also turned into a meme.

Part of this appeal was because of the character's look; a cybernetically enhanced being, he wielded the lightsabers of several Jedi that he had already slain. He naturally made his presence felt, with the actor being a large force in the Sith empire. He didn't last long, however, with Grievous apparently being slain by Obi Wan Kenobi.

Gary Oldman In Star Wars As General Grievous Almost Happened

Whether or not Gary Oldman as General Grievous would've made such an impression is debatable. It surely would've been an alternative take on the antagonist. The actor is known for getting lost in his roles, from Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise to Commissioner Gordon in the Dark Knight trilogy, among many others.

To see Gary Oldman in Star Wars would've been a surprise. As a representative for the actor says, however, Grievous was a role he was looking forward to. There were complications, however, with the rep saying that Oldman couldn't legally work on the film. The issue at hand, apparently, was his union membership. As the rep says:

"Gary was excited and looking forward to working on the film. The snag is that the movie is being made without members of the Screen Actors Guild. It means Gary would have been working illegally overseas. Out of respect and solidarity with the other members, he could not and would not consider violating the rules of his union."

Actor Opens Up About Current Role

Despite not appearing in the franchise, Oldman's career has kept going higher and higher. Most recently, he's signed on for Slow Horses, a spy thriller based on a book series. He recently opened up about the role, saying that there are definite possibilities for more seasons. As he recently told Forbes about the second book in the series:

"That's already in the can. It's two books a season, so we've done Slow Horses and Dead Lions. If we are picked up and allowed to continue this journey, we'll do another two books. and it'll continue like that. As you say, there are plenty of books in the Jackson Lamb and Slough House series already, and Mick's still writing."

Gary Oldman stars in Slow Horses, a spy thriller that releases weekly on Apple TV Plus.

Would you have liked to have seen Gary Oldman in Star Wars? What about the role he was considering; would Gary Oldman as General Grievous have been solid casting? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Featured image via Gage Skimore/Flickr.

Gary Oldman In Star Wars Almost Happened; General Grievous Was An Option
Luke Luby

Will Smith’s Oscars Scandal Has Been A “Nightmare” For The Actor

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 10:07 AM PDT

Will Smith's Oscars scandal seems to keep going, with a source reportedly close to the actor reporting that it's a "nightmare." They go on to highlight how the actor may not "fully repair" the trust he's broken. The controversy stems from Will Smith slapping Chris Rock after the comedian made a comment about the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. Rock said he was looking forward to seeing Pinkett-Smith in G.I. Jane 2. The comment – which the comedian called a “nice” joke – references the actress' freshly shaved head. Pinkett-Smith shaved her head after being diagnosed with alopecia. Will Smith's Oscars scandal subsequently unfolded, with the actor taking to the stage to slap Rock.

Will Smith's Oscars Scandal Is A "Nightmare" Says Friend

Over the coming days, multiple actors and other filmmakers have spoken out about the controversy. Will Smith slapping Chris Rock was the talk of the town over the following days. For his part, Smith apologized, saying:

“Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

Since then, however, the controversy has continued to unfold, with even the Academy behind the Oscars announcing an investigation. A source close to the Smith family has said that this has been a "nightmare" for the family. As they tell US Weekly:

“It's been a nightmare for everyone. Will knows the road to redemption is going to be a long and painful one, and there's a part of him that's grown to accept he'll never be able to fully repair the damage that was caused.”

Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock Continues To Haunt Actor

Will Smith as Mohammad Ali

Image via Sony Pictures

After Will Smith's Oscars scandal, sources close to the family claimed that he knows he was in the wrong. They also noted that he overreacted in the situation. Smith's wife also reportedly agrees with this. As the source tells US Weekly:

"It was in the heat of the moment and it was him overreacting. He knows that, she knows that. They're in agreement that he overreacted. She's not one of these women that needs protecting. He didn't need to do what he did, she didn't need protecting. She's not a wallflower. She's a strong woman, an opinionated woman and she can fight her own battles. But she will stand by him."

Smith stars in King Richard, a sports drama focused on the titular character, father to tennis stars Venus and Selena Williams. It was released November 19, 2021, with the actor winning an Oscar for his performance.

What do you think of Will Smith's Oscars scandal? Do you think the Academy investigation into his behavior will go well? What did you think of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock? Let us know in the comments.

Featured image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr.

Will Smith’s Oscars Scandal Has Been A “Nightmare” For The Actor
Luke Luby

Lego And Epic Games Team Up To Create Games In The Metaverse

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 09:39 AM PDT

Lego and Epic Games’ partnership to work in the Metaverse was recently announced on Twitter. The company responsible for the world’s best-known children’s toys is joining forces with one of the most prominent video game manufacturers of our time. The announcement was notified by Lego itself and ratified on the Epic Games website.

Epic Games website details the partnership, specifying that it is a long-term collaboration that seeks to approach the Metaverse differently. The website details the goal is “to shape the future of the metaverse to make it safe and fun for children and families.”

On the other hand, Lego isn’t new to making alliances with the video game industry, as made with Nintendo before. Nintendo seems interested in expanding its horizons and creating a fun world for children in the digital world as well. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy LEGO Set ukrainian relief citizen brick

Image Credit: LEGO

Lego and Epic Games will Create an Environment in the Metaverse

The union between the two companies is looking to create kid-friendly environments in the Metaverse. Lego and Epic Games partnership tries to leverage this new concept, which is becoming so well known and fun, and apply it in a unique setting for kids and the family.

Lego Group CEO Niel Christiansen stated, 

"Kids enjoy playing in digital and physical worlds and move seamlessly between the two. We believe there is huge potential for them to develop life-long skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication through digital experiences. But we have a responsibility to make them safe, inspiring and beneficial for all." 

He added:

“Just as we've protected children's rights to safe physical play for generations, we are committed to doing the same for digital play. We look forward to working with Epic Games to shape this exciting and playful future.”

Intention to Create a Safe Environment for Children in the Metaverse

Both companies have stated that they want to create a safe space for children in the Metaverse. They have indicated their will to create a fun space, but at all times, infants are protected from any harmful elements that may damage their minds.

The CEO of Epic Games stated,

"The LEGO Group has captivated the imagination of children and adults through creative play for nearly a century, and we are excited to come together to build a space in the metaverse that's fun, entertaining, and made for kids and families."

As you can see, both companies are coordinating to create a space for kids. Their goal is to combine the kids’ gaming knowledge from Lego with the programmatic and virtual reality capabilities from Epic Games. What kind of platform it will be, no one knows yet. The only thing we know now is it will be entirely kid-friendly and without the risk of potential harm.

The announcement of this Epic Games and Lego partnership came as a surprise this morning. Both companies have made it clear that their main goal is to create a fun, virtual space for children. The idea is to exploit the Metaverse concept in a family environment free from all risk.

At the moment, they have not specified more about the games or platforms that they will create. People also speculate if Epic Games will bring Fornite, their star game, into this alliance. All we know is that both will seek to take advantage of the Metaverse, doing what each does best. Providing entertainment, but with their best-combined weapons and expertise.

We want to read your expectations from this Lego Epic Games alliance in the comments.

Featured Image via Epic Games

Lego And Epic Games Team Up To Create Games In The Metaverse
Vanessa Ruiz

The Walking Dead Best Scenes, Seasons – How TWD Cast Made A Show Worth Remembering

Posted: 07 Apr 2022 03:00 AM PDT

The Walking Dead wrapped filming recently. With that comes the end of a nearly 12 year run, pretty respectable for a show that usually had its happiest moments punctuated by someone getting their face eaten or their family shot. It's a bittersweet moment for fans, slightly tempered by all the spin offs and movies and promises that the franchise and cast of TWD might appear again. One thing the impending end does let us do is look back. Not at all the times baby Carl just dipped and got into trouble or that time Lori crashed a car on an empty road. Definitely not to that time they tried to pass off a crusty jpeg of a deer as the real thing. No, we can look back at all the most impactful, most memorable, and overall best scenes and seasons The Walking Dead gave us. 

Meeting the Cast of TWD When They Still Smiled

By nature, we can't mention every good moment this series had. There are nearly 200 episodes. So these are some of the best scenes in The Walking Dead, and leaving out some fan favorites is just following the trend the series set. Except we aren't bashing your favorite with a bat. 

TWD came out swinging with an awesome premiere episode. One of the most iconic scenes in the entire series happens right there in episode 1 "Days Gone By." Rick, having met Morgan and his son and left them with a pile of guns, leaves his home town. Nothing could set the tone for the series and Rick's arc as The Law of the apocalypse than having him ride into town on a horse, cowboy hat and all. Riding up a half-empty interstate toward a silent city just set such a solid man vs. everything vibe that became a blueprint for the series. 

Cast of TWD

Image via AMC

Even in season 2, things weren't that bleak. Sure, the TWD cast had narrowed a bit, but it didn't feel like any major shots had been taken at the heart of the group (excluding the time Carl, the heart of the group, was shot). Hershel's farm was basically an untouched paradise compared to any other place in the series, until the barn happened. The search for Sophia ended when the barn doors opened. The group put down the Greene family's risen relatives and friends. And then Sophia walks out, and the hope that carried the season and the group just died. It was a turning point for Rick's leadership, and it was another catalyst for Carol to become the cold badass we know and love. 

Cast of TWD

Image via AMC

Some Of The Walking Dead's Best Seasons Were In Prison

The farm burned, and Hershel's infinite shotgun was immortalized in memes. After that, it was on the road for a while. The group grew stronger, and Lori grew pregnant-er. Landing at a prison and turning it into a fortress is one of the most satisfying apocalypse arcs on tv, and it made for one of the best seasons of The Walking Dead. The conflict with The Governor and Woodbury was also the real beginning of the constant fights with other communities, even if Guillermo at the nursing home was the informal first. 

Walking Dead Best Seasons

Image via AMC

Two moments stand out in the Woodbury and prison arc, and they're carried by two of the most important characters to the series. Michonne (Danai Gurira) was introduced early during the prison seasons. Carrying formula for Judith and a hatred of The Governor, she joined Rick's gang as a near-silent sword wielding survivor. Then she went back to Woodbury with the gang, put down The Governor's walker daughter, and took out his eye. Beyond just being a rad intro to one of the coolest women in The Walking Dead, this scene was also a way of showing the foundation of Michonne's character. She's loyal, intelligent enough to see through The Governor, and she's one of the strongest fighters considering even Merle lost to The Governor. 

The Walking Dead Best Scenes

Image via AMC

Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson) was the moral center of TWD in a more realistic way than anyone else could be. He learned how the world was and tried to adapt to it while still keeping hope alive for the kids and his family. A sickness hit the prison. When the sick started dying, he walked the dead to a back room before killing them so the living wouldn't have to see. Such a good scene. 

Some of The Best The Walking Dead Scenes Were Reunions

The episodes after the fall of the prison had some incredible moments that defined the season. When Carl and Rick barricade themselves in a house to heal, it's bleak. Rick looks like he's dying and they think Judith is gone. All that tension is finally broken when Michonne comes to the door crying. It's one of the most wholesome moments The Walking Dead can give. It also directly follows Carl nearly dying for a bucket of pudding. 

Cast of TWD

Image via AMC

Glenn and Maggie deserved a happier show. Maybe a romantic comedy. But because they weren't in a romcom, Glenn and Maggie were separated when The Governor brought a tank to a gunfight. Their mutual determined search for each other was a high point in a series of high points. They also gave us Abraham, Rosita, Eugene, and Tara. Only half of those characters remain, but they were still part of some of the best seasons of The Walking Dead.

Walking Dead Best Seasons

Image via AMC

The final two reunions in this wing of the series had vastly different flavors. When Rick, Michonne, and Carl fled their safehouse, they weren't alone. The crew Daryl found was after them. They were caught, Carl was threatened in the worst way, and Rick went full walker and ripped a dude's throat out with his teeth. Thus was his bloody coat named the murder jacket. 

The Walking Dead Best Scenes

Image via AMC

The final reunion was actually a happy one. The moment Tyrese walks out of a shack holding after the gang busted out of cannibal jail is so pure. The series is centered around families, and it was a rare point of light that they didn't break this one completely. Yet. Everyone in TWD cast gets a chance to cry! It’s probably in their casting call.

One of the Last Sets the Cast of TWD Would See

The road to Alexandria ended with a storm. Before Rick's group meets Aaron and get recruited for their new lives, they have to find shelter. They hole up in a little barn and the storm hits. Walkers are banging at the door (because their VFX makeup is water soluble). Through the night, each character rushes to hold back the horde. An exhausted group from everywhere, desperately fighting together against monsters in the dark and a world that doesn't care. That's some archetypal end of the world writing.

Walking Dead Best Seasons

Image via AMC

The group makes it to Alexandria, and things are nice. There's that whole business with Rick needing to learn the power of trust (and then immediately unlearn it) but it's ok. The show had a different feel from this point on. Some fans consider Alexandria the end to the best seasons of The Walking Dead, but they still keep to the same formula. Walkers bust into Alexandria and it's a classic episode. They even put Carl in mortal danger. Just like the good ol’ days.

Cast of TWD

image via AMC

Negan's entrance into The Walking Dead was a turning point. Jeffrey Dean Morgan's performance changed the series as much as a stable roof and a razor changed Rick. Suddenly, there's a villain with charisma, and he had a pretty visible effect beyond just reducing the cast of TWD. No other villain had walked in, slaughtered several named, long-standing characters in his first appearance, and lived for two seasons. But here's Negan. The all out war arc had more open violence and action than previous seasons, but ratings still dropped after Glenn died despite great performances from all of the TWD cast. Still, it's a testament to how good the character is that someone so reviled could become a fan favorite.

The Best Walking Dead Scenes After Rick Left

Andrew Lincoln left The Walking Dead, but the series limped on without another of its leads. Still, the next major conflict felt fresh like the series hadn’t been in a while. The introduction of The Whisperers was subtle, but it brought TWD back to its horror roots. Season 9 episode 6 has a moment where Eugene and Rosita are hiding from a horde. As they pass, you can hear whispers saying "where are they" and "don't let them get away." The early scenes with the Whisperers are such a solid scary contrast to the Savior arc.

 

For a character that gets a lot of hate, Eugene is part of some of the best scenes in The Walking Dead. When he gets the radio working again, those early conversations with the distant Stephanie make the world feel bigger. We know now that "Stephanie" was actually being used to get Alexandria to come to the Commonwealth, but we don't know why just yet.

Walking Dead Best Seasons

Image via AMC

Even as the series began to end, the cast of TWD continued to expand. Mercer, the orange-clad general of the Commonwealth, had one of the best introductions of any recent character. Ezekiel is getting interrogated, and this tangerine stormtrooper is just looming. Ezekiel accuses him of being in charge, and something about him just saying "Yeah, I'm in charge," while smiling just works. Maybe it’s because Michael James Shaw clearly loves playing him. At that point, we didn't know if he was a villain yet, but if he was, the difference from Negan's loud posturing, Alpha's brutality, and Mercer's calm control would be huge. Mercer might have come toward the end of the series, but he’s turning out to be a high point.

The Walking Dead season 11 is wrapping up part two on AMC now! 

What are some of the best seasons of The Walking Dead and TWD scenes you keep coming back to? Share your own in the comments below, and let us know what you think of the ones we selected.

Featured image via AMC.

The Walking Dead Best Scenes, Seasons – How TWD Cast Made A Show Worth Remembering
Jessica Kanzler
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