Concept artist Rhys Yorke shared has shared his version of Batman's iconic symbol that he designed for Season 2 of Titans. Yorke had worked as an assistant art director for the DC Universe show during the most recent season.
Yorke posted his rendition of the iconic emblem on his personal Twitter account with the caption, "One of the biggest thrills I had working on Titans Season 2, was having the opportunity to design a new symbol for Batman." The symbol would be used for the show's older Batman -- portrayed by actor Iain Glen (Game of Thrones) -- who has an estranged relationship with Dick Grayson --played by Brenton Thwaites (Gods of Egypt) -- which was a major plot thread in Season 2.
The artist has contributed to other graphic designs that were used for Titans during the show's second season. In response to a fan on his Twitter thread, Yorke also remarked that he designed the logos for WayneTech and H.I.V.E. that ended up making it on screen.
Yorke has done cover art for IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles andhas also contributed art and graphic designs for the TV shows V-Wars and The Expanse, along with the MMORPG World of Warcraft.
Streaming now on DC Universe, Titans Season 2 stars Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson, Anna Diop as Kory Anders, Teagan Croft as Rachel Roth, Ryan Potter as Garfield Logan, Curran Walters as Jason Todd and Conor Leslie as Donna Troy, with Minka Kelly as Dawn Granger, Alan Ritchson as Hank Hall, Joshua Orpin as Superboy, Chelsea Zhang as Rose Wilson, Chella Man as Jericho, Drew Van Acker as Aqualad, Esai Morales as Deathstroke and Iain Glen as Bruce Wayne.
With the success of Logan, both Deadpool installments and the recently released Joker, it seems as if R-rated comic book films may be on the rise, and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad might be the next to join the club.
"There’s a huge appetite for R-rated superhero movies and if Marvel isn’t going to step up, that presents an opening for DC to tap into that audience," Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock told Variety. The outlet also reported that insiders predict both The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will score R-ratings.
Though Marvel Studios has not made any R-rated films to date, Disney reportedly gave the go-ahead for R-rated sequels for Deadpool, which the company acquired through its purchase of 20th Century Fox.
Written and directed by James Gunn, The Suicide Squad stars Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, David Dastmalchian, John Cena, Joaquin Cosio, Nathan Fillion, Mayling Ng, Flula Borg, Sean Gunn, Juan Diego Botto, Storm Reid, Pete Davidson, Taika Waititi, Alice Braga, Steve Agee, Tinashe Kajese, Daniela Melchior, Peter Capaldi, Julio Ruiz, Jennifer Holland, Idris Elba and Michael Rooker. The film arrives in theaters Aug. 6, 2021.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Marauders #2, by Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Federico Blee, VC's Cory Petit and Tom Muller, on sale now.
After the House of X/Powers of X relaunch, all of the X-Men have relocated to the island nation of Krakoa. Thanks to the use of special portals only accessible to mutants, mutants all over the world can now access the island and start a new life in this safe haven.
However, one fan-favorite X-Man who, for a reason that has yet to be revealed, cannot cross through the portals. Whenever Kitty (who'd rather you start calling her Kate now) Pryde attempts to reach Krakoa, the portal turns solid and impenetrable to her.
But the X-Woman known as Shadowcat doesn't let that stop her from helping others. As it turns out, there are plenty of mutants all around the world who are forcibly being kept from the Krakoan portals, and she has established a new team, the Marauders, to sail around the globe and help as many of them as she can.
Kate's team is a subdivision of the Hellfire Trading Company, the evolved form of the Hellfire Club that's overseen by Emma Frost, the White Queen and Sebastian Shaw, the Black King. But there is one seat left open -- that of the Red Queen.
For some time now, it's been an open secret that Kitty Pryde would join the Hellfire Company's leadership as the Red Queen, and in Marauders #2, she finally accepts the position. But she does so by embracing her new identity completely. And she does that by ditching her old X-Men costume and embracing what she now is: a pirate.
In Marauders #1, Kitty put her new crew together while wearing her classic yellow and blue X-Men costume. However, there was already a sailing flair to her look when she added a red scarf to her ensemble. With constant bruises on her face from her sea-faring adventures, Kitty led the Marauders on their first mission on a small, weary boat.
But all of that changes in the second issue of the series. Thanks to Emma Frost and the deep pockets of the Hellfire Trading Company, the Marauders now have a highly armored and weaponized yacht, The Maruader, as their base of operations. But even though their mode of transportation is pristine and fancy, Kitty still keeps her rebellious edge. The name Marauders was picked because her team's possibly illegal actions can't be tied back directly to the X-Men and Krakoa. On the sea, the Marauders are pirates, and Kitty embraces that identity fully.
Taking on the responsibility of the Red Queen, the former Shadowcat is no longer one of the yellow and blue X-Men. Instead, she trades her costume for a long red trench coat that not only emulates her status as the Hellfire's Red Queen, but a sea-bound criminal. With a white blouse, sailor's boots and large belt, Kitty's outfit makes it clear that she is now the captain of her ship. Better yet, she now wields a sword as a weapon, and she even takes the pirate motif even further by getting her knuckles tattooed with the words "hold fast."
As it stands, Kitty Pryde, the X-Man, is gone. In her place now stands Kate Pryde, the pirate captain of The Marauder and the Hellfire Company's new Red Queen.
Triple H has officially announced WWE’s next Worlds Collide event will take place the night before the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in Jan. 2020.
"What will happen when @WWENXT battles @NXTUK?" Triple H tweeted. "Worlds. Will. Collide. #WorldsCollide @ToyotaCenter Saturday, January 25th during #RoyalRumble weekend LIVE on @WWENetwork... Tickets go on sale next Friday, December 6th at 10am CT at NXTTickets.com! #WeAreNXT"
WWE’s Worlds Collide event sees talent from different shows compete for brand dominance. In the past, Superstars from NXT, NXT UK, 205 Live, Raw and SmackDown have all clashed. With 205 Live having been consolidated into NXT, however, it will be interesting to see which Superstars get the opportunity to participate.
The announcement comes in the wake of Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view. Much like Worlds Collide, Survivor Series saw champions and teams from WWE’s three brands compete for supremacy. By the end of the night, WWE's former developmental brand, NXT, emerged victorious, earning four wins in total, over SmackDown's two and Raw's one.
WWE held two Worlds Collides events in 2019. The first took place over two days in January before Royal Rumble and the second included main roster Superstars and took place over WrestleMania weekend in April, though both aired at later dates.
2020’s Worlds Collide will feature talents from NXT and NXT UK. The show takes place in the Toyota Center on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020.
The timeline for Batwoman can be difficult to place within the larger Arrowverse. One might guess it takes place concurrently with Arrow and The Flash. Yet the pilot episode could easily be confused for a prequel to both shows.
In some ways, the chronology of the series directly mirrors the journey of its main character: from uncertain and confused to confidently making its own way. To better understand where the character is and where she might be going, it is important to look at where she’s been so far.
Ruby Rose made her first appearance as Kate Kane, cousin of missing billionaire Bruce Wayne, during the 2018-2019 season's Arrowverse crossover event "Elseworlds."She enters the story as a mysterious ally to the bizarre trio of Kara Danvers and the body-swapped Oliver Queen and Barry Allen, bailing them out of jail and letting them use the WiFi at the abandoned Wayne Enterprises building.
When a doctor with a book that lets him change reality is confronted by the Oliver Queen Speedster, he releases the inmates of Arkham Asylum. As the rogues flee their cells, we get our introduction to Gotham City’s newest vigilante, Batwoman, as she swoops in wearing her dark suit complete with red wig and bat insignia.
She is exact in her movements and methods as well as proficient with a few gadgets. This is obviously a woman who has been fighting crime in her city for some time and has started to establish herself as the heir apparent to the absent Batman.
The other shows in the Arrowverse had moved beyond the reality-altering chaos of "Elseworlds" when Batwoman officially premiered with a bit of a backwards time-jump. Instead of catching up with Kate Kane post-crossover, the first several episodes of the show told her origin as a hero.
The beginning of the series presents a more uncertain Kate than the character we met in "Elseworlds." She doesn’t quite know where she belongs. All that changes when she discovers her beloved cousin Bruce Wayne was Batman, inspiring her to take up his mantle but on her terms. By the end of the first episode, she’s wearing an altered version of the batsuit, but she still isn’t quite the hero we met before.
There is no red bat insignia or wig, and Kate isn’t as confident a combatant yet. The demented villain Alice gets the best of her more than once, even coming close to strangling her. While initially jarring to viewers already familiar with what Batwoman will become, one can quickly see that these first few episodes are about the journey to "Elseworlds" rather than the aftermath.
By the fifth episode of the series, “Mine Is A Long And A Sad Tale,” things had finally progressed beyond "Elsworlds." The episode takes place two weeks after the Arkham Asylum outbreak seen in the crossover. Still, it is clear that this doesn’t quite catch Batwoman up with the rest of The CW's DCTV universe. However, this will be rectified soon. If the first four episodes of the season were about getting to this point, then the next four have to get us to this season's massive crossover “Crisis On Infinite Earths.”
First teased in the premiere episode of The Flash, not only will “Crisis” span episodes of Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow, it will also incorporate characters from Black Lightning, Smallville and a whole host others from across the DC Universe. Given Batwoman has a whole episode devoted to the crossover, we can assume that the show will at last synchronize with the rest of the Arrowverse be the time the crossover hits the small screen.
After a fairly compressed timeline, Batwoman will no longer be playing catch-up with the rest of the DCTV shows. During "Crisis on Infinite Earths," she will stride across the Multiverse with the rest of the heroes as a fully fledged member of the Arrowverse.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe megahit Avengers: Endgame may have landed in theaters earlier this year, but concept art for the film's costumes are still being released from designers and artists. In this envisioning of Rocket's new costume, artist Jackson Sze unveils details that reflect the character's story from the comics.
Sze, a Senior Visual Development Artist at Marvel Studios, released the hi-res art on his Instagram following the release of the Avengers: Endgame Artbook. This particular version of Rocket's costume includes Aviator goggles and a scarf, as Sze reminds us, "to compliment his skills as a pilot." Sze also added some details that would reflect Rocket post-Snap, while featuring some Earth-inspired fashion.
The variation from Rocket's traditional flight suit for Avengers: Endgame is a direct vision from the Russo Brothers, and Sze wanted the new vision to reflect Rocket's full story.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Don Cheadle as War Machine, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Danai Gurira as Okoye and Bradley Cooper as Rocket, with Gwyneth Paltrow Pepper Potts, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Benedict Wong as Wong, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Josh Brolin as Thanos. The film is available on Digital HD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD.
Although Arrow may be in its final season, that doesn't mean the show is resting on its laurels. Instead, it appears as though tonight's episode may be a memorable one for fans thanks to the way its story unfolds, with the show's stars and creative team both highlighting how they've utilized new narrative techniques.
The episode, titled "Reset," will see Stephen Amell's Oliver Queen thrust into an alternate universe where things aren't what they seem. "It's so cool. It's so, so, so cool..." Amell told TVGuide. "[David Ramsey] did a spectacular job, and it's a narrative technique that for obvious reasons we've never done on the show before, and I don't think that we'll ever get a chance to do again. So I thought he executed it extremely well, and it's a fun one for me. It kind of kicks off our endgame so to speak."
Ramsey, who directed the episode, said, "I think it's an episode of Arrow that is very unconventional. I think it's a very interesting plot device of how we help Oliver on his journey to accepting his fate. A lot of times Oliver's arc begins with one episode and maybe doesn't end until three episodes, six episodes later, or a full season later. Oliver's emotional arc takes place in 42 minutes, and he starts in one place and ends up in another place. And we travel that with him literally in a way that, I think, we don't normally do on this series. So it's a different type of episode."
The "plot device" Ramsey alluded to is reportedly connected to the return of Quentin Lance, who died during the show's Season 6 finale but will be alive and well in the episode's alternate reality.
Airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, Arrow's final season stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Rick Gonzalez as Wild Dog, Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary, Katie Cassidy as Black Siren, Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak, Joseph David-Jones as Connor Hawke and Ben Lewis as William Clayton-Queen.
A mass brawl broke out between teenagers during a screening of a gang movie Blue Story at a theater also showing Disney's new movie, Frozen 2. The fight saw up to 100 teenagers wielding weapons, including machetes, as parents lined up with their children to watch the movie at Star City in Birmingham, England.
"Dozens of officers were sent to the complex after a 999 call just after 5.30pm reporting a group of youths with machetes," a spokesperson for West Midlands Police told The Independent. "Two machetes were seized during the trouble, which saw pockets of fighting and seven police officers left with minor injuries as they dealt with the crowds in and around the cinema."
Armed police officers were sent to the scene, utilizing tasers in their efforts to reclaim order in the face of a "very hostile response" against them. Officers were reportedly left with facial injuries, with a knife being recovered from a nearby roundabout.
A witness explained how "a young boy was crying on the floor with his mother" as the violence erupted. Rachel Allison told the Press Association, "The police told everyone to leave the cinema as they held Taser guns in their hands and started to bring in guard dogs. I spoke to a policeman who told me it is unclear whether the kids had weapons and also stated when kids fight they bring their group of friends. "
Another eyewitness shared how the brawl broke out as she waited with her daughter for their screening of Frozen 2, writing on Twitter: "There was a fight in the cinema ... group of girls on one girl and it all escalated. The group ran into the cinema rooms to hide and a lot of police turned up. Has to be one of the scariest experiences of my life, so sad all the little children were there."
Five teenagers have since been arrested in connection to the fight. A 13-year-old girl, a boy and girl both aged 14 and a 19-year-old male were held on suspicion of assaulting police officers. Following the incident, the cinema's management team decided to close for the rest of the evening.
Superintendent Ian Green of Birmingham police noted, "This was a major outbreak of trouble which left families who were just trying to enjoy a night out at the cinema understandably frightened. We worked quickly to move the crowds on, but were met with a very hostile response and officers had to draw Tasers to restore order. Thankfully, the injuries to our officers were very minor. We've also recovered two machetes and a knife, and it's clear that some of those who went to Star City last night were intent on causing trouble."
In theaters now, Disney's Frozen 2 reunites directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and producer Del Vecho with voice actors Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. Returning musical talents include Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
Lana revealed recently, in no uncertain terms, that she's been having an affair with Bobby Lashley, much to Rusev's... sort of unconvincing dismay. Not long before this, Maria Kanellis finally revealed to Mike Kanellis that she's pregnant, and that Mike was not the father. In fact, Maria made it a point to say that Mike isn't man enough to be the father.
The recent uptick in WWE's cuckolding stories seems to have piqued viewers' interests. However, as always, fans are currently divided into two camps: they love it or hate it. According to Forbes, fans have gone so far as to say that the Lashley/Lana segment is the worst storyline of 2019. However, this style of storytelling is far from new. The WWE has been using real-life drama and soap opera melodrama to foster bizarre stories of cuckolding and sexual deviance for as long as many fans can remember. And whether you love them or hate them, these strange train-wreck stories definitely hold our attention.
Back in 1999, Stephanie McMahon and Andrew 'Test' Martin were together, but this didn't come easily. Although Test had no issue getting his blessing from Vince, it seemed that Shane hated the idea. It took a one-on-one street fight between the two in order for Test to get Stephanie's hand. But once the match was finished and the dust cleared, Test came out victorious.
The date had been set and the WWE was ready for a glorious wedding. However, the one and only Triple H had different plans. During the wedding, the Game crashed the party and revealed that he had already married Stephanie. The plan was to promise her a divorce under the condition that he get a shot at the WWE Championship match with Test at Armageddon.
This storyline got a little messy towards the end. The feud between Triple H and Test sort of fizzled out, with Triple H facing Vince McMahon during Armageddon. By contrast, Test sort of faded into the background. Although Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are now married in real life, the tone-deafness of this particular story still makes most fans cringe. Given how much the idea of consent has thankfully come more to the fore in years since, we almost certainly will not see a rehash of this off-putting storyline.
This relationship started over one Canadian dollar. In 2003, Chris Jericho and Christian were dating Trish Stratus and Lita (respectively). Chris Jericho and Christian bet a single Canadian dollar on who could get their WWE Diva first. When Trish learned of the bet, she brokenheartedly broke up with Jericho. However, the Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rollah had developed feelings for the blonde bombshell.
Much to Christian’s chagrin, Jericho tried to mend the relationship he had with Trish. Christian's disdain for the Jericho/Trish pairing began to show in their tag team matches. This disagreement escalated until Wrestlemania XX. The pair finally faced off, with Trish in Jericho’s corner. In the end, Christian came out victorious after Trish accidentally hit Jericho. But the kicker was the reveal. As it turns out, Trish was with Christian the entire time.
This storyline held the attention of viewers for eight months. In fact, it was so explosive, Trish's popularity soared after her sudden and unexpected heel turn. Viewers love characters they can hate, and Trish capitalized on this in true superstar fashion. So while it was certainly divisive, this lone, strange story arguably created one of the most iconic WWE superstars ever.
The mid-2000s was a peak time for cuckolding stories. None, however, made as much of an impact as Edge, Lita and Matt Hardy's story because this particular affair started outside of the ring. In reality, Matt Hardy and Lita had been dating for years. However, the pair split and Lita ended up dating Edge. This infuriated Hardy and he turned to social media in order to vent. This, in turn, resulted in the WWE releasing Hardy from his contract. But after fan retaliation, the WWE reinstated Hardy using this story as his return line.
The first official match between Hardy and Edge took place during SummerSlam 2005. It featured the ref stopping the match when Edge busted Hardy's head open against the ringpost. Because Hardy was unable to continue, Edge was declared the winner. They had numerous matches after, including a Steel Cage match, a Street Fight and a Ladder Match. In the end, Edge came out the victor.
This storyline seemed more like a public shaming of Lita than art imitating life. It brought to the forefront some personal issues Lita, Matt Hardy and Edge were all enduring. However, the three are professionals and agreed to do work through it, for better or worse. In a recent interview with Matt Hardy, he mentions that everyone was aware of the situation and okay with it.
Indeed, some good ol' fashioned cuckoldry is nothing new to the WWE; in fact, it's a story we've seen countless times. Heck, even what we've mentioned above is but a small sampling from the company over the years. Are they always good? No, almost never.
And yet, it's that over-the-top, good vs. evil, love triangle malarkey that is one of the many reasons the WWE is so popular. The storylines may not be engaging or entertaining, but they're certainly weird enough to be remembered. That's not kink-shaming, mind you, it's just a fact that certain things are memorable, even if they're not beloved.
Inuyasha is a renowned series. It was created by Rumiko Takahashi and later adapted into a popular anime. It has a wealth of interesting and developed characters with varying personalities and goals.
For those unaware, each personality type of the MBTI consists of 4 groups of letters: E or I for Extroversion or Introversion - how one invests energy; N or S for Intuition or Sensing - how one perceives the world; F or T for Feeling or Thinking - how one makes decisions; and P or J for Perception or Judging - jow one deals with the outside world. With that in mind, let’s dive into the characters of Inuyasha.
10 Inuyasha - ISFP
Inuyasha's loud demeanor and brash attitude are an act to keep people from bothering him. He finds others annoying, and, even with those he cares about, like Kagome, he tends to act distant. He judges the world based on what he can see, rather than look for a deeper meaning. Thanks to his demonic half, his senses are keen, especially his sense of smell.
His feelings affect him in both fights and in his daily interactions. He rarely thinks before he speaks, and he’s very easy to goad in a fight. As a result, calmer minds tend to take advantage and trick him. He will charge forward without a plan. Inuyasha often overestimates his strength and underestimates his opponents. His goal is to obtain the Shikon Jewel and defeat Naraku, but that doesn’t stop him from being swept up in other adventures, whether he likes it or not.
9 Kagome - ENFP
Kagome loves being around people. She has no issue asserting herself and stating her opinion, and she finds comfort in being in a group rather than alone. Kagome is observant and thanks to her connection to the Shikon Jewel, she can sense the supernatural. She’s quick to discern ulterior motives and notice little details about a person’s behavior.
She makes decisions based on what she believes to be right over what might be logically smart. This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t think things through; she’s analytical and quick to figure things out. Kagome’s always open to helping those in trouble, even if that detracts from the group’s main objective. While not a fighter, Kagome will rush into danger to help her friends.
8 Kikyo - INTJ
Kikyo is a quiet and contemplative priestess who is content to stay out of the spotlight and live her own life. If trouble happens to find her, she has no issue striking anything or anyone down to preserve her existence. A priestess and the original guardian of the Shikon Jewel, Kikyo is in tune with the spirit world. She is able to pick up even the smallest disturbance, and she can sense things that most normal humans can’t.
While the original Kikyo was considered kind and compassionate, the resurrected Kikyo is methodical and rarely allows her feelings to affect her actions. She makes her decisions based on logic and facts, and she often seems calm and apathetic. Kikyo is wise, and she plans for the long-term. She wants revenge on Naraku, so she bides her time, at one point letting others believe that she is working with Naraku.
After watching her family die, Sango closed herself to outside help until she joined the group. While she enjoys and treasures her traveling companions, she has no issue being on her own. Due to her training as a demon slayer, Sango’s senses are incredibly honed. After all, she knows that the slightest hesitation could result in her death.
Sango makes judgments based on her training, and she thinks before speaking or acting. She is very precise and efficient, and she can quickly find a solution in any fight. As a hunter, she understands the value of a good plan. In battle, she’s very decisive.
6 Miroku- ENTJ
Miroku is usually found shamelessly flirting. He gets what he wants or needs through his status as a monk, but he is kindhearted and cannot stand to see other people suffer. He’s incredibly perceptive. He always knows exactly what to say to put others at ease or to get what he wants. Usually, when something is wrong, Miroku is the first to pick up on it.
Miroku displays tempered and clever judgment. He does consider the feelings of others in his choices, but usually, he tends to be more logical. Miroku has a wealth of experience and knowledge when dealing with situations. He doesn’t mind getting sidetracked, but he has a single goal: to remove the curse on his hand before it kills him.
5 Shippo - ESFP
Shippo loves attention and being around others. He’s a kid, so he wants to be needed and useful. He will often interject himself into conversations or situations. Shippo’s still learning and growing, and, therefore, not as perceptive as the adults. This often results in him blurting out the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Shippo is perceptive of others’ feelings. He wants to help others, but he often doesn’t think things through, which sometimes results in only more problems. Shippo tends to go with the flow of whatever the group decides to do. Because he’s small and young, he’s not that great in a fight. However, he’s clever, and he can think on his feet and use his shapeshifting to get out of sticky situations.
Naraku is the host of many demons possessing the man Onigumo. He is cruel, overconfident, and manipulative. He takes sadistic pleasure in ruining the lives of others. Naraku is power-hungry and obsessed with the present and how he can obtain his goals. He is incapable of discerning the deeper meaning of things, believing such things are unnecessary.
His decisions are purely logical. He does not understand the feelings of others. Naraku is careful and calculating, preferring to lay traps, rather than sully his own hands. He also has powerful demons working for him, like Kagura and Kanna, that he uses as pawns in his quest to obtain the Shikon Jewel.
3 Sesshomaru - INTJ
Sesshomaru prefers solitude to the company of others. If he has to deal with others, he is reflective and thoughtful with his speech and mannerisms. Sesshomaru is able to read and match his opponents’ strength. There are very few instances where he has been surprised, and he’s able to see the deeper meaning of any situation.
Sesshomaru’s decisions are logical with little regard or concern for others. This changed with Rin. After she joined him, Sesshomaru showed more compassion, but he still remains calm and stoic. He plans ahead, and he hates it when his goals are interrupted by small hiccups.
2 Rin - ENFP
Rin was mute when she first appeared, but after she joined Sesshomaru, Rin quickly developed a voice of her own. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Rin shows a surprising amount of intuition. She has a natural curiosity, and she often looks past appearances to help friend or foe.
Rin is open and caring to everyone she meets. She is afraid of other humans because of what happened to her family, but she still shows them proper respect. Rin follows Sesshomaru and tends to go along with whatever he decides to do. She’s a very free spirit and is happy to go with the flow.
Koga thrives in a social setting. He leads a wolf tribe and carries that pack mentality. Koga judges by what he can see around him rather than try to decipher a deeper meaning. This has caused him to be easily tricked by others.
He acts based on his feelings and emotions. He and Inuyasha are similar in that they’re both hotheads who react as soon as their abilities come into question. Koga excels at thinking on his feet and adapting to situations as they unfold. However, this is often without regard to what his actions might cause.
When we think of Gundam, a lot of things come to mind: absurdly constructed giant robots, teenage pilots, and charismatic men hiding their faces behind masks. One thing we often don’t think of, however, is manga. The franchise began in the world of anime, and as such anime’s sister medium can slip from people’s minds.
However, over the years Gundam has had several mangas that are worth reading. Some of them follow entirely new storylines set in major universes like the Universal Century timeline, others use familiar characters and use them in new ways. Here’s a list of ten of the very best, must-read Gundam manga.
10 AFTER WAR GUNDAM X: UNDER THE MOONLIGHT
Initially a short story meant for the Gundam magazine Gundam Ace, Under the Moonlight was so well-liked it was expanded to a full-blown series.
As the name might suggest, the series takes place in the Gundam X universe but uses an all-new cast to tell it’s stories with. It begins seven years after the original Gundam X series and tells the story of Rick Aller, who finds another Gundam X which leads him into meeting Kai, a NewType, and dealing with the now rebuilt D.O.M.E. organization from the original series.
9 UNDER THE GUNDAM: DOUBLE FAKE
After seeing Char briefly spend some time as a leading hero in Zeta Gundam, the film Char’s Counterattack turns things around and places him squarely as the lead opposition to Amuro in his final appearance in the series. But before that, we have Under the Gundam: Double Fake, set three years prior to Char’s Counterattack.
Here, Char leads a group known as the New Summer Project, a front for his own Neo-Zeon forces. The primary protagonist is a young man named Darry Neil Guns, who modifies his worker mobile suit to resemble the original RX-78 Gundam and winds up in conflict with the New Summer Project to protect the Texas Space Colony of Side 5.
8 GUNDAM BUILD FIGHTERS AMAZING
The original Gundam Build Fighters was perhaps one of the biggest breaths of fresh air given to the Gundam franchise when it first launched. It’s been popular enough to become its own sub-franchise, so it’s unsurprising it’s gotten several manga about it.
Build Fighters Amazing gives us the story of how the current Meijin, Yuuki Tatsuya, got into the world of GBF, ten years prior to the beginning of the original GBF series, using some familiar characters to draw people into the world.
7 GUNDAM: ECOLE DU CIEL
The only still running manga on this list, Ecole du Ciel began back in 2001 in Gundam Ace and is still going strong.
Set just prior to the Gryps Conflict that’s the crux of Zeta Gundam, the series is set at Ecole du Ciel, a military academy in Canada where gifted young people train to become mobile suit pilots. The lead character is Asuna Elmarit, a student performing below par at Ecole du Ciel, despite her mother being a genius engineer. Still, everything changes when the school finds itself plunged into war.
This book is probably the longest-running series featuring a female character as the lead protagonist, and it’s worth a read just for that, and the character designs of Haruhiko Mikimoto of course.
6 ADVANCE OF ZETA: FLAG OF TITANS
A manga adaptation of the 2002 novel, Advance of Zeta helps fill in some of the gaps that occur between the Federation being the protagonists in the original One Year War, and them becoming the antagonists of the Zeta era.
Set a few years before the main conflict of Zeta Gundam, Advance of Zeta is about the Black Otter Team, a group of test pilots working for the Federation’s latest faction, the Titans. A story from Yoshiyuki Tomino himself, Flag of Titans sees the Black Otter team going up against both the Zeon forces and the Anti-Earth Union Group which would be the protagonists of Zeta.
5 MSV CHRONICLE "JOHNNY RIDDEN"
Johnny Ridden is the most famous character in the Universal Century timeline to have never made it into an anime series. He’s made multiple appearances in both the games and manga though, making his first appearance in the 2001 manga Gundam Pilot Series of Biographies.
A member of the Zeon forces, he gets his own manga in the Mobile Suit Variations Chronicle, where we see what happens to him after he survives the battle of A Baou Qu, where he works under the name “Johnny Depp” to help with the after-war reconstruction on Earth.
It’s stories like Johnny’s that go a long way towards helping with the general idea of there never being a single “good” side in any Universal Century conflict.
4 GUNDAM: BELTORCHIKA'S CHILDREN
Initially the novelization of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, Beltorchika’s Children was eventually adapted into a manga series. The basic storyline is the same as the original, but there are some changes made to bring it more in line with Yoshiyuki Tomino’s vision for the series.
This includes upgrading Amuro and Char’s final mobile suits, the nu Gundam and Sazabi into the Hi-Streamer and Nightingale models. There are also some changes made to set up the storyline of Hathaway’s Flash, the novel series which will be adapted into a series of movies starting 2020.
3 GUNDAM WING: EPISODE ZERO
What’s particularly noteworthy about Episode Zero is that it was technically supposed to be part of the actual Gundam Wing anime series, but production scheduling led to it being pushed back again and again before being cut.
Throughout Gundam Wing, the series makes constant references to the backstories of the lead protagonists, but they never go into much detail. Episode Zero on the other hand, goes into explicit detail to explain the cast’s origins. Written by the scribe of the series itself, Episode Zero is the forgotten piece of the series every Wing fan needs to read at least once.
2 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE ORIGIN
Gundam: The Origin eventually got an anime series that delves into the early life of Casval Rem Deikun, the man who would one day become Char Aznable. It doesn’t look much at the One Year War itself, but rather the events on the Zeon side leading up to those events.
The manga series, on the other hand, is literally a new adaptation of the original One Year War, but altering some events and giving us a different perspective. It’s worth a look, even for those who finished the anime.
1 MOBILE SUIT CROSSBONE GUNDAM
Crossbone Gundam is probably the most well-known manga on this list. That’s because of the history of Gundam F91, which was originally meant to be Tomino’s fourth major television series for Gundam.
Thanks to production issues, the series was shortened from 40+ episodes to 13 to eventually only becoming a movie. However, with the help of Tomino’s notes, creator Yuuichi Hasegawa created a new story using the leads of F91, ten years in the future as they’re asked to battle against the Jupiter Empire.
Fans have been begging for this to be adapted into an anime series, but with the series having ended twenty years ago, reading it might be a safer bet.
Though Batman can be very brutal at times, he is known for never breaking his rule against killing people. As a superhero without powers, Batman has appealed to audiences all over the globe, setting an example of everything humanity alone can accomplish if they set their mind to it. However, since Batman’s humanity is part of his appeal, he is also known for making mistakes.
While plenty of things have backfired for him, there have still been times when Batman was more so the villain of the series than not. Despite his darker nature as a character in general, Batman has come incredibly close to crossing the line over the years. To look back at some of the biggest mistakes in his career, here is our list of 10 questionable moral decisions Batman has made in the comics.
10 Killing KGBeast
One of the Dark Knight’s most questionable decisions ever come from when he attempted to kill KGBeast. Due to the incredibly brutal nature of the villain, Batman sealed him in a vault that was rapidly filling with water and then proceeded to walk away. While KGBeast was always a lower-level villain, the fact that Batman actually made an attempt on his life is incredibly shocking.
Likewise, this decision didn’t sit well with some readers, and it was soon revealed that the GCPD had rescued the villain before he actually died. Though Batman didn’t actually kill KGBeast in the end, he certainly made a very questionable moral decision in this moment.
9 Everything in All-Star Batman and Robin
Though few people are fans of the All-Star Batman and Robin series by Frank Miller, it does feature one of the most morally questionable versions of the Dark Knight ever. In this series, Batman is incredibly violent, nearly killing the criminal in almost every case.
Yet, it doesn’t stop there, as Batman also absorbed Dick Grayson into his war and forced him to eat rats as part of his training. This version of Batman also came incredibly close to abusing Alfred, and regularly slept with women without so much as a second thought. Though the series was never canon to begin with, it is easily one of the most questionable versions of Batman to date.
8 Abusing Robin
Almost every version of Robin has been physically abused by Batman at some point. Dick Grayson especially seems to constantly be taking a beating from the Dark Knight, even when he’s operating as Nightwing. While it makes sense for Jason to be hit by Batman due to his earlier Red Hood days, even Tim Drake, arguably the most-liked Robin, has taken a few hits from Batman.
At times, Batman’s violence gets so bad that he could even be viewed as the villain. Considering how devoted his followers typically are to him, Batman has easily called his moral character into question with how often he’s mistreated the Robins.
7 Bring Robin In
While abusing the Robins is certainly questionable, bringing them in in the first place is equally problematic. The comics themselves have addressed the moral gray area of letting a young boy fight such a violent war alongside Batman. Though Bruce himself justifies his actions by claiming to channel their anger into something productive, it is still a very questionable thing to do.
On almost every night, Bruce knowingly puts the life of some underage boy in the line of fire. Furthermore, Robin is known for dressing in brighter colors specifically to draw attention away from Batman. If abusing them wasn’t questionable enough, enlisting them in the first place certainly is.
6 Abuse His Fiance
During the widely hated Batman: The Widening Gyre story, Batman actually beat his fiance. After reconnecting with his old flame from the past, Silver St. Cloud, Batman eventually comes to propose to her. However, due to the characters constant suspicious nature, Batman soon comes to suspect her of being a spy or other tool to be used against him.
To check his theory, Batman straight up assaults her, doing things like pulling her hair and doubting if she was even real. Though he actually regretted his actions in the end, the fact that he did it in the first place is very morally ambiguous. However, the less said about the events of The Widening Gyre, the better.
5 Have an affair with Barbara Gordon
While Barbara Gordon is typically depicted as a romantic interest for Dick Grayson, there have been times where creators have explored a romance between her and Bruce. Typically though, things don’t go well between them, with fans typically rejecting the idea of the couple for many reasons. In one instance however, Bruce actually went so far as to get Barbara pregnant while she and Dick were separated.
Though this event was never canon, it still took place within the Batman Beyond Universe comics. Eventually though, Dick would find out about the two, further driving a wedge between them. Barbara herself would actually come to miscarry the child after thwarting a mugging. Though the entire situation is totally insane, it is still a very poor judgement call that comes to reflect on Bruce’s moral character.
4 Killing in General
For a while after making his debut, the Dark Knight was actually just as bad as the people he fought against. Though the character is now known for his strict moral code that doesn’t allow him to kill, there were plenty of moments early in his career where he had little to no regard for human life. For a time, Batman and Robin served as judge, jury and executioner, putting a permanent end to many of the criminals they encountered.
Thankfully, the character was changed to be the more morally righteous hero that people around the world have come to know and love. Unfortunately, these incredibly bad moral decisions from the early days are still part of his history, easily landing them on this list.
3 Marry Catwoman
Recently, Batman was actually engaged to Selina Kyle, better known to some as Catwoman. While most people were excited to see the Dark Knight happy for a change, Selina eventually came to call the engagement off by leaving Bruce at the altar. Though things seem to be coming around for the couple once again, choosing to marry Catwoman is a pretty odd call for someone like Batman.
As pointed out in the excellent story arc, Superfriends, Superman questions Batman’s decisions by noting that Selina is the type of person that Batman typically wars against. Though Batman agrees, he also raises several questions against Superman’s own marriage with Lois. Though it may not be the most morally just decision ever, seeing Batman happy is a welcome experience that most readers have embraced.
2 Creating Brother Eye
When Batman and Mr. Terrific first created Brother Eye, they had no way of knowing that it would become one of the deadliest machines the DC Universe has ever seen. However, the heroes’ motivations behind the creation of Brother Eye in the first place is still morally questionable.
Brother Eye was always created to be a surveillance system that would make it easier for heroes to identify and stop crime. In order to do so though, this would mean that Batman would be everywhere, likely infringing upon a lot of citizen’s privacy. Though he had the best intentions behind creating the A.I., the whole idea of Brother Eye is very morally gray to begin with.
1 Keeping Files on the Justice League
In one of the character’s more famous mistakes, the JLA: Tower of Babel story revealed that Batman was keeping files on his fellow Justice League members without their knowing. Not only was he keeping track of their daily patterns and the like, but their weaknesses as well.
Therefore, when someone managed to steal those files, Batman was effectively the one attacking the League. The results of his actions were so extreme that batman was temporarily expelled from the Justice League. Though he had his justifications for doing so, doing something like like to his closest allies is very skeptical of him.
The biggest shopping day of the year is almost here, but thankfully we will be gathering some amazing deals all week here on Daily Deals that will help you get the most out of your buck from some of the best stores for fandoms online this Black Friday.
While we usually focus on one specific retailer's deals, this week we'll be bringing together the best deals of the day from a few different retailers so that fans won't miss out on some of these amazing, but sometimes short-lived or lightning deals from Comixology, Merchoid, and Entertainment Earth.
Speaking of lightning deals, Comixology will be selecting one graphic novel a day from their huge digital library to go on sale for $0.99 for 24 hours. It's an incredibly amazing deal for fans with some great graphic novels being offered this year.
Today Comixology has selected the first volume of Al Ewing and Joe Bennet's Immortal Hulk, which has quickly become one of Marvel's best ongoing titles and has given a new, dark edge to the Hulk. Don't miss out on this amazing 24-hr deal to add Immortal Hulk to your collection for only a buck!
We often share deals regarding collectibles or comics you can use to either build up your home, office or personal comic library (or even geeky stocking stuffers) but every so often we want to help build up your wardrobe as well. While the safest bet when giving clothes gifts are geeky T-Shirts, we wanted to go a bit above this year with some amazing hoodies and jackets.
The Spider-Man premium hoodie lets you wear the webs of everyone's favorite wallcrawler, while the Avengers: Endgame leather jacket mimics the designs of their advanced tech Quantum Suits that allowed the team to travel through time in the film, making sure you'll look great and hopefully not be late this season.
Entertainment Earth always has an amazing stock of Marvel and DC collectibles for fans to choose from, but this Black Friday we wanted to bring out the big guns from their huge selection of deals that are bringing savings to the fans all week long.
Marvel fans can bring home this amazing Hulkbuster Iron Man figure by SH Figuarts/Chogokin that features light-up effects and stands at over 10" tall! Of course, if you're wanting to add to your DC collection, this One:12 Collective figure of Darkseid with interchangeable heads, hands, and costume accessories is a great piece for a great price!
We hope you like the items we recommend! Comic Book Resources has affiliate partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from your purchase. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.
There's all kinds of fantasy anime out there, from isekai anime that teleport the hapless hero to a new world all the way to the likes of Naruto and Dragon Ball Z. Many of the most popular anime out there are firmly rooted in fantasy, and that includes a popular series named Little Witch Academia.
What's the story? We meet Akko, a teenaged girl who dreams of being a witch. In her world, witches are often a force for good, though they're hidden from the public eye. Through sheer guts and grit, Akko gets herself accepted to a prestigious witch academy, and she makes new friends while learning magic. Good anime attracts many cosplayers, and there are some fine Little Witch Academia cosplays out there. Let's browse the gallery!
10 Sucy Manbavaran
We begin with Sucy, one of Akko's classmates and a passionate lover of all things mushroom. Sucy is rather serious and aloof, unlike the excitable and outgoing Akko, but she, Lotte, and Akko make for a fine trio of friends.
This cosplay is so accurate to Sucy, it's almost spooky. All of the details on her outfit are looking good, and her hair is the right style and color, not to mention how it covers her left eye in the right-hand photo. This cosplayer's slender frame and posture fully bring Sucy to life, and it's fantastic.
9 Silver Chariot
This is no ordinary witch. Shiny Chariot loves to put on a good show, and with her flashy magic, broomstick gymnastics, and her gorgeous appearance and good cheer, she can thrill any crowd, no matter what. In fact, one of her shows inspired a young Akko to become a witch herself.
We get that in this cosplayer, too, who got all the details right. The costume looks high quality, and she's wearing a hat at a jaunty angle to give her a carefree look. Best of all are her pose and those petal effects! Shiny Chariot is tough to miss, isn't she?
8 Lotte Jansson
Here's another member of Akko's trio of friends: the meek but brave Lotte Jansson! She was the first witch student Akko met, and Lotte extended a welcoming hand even though Akko showed shockingly little aptitude for witchcraft. These two girls have been by each other's side ever since.
In this cosplay, Lotte is showing her more carefree and fun-loving side, and there's an appropriate Halloween vibe with this cosplay, with those dead leaves all over the sidewalk. The wig is a nice vibrant orange for Lotte's distinctive short hair, and her glasses and tilted-back hat give her a really charming look. She's like the girl next door.
7 Akko Kagari
It's not a complete list without the heroine herself! Akko Kagari is like the precursor to Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia: both of them were born without powers, but they idolized a famous figure and vowed to become just like them. And both heroes enrolled at a magic school to realize that dream. It's easy to root for Akko and wish her the best on her quest.
As for the cosplay, it's all here: the trademark dark blue robes of the witch academy, a cartoony but charming witch hat, and of course, Akko's chestnut brown hair and a friendly smile. As a bonus effect, the cosplayer opted to hold a sphere of the moon, and it's a great way to play up the witch theme.
6 Sucy and Lotte
Some of the best cosplay pictures involve more than one character, and there's all kinds of possibilities for how the characters may strike a pose or interact with each other. The characters might be good friends hanging out, or they may be facing off in a duel!
Lotte and Sucy are friends, even if they don't look like it. These two cosplayers chose a more muted approach for the characters, and the effect is remarkable. It looks like Sucy cut her pinkish hair a bit shorter, and Lotte has glasses of a modern style. These girls are in their street clothes, and judging by that jacket, Sucy has a punk girl look, and it's really cool. Don't mess with her!
5 Diana Cavendish
Who's that blonde beauty over there? It's Diana Cavendish, a supporting character in the story of Little Witch Academia. She's a bit aloof and snobbish at first, given how she's from a wealthy family and she's oozing with witchcraft talent. She's a star student, and at first, she considers Akko beneath her. But they do eventually become friends.
Now, we get a stellar cosplay of young miss Cavendish, and everything is in place. The cosplayer opted for a lively background to contrast with Diana's witch nature, and her outfit looks like a near-perfect replica of what we see in the anime. Her calm, confident expression and wavy blonde hair complete the look.
4 Garden Sucy
There are only so many characters from Little Witch Academia to go around, so let's revisit the major characters. Here is another one of Sucy, and she's looking good. This time, Sucy is far away from her beloved misty forests and mushrooms, and instead, she's getting some fresh air at a garden.
In fact, Sucy has a bit of an aristocratic look. Did she get the idea from Diana? Anyway, the level of detail is impressive, and that includes the wand Sucy is holding. These wands are not just a stick of wood; they seem to be made of metal, complete with a handle and a pronged tip like an incomplete circle. These wands look a bit vicious, but these witches use them for good.
3 Akko and the Shiny Rod
Here comes Akko again, and she's been busy since we last saw her! In the anime, Akko is bound and determined to recreate the Shiny Rod, a legendary wand with untold magical powers. Many people told her that this quest will be in vain, but our brave heroine proves otherwise.
Now she's got it! It's adorable how excited and happy this Akko cosplayer looks, and it's totally accurate to the character. The Shiny Rod itself is an odd-looking wand, but this prop is just like the one in the anime, and we can feel its magic power from here!
2 Tools of the trade
Diana Cavendish returns, and she's got some work to do! A witch needs all her gear to make a potion or cast a spell, and this cosplayer surrounded herself with a bit of everything. Diana is a genius, so we're sure she can handle it just fine.
This cosplayer has the wavy blonde hair just right, and her eyes are a remarkable and stunning shade of blue. Meanwhile, the books, beakers of colorful liquid, and the skull round out this witch cosplay just right.
1 Hannah England
The list concludes with a fine cosplay for a supporting character: Hannah England, one of Diana Cavendish's supportive friends. At first, Hannah is little more than a minion of Diana's, and she is quite unkind to Akko. But later on, Hannah and Diana become real friends, and Hannah makes peace with Akko. Now that's progress!
This cosplay does a charming job showing Hannah during her time off, and she opts for a carefree posture while gazing into the distance. What might she be looking at, or thinking about?
Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.'s Superman: Year One returns to the version of the title character first seen in 1986's The Dark Knight Returns. Their story looks at the early years of Clark Kent, including his time in school and the military. The series, which was published through DC Black Label, finished with its third issue in October. Just whether any more stories from that universe will be told isn't clear at this time, though the last issue opens up a lot of possibilities for the Man of Steel's future.
As for Romita Jr. and Miller themselves, Superman: Year One was far from their first time working together. Instead, the two have partnered up for such acclaimed and beloved comics as 1993's Daredevil: The Man Without Fear and 2016's The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade. Romita Jr. himself is an Inkpot Award and Eisner Award winner, having taken home the prizes in 1994 and 2002, respectively.
CBR caught up with Romita Jr. following the last issue of Superman: Year One to talk about the book, working with Frank Miller and more.
CBR: Now that Superman: Year One is officially complete, what are you most proud of in the series?
John Romita Jr.: On a personal level, it's the size and the scope and the storytelling. But I'd say the size and the scope is the first thing. The storytelling played out because of the quality of Frank's story. If I had to choose between the size of the project and my storytelling, I'm most proud, on a selfish level, of the storytelling, because it was a massive undertaking for the both of us, and I'm very proud of the storytelling. I wish the artwork was on a par with the storytelling, but I take the storytelling first and then say the size of the project and the completion of it. Damn proud.
Was there anything about this project that was particularly challenging for you?
Romita: Yeah, in my mind -- self imposed -- is impressing all of the eternal scrutinisers of this character. It's forever. It's the longest running. It's the oldest and the most viewed character in the history of this business and to have so many great people before me, I was intimidated... I'm working with Frank Miller, one thing; but then how many great artists and storytellers have been on this character...
The thought that keeps on creeping into my mind was, when it was first announced that we were going to do this, the amount of eye rolling I saw and heard. I could hear eyes rolling into the back of people's heads: "Another origin, here we go again!" So the intimidation the anticipation of it. Self-imposed anxiety was -- the biggest thing about this was impressing all of the critics on a character that's been done over and done well, so well, for 80 years.
Was there any reaction -- positive or negative -- that really stood out to you when the book finally came out?
Romita: The overall reaction was good. Again, on a personal level, I have a great amount of people that like me, and sometimes an even greater amount of people that despise me. I'm told I'm a polarizing creator in the business. So if I accept the compliments, I have to accept the critiques.
The overall reaction was good. Listen, even Frank gets potshots from the critics. But this was a different take on the origin, And I think we handled it really well, despite the critics. And like I said, I go 50/50. I'm like a politician. Half of the people love me, half of the people hate me. But the loudest noise is from the haters, and I've accepted it. My skin has gotten thicker as I've gotten older.
For you, what are the key differences between this Superman and that kind of official version that's been going for eighty years?
Romita: The big difference is that we peeled apart and approached parts of the youth of the character that hadn't been done before: The football, the bullying stuff. And interestingly enough, that's an 800 pound gorilla. What would an intergalactic superbeing do if he's bullied in middle school? You know, one accidental swing, and he's going to take the head off of a kid.
So the sports thing is one thing, the bullying and then the girls. Those are three things that are ever present -- well, sports, not necessarily -- but they're ever present in normal adolescence. And to have him handle it well is a testament to the Kents, because it turns out that the Kents are more instrumental in saving the universe... They're from the middle of the country, and they're sweet people, and they imposed great principles on this kids who turns out to be an intergalactic superbeing. It saves the universe. If they hadn't done so well a job of raising him, think how it could have turned out.
So we approached this origin in a different way by adding in the vignettes and the stories of a normal adolescent that hadn't been approached. And I think we handled it really well, especially the bullying part, which I enjoyed. And then the sports part, which is kind of a chuckle. But again, he always harkened back to what his parents said, you know, "Don't show off too much." And then one thing in particular that relates to my childhood that I added, and I'm very proud of it, is a conversation my father had with me and my brother as kids, "Don't go out and start any fights. But if somebody lays a hand on you, you break their arms." You know, that kind of thing. Don't be aggressive, but don't let anybody push you around.
So I imagine the conversation going on similarly with Clark Kent, where his mother says, "You do not do this, and you don't do that and you're not a violent person and you're not going to do this." And then the father will say, "That's right, mom's correct." And then pulls the kid aside and says, "If anybody touches you, you take care of business." That's the kind of infusion of reality that I enjoyed putting into it.
Yeah, I mean I myself got that same message from my parents growing up.
Romita: Take care of the bullies. Exactly right. So it's not unique, but I don't remember recalling that kind of thing being imposed on Superman in any other stories of Clark Kent, so I enjoyed infusing it with that kind of reality.
You're working with Brian Michael Bendis on some Superman stuff. Has Superman: Year One changed how you approach the Man of Steel?
Romita: No, not really. The writers themselves have their take on the character. Frank and Brian, brilliant. Both of them have different takes. So I don't necessarily worry about it affecting me. The different titles, I just try to do justice by the writers and what they ask for, and Brian's brilliant, and I get the chance to play with him as much as I had fun playing with Frank, so to speak.
Because this Superman was the same one that we met in The Dark Knight Returns so many years ago, how did that affect your approach to this character and your view of him? Because we already know what he'll grow up into.
Romita: That's a great question, and it's not the first alluding to it. Frank's wink and nudge, wink wink and nudge nudge, every time that subject is broached saying, "Let's see how this plays out." Which means it's possible to do more chapters to this vein. They would make sense, and I don't know exactly if Frank wants to do it. I would love to, but that would be so easy for me to say that and for it to happen. I'm going to let it play out according to Frank's creativity. I would love to see it, honestly. It would be a lot of fun to follow it along and watch Superman age.
Do you know if there are any concrete plans right now to return to this incarnation of Superman or is that something that's more being negotiated, it's more up to Frank or, you know.
Romita: Oh, I don't know anything about that. Honestly, if you ask Frank and he gave you a straight answer, I'd be surprised. I think there's demand for it, and I would embrace it. Let's just put it that way.
If you could return to the story with Frank, is there any particular villain or character that you would really like to do, or even a kind of story?
Romita: You know, Batman's got the Joker, and I guess you could say that Lex Luthor is Superman's foil... I would go with what is needed according to the smarter people in this project. I don't have any preference of a villain, but I would love for it to not necessarily hinge on the villain and have it hinge on more of the difficulties of aging and approach it the same way we did with the youth, only do it as a middle aged guy and add that to the villain. So it's a double story. You have the villain that's looking at world domination or whatever, and at the same time, Superman is struggling with a prostate examination. I don't know, I'm joking! But you can imagine.
That's a heck of a visual.
Romita: We can't end on that! We have to go beyond the prostate exam.
This isn't your first time working with Frank, but obviously you have a lot of respect for him and a lot of admiration for him. Was there anything that changed about your dynamic working with him this time around? Because you've been around a lot longer than you were when you originally worked with him on Daredevil a long time ago.
Romita: The fact that we grew up in the industry at the same time, roughly, and we both were indoctrinated into the storytelling business via the "Marvel method." But working together on Daredevil: Man Without Fear set a tone that I would love to work with Frank on a regular basis, because it's allowing me as the artist to tell a story as opposed to just a pencil a story handed to me. The two of us know it, because he's an artist first before he became the brilliant writer/artist that he is. And he knows what I can do because of what we did on Man Without Fear and then also [Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade]. It's his story. And if he hands me a paragraph written on a napkin from a restaurant, I could give him 150 pages.
But that's because we work together so well. I also know what I like to do, and fortunately, it coincides with what he likes. So I would do that again in a second, including furthering this adventure, but it's the process that allows Frank and I to get along so well on this.
And I get comments from writers, saying, "I know what you can do with telling a story. So if I hand you a script, don't consider it a lockstep script. Play with it. And just let us know if you're changing anything. And we'll adjust some of the dialogue. I got that from Neil Gaiman, I got that from Mark Millar, I got that from many great writers and Brian Bendis included, because we all have been around relatively long time to know what each other can do. And if I were to work with a brand new writer, I would have to sit down and say, "This is what I can do, if you don't know that. You don't have to give me concrete directions," which can happen sometimes because there are younger artists that need directions.
Do you think that kind of increased emphasis on collaboration and making sure that the artist is given the space to follow a vision that they have based on the script is one of the reasons that these comics have turned out so well and so oftentimes critically acclaimed?
Romita: Absolutely. And interestingly enough, the reversal of the Marvel and the DC procedure is beyond ironic, because "Marvel's method" is what people like I am at my age, having had experienced learning how to tell stories through Marvel's process, and now it's reversed where DC is interested.
And we've had meetings, and they've had summits to discuss the need for the input of the artists instead of relying on a concrete script. There's nothing wrong with what the writer is giving the artist as long as the artist can adapt and play with what is given to them. And that's why the experience I've garnered over the years allows me to tell a story from a very small amount, or even a script. And I think that it should be set in stone that artists should have their hand in the cookie jar, so to speak, or in the cooking process to be able to help stir the sauce. You need the artist's input. It can't just be the writer, who has visual imagery in their head. The artist has to have writing imagery and storytelling imagery in their head while doing the artwork.
Is there anything else you want to add?
Romita: No, I just think that I would work with Frank in a second, and I never, ever thought I would enjoy working on Superman so much growing up, because I thought the character was weak being so perfect. And then working on Spider-Man, who was imperfect, and it was so much fun. And then here I am working on Superman after working on Superman and Batman together. Never thought I would enjoy it so much. DC has been wonderful and so are these characters.
Now, what do I do next? I have no effing idea... I would love to tackle Wonder Woman, excuse the expression, I would love to tackle that character like I'm working on Superman and Batman.
Magneto will headline the next installment in Jonathan Hickman's Giant-Size X-Men. Joining Hickman is the former Ultimate X-Men artist, Ben Oliver.
“It's been many years since I last worked on an X-Men related project, and I couldn't be happier than to be working with Jonathan,” Oliver said in a statement. “I've long been a fan of Jonathan's work, and Magneto as a character, so to collaborate on this project is fantastic.”
A description of the one-shot teases Magneto working with humans to continue the prosperity of Krakoa, which is something that goes against his deepest beliefs: "Determined to make this new dream of Krakoa prosper, Magneto must now make dealings with his former sworn enemy— humanity!"
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by BEN OLIVER
Len Wein and David Cockrum debuted Giant-Size X-Men in 1975, with the special issue ushering in the likes of Nightcrawler and Storm. Jean Grey and Emma Frost take center stage in the first issue of the relaunch, with future issues spotlighting different X-Men while Hickman pairs with the industry’s top artists.
Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Ben Oliver goes on sale in March from Marvel Comics.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Season 3 of Netflix's The Dragon Prince, streaming now.
Aaravos has been one of the most mysterious characters in Netflix's The Dragon Prince, debuting as a sinister Startouch elf trapped in a magic mirror in Season 2. Last season ended with him being freed, in spirit at least, and corrupting the evil regent, Viren, in the kingdom of Katolis; all so he could use the former king's advisor as a pawn to rally the other human kingdoms to his side.
However, in Season 3 we discover Aaravos has a much more conniving plan, one that's actually linked to the destruction of all races of elves and the entire dragon species who imprisoned him centuries ago. As his partnership with Viren unravels, it's soon revealed his scheme revolves around the Sunforge staff from the Lux Aurea realm and draining the world of all its magic.
Aaravos spends most of the season as a caterpillar literally attached to Viren's ear after the ex-soldier was thrown in jail by King Ezran in Season 2. He's visible as a ghost only to Viren but he's slowly poisoned the minds of the other kings, namely Kasef of Neolandia, who stages a coup in the human alliance. The other kingdoms, except for Duren, came under attack from Xadia (the magical realm of elves and dragons) earlier in the season, and Kasef promises Ezran the other kingdoms will destroy Katolis to get to Xadia -- something Ezran doesn't want as head of the alliance because all he craves is peace.
The young king eventually brokers a deal, not realizing Aaravos has corrupted his inner-circle, which results in Ezran being jailed and Viren freed to take the crown. Viren assumes leadership of Katolis and the alliance, with his eye stitched up by a mystical thread so he can harness more of Aaravos' magic. The wicked elf then urges Viren forward on his mission to destroy Xadia and all its magical denizens, a plan which got Aaravos thrown into the mirror eons ago.
Aaravos has empowered Viren to convert his army into mutated soldiers, impervious to dragon fire, and they march to Xadia. But en route, Aaravos convinces Viren to make a detour alone and travel to Lux Aurea where the Sunfire elves live, as they played a major role in his imprisonment. Viren abides and the elves try to put him on trial at the Sunforge, but thanks to Aaravos' enchantment, the elf is able to possess the Sunfire staff and turn the forge into a dark flame.
Viren wields the staff and takes out a vast portion of the elves, with Aaravos actually possessing one and boasting about how he killed the Sunfire queen in the past for opposing him. After their assault, Aaravos returns to his apparition form and offers the staff to Viren permanently as his true successor. They've now gotten everything they need to go after the Dragon Prince, Zym, and his mom, Zubeia, at the Storm Spire of Xadia.
Aaravos needed a corporeal vessel as he still can't escape his ghostly form. When he and Viren's legion attacks Zym, Ezran and the resistance in Xadia, it becomes clear the only way Aaravos can become real again is to have someone who practices dark magic suck the life out of all the dragons so their energy can be used to bring him back. This is how magic works in the show -- it's drained from mystical animals -- and it's why Aaravos wanted to help Viren perfect his craft in the first place, as the latter was relatively inexperienced as a dark mage.
The Sunfire staff is the key to using the energy to unlock the gateway that keeps Aaravos out of this world and so, Viren uses it to pull Zym's essence out as he's the strongest of all the dragons, even though he's a child. When the other dragons rally to Zym's side and are chained down as well, Aaravos is giddy at the thought because this means there's even more dragon essence for Viren to use to revive him and also, to weaponize when he returns to life.
Netflix's The Dragon Prince Season 3 stars the voices of Jack DeSena as Callum, Sasha Rojen as Ezran, Paula Burrows as Rayla, Jesse Inocalla as Soren, Racquel Belmonte as Claudia, Luc Roderique as King Harrow of Katolis and Jason Simpson as Viren.
According to Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, the creator of Star Wars himself, George Lucas, had a hand in The Rise of Skywalker.
"We sat down with George for a long meeting before we ever put pen to paper on this final episode, so we had the benefit of his thoughts," Kennedy told EW. "We took a lot of notes."
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerstars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film arrives on Dec. 20.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Avengers #26 by Jason Aaron, Dale Keown, Andrea Sorrentino, Joe Weems, Cam Smith, Craig Yeung, Jason Keith, Erick Arciniega and Jay David Ramos
The Starbrand powers have been transferred between other beings over the eons, empowering humans with the kind of cosmic strength that makes them capable of standing up to other major universal threats. But it turns out the very first Starbrand wasn't a human at all.
Avengers #26 introduces perhaps the most surprising Starbrand of all -- an unnamed Tyrannosaur rex.
Taking place 66 million years before the events of the current Marvel Universe, an asteroid landed on prehistoric Earth. The fires from the blast enveloped most of the planet, wiping out a majority of the natural species in the world. But it also created the first White Event, which opened up the superflow of energy deep within the planet and allowed the powers created by the Celestials to come to the surface. Searching for a host, the power ended up bonding with a dying Tyrannosaurus rex.
This transformed the dinosaur into the Earth's earliest cosmically empowered protector, the very first version of the Starbrand. This version of the Starbrand protected the planet against the invading armies of the Kree. It was able to unleash massive energy against an army of invading aliens, presumably on the planet during the same time period in which they conducted experiments that created beings like the Inhumans.
The Starbrand T-Rex was able to survive for millions of years as the guardian of the planet, giving other species (including humanity) the chance to flourish and grow while the rest of the cosmos developed. But after millennia, the humans Vnn and Brrkk ended up falling through a special garden while being targeted by a group of Deviants. The garden had been growing larger and more potent.
In the rocks below, Vnn finds the body of his lover Brrkk -- as well as the T. Rex Starbrand. The Starbrand was underground there for an unspecified period of time, providing the kind of power that would help create the beautiful garden in the first place. While down there, Vnn is exposed to the power. As the only living being in the vicinity, he absorbs the energies and is turned into the Hulkish Starbrand, who would later join the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC.
In a universe predicated on absurd warriors and incalculable powers, there's something special about seeing a Tyrannosaurus rex that can shoot energy blasts whenever it roars at enemies. It's the kind of over the top power that works well within the greater Marvel Universe. With Avengers introducing the ancient guardians of the Earth from eons before the present day, revealing that there was an even more absurd protector of the planet makes perfect sense. It also shows just how determined the Kree were to take over the Earth -- and what exactly was tough enough to stop them.
This storyline further explores and expands the overall connections between corners of the disparate pieces of the Marvel Universe, finding a way to bring pieces from the Eternals and the Inhumans together. It's also just an amazing plot point in general.
Soon, every DC superhero series currently airing on The CW will crossover in the massive, highly anticipated "Crisis on Infinite Earths." The Arrowverse's annual crossover promises to be the biggest yet: not only will characters from The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl and DC's Legends of Tomorrow once again share the screen together, this will also mark the first time that Black Lightning joins the fray. What's more, freshman series Batwoman will also take part in the event, which is set to closely follow the comic book series of the same name.
Ever since the arrival of the Monitor, the all-powerful cosmic being has warned characters that the end of everything is coming. The Anti-Monitor threatens to destroy the entire Multiverse, and we've already seen the catastrophic results of his powers when he wiped Earth-2 from existence in Arrow's Season 8 premiere. The CW has released a new trailer for the upcoming event, and it seems to tease the destruction of Earth-1, home of Oliver Queen, Barry Allen and Kate Kane. Could it really happen?
At the start of the latest "Crisis on Infinite Earths" trailer, a wave of anti-matter energy consume the STAR Labs building. What's more, we see the wave wipe out Central City and its heroes, from the Elongated Man and Killer Frost to Vibe and Iris West. Of course, these clips all come from Barry Allen's vision of the future, which we first saw in the second episode of The Flash's sixth season. However, in the trailer, the footage also comes with a new shot of Supergirl reeling from the loss of an entire planet. While we see the footage of Earth-73 get destroyed, could it be a misdirect and Supergirl actually reacting to the loss of Earth-1?
This would explain why we see a shot of Kate Kane with one of the inter-dimensional travel discs that have featured on Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl before. These discs open portals to other universes. If Batwoman has one, then it's possible this is how she escapes the destruction of Earth-1. Given that most of Team Arrow and Team Flash have these devices handy, it could be how all of them manage to avoid the destruction of their homeworld, and how they are able to regroup and mount a counter-offensive.
Now, you may be wondering "but wait, how can Earth-1 get destroyed if it's the home of most of our heroes?" Well, the answer can be found in the comics. Marv Wolfman and George Perez's 1985 series Crisis on Infinite Earths is a classic that is mostly known for getting rid of the DC Multiverse, which at the time was vast and in dire need of streamlining. As a result of the Anti-Monitor's attack and the superheroes' actions, the Multiverse was in fact destroyed, but a single, New Earth was created. Characters from other worlds were folded into this new reality, and one single continuity was established. There were no longer multiple realities -- just a single one.
Therefore, it's possible The CW crossover is getting rid of Earth-1 to create a new Earth in its stead. If that is the case, then the cast of Supergirl, who resides on Earth-38 and Black Lightning, which takes place in a separate reality, would finally be merged into the Arrowverse Earth. This way, it would be much easier to have the characters run into each other, instead of forcing an interdimensional trip across universes.
But this is all assuming the television event will offer the same ending as the comic book. For all we know, The CW has a much different outcome planned -- but what will become of the Multiverse then?
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" begins Sunday, Dec. 8 on Supergirl, then continues in Batwoman on Monday, Dec. 9, and then picks up in The Flash on Tuesday, Dec. 10. After a winter hiatus, the crossover concludes on Tuesday, Jan. 14 on both Arrow and DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
