Ronin Island is an ongoing historical fantasy comics series from writer Greg Pak (Planet Hulk, Star Wars) and artist Giannis Milogiannis (Prophet, Old City Blues). Eight issues have been published as of this writing, but those who haven't been reading it already might be interested in checking out the first trade paperback volume, which collects the first four issues.
The series takes place in the mid-19th century, 31 years after a Great Wind ravaged Japan, China and Korea. Refugees from the three nations have put aside their xenophobia and are now living together in relative peace on Ronin Island. Prejudices haven't completely vanished, as demonstrated by the rivalry between the two main characters, samurai son Kenichi and Korean farm girl Hana. Even so, the different people on this island have managed to get along. The Shogun is presumed to be long dead... until an envoy from the Shogunate arrives ready to conquer the island.
One of the narrative strengths of this first volume is that the reader is placed in the isolated mindset of the islanders, so you don't know exactly what's going on in the world outside. When the Shogunate invades and assumptions about the state of the world are challenged, you don't know what information to trust. Amid this uncertainty, the story drops its most fantastical element: zombies.
The monsters are never called zombies; instead they're referred to as "byonin." Their appearance -- colorful and with horns -- resembles that of oni demons from Japanese folklore. Even so, they're an army of the mindless undead, transformed from their once-human state by infection, and they're most effectively killed by attacking their brains, so functionally, they're zombies.
The presence of the zombies makes for some exciting and violent fight scenes and adds an extra layer of conflict on top of the already compelling human drama. The monsters are just different enough from traditional zombies to feel relatively fresh and to avoid zombie fatigue. As far as genre goes, Ronin Island is more a "samurai story with zombies" as opposed to a "zombie story with samurai." Action takes precedence over horror.
The story is told with relatively minimal dialogue. Take a look at any page of the comic and you'll notice the panels tend to be big while the speech bubbles tend to be small. There's a cinematic nature to the way Milogiannis draws the vast landscapes of the island and a strong manga influence in the impactful action scenes. Irma Kniivila's colors complement the art well.
The first volume of Ronin Island is a quick and entertaining read that will definitely grab your interest and make you want to discover where this story will go. Bring on Volume Two!
Ronin Island Vol. 1 hits comic stores on Dec. 4 and will be available everywhere on Dec. 10.
DC Comics teased Frank Miller's upcoming The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child on social media this month --- the sequel comic releasing in December -- using artwork by Rafael Grampá, only to remove the promo posts shortly afterwards, following backlash from vocal readers in China.
The issue here revolves around the variant cover featured in the posts, which depicts Carrie Kelly as Batwoman, hurling a Molotov cocktail against a backdrop that included text reading, "The Future is Young." Those opposing the artwork claimed that it implies DC Comics' support for the protesters in Hong Kong, largely owing to Batwoman's outfit and pose and their resemblance to the general aesthetic of Hong Kong protesters.
According to Variety, unsettled readers took to the Chinese social media site, Weibo, to voice their complaints. One user wrote, "The black clothes represent Hong Kong, the mask represents Hong Kong, the Molotov cocktail represents Hong Kong, what else here doesn't represent Hong Kong???"
The response allegedly compelled DC Comics to delete the post, which in turn sparked backlash from protest supporters. This especially came from fans in the United States, who criticized the publisher for being yet another large-scale company to acquiesce to the will of Chinese audiences, opting for what some fans have called a bid for financial gain over moral integrity.
Aside from the vague visual similarities on this particular cover, the variant covers for The Golden Child seem to be completely unrelated to the ongoing conflict between pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong and the Chinese government. The previously unsolicited cover art was released several weeks ago. However, as the protests in Hong Kong have escalated in intensity, pro-Beijing supporters have become increasingly critical of any and all indications of protester support from the western world.
DC Comics' decision to remove the image comes at a time when large-scale businesses across several industries, from the NBA to Disney, have come under intense scrutiny for their willingness to appease Chinese audiences, often by acquiescing to China, at least ostensibly. In so doing, these companies have come under fire for seemingly expressing support for the unlawful and inhumane practices of the current Chinese government.
CBR has reached out to DC Comics for comment but has yet to receive a response.
The nature of a status quo is that, while it can feel comforting and familiar, it often gets stale over time. This is why film franchises often push themselves to shake up the status quo, and there was perhaps no bigger shakeup than Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame, which saw Thor join the Guardians of the Galaxywhile graduating Valkyrie to his title of King of Asgard
Now, with Thor: Love and Thunder set to debut the first successor to the Thor name in Jane Foster, we take a look at all the other Gods of Thunder the film could include.
As the only one on the list already confirmed for the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, Jane Foster's Mighty Thor is an obvious inclusion. As a character already familiar to fans of the films through Thor's first two solo outings, Jane is also a leading scientist in the field of astrophysics, as well as Thor's ex-love interest.
Of course, if the MCU version is going to be anything like the comics, she will need to undergo some dramatic changes. When Jane wielded Mjolnir in the comics, it was while she was suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. The transformation the magical hammer brought on granted her a respite from her ailing mortal form, but whether this duality will translate into the cinematic adaptation remains to be seen.
Fan-favorite Beta Ray Bill almost appeared in the MCU, but Marvel Studios President Kevin Fiege pulled the appearance out of a desire to save the character's big debut for later. Instead, fans only received a brief Easter egg for the horse-faced alien on the facade of a building on Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok, and the possible hint that he previously reigned as a Sakaarian champion only makes the expectation for his debut that much more titillating.
With a rich history in the comics as the champion of his people and one of the few worthy of wielding Mjolnir, Beta Ray often uses his own hammer instead. The Mjolnir facsimile is called Stormbreaker, and detail-oriented fans will note the weapon already precedes its owner in the MCU itself.
Perhaps less popular than Beta Ray, Eric Masterson is equally as worthy to wield the Thunder God's mighty hammer. After serving as Thor himself for some years, Eric eventually struck out on his own as the hero Thunderstrike and wielded a magical mace with the same name.
The real appeal of Thunderstrike is that he humanizes Thor comics in a way that's sorely lacking in their more fantastical or sci-fi adventures. As a divorced single father caught in the traditional problems of balancing his superheroics with his personal life, Masterson could help ground the MCU Thor movies back on Earth where they've always thrived.
Under the firm belief that Thor swinging Mjolnir through places like Svartalfheim and Nidavellier is far too easy to pronounce, Marvel introduced his future successor, Dargo Ktor, to give fans a real challenge. First appearing in Thor #384 in the story "The Once And Future Thor," Dargo hails from a distant Earth in a story that invokes Arthurian legend as much as Nordic.
After a cult springs up surrounding a community's inability to lift Mjolnir, it's Dargo who finally claims the weapon to defend his people. It seems like a pretty extreme stretch to expect the character to appear in the MCU given his future setting, his relative obscurity and the difficulty of fitting him in. However, the MCU has opened the doors to time travel and reality hopping, and if Marvel is looking for Thors to flesh out the cast at any point, Dargo would be a deep-cut shoutout.
In a universe that has already contains a drunken talking raccoon and a tentacle monster disguised as a cat, there's no idea too ridiculous, so don't be so quick to dismiss the possibility of Throg. Created by Walt Simonson, the character was originally a human known as Simon Walterson who was cursed to spend the remainder of his years in the form of a frog. Luckily, he would be the mightiest frog there ever was.
Capitalizing on an earlier storyline in which Thor himself was turned into a frog, Throg the Thor Frog was Marvel's way of reintroducing the concept without needing to keep its main character in a permanently amphibious form. Perhaps most famously, Throg went on adventures with the other animals of Marvel in the Pet Avengers, and if nothing else, an MCU adaptation of the family-friendly story would be a great place to see him.
However, if Marvel really wanted to shoot for the fences and hit one out of the park, it would make Throg a central character in a major film. The progression of Thor throughout the MCU shows that fans only love him more the more ridiculous he gets, and the box office dollars reflect this. Though the character started as a brooding Shakespearean figure, he transformed into a wisecracking action hero and, eventually, a Fortnite-playing alcoholic. At this point, making a frog the God of Thunder may be the only way to top it.
Directed by Taika Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. The film arrives in theaters Nov. 5, 2021.
In the majestic world of Yuu Watase's Fushigi Yuugi, romance is quite a popular topic. From the basics of love between the series' leads to the more complicated pairings throughout this multi-arc story, nothing is off-limits here. And considering that this franchise features some of the most beautiful of 90s anime individuals, it makes sense how many of them get together in a multitude of ways.
Now, with the 25th anniversary coming up, its time to celebrate this show in the loveliest of ways. Counting down to the cream of the crop (and avoiding the more awkward and brief couples), here's a look at the most famous of romantic pairings within Fushigi Yuugi, ranked for your fan-adoring pleasure!
10 Suboshi x Amiboshi
Oh, so you didn't think Fushigi Yuugi had a Game of Thrones-style sibling love? Guess again. Though it was never fully in-canon, there were quite a few winks towards the audience about the real "bond" between twins Suboshi and Amiboshi. Maybe it was their connection due to their magical abilities or their extreme closeness, but there was enough evidence to create one of the more devoted pairing fandoms within the franchise's history.
9 Nakago x Soi
From the outside, Nakago appears to as calculated an antagonist as they come. But when it comes to his involvement with Soi, Nakago's cruel mannerisms seem to melt away slowly. Having saved her at a young age, Soi is a devoted follower of this Seiryuu warrior, matching Nakago's tactical and intellectual ways.
They're the only people that understand one another, and their bond is so strong, it even passes through the realms of the afterlife.
8 Suboshi x Yui
When you talk about loyalty within the story of Fushigi Yuugi, perhaps the critical example of it is the relationship between Suboshi and Yui. Though known for his cruel ways, Suboshi would do anything and everything for the Priestess of Seiryuu. And by that, we mean Suboshi would go full Anakin Skywalker levels of revenge, especially to anyone related to Miaka. A bit creepy? Extremely. But hey, if you find that level of "affection" admirable in your anime boys, have fun.
7 Mitsukake x Shoka
Tall, calm, and stable, Mitsukake's is a man of few words. But there's one beauty who took his heart in a new direction and left a scar that (as cheesy as it sounds) has not so quickly healed. Shoka was that true love.
Though the details of their relationship aren't fully explored in the anime as much as they are in the light novels, the sad conclusion to their romance (Shoka's death from a high fever) is an event Mitsukake, nor the fandom will never forget.
6 Tetsuya x Yui
Sometimes love is born from the oddest of circumstance, like in the case of Tetsuya and Yui. He was the BFF to Miaka's brother, while she is teenage girl who also happens to be a priestess within a book. But it was while she was trapped within those fictional pages that Tetsuya developed feelings for him - proclaiming them once she returned to the real world. For being the only "basic" pair in the series, these two have an undeniable chemistry that fans loved. And considering the kind of trauma Yui went through while on her journey, this is the kind of genuine, down-to-earth affection she always deserved.
5 Nakago x Tamahome
Perhaps they aren't the most "traditionally romantic" of the pairs on this list, but it is hard to deny the delicious ridiculousness of Nakago and Tamahome. Both are the somewhat leaders of their band of godly warriors, they each want what is best for their respective priestesses, and they'll do whatever it takes to come out the victor against one other.
But it is the devotion within their rivalry for dominance over the other that is the spark in this pair - and with Nakago's weird flirtations in battle, it makes the tensions between these two even more enticing to watch.
4 Yui x Tamahome
Jealousy is a cruel mistress, especially when it creates a desire for affection. And when Yui started developing feelings for her BFF Miaka's true love, Tamahome, we knew it wasn't going to end well. But sometimes the most captivating of relationships within Fushigi Yuugi come from those "car crash" like scenarios - and seeing that Yui and Tamahome's romance was doomed from the start, it's hard not to turn away nor feel its dramatic repercussions. Still, we've all been in Yui's shoes - well, except for fabricating said love with a magic spell. That's just all sorts of wrong, y'all.
3 Nuriko x Hotohori
Sometimes your closest friend is also your most significant crush - and that's undoubtedly the fitting description for Nuriko and Hotohori. These beauties had instant chemistry when they met, making it seem like all their romantic boxes were checked during their initial meet-cute.
Well, except for Nuriko not being a woman, that is. Still, the flames of love within Nuriko's heart towards Hotohori would never burn out, making his unrequited love one of the most captivating elements within the tales of the Suzaku Seven.
2 Hotohori x Miaka
Right from the start of the show, it was quite clear that Hotohori had a thing for the Priestess of Suzaku. And with his long locks, handsome features, and royalty, how could she ever resist him? But Miaka's love was elsewhere, and it wasn't until she was at her lowest (and Tamahome was under an evil spell) that Hotohori displayed his true feelings for her. Of course, Miaka's heart would never be his, but there's no denying the brief passion between these two (and the fights that came from it) were among the most heartrending moments in the franchise.
1 Tamahome x Miaka
When it comes to famous anime couples, none of them get more cheesy and emotional than Tamahome and Miaka. Their romance is one for the ages - spanning multiple dramatic plot points, memory-loses, reincarnations - the list of insanity goes on and on. But no matter what the cost, these two are determined to keep their love alive. And regardless of how many times we've seen them at their most romantically ridiculous, fans still cheer for their happy ending and will do so for decades to come.
Based on the DC Comics superhero team, there are about 5 things that fans know about The Snyder Cut of Justice League and 5 things we hope to see in the definitive version of the film.
Due to personal reasons, filmmaker Zack Snyder had to leave the director's chair while in the process of making the highly anticipated sequel to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Stepping in to fill the void, Joss Whedon reshot new scenes and finalized a cut that mostly complied with the notes that Warner Bros wanted. Fans debate that the real Snyder cut fulfills the original vision.
Reeling from Superman (Henry Cavill)'s absence in the world, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), aka the Batman, believes there is a bigger threat coming to strike at Earth. Though the dark knight has a newfound ally, Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), also known as Wonder Woman, is not enough to fight back against the impending apocalypse he foresaw in a vision.
With an enemy on its way, Batman and Wonder Woman will have to recruit members, which includes Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher), onto their team.
10 Barry Allen (We Know)
Though Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) mentioned he was struck by lightning, the Snyder Cut is supposed to contain a deleted scene featuring Iris West (played by Kiersey Clemons). Half the scene was already shot with Clemons and Miller, with the special effects supposed to be added later.
In the scene, Barry races to save Iris from getting hit by an oncoming bus. The two lovebirds are surrounded by glowing blue electricity as they lay eyes upon each other. The special effects are also supposed to show how Flash's speed causes a disturbance in reality.
9 Wonder Woman (We Hope)
Because Gal Gadot's cameo appearance had gained praise from fans and critics, Warner Bros was definitely eager to see how well the Wonder Wonder solo movie would do at the box office. So when Wonder Woman did exceptionally well at the box office, Warner Bros wanted Gal Gadot to have a bigger role in Justice League.
This was already agreed upon with Zack Snyder before he left. We don't know if Snyder and Gadot had the opportunity to shoot those extended scenes. When Joss Whedon was at the helm, Gadot was pregnant during his reshoots.
8 Superman's Black Suit (We Know)
Henry Cavill teased on his Instagram post that Superman's black suit would be making an appearance. The black suit was featured heavily during the "Reign of Supermen" arc. In the storyline, Superman has been brought back from the dead but with half of his powers.
Because he appears the same and is wearing a black suit, Lois Lane starts to have doubts about whether or not that's really the love of her life. A scene was already filmed with Cavill entering the Fortress of Solitude and staring at the black suit.
7 The Knightmare (We Hope)
In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) had an apocalyptic nightmare of the future. Bruce's vision foresaw the Earth decimated by an alien invasion, foreshadowing Darkseid's arrival. Superman was supposed to turn evil and kill Batman with his heat vision.
To make Justice League as a standalone, Joss Whedon's version cut all connections to the Knightmare sequence. Why is Lois Lane (Amy Adams) supposed to be important in Bruce's prophecy? Why did the Flash time-travel to warn him? How much of the Knightmare sequence is explained in the Synder Cut?
6 Darkseid Is (We Know)
What we do know is that Darkseid was supposed to make an appearance at the end of Justice League. Director Zack Snyder has already posted a behind-the-scenes shot of the entire superhero team gathered together.
Everyone in the team is looking at something mysterious from above. Some are looking up in shock and awe, but they are all ready to fight. The Snyder Cut is reportedly going to feature how Darkseid is supposed to look like with the special effects done. Joss Whedon had to scrap this open-ending, choosing the Flash and Superman to race instead.
5 Deathstroke (We Hope)
Though we know True Blood actor Joe Manganiello had already been cast as Slade Wilson, Ben Affleck directed a special sequence featuring Deathstroke. At this time, Affleck was gearing up to write and direct his own Batman movie, and Deathstroke's appearance was supposed to tease what was to come.
Unfortunately, after Snyder left Justice League, Affleck abandoned his own plans for his Batman movie as well. So we technically don't know if the Deathstroke sequence is supposed to be in the Snyder Cut at all.
4 Legion of Doom (We Know)
The post-credits of Justice League featured an end scene with Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) and Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello). We know Lex (Eisenberg) escaped from his prison cell and managed to remain hidden enough to sneak into his private yacht. Though the two don't like each other, Deathstroke (Manganiello) has been hired by Lex to take down the newly formed Justice League.
Manganiello has shared tons of behind-the-scenes photos, revealing there's more to that sequence. Perhaps Darkseid has ordered Lex to form the Legion of Doom to distract the superheroes?
3 Cyborg (We Hope)
We can assume actor Ray Fisher was going to explore Cyborg's origin story in Justice League before getting his solo movie. In some previously shot scenes, Victor Stone (Fisher) was a high school quarterback in the middle of an intense football game.
During the snowstorm, Victor and his teammates are trying to win the game from their opponents. In slow-motion, with the snow falling from the ground, Victor is supposed to score the winning touchdown. From the VFX reel, we can see the scene was already shot and the special effects added the football stadium as background.
2 Alfred (We Know)
Before starring as Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias in HBO's Watchmen, actor Jeremy Irons had been cast as Bruce Wayne's faithful butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Posted at the end of the trailer, in the deleted scene, Alfred (Irons) speaks to the unseen superhero while he's fixing up the Batmobile in the Batcave.
Many fans assumed Alfred was speaking to Cavill's Superman because it actually makes sense story-wise. Alfred though warned he hoped they were not too late. Was he referring to Darkseid's arrival? We can guess the Snyder Cut will answer this question.
1 Aquaman (We Hope)
Zack Snyder released behind-the-scenes photos featuring Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Mera (Amber Heard), King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren), and Vulko (Willem Dafoe). There may be more to Aquaman's side story, especially with his enraged bar brawl against a bearded Bruce Wayne (Affleck).
Perhaps this is why director James Wan had to avoid all references to Justice League during his Aquaman movie. In Joss Whedon's version, Atlantis is barely touched upon and characters spoke underwater through a magical bubble. We won't know how much of Aquaman's subplot was actually deleted until the Synder Cut is released.
Love or hate them, there are several harem anime every season. If it isn't the main focus of the plot, the genre and its conventions tend to worm their way into several shows every season. Often having a young man (or a young woman in the case of a reverse harem) be the center of attention from a bevy of attractive members of the opposite sex. Then proceeding to bumble their way through the pits and potholes of romance!
Japan's love affair with harem anime is as broad and as deep as the genre. Still, despite the vast variety of harem anime available, there are still things that rarely, if ever, happen in them and things that just happen all too often.
10 Never See: Side Character Getting Their Own Romantic Interest
Let's not let the main character hog all of the romance. Sometimes the show has a fun, interesting, or loyal side character that quickly gets relegated to an afterthought because they happen to be the same sex as the main character. The laws of harem universes dictating that the only one getting any sort of action is the main character and his harem.
Still, it would be nice to see some other characters have their own romantic escapees. They don't need a full-on harem, but for those that prove to be interesting and great friends to the main character, it would be nice to see them get a little bit of happiness too!
9 See Too Often: The Status Quo
Harem anime tend to have the annoying habit of turning back all development onto its head. Seemingly erasing every step of progress in favor of keeping the harem lead and their admirers in a constant circle of will-they-won't-they antics.
Though, it is hard to blame the authors. It is just the nature of the beast. More often than not, the manga series and light novels these anime are based on tend to have to go on for hundreds of chapters. If any major changes happen, it threatens to end the manga early and gets them in serious trouble with their editors and publishing companies. Some may have managed to make significant changes to the status quo, but it is not an easy thing to do.
8 Never See: An Interesting Main Character
The exact opposite of the above. Truth be told, when watching a harem anime, more often than not, the viewer isn't there for the main character but the group of women or men that vie for their affection. Though, even if they aren't the main draw, it is nice to see them stand out.
It doesn't take much really. Just enough of a personality to play off their love interests in fun and creative ways. As long as they are not simply reacting to their advances and acting as bystanders to their own romantic life in the process. So, it's unfortunate that this doesn't happen nearly enough.
7 See Too Often: Little Sister Love Interest, Kissing Cousins, & Other Family Relations
Let's take a trip towards "eww" territory. Harem anime tend to have a fixation on making one of the members of the harem lead's family be a member of their harem. Sometimes going so far as having the main focus of the story be whether or not they are going to turn their sister or another family member into their lover.
There is simply no lines that anime isn't willing to cross. Cousins, little sisters, big brothers, and even mothers (blood-related or not) are fair game to be a member of the main character's ever-growing harem. No matter how much that last sentence may have made you throw up in your mouth.
6 Never See: An Actual Fight
No matter how heated the race for the main character's heart it, there is rarely any physical confrontations between the members of the harem. They may hate each other's guts but it never goes farther than a few heated words between them.
This is not about advocating for violence, but it is a little unrealistic for there to seldom be a confrontation. Odder still is how often they all seem to become close friends because of their shared romantic interest. Even saying things like they'll "Cheer them on!" despite having conflicting goals. It is safe to assume not everyone would be happy to root for someone else to end up with their crush.
5 See Too Often: No Romantic Resolution
It is an unfortunate result of anime as a whole but harem tend to never reach a romantic resolution. Most of the time they are well within their run in their manga magazine or have several volumes of story left when they are turned into an anime.
So instead of ending things, they simply avoid a conclusion. They run one last climactic episode that that may seem to turn the whole situation onto its head only for them to end up exactly where they started. With the harem fine and completely intact. Leaving the fans with little choice but to follow the light novel or manga and pray that it doesn't get canceled before it gets a proper ending.
4 Never See: Beyond The Confession
Harem anime tend to end (if there is one at all) just when things are getting good. The confession happens, the happy couple comes together, and everything afterward becomes a moot point because that's as far as the story is willing to go.
No! We just got to the best part! Now that they aren't locked in an endless loop of failed romantic shenanigans, we can watch their relationship flourish and grow with a completely natural progression that isn't interrupted by the other harem members. The confession is only the beginning of the romantic relationship but harem anime tend to end it right there and then!
3 See Too Often: Fall Physics Are Random & Chaotic
It may be funny the first, amusing the second time, but by the third time, it becomes a bit trite. Harem anime tend to ignore normal physics to literally bend the main character over backward so that he could fall into a compromising situation with one of their admirers. Soon getting a hand or face full of unmentionables whenever it is damn near possible.
The problem is that after a while it becomes a bit bland. There are only so many ways a person can fall into cleavage before things get tiresome. Any comedy or titillation in the matter eventually succumbs to the law diminishing returns. After a while, there are just better ways to inject comedy or erotic tension into a series.
2 Never See: A Satisfying Ending For Everyone
We are not talking about the characters of the show, but the fans that watched their hijinks from day one. Ending a harem anime is a can of worms that is about ready to explode even if it has a proper ending. There is still a chance that all hell will break loose among the fandom.
Factions form and the internet hype machine see various groups clash over who should win the heart of the main character. It guarantees that not everyone will be happy when the eventual choice is made and one member of the harem wins at the expense of all others (and their fans).
1 See Too Often: Bland Self-Insert
If you follow anime enough, there tends to be a trend when it comes to harem main characters. Not only do they all look the same, sporting a hear of dark hair and light skin with an average level of attractiveness, but they also tend to have the same personality. Which is not having one at all.
In a wild attempt to let the viewer live vicariously through the harem lead, they are often given the blandest of looks and a personality to match. Often described as nothing more than unassuming or, most heinous of all, you're typical everyday schoolboy or girl. Their personalities often relegated to a single word like nice or weird.
Within recent years especially, Iron Man has solidified his place as one of the world’s most popular superheroes. Though the character isn’t the most morally righteous, especially in comparison to Captain America, he can almost always be counted on to do the right thing. Despite this, Tony has been known to stray into some darker territory from time to time, even going so far that he could even be considered a villain.
Though he almost always bounces back, it doesn’t change the fact that the character has done some very morally ambiguous stuff. To look into some of the darker moments in the character’s history, here is our list of 10 morally questionable things Iron Man has done in the comics.
10 Almost Everything in Civil War
Marvel’s Civil War saw one of the biggest hero vs hero fights in comics to date. Following the introduction of the Superhero Registration Act, Marvel’s biggest names begin to take sides with Iron Man, who supported the act, or Captain America, who was against it. While each side had their own strong reasonings, Tony certainly crossed the line several times throughout the series.
Not only was supporting the act morally questionable itself, but he would then send supervillains after Spider-Man after the web-head switched sides. Furthermore, it was also revealed that Tony had tried to recreate Thor using a programmed robot. Though the results of his actions had dire consequences that he himself wasn’t exactly responsible for, the entire story sees Tony acting more like a villain than anything else.
9 Attack Ulysses
While Civil War saw Tony more so as the villain, he definitely had a much stronger argument in Civil War II. After a new Inhuman, Ulysses, emerges with the power to predict the future, Tony is against the idea of using the young man to stop crimes before they happen. The entire plot is very Minority Report (2002), but Tony at least had a better argument than he did in the first Civil War.
Regardless, Tony still contemplated hurting the young boy, believing him to be too dangerous to be regularly involved. After he broke into Ulysses's bedroom, he is eventually interrupted by Medusa, who stops him from taking things too far. Though Tony didn’t actually do anything to hurt the young man, the fact that he considered it is a very morally questionable moment for the character.
8 Work for Kang the Conqueror
For a while, Tony Stark actually seemed to be deteriorating mentally. Eventually, though, it was revealed that the hero had actually started working for Kang the Conqueror. Not only was this reveal a rather big (and unwelcome surprise), but this event would also lead to Tony’s demise shortly after.
With such strong negative backlash towards this story, Marvel was fairly quick to rectify it. Using the equally unpopular Heroes Reborn relaunch, they managed to find a way to restore Tony’s place in the Marvel universe. Despite the odd nature of the story in general though, it is still a very morally gray part of his history.
7 Sent Hulk to Space
Kicking off the Planet Hulk storyline, readers come to learn that Tony and other members of the Avengers had deemed Hulk too dangerous to be kept on Earth. So, instead of looking for a better solution, they decided to ship him to a distant planet against his will. Though this action was morally ambiguous enough in its own right, that not even the most questionable thing about the story.
Later on, the rocket that Hulk was on explodes, revealing that Hulk’s former teammates and friends had planned to kill him. Though Hulk had thankfully survived, this act is still one of the most insanely questionable things Tony has ever done.
6 Demon in a Bottle
Part of the fun of comics is seeing larger-than-life characters struggle with very human issues. While Demon in a Bottle is one of the most celebrated Iron Man stories ever, it is still a very low point in the character’s history.
Focusing mostly on Tony’s alcohol abuse, Demon in a Bottle highlights how the hero overcomes his issue, rising above a personal challenge rather than an external, physical threat that can be punched. Though Tony himself did succeed in the end in a way that makes the story one of the greats, he really took things too far when he killed an ambassador. Despite the quality of the story, it still features one of the hero's most morally ambiguous actions.
5 Continue to Develop Weapons
One thing that Tony has done both in the movies and comics is continue to develop weapons after being captured by terrorists. Though he now uses those weapons to help rather than hurt, it isn’t the strongest moral argument for the character.
Granted, Tony has developed all sorts of other technologies that have helped humanity move forward. However, at the end of the day, the Iron Man armor is still arguably the most powerful weapon on Marvel’s Earth. Despite being one of the most respected heroes in the universe, this is one thing that still doesn’t quite make sense from a moral standpoint.
4 Illuminati
Alongside other incredibly smart characters, Tony Stark helped form Marvel’s Illuminati. The purpose of the group was to get some of the smartest heroes together to figure out ways to deal with threats in the long term. However, the group eventually grew to be one of the more morally questionable organizations, arguably even more sketchy than S.H.I.E.L.D.
Though they had the best intentions in mind, the whole group made some very questionable decisions, resulting in some unfortunate results for many characters over the years. No matter how much good they hoped to get out of the group, it is still one of the most questionable things Tony has involved himself in.
3 Superior Iron Man
Following the events of Marvel’s AXIS storyline, Tony Stark was even more of a jerk than he usually is. Thanks to the changes made to his personality, Tony was posing as himself, though he was acting with evil intentions.
With this persona, Tony continued to make advances in technology, though entirely for personal gain. For example, after releasing Extremis 3.0 to the public, Tony then charged users $100 a day to continue using it. Though the entire story was completely ridiculous at times, it is still one of the worst things the character has done. Thankfully, it didn’t last terribly long, and Tony was soon back to his old self.
2 Encourage a Young Girl to Take His Place
Following Tony’s disappearance in Civil War II, Riri Williams actually took on the mantle of Iron Man. Under the codename Ironheart, Riri designed her own suit and fought evil with an A.I. that was gifted to her by Tony himself. However, while Riri succeeded in making a name for herself, the fact that Tony encouraged someone so young to do something so dangerous is a bit morally ambiguous.
While plenty of heroes in comics have been very young, Tony has often been outspoken against inexperienced people with so much power being let loose in the world (i.e. everything he warned against in Civil War). Therefore, encouraging Riri is not only a bit hypocritical, but also a moral question from the hero’s own point of view.
1 Taken Over The World
For as smart as Tony is, he has always used his brain to help people, despite is often rude personality. However, in an alternate reality, readers get a glimpse of exactly what Tony is capable of, and just how powerful he could be if he wanted to. In one of the Exiles storylines, Iron Man is revealed to have actually taken over the world.
To accomplish such a feat though, Iron Man explains that he orchestrated a massive war between mutants and humanity, using the chaos to gain more and more power. Though this thankfully isn’t the main version of the character, it is easily one of the worst things that “Tony Stark” has accomplished in the comics.
Picking up right where the original Dragon Ball left off, Dragon Ball Zgave us a version of Goku after he'd settled down for a few years as a new husband and father. After defeating King Piccolo, the young warrior had it relatively easy for a few years until his older brother Raditz arrived. The first few episodes following Goku's and the Z-Fighters's struggle against invaders from Planet Vegeta, known as the Saiyan Saga, changed our entire understanding of Goku's origin.
It was in these episodes that we learned that Goku was actually one of the last surviving members of the Saiyan race and that the other remaining members were coming to not only destroy the Earth, but kill Goku if he refused to join them. This saga brought in a new age of the Dragon Ball story, giving us stronger foes, flashier techniques, and higher stakes. These episodes are so far behind us that most fans might've already forgotten what exactly went down in some of them, which is why we decided to take a trip down memory lane to remind you of some of the Saiyan Saga's best episodes. Thank us later when you decide to binge-watch them all.
10 "The World's Strongest Team" (7.7)
This episode marked the first time we got to see some serious fighting in Dragon Ball Z. Fans were stunned to see Piccolo actually reaching out to Goku for help to defeat Raditz, but this episode showed us just how much of a monster even a lower-class Saiyan warrior was.
Raditz premiered his Double Sunday towards the end of the episode, which not only decimated the land but left Piccolo without an arm (although we saw in later episodes that this wasn't the end of the world for him). This episode truly ended on a cliffhanger, and without a handy transformation for Goku to turn to, fans can't remember a time where they truly felt just as worried for their favorite Saiyan.
9 "The Return of Goku" (7.7)
Watching Nappa have his way with the Z-Fighters was definitely one of the hardest things we've ever had to watch. After witnessing the gruesome training they'd done in preparation to face the Saiyans, they were all reduced to insects when faced with Nappa's power.
After Piccolo was killed, all hope seemed lost, since we knew Gohan and Krillin wouldn't stand a chance on their own, but just as we expected, Goku arrived at the last second in style. He possessed newfound confidence in his abilities as he stood before Nappa, but as the credits rolled, we all wondered if that confidence was actually justified. Spoiler alert: it definitely was!
8 "Vegeta... Saiyan Style!" (7.7)
After Vegeta transformed into a Great Ape, Goku didn't stand a chance against him. This episode made us all wonder if Goku would be going straight back to King Yemma's after he was just revived.
It ended on a terrible cliffhanger with Goku caught between Vegeta's burly ape hands, but loyal fans know that future episodes marked the last time anyone would ever say that phrase.
7 "Gohan's Hidden Powers" (7.8)
Gohan's hidden power had been teased since the very first episode of Dragon Ball Z, but it was in this episode that we actually got to see it in action.
After enraging Gohan, Raditz got that iconic headbutt that so many remember as the first time Gohan truly took a stand against an enemy in the series. Under normal circumstances, family should never fight but this is one family feud that has our full support!
6 "Goku Strikes Back" (7.8)
After seeing Nappa having his way with the Z-Fighters, we enjoyed seeing Goku kick him around the battlefield for a bit. Of course, the highlight of this episode was the debut of Goku's Kaio-ken, which he used to cripple Nappa in order to save his friends.
After Nappa's defeat, Vegeta responded by blowing him up, which gave us our first glimpse of just how heartless Vegeta was. When fans point to some of Vegeta's most heinous acts, this episode never fails to come up.
5 "Goku's Unusual Journey" (7.8)
For its time, Dragon Ball Z did some truly remarkable things that really shook up storytelling. Killing off the main character within the first few episodes was one of them. Left with no other option, Piccolo was forced to kill both Raditz and Goku with his Special Beam Cannon, marking Goku's first, but not last, death.
It was in this episode that Goku began his long trek across Snake Way to meet King Kai. Unfortunately, Goku couldn't skip this step just like many fans skipped the filler episodes detailing every notable step of this journey.
4 "Stop Vegeta Now!" (7.8)
This episode marked when Vegeta lost his tail for good, and was arguably the last time Yajirobe actually did something useful for the rest of the series. Unfortunately, Goku was still left battered by Vegeta's Great Ape assault, leaving Gohan to take his father's place in a battle that he was clearly outmatched in.
This episode is most likely rated so high, however, because it's the first time fans got to see the Spirit Bomb in action. Goku, unable to even sit up straight, passes the Spirit Bomb to Krillin, who must fire it at Vegeta, but when Vegeta manages to avoid it, Gohan redirects it, sending Vegeta into orbit. Fans watching this episode when it first premiered most likely thought the battle was over. Boy, were they wrong.
3 "Tien Goes All Out!!" (7.8)
Tien doesn't get the credit he deserves. Back in the days of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, he was one of the strongest Z-Fighters around, and he had more heart than any other human, Krillin included. Not only were fans reminded of just how strong the bromance between Tien and Chiaotzu was, but Tien goes out with a bang, unleashing a spectacular Spirit Tri-Beam that even stuns Vegeta.
At the end of the day, the attack barely even scratched Nappa, once again proving just how durable Saiyans were. The saddest thing about this episode was that if only Nappa hadn't seen the attack coming, it most likely would've worked (according to Vegeta). If only Tien could've been a bit more subtle when he attacked.
2 "The Battle Ends" (7.9)
The battle against Vegeta was more complicated than just a duel between Goku and Vegeta. Like most Dragon Ball Z fights, it was messy and fragmented, and when Goku failed, it was up to his friends to help him take down the strongest opponent he'd ever faced. While Goku's Spirit Bombdid manage to weaken him, the Saiyan prince did have a good amount of energy left to finish everyone off, but when Gohan managed to transform into a Great Ape, Vegeta found himself crushed without the energy left to stand.
Most notably, the battle between Goku and Vegeta gave us the first-ever beam struggle, which became a staple of the franchise, pitting Goku's iconic Kamehameha against Vegeta's planet-destroying Galik Gun. This episode also showed us just how useful of an addition the Kaio-ken was to Goku's arsenal, allowing him to get the jump on Vegeta when his base power alone wasn't cutting it. Vegeta would later reference this fight during their rematch during the Buu Saga as the moment when his inferiority complex began to develop.
Unfortunately, Vegeta just had to be a sore loser and bust out that Great Ape transformation. Still, up until that point, we can arguably say that this episode brought us one of the most iconic fights in all of anime, setting Dragon Ball Z off to a great start.
Creating manga is a tradition that has been around in the east since the 12th century in the form of scroll art, though the first serialized manga, Sazae-San by Michiko Hasegawa, was published back in 1946. Since then, the art form has evolved uncontrollably in Japan and has taken hold in nearly every aspect of the culture. Manga fans can find manga about nearly anything.
From Manga about American football, basketball, and tennis to manga about superheroes, aliens, and mystical powers, the art form has truly taken a life of its own. But behind all that are the humble mangaka who have dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft and telling incredible stories. So let’s dive into some of the greatest works of art across the entire medium.
10 Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga follows the story of a young Viking boy named Thorfinn. After Thorfinn sneaks onto his father’s warship to prove he’s a man ready for battle, Thorfinn lands both him and his father in serious trouble after their ship is ambushed.
With his father dead and the men responsible getting away, Thorfinn decides to give chase, which is where his story really begins. The series is filled with violent and haunting imagery as the young Thorfinn grows up and becomes more and more of a cold-blooded killer while letting go of the boy his father raised. Mangaka Makoto Yukimura puts to paper some genuinely devastating moments that fans will not be able to get out of their heads.
9 Inuyashiki
After a pair of men, a teenager named Hiro Shishigami and a fifty-eight-year-old man named Ichiro Inuyashiki, are hit with an extraterrestrial explosion, their lives are forever changed. After discovering that their bodies have been altered with alien tech, the two branch down very different paths.
As one becomes a homicidal sociopath, the other begins to use his abilities for the good other the people in his community. The art in this series is both beautiful and devasting, joyful, and sickening. Manga fans simply cannot afford to miss the art or the story of these two men on converging paths.
8 Gantz
Taking place in a version of the world ravaged by horrible monstrosities, Gantz follows a group of people who have all died and been resurrected by Gantz (a mysterious machine) in order to combat the monstrosities devouring Japan.
The series is filled with blood, violence, and some of the most horrifying creatures to have ever hit the page. The story is definitely one that needs to be read, but the art is what truly brings Gantz to the next level.
7 Goodnight Punpun
With Goodnight Punpun, artist Inio Asano tells the heartbreaking story of a young man, Onodera Punpun, as he goes from a young boy in elementary school to a young man in his twenties. There are no crazy interstellar fight scenes, no massive explosions, simply heartbreaking moments in a young man’s life punctuated by brief instances of happiness.
Though the writing is incredible, the art not only drives the story but pushes readers to experience the world of Punpun as more than just a story they’re reading. Goodnight Punpun is an experience that will stay in readers’ minds long after they close the final volume.
6 Akira
No list discussing incredible artwork in manga would be complete without Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterclass in manga artwork, Akira. Though Akira finished its final arc back in 1990, the series is still regularly ranked among the greatest works in manga history.
Otomo brilliantly illustrates not only some of the most massive and hauntingly beautiful scenes of carnage and destruction, but he regularly illustrates the painstaking work he’s willing to force on himself in order to remain in line with his artistic vision. Otomo crafts scenes, sometimes full splash pages, with masochistic attention to detail. Something that very few artists before or after have ever lived up to.
5 Vagabond
Vagabond, by mangaka Takehiko Inoue, is perhaps the quintessential samurai manga of our time. Beginning his work in 1998 and continuing through the present, Inoue tells the story of Shinmen Takezō, a young boy who is shunned by his village due to his violent and erratic nature.
After leaving his home at the age of seventeen, along with another boy from his village, Takezō and his companion join a fight that they are simply not prepared for. The art is both beautiful and powerful, the character designs are immaculate, and the story is something that simply cannot be missed by anyone calling themselves a fan of manga.
4 Berserk
Berserk, by mangaka Kentaro Miura, is perhaps one of the most violent and haunting entries featured in this article. Not only is the story absolutely devasting, but the art also takes what already an incredible story and elevates to a level that few mangaka are ever able to achieve.
The violence is palpable, the monsters are horrifying and grandiose, and the adventure itself is something that cannot be overlooked. After joining Griffith and his band of the hawk, Guts is in for the truly terrifying and carnage-filled battle of his life. An unfortunately for guts, the entire thing is a marvel to behold.
3 Uzumaki
Mangaka Junji Ito is known as a master of created horrifying and unsettling artwork and stories that will likely leave any manga fan sleeping with the lights on. With his series Uzumaki, Ito tells the story of Kirie Goshima and her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito. The couple lives in the town of Kurōzu-Cho, a town affected by mysterious supernatural happenings.
As the series delves deeper into the spiral curse, both Kirie and Shuichi become increasingly aware of the effect the spiral cure has on the people around them. It is causing the townspeople to become more and more paranoid and obsessed about spirals. The story is unsettling in and of itself, but Ito’s incredibly artwork is something that’d be impossible to overlook. Or even get out of the reader’s mind.
2 Kokou No Hito (Climber)
Created by mangaka Shinichi Sakamoto, Kokou No Hito (Climber) tells the story of a young man named Mori Buntarō, a boy who becomes obsessed with solo mountain climbing after being transferred to a new school. Buntarō, though introverted, finds his freedom through the act of climbing and eventually dedicates his life towards scaling the east face of K2.
The series has won multiple awards, and the beautiful and breathtaking artwork simply speaks for itself. Readers may never summit any mountain in their entire lives, but with the artwork found in this series, who really needs to?
1 One-Punch Man
Though many fans of One-Punch Man may be surprised to see the series featured in an article like this, especially considering the series webcomic origins. After Yusuke Murata, the artist responsible for the equally incredible Eyeshield-21 took the illustrating reins from creator One, the series which was already incredibly popular, absolutely exploded like a series of consecutive normal punches.
One-Punch Man has been thrilling anime fans for years now, but it wouldn’t be the series that it is today without the impressive work that Murata has added to One’s amazing storytelling.
Steven Universe fans will now be able to play as their favorite characters from the Cartoon Network show in a new mobile RPG game, Steven Universe: Unleash the Light.
Players will be able to create a party from the fan-favorite series' principal characters, including Steven, Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli and Bismuth. Each playable character will have abilities players can unlock, as well as alternate costumes. The game will also allow players to change formations in combat, as well as use combo attacks and Gem Fusions, including Sunstone and Rainbow Quartz 2.0.
The game will also feature two brand-new Gem characters co-created by series creator Rebecca Sugar, who also co-wrote an original story for the game. The series' voice cast have also be confirmed to reprise their roles, and they'll be accompanied by singer, actress and producer Christine Baranski, who is mentioned as a special guest star.
Steven Universe: Unleash the Light is available on Apple Arcade for Apple TV, iOS devices and Macs.
In addition to the mobile RPG, Steven Universe will soon return for its fifth and final season, titled Steven Universe Future, set after the events of Steven Universe: The Movie. It will debut Dec. 7 on Cartoon Network.
But before those movies, Quinn will first headline her own solo comedy cartoon, titled Harley Quinn, which debuts Nov. 29 on the DC Universe. Although it seems like just the right time for Quinn to get her own show, the process of bringing the cartoon to life actually took years.
CBR recently sat down with the show's co-creators, Patrick Schumaker and Justin Halpern, and the two of them explained the original pitch for the show happened over three years ago. This would put the idea right around the time when the first Suicide Squad movie was released. But the path to get the show on air wasn't an easy one.
Both Schumaker and Halpern had other commitments, mainly working on NBC's short-lived DC comedy Powerless. When the show was canceled after one season, the two picked back up their work on their Harley Quinn show, with the writer's room officially being started in November of 2017.
Even then, two years from a writer's room to a premiere is a long time, but Schumacker and Halpern cite the lengthy animation process as the main reason the show has taken so long to air.
"Animation is just a very lengthy process," Schumacker said. "We do all of our actual production overseas in Korea, so every episode takes, I think, about 18 weeks to get back from a locked animatic the finished color animation."
DC Universe's Harley Quinn stars Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Diedrich Bader, Alan Tudyk, Rahul Kohli, Christopher Meloni, Tony Hale, Ron Funches, Wanda Sykes, Natalie Morales, Jim Rash, Giancarlo Esposito, Jason Alexander and J.B. Smoove. The series premieres Nov. 29.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Dragon Prince Season 3, streaming now on Netflix.
With two seasons under its belt, The Dragon Prince already established a reputation for itself as one of the most diverse and well-written animated fantasies ever. Season 3 continues to prove that the show is truly committed to the values of diversity and strives to break new ground all while developing its characters organically.
For too long the fantasy genre has mired in a pool of sameness and uncreativity. While the imaginations of creators sprouted into wild gardens filled with variety when it came to the types of stories being told and the creatures and places filling marvelous worlds, the same familiar traits in the characters plowed on without question. Predominately straight, white male casts -- never mind if they were actually human or not -- were, by and large, the standard throughout the 20th Century. As Hollywood and creative minds outside it push for greater diversity and inclusivity, the process has proven slow to take off. Sometimes it's not even particularly done well.
A lot of pushes for diversity in the industry either turned into offensive tokenism or bland box-checking. 2011's Thor, for example, explored the fanciful world of the Asgardians, literal myths come to life in the shape of otherworldly aliens. Black actor Idris Elba's Heimdall and Japanese Tadanobu Asano's Hogun were mild steps in the right direction, but they're indicative of Hollywood's hesitancy to truly embrace the value of proper inclusivity.
Neither Heimdall nor Hogun are major characters with any individual lives of their own; exclusively serving the purpose within the films they appear in of helping or hindering the almost entirely white cast. Their characters speak with the same Shakespearean dialect as their fellow Asgardians, and bring almost nothing new to the table that draws from the actors' varying cultural experiences.
If the bar is set so low as that "at least they're there" is seen as enough then creative projects would rarely shoot so high. By contrast, The Dragon Prince shows how diversity across multiple spectrums can blossom throughout a fantasy's world and enrich it with all the fruits it has to offer. While various features of the characters are ingrained into them in such a way that their entire character does not revolve around their blackness or their disability, those aspects are still nevertheless part of who they truly are.
One of the show's sterling examples is Amaya, the Deaf military commander of Kotalis' forces. Amaya's disability is woven into her character so organically that it is always present without her entire character fixating on it. She rarely brings the disability up, but audiences are ever aware of it through the sign language used to communicate with her. The series does away with subtitling Amaya and if another character isn't present to translate the hearing audience may not even know what she's saying, which is realistic.
Amaya herself is even coded as Asian by the creators, showing their dedication to not treating whiteness as some kind of default. By the same token, the series' main characters, Princes Ezran and Callum, are biracial, and the half-brothers' relationship puts a non-traditional family unit at the very centerpiece of the show. The black King Harrow, as the patriarch of the family, is even a morally complicated character himself surrounded by a court whose whiteness or blackness does not fall neatly along moral lines, either.
The dedication with the show, from top to bottom, is in integrating the immense varieties of human life into the fiction in a way that feels real. While being neither offensive, pandering or reductive, such portrayals show just how easy it is to integrate such elements; raising questions as to why it hasn't been consistently before. Rayla's people, the pale-skinned Moon Elves, speak with a Scottish brogue, while their counterparts, the dark-skinned Sunfire Elves employ a French accent. Never mind that Scotland or France don't exist in their world, and nevermind the racial background of those countries in real life -- the important thing is to enjoy the variety of humanity and avoiding the temptation to paint everything with an easy broad brush.
The same attitude applies toward sexual orientation in the show. Season 3 introduced two men deeply in love with each other -- husbands who share an on-screen kiss, the presentation of which is as commonplace as it should be.
The Season 3 finale seemed to tie quite a lot of plotlines up, but for those who want to see their favorite characters continue to grow and humanize even more as those in The Dragon Prince do, fans can only hope for more seasons to keep serving as an example to the rest of the industry.
WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Supergirl #36, by Marc Andreyko and Eduardo Pansica, on sale now.
Of all of Superman's enemies, none are more cold and calculated than Brainiac. The computerized collector from Colu has had varying levels of mechanization throughout his history, but he is almost always portrayed as fittingly cold, heartless, and utterly emotionless. That all changed in the recent Supergirl #36, with a change of heart for one character, in particular, striking an unwelcome fear into the nonexistent heart of one Vril Dox. It isn't another villain that achieves this feat, either. Instead, the Brainiac who fears is induced by the Supergirl Who Laughs!
The issue opens with Kara in Superman's Fortress of Solitude, as Brainiac attempts to commandeer both her body and the Fortress' technology. Her attempts to fight off the Coluan's control are intermittent, with him constantly regaining sway over her through nanotech. It's her cousin's distressed sounds, however, that finally allow her to act of her own accord. Rushing throughout the Fortress to find Superman, she finds that her cousin and Batman are busy fending off the combined forces of Sky Tyrant and the Scarab. These two "villains" are actually Hawkman and Blue Beetle, who have fallen prey to the mind-altering infection of the Batman Who Laughs. Also among the adversaries are Deathbringer, King Shazam, and The Commissioner, as well as infected versions of Donna Troy, Billy Batson, and Commissioner Gordon.
The mind-controlled heroes lash out aggressively at Superman for his attempts to reason with them, with the Scarab launching an infected Batarang toward the Kryptonian. Realizing that it might do damage to someone even of the Man of Steel's caliber, Kara races toward the weapon in time to clasp it in her hand. Unfortunately, not only does it pierce her skin, but it has the added effect of infecting her as well. The Batman Who Laughs' Secret Six is completed, with the aforementioned villains now being joined by a Joker-faced, black-clad Supergirl.
Brainiac, still trying to take control of Kara himself, immediately recognizes that he isn't the only one with that goal. Supergirl the Infected thinks back to how Brainiac had ambushed her at the Fortress and infected her with nanites, causing her to desert the rest of the Secret Six to take care of the Coluan. Pleading with and trying desperately to maintain control of Kara, Supergirl the Infected outright refuses to allow anyone to hold her back any longer, namely Brainiac. She grabs his current body by the neck, as said body wimpishly flails in her titanic grasp.
As much as she had resisted Brainiac's control before, the new and unleashed Kara truly has the realized power to do away with his attempted programming. Brainiac belies the fact that he was mere moments away from completing control of Superman's cousin, to which she replies by asking if the mechanoid is scared. Faced with a Kryptonian removed from any sense of morality or restraint, the usually emotionally placid and dauntless Brainiac responds by answering in the affirmative. Supergirl celebrates her newfound strength by seemingly killing Brainiac, decapitating the robot with her heat vision as she cackles a threat to the world.
When you start watching the hit anime series My Hero Academia, you're not only going to witness the rise of Izuku Midoriya, the hero in training but a whole class of teenagers aiming to be heroes. Izuku is in hero school, after all, not just private tutor sessions with All Might or Gran Torino.
Anime loves a good high school story, and we get that in spades here. Hero class 1-A at UA is a diverse one, from the brooding genius Shoto Todoroki to the girl-next-door type Ochaco Uraraka to the tough guy Eijiro Kirishima. At first, the blond lightning boy Denki Kaminari seems like total filler, since he's not that powerful and he's got the worst grades in the entire class. Still, Denki is giving his education a sincere effort, and we've seen him come a long way. Let's get to know him a little better.
10 One-Punch Denki
Whoa, Denki is the total class clown here, isn't he? What's with that face? Bear in mind that many characters and quirks in My Hero Academia are references to Shonen manga and to Western comic books, and Denki is no different.
He is a tribute to One-Punch Man, a contemporary series. In fact, Denki was born in Saitama Prefecture. Sound familiar? What is more, he makes a trademark, goofy face when his lightning power has fried his brains, much like the default goofy face of a caped baldy we all know and love.
9 A Little Restraint
Denki isn't especially aggressive, and he's not the type to leap right into battle. However, his quirk suits someone who does, since it blasts electricity all over the place, no matter who is standing close to him.
This is a double-edged sword since this allows Denki to launch attacks in a wide area, but friends get caught in the blast as well as foes. This lack of control puts a damper on Denki's combat power and his confidence, but that problem will soon be solved.
8 Control at last
Hey, what's that on Denki's wrist? Mei Hatsume of UA's support department is a busy girl, and she makes gadgets for more students than just Izuku (though he seems to be a favorite of hers). Denki wants better control of his quirk, so he turned to Mei and got some new toys.
As we see in the provisional license battle, Denki now wields a wrist-mounted power channeler, and he can launch projectiles that attract his lightning power in a straight line. With this newfound precision, Denki delivered a serious zap to Seiji Shishikura of Shiketsu high school without causing any collateral damage. Doing that totally turned the tables.
7 He's starting from the bottom
Okay, that's a lot of text. Long story short: Mina Ashido and Denki have the worst grades in hero class 1-A. What's interesting about My Hero Academia is that Izuku, despite being born quirkless, is not the only student who has some ground to cover. Denki settled right to the bottom, and he's determined to change that.
It's inspiring to see a low-ranked student like Denki steel his resolve and take responsibility for his education and training (Mina, too). He can only go up, and boy does he climb the ladder fast. Even if you fall short today, well... tomorrow is another day.
6 Denki/Jiro?
For the most part, Shonen manga artists don't really play up any love stories in their comics, since that's not really what the genre is about. Still, some artists have fun hinting at pairings, and fans will take whatever they can get and let their imagination do the rest.
The world of anime shipping is a robust one, and sometimes, the fans bring Denki and Kyoka Jiro (right) together. Jiro acts cool and detached, but she sometimes has a good chuckle at Denki's antics, and there was one time she had a blush on her face while doing it. Maybe she likes goofballs?
5 He likes the ladies
Remember that pool training episode? The girls of class 1-A got permission to use the school pool during summer break, and at once, both Mineta and Denki got some ideas. They pictured all the lovely ladies in bikinis by the water's edge, and they convinced Izuku to secure permission for the boys to use the pool, too.
At once, Mineta and Denki made a mad dash for the pool to visit the maiden paradise... only to run right into Tenya Iida. Some tough training followed, and the girls were in their school-issued swimsuits on the pool's other side. Alas, there's no time for fun when there's training to do.
4 He becomes braver
Early on, the students of UA got an unexpected taste of battle when villains, led by Tomura Shigaraki, invaded the USJ building in force. Lots of villains big and small were all over the place, and the students scrambled to defend themselves until the teachers could arrive.
Denki, having little control over his quirk and no combat experience, panicked nearly as much as Mineta did. He had to be shoved right into the ranks of the villains, where he let loose with his electricity on instinct. Fortunately, Denki learned fast, and by the time the UA School Festival took place, he was 100% confident in his prowess. He quickly lost to Ibara Shiozaki in a duel, but at least he's got some guts now. That counts for something.
3 He has bland taste
Later in the series, all of the UA students were relocated into dorms for their own safety, and they had a license to decorate and furnish their rooms as they liked. Why not have a personal space to call home? Izuku loaded his room with All Might stuff, and Fumikage's room was a pit of Gothic darkness.
Denki, though, has a pretty plain and generic room. One could say that he just grabbed whatever random stuff he could and put it in there, from a dartboard to hats that we've never seen him wear to car license plates. Maybe he ought to get an interior decor catalog for new ideas?
2 His upgraded costume
Pictured is Denki's first hero costume, which he designed himself. Every hero student designs their own costume to accentuate their quirk and stand out, but Denki's is so plain at first, it hardly looks like a costume. Jist a black jacket and white shirt, and black pants and boots, plus that thingy on his ear.
The students are free to upgrade and modify their costumes, though, and this includes Denki. He has a utility belt, not to mention stylish blue eyeglasses and the wrist-mounted electricity guidance system that Mei built for him. Looking good, kid.
1 He's chill
Denki is probably the most laid back student in all of UA, and he's never at a loss for a funny topic of conversation or a witty remark to make. He's outgoing and likes being included, which makes him easy to get along with.
This applies in combat, too, once he gets over his initial fear of fighting. Even when facing down the fearsome Seiji in combat, Denki isn't above teasing Bakugo or lecturing Seiji about judging people prematurely. Maybe it's just nervous energy, but it's funny to see him blab nonstop.
In the world of Marvel Comics, it is hard not to think about the heroes of the Marvel Universe without also thinking about the villains who help define their heroic careers. Without these villains, many of the adventures and trials the heroes face wouldn’t have the same impact as they would with the villains.
Yet when it comes to the various heroes of the Marvel Universe, few ever think about the Hulk’s own rogues gallery. Some of the most powerful Marvel Universe foes call themselves Hulk’s nemesis, so let’s take a look at the ten most powerful enemies of The Hulk, ranked.
10 Glen Talbot
The first villain that deserves to be mentioned has to be Glen Talbot, one of the most human yet relentless villains the Hulk faced early on in his career. A military man, Talbot is frequently in cahoots with General Thaddeus Ross, aka Bett Ross’s father, trying to prove Bruce Banner a traitor and a monster.
Madly in love with Betty, the two eventually marry, but the marriage doesn’t last as Betty still loves Bruce. Eventually, Talbot not only tries shrinking the Hulk into the Sub-Atomic universe, but perishes in battle with the Hulk when he tries using the War Wagon against the hero.
9 Juggernaut
There are many times when the villains of other heroes turn their attention to The Hulk, becoming his foes as well. One such villain is the Juggernaut, the long-time X-Men foe who is nearly as strong and indestructible as the Hulk himself. This villain is the step-brother of Charles Xavier.
Having a tumultuous relationship with Professor Xavier, he discovered the fabled Crystal of Cyttorak. Using the gem, Marko Cain becomes the Juggernaut, and years later attacks Charles Xavier and the X-Men on several occasions. There was a brief encounter with the Hulk years later after Marko tried attacking an innocent.
8 Red Hulk
One of the most unique villains to ever face the Hulk has to be the Red Hulk. A character that has been both hero and villain, Red Hulk is none other than General Thunderbolt Ross, the Hulk’s longtime foe. Not only obsessed with taking down the Hulk using the U.S. Military, but fueled by a hatred of Bruce Banner who his daughter Betty loves, Ross is later revealed to be the mysterious and more brutally violent/tactical minded Red Hulk.
Not only has Red Hulk worked with villains in a team known as the Offenders, but he has taken out several Hulk foes and joined the Avengers as well.
7 Absorbing Man
The next foe on this list has to be the Absorbing Man, a longtime foe of both the Hulk and Thor as well. Originally Carl “Crusher” Creel, a longtime boxer and criminal, Carl becomes the Absorbing Man after drinking a concoction laced with a magic potion by the Asgardian villain Loki.
Now able to absorb any material he touches, he originally battles Thor and is knocked into space, but eventually, he becomes a regular foe of Thor, the Avengers and of course The Hulk. He once attacked the Hulk while he was diverting a radioactive comet, but was buried underneath the rock after the Hulk reverted back to human form, zapping Carl’s strength.
6 Rhino
This next foe is a longtime foe of Spider-Man, but early on in his career, he had a mission that took him toe to toe with the Hulk. Aleksei Sytsevich, aka the Rhino, was a longtime criminal who worked for Eastern Bloc Scientists. He was subjected to experiments that granted him a tougher second skin and superior strength, turning him into the Rhino.
Later on, he went to capture Bruce Banner for his knowledge of gamma radiation and was beaten badly by the Hulk. Later after he recovered, the Leader hired him to disrupt the wedding of Bruce Banner and Betty Ross.
5 Nightmare
One of the mystical and powerful entities to ever attack and fight the Hulk has to be Nightmare, the evil ruler of the dream dimension. Known for tormenting and torturing humans in their sleep, Nightmare is a longtime foe of Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine and of course The Hulk.
He has served under Shuma-Gorath and has even joined the Fear Lords to attack heroes like Doctor Strange. His most gruesome and unspeakable crime involved the Hulk’s late wife, however, whom he attacked. The Hulk in retaliation came after Nightmare, and ended up taking Nightmare’s life in the process.
4 Grey Gargoyle
One of the most underrated villains of Hulk’s rogues gallery has to be Grey Gargoyle. Originally a longtime Thor foe, Paul Pierre Duval was a French chemist who was exposed to a chemical concoction that gave him the ability to turn anyone he touches into stone. He used this power to become a criminal, first robbing people until he sought immortality and attacked Thor.
Over the years he has been a constant thorn in the Marvel Universe’s side, fighting the Avengers, She-Hulk, and of course the Hulk. His greatest attack came during the Fear Itself storyline, where he managed to turn all of Paris’s citizens to stone.
3 Abomination
One of the longest-running, most popular and powerful foes the Hulk has ever faced has to be The Abomination. Otherwise known as Emil Blonsky of Yugoslavia, he was a KGB agent sent to an Air Force Base in New Mexico to photograph experimental tech the United States government had.
Exposed to higher levels of gamma radiation than the Hulk as a result of his sabotage, he became the Hulk’s most constant and powerful foe. Fighting the Silver Surfer and others as well, the Hulk and Abomination would have one of the longest-running rivalries of the Hulk’s heroic career.
2 Leader
The second most powerful foe the Hulk has ever faced has to be Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader. A worker at a chemical plant, Samuel was exposed to high levels of gamma radiation while moving nuclear waste to a storage facility. The expose transformed him into a hyper-intelligent, green-skinned individual with a large brain housed in an oversized cranium.
Using his intelligence to wage war with the heroic community, he is the Hulk’s longtime foe and often employs armies of super-strong villains or soldiers to fight the Hulk as he unleashes his latest schemes.
1 Maestro
Probably the most ruthless and powerful enemy of the Hulk’s has to be Maestro, the Hulk of the future that has been driven insane after exposure to nuclear radiation during a time when most of Earth’s heroes perish in a nuclear war. Seizing control, Maestro has the intelligence of Bruce Banner and superior strength.
Years of battling the surviving heroes like an elderly Rick Jones, leads to a confrontation with Professor Hulk of the past using a time machine. However, Maestro knows the Hulk’s mind and tactics, and beats him on their first encounter, until Professor Hulk gets the upper hand and sends Maestro to the origin of the Hulk, ending his life in the process.
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmenmarked a drastic change in comic books. Along with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen marked a shift from the lighter and sillier super-stories that were being told to a darker and grittier version of those same stories.
Watchmen takes a deep dive into how Superheroes might impact an unsuspecting world, the changed they may become the harbingers of, and the lasting damage that someone with real superpowers could bring to the world for decades to come. Although fans can find manga focused on nearly any genre, which manga is best suited to fans of Alan Moore’s original work and the HBO series that it inspired?
Junk: Record Of The Last Hero follows the story of Hiro Yuuki, a reclusive young man who is one day sent a very powerful suit called a JUNK (Juriatic Union of Neuro-Kinetics) suit. This suit grants him incredible strength, stamina, speed, and power. However, while most stories like this would amount to something like Iron Man, Hiro has been the subject of bullying in school, which leads to his reclusive nature and thirst for revenge. Hiro is the typical hero, but will he eventually come to terms with the responsibility and burden the suit thrusts upon him?
9 My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a spin-off series of the incredibly popular My Hero Academia. The series follows a young boy named Koichi as he travels around doing heroic deeds in his spare time. Koichi, unlike the characters in the main series, did not have what it took to become a hero or even get accepted into UA.
However, Koichi has not let go of his dream of becoming a hero. After being pulled in way over his head one day, Koichi is recruited by another vigilante called Knuckleduster, Koichi is recruited into becoming a vigilante himself.
8 Tiger & Bunny
The NEXT (Noted Entities with eXtraordinary Talents) appeared in NC 1978, a fictionalized version of New York City, 45 years before the story takes of Tiger & Bunny takes place. Some of these extraordinarily talented individuals decided to use their abilities to become superheroes. However, much like the heroes of Watchmen, these heroes are not quite what readers may have come to expect.
The heroes are sponsored by specific companies and their suits contain advertising material as well. These heroes then compete on live TV (while saving the day from robbers, disasters and the like) in order to earn points towards becoming the “King of Heroes." The story follows the hero “Wild Tiger” and his newly assigned partner Barnaby Brooks Jr. as they attempt to uncover the mystery surrounding Barnaby’s parent’s death as well as deal with the homicidal hero “Lunatic."
Zero was the world’s first-ever superhero. Through the five years that Zero fought to save humanity, again and again, numerous other heroes would appear to fight alongside him for the salvation of mankind. However, much like Doctor Manhattan would do during the course of Watchmen, after five years, Zero disappeared without a trace.
Like many of the heroes throughout the course of Watchmen’s history (Hooded Justice, Doctor Manhattan, the second Silk Spectre, and Niteowl) Zero’s world is left wondering what happened to their greatest hero and what he could be doing if not saving the world.
6 One-Punch Man
Much like Watchmen, One-Punch Man is a series that thrives on subverting expectations. Though Saitama has dedicated his time to “being a hero for fun," he’s no longer able to feel any joy from his heroic side-gig. The series follows Saitama, a hero capable of defeating any enemy with a single punch, as he struggles to come to terms with his incredible power and find a way to enjoy the lifestyle of a hero again. The art is spectacularly illustrated by artist Yusuke Murata, and the story by writer One is something that fans of subverting superhero tropes simply can’t afford to miss.
5 Hero Killer
Though Hero Killer is only a one-shot, fans of Watchmen will definitely find the short manga entertaining. The series follows Shioso Ishinami, a young boy who grew up wanting to become a superhero. Though, after his parents’ murder, Shioso begins walking down a decidedly different path.
Disappearing into one of his father’s labs for over five years, Shioso trains himself night and day. He vows to take down the people he views as responsible for his parents’ untimely demise, the heroes themselves.
My Hero Academia is probably one of the most popular manga and anime series in the world right now. Mangaka Kohei Horikoshi has taken everything he loves about American comics and the superheroes found within them and turned out something truly remarkable.
The story follows a young fanboy, Izuku Midoriya, as he attempts to become the world’s greatest hero after inheriting the powers of the greatest hero alive. While he makes his way through UA, the preeminent school for budding young heroes, Izuku faces tougher and tougher challenges. But will he be able to survive in a world without its greatest hero?
3 Zetman
While it was originally a one-shot published in 1994, Zetman, by mangaka Masakazu Katsura, was eventually picked up by Weekly Young Jump in 2002. The series kicks off with a battle between two superheroes, ZET and Alphas, and then begins to trace the two heroes live back down to their origins.
Jin Kanazaki, a young man with the ability to transform into the superhero ZET, fights against monstrous being known as the Players. And Kouga Amagi, a young man who uses the power of technology to fight with the Players as the hero Alphas, although, ironically, it is his family that is responsible for the creation of the Players.
Batman: Death Mask, by mangaka Yoshinori Natsumi, follows Batman as he tries to track down a new serial killer that has suspiciously arrived in Gotham at the same time as a mysterious Japanese businessman. As Batman tracks down the serial killer, he begins to believe that the killing may be connected to the time he spent in Japan training.
However, without any idea of who the killer might be, Batman is left struggling to figure out what the killings have to do with his time in Japan. Are the killings related to Batman’s past? And if so, does the killer know that Bruce Wayne is Batman?
1 Akira
While Watchmen may have ended with Ozymandius’ plan coming to fruition, a giant telepathic squid dropped in the middle of New York, and millions dead, that’s nothing compared to the damage a young boy named Akira wreaks on an unsuspecting Japan. Mangaka Katsuhiro Otomo has created a landmark series filled with absolutely stunning interpretations of cataclysmic destruction the type of which the world has rarely seen. While the series is relatively old compared to some of the entries featured in the article, the series is still regularly ranked among the greatest manga to have ever been created.
The Heart Pirates hail from North Blue and are led by one of the members of the Worst Generation and former Shichibukai, Trafalgar D. Water Law. Being one of the most active crews in One Piece, they've gained high notoriety, and consequently, high bounties (at least their captain has). The Heart Pirates aim to take down one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, Kaido, at Wano Country.
For this, they've allied with the likes of the Straw Hat Pirates among many others. Although much about this crew remains unknown, some of its members are very powerful. Here are all the known members of Heart Pirates, ranked.
8 Ikkaku
One of the members who likely joined the Heart Pirates after the time-skip, Ikkaku looks to be a strong woman. Making her first appearance in Zou, Ikkaku is likely going to be featured in the Wano Country arc which will help us better gauge her in terms of power.
Unfortunately, as of now, little to nothing is known about what she's capable of. She's not seen with any weapons so far, so it can be assumed that she's either a melee fighter or someone who doesn't engage in combat at all.
7 Clione
Clione is one of the members of the Heart Pirates who joined the crew at an unknown time. Little is known about him, or what he's capable of, but he's like strong enough to serve under Trafalgar Law. Clione was revealed as one of the few named members of the Heart Pirates by Eiichiro Oda in SBS Volume 83. As he wields a sword, Clione likely depends on it during combat.
Unfortunately, his level of skill compared to the other members of the crew remains unknown. At Wano Country, Clione might feature in a battle which indicates his true fighting capabilities to us.
6 Uni
Just like Clione, Uni is a new member of the Heart Pirates who joined Law on his journey at an unspecified time, likely in the New World. Uni's name was revealed by Oda in SBS Volume 83, along with some other members of the crew, such as Clione. In terms of combat abilities, Uni looks to be a user of a staff. However, his skill with it remains unknown.
With the Heart Pirates being in the spotlight at Wano Country, it is likely that we'll get to see Uni, along with some other members of the Heart Pirates in action against the Beasts Pirates or the Big Mom Pirates.
5 Penguin
Penguin is one of the first few people to join the Heart Pirates, along with Bepo and Shachi. He's likely one of their top fighters, as seen in both the anime and the manga. Possessing a strong will, Penguin resisted a Haki blast from Silvers Rayleigh at the Auction House in Sabaody Archipelago.
In the anime, he's seen capable of using a high level of martial arts, which makes him one of the crew's strongest members. In the manga, his abilities haven't been revealed yet. He was recently captured at Wano Country by some of Kaido's men, implying that his level isn't that high despite him being fairly strong.
4 Shachi
Akin to Penguin, Shachi's abilities haven't been focused on too much in the story. He joined the crew a long time ago after being defeated by Law. He is, however, one of the stronger members who are working under the former Shichibukai, Trafalgar D. Water Law.
Shachi is a powerful pirate, but like Penguin, he was captured at Wano Country, implying that he might not be around the same level as Zoro and Sanji from Luffy's crew. Shachi's skills may be focused on a bit more in the Wano Country arc, where he is likely going to take on the veterans of the Beasts Pirates.
3 Jean Bart
A former slave of the vile Celestial Dragons in One Piece, Jean Bart was freed during the Sabaody Archipelago arc, after which he proceeded to join the Heart Pirates. Prior to joining this crew, Bart was a famous pirate captain, implying that he was worthy enough to command men in the Grand Line.
He possesses tremendous strength, as seen during the Sabaody Archipelago arc. Whether he's capable of using Haki or not remains to be seen, but it is likely that he is capable of making use of this skill, given his level.
2 Bepo
Bepo is a polar bear Mink from Zou who left the country long ago in his childhood. After being saved by Trafalgar Law, Bepo joined his crew and is most likely the second strongest fighter under him. Just like all other minks, Bepo possessed decent fighting capabilities right from his childhood. As an adult, he's grown even more powerful, thanks to his incredible skill as a martial artist.
Being a Mink, Bepo is also capable of accessing the powers of Electro, and the Sulong form on a full moon night. Whether he's strong enough to maintain control on this form remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Bepo's power likely grows drastically when using this form, just like every other Mink in the series. In the war against Kaido, he will certainly play a bigger role than the rest of his Heart Pirates crewmates.
1 Trafalgar D. Water Law
Trafalgar D. Water Law is the Captain of the Heart Pirates who created this crew after being saved by Donquixote Rosinante. Under the Donquixote Pirates' intense training, Law turned into a splendid fighter. Over the years, he has become a renowned pirate, earning the title of 'The Surgeon of Death' in the process. Trafalgar Law's acts of infamy have given him a massive bounty of 500 million berries. What's more, he's also served as one of the Shichibukai, implying that even the World Government acknowledge his strength.
Using the powers of the Ope Ope no Mi, Law proves to be a tricky opponent for anyone to defeat. At Wano Country, he's one of the main players who are aiming for Kaido's head and, more likely than not, he will be involved in the fight against the Yonko Kaido.
Way back in June 1938, something new came to the world- the superhero. This first superhero was none other than Superman, the Man Of Steel. The brainchild of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman quickly took his place in the popular culture and has been firmly enmeshed there ever since. Be it in comics, in movies, on TV, or in video games, Superman is a big part of the American subconscious.
His comics, in the past, were some of the biggest selling ones of all, but their quality has varied wildly over the years. This list is going to definitively rank each decade of Superman comics, from worst to best.
8 The 70s
The 70s were a strange time for DC. Marvel had come into the picture a decade before and had taken the place of number one publisher and moved comics in a more grounded direction. DC had stayed the crazy course throughout the 60s, but in the 70s tried to match Marvel.
When it comes right down to it, the Superman comics of the 70s are the least memorable. Darkseid and Intergang both debuted in the 70s, two enemies that would go on to bedevil the Man Of Steel but neither debuted in his comics, instead popping up in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.
7 The 90s
The Superman comics of the 90s started off in a high note, as the "Death Of Superman" story and its follow-ups, "The Reign of the Supermen" and "Return of Superman" launched the character back into the public consciousness and his sales into the stratosphere. Steel and a new Superboy were introduced, characters who would go on to become big allies of the Man Of Steel, as well as villains like Doomsday and the Cyborg Superman.
However, the rest of the 90s were a mixed bag at best for Superman, as DC tried to replicate the success of those big stories that began the decade. They were never able to do so and the books suffered for it.
6 The 40s
The 40s were the first full decade of Superman's existence and many hallmarks of the character were codified. Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Lex Luthor, and more were introduced to audiences. Siegel and Shuster made the character a crusader for the common man before he was brought into WW2, becoming a jingoistic American hero.
He would join the Justice Society, the first superteam, and go on a variety of adventures throughout the decade. The only problem with this decade of comics is the way comics were in the 40s in general- a disposable medium, the writing and art of the stories weren't as polished as they would become.
5 The 60s
The 60s were the height of the Silver Age. DC embraced a flavor of sci-fi craziness that was unprecedented in the industry and Superman was the perfect place for the experimental zaniness of the era. Superman would go on to join the Justice League, the first superhero team from either of the Big 2 since the 40s.
While a lot of modern readers might look back on the Silver Age with derision, the stories were entertaining and a wonderful encapsulation of their era. Superman led the way for DC and even though the shadow of Marvel would loom over DC, the 60s were a fun time for the Man Of Steel.
4 The 2010s
The 2010s would see the end of post-Crisis continuity at DC and the controversial New 52 would start. In Action Comics, superstar scribe Grant Morrison would get a crack at reinventing Superman for the new continuity, joined by artists like Rags Morales and Andy Kubert. Unfortunately, Superman was riddled with creators leaving and other problems and once Morrison left Action Comics, quality of the books went down.
In 2016, DC Rebirth #1 hit, and things went the other way. Pete Tomasi and Patrick Gleason would take over Superman and Dan Jurgens would return to the character, writing Action Comics. They would bring the character to the forefront of DC again, introducing readers to the SuperSon, Jon Kent. After they left the books, Brian Michael Bendis would take over the book and while the books aren't as great as they were under Tomasi, Gleason, and Jurgens, they're still entertaining.
3 The 50s
The 50s were a contentious time for the comic industry. Wertham's Seduction Of The Innocent would cast much of the industry in a negative light and Superman would become embroiled in a sales battle with Captain Marvel, now known as Shazam, a character who was basically a modified version of Superman. Eventually, Otto Binder, the best writer from the Captain Marvel books, would go to DC once the lawsuit between DC and Fawcett (owners of Captain Marvel) was over.
Many bedrock concepts would come to Superman comics in the 50s. Supergirl would appear at the end of the decade, and the Legion of Superheroes would first appear, which Superboy would join. Villains like Bizarro, Brainiac, and Metallo would debut. The Silver Age would start in earnest in 50s and Superman was at the forefront of it.
2 The 80s
The 80s would change everything for DC, as they drastically changed their continuity with Crisis On Infinite Earths. Alan Moore would turn in two of the greatest Superman stories of all time, "For The Man Who Has Everything" and "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow", the latter of which would be the last ever story of the pre-Crisis Superman.
Post-Crisis, John Byrne would come on and give Superman a newer, more contemporary origin, making seismic changes to the character. Gone were all the excess Kryptonians and Superman's time as Superbaby and Superboy. Supergirl was changed form a Kryptonian to an interdimensional shapeshifter. Lex Luthor went from a mad scientist to a deranged 80s business tycoon and scientist. Post-Crisis continuity would give readers a new Man Of Steel and some great stories.
1 The 2000s
Jeph Loeb and Joe Kelly took over Superman and Action Comics respectively, churning out some quality stories, the best of which would be Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, and Lee Bermejo's Action Comics #775, "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, And The American Way", which pitted Superman against the Elite, a team made to poke fun at the new, more violent heroes of the time. It's an amazing story that proves the relevance of the Man Of Steel, regardless of the time he's in.
However, what really makes this the best era of Superman is one book- Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman. The greatest Superman told, it's a love letter to the character, fitting in elements from every era of Superman. Morrison presents Superman as modern-day myth and Quitely's art is the perfect compliment, as they recount the last days of the Man Of Steel. It's not only a must-read for fans of Superman, but comic fans in general and single-handedly makes the 2000s the best era of Superman comics.
Sci-fi is known for exploring the unexplored and gadgets are no exception. Over the decades, the genre has featured many weapons, tools, and devices in film and television. The fantastical nature of sci-fi allows storytellers to be restricted only by their imaginations. As a result, sci-fi gadgets can range from useful tools audiences would love to zany gizmos they would never consider possible.
Like with real gadgets, it's hard to rank the best fictional ones. All gadgets are useful in some way, but there are other factors when determining how great something is. To be considered the best, inventions have to stand out in a genre of countless interesting ideas. Here are the top 10 sci-fi gadgets in film and television.
10 Sonic Gun - Minority Report (2002)
Gadgets are often reflections of their universes and that is the case in 2002's Minority Report. Set in 2054, the sci-fi thriller takes place in a future where murderers are stopped before they can act with the use of psychics known as “precogs.” Since preventing murder is a priority, it's only fitting the filmfeatures a weapon designed to avoid killing: the sonic gun.
A standard-issued weapon among Pre-Crime police officers, the sonic gun bears a similarity to a taser gun: typically non-lethal, but still dangerous. It fires a sonic pulse towards the target, sending the subject flying back with force and speed. Featuring a flashy reload, it also affects objects near the target. While the blast may be non-lethal, there are no guarantees of the damage inflicted after the trigger is pulled.
9 Portal Gun - Rick and Morty (2013)
In animated seriesRick and Morty, traveling is rarely done by typical means. Most likely created by Rick Sanchez, the portal gun allows the mad genius and his grandson to travel to different realities, universes, and dimensions. It resembles a handheld vacuum cleaner and uses a dial to open green portals to the next destination.
Beyond travel, the gun has many features including interfacing with computers, storing location history, and a self-destruct option. It can also be used as a weapon by transporting hazardous objects or cutting targets in half with its portals. Because of its many uses, the series occasionally has the duo ditch the gun to challenge them.
8 Hoverboard - Back to the Future Part II (1989)
A great sci-fi film can serve as a fascinating window to the future. In Back to the Future Part II's 2015, hover technology is real and featured in consumer products. While fleeing from bullies, Marty McFly borrows a child's hoverboard for a faster escape. The now-iconic pink Mattel hoverboard features a detachable handlebar and a foot strap.
Like a skateboard, it requires momentum and a solid surface to function. When over water, the hoverboard maintains its hover but gradually stops moving. Luckily, Mattel wasn't the only manufacturer of the gadget. Bully Griff Tannen owned a faster Pit Bull model powerful enough to move over water and haul additional hoverboards.
7 Neutralizer - Men In Black (1997)
Some gadgets are created to explain how some fictional universes problem solve. In 1997's Men in Black, theneutralizer is a silver cylinder-shaped handheld used by MiB agents to wipe memories of witnesses of alien activity. Set using dials, the device releases a quick flash that affects anyone who looks directly at it.
Afterward, agents tell cover stories to replace the lost memories. The effects of the device are powerful and quick, but not unavoidable or irreversible. During the flash, memory loss can be avoided by wearing anything over the eyes like sunglasses. In Men in Black II, a rare de-neutralizer chair was used on a retired MiB agent to restore his memories.
6 Point of View Gun - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
In 2005, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy showed sci-fi weapons don't always have to cause physical harm. Created by author Douglas Adams, the point of view gun causes the target to see things from the shooter's perspective. It was designed by supercomputer Deep Thought at the request of the Intergalactic Consortium of Angry Housewives, who were tired of quarrels with their husbands.
The gun was implied to not work on women because it was said they already had high empathy. While seeming trivial, the weapon had a pivotal role when depressed robot Marvin used it on an army of vicious Vogans. The empathic blast hit the entire alien force, causing them to be too depressed to enact their plan.
5 Voight-Kampff machine - Blade Runner (1982)
1982's Blade Runner addresses the popular sci-fi theme of examining humanity with the Voight-Kampff test. Centered around a series of emotionally provoking questions, the test is carried out using a machine designed to gauge bodily reactions to see if individuals are human or replicant. Blade Runners, or replicant bounty hunters, are in charge of conducting the test.
Created by the Tyrell Corporation, replicants are synthetic beings comprised entirely of organic matter. They are virtually identical to humans but have superior physical and mental abilities. Primarily used for dangerous labor, several Nexus-6 models eventually staged a mutiny and caused replicants to be banned from Earth. Any replicant flagged by the machine on Earth is “retired” by Blade Runners.
4 PASIV Device - Inception (2010)
In 2010's Inception, dreams can be accessed at will using advanced tech. Stored in a steel briefcase, the PASIV (Portable Automated Somnacin IntraVenous) Device allows people to share one dream. It administers the Somnacin drug -- which allows for lucid dreaming and dream sharing -- into a group's bodies via IV lines.
The PASIV device was originally used by the military to simulate realistic but harmless training scenarios. Its purpose changed once it was in the hands of civilians, who explored dream-sharing for entertainment and financial gain. For the latter, extractors would allow targets to fill dreams with valuable information before stealing it. In rare cases, the device was used for implanting ideas into a target's mind.
3 Replicator - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
Sometimes, sci-fi inventions are created to address real problems. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, replicators are devices used to create and recycle matter aboard ships. Users simply say what they desire and the replicator produces it within seconds. With several exceptions, replicators can create any inanimate matter, as long as the necessary data is on file.
In earlier series, replicators went by different names and could only synthesize food. It wasn't until the 24th century that they could produce non-food items. Their importance is critical on a ship since they free up space and reduce supply trips. Due to Starfleet's policy, replicators are restricted from producing dangerous items like weapons or hazardous materials.
2 Sonic Screwdriver - Doctor Who (1963 - Present)
In iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who, one of the staples of the Doctor's is the sonic screwdriver. Originating from the Time Lord's home planet of Gallifrey, the sonic uses powerful miniaturized alien technology. While its appearance may change, the sonic’s use remains the same: aiding the Doctor whatever way it can. Over the decades, this can range from unlocking a door to relaying complicated information.
And yet, its most important function is rather simple: representing the series’ overall message of peace over violence. Whenever the Doctor is in danger, a discussion is usually encouraged over action. But if words don’t work, then a multifunctional tool with limitless possibilities is more than acceptable.
1 Lightsaber - Star Wars (1977 - Present)
One of the most iconic weapons ever, the lightsaber has become a cultural phenomenon since its debut in 1977. Originating thousands of years before the Galactic Republic, the weapon was used by Jedi and Sith for countless generations. Over time, it was seen in the hands of other Force-sensitives and extended to various designs like the double-bladed and crossguard variants.
Comprised of a hilt and typically one energy blade, the lightsaber is powered by a kyber crystal that takes the characteristics of its user. Users Force-align with the crystal, a process that determines the color of the crystal and the blade. Once assembled, lightsabers are typically used to deflect blaster bolts and to clash against each other. They can also penetrate through virtually any material, allowing the weapon to have a second function as a cutting tool.
If you're in a large city, Martin Scorsese's The Irishman has been playing at independent theaters for at least a couple of weeks. For everyone else, it's now streaming on Netflix. Scorsese, who's been making a big deal defending the theatrical experience for films that aren't "theme park" movies, would obviously prefer you see The Irishman on the big screen if you can. As for your preferred viewing experience, it probably depends on your attention span, and your bladder: The theater is your best bet for enjoying the three-and-a-half-hour film in one go, distraction-free, but streaming is convenient if you need to create your own intermission.
The Irishman is as far from a "theme park" movie as productions with a budget of more than $100 million are allowed to be. Compared to Scorsese's past crime films, with their thrills and their sense of the alluring side of sin, The Irishman is more restrained. There's no classic rock needle-drops making everything cooler; much of the movie plays without any music. Where Goodfellas had its big dazzling tracking shot through the Copacabana, The Irishman's is through a retirement home. Where The Wolf of Wall Street's almost-as-lengthy runtime was used for a fast-paced sense of excess, The Irishman creates a much slower rhythm, still involving, but certainly feeling, its length.
The Irishman is not about the glamor of being a gangster, but the drudgery. It honestly glorifies organized labor more than it does organized crime; Jimmy Hoffa's big union rallies are filmed with more excitement than his mob dealings. The most dramatic moment of violence doesn't invoke horror so much as sadness. In a way it's kind of the custom-built gangster movie for this moment, when cultural commentators are so concerned with the potential for audiences to take morally complicated stories the wrong way.
This is also a movie that couldn't have been made at any other moment. It could only have been made by this director at this time in his life, starring two of his most frequent collaborators (Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci), and another actor with whom he's never worked but has dominated pretty much every other movie in this genre (this is actually Al Pacino's first Scorsese film). It needed special effects to reach the level they're at now, and it needed a studio willing to spend the cash to make it happen.
The three leads are fantastic, and seeing these legends play off each other is both the best reason to see the film and the likely reason it exists. De Niro is strong and subtle as Frank Sheeran, a hitman who can't even articulate the emptiness his life has left him with. Pacino's Jimmy Hoffa is larger than life, with the most comically profane dialogue. It's Pesci, leaving his two decades of semi-retirement to play the mob boss Frank Bufalino, who is perhaps the most impressive, playing against his usual short-tempered type as "The Quiet One."
All the more impressive is how these three men pull off these performances under various layers of digital deaging makeup. The effects work isn't as seamlessly photorealistic as Samuel L. Jackson in Captain Marvel, but it's also more convincing than Clark Gregg in Captain Marvel. Occasionally in the scenes where the men are significantly younger, it can look a little bit like a high-end video game cutscene, but the overall effect is believable enough that, after a certain point, you can forget you're even watching special effects.
You can compare the movie as a whole to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, both films from aging auteurs preoccupied with the appeal and pitfalls of old-school masculinity and the minutiae of the culture they grew up around. Both are historical epics told in episodic structures. They also place historical accuracy on the sidelines for the sake of drama; where Tarantino changes history to suit his provocative fairy-tale ending, Scorsese looks at open questions and conspiracy theories and provides specific answers that might not be what really happened, but instead what its unreliable narrator claimed happened.
The Irishman is certainly a work of cinema, however you want to define it. As a work of entertainment, it has enough drama and humor to keep viewers invested. Despite the impressiveness of its artistic accomplishments, it's not the greatest film of the year, nor is it Scorsese's best. And, yeah, it probably could have been shorter (the last half-hour has some beautiful moments but also really could have been tightened). Still, anyone with an interest in crime movies should find a lot to appreciate in this end of an era epic.
One last weird note: For a movie titled The Irishman, Scorsese seems to have really wanted to title this movie I Heard You Paint Houses, after the Charles Brandt book used as source material. That title is the one that appears at the start of the movie, and it appears alongside The Irishman in the end credits.
The Irishman is now in limited theatrical release and streaming on Netflix.
