For a long time, it appeared as though Marvel Studios had little to no competition when it came to successfully building a comic book empire on the big screen. DC and Warner Bros. announced the launch of the so-called DC Extended Universe in 2014, only to falter with films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad and Justice League. Now, years later, the studio is in the midst of rebuilding its DC slate.
That isn't necessarily a bad thing, however. Following numerous failures -- both commercially and critically -- Warner Bros. has finally figured out how to standing out among its competitors. Trying to imitate the Marvel Cinematic Universe ultimately backfired, but it also forced Warner Bros. to take risks and, in doing so, find success in turning its DC films into the Anti-Marvel.
In the past year, has has seen its success with its DC titles change greatly with Aquaman, Shazam! and, more recently, the R-rated Joker. The latter, of course, has become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, with more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Now, a new report in Variety peels back the curtain on the studio's plans for its DC properties, and it would seem to be leaning heavily into the adult demographic, with Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad expected to bear R ratings.
It's a move that Marvel Studios wouldn't dare to make, having found blockbuster success with PG-13 fare. Of course, we do know Deadpool films released by Marvel are expected to be R-rated, like their Fox predecessors. However, that looks to be the lone title expected to remain adult-orientated. Suffice to say, that doesn't mean Warner Bros. will solely seek to release R-rated DC films. There are still titles such as Wonder Woman 1984 and the sequel to Shazam!, both of which will remain PG-13 films. Ultimately, though, Warner Bros. and DC seem keen on taking risks now more than ever.
One of the biggest is opting to separate itself by telling stories that don't rely on continuity. The MCU has thrived on telling one massive, interconnected story, a method it doesn't seem to be moving away from as Marvel seeks to expand to the small screen with the Disney+ streaming service. But it's a method that hasn't worked for DC. In fact, since the financial failure of 2017's Justice League, which was meant to be the first of two films, the studio has sought to try to rebuild. Not only do we now have a new Batman in Robert Pattinson, but it would also seem a new Superman is on the horizon, as Henry Cavill repeatedly has been said to be out, despite his comments to the contrary.
And now following the massive success of Joker, which was produced for a mere $62.5 million, there are reports that DC and Warner Bros. may seek to tell more Black Label-type films centered around some of the publisher's most iconic villains. It'd be a smart move, as DC has shown it doesn't need to follow a certain model to be both successful and tell stories fans want. The Joker we meet in Joker is doubtful to appear in other DC titles, and should the character come face-to-face with Pattinson's Caped Crusader anytime soon, it's more than likely we'll see another actor tackle the role.
Eventually, DC and Warner Bros. may decide to attempt another go at the DC Extended Universe. And perhaps this time around, things will prove to be more successful with planned titles actually coming to fruition -- and in a timely manner. For now, though, DC and Warner Bros. have found success by opting to carve a new path. Sure, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven to be successful, but as we've seen in the past, it's a model that has failed to be copied successfully. And in this instance, that's not a bad thing, because ultimately, DC's new-found success is because it has decided to stop trying to be Marvel.
Disney Japan, in collaboration with the Ichikawa family, has created a kabuki play called Three Shining Swords. The show revolves around the love, pain and suffering that the Skywalker family has felt in the majority of Star Wars films and projects for more than 40 years. The show was set for one night only at the Tokyo Persimmon Hall.
The event, which lasts 40 minutes, was live-streamed on Disney Japan's YouTube channel and uses the language of kabuki to retell Kylo Ren's story in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi through three acts structured around the three battles that Kylo has with the men in his life.
The first part is the Blade to the Father and portrays the moment where Kylo Ren killed Han Solo. While in Western mythology and psychology, this is a metaphorical rite of passage in storytelling, in the East, killing an ancestor is considered a major sin, and, accordingly, Han Solo's death is much sadder than in The Force Awakens.
The second part, Blade to the Lord, depicts Kylo Ren's slaying of Snoke and the ensuing throne room battle. The sound effects mimic the lightsabers in the movie, and the dance of Kylo Ren against the praetorian guard is carefully choreographed, with a stunning finale where it looks like the entire scene is burning.
Finally, the Blade to the Teacher shows Kylo Ren's battle against Luke Skywalker's spirit. This is where the kabuki production departs from the film: Kylo Ren realizes that Luke is not present, and yet in his rage he continues attacking him.
The final scene ends with a child character, wearing noblemen's clothes, wielding a wakizashi (short sword) and sporting a double bun hairstyle very similar to Leia's in A New Hope rising above Kylo and expressing his sadness with the words, "I am torn." This character seems to represent Kairen, the last of the Skywalkers, before he fell to the dark side, and is played by Ebizo's son, Ichikawa Yugen; according to Eiga, both father and son received a standing ovation.
There are significant changes to the production, which for one, cuts down on roles played by women. Leia and Holdo have a short scene between acts, where they decide on the battle strategy to save the fleet and briefly hold hands for Kylo Ren's downfall. Rey's role in the throne room battle, meanwhile, is almost incidental. Other changes made to Star Wars were the names of the characters, which were adapted to the Kabuki-style.
As such, Three Shining Blades features Kairen, not Kylo Ren. He is the son of Hanzo and Princess Leian, nephew of Lukuu, the last of the Judai, and apprentice to Lord Snowuku. Similarly, Holdo became Aishikari. Instead of writing the names in katakana -- one of Japanese's alphabets -- the kabuki names are written in kanji, which are characters that describe a word or phrase, and often contain multiple or hidden meanings. Lukuu (琉空), for example, means "Jeweled Sky."
Ichikawa Ebizo XI, who directed, choreographed and performed the role of Kylo Ren, was happy to participate in the kabuki adaptation of Star Wars. "My father loved the universe, and when I was a child, he showed me the stars through a telescope. Star Wars would have resonated in my father's heart."
Speaking of the themes in the series, he said, "Star Wars is currently in a state where the good and evil are sharpening, because of fear and anxiety; even though [Kylo Ren] is a Jedi, he is dragged into the dark side." Ichikawa Ebizo added, "I feel the charm of the part. As for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, this is really the end. If it ends, we would like justice to triumph, but it may not be the case -- that's the main takeaway."
Another remarkable addition to this kabuki adaptation was the beautiful set design. which used brushed animations to convey the context of the story. The opening, which features stormtroopers marching inside a massive Star Destroyer, as well as the Crait sequence with monoski speeders tracing red lines, were both remarkable.
Some guests also posted pictures of their programs on Twitter, which featured Kylo Ren in an ukiyo-e cover, and which will are sure to become coveted collectors' items.
Harley Quinn is an undeniable fan favorite amongst DC's fanbase, and her popularity is showing no signs of abating as a new animated show following her adventures, starring Kaley Cuoco (The Big BangTheory), is set to launch on the DC Universe streaming service.
Speaking with CBR in an exclusive interview, co-creators Patrick Schumacker and Justin Halpern revealed how much inspiration their show drew from DCs comics, in particular, the New 52.
"Tonally, what Jimmy [Palmiotti] and Amanda [Conner] did was really need into the comedic aspects of the character, making her this kind of wisecracking, Bugs Bunny, kind of analog. So I think we do lean into that," Schumaker explained. "You know, the show itself is set in Gotham. It's not the Coney Island representation. It's not the antihero, sort of social justice warrior, version of Harley that you've seen in the New 52 stuff. I would say it is different than that stuff on paper." Schumaker then pointed to the character of Sy Borgman (Jason Alexander), highlighting that he is the only real example they have of borrowing from Palmiotti and Conner's run.
Halpern added, "There is definitely an element -- Like, it's funny you bring up social justice. I feel like she is that in her own way, but it's with her own kind of sense of what is justice.
Quinn's character arc throughout Season 1 is one of personal self-discovery. The two didn't want her to simply get out of one relationship and fall into another one straight away without any time for her own development. "We wanted it to just be about this self discovery, and not self discovery in terms of how I validate myself through other people," Halpern stated. "In the first season, we sort of stay away from too much of her being romantically involved in anything."
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 on Nov. 29.
The 2010s have undoubtedly been the decade of Marvel. With hit superhero film after hit superhero film, the company (now owned by Disney) is certainly seated high as far as comic book films are concerned.
However, there is a vastly untapped wealth of manga stories that Hollywood has either simply ignored or hasn’t had the courage to adapt yet (or correctly). But what stories deserve the Hollywood treatment? Which manga are most suited to becoming massive Hollywood hits? Let’s find out.
10 High School Of The Dead
With shows like The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead having recently been taken off the airwaves, there are plenty of opportunities for producers to grab some of Japan’s great zombie manga and adapt them to the big screen.
Following a group of high school students and their school nurse, High School Of The Dead explores a world where a zombie outbreak has just recently occurred. Much like with Fear The Walking Dead, the series focuses on the immediate aftermath of the event and as the high schoolers struggle to survive they find themselves at odds with more than just the zombies around them.
9 Psycho-Pass
Very Similar to Minority Report, Psycho-Pass explores a dystopian world where ops (called enforcers) are dispatched to stop crimes before they can ever occur. Through the use of powerful psychometric scanners, the government monitors its citizens in order to make sure that no one steps out of line.
But should anyone be on the verge of committing a crime or experience a trauma that could push them over the edge, enforcers are dispatched with guns capable of literally blowing the head off of the suspected future criminal. However, like many of these systems, there are more than a few bugs.
8 Monster
Monster follows a young and talented brain surgeon named Dr. Kenzo Tenma after he loses his job for refusing to operate on a Mayor and instead works on a young boy named Johan who came in first with a gunshot wound to the head. Though Dr. Tenma loses his job, he feels satisfied knowing that he had at least done the right thing.
After discovering Johan’s true nature, that of a cold-blooded sociopathic killer, however, Dr. Tenma makes it his mission to correct the mistake he had made years earlier when he decided to save the young boy’s life.
7 Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga follows the story of a young Viking named Thorfinn. As the story opens, Thorfinn is nothing but a young boy who had snuck on his father’s battleship in an attempt to prove himself a man. However, after his father’s crew is ambushed and his father is killed, young Thorfinn follows the group of men responsible for the death of his father and begins training day and night for revenge.
The group’s leader eventually takes him under his wing, but Thorfinn never lets him forget that one day he will have his revenge. As Thorfinn grows older he becomes a more and more talented warrior while losing pieces of his former self.
6 Code Geass
Code Geass is the story of Lechouche Vi Britannia, a former heir to the Britannian empire (and Empire which spans across most of the world), and his childhood friend, Suzaku Kururugi, the son of a former Japanese Prime Minister (before the island was taken over by Brittania and renamed Area 11).
The story followers the pair as they attempt to change the corrupt nature of the Brittanian Empire from within and without. The series is filled with mysterious powers, epic mech battles, twists and turns at every corner.
5 My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia, by mangaka Kohei Horikoshi, is likely one of the most popular manga to have ever hit book stores. The series follows Izuku Midoriya as he struggles to become the greatest hero in the world after inheriting the powers of Japan’s number one hero, All Might.
With the success of Marvel and DC movies recently, should Hollywood decide to adapt this series into a film or a series of films, it would very likely succeed. The series already has the momentum both on and offscreen, so it’s ripe for the picking, Hollywood. Hint hint.
4 One-Punch Man
Another one of the most popular superhero manga to have ever hit book stores is none other than One-Punch Man. The series has already been flying off the shelves in the United States, Japan and all over the world.
Once again, with the success of Marvel’s cinematic universe and DC films of late, this series is just waiting to be picked up by some big studio and turned into the biggest blockbuster of next summer. With brilliant action sequences, outrageous comedy and one of the most powerful characters to have ever hit the panel, One-Punch Man is definitely a series that Hollywood would find enticing.
3 Inuyashiki
After a pair of men, a teenager named Hiro Shishigami and a fifty-eight-year-old man named Ichiro Inuyashiki, are caught in a life-altering extraterrestrial explosion, their lives are changed forever. Discovering that their bodies have been replaced with alien tech, the duo branch off into two very different paths.
One becomes a hero, determined to save those around him from any trouble that the may encounter. The other, however, uses his newfound power to go on a killing spree all throughout Japan, before terrorizing all of its citizens. They may not be anything alike, but it’s possible that these two may have to save the world.
2 Vagabond
Vagabond, by mangaka Takehiko Inoue, is perhaps one of the most epic samurai tales of all time. Following the life of a man named Shinmen Takezō who left his village as a young boy (age 17) after being shunned by the entire village due to his violent and erratic behavior.
After leaving the village one day, with a companion of the same age, the duo rushes to join the Toyotomi army in order to fight off the approaching Tokugawa clan. However, the battle is much more fierce than the pair could’ve imagined and after the Toyotomi army loses disastrously, the pair decide to split up in order to forge a life of their own and avoid execution.
Vagabond tells an incredible story spanning many years and many different characters. If done correctly the series could become one of the greatest samurai films every to touch the screen.
1 Akira
Although Taiki Waititi is currently still attached to the direct the upcoming film version of Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark manga series, Akira, not only has there been pushbacks time and time again, but there have also been many changes to the original story. Even though time and time again Waititi has stated he would be following along with the course of the manga.
There’s simply no way around it, Akira is a distinctly Japanese story, and to take it out of Japan and put in anywhere else in the world just doesn’t fit. If, however, the film was adapted correctly, there’s no doubt that it would be one of the biggest hits of all time. Just like the manga that inspired it.
With the MCU set to expand in major ways with the introduction of new characters, fans are eager to learn as much about the new heroes who will be joining Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain Marvel moving forward after the battle against Thanos. One of those heroes is none other than Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk.
She-Hulk is a lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner, who gains her powers after a blood transfusion. However, her origins and identity have not always been the same across the multiverse. Let’s take a look at the ten best alternate versions of She-Hulk.
10 Earth A She-Hulk
The first alternate version of She-Hulk that needs to be seen is Jennifer Walters of Earth A, or Earth-721. The interesting thing about this version of She-Hulk is that Jennifer Walters of Earth A is a tourist across the multiverse, who came to Earth 616 and inherited the main universe’s She-Hulk’s powers.
In her own reality, Jennifer Walters of Earth A is non-powered, but upon entering the main Marvel universe she gained She-Hulk’s abilities and look. This allowed her not only to take She-Hulk’s place during a time she lost her powers but allowed her to have a brief romantic encounter with the Juggernaut.
9 Earth-X She-Hulk
The next version of She-Hulk that needs to be examined has to be She-Hulk of Earth X, or Earth-9997. While this Jennifer Walters led a very similar life and origin to her 616 counterpart, her fate is quite different than the Jennifer Walters that many Marvel fans know.
On this Earth, She-Hulk became infected and possessed by the Hydra creatures that were created by none other than Norman Osborn, in his plot to get revenge on SHIELD. Becoming the host of the Queen Hydra, Jennifer’s soul went to the Realm of the Dead and her body was possessed entirely, leading the Hydra to destroy SHIELD.
8 Earth-9939 She-Hulk
Often other versions of heroes like She-Hulk will find themselves trapped in a universe that is on the brink of collapse. From wars lost to an outbreak of diseases or a villain finally triumphing over the heroes, these realities all have a habit of pushing the heroes to make the ultimate sacrifice.
On the world of Earth-9939, She-Hulk is part of a second team of Avengers sent to retrieve an important artifact. This world is in a state of decay, and the heroes are forced to hunt down an item called the Charnel. She-Hulk’s team succeeds, escaping to the 616 Universe, where her Earth’s Scarlet Witch destroys the artifact, and their universe altogether.
7 House Of M She-Hulk
One of the more popular alternate realities of the Marvel Universe had to be the one created during the House of M event. The event that saw Scarlet Witch in her grief create a world in which mutants were the superior race, not humanity, many of the heroes found themselves living new lives.
One such hero was, of course, She-Hulk, who was working as a successful lawyer alongside none other than Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil. She was one of the heroes who had their memories restored and fought successfully to return the world back to its normal state of being.
6 Spider-Gwen She-Hulk
One of the more interesting versions of She-Hulk has to be the one who hails from Spider-Gwen’s universe, aka Earth-65. Interestingly enough, Jennifer Walters on Earth-65 took on the same role as Crusher Hogan of the 616 universe, acting as a wrestler who challenged audience members wanting to spar.
Spider-Gwen was set to face She-Hulk in the ring, but wasn’t able to when she had to intervene during an encounter between Ben Parker and a robber. She instead fought the Mary Janes and let them defeat her, allowing her to give money to charity instead of herself.
5 Old Man Logan She-Hulk
One of the most gruesome and awful universes that She-Hulk has had to endure has to be the one that most of the heroes wished they’d never had to, and that is the universe of Old Man Logan, aka Earth-807128. On this world, the heroes of the world were defeated when the villains united in a singular attack.
In this reality, She-Hulk had engaged in a romantic relationship with her cousin Bruce, producing the evil offspring known as the Hulk Gang. She didn’t live long enough to see this come to fruition, however, as she fell in battle alongside Daredevil and Moon Knight fighting Enchantress and Electro in Manhattan.
4 Earth-398 She-Hulk
Some of the most intriguing alternate versions of heroes come when reality itself is rewritten by villains and heroes alike, producing a whole new universe in which the heroes have had their lives altered greatly. One such universe has to be from Earth-398, aka Morgan Le Fey’s Reality Warp.
In this world, Morgan Le Fey got a hold of the Asgardian artifact called the Twilight Sword, and used it to transform society into a more Medieval period of time, making herself Queen and the heroes her bodyguards. She-Hulk became Jade Giantess, a member of the Queen’s Vengeance squad and a friend of Ms. Marvel, or Lady Marvel.
3 Marvel Zombies She-Hulk
Another reality that became seriously warped and in turn became one of the more nightmarish corners of the Marvel Universe has to be the Marvel Zombies universe, otherwise known as Earth-2149. On this world, She-Hulk became one of several heroes to become infected by the zombie virus, becoming a ravenous monster in the process.
Her particular transformation into a zombie was unique in that she was responsible for the loss of Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman’s children, driving Mr. Fantastic to become inconsolable and infecting himself with the virus. Sue Storm ended She-Hulk’s life, expanding a force field inside her head while Ben Grimm held her down.
2 Ultimate Marvel She-Hulk
One of the most recognizable and popular alternate realities of the Marvel Multiverse has to be the Ultimate Universe, aka Earth-1610. Before it’s destruction during Secret Wars, the Ultimate Universe had its own version of Jennifer Walters, a scientist working on the super soldier program for SHIELD who discovered the serum that transforms people into Hulks.
However, she was not She-Hulk. Instead, Betty Ross took the formula and framed Jennifer in order to mislead Nick Fury. Upon discovering the lie, they confronted Betty Ross, but she injected the serum into her, transforming her into She-Hulk, and eventually containing her in prison.
1 Dystopia-Future Imperfect She-Hulk
The most powerful version of She-Hulk in the multiverse aside from her main Marvel Universe counterpart is none other than the She-Hulk of Dystopia-Future Imperfect universe, aka Earth-9200. This version of She-Hulk became one of the most powerful beings on Earth after nuclear war broke out, allowing her to absorb much of the radiation the explosions gave off.
However nearly a century later, Bruce Banner emerged as the villainous Maestro, and she and Abomination failed to stop Maestro, with her being held captive in a sarcophagus for seven years. Eventually, Abomination freed her after Maestro disappeared, and she passed away after attempting to end Maestro’s child in the past.
While DC Comics has been publishing comics since 1938 with the first issue being the now famous Action Comics #1, manga in the east can be traced back to as early as the 12th century. As many centuries have passed since then, the mangaka creating the stories have only become more and more talented, building off of generations and generations of the artwork that has come before them.
Though there is definitely some overlapping when it comes to the characters used by DC Comics and the mangaka of Japan, there are many more options that DC fans may enjoy exploring while expanding their libraries. Here are 10 manga titles that DC Comics fans will love.
10 Batmanga
During the 1960s at the height of the Batman TV series starring Adam West, a shonen magazine in Japan serialized fifty-three chapters of a manga starring the dark knight. Created by Jiro Kuwata, these stories largely remained unknown to western readers until Chipp Kidd’s book Bat-Manga: The Secret History Of Batman In Japan was released in 2008.
Since then, readers have been introduced to all-new stories starring everyone’s favorite bat. The dark knight and his sidekick, Robin, fight new villains like The Human Ball and Dr. Faceless in these stories and DC has even gone on to publish the entire series itself.
9 Batman & The Justice League
Created by Shiori Teshirogi, Batman And The Justice League is a manga that is a perfect entry point for fans of DC Comics. The story follows a young boy as he makes his way from Japan to Gotham in order to investigate the deaths of his parents who died in a power plant explosion a year prior.
While he believes his parents to still be alive, Rui stumbles into more trouble than he can handle. It’s up to Batman and the rest of DC’s most famous heroes to save the day. And hopefully, solve the mystery of Rui’s parent’s disappearance.
8 Hero Killer
Like many young boys his age, Shioso wanted to become a superhero. However, after his parents are killed off, Shioso’s dreams take a turn for the worse. Holed up in his father’s abandoned lab, Shioso trains his body, mind and spirit for five years but when he emerges, he is no hero.
Rather than focusing his energies on his childhood ambition, Shioso decides that he is going to kill the heroes who had let him and his family down all those years ago. Though Hero Killer is a one-shot and relatively short compared to a lot of the series featured in this article, it’s a subversive read that's definitely worth the time.
7 One-Punch Man
Probably one of the two most popular superhero manga to have ever come out of Japan, One-Punch Man follows the story of Saitama, the world’s strongest hero, as he struggles to cope with his immense strength. But unlike Superman, who feels as though he is walking through a world made of cardboard, Saitama has grown apathetic in his abilities.
He became a hero because he wanted the exciting life the being a professional hero offered. However, due to his immense strength, he finds no joy in his heroic endeavors as he knows that every single fight will end the second he punches the villain on the other end of his fist. This is a comically subversive take on the well-known superhero mythos that needs to be read to be believed.
6 Batman: Child Of Dreams
Batman: Child Of Dreams sees the Dark Knight trailing a mysterious drug from Gotham to Japan. The drug allows users to live out their dream life, transforming users into anyone they desire for twenty-four hours before ultimately draining them of their lifeforce and killing them.
After several users transform into some of Batman’s rogue gallery, the dark knight, along with Japanese reporter, Yuuko Yagi, follow the trail back to Japan where they meet the mysterious mastermind behind the horrible drug.
5 My Hero Academia
Regardless of whether or not DC fans have had any prior interest in manga or anime, it’s likely that they’ve heard out this series repeatedly of the course of the last few years. While the anime has kept fans enthralled by epic superhero battles, terrifying villains capable of devastating destruction and young heroes just trying to do their best in the absence of the world’s number one hero, the manga is where it all began.
Mangaka Kohei Horikoshi has taken his love of American comics and superheroes and transmuted it into a story that has captivated millions of people around the world. This series is an amazing love letter to the genre that simply cannot be missed by any fan of superhero comics.
4 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Created by mangaka Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a series that absolutely demands to be explored in depth. The times are confusing, the series itself is a puzzle that repeats, and in by the end of readers won’t be sure of what they’ve read or if they even managed to get any real answers.
Though it may not sound like it, Evangelion is a series that simply must find its way to any manga fans’ bookshelves. And if that’s not enough, there are giant mech-like creatures piloted by children saviors who are taking on extraterrestrial monsters bent on the destruction of whatever is left of Earth.
3 Batman: Death Mask
Created by mangaka Yoshinori Natsume, Batman: Death Mask tells a brand new story about the Dark Knight, and much like Child Of Dreams, this series actually splits its time between Gotham and Japan as well as past and present.
With a new serial killer on the loose suspiciously arriving at the same time as a mysterious businessman from Japan, the dark knight must solver the mystery of the killer while coming to terms with his own past in Japan. Has Batman sown the seeds of the violence that is inflicted upon Gotham himself? Is the killer aware that of Batman’s secret identity? Pick up a copy today to find out!
2 Akira
Created by mangaka Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira is one of manga history’s greatest works of art. It has all the grandiose, catastrophic destruction of some of DC most epics battles. It has superpowered children either doing the best to make the world as they know it submit to their power or trying to save Japan from a horrible fate.
But beyond that, Akira is a series that can’t be missed because of just how truly impressive both the art and the frame of the story are. DC fans who have yet to check the series out are in for a treat.
1 My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
While My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a spin-off of the original My Hero Academia by mangaka Kohei Horikoshi, the series is actually written by Hideyuki Furuhashi with illustrations by Betten Court. While Horikoshi is still involved, this series is one that stands alone nonetheless.
Following a young man named Koichi, who was not talented enough to make the cut as a professional hero, Vigilantes dives into the world of heroes that just weren’t good enough to make it through the hero program, but still wanted to become heroes. Though Koichi may not have made the cut, he’s out in the world whenever he has free time, performed good deeds and helping out those he can. That is until he gets caught up in some trouble that he can’t handle alone and is recruited by a vigilante name Knuckleduster to become a vigilante.
The Star Wars franchise has brought in fans from across the globe to see the spectacle that has emerged from the galaxy far, far away. Though the Skywalker Saga is drawing to a close, the galaxy far, far away has expanded to new reaches with new Disney+ series both currently airing and in the works, those adventures can only sustain fans for so long.
Fans looking to pick up a little something extra on the side have plenty of avenues to turn towards, but manga fans around the world have some truly incredible options to choose from. So, let’s dive right into the manga that Star Wars fans just won’t be able to put down.
This one is a pretty obvious entry point for any Star Wars fan looking to get into manga. The series follows the course of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi and The Phantom Menace. Any fan looking to relive the magic of the original trilogy in a different medium will be thrilled by this collection. And anyone looking to experience The Phantom Menace without all the annoying parts the live-action film brought with it should be pleased as well.
9 Knights Of Sidonia
Knights Of Sidonia follows the story of the Sidonia, a massive arc-like ship that carries over 500,00 humans and possibly the last vestiges of humanity itself. After Earth was attacked by beings known only as the Gauna, humanity was forced to flee its home and venture deep out into the galaxy in order to save whatever scraps of humanity there are left. Any fans of Star Wars space-faring and epic fights in the vacuum of space will fall in love with Knight Of Sidonia.
8 Ghost In A Shell
The story of Ghost In A Shell follows Major Mokoto Kusanagi, a member of section 9 as she tracks down the puppeteer, a cyber-criminal responsible for hacking into the minds of humans and using them to commit crimes.
Any fans of the Jedi’s abilities to control their opponents or anyone obsessed with the droids in Star Wars will have a great time reading through this sci-fi epic. Readers definitely should not let the recent live-action adaptation with Scarlett Johansson stop them from picking up this amazing series.
Space Dandy is the story of Dandy, his robot assistant QT and his crewmate Meow (a feline-like friend of Dandy’s) as they travel through space collecting bounties and wreaking general havoc. While Space Dandy has a much looser continuity than Star Wars (character often being killed off, turned into zombies, etc. Often to show up the next issue perfectly fine), fans of the franchise will appreciate the zany antics of this “Dandy guy in space” along with his absurd crewmates.
6 Pluto
Pluto, by mangaka Naoki Urasawa, follows the story of Europol robot detective, Gesicht, who is trying to solve the murder of several prominent human beings and robots.
The story gets more and more complicated as Gesicht finds evidence that leads him to believe that the murders were performed by a robot, something that hasn’t happened in nearly eight. For Star Wars fans, it’s a little like imagining C-3PO was this lead investigator in a suspenseful murder mystery. The story may also remind fans of Will Smith’s I, Robot.
Though Inuyashiki takes place on Earth, its story is anything but terrestrial. 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. Though they appear to have remained human on the outside, their insides have been replaced with high tech mechanical parts.
The pair then use these new bodies for very different purposes. One quickly devolves into a homicidal maniac bent on the destruction of those around him, while the over quickly takes a more Astro Boy approach to his new body. These two will definitely clash, but they also might just save the world.
4 Last Exile
Though Last Exile is probably most recognized as an animated series, there are, in fact, a couple of volumes of manga, which take place after the conclusion of the original series. Written by Gonzo and illustrated by Robo Miyato (Last Exile: Fam, The Silver Wing) and Minoru Murao (Last Exile: Travelers From The Hourglass), the series takes place on the world of Prester.
Prester is a world filled with flying mechanisms called vanships, warring nations of Anatoray and Disith, and the quest to deliver a girl who can unite the factions. Though the manga takes place after the main series and has moved the setting to Earth after the original series conclusion, this series is still one that should not be overlooked.
Created by mangaka Katsuhiro Otomo, this landmark manga series is one that simply cannot be avoided by any fans trying to get into manga. The story follows several different characters from Kaneda, a simple young Han Solo-type leader of a biker gang who gets caught up in a vast government conspiracy (involving many warring factions) when his friend, Tetsuo (who is very strong in the force), accidentally stumbles into a government experiment capable of truly impressive feats of devastation.
When Tetsuo begins to display his abilities and use them to get whatever he pleases by any means necessary, it’s up to the rest of the cast to stop Tetsuo before he awakens the sleeping Akira, a young boy capable of unleashing utter havoc on the world.
2 Star Wars: Lost Stars
Star Wars: Lost Stars is another manga that should be a no-brainer for any Star Wars fans looking to get into manga. The series follows two young but ambitious pilots named Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree as they join the imperial academy in hopes of becoming pilots for the Empire. Though the pair are both aware of the seductive nature of the empire, they join the academy in order to pursue their dreams.
After stumbling onto the true darkness that the empire typically tries to keep at bay, Thane leaves the academy in order to help the rebellion fight against them. This is a choice that will put Thane and Ciena at odds, but will their relationship survive the fight that is to come?
1 Legend Of Galactic Heroes
Though it may not take place in a galaxy far, far away, the parallels between Star Wars and Legend Of Galactic Heroes are striking. For starters, the galaxy of Legend Of Galactic Heroes is split between two warring factions, the galactic empire and the free planets alliance. Sound a bit familiar?
The Manga, which is based on novels of the same name was created Ryu Fujisaki, follows two brilliant tacticians on either side of the conflict who hope to both end the conflict and overturn the corrupt governments that have created the circumstances under which they find themselves. Star Wars fans will come for the epic space battles and stay for the engrossing tale of two men bent on reaching their goals no matter the cost.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the third episode of The Mandalorian, "The Sin," streaming now on Disney+.
The Mandalorian has lived up to billing as a space Western that truly Pedro Pascal's titular bounty hunter in a dangerous spot as he grows a conscience over Baby Yoda. In the latest episode, after dropping the alien off for the Client (Werner Herzog), "Mando," as he's affectionately called by Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), has a change of heart and takes out the Imperial compound to rescue the baby (and newly-minted Internet star.).
However, what ensues is a chase and a setup for a firefight that's almost identical to the conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 2.
The Mandalorian simply can't leave "the Kid" behind to be dissected, since it reminds him of how he suffered as an orphan. He raids the compound and extracts the baby but spares Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi), who we assume to be a Kamino cloner. Even though he said he wanted to save Baby Yoda too, Pershing probably would've alerted the Client about Mando's betrayal.
We can assume he did just this because as Mando tries to leave to planet, he passes a plethora of fellow bounty hunters on the way out. It's not an easy waltz by any stretch of the imagination, and he's caught dead in the gaze of them all, with a creeping tension as all the red lights in their tracking fobs go off. They turn their attention towards him in very sinister fashion as he tries to exit to his ship, with dozens of them quickly dropping what they're doing to follow him. Simply put, you don't backstab the Bounty Hunters' Guild, because while this code of not leaving kids to suffer might be the Mandalorian way, it's not theirs.
Now, at this point seeing the hunters all eyeing and tailing Mando is reminiscent of what Keanu Reeves' John Wick endured in his second film. After killing Santino on Continental grounds, the boss Winston declared John "ex-communicado," stripping him of all access and privileges to the fraternity's underworld resources. A badly wounded John limped out the hotel with his new dog, but a global bounty was placed on the assassin's head since he broke a major rule. John had a one hour head start. Still, as he gingerly made his way through New York trying to find an escape route, dozens of cellphones began ringing around him. This set-up the third film, Parabellum, with the global contract offered and hitmen then attacking John.
In John's case, he didn't have a baby with him, and he had a dog who had nothing to do with his guild. But the principle remained the same -- one cannot spit on the rules of the fraternity. John disrespected his guild's law and the Mandalorian has done the same, even if he was being more altruistic than John, who committed his sin out of disdain and revenge for Santino's arrogant and thuggish ways. Instead of phones, Jon Favreau's bounty hunters use fobs but the way the red lights all come on are similar to the cell phones lighting up when John tried to leave. In other words, Mando and John find themselves in similar positions-- wounded men trying to flee their own kind.
They're both excommunicated, with Greef now coming after the Mandalorian too. Greef doesn't offer Mando aid like Winston did to John. However, it's worth noting that John and Winston eventually became enemies as Winston tried to take care of himself and the Continental at the expense of John's life in Parabellum. Greef turns on the bounty hunter immediately, though, since he's purely motivated by greed, knowing full well the Client will pay big time for Mando's head and Baby Yoda's return. Ultimately, both are men of honor on the run who needed special rogue fraternities to help their mission out as they're anti-heroes who simply believe in justice, albeit conveniently.
John turned to the Bowery King, the Director of the ballet and Sofia, and while Mando didn't seek anyone out here, his fellow Mandalorians came to help, guns blazing and jetpacks roaring. This paved the way for Mando to escape into space, now the most hunted man in the galaxy, and leaves him much like John after the last two films ended, knowing a war's coming. In John's case, his enemies of the High Table want his head to satisfy their ego, but the Client and Hunters' Guild simply want Mando put down for being a traitor who stole one of the biggest prizes in the cosmos. It helps that bringing the Mandalorian in would gather these jealous fiends an epic payday, of course, which makes Baby Yoda the marker of death in the Star Wars Universe.
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog and Nick Nolte. A new episode arrives each Friday on Disney+.
One of the biggest things fans wanted from the Fox buyout by Disney was for the X-Men to be brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it'll take some time according to Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, they're already eager to see the likes of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Professor X, Magneto and Wolverine locking horns or allying with the Avengers.
However, one particular character could spell disaster for Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, and this is none other than the power-absorbing mutant known as Rogue.
Anna Paquin's Rogue wasn't given as much agency as a leader as people expected in the Fox movies, but with Feige in charge, it's likely these mutants will be done justice and more so, in a manner loyal to the books. Fans of the comics would remember in the '80s, Rogue absorbed Carol Danvers' powers in a brawl and this saw the X-Man receive Carol's powers of flight, her other abilities including her energy blasts, as well as her personality and memories.
This placed Carol on the shelf for some time as Professor X had to help stitch her psyche back together, leaving Rogue with all her cosmic powers from the accident that gave Carol her Kree physiology and potential to be a galactic weapon of mass destruction. It'd be years before Carol would return to the fold as a leader, with Civil War in the 2000s placing her at the forefront again with the New Avengers. This was a key event, thrusting her back into the limelight to the point the studio saw her as a viable member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes to use on the big screen.
Such a shocking move would certainly place Rogue in the spotlight, taking out the MCU's heaviest hitter and someone who even schooled Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. It would also take away the Avengers' biggest equalizer because as the living embodiment of the Tesseract on the big screen, Carol is undoubtedly a Hail Mary and the most powerful superhero around. In short, if Marvel wanted to ground or weaken Larson's character and build Rogue up, this would be the perfect way to do it.
However, it's unlikely because of Carol's message of female empowerment, not to mention she is touted as the next face of the MCU. Phase Four does promise to be more cosmic-oriented so her powers will be needed as we don't know if there are more rogue Skrulls or other space threats such as Galactus, Annihilus or the Brood that need tending to. With Captain Marvel being a cash cow and a box office draw, it's also doubtful Feige would want to depower his biggest asset and ace in the hole, especially with Chris Evans' Captain America and Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man out of the game.
It's a property that's making too much money, crossing a billion dollars this year at the box office alone, and honestly, a movie with Carol not at full strength just isn't as appealing. Fans want to see her at full force wrecking villains in the galaxy and helping the Avengers when they -- or Nick Fury -- call her to Earth. Her powers are also still in the exploration phase, especially her teleportation and how she's faring without a Tesseract existing, so there's just too much to still figure out before jumping the shark.
Hopefully, when the time comes, Rogue will get the proper fanfare and entrance she deserves, but as it stands, as intriguing a possibility it would be for her to oust Captain Marvel, the MCU will more than likely be looking at another way of having her arrive on the grand stage, sucking villains' powers out from their bodies and then leaving them unconscious. It's something tyrants deserve, to be honest, not the MCU's biggest savior and its most promising superhero.
The Guardians star specifically highlighted the tattoos on his fingers. The tattoos pay tributes to superheroes like Batman, Superman and the Avengers. He also received a tattoo resembling the symbol of the rap group Wu-Tang Clan.
Bautista, along with his Guardians co-stars, is set to return for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, reportedly scheduled to begin production in February 2021. No release date has been confirmed for the sequel, but James Gunn set to write and direct once again.
Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. The film is out now on Digital HD from Amazon Video and iTunes and on DVD and Blu-ray.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Frozen 2, in theaters now.
While the first Frozen movie focused on Princesses Elsa and Anna mending their sisterhood and trying to figure out the best way to rule Arendelle in the wake of their parents' deaths, Frozen 2 deals with Elsa going further into their lineage to understand the source of her powers and how it connects to their kingdom.
While Anna gets her fair share of screen time, most of the sequel revolves around Elsa's link to the Enchanted Forest and exactly how this influences her destiny. In the process, though, the movie takes a very sharp turn and becomes one of Disney's darkest movies to date, with Elsa's journey a bit scarier than we first assumed.
In seeking answers to her origin story, Elsa realizes her dad, King Agnarr, was saved by her mom, Queen Iduna. The latter actually belonged to the Northuldra people and Iduna was connected to Earth's magic as well, ergo why this trait was passed down to Elsa. However, it's way more than Elsa finding a book, a prophecy or some mage to outline her family's history, as she has to make a literal trek across the continent, and it's one that's quite treacherous.
When Elsa tries to gain insight from Gale (the Wind Spirit) and also, the voice of her mom at the Enchanted Forest, the four Elemental Spirits don't take too kindly to her. Gale takes a while to warm to Elsa and her people, but it's the Fire Spirit that violently sets the forest ablaze. Elsa's thrust into a life-and-death situation as her ice powers barely manage to save the day. She's super determined, so she has no intention of running, and while it's awesome seeing her so relentless, staring danger in the face and running into it isn't advised. It's tantamount to suicide because, by then, it's apparent Elsa isn't welcomed by the Elementals at all.
She later embarks on another precarious journey across the Dark Sea to Ahtohallan and with the rocky waters and huge waves pummelling her, one has to wonder if this really is what Disney wants kids to see a princess enduring. The Water Spirit is angry as it knows humans, namely Elsa's grandad Runeard, tried to suppress magic in the past and kill off her mother's tribe. And so, when Nokk, the water horse, manifests, it's an aggressive altercation in which the horse tries to drown Elsa. The mythical creature is as imposing as can be and seeing Elsa struggle against it underwater is the stuff of nightmares, and a far cry from what the likes of Snow White and Cinderella went through in terms of physical abuse.
Elsa's obstacles impede her physically as much as they do mentally, which pushes the envelope a lot in what's really a family film. It comes to a head when Elsa travels too far into Ahtohallan and deciphers the information she needs, freezing as payment. She transmits the details via Gale to Anna back home to save their kingdom, but it's a tragic self-sacrifice, as she's frozen alive. That's not even the worse part, because Olaf the snowman dies in Anna's hands as he was connected to Elsa's magic, fading away into flakes in a heartbreaking scene along the lines of Spider-Man being dusted away in Iron Man's embrace in Avengers: Infinity War.
It's emotional and not subtle at all, and this heavy kind of storytelling could be a bit intimidating for a younger audience. Anna has to break the dam down her granddad built to wash Arendelle away as penance, but thankfully, this act of heroism frees Elsa to come protect her home and people. Still, as much as the Frozen franchise has pushed mature themes, especially with Olaf's depressive, existential crisis in this film, we had no clue the film would take Elsa to so many dark places before she could finally get a happy ending for her family as the fifth Elemental meant to bridge the worlds of magic and humans.
Disney's Frozen 2 reunites directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and producer Del Vecho with voice actors Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. Returning musical talents include Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
Konohamaru Sarutobi is Konoha's strongest Jonin and also one of the main characters in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Thanks to years of practice and an indomitable will, Konohamaru has become a prime candidate for the position of the Eighth Hokage in the series. As the leader of Team 7 and an elite ninja, Konohamaru has displayed incredible skill in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu.
Being a member of the Sarutobi clan, he has some incredible techniques in the store, as is expected of the Seventh Hokage's apprentice, although few fans know that he wields these techniques. Here are 10 techniques you didn't know Konohamaru had.
10 Wind Release: Rasengan
One of Konohamaru's strongest techniques, the Wind Release: Rasengan was invented by him at an unspecified time in the series. Just like Naruto Uzumaki's Rasenshuriken, this Jutsu is based on adding a nature type to the Rasengan. While Naruto Uzumaki ends up creating the Rasenshuriken with the addition of Wind Release to the Rasengan, Konohamaru Sarutobi creates his own variant which makes his Rasengan a lot stronger.
In terms of power, this Jutsu is strong enough to tear through big cliffs and cause large-scale destruction, as seen in several of Konohamaru's fights in the Boruto series.
9 Adamantine Seal: Monkey Yang Suppression
Just like his grandfather, Konohamaru Sarutobi is capable of summoning a monkey in combat. While Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma, Konohamaru's summon is known as Enra. In the Lemon arc, Konohamaru displayed great skill in teaming up with Enra and using his abilities to the very best.
One such ability is the Adamantine Seal: Monkey Yang Suppression which is a Sealing Jutsu. Unfortunately, this Jutsu doesn't seem to be powerful enough as Konohamaru's target was able to break through it pretty easily.
8 Big Ball Rasengan
Konohamaru was taught to use the Rasengan by none other than Naruto Uzumaki himself. Initially, the young Sarutobi ninja required the use of a shadow clone to make this technique work, although, over time, his control over it increased to the point where he could create one without having to rely on a shadow-clone's assistance.
Furthermore, Konohamaru has displayed great skill in using the Rasengan and has managed to take this Jutsu to the next level by making it even stronger, creating the Big Ball Rasengan in the process. Undoubtedly, Konohamaru is likely going to have other versions of the Rasengan up his sleeve as well.
7 Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning
One of Asuma Sarutobi's Jutsu, Ash Pile Burning is a Fire Release Jutsu that employs the use of chakra infused gun-powder, which can then be ignited by the user. Once set off, it causes severe burns to the target. Being Asuma's nephew, Konohamaru Sarutobi took it upon himself to carry his legacy by learning this Jutsu for himself.
While the manga doesn't depict Konohamaru making use of this Jutsu, in the anime, he's seen using this in his fight against Naruto Uzumaki, and as expected, he pulls it off spectacularly. Needless to say, Konohamaru has proven to be a master at Fire style Jutsu.
6 Fire Style: Blazing Meteors
The Sarutobi clan specializes in Fire style techniques, as does Konohamaru Sarutobi, who is one of the strongest members of this clan. Among a plethora of his Fire style Jutsu is the Fire Style: Blazing Meteors Jutsu.
Akin to the Great Fireball Jutsu, this technique requires Konohamaru Sarutobi to create fireballs, although instead of Jutsu one large fireball, Konohamaru shoots multiple smaller fireballs which are guided towards the target. The exact rank of this Jutsu remains unknown, but as it appears to be a lethal Jutsu regardless.
5 Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet
Another one of the Sarutobi clan's Jutsu, the Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet was first used by Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Naruto series. After him, Konohamaru Sarutobi is the only canon user of this Jutsu, implying that this Jutsu is something that the members of this clan specialize in. Other than these two, Kakashi and Jiraiya also seem to be able to use it, although just in games.
This technique is extremely powerful and it lets the user breathe out a dragon-shaped fire blast towards the target. As expected, this Jutsu is extremely powerful as proven by both Konohamaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
4 Multiple Shadow-clone Jutsu
One of Naruto Uzumaki's signature Jutsu, the multiple shadow-clone technique was first introduced at the beginning of the series. This Jutsu is a powerful A-Rank forbidden Jutsu and it lets the user clone their bodies several times by splitting their chakra equally among the clones.
As evident from its high-rank, Konohamaru Sarutobi is one of its few users and has mastered the usage of this technique, just like his mentor. In the Naruto series, Konohamaru made use of this technique a few times, which indicates that he possesses a huge chakra pool.
3 Sealing Technique: Release
Sealing Technique: Release is a Jutsu that could quite possibly be unique to Konohamaru Sarutobi. This technique was revealed by him during his short fight against Kashin Koji of Kara. When used, it lets him undo any Sealing Jutsu put on him. According to Konohamaru Sarutobi, he carries this Jutsu on his body all the time as a precautionary measure.
Not only does this display his cautious nature, but it also does a great job of depicting how intelligent Konohamaru Sarutobi is as a shinobi. Indeed, he's one of Konoha's strongest who will only continue to get better with time.
2 Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu
The Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu works on the same principle as the Shadow Clone Jutsu with the only difference being that instead of the person using the Jutsu, it is the thrown shuriken that's being replicated several times. In combat, this Jutsu has proven to be extremely useful.
The likes of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Konohamaru Sarutobi, Orochimaru among others have been seen making use of this Jutsu. When exactly Konohamaru mastered this Jutsu is not known, but it serves as an indication of Konohamaru's versatility as a shinobi.
1 Summoning: Gamagoro
As mentioned earlier, Konohamaru Sarutobi has his own summon in Enra. However, Enra isn't the only thing that he's been seen summoning. In Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Konohamaru has shown the ability to summon his personal toad, named Gamagoro as well. Although he hasn't used Gamagoro in battle, their team is likely going to be very powerful.
Interestingly, Konohamaru being able to summon Gamagoro implies that he's signed a summoning contract with the Toads of Mount Myoboku and possibly been there, which could mean that he's capable of using the Toad Sage Mode as well.
WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Dragon Prince Season 3, available now on Netflix.
From the start of the show, the plot of The Dragon Prince was incredibly ambitious. Tasked with returning a lost dragon egg to its mother in order to stop a war that would consume the continent, the half-brothers, Princes Ezran and Callum, paired up with the Moon Elf, Rayla on a journey that could decide the fate of millions. Now in Season 3, they've succeeded.
The Season 3 finale to The Dragon Prince has all the conclusivity of a show ready to end on a high note. It wrapped up the overarching plot involving the journey to return the egg (hatched into the adorable Zym) to his mother, and the Dragon Queen greeted her child amidst happily allied humans and elves willing at last to set their differences aside. But is this the end?
A few hanging threads in the plot don't seem to indicate as much. It is unclear at this point if the creators (known previously for Avatar: The Last Airbender and it's sequels series, The Legend of Korra) are sure themselves, as no contract deals or renewals have been announced. It could be that they designed the Season 3 finale in such a way that it could be a capstone to the series if they never have a chance to continue on, but in the (likely) event that Netflix decides to renew the animated series, there are plenty nagging plot threads waiting to be teased out.
First and foremost comes the fate of the series' main villain. Increasingly corrupted throughout the show, Lord Viren sacrificed himself to the cause of evil in the climax of the show, leaping over a cliffside and falling to his fate. However, in the very last scene of the season, he awakens in front of his daughter Claudia, her hair filled with shocks of white, who explains that she brought him back. When Viren inquires as to the fate of his disgusting evil centipede monster, Claudia points to a foreboding sight in the corner: its cocoon.
The cocooned monster has been acting as the avatar for the spirit of Aaravos, the series' Big Bad whose bigness and badness dwarfs Viren's own even as he puppeteers Viren's actions. Trapped in a prison behind a magical mirror, very little is known about Aaravos other than his desire for war, his corrupting influence and his powerful abilities with magic. Although the reason for his imprisonment is unknown, given that the mirror locking him away was found in the Dragon King and Queen's lair his offense must abominable to merit such extreme security measures.
Finding out Aaravos' backstory and building up his designs for the future would almost certainly be the focus of a Season 4 for The Dragon Prince. One interesting scrap of information provided about the villain thus far was an interview in which the creators drew a connection between the villain and Callum's cube that identifies magical sources. The item is called the "Key of Aaravos" and apparently unlocks something of great importance in Xadia.
One of the triumphs of The Dragon Prince is its ability to juggle big plot ideas right alongside interesting and ever-developing characters. While it's clear that Aaravos' schemes could well comprise the overarching problems the heroes are forced to face, what of the heroes themselves?
Callum and Rayla finally embraced their feelings for one another in Season 3, a steady build-up over time since the show began. While they started as apprehensive of one another and grew to be friends, the show's commitment to realism and three-dimensional characters is all but a promise that their relationship from here on out could not be just another "happily ever after." Rayla still needs to restore her honor in the place of her home, and Callum needs to continue to grow as a mage despite those in Xadia mistrusting his human nature.
Their individual pursuits could test the strength of the two characters' interest, and the fact that they no longer have a shared quest to bind them together raises a big question mark as to where they could go from here. If the brief hint at her commander Runaan's possible survival indicates anything further, he could well return to question Rayla's loyalty and romance with a human whose kingdom captured and tortured him.
Callum and Rayla's is not the only human/elf relationship hinted at, either. Season 3 established and built on a growing mutual respect between Callum's aunt Amaya, the armored military commander and sister of Katolia's fallen queen, and Janai, the Sunfire Elf whose life she saved at the season's start. Since relationships never truly end, watching the established romances grow or the planted ones spring up for the first time could be some of the most wholesome pleasures a possible Season 4 would offer.
But not everyone is quite so ooey-gooey about human/elf affairs. While the season's finale saw the Dragon Queen thrilled to see the two groups cooperating, the politics of the matter are far more complicated than a sudden alliance for peace that sweeps across the continent. Several of the human nations were fully prepared to march off to war, and with the sudden loss of their most powerful armies they stand in a vulnerable position. Many of the elvish nations have yet to even be seen, but even those introduced are quick to express their contempt for humankind.
There is no telling just how the Dragon Queen or her fledgling Dragon Prince would feel about one side of the continent attempting to invade the other. Since tensions still pervade all kingdoms, both human and elf, the world of The Dragon Prince is a powder keg waiting to blow. It could be that Aaravos emerging from his chrysalis is just the fire to spark a whole new future for the show -- one that we help we'll get to see.
One Piece is largely considered to be one of the most popular Shonen series of all time. After 22 years, it is still going strong. More importantly, it has left behind plenty of unresolved questions and mysteries, as well as teasers of events that have yet to occur.
This has led to the creation of plenty of fan theories about certain characters and events. While there are still plenty of theories that are still unconfirmed, some have already been proven true. Some are more recent, while others took quite a few years to be confirmed. Here are 15 One Piece fan theories, that were eventually confirmed to be true.
Last updated: November 29th, 2019 to reflect the latest additions to the wide-world of One Piece fan theories.
15 Buggy Becomes A Shichibukai
Buggy "The Star Clown" was one of the series earliest villains. Overtime, he’s gone from being an antagonist to an unlikely ally of protagonist Monkey D. Luffy. It's later revealed that he is a former underling of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and former friend of the Yonko "Red-Haired" Shanks. Following the events of the Marineford arc, Buggy receives a message from the World Government. Many fans theorized that the letter was an invitation to join the ranks of the Shichibukai, a group of seven powerful pirates who swear allegiance to the World Government in exchange for a pardon. This theory was eventually confirmed in chapter 700.
14 Momonosuke Is Not Kinemon’s Son
During the Punk Hazard arc, Oda introduced the samurai Kin’emon and his son Momonosuke. However, most fans became convinced they were not truly father and son. This theory was quickly supported by the fanbase based on facts such as the inspiration behind their names, as well as the way that they address each other.
Some have even pointed out the fact that Kin’emon’s protectiveness of Momonosuke, along with their connection to Kaido, implies there is more to him than just being a regular child. The truth is later revealed in chapter 817 that he is not Kin’mon’s child, but the son of the former Daimyo of Wano, Kozuki Oden.
13 Shirahoshi Is An Ancient Weapon
Among the many theories in One Piece, those about the ancient weapons Pluton, Poseidon and Uranus are especially well known. So far only two of the Ancient Weapons have been revealed, leaving only Uranus shrouded in mystery. Out of the two known weapons, Poseidon is by far the most unique. Unlike the legendary battleship Pluton, Poseidon, which allows one to control sea kings, is a living weapon. Its current form is the mermaid princess Shirahoshi. A few months before this was revealed, one fan theorized that she was an ancient weapon. After opening a poll, most fans voted that that they were wrong. Ironically, their theory was proven correct following the release of chapter 649.
12 Lola’s Mother Is Big Mom
Lola, the captain of the Rolling Pirates, first appears during the Thriller Bark arc. She quickly becomes good friends with the Straw Hats and even gives Nami her mother's Vivre Card. At the time, her mother’s identity was still a mystery. A theory was later developed that Lola’s mom was the Yonko Big Mom.
Before she gives Nami the Vivre Card, she mentions that she was born in the New World. One of her underlings also confirms that her mother was a famous pirate. During the Fishman Island arc, fans noticed that the lips on Big Mom’s Jolly Roger were like Lola’s. This theory was eventually confirmed true in chapter 835.
11 The Sulong Prediction
Members of the Mink Tribe are some of the most powerful fighters in One Piece. Even their children are stronger than most adult pirates. In addition to their superhuman strength and ability to use electrical shocks, minks have the power to transform into a Sulong form. Between the Zou and Whole Cake Island arcs, there were several hints indicating a connection between minks and the full moon. As a result, fans theorized that like the mythical werewolves, minks could transform under a full moon. This was finally confirmed in chapter 888 when Carrot transformed into a Sulong by looking directly at the full moon.
10 Doflamingo’s Devil Fruit Ability
Donquixote Doflamingo’s Devil Fruit ability was one of the greatest mysteries in the series. It holds the record for having the longest gap between when it was first used to when it was officially named, which spans over 11 years. The only clues fans had about it was that he could control people, slice off limbs, as well as fly.
Many fans theorized that his power involved manipulating strings based on how he moves his hands like a puppeteer. There is also the presence of the onomatopoeia "くい" or "kui" – such as in chapter 556 – which is similar to the sound of strings or cords tightening.
9 Kaido Is A Dragon
As one of the Yonko, Kaido is one of the strongest characters in the series. In addition to his overwhelming strength, he is seemingly unable to die. Since his introduction, a lot of fans began to speculate that he possessed a powerful Devil Fruit ability. One of the most popular theories was that Kaido is part dragon.
Evidence that supports this include Kin’emon claiming that he has a vendetta against dragons during the Punk Hazard arc. Another was during the Dressrosa arc, when Momonosuke denies Luffy’s claim that he could fly and addresses it as a terrible thing. This theory was finally confirmed true in chapter 921 when Kaido appears as an eastern dragon flying over Wano using clouds to fly just like Momonosuke.
8 Gear Fourth
During the Enies Lobby arc, Luffy shocked fans by unveiling his new techniques Gear Second and Gear Third. Ever since these techniques were introduced, fans have predicted that he will unlock even more Gear forms. Although it took a few years, this prediction came true with the unveiling of his Gear Fourth transformation in chapter 784.
There were several theories about what new abilities this form would possess. These include theories like how it would be based on Luffy using his muscles, as well as compressing parts of his body to increase the power and speed of his attacks. Furthermore, fans also predicted that there would be other Gear Fourth forms, which appear during the Whole Cake Island arc.
7 Sabo Is Alive
Following the conclusion of the Marineford arc, fans learn that in addition to Ace, Luffy had another stepbrother named Sabo. Unfortunately, while out at sea Sabo was attacked by a Celestial Dragon and was seemingly killed. Fortunately, Oda leaves plenty of hints in the manga, cover pages and SBS forums supporting a theory that Sabo was still alive.
This includes a moment during a flashback in chapter 589, where the leader of the Revolutionary Army Monkey D. Dragon, returns to his ship carrying an unknown injured person. This led many fans to speculate that the injured person was none other than Sabo. This theory was eventually confirmed as correct during the Dressrosa arc in chapter 731.
6 Sanji’s True Identity
One of the best and oldest One Piece theories revolves around the Straw Hats cook Sanji. For many years, there have been different versions of a theory, which claims that Sanji is a prince. Recurring elements of this theory include his “Mr. Prince” alias that he used during the Alabasta arc, his extremely rare blood type, as well as the fact that his wanted poster after the Dressrosa arc stated that he was wanted “only alive”. It was not until chapter 812, that this theory was finally confirmed after Sanji is revealed to be the third son of the Vinsmoke family who rule the Germa Kingdom.
5 Kin'emon Jumped Through Time
When Kin'emon and Momonosuke's true identity was revealed back at Zou, Momonosuke's mention of having met Roger despite being just 8 years old raised quite a few eyebrows in the fandom. Theories started flooding out soon, and some quite rightly predicted that Momonosuke and Kin'emon had jumped through time to the current events of the story, which is how Momonosuke had actually met Gol D. Roger as well.
This was recently confirmed towards the end of Wano Country's Act 1, in Chapter 919 where Kin'emon revealed to Luffy that he, along with some other members of the Red had jumped 20 years ahead into the future.
4 Sanji's Raid Suit
Towards the end of the Whole Cake Island arc, Vinsmoke Sanji was gifted a Raid Suit by Niji, his brother. Although Sanji exclaimed he would never use it in a fight, it was rather obvious that he would eventually end up doing so. Rather than thinking about whether he would use it or not, fans started thinking about what the abilities of his Raid Suit would be.
Many arrived at the conclusion that Sanji would gain the powers of invisibility as that's exactly what he wanted right since he was a little kid. In One Piece Chapter 931, Sanji unleashed his new form, O-Soba Mask, where he also showcased the power to turn invisible.
3 Wano Country Is Above The Ocean
When the Strawhat Pirates first entered Wano Country, the Sunny climbed up a couple of waterfalls and then ended up sinking. Although the ship sunk, Luffy ended up on Kuri's beach somehow, and the same was the case with Big Mom, who was thrown into the ocean by King the Wildfire.
Fans predicted that Wano was either inside a mountain, or on top of it with a secret entry from underneath the ocean. As expected, this theory was proven correct in chapter 954 of One Piece, where Kin'emon explained the basic geography of the country.
2 Big Mom Comes To Wano
One of the biggest predictions that the One Piece fans made prior to the beginning of the Wano Country arc was about Big Mom's eventual intervention in it. With Luffy having dealt serious damage to her reputation, it was easy to predict that she would follow him to the ends of the world.
In One Piece Chapter 907, Big Mom told Kaido that she would eventually come to Wano, which Kaido warned her against. This further strengthened the fans' belief in this theory, and ultimately, Big Mom entered Wano Country in Chapter 930 of One Piece.
1 Whitebeard Was On Rocks Pirates
In the Reverie arc, it was mentioned by Garp that the Rocks Pirates were an incredibly powerful pirate crew that existed 40 years ago. They were said to be rulers of the entire seas and Big Mom and Kaido were hinted to be few of its members. Interestingly, Marco hinted that Whitebeard sailed on a pirate ship about 40 years ago with many other members as well.
As expected, it didn't take the fans long to make a connection and predict that Whitebeard was, in fact, a member of this pirate crew as well. In One Piece Chapter 957, this theory was confirmed when Sengoku explained the history of the Rocks Pirates to us.
Junji Ito is a manga author who has changed how we view horror. His macabre imagination has been scaring readers for over three decades. With the works of Kazuo Umezu, Hideshi Hino, and H.P. Lovecraft among his inspirations, Ito has cultivated a unique style that is hard to mistake for anyone else's. It's incredibly unsettling because it's unlike anything else.
Ito is known for his intricate linework that gives way to visceral gore and body horror. His unlimited creativity spawns ghoulish, unthinkable scenarios that will forever haunt our dreams. So, in light of Junji Ito's morbid brilliance, let's look at ten of his most terrifying stories you shouldn't read in the dark.
Updated November 29th, 2019:With adaptations of Junji Ito's Tomie and Uzumaki coming soon to Quibi and Cartoon Network respectively, we have added five more tales from the horror manga master's repertoire that will leave you chilled to the bone.
15 "Whispering Woman"
Since her mother's death, Mayumi has developed a condition where she cannot make decisions on her own. She constantly needs someone to tell her what to do. This leads her father to hire people to direct Mayumi's life, but most of them quit. Then comes Mitsu, who is a godsend. Circumstance eventually leads to Mitsu's untimely unemployment. Nonetheless, Mitsu refuses to leave Mayumi's side...
Admittedly, "Whispering Woman" is not as terror-struck as the author's other works, but it has nice buildup and a spooky ending.
14 "Approval"
When a man's girlfriend's father refuses to give them their blessing for marriage, the man breaks up with the young woman, Misuzu. Later, his ex's brother convinces him to try again with Misuzu's father. No luck. He continues to do this for a number of years, only to be shot down every time by the patriarch. Although the revelation as to why is one he never expected.
"Approval" is a reprieve from the usual goriness found in Ito's collection. Instead, this is actually a heartbreaking, supernatural story of clinging to what is no longer there.
13 "Library Vision"
A woman marries a man who is obsessed with his home's massive library. If she doesn't return a book to its rightful spot, the husband panics. This behavior only worsens as the man now spends every waking moment doing inventory of the library. And as the wife learns, his upbringing explains why her husband is so bedeviled by the books.
"Library Vision" continues an ongoing theme in Ito's works. Which is, people being possessed by the most seemingly innocuous of things. Here, we have a man so thrown into his library that it eats away at his soul and body.
12 "Flesh Colored Horror"
A kindergarten teacher named Miss Takigawa is assaulted on the way home one night by an unknown stranger; someone douses her in a strange liquid that she can't seem to entirely clean off. At school, one of her students behaves so violently that Takigawa has to intervene. In doing so, she stumbles upon the student's unspeakable home situation.
"Flesh Colored Horror" goes down a path readers will not at all expect. The uneasy randomness to Ito's twisted creativity is exactly what brings fans back time and time again.
11 "Earthbound"
All over Japan, people stand in random places, and posing in strange, immovable ways. Everyone, at first, believes this is performance art or a practical joke gone too far. Yet, it becomes clear that something more weird is underfoot. After learning one of the "bound" people is standing at the spot where his dog is buried, a social worker asserts this phenomena has to do with people who feel a strong attachment to specific locations. Though, the actual truth proves to be more disturbing than the hypothesis.
Ito manages to tap into contemporary social issues without being overt about it. The revelation behind the "bound" people is absolutely eldritch.
10 "Gyo"
There is an unexplained foul odor in the air that is being called the "death stench." Soon, the smell's source becomes apparent when fish with metallic, scuttling legs appear, though it is not just small fish that are rigged with these contraptions. Sharks and even whales have been inexplicably retrofitted with these structures.
Who designed these abominations? And how long is it before these mobile sea creatures overcome humanity? The Gyo manga consists of two volumes, and a self-contained anime adaptation was released in 2012.
9 "Fashion Model"
A man named Iwasaki is horrified by a scary model he sees in a fashion magazine. He even starts to have nightmares about her. When Iwasaki and his friends host auditions for a movie they are making, the very same model — Miss Fuchi — is invited and offered a role. When everyone goes into the forest to film, they realize the statuesque, unconventional-looking Fuchi is more monster than model.
"Fashion Model" is darkly comedic and features one of Ito's more memorable characters. The story may be too straightforward at times, but it's also just as inscrutable and gruesome as the author's other works in places.
8 "The Enigma of Amigara Fault"
In this story about one's compulsion to understand the unexplained, an earthquake reveals a foreboding fault on Amigara Mountain. What makes this so strange are the countless holes in the rock that are shaped like humans. This bizarre sight understandably attracts the attention of the media.
People travel to Amigara Mountain to look at the holes and many claim they felt drawn to the area. Eventually, people start to look for "their" holes in the rock. With only a guttural desire to do so, onlookers enter the holes, unaware of what could be on the other side.
7 "My Dear Ancestors"
Risa is stricken with temporary amnesia in the midst of her engagement to Shuichi. The condition stems from meeting Shuichi's father, whose head bears a long appendage made up of his ancestors' skulls.
Through the lens of the supernatural, "My Dear Ancestors" plays with the idea of needing to uphold family traditions and expectations. "My Dear Ancestors" is not an outright horrifying story, but as with many Ito works, the imagery will make your skin crawl.
6 "Long Dream"
While she awaits an operation in the hospital, a patient named Mami claims she has seen the personification of Death and it has paid her a visit. Her doctor, Kuroda, thinks Mami is scared of dying, but the figure she mistook for Death was really another patient, Tetsuro Mukoda. Mukoda, however, has suffered a mysterious ailment where he loses a year or more of his life every time he has a "long dream."
This takes a toll on Mukoda physically, as his body is now aging at an accelerated speed. "Long Dream" is scary because it ties into fears and deep-rooted thoughts we can all relate to. It highlights our fear of mortality.
5 "The Thing That Drifted Ashore"
A massive, serpentine corpse washes ashore. Experts think it could be a momentous discovery, and they want to preserve it. Unfortunately, the corpse has already begun to rot. Spectators gather around on the beach in hopes of getting a glimpse of the unknown creature before it's gone forever. Much to everyone's horror, though, something is moving inside of the corpse...
People are led by their curiosity to a once-in-a-lifetime event in "The Thing That Drifted Ashore". Some dream of answers to their loved ones' whereabouts while others confront their fears. In the end, they all realize some things should simply remain lost to mystery and time.
4 "Uzumaki"
In the coastal town of Kurozu-cho, a boy named Shuichi claims everyone is under an inescapable curse. The curse is not because of a thing or a person, but of a pattern: the spiral shape. From snails to the ear's cochlea, the citizens of Kurozu-cho succumb to this consuming malady.
A reclusive young man named Michio is finally convinced to attend his class reunion. As everyone is preparing for the "coming of age" ceremony, dead bodies sewn together with fishing wire are discovered all over the city. The weirdest thing about this is there appeared to be no struggle or even signs of trauma. More sewn-together corpses are found, and everyone suspects this has to do with an enigmatic group called Army of One.
The story's protagonist, Michio, has an acute case of social withdrawal known as hikikomori. So, it is no coincidence that "Army of One" concerns people literally being tied together. The exact reason why, however, is unclear, which makes this story so discomfiting.
2 "Tomie"
Tomie Kawakami appears to be a beautiful teenager, but she is far older than she looks. Behind her beautiful facade lies a dark and sinister secret. Tomie is, in fact, a supernatural entity — much like a succubus — who has an uncanny ability to make men fall in love with her. She can also regenerate and replicate herself, too. Wherever Tomie goes, she leaves destruction in her path.
Tomie is Ito's most prolific character, as she has the most work devoted to her twisted legacy. She's as intriguing to readers as she is to her very peers. As of today, Tomie has been adapted to the big screen in multiple live-action films as well as in the Junji Ito Collection anime. It was also announced earlier this year that Alexandre Aja (Crawl) would be producing a Tomie series for Quibi.
1 "The Human Chair"
When a writer happens upon a furniture store one day, the owner tells her about another author named Yoshiko Togawa. Togawa regularly received letters from other authors looking for advice on their work. In one manuscript, a character hides inside the armchairs he crafts. The story unnerves Yoshiko because she fears it's actually a confession, and she starts to think someone is inside the chair her husband just bought.
"The Human Chair" is a disturbing reimagining of Edogawa Ranpo's story of the same name ("Ningen-isu" in Japanese). Even if you're familiar with Ranpo's work, the conclusion in Ito's version is still startling.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Mandalorian Chapter 4, "Sanctuary," streaming now on Disney+.
The fourth episode of The Mandalorian is certainly entertaining, if expected for virtually any story centered on a drifter: He floats in to an out-of-the-way town -- or, in this case, planet -- where the helpless citizens are oppressed. After initially resisting their pleas, he gives in, and rallies them against the antagonist. All of that happens in "Sanctuary," which, for good measure, adds Gina Carano as Cara Dune, a former Rebel shock trooper. However, the real development of the episode is confirmation of what was previously mere speculation: The Mandalorian isn'tMandalorian, at least not by birth.
The series had already established, in part through flashbacks, that the mysterious bounty hunter, played by Pedro Pascal, was orphaned as a child during an attack by Separatist battle droids. A foundling who now contributes part of his earnings to help other orphans, he was taken in and raised by the Mandalorians, and adopted their ways. Or, rather, the Way.
In "Sanctuary," Mando travels with Baby Yoda to Sorgan, a sparsely populated planet on which he hopes to lay low for several months, far from the eyes of other bounty hunters. Those plans are immediately complicated, first by an encounter with Cara Dune, who determines Sorgan isn't big enough for both of them, and then by farmers, who seeks his protection from raiders who have turned their fishing village into their own pantry. Naturally, there are other complications, not the least of which is that the raiders have an Imperial AT-ST walker, But there's also the matter of Omera (Julia Jones), the widowed villager who has an eye for Mando, and a desire to him and "the Kid" to make Sorgan their home.
As the Mandalorian settles into Omera's barn in the episode's second act, she poses the obvious question: When did he last take off his helmet in front of someone else. Gesturing out the window, to children playing, he replies, "I wasn't much older than they are."
"You haven't shown your face to anyone since you were a kid?" asks Omera. "No," he responds. "I was happy that they took me in. My parents were killed, and the Mandalorians took care of me."
When she offers condolences, Mando says simply, "This is the Way."
It's certainly a curious development, considering Star Wars' most famous bounty hunter, Boba Fett, was a Mandalorian until he wasn't (with the prequels, as we know, he's now a clone). There's also the assertion by series creator Jon Favreau that, “Our guy is a Mandalorian, and we definitely explore the culture of the Mandalorian.”
“Boba Fett is a clone, according to Attack of the Clones," executive producer Dave Filoni told Entertainment Weekly in September, "and by asking [creator George Lucas], he would say Boba Fett is not Mandalorian, not born on Mandalore. He’s more of a person indoctrinated into it, into the way of life, and gets a hold of the armor.”
That doesn't necessarily mean Favreau and Filoni were misleading fans. The previous episode introduced other members of the Mandalorian enclave, who looked down on Mando, but not because of his origin. Paz Vizla, the Heavy Infantry Mandalorian, was angry with the bounty hunter because he was paid with Beskar steel stolen by the Empire in the Great Purge. There may have also been some envy because Mando crisscrossed the galaxy, while the other members of the covert remained largely hidden, to keep their numbers secret.
The point is, Mando doesn't appear to be viewed as anything except a Mandalorian. The Armorer treats him with the same respect as she does the Heavy Infantry Mandalorian, and when the covert rallies to the bounty hunter's defense in Episode 3, they're doing so because he's one of them. Any dispute would seem to center on interpretation of, and adherence to, the Way, sort of like a Baptist and a Methodist debating nuance of Scripture. That is, if the Baptist and the Methodist were armor-clad fighters.
Mando was raised by Mandalorians, and adopted their ways as a child. He's a warrior who has never removed his helmet in front of another, nor had it removed by a foe. He is, for all intents and purposes, Mandalorian -- and one with a soft spot for foundlings and hard-luck cases. That is the way.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Justice League Odyssey#15 by Dan Abnett, Will Conrad, Rain Beredo, Pete Pantazis and Andworld Design, on sale now.
Justice League Odyssey has certainly placed the cosmic corner of the DC Universe in dire straits. While Lex Luthor and Perpetua reshape reality in their Doom War, Darkseid has created his own pocket outside of their purview called Sepulkore. With the brainwashed Cyborg, Azrael, and Starfire as his generals, the villain now has his own piece of reality he can continue plotting from.
As Jessica Cruz, Blackfire, Orion and Dex-Starr strike a deal with the Eskaton (devourers of New Gods) to hunt down the Lord of Apokolips, though, they don't realize they may have one more ally in the mix. That's because Issue #15 brings Space Ranger, a classic DC galactic hero, back into the fold -- but with a female twist.
Space Ranger was created by Edmond Hamilton, Gardner Fox and Bob Brown in the '50s when Rick Starr of Allied Solar Enterprises donned a unique space suit to fight pirates, alien invaders, evil scientists and threats from the future. He was basically Green Lantern without the ring. He operated with a transparent helmet from an asteroid base and used a ship called the Solar King.
He didn't have any powers except for his brain and armed himself with a wide array of super-scientific gadgets and weapons, such as the all-purpose multi-ray pistol he wore on his weapon belt. Space Ranger would go on to team up with the Green Lanterns and Justice League in modern stories.
However, Rick doesn't appear in Justice League Odyssey. Instead, it's his daughter. We never find out her real name, but she's going by the moniker Gamma Knife.
The revelation comes at the end of the issue as Jessica and co. trail Darkseid's energy signature for the Alpha Eskaton, who wants to consume the villain's essence. Their ship's damaged badly, which leads them to a field of wrecked ships. They don't know who these other ships belong to, but they intend to salvage them for parts to repair their own vessel.
Little do they know, Gamma Knife and her drones have spotted their ship for scouting. She's a salvager herself, and while she doesn't seem hostile, we don't know how aggressive the drones will be. Rocking a suit a la Iron Man, Gamma jets off to Jess' ship to see what could be stored on it. She thinks she's hit the jackpot but little does she know she's about to become embroiled in a catastrophic conflict because Darkseid's troops are coming.
Future solicits reveal she'll be joining the war on Darkseid but, until we know what happened to her dad and get some insight into her past, we can't say what kind of ally she'll be. Gamma Knife might be in way over her head. Darkseid has dispatched his dark Trinity to come after all parties so Gamma Knife will need protection when the tyrant's cavalry arrives. He wants to be the predator, not the prey, and Gamma Knife could become collateral damage in this war. However, if she's as resourceful as Rick was, she'll have a few tricks up her sleeve that could help Jess' squad turn the tide.
Billy Dee Williams, the 82 year old actor who first portrayed Lando Calrissian in 1980's Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back, recently acknowledged his gender fluidity in an interview with Esquire. "I say ‘himself’ and ‘herself,’ because I also see myself as feminine as well as masculine," he said. "I’m a very soft person. I’m not afraid to show that side of myself.”
Williams, who will be reprising his role as Lando in The Rise of Skywalker, the last movie of the Skywalker saga, spoke with Matt Miller of Esquire. The actor mentioned that despite Lando's charm and the many doors that it opened not just for him, but for other actors of color, the more memorable pehttp://cbr.com/tag/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalkerrformance of his career was his role as Gale Sayers in Brian's Song, a 1971 Emmy-nominated telefilm about two football players who were roommates and best friends. “It was a love story, really," Williams said, clarifying the subtext. "Between two guys. Without sex. It ended up being a kind of breakthrough in terms of racial division.”
Williams also praised Donald Glover, who portrayed a young Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and who had known since he read the script that Lando was a pansexual character, something that Jonathan Kasdan, Solo's writer, confirmed.
This detail, which seems quite important to Lando's personality, is never explicitly shown on-screen other than through the testimony of L-3, Lando's freed robot and partner in crime. It wascriticized as queerbaiting, a term which refers to media attempting to attract an LGBTQIA+ audience by mentioning LGBTQIA+ backstory or by implying a queer relationship that is never actually shown on the screen -- something that rarely happens with cisgender, heterosexual characters. This allows companies to attract, or "bait" the LGBTQIA+ public without enraging homophobic moviegoers.
Williams also talked about the abuse that the youngest Star Wars actors have suffered in social media, particularly Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), John Boyega (Finn) and Daisy Ridley (Rey), who have been targeted with racist and sexist attacks for years. He had a small tip for them: “You’re always going to have people making stupid comments. One deals with indignities all the time. Do you sit around with vengeance in your soul? You can’t do that. I’m not forcing people to listen to my point of view, but if I can present it in some creative fashion — I’m the painter, tweaking, adding, contributing, putting in something that you haven’t thought about, maybe."
In other words, the best revenge against haters is to keep living a creative life.
Bray Wyatt's new gimmick as the Fiend took some warming up to but now he's become quite a powerhouse in WWE. Initially, with Bray placed in a comedic act in his Firefly Fun House, fans wondered how long he could keep this schtick interesting. But once his dark alter-ego was unleashed, it became clear the Fiend was being molded as the company's next big thing.
After a feud with Seth Rollins, it did seem like Vince McMahon's creative team was trying to push him as the new Undertaker, but at Crown Jewel, despite receiving multiple Curb Stomps in a no-holds-barred match, the Fiend beat Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship. It was quite a shock, and after being transferred from RAW to the Smackdown brand, he's gone from strength to strength, with a successful title defense over Daniel Bryan at Survivor Series cementing him as the new dog on the block.
With that in mind, let's look at who creative can use to defeat the masked wrestler.
The Fiend might be the new dog, but Reigns has constantly proven he's the "Big Dog." He's held every major belt in the company, including the Fiend's championship, which he won off Brock Lesnar in SummerSlam last year. However, Reigns relinquished the title and announced his hiatus on RAW, revealing his leukemia had returned after 11 years of privately battling it and being in remission.
In other words, the storyline basically writes itself: Reigns never lost this title, meaning he could lay claim to it. He also won the Survivor Series match for Team Smackdown by taking out NXT's Keith Lee so that in and of itself gives him free rein to challenge anybody at any time for any title. WWE has tried to push Reigns as the face of the company. Plus, with fans not booing him as much anymore, this rivalry would feel organic, helped by the fact both wrestlers have put on amazing matches before.
Strowman, as much as he's a fan-favorite and the resident monster of the company, is yet to own a major individual belt in WWE. He's won the Raw Tag Team Championship, the 2018 Money in the Bank and this year's André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. But creative felt he wasn't ready for this particular belt when he faced Lesnar in the past.
Now, though, knowing the fans love seeing him get a push, he could well be the anti-hero meant to feud with the sadistic Fiend. What makes this so enticing is Bray was actually the one to bring him to the WWE main roster as the giant enforcer for the Wyatt Family, and when they faced off in the past, the roars pretty much shook the arena. Their history would add nuance to a rivalry, and with Strowman's mic work improving, now could finally be his chance to claim the spotlight. The Fiend already ambushed him once on RAW to prove a point to Rollins, so you can bet Strowman is looking for revenge.
Nakamura might hold the Intercontinental Championship at present but the rumor mill has consistently linked him with a move back to New Japan Pro Wrestling. His supporters don't believe he's gotten fair treatment in WWE as an A-list superstar, despite winning the 2018 Royal Rumble. He's held the NXT Championship and the United States Championship before, but in order to keep him satisfied, WWE might be willing to let him take this big belt off the Fiend.
"King of the Strong Style," Nakamura may not have the power of Reigns or Strowman, but he's a technical magician like Bray. This would definitely go a long way to tie him to the company and also do wonders for sales and tours in Asia. It's unlikely Vince and Co. will let Nakamura leave easily knowing AEW would want to poach him, and with Sami Zayn as his hype man now, the language problem has been solved, which paves the way for Nakamura to rise to elite status at long last.
In 2015, Bray lost to The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Months later, Kane returned to his brother's side and the Brothers of Destruction took Bray and Luke Harper out in a tag team match at Survivor Series. Nonetheless, fans lapped up the theatrics of their rivalry and, seeing as the Fiend is an evolved Bray, the third time could be the charm for him to take the Undertaker out.
The Fiend is even using 'Taker's rise-up-from-the-grave move so this could be a chance for the Dead Man to teach Bray the lesson he clearly hasn't learned yet. Their dynamic has always been pretty badass and, seeing how gothic the Fiend is now, along with the fact Bray can adapt to the brawling style the older Undertaker has adopted, this would indeed be a fanboy's dream.
We can see Vince letting an older face hold the belt temporarily as he did let Goldberg take this title off Lesnar. So, even if it's a one-off win for 'Taker, it'd still be a win-win as it'd enhance the mystique of the Fiend and allow him a rematch to reclaim the belt later on and prove to everyone he's not just the supernatural star of WWE; he's the new face of death.
It's Black Friday, which means the biggest shopping holiday of the year is finally here! Fans of Daily Deals know we like to find the best savings online every day of the week, but today we are going to be taking an extensive look at everything from the best deals available on Amazon, geeky art, collectibles and apparel, and of course, a deep dive into cheap comics!
We'll be showcasing some great savings from Displate, Entertainment Earth, Sideshow Collectibles, and more as we scour the internet for some of the best deals for fans of all kinds this Black Friday! Let's not waste any more time, it's time for deals!
Displate has a huge selection of high-quality comic art printed on metal in a variety of sizes all available for a great price. And that price is made even better thanks to Displate's Black Friday promotion, which allows fans to save on all levels! By using the code "BLACK" you can get up to 41% off when buying five or more prints! Even sales of 1-2 prints get 33% off with the code, so don't miss out on today's amazing deal!
We've gathered a few great examples of Marvel prints that come from classic comic art plus MCU and other film franchises and features characters like Iron Man, Deadpool, Ghost Rider, and more, with so many different options available to choose from when putting together your bundle of five prints.
*Buy 1-2 Posters get 33% OFF| 3-4 get 37% OFF| 5+ get 41% OFF | Use code: BLACK
While we would definitely be mixing and matching from our two favorite publishers when it comes to finding amazing art prints, we decided to keep things simple with another selection of classic DC comic covers, dynamic art and even movie posters!
*Buy 1-2 Posters get 33% OFF| 3-4 get 37% OFF| 5+ get 41% OFF | Use code: BLACK
Merchoid has an amazing selection of T-shirts, hoodies, leather jackets, bathrobes and more on sale this Black Friday, so we've picked a few of our favorite selections from the MCU, and even included a fun cosplay hoodie for the diehard fans out there.
Black Friday always makes us think about the fact that Christmas is fast approaching, so what better time to save money on Christmas sweaters than right now? Get these geeky sweaters early and be the talk of your Christmas party this year!
There's no shortage of deals out there today for gamers, so we wanted to showcase a few bundles and packages from Wal-Mart that could help fill out your games room. Nintendo Switch is the most accessible console on the market, and when it comes complete with Mario Kart8, you almost don't need another game, but just in case, you can't go wrong with Breath of the Wild.
While Sony has officially announced the next generation Playstation 5, gamers still have some time to enjoy this Marvel's Spider-Man PS4 bundle, which includes the game along with a 1TB Slim console and controller. And since it's Black Friday and the deals are so great, you might as well throw a copy of Hideo Kojima's latest, Death Stranding.
It's definitely a great time to be a Star Wars fan, with new films heading to the theater, The Mandalorian on the small screen, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on our consoles. Fans can get this amazingly priced 1TB Xbox One S included with Fallen Order, but we've included a copy of The Outer Worlds as well to keep the sci-fi fun rolling.
Don't worry, we didn't forget about the PC gamers out there, who by definition are always in search of the newest gear to upgrade their system. Wal-Mart has huge deals on a ton of PC gaming gear that you definitely need to check out, but we wanted to showcase a beauty gaming laptop and fancy new curved screen monitor.
Entertainment Earth has a huge selection of Black Friday deals, though these statues and figures are going fast with sales of up to 80% off! We've chosen a few standout items like this unique Wolverine figure, one of Star Wars deadliest bounty hunters, and Harley Quinn in her debut costume from Batman: The Animated Series!
Fans wait year-round for some of these amazing deals from Sideshow Collectibles, with hundreds of dollars in savings available for Black Friday. We've chosen a few of our favorite pieces that feature some fantastic deals, like this Judge Dredd statue from PCS Collectibles, a life-size Power Rangers bust, and this amazing Swamp Thing statue from Prime 1 Studio!
We hope you like the items we recommend! Comic Book Resources has affiliate partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from your purchase. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.
