According to series creator Alex Kurtzman, CBS All Access' Star Trek: Picard will feature a "very unique" and "very different" take on the infamous Borg from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Star Trek: Picard marks the return of Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, who has since retired from Starfleet following the events of The Next Generation and the accompanying feature films. While sitting down with Vanity Fair, Kurtzman and Julie McNamara -- CBS All Access' Executive Vice President of Original Content -- revealed that Stewart was adamant about not wanting to tread old ground with the new series. As such, familiar elements -- such as the Borg -- would be tackled from a fresh angle.
"Julie and I were very excited about the idea of bringing Patrick back. But... he did not want to come back," Kurtzman confessed. "He said he was never going to play that part again. So we entered into that knowing Patrick is going to have a major, major voice in whatever this becomes if we're going to get him to say yes. He doesn't want to repeat what he's done already, which was by the way, the best bar he could have put forward. The show is inspired by Next Gen, and it's written by people who grew up loving it but it is very much not Next Gen. It feels like a modern adult drama in the world of Star Trek, which has not actually really happened before. It's also singularly about a man in his emeritus years and there are very few franchises that would allow you to have an almost 80 year old lead and tell his story."
Kurtzman continued, "It's not like we ever had conversations where All Access said, 'Look, we really want it to be this or we really want it to be that.' If anything, I think we were coming to them and saying, 'Here's what's emerging from the room,' and trying to give them real time assessments as the story was breaking. It didn't follow a particularly traditional development process either. Usually there's an outline and then there's everybody reads it and they give notes. We didn't go through that either and I think that was a testament to the trust that Julie gave us."
Nevertheless, Stewart remained steadfast in his desire to not recycle stories from the past. "His constant refrain was: 'I don't want to do what I've already done,'" Kurtzman shared. "Obviously, it's not a secret that the Borg were involved, and his first instinct was not to do the Borg. He was like, 'I did that story. I don't want to do that story.' And we couldn't just say, 'Yeah, but we loved you in it so much, we just want to do that again.' And what ended up emerging was actually a result of that back and forth, a very unique and very different Borg story. Definitely not the one that you could have told in Next Generation. And certainly not what I think anyone's expecting."
Star Trek: Picard stars Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, and Harry Treadaway. The series is set to premiere on January 23, 2020.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Excalibur #3 by Tini Howard, Marcus To, Erick Arciniega, VC's Cory Petit and Tom Muller, on sale Wednesday, Dec. 4.
When Marvel Comics announced its Dawn of X lineup of X-Men titles, a few of the covers featured the complete team rosters, while others only gave brief hints. For example, the cover to X-Men #1 included the Summers Family plus Jean Grey and Wolverine, but writer Jonathan Hickman made it very clear that each issue would spotlight a different group of mutants. In contrast, the covers for Excalibur #1 and Marauders #1 revealed their full rosters.
When new titles launch, they typically go through the process of introducing their cast members before they have to work together against a common threat. For Excalibur that is Morgan Le Fay and her siege of Otherworld. Betsy Braddock (the new Captain Britain), Apocalypse, Rogue, Gambit and Jubilee are working together to stop Morgan Le Fay, but one person on the first issue cover who has yet to make an appearance is Rictor. For fans of the seismic energy manipulating mutant, a preview of Excalibur #3 marks his Dawn of X debut.
Unfortunately, we don't find Rictor in the best of conditions. The preview shows him inside of an apartment building as he watches some young children playing soccer outside. The inside of Rictor's apartment includes a television and computer monitors, alcohol bottles littering the ground and planter pots filled with dirt. A news broadcast is discussing stricter regulations for the location of Krakoan gateways near schools and churches.
However, the most fascinating aspect of the preview is the realization that something is very wrong with Rictor's powers, as merely stepping a foot outside his apartment causes the ground to violently shake, along with giving Rictor a splitting headache. Though the font on the computer monitors is hard to read, it appears Rictor is reading message boards for mutants experiencing issues with their powers.
Next, a telepathic voice in Rictor's head reaches out to him, begging Rictor to come "home," with home most likely being Krakoa. The telepath speaking to Rictor is likely either Captain Britain or Apocalypse -- we're leaning more towards Betsy Braddock since the voice is displaying a lot of empathy, though Rictor and Apocalypse are standing together on the cover to Excalibur #3. As Rictor's powers start to kick in again, he opens a casket full of dirty and rocks and lays himself down inside it. This is possibly the only way he can soothe whatever is causing him discomfort, though it doesn't appear to be helping much.
Something has obviously happened to Rictor since the last time we saw him in X-Factor and the Shatterstar miniseries. Hopefully, the members of Excalibur can help Rictor get his powers under control, as he would make a valuable addition to the team. His vibrational powers could help in the ongoing battle against Morgan Le Fay, and may even tip the scales in the X-Men's favor.
Avengers:Endgame's final battle scenefeatured the largest gathering of MCU superheroes to date. According to Marvel Studios, that line up was almost a little bigger.
A recently released photo of concept art by Andy Park, a concept artist for Marvel Studios, revealed that Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia was supposed to appear during the battle scene.
The concept art posted on Twitter featured many of the female Avengers going into battle for that "A Force" scene, including Captain Marvel, Gamora, Nebula, Shuri, Wasp, Mantis, Okoye, Scarlet Witch, Pepper Potts/Rescue and Valkyrie. In the back, Nakia can be seen holding a pair of weapons.
There is no official word on why Nakia didn't make it into the film. Though Nyong'o will likely reprise the role in the upcoming Black Panther sequel, she has not been officially announced to be returning. Ryan Coogler, director of the first Black Panther film, will be returning to direct. Black Panther 2 is set to release on May 6, 2022.
Next up for Marvel Studios is the Black Widow solo film starring Scarlett Johansson. The film is directed by Cate Shortland and is set to release on May 1, 2020.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Don Cheadle as War Machine, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Danai Gurira as Okoye and Bradley Cooper as Rocket, with Gwyneth Paltrow Pepper Potts, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Benedict Wong as Wong, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Josh Brolin as Thanos. The film is available on Digital HD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD.
Gina Carano -- who plays ex-Rebel Alliance member Cara Dune on Disney+'s The Mandalorian -- has explained how the Star Wars television series has given her a sense of belonging in an industry where she has long felt like an outsider.
Before pursuing a career in acting, Carano was an accomplished Mixed Martial Arts fighter, at one point even being dubbed the "face of women's MMA" -- a title she later renounced. Prior to landing the role of Cara Dune, she appeared in such films as 2011's Haywire, 2013's Fast & Furious 6 and 2016's Deadpool.
That being said, Carano confesses many of the roles she landed over the years weren't really the ones she wanted for herself -- and she was worried it had something to do with her body type. "There was a point in my life where it was like, I don't know if want to be in movies anymore, because I don't want to bring them down; I don't know if I'm good enough for them," Carano told Refinery29. "When I tell people I'm an actress, they're like, 'Do you do stunts?' because I don't look like the average actress -- I'm not a sample size. I remember I'm normal, but I just don't feel like I look like what an actress should look like. I've always had these big legs, big thighs."
With that in mind, Carano explains The Mandalorian and Cara Dune have helped her find her place in an industry where she hasn't always felt particularly welcomed. "I've been pretty much like a loner walking my own path and carving my own way and just finding my way around in this business," she said. "This feels incredible because I've never really, really belonged anywhere."
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog and Nick Nolte.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Annihilation: Scourge - Fantastic Four #1 by Christos Gage, Diego Olortegui, Juan Vlasco, Cam Smith, Scott Hanna, Erick Arciniega and VC's Travis Lanham, on sale Wednesday, Dec. 4.
Veteran comic book readers understand that when a popular superhero is killed, it is only a matter of time until they make a triumphant return. Even with this being an open secret in the industry, publishers aren't afraid to use death as a ploy to increase the number of issues a comic sells. Some of the most prominent names at Marvel Comics and DC have fallen in the line of battle, including Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America.
When it came time for Marvel to tease the death of a member of the Fantastic Four in 2011, fans merely had to look at which of the four hadn't been killed previously. The process of elimination left Johnny Storm's Human Torch as the most likely selection, and Fantastic Four #587 revealed those theories to be correct when the Human Torch appeared to die fighting an army of invading aliens from the Negative Zone.
Of course, Johnny Storm would eventually return, but in his absence the Fantastic Four comic was canceled and relaunched as FF, with Spider-Man taking his best friend's place on the team. Since death is a common factor as a superhero, one would think they wouldn't put much thought into how they died or how they were brought back to life. However, a preview of Annihilation: Scourge - Fantastic Four #1 reveals the Human Torch still has nightmares from his time trapped in the Negative Zone.
The preview features Johnny waking up in a cold sweat after dreaming of being overrun by the alien horde. From there, we get a look at how the Human Torch was forced to endure an endless cycle of life and death in the Negative Zone, as he was revived by having his flesh knitted back together by a pack of worms. By Reed Richards' calculations, Johnny spent two years in the Negative Zone fighting and dying over and over again.
Human Torch gained his freedom by stealing the cosmic control rod from the villain Annihilus and taking command of the Annihilation Wave. And since the issue is a tie-in for the Annihilation Scourge mini-event series, that means Johnny Storm is going to have to face his worst fears yet again.
The Cancerverse realm has invaded the Negative Zone, forcing rivals Annihilus and Blastaar to work together against the Revengers, the twisted Avengers of the Cancerverse. Annihilus escapes to the Postive Zone, aka our Earth, to seek help, which leads to the Fantastic Four getting involved. Once the Fantastic Four answers a distress call, they're shocked to find Kestorans begging for the one man who can unite the tribes and stave off the invaders: Johnny Storm.
So, not only must the Human Torch face his greatest nightmare, but he has to do it as the one true savior of an entire dimension. Not too much pressure, right?
What's a good Shonen manga or western comic book series without some awesome villains to fight? Superman, Captain America, and All Might would just play chess in the park all day long if they didn't have classic villains to fight. A good villain is someone who's somewhat sympathetic, but ultimately, their goals and plans will harm or destroy many other people around them. A villain is ruthless, powerful, and confident, and they have values and worldviews that clash with those of the hero.
Meanwhile, My Hero Academia has plenty of cool villains already, and they're organized into the League, various crime families, and more. But what if we had more? Among the heroes and UA students, there are some characters whos quirks, personalities, or costumes would make them into fascinating villains. Let's see which heroes would shine if they walked the path of darkness instead.
10 Eijiro Kirishima
Let's get one thing out of the way: many of these characters are actually nice people, but their quirks and other attributes would look even cooler if used for villainy. Enter Eijiro Kirishima, the tough and confident manly-man of hero class 1-A. As we know him, he's a total pal, and he's got your back.
But with his pointed teeth and red hair, and Mad Max-style outfit, he already looks more like a scary minion of a crime lord. His hardening quirk means that he could take on several heroes at once, and the heroes would have to persevere and find true inner strength to take him down. The Shonen world has seen plenty of fights like that, after all. Now it could be Kirishima's turn!
9 Momo Yaoyorozu
Uh-oh! How did our beloved Momo turn evil? Perhaps she grew tired of the stifling rich family life and took a dark route to carve her own identity in the world? With Momo's brains and incredible quirk, she could easily create her own villain team and wreak havoc in all kinds of ways.
Her creation quirk would allow her to counteract nearly any plan or combination of quirks the heroes could throw at her, and she could also issue gas masks, swords, communications gear, and more to her villainous minions to make them more effective.
8 Neito Monoma
It's kind of scary to think about, but even within My Hero Academia, Neito is actually getting perilously close to becoming a villain. He is spiteful, envious, boastful, and secretly insecure. None of those are traits of a hero... but they appear on the checklist of many minor villains!
He's not stupid, though, and he could run a small villain gang and tear up the streets. His copy quirk could serve as a nasty surprise to any heroes who try to apprehend him, and he'd give them a real taste of their own medicine! How are you supposed to defeat your own quirk?
7 Best Jeanist
Like Eijiro Kirishima, the high-ranked hero known as Best Jeanist already has a villainous look (not to mention Gang Orca). He's calm and stern, and his all-denim outfit hides most of his face. Often, villains hide their faces to escape capture or to hide scars or deformations. Or just to look cool.
Let's also factor in this man's quirk, which allows him to create tough and long threads that can capture just about anyone, or slice them apart. He could easily set traps for heroes who try to apprehend him, or block off an alleyway and prevent heroic reinforcements from arriving. Bad guys also like to use powers such as this to capture victims and deliver a monologue. You're a spider in his web!
6 Midnight
She's an alluring beauty... and that's the point! She's called the R-rated hero, using her sleep vapors to put people (especially men) right to sleep. That's great for capturing villains, but it's even better if she's the villain!
Midnight's name and appearance are perfect for the "seductive killer" vibe, which some female villains in comics opt for. Her sleep vapors are an excellent way to disable powerful heroes to set up an escape, or she could use that quirk to knock out everyone in banks or jewelry store and make off with the goods!
5 Toru Hagakure
Hey, where is she? We can't find her! Exactly. In the real story of My Hero Academia, Toru Hagakure's quirk makes her body 100% invisible at all times, which gives her some serious aptitude for ambushes and stealth. She is the ultimate fly on the wall, especially if she is wearing little clothing.
Imagine her using that power for evil. Stealing would be a cinch, and she could escape any attempt to apprehend her. Her invisibility also gives her an aura of tantalizing mystery, and the heroes would never see her coming until it's too late!
4 Mei Hatsume
She is a UA student in the support department, and there, she builds all kinds of heroic gadgets, or "babies." No matter your quirk, Mei can build a helmet, visor, boots, jetpack, or whatever else you need. Her zoom-vision quirk gives her natural microscopes to work with.
But there's always an evil tinkerer, and Mei would make a fine villain when she uses her talents to build gadgets of destruction and crime. Every time the heroes fight members of evil-Mei's gang, they've got new "babies" to fight back with. Even lesser villains could use her gear, such as jetpacks or flamethrowers or poison dart throwers.
3 Inasa Yoarashi
Whoa, look at that scary costume! Are we sure that Inasa isn't already a villain? Rest assured, he's a student at the famed Shiketsu school, and he wants to be a hero 100%.
But we could easily translate him into a villain, too, and not change a single detail of that costume. His whirlwind quirk is powerful, and it would give the heroes a real headache in combat. Inasa's personality is surprisingly suitable for a villain too, since he's enthusiastic and loud. We can picture him pummeling the heroes and saying something like "Come on, is that all? Fight me for real! Have some fun with me, even if it kills you!" Indeed, some villains just enjoy fighting and want to draw out the best from their opponent.
2 Mt. Lady
She's a rather flirty and carefree hero who can expand herself to be around 70 feet tall, and in this giant form, no villain is beyond her reach. But suppose she were the villain? In this giant form, Mt. Lady could easily demolish anything, anywhere, and totally wreak havoc. She'd be King King with brains!
You'd never guess it, either, because in everyday life she'd probably maintain her casual and easygoing nature to fool everyone. But once she expands... watch out! Being big makes her an equally large target, though, so she'd need other villains covering her (enormous) back.
1 Melissa Shield
Even Melissa Shield is going to the dark side?! Well, actually, she easily could have, if it weren't for her stellar and selfless personality. This California blondie is quirkless, but being inspired by her scientist father, she uses her brains rather than quirks to make the world a better place.
In an alternate vision of the story, she'd be horribly bitter and feel invalidated in a world of quirks, so she'd become the queen of a crime family and use quirks to her own destructive and selfish ends. Or maybe she would only recruit other quirkless people, who would use specialized weapons to counter the quirks of heroes. Maybe a dark-side Mei Hatsume could help with that!
DChas given the world some of the most pivotal superheroes. Whilst some won their fair share of criticism, others are applauded from time to time. There are a plethora of characters to choose from. You name it, and DC will have created it in any of the canonical timelines.
There are characters who got lost in the time shuffle. As a result, they remained unappreciated and fans couldn't learn about their exceptional feats. You may have heard their names here and there and forgotten about them. But your expectations are surpassed once you read about them.
Without further ado, here are 10 underrated DC characters that exceeded fan expectations and went on to achieve great feats.
10 STATIC
You hear Static, your mind immediately takes you to a cartoon. He is stereotypical, in that, as a person of color, he almost fell prey to gang wars. He chose to leave his neighborhood life behind for a greater purpose. Soon after this incident, he gained his superpower of electromagnetism at Paris Island.
Static successfully applied to Teen Titans. His most commendable feat is his resistance to the Anti-Life Equation. During his stint with the Teen Titans, Static was abducted by the Dark Side Club who drugged with him with the equation and wanted him to battle against his fellows. As a Black superhero, Static remained largely unappreciated, except for his cartoon series. It's time for DC to recognize the feller who proved immune to the Anti-Life Equation.
9 VIC SAGE
You hear 'detective', and you are reminded of the likes of Tim Drake, Jim Gordon, or Jessica Jones.
But there's another: Charles Victor Szasz aka Vic Sage, created by Ditko and Charlton Comics in the 1960s. He was later absorbed in DC. Due to a lack of legal support during his investigative procedures, he was forced to don a mask and operate like a faceless detective. Vic has successfully aided the JLA in one of the greatest battles they have ever fought: the battle of Metropolis. In other, he helped Superman against Lex Luthor. Fondly remembered as The Question, we think it's time to shine some light on Vic Sage.
8 DONNA TROY
Donna Troy will unfortunately always be a character overshadowed by Wonder Woman. Her other misfortune is that she is one of the most retconned DC characters.
But turns out, Donna has done it all. From being Wonder Woman's side-kick to aiding the Teen Titans as Wonder Girl and battling for her home, Themyscira. Donna's greatest achievement is aiding the Titans in stopping the resurgence of Mister Twister. If you think Wonder Woman is the epitome of the Amazonian ideal of loyalty, compassion, and strength, take a double check.
7 JONAH HEX
From amongst the coveted list of DC's anti-heroes, Jonah Hex is barely talked about. There are Batman, Black Adam and Harley Quinn who take the top slots.
But once you read about Jonah Hex from the Wild Wild West, you realize no one holds a candle to him. A legendary bounty hunter, Jonah sends the devil his regards. This one has experienced slavery firsthand. It takes integrity to stand up against something that's broken you in the past. Ergo, Jonah refused to fight against slavery Abolitionists during the American Civil War. We are proud of Hex's personal code of honor that he stuck with throughout his times as an assassin.
6 GREEN LANTERN
Ah, the major diss by Ryan Reynold's Deadpool that tainted Green Lantern forever. A Hollywood A-lister has portrayed a B grade character in the past, how could Ryan let it go so easily? Perhaps Ryan needs to revisit the book of OA which has an entire section dedicated to Hal Jordan.
Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern isn't a bum. Green Lantern has taken an oath to protect the Earth against evil, mind you, not resolve but an oath. Being Green Lantern is not everyone's cuppa tea. Green Lantern has more willpower than anyone else in the DC universe. Not only has he killed a Guardian but he has returned from the dead twice.
5 SANDMAN
Sandman, aka Wesley Dodds, comes from the Golden Age. He isn't the most popular Golden Age characters. He's overshadowed by Alan Scott, Hawkman, Starman, Kal-L, etc.
You'd be surprised to know that Sandman is a founding member of the Justice Society of America. What's more, he's served the USA at a very critical time. He's aided President Franklin D. Roosevelt to protect America's home front and raise spirits for war. He also aided the JSA and stopped Ian Karkull in taking control of the White House. He's a true Patriot in every sense of the word.
4 DEADSHOT
Deadshot is one of the greatest DC anti-heroes to be written. Forget about Black Adam, Bane, Batman, and Lobo. It took Will Smith's rendition in 2016's Suicide Squad to introduce him to the mainstream.
If you thought Batman was the only one with "never-again" promise, you are mistaken. Wanting to kill his abusive father, Deadshot missed the aim and ended up shooting his brother. And that's how he resolved to 'Never miss a target again'. From that day on, he worked tirelessly to become the greatest marksman in the world.
3 CAPTAIN ATOM
A superhero like Atom is a boon to mankind. In this age of energy crisis, think of the potentialities that Captain Atom has. But it's a shame that Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen (his derivative character) stole all his limelight. It pains to see Manhattan get a coveted spot in HBO's Watchmen and have the original character, Captain Atom take the backseat. While in reality, Atom is the first nuclear-powered superhero.
Alan Moore and Gibson based Manhattan on Captain Atom. Captain Atom possesses the ability to utilize the infinite energy rested in him. Atom fanatics have gone to the extent of saying that Doctor Manhattan is Atom from DC Universe, with a changed identity.
2 PLASTIC MAN
Plastic Man didn't shine bright as The Joker, but you would be surprised to know that the two have similar origins. In a theft gone haywire, Patrick O'Brian was accidentally doused in a vat of chemicals. Only he didn't turn into a mental gangster! Serves those joker sympathizers right for excusing his tragedy for loony behavior.
Due credit should be given to Plastic Man for he embraced his pain and used it for the betterment of the society. After his resurrection, he gained shapeshifting ability and a positive mindset. He's achieved some pretty commendable feats, the biggest one: he helped President Roosevelt in foiling a Nazi assassination plan.
1 ARNUS- ICON
When you hear about superhuman speed, durability, strength, and alien, you are immediately reminded of Superman. Introducing: Icon-Arnus, the veteran.
Icon-Arnus is one of the oldest DC characters. Because this one entered the US during the slavery era, he very well understood the ramifications of social justice. Can you say that about Superman, someone who spanked women and killed a pregnant Lois Lane? Arnus prides himself on being old enough to know that justice is either for everyone or no one.
Arnus has been the U.S Armed Forces. He is otherwise known to be a celebrated lawyer, with an elaborate knowledge of the legal system. Go back to Icon#1 (1993) to read more on this corporate wonder.
With great power comes great responsibility. That has been the mantra of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man, for over half a century. Since his introduction in 1962, he has tried to maintain that posture while battling some of the strangest villains that graced New York City. And we're not talking giant rats here.
Though Spidey has starred in numerous comics, annuals, graphic novels, and nature magazines, his original run in Amazing Spider-Man is the one fans cherish the most. It also contains the rarest comics around, especially the earliest issues. To provide an example, here are the 10 rarest Spider-Man comics and what they're worth.
10 Amazing Spider-Man #50 - $50,000
There have been plenty of iconic Spider-Man covers over the years. One of the most-imitated is 1967's Amazing Spider-Man #50. Drawn by Jaunty John Romita, it shows Peter walking away from his career as a web-slinger, encouraging himself to be Spider-Man no more.
Of course, he doesn't do this, even though an iconic full-page panel shows him throwing his costume in the garbage. It's simply the build-up of real-life pressures that cause him to make the choice. However, before someone can grab it to be one of those costumed characters in Times Square, Peter decides he needs to keep honoring the death of Uncle Ben. Other than that, nothing much happens. Well, there's an introduction of this guy named Kingpin, but that doesn't matter.
9 Amazing Spider-Man #9 - $54,000
While there are copies of this 1964 comic still out there, very few are at near-mint condition. So, if you do own a nearly pristine copy, then see if you can get it appraised. It could be worth at least $54,000 to you.
That's if you want to part with the issue that introduces Electro to the family of villains. Sure, his mask is ... okay, just call it stupid. Nevertheless, this criminal has some serious power. He actually defeats Spidey in the middle of the story. However, thanks to his original identity as nerdy science geekwad, Peter puts on a pair of rubber gloves to defeat Electro. Sorry about the spoilers.
8 Amazing Spider-Man #13 - $94,000
Again, there are still copies of this comic out there, but very few at like-new status. This is one reason why the its current CGC value is $94,000. The other possible reason is 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home theatrical release that introduced the MCU version of the villain Mysterio.
In this episode of The Young & the Spider-Man, Peter wonders if he has multiple personality disorder when the news reports the robbery of several establishments from the Wall-Crawler. Turns out Mysterio, a person who claims to be a hero that can track Spider-Man, has been portraying him and duplicating his abilities. Zoom-in on Peter's pained expression as the orchestra crescendos to a commercial break.
7 Amazing Spider-Man #14 - $130,000
The first appearance of the Green Goblin? Of course it's a rarity in near-perfect condition. It introduces the archest of arch-villains to the Spider-verse. In fact, this issue is chock full of other appearances that qualify its highest sales value of $130,000.
Gobby and the recently released Enforcers (introduced in #10) team up and lure Spidey to L.A. where he's supposedly going to star in a film. As usual, Peter gets conned out of money, defeats the Goblin and Enforcers, and ends up finding the Hulk -- barely incredible at that point -- in his hiding place. In the end, the producer who lured Peter into this scheme decides to do a Hulk movie instead. Obviously, he didn't see into the future.
6 Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 - $165,000
This is an early Amazing Spider-Man issue that is rare across all conditions, hence its top value of $165,000. It's also the origin of the Sinister Six. Basically, all of the major villains introduced since the series began together in one team. It was a way for Stan the Man and Sensational Steve Ditko to economize.
The annual packs in 72 pages for a paltry 25 cents -- $150 in today's economy. Not only does Spidey battle each villain on colorful splash pages, but he fights Dock Ock underwater. In addition, the annual features biographical pages on each villain, a section on Spider-Man's powers and gadgets, and a comic on how Stan and Steve created the Web-Head.
5 Amazing Spider-Man #3 - $270,000
Dock Ock has been a thorn in Spider-Man's side forever, even taking over his life at one point. It all started in Amazing Spider-Man #3. A comic that, in near-mint condition, garners a top price of nearly $300,000.
The cover offers readers an air of mystery. Spidey is shown up against a wall, arms and legs akimbo and held by metal arms. Meanwhile, a shaded Doctor Octopus soliloquizes about his great power to destroy Spider-Man. However, instead of ending the comic book so soon, Peter Parker, the Science Guy, concocts some chemicals to fuse Ock's metal arms.
4 Amazing Spider-Man #2 - $750,000
A rare comic to find in mint condition, it merits a $750,000 price tag if discovered. It could be for a few reasons. One, it's the issue right after Spidey got his own book. Two, it introduces a character that was used in Spider-Man: Homecoming -- the Vulture
The cover is beautiful in its design and shows how advanced Marvel was in illustration (thanks, Steve Ditko) and inking. It's could be something normally seen in the later years by artists like Neal Adams. This is also the first time readers see Spidey's belt camera. How did he focus that thing? Oh, get your minds out of the gutter!
3 Amazing Fantasy #15 - $1,100,000
When Amazing Fantasy #15, featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man, sold at auction in 2011 for $1.1 million, people probably thought it would be the highest total for one of his comics. Yet, it ranks number three on the list. Nevertheless, if you have a pristine copy of this comic hidden in your attic, it might be time to cash it in.
There are no super-villains in this tale, no symbiote costumes, no variant covers. The two-part tale tells the story of a bookish teenager, loving cared for by his aunt and uncle, who happens to get bitten by a radioactive spider. The injury grants him great powers, fixes his eyesight, and clears his acne. However, Peter doesn't learn about the great responsibility that comes with these abilities until his Uncle Ben is killed. From that point on, Spider-Man makes sure no one dies on his watch ... at least on paper.
2 Amazing Spider-Man #4 - $1,350,000
The last copy of this issue in near-mint condition sold in 2011 for $210,000. However, thanks to the increase in popularity for the hero and the introduction of the Sandman, the estimated value is now up to $1.35 million. Start looking in your comic boxes now for a copy where the red cover hasn't faded.
In addition to Flint Marko's introduction, it's the first time viewers get to see Peter's pre-M.J./pre-Gwen love interest Betty Brant. It may also be the last of his love interests with an alliterative name. Other than that, it's the usual for Peter -- he captures some jewel robbers, battles Sandman, fails at love, and contemplates the reasons why he became the Wall-Crawler in the first place. This attitude doesn't change until ... actually, has it ever changed?
1 Amazing Spider-Man #1 - $1,450,000
Get thee to an auction if you have an almost-mint copy of Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #1. In 2016, a 9.6 CGC-rated book sold for $450,000. A 9.8 will go for $1.45 million.
The episode starts shortly after Amazing Fantasy #15. Peter doesn't want to wear the webbed suit again. All he wants to do is help his Aunt May pay the rent. This is about the time J. Jonah Jameson decides to go all-Trump on Spidey and declare him an enemy to New York City. Even when he saves J3's son from a failed space launch he doesn't get the credit he deserves. Oh, the issue also features the 1st appearance of the Chameleon, and the Fantastic Four, and blah, blah, blah. Saves an astronaut, people!
With less than a month until release, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerunveiled another new TV Spot. Titled "Hold On," the spot features footage of Finn, Poe and Rey in a series of humorous trailer.
At one point, Rey uses the famous "Jedi Mind Trick" that Ben Kenobi first used in 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope (then just titled Star Wars). The trailer can be seen below.
"It's ok that we're here," she says, waving her hand in the iconic Jedi Mind Trick fashion. "It's ok that you're here," says one trooper. "It's good," agreed the other. This interaction leads Poe to ask Finn, "Does she do that to us?"
This isn't the first time Rey has used the Jedi Mind Trick. In 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens she used it on a First Order Stormtrooper to escape Kylo Ren's detainment cell.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Matt Smith, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film arrives on Dec. 20.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major stories for "A Mad Tea Party," the midseason finale of Batwoman.
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" is finally upon us. In "A Mad Tea Party," the midseason finale of Batwoman, The Flash's Nash Wells made a surprise guest appearance that may very well have kick-started the worlds-ending crossover event.
After the devastating events of the midseason finale, Batwoman smash-cut to Central City. In a tunnel deep beneath the city, Nash stood before his handiwork. He had chipped away at the tunnel wall, revealing a metal door with strange symbols underneath. As he gazed at the door, a timestamp revealed a jump to Dec. 9 at 11:58 pm, the day the Batwoman installment of the crossover is slated to air.
"For so many years, I've traveled across worlds, across the multiverse, to do one thing: kill you," he whispered. "And now we're here. You saved my life."
A disembodied voice responded. "Submit, and begin your life anew," it boomed.
"Show me," Nash said with a smile.
"The knowledge is within you," the voice replied. At the sound of it, the symbols on the door illuminated, inviting Nash to approach.
He did so and, after a moment's hesitation, tapped the symbols in a certain order. When he finished, he took a couple steps back and waited. The door suddenly burst open, bathing him in a white light. He tilted his head back in ecstasy. Then the light enveloped him and dragged him forward, eliciting a scream. The door slammed shut after him, with teaser text promising the story will continue in "Crisis on Infinite Earths."
As revealed in October on The Flash, Nash has been hunting the Monitor for some time now. However, if Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's Crisis on Infinite Earths is any indicator, it probably isn't the Monitor behind that door. Nash may have just released the Anti-Monitor into the Arrowverse, which could transform him into Pariah and launch the events of the Arrowverse crossover. Notably, The Flash is due to sacrifice his life on Dec. 10, which is shortly after this flash-forward takes place.
In the comic event, Pariah inadvertently summoned the Anti-Monitor and thereby launched the events of the comic. Pariah was one of the greatest scientists on his world but, as a result of his experiment to view the creation of the universe, he caught the Anti-Monitor's attention. The Anti-Monitor used Pariah's experiment as a tool to free himself from a prison made by his brother, the Monitor. The Monitor snatched Pariah away from his world just before the Anti-Monitor destroyed it. The destruction of Pariah's world gave the Anti-Monitor enough power to begin his quest to annihilate the multiverse.
Batwoman will return in "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which begins Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Supergirl, then continues in Batwoman on Monday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in The Flash on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After the winter hiatus, the crossover will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in Arrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in DC's Legends of Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
In the story of My Hero Academia, Izuku Midoriya enrolls at the prestigious UA school to learn the ways of a hero's life. But he's not alone; Izuku is in a class of 20, and his classmates come in all shapes and sizes. All kinds of quirks are tailor-made for a hero's career, and that includes the quirk of Eijiro Kirishima.
Just who is he? Eijiro Kirishima rarely steals the spotlight, but all the same, he's a tough and dependable classmate and trainee hero to have around. His quirk allows him to harden his skin like metal, and this makes him a powerhouse in melee combat. Let's learn some more about this promising hero trainee!
10 He's a man's man
What does it mean to be a proper man, anyway? This differs somewhat based on who you ask, but there are some ideas that often rise to the top: responsibility, protecting others, dependability, compassion, courage, selfless sacrifice, and more.
All the boys and girls of hero class 1-A are ready to launch a future career as defenders of justice, but Kirishima, in particular, is confident in his masculine image. He's tough and confident, but also optimistic and a good friend, which is a winning combination. He sets a fine example already, and in the future, Red Riot will be the kind of hero any child can look up to.
9 He's a hand-to-hand fighter
The students of UA are a varied bunch. Some of them, such as Yuga Aoyama or Fumikage, like to fight from a distance and support their teammates. Others, such as Ochaco or Kyoka Jiro or Koji Koda, have unique quirks to add flexibility to any hero team.
Then you get the fighters! Someone has to get up close and personal with the villains, and Kirishima will be right there in the thick of things. His courage, martial arts skills, and most of all, his hardening quirk make him a fine scrapper. Back him up, and he can punch his way through nearly any problem.
8 Two of a kind
This wasn't a mistake on the author's part. Hero classes 1-A and 1-B each have a melee fighter with a skin-hardening quirk! Those hero classes have a distinct rivalry, and that extends to these boys too. Eijiro Kirishima meets his match in Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, whose iron quirk is very similar.
These boys also have the same hero statistics in the guide books, and they also both have sharp teeth and a similar personality. Ultimately, they dueled in the UA Sports Festival and broke even, so an arm-wrestling match decided things. Eijiro came out on top, so he advanced to the next round. Tetsutetsu was a good sport about it too.
Not anyone can be friends with the explosive and self-absorbed Katsuki Bakugo. In fact, by this point, it seems that Izuku's friendship with him has become one-sided, and it's tragic to see. But Eijiro is a different story.
Both boys get along fairly well, and Eijiro is probably the closest thing to a friend, or a trusted peer, that Bakugo has at the moment. Still, this didn't dampen Bakugo's vicious attitude during the UA Sports Festival, and Bakugo finished off his red-haired classmate with zero hesitation.
6 He tests out
While Kirishima is not a spotlight student like the genius Momo or Shoto, or the dark horse Izuku, he's a pretty solid student, and don't count on him washing out of training. In the UA entrance exam, he placed second, and in the quirk apprehension test, he came in at a solid 8th.
He's a more mixed bag elsewhere, but he shows promise. Kirishima ranks 15th in the class for grades, though he did pass the written midterm just fine. Unfortunately, he did fail the practical midterm along with Rikido Sato, as neither of them could handle Cementoss' constant concrete walls. He'll have to figure out something for next time.
The students at UA came from various middle schools across Japan, and in middle school, Izuku felt terrible, being the only student without a quirk to call his own. Kirishima, meanwhile, didn't feel much better.
In those days, Kirishima wasn't nearly as confident in his quirk or combat skills, and he doubted that there was a hero inside. He was impressed that Mina Ashido stood up bravely to bullies, but he felt that he couldn't live up to her example. Fortunately, time has been kind to Kirishima, and now he's on track to become a true manly hero. No going back now!
4 Good quirk, or not?
Get this: for a time, Kirishima felt that his quirk was useless for a hero career! This ties into the above fact: for a time, Kirishima was sure that he was not cut out for being a hero, whether on the inside or outside. He wasn't gutsy or cool, and his quirk just made him tough.
Kirishima was in Mirio's position for a time, saddled with a quirk that seemed pointless for saving lives with. Maybe he can stop bullets, but that's all. But Kirishima turned this around and started using his hardened body to make him into a serious melee fighter, and as he proved on the job with Fat Gum, he can take a blow in the place of a more vulnerable teammate.
Seriously, in a different context, Kirishima almost looks like a villain! There are a few heroes who actually do look like monsters, and Kirishima makes the list. He's called Red Riot, and he's got a simple, scary-looking outfit to make his quirk easier to use.
With his pointed red hair, mouth of sharp teeth, hard skin and claws, and his brawny appearance (and some iron themes), Kirishima is oddly reminiscent of ogres in Japanese mythology. These beasts have horns, fangs, and iron clubs, and are often red. It's not confirmed, though, whether Eijiro actually meant to look like an ogre when wearing his costume.
2 He styles that hair
Whoa, Kirishima has some pretty scary hair! It's blood red and sticks right up. What's amusing to note is that his hair does not naturally look that way, as some flashbacks reveal.
Rather, Kirishima was born with black hair, and it hung loose, kind of like Shoto's hair. It was like this in middle school, but right before enrolling at UA, Kirishima dyed and styled it into what we see today. Pretty rad!
1 His name
The names of many characters in My Hero Academia were chosen carefully so they could match an aspect of each character. Rather than choose randomly from a baby name book, the author assembled names with meaningful kanji in them.
For Eijiro Kirishima, his first name is made up of two kanji: one for "cut," and one for "sharp." That sounds like swords or knives, but it also applies to the sharp, hard edges of Kirishima's hardened skin, not to mention his teeth. After a point, he started wearing sleeves on his hero uniform so that he wouldn't accidentally cut civilians while carrying them.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major stories for "A Mad Tea Party," the midseason finale of Batwoman.
Alice's grand plan came to fruition in "A Mad Tea Party," the midseason finale of Batwoman. In an act of revenge, she poisoned Catherine Hamilton-Kane to death and framed her father Jacob for the crime.
For the past couple episodes, Alice's "brother" Mouse used his talent for mimicry to impersonate Jacob, while the real Jacob was held captive by the Wonderland Gang. His intentions were unclear, but Kate knew he could be up to no good when she pieced together his true identity. Fortunately, she realized this after "Jacob" forgave Catherine, then confirmed it by discussing a fake memory with him.
At that point, though, Alice's plan was already in motion. Mouse-as-Jacob slipped poison into Catherine and Mary's champagne on the way to the Gotham Humanitarian Gala. It didn't hit until after Alice and her cronies coerced Catherine into delivering a speech that Alice herself wrote:
Tonight, you all know me as one of Gotham's heroes, an honor that I bought and paid for -- quite literally -- with blood money. My company makes millions by putting weapons of war in the hands of Gotham's criminals, and my husband rakes in even more by protecting you from them. Quite the scam we've been running, wouldn't you say? What my husband doesn't want you to know is that the true villains of Gotham don't go by the name Joker, Riddler or Alice. Gotham's true enemies are right in front of you.
When she finished, blood began to trickle from her nose and she collapsed on stage. Mary and Mouse ran to her side, then dragged her backstage. From there, Mouse took off, while the Wonderland Gang -- dressed as the Crows -- held everyone inside the auditorium.
As Catherine begged Mary to get Jacob, Alice waltzed into the room. "I used a Catherine Hamilton recipe: Project 4782. Ring any bells?" she said of the poison. "It's a deadly neurotoxin designed to kill without mercy... but, lucky for us, Hamilton developed an antidote. Oh, no! My dear, I'm confusing my stories. Hamilton never even bothered to develop an antidote."
"I found a solution," she continued. "A universal cure-all all the way from Koriana. It's made from a desert rose that only blooms on the island... harness the flower and nurture its serum and it gives you life." In return, Alice demanded an apology "for all the pain you've caused me," just as she had done from Jacob earlier in the episode.
Catherine provided that apology, but Alice wasn't done. As Mary began to show the symptoms of the poison, Alice revealed she had only enough of the cure for one person. She offered Catherine the choice to save herself or her daughter and left. Without hesitation, Catherine gave the cure to Mary, revealing she had always known about Mary's clinic. "You're the one thing I did right. Nothing makes me prouder than having raised you," she whispered, and died in her daughter's arms.
As Alice beat a hasty retreat, she ran into Kate, who insisted there was time for Alice to undo whatever she had done. "I don't want to undo it," Alice shot back. "I was locked in a cell for 11 years! What do you think put me to sleep at night? Rainbows? Unicorns? I dreamt of revenge... It was all very well to say 'drink me,' but the wise little Alice was not going to do that in a hurry. Oh, come on. It's not like Catherine didn't have it coming. Catherine poisoned Catherine when she slithered into our family and brainwashed our father and replaced us with that vapid human run-on sentence of a daughter. Catherine brought this on herself, and I was more than happy to watch Daddy go down with her."
In response, Kate slammed Alice against a column and strangled her. However, she couldn't bring herself to finish the job. This left enough time for Mouse to return and toss Kate off the balcony. "One way or another, dear sister, you'll come to see my way," Alice said, and fled.
Meanwhile, the real Jacob woke up in an SUV wearing a tux. He called Kate, confused, but the police surrounded the vehicle during their conversation. When they patted him down, they discovered a vial of the poison that had killed Catherine in his pocket and placed him under arrest.
Later, Kate ditched her Batwoman costume and tracked Mary down at her clinic. "Do you know how many horrible people I've saved?" Mary mused. "Druggies, thugs with face tattoos. Pulled a windshield out of a guy who stole the car that he totaled. Walked out of the clinic the next day, like nothing had happened. But I couldn't save her. You know how she died? Exactly the way that Alice planned it: slowly, and in pain. The only way for her to save herself was for me to die, and she sure as hell wasn't about to let that happen because she is not the horrible person that you and Alice claim that she is. You are literally the last person who can bring me comfort right now. I'm going to ask you again, Kate: is Alice worth it?"
Unable to connect with Mary, Kate went to visit her father in prison. "When I get out of here, I'm going to put her down once and for all," he promised, to which Kate responded, "This time I won't stop you."
By the end of the midseason finale, three people know the truth of what happened: Kate, Sophie and Mary. Kate discovered the plot on her own, then told Sophie, who was incapacitated by Mouse shortly thereafter. Alice also revealed the truth of Mouse's deception after Catherine was poisoned. As such, it may only be a matter of time before Jacob is released from prison. However, in exacting her revenge, Alice wore out any mercy she might have received from Batwoman and their father.
Batwoman will return in "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which begins Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Supergirl, then continues in Batwoman on Monday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in The Flash on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After the winter hiatus, the crossover will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in Arrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in DC's Legends of Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Arrow star Stephen Amell -- who plays Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on The CW television series -- will make his return to WWE television on Tuesday. Rather than wrestle a match, however, Amell will be going to school.
As announced on the official WWE on FOX Twitter account, Amell will appear on the next episode of FS1's WWE Backstage as part of the "Promo School" segment -- which involves special guests putting their skills on the microphone to the test in an attempt to impress the show's crew. The episode airs this Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 11 p.m. ET.
In addition to playing DC Comics' resident deadeye archer on The CW's Arrow, Amell has become fairly synonymous with the world of professional wrestling. His history with WWE in particular dates back to 2015, when he made a series of guest appearances for the promotion, culminating in a tag team match at that year's SummerSlam event -- in which he and Neville defeated Stardust (Cody Rhodes) and King Barrett.
In 2017, Amell debuted for Ring of Honor, becoming an honorary member of the infamous Bullet Club faction and wrestling in another tag team match. He finally made his singles wrestling debut in a losing effort against Christopher Daniels at All In -- the 2018 independent pay-per-view event promoted by Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks.
While it is unclear if the Emerald Archer will step into the ring for an actual promotion again, his love affair with the wrestling business lives on. Following Arrow's impending conclusion, Amell is set to star in Starz's upcoming pro wrestling-based drama series Heels.
Hosted by Renee Young and Booker T, WWE Backstage airs live on FS1 Tuesdays at 11 p.m. ET.
Airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, Arrow's final season stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Rick Gonzalez as Wild Dog, Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary, Katie Cassidy as Black Siren, Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak, Joseph David-Jones as Connor Hawke and Ben Lewis as William Clayton-Queen.
Why is the current hottest anime series called My Hero Academia, and not just My Hero Izuku or The Rise of Deku the Hero? Because this anime is not only about Izuku Midoriya's quest to become the new Symbol of Peace, but it's also a "magic high school" story! Izuku is in a class of 20, and they're all remarkable heroes in training with unique quirks.
One of the girls of hero class 1-1A at UA academy is Mina Ashido, the cheery girl with powerful acids. Another is the top student, Momo Yaoyorozu, who can create nearly anything from her skin and use it all in combat and other heroic duties. Both are wonderful girls, but only one can be crowned Best Girl!
10 Mina: funny references
All heroes need a cool name to describe who they are and inspire hope in others. Hero names like All Might, Gran Torino, Hawks, and Endeavor are pretty cool, but the students of class 1-A need some names, too. This is the start of their very identity as a hero.
Mina went for a pretty wild name: Ridley Hero: Alien Queen! Her acid is like the acid blood of the famous movie Aliens, but Midnight rejected it as being far too scary for a hero. What's funny is that the alien queen appeared in the second movie, directed by James Cameron rather than Ridley Scott's original film. It's a moot point, though, since in the end, Mina went with the name Pinky.
9 Momo: very flexible quirk
Quick! What kind of gear or weapon are you going to need to finish the mission? If you're on a hero team with Momo, you don't have to pack a duffel back or get something air-dropped via helicopter out on the field. Instead, Momo's creation quirk can make nearly any non-living item, and that's just as useful as it sounds.
Stereos, catapults, swords and shields, handcuffs... if she can imagine it (and know its inner workings), she can make it.
8 Mina: Matchmaker supreme
Sometimes, you're just certain that two of your friends belong together, and maybe you're tempted to give them a little nudge. Mina is like that, too... all the time! She'll take any hint that two people belong together forever and ever, and push it all the way.
Mina's love detector went off as soon as Ms. Joke, or Emi Fukukado, arrived at the hero license testing center and promptly started hitting on Aizawa. It made no difference that Aizawa gruffly kept her at arm's length; Mina was already picturing the wedding in her mind!
7 Momo: Helpful tutor
Momo is the smartest student in hero class 1-A, and she could very well be the smartest in the entire school! Her intelligence is rated 6/5, according to official stats, and that's simply incredible. With that towering IQ, Momo can understand how anything is built, and that's essential for her quirk.
She also graciously tutored all classmates who wanted her help for the mid-terms, and she even served snacks and tea to keep everyone energized!
6 Mina: Practical gear for acid moves
Mina is a colorful and showy girl, but she's not shallow. In fact, like her other classmates, she designed her own costume with her quirk in mind. Using powerful acid is dangerous, so Mina made sure that her outfit's boots are made with the right material to resist corrosion.
Those boots also have holes in the bottom of them, so Mina can secrete her trademark acid right through her footwear and slide around on it. The rest of her costume, meanwhile, is lightweight and simple so that she can move around more easily.
5 Momo: a real head-turner
Quick disclaimer: looks aren't everything. Still, good looks can boost your charisma, and this can help Momo set civilians and victims at ease when she arrives on the battlefield or a disaster scene.
And for what it's worth, Momo is an elegant dresser and quite stylish, too. She takes herself seriously and presents the best possible image. In fact, the pro hero Uwabami recruited both her and Itsuka Kendo for their charming beauty, and starred them in a commercial!
4 Mina: She's a skilled dancer
We haven't seen much of it yet, but Mina has a real talent for dancing. She's an elegant and graceful person, and she's pretty expressive, too. Why not show off a few dance moves?
This translates well into combat, where Mina is very coordinated and balanced in her movements to evade her opponents and find the right angle for attacking. She defeated Yuga Aoyama in a duel this way, sliding around to evade her opponent's navel laser shots. A few acid globs damaged Yuga's belt-like laser controller, and he couldn't fight on.
3 Momo: team player
It is vital that a hero knows how to coordinate with their allies (and sometimes the police) to get the job done. All Might was strong enough to handle any villain, but he was the exception, and even then, he would probably want search-and-rescue heroes on the scene with him.
Momo is very cooperative, and she never goes into battle without forming a plan and sharing it with her allies. No one at UA abandons a friend, as Momo and her allies proved to Saiko Intelli during the hero license exam. And with that incredible quirk of hers, it's a good thing she's willing to share!
2 Mina: She won't suffer bullies
Mina has her ups and downs as a hero student; it's a tough career, after all, and anyone will suffer setbacks along the way. Mina is a tough girl, though, and she is ready to face those challenges head-on.
But bullying is a whole different situation! Anyone who mistreats or harasses their classmates will have to answer to this acid girl, and she did this in middle school before enrolling at UA. What's odd, though, is that she doesn't have much of a response to Neito Monoma's constant mocking and taunting. Instead, it's Itsuka Kendo who reins him in.
1 Momo: Inner fire
All of the students at UA are taking their training/education seriously, and even the students with poor grades or lackluster quirks are giving it their all. But few students can rival the sheer passion of Momo! You'd think that she would be quiet and reserved, but not quite.
More than once, Momo surprised (and possibly amused) her classmates with sudden outbursts of fiery passion, and it could rival that of any Shonen lead!
WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for the seventh episode of Watchmen, "An Almost Religious Awe," which premiered Sunday on HBO.
There was early speculation that one of the characters on HBO's Watchmen was secretly Doctor Manhattan, the godlike being who played a central role in the comics series, and whose actions shaped the world of the television sequel, set more than three decades later. Any notion that the blue, omnipotent superman was walking around in human form was dismissed in the first episodes, and any such theory faded away as the drama focused on three primary mysteries: the identity of Will Reeves; the whereabouts of Adrian Veidt; and the plot by the murderous white-supremacist group the Seventh Kavalry. That is, until the seventh episode, in which it's revealed in a moment of panic and violence, that Manhattan has been in Tulsa, Oklahoma, all this time, and what's more, he -- and all of humanity -- is in danger.
Doctor Manhattan is none other than Cal Abar (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), the loving husband of protagonist Angela Abar (Regina King). Lady Trieu (Hong Chau) is in on the secret, informed by Will Reeves (Louis Gossett Jr.), whose source of the knowledge is not yet known. Worse still, the Seventh Kavalry knows, too, and plans to destroy Doctor Manhattan within the hour and, somehow, "become him." That provides (appropriate enough) a ticking clock for Angela, who has no choice but to confront her husband, and try to gently ease Manhattan to come to the surface his consciousness. When that doesn't work, she cracks open Cal's skull and removes Doctor Manhattan's symbol from his forehead, and seemingly accomplishes her goal.
It's a shocking turn of events, and not only for the brutality of that scene. Series creator Damon Lindelof and his writers have been masters of misdirection, leading the audience to focus on those three other mysteries, largely unaware there was a fourth. However, armed with the knowledge that Cal Abar is Doctor Manhattan, we can look back at previous episodes, and discover clues -- along with elements that may not be clues, but now certainly look like they are.
The series cleverly employs transition shots to great effect, such as when the camera pans up from the raid of the Seventh Kavalry farm to the night sky, which then gives way Adrian Veidt (Jeremy Irons) on his "country estate." It's the first hint that Ozymandias isn't on Earth. However, there's another subtle transition earlier, as we see satellite footage of Doctor Manhattan on Mars on the television of the wounded police officer's wife before the scene moves on to Angela giving a baking lesson at her adoptive son's school.
At the time, the footage likely raised few eyebrows, because of course the inhabitants of Watchmen's world would be interested in the activities of this all-powerful figure, who shaped history, culture and politics for decades, before leaving Earth some 34 years ago. But now we have to suspect there was something more than a little world-building at work here.
Later in that same episode, Veidt announces to his servants that he's writing a play, "The Watchmaker's Son," which we knew to be the story of Jon Osterman, aka Doctor Manhattan. The scene transitions from their clinking champagne glasses to the dining room of the Abars, who are entertaining Police Chief Judd Crawford (Don Johnson) and his wife Jane (Frances Fischer). It's an unusual shot from overhead, through the circular ceiling light, which frames the table and plates below.
On first viewing, that composition seemed intended to mimic the face of a clock; we hear ticking throughout the scene, presumably signifying something big is about to happen (and it does, as Judd is killed, setting the plot into motion). However, it's not a clock. It's a recreation of the Rutherford model of an atom. There are seven plates, representing the electrons, and the serving bowl at the center standing in for the nucleus.
After allowing himself to be apprehended by Angela, the 105-year-old Will Reeves confesses to a disbelieving Angela that he killed Judd, only to tease that he employed psychic powers. "Maybe I'm Doctor Manhattan," he says with a twinkle in his eye, giving birth to the notion -- both on the series and among fandom -- that the character could be in disguise. However, Angela refuses to entertain the idea, saying, "He lives on fucking Mars, and he can't do that -- look like us." But will scoffs, running down the litany of other extraordinary things Manhattan can do -- so why couldn't he change the color of his skin?
It's a fun scene, but interesting for a couple of reasons, not the least of which may be why the drama would introduce that idea unless it planned to circle back around to it; it's Chekhov's gun. The other, perhaps even more telling, is how Angela would be so certain what Doctor Manhattan can and can't do?
Later in that same episode, Cal questions why Angela didn't arrest the old man; after all, he said that he killed Judd. "He also says that Doctor Manhattan can pretend to be human," she replies. But it's Cal's response that may be more informative, at least with the luxury of hindsight.
"No, he can't," Cal says, shaking his head. "He's on Mars, so ..." It's not so much his words, but his body language -- the eye roll, followed by the downcast look, almost like a child reciting something learned by rote. He's been told this, again and again, and so his response is automatic, mechanical.
American Hero Story, the sensationalized docu-drama about the Minutemen, consumes the attention of many of the secondary characters on Watchmen, and why shouldn't it? Never mind that it's, as FBI Agent Petey says, "garbage," and littered with historical inaccuracies; it has sex, brutal violence and scandal! It gets its primary focus, Hooded Justice, wrong, but we have to wonder whether this fictionalized version of the original costumed vigilante isn't also a stand-in for other characters.
Take, for example, the scene from AHS shown in this episode, in which the fictional Hooded Justice addresses this angry, violent other person he saw when he looked in the mirror. "I never felt comfortable in my own skin," he laments, "so I made a new one, and when I slipped it on, he and I became one."
Considering one of Watchmen's primary themes is duality, those remarks can apply to any number of characters. However, Hooded Justice's words play out as voiceover as Angela drives to the Crawford house. What seemed initially to be directed at her, and her Sister Night alter ego, or else her discovery in Judd's closet now takes on another meaning.
When the Abar children get into an argument about whether "Uncle" Judd went to heaven after his body was blown up in a suicide-bomber attack at the children, Cal steps in to diffuse the situation. However, if anyone was expecting reassuring words about the afterlife tailored to young children, they didn't find it here. Instead, Cal provides a surprisingly cold assessment of existence. "Before Uncle Judd was born, he was nowhere, he didn't exit," he says. "Then he was a baby, then he was a child, then he was an adult. And then he died. Now he's nowhere, again."
It's a curious explanation, but despite Angela patterning her alter ego after a gun-toting nun, we don't know whether they're atheists or people of faith. For that matter, we don't know yet what effect the existence of a godlike being has on religion. But, in retrospect, Cal's comments certainly evoke Doctor Manhattan, who in the comic said, "A live body and a dead body contain the same number of particles. Structurally, there's no discernible difference. Life and death are unquantifiable abstracts. "
It's tempting to search for clues in the flubbed jokes of Laurie Blake (Jean Smart) as the talked on the phone of a Manhattan Booth in the previous episode. And maybe there is when she asks, "Where does God go when he dies?" But her drive with Angela (and Agent Petey) to visit Lady Trieu is far more enlightening.
Suspicious by nature, Agent Blake subtly probes Angela, even as she ponders aloud about the detectives missing car, which fell from the sky in some kind of "thermodynamic miracle." "My ex used to talk about that," she elaborates, "if we wasn't distracted by fucking quarks." When Angela observes, "He sounds like a lot of fun," Laurie replies, "Yeah, well, he's no Cal."
It's difficult to imagine that Laurie could deduce Cal is actually her ex-lover, Doctor Manhattan, from a brief chat, but that's not what's to be taken away from this scene. The realization that Laurie interviewed Cal shakes Angela, and not only because of the danger posed to Tulsa police and their families. That's reinforced later when Angela confronts Cal, and wonders when he planned to tell her about Laurie's visit. Her concern isn't that a neighbor might have seen an FBI agent at the house, but Cal apparently told her they met in Vietnam, and might have said something about his "accident," which we now know is a cover story for his lack of earlier memories.
We might read something into unfortunate Mr. Phillips (Tom Mison), any number of Veidt's servant clones, playing Manhattan in "The Watchmaker's Son," or the many costumed celebrants in the flashback in Episode 7 to the Hanoi VVN Day celebration of Angela's youth. However, it's impossible to overlook the symbolism of young Angela painting Doctor Manhattan nesting dolls -- yes, one figure inside another -- with her fellow orphans.
It's the final clue before Lady Trieu confronts an adult Angela.
This probably doesn't rise to the level of a "clue," as Lady Trieu decides to stop "fucking around," and all but shouts, "I know your husband is Doctor Manhattan!" After she helps Angela recover from and overdose of her grandfather's Nostaglia pills, Trieu comes right out and says that she knows Manhattan is no longer on Earth, but instead in Tulsa, living as a human. It's telling, to Lady Trieu and to the audience, that Angela responds with questions about her grandfather and about Trieu's enigmatic plans, but never asks who Manhattan might be. That's, of course, because she's known all along.
Developed by Damon Lindelof, HBO's Watchmen stars Jeremy Irons, Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Jean Smart, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tom Mison, James Wolk, Adelaide Clemens, Andrew Howard, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, Lily Rose Smith and Adelynn Spoon. The series airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Batman writer Tom King tweeted on Saturday that he believed that Batman's listed creators should extend beyond Bob Kane and Bill Finger and include those later writers who helped define how we see the character today.
King was responding to TNT's official Twitter account, which is having a "Bat-Week," and wanted to hear what controversial opinions people have about Batman. King named Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers and Frank Miller as the five comic book writers and artists that he would add to Batman's creators.
The writer believes that those five writers and artists, "At this point their contributions to who "Batman" is equal and maybe surpass Kane/Finger."
Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams worked together on a number of Batman stories in the early 1970s. It was during this period, under editor Julius Schwartz, that the decision was made to bring a darker edge to Batman that had been missing in the character since the campy 1960s Batman TV series became the most popular version of the hero. The move to a darker Batman had actually begun in the late 1960s, but O'Neil and Adams certainly popularized the concept.
Adams' version of Batman's costume, with the long cape and the extended fins on his gloves, became the definitive design of Batman for the next few decades.
O'Neil and Adams also revamped Batman's Rogues for the modern era, like Joker and Two-Face, as well as introducing a classic new villain, Ra's al Ghul.
Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers' initial run together on Detective Comics in the mid-1970s was relatively brief, but what was intended at the time to be Englehart's farewell to comics became a highly influential storyline that greatly influenced the 1989 Batman film.
Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns was a massive success in 1986 and it became an influence over all later Batman stories, including the aforementioned 1989 Batman film (plus Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which included specific imagery from Dark Knight Returns in the film.
Miller's Batman: Year One, with artist David Mazzuchelli, rebooted the character post-Crisis on Infinite Earths. Christopher Nolan used Year One as the framework for Nolan's Batman Begins.
It is not unheard of for later creators to get a "created by" credit, as Jamie Delano and John Ridgway were later given creator credit for John Constantine due to their work on the character at the start of the Hellblazer series.
No Time to Die -- Daniel Craig's final outing as iconic British action hero James Bond -- is set to arrive in theaters this spring. With the film's first official trailer set to arrive later in the week, a short promo offers 007 fans a taste of what to expect from Bond 25.
The promo, shared to the official @007 Twitter account, offers brief looks at high-octane scenes from the upcoming action film, set to the tune of the iconic James Bond theme song. Through on-screen text, the promo reveals the first full trailer for No Time to Die will arrive this Wednesday, Dec. 4.
No Time to Die follows Craig's Bond, who has left active service. However, when his friend Felix Leiter -- a CIA officer played by Jeffrey Wring -- enlists his help in locating a missing scientist, 007 once again finds himself in the middle of a dangerous adventure, as it soon becomes clear this is no ordinary case of abduction. Production on the film wrapped in late October.
Directed and co-written by Cary Fukunaga, No Time to Die stars Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen and Rami Malek. It is scheduled for release on April 3, 2020 in the UK and April 8, 2020 in the US.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "The Wrath of Rama Khan," the midseason finale of Supergirl.
The Monitor has picked up another recruit for "Crisis on Infinite Earths." In "The Wrath of Rama Khan," the Supergirlmidseason finale, he chose the Martian Manhunter himself J'onn J'onzz for the battle to save the multiverse.
While Supergirl fought Rama Khan to stop his plan to destroy humanity, J'onn reconciled with his brother Malefic. As a result, Malefic helped the DEO stop Lena Luthor's Project Non Nocere. Since she modeled the project after his Q-waves, he was able to counter them with his own mental ability. After Malefic successfully stopped Lena, J'onn sent him home to Mars to join M'gann and restore peace to the planet.
Once Malefic was on his way, the Monitor greeted J'onn. "Well done, J'onn Jonzz," he boomed with a smile. "You passed the test."
"Test?" J'onn said, then realized, "You released my brother from the Phantom Zone. You brought my brother here?"
"When I saw you fight in Elseworlds, I could see that you were a great warrior, but one plagued by his past, and that made you vulnerable," the Monitor explained. "You believed it was because you had left Mars, but it was something far, far greater, J'onn. Your brother. But now that you have faced those demons, you have come to learn your vulnerabilities are your strengths, and now you are ready."
"A crisis," the Monitor replied, referring of course to next week's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event.
Malefic made his Supergirl debut in the Season 4 finale. In the episode's stinger, the Monitor ushered him into National City. He told Malefic he could exact revenge on his brother J'onn at last. Now, he has revealed exactly why he released Malefic and what purpose it has served. Seeing as "Crisis" is mere days away, J'onn will likely find himself involved whether he wants to be or not.
Martian Manhunter will return in "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which begins Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Supergirl, then continues in Batwoman on Monday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in The Flash on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After the winter hiatus, the crossover will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in Arrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in DC's Legends of Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "The Wrath of Rama Khan," the midseason finale of Supergirl.
Lex Luthor lives! In "The Wrath of Rama Khan," the Supergirl midseason finale, the major Superman villain was alive and well. However, since he is being kept at the Monitor's base of operations, it looks as though Mar Novu has big plans for him in "Crisis on Infinite Earths."
After the Monitor recruited Martian Manhunter, he returned to his headquarters, which looks to be a platform floating through empty space. There, he found Lex playing chess against himself. "Finally, you've returned," Lex said, putting his hand on his hip. "I don't know if anybody's told you this, but the feng shui of this place is a bit stale."
The Monitor ignored that. "I brought you back because the universe will need a mind like yours," the Monitor explained, holding the Book of Eternity under his arm.
"Someone who can checkmate anyone?" Lex posited.
"The time has come for you to fulfill your destiny, Lex Luthor," the Monitor announced. "You can now become the hero that you have longed to be."
"I've always been the hero," Lex retorted. The Monitor merely looked down at him with a grim expression, so Lex added, "Happy to help. But first, we have to discuss my sister."
Lex has an axe to grind with his sister Lena. After all, in the Season 4 finale, she shot him in the chest and killed him. After she left her brother to rot, the Monitor stepped in. It appears he resurrected Lex, who has a role to play in next week's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event -- and he's not the only one.
According to the episode description for "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One," J'onn J'onzz and Alex Danvers will go to Lena for help in an effort to save the people of their Earth: "With their worlds in imminent danger, the superheroes suit up for battle while J'onn (David Harewood) and Alex (Chyler Leigh) recruit Lena (Katie McGrath) to help them find a way to save the people of Earth-38."
Given the events of Season 5 so far, Lena may be reluctant to help. As he lay dying, Lex revealed to her that Kara had been Supergirl all along. Lena was gutted, believing that Kara had lied to her for their entire friendship. In response, she launched Project Non Nocere, her plan "to rid humanity of its instincts to hurt each other." Since Supergirl and her friends put a stop to Project Non Nocere, Lena probably won't be charitably disposed towards Alex, J'onn or anyone involved with Kara. However, the events of "Crisis" may force her to work with them nonetheless.
Lex Luthor will return in "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which begins Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Supergirl, then continues in Batwoman on Monday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in The Flash on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After the winter hiatus, the crossover will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in Arrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in DC's Legends of Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
It's our yearly Comics Should Be Good Advent Calendar! Every day until Christmas Eve, you can click on the current day's Advent Calendar post and it will show the Advent Calendar with the door for that given day opened and you can see what the "treat" for that day will be! You can click here to see the previous Advent Calendar entries. This year, the theme is a Totally Tubular 80s Christmas! Each day will be a Christmas comic book story from the 1980s, possibly ones that have a specific 1980s bent to it (depends on whether I can come up with 24 of them).
For the first day, I'll show you the image itself...
The drawing for this year's Advent Calendar, of Miami Vice Santa Claus giving out 80s presents, like a Rubik's Cube and a Sony Walkman, to four superheroes with the most-80s costumes around, is by Nick Perks.
Here it is in calendar form...
And now, Day 1 will be opened (once opened, the door will feature a panel from the featured story)...
Our first story is "'Twas the Night" by Chris Claremont, Marc Silvestri and Joe Rubinstein from Uncanny X-Men #230.
This story took place at an odd time in the X-Men's history. During the "Fall of the Mutants" storyline, the X-Men sacrificed themselves to defeat a powerful magical being known as the Adversary. They essentially turned into beams of magical light. However, after they successfully defeated the villain, the supernatural being known as Roma resurrected the entire team and made them invisible to electronic media, so that they can continue to pretend that they are dead if they want. They head to Australia in the outback, where they fight the villainous Reavers. They take control of the Reavers' home base in the outback.
In this issue, the X-Men come across all of the loot that the Reavers have stolen over the years. Longshot discovers that when he touches an item, he is given the history of the item, including the psychic pain of the item being stolen. It is quite distressing to him, which he shares with the rest of the team via Psylocke's telepathy...
Meanwhile, Rogue has been trying to befriend the teleporting mutant known as Gateway, who lives near their new base. The X-Men work together a plan. They use Longshot's ability to sort the stolen loot into different piles based on the continent they were stolen from and then Gateway teleports them around the world to return the loot. It happens to be Christmas Eve night, so the X-Men are, in effect, being Santa Clause with the stolen loot...
Isn't that a super clever idea?
The whole thing takes them all night long and they get home for Christmas Day, and Dazzler is gifted the bike she wants by the rest of the team...
We then see Rogue give Gateway a present and she finally breaks through his standoffish facade...
Pretty damn adorable
DOES ANYTHING IN THIS COMIC SCREAM 'TOTALLY TUBULAR 80s'?
Yes, Dazzler's very-80s motorcycle. Anyone know what brand it is?
