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5 Cancelled Comic Book Shows We Miss (& 5 We Don't) | CBR

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TV shows based on comic books have been around since the early 1950s. For you younger folks reading this, yes - we did in fact, have televisions. They were made of stone, and we pounded them with our clubs to change channels.

RELATED: Titans: Ranking The Most Powerful Live-Action Characters

Since that prehistoric time, dozens of live action and animated versions of our favorite comic book characters appeared and sometimes quickly disappeared. Some we truly miss while others have led to years of night terrors. To jog our memories, here are 5 cancelled comic book shows we miss and 5 we don't.

10 Don't Miss - Spider-Man Unlimited (1999)

Out of all the Spider-Man cartoons, this is one many wish never happened. It's not that it wasn't good. Rather, it put Spidey so out of his element that the rest of the Spider-Verse elected not to invite him to the next barbecue.

The cartoon's producers, Saban Entertainment, wanted to animate the earliest issues of the Amazing Spider-Man comic. Due to the first series of Spider-Man movies being produced at the same time, they decided to put Spidey on a mission to rescue J. Jonah's son from a Counter-Earth. Here, Green Goblin was a superhero, walking tigers roamed the planet, and Peter Parker wore a costume that barely resembled a spider. It only lasted a few episodes on Saturday mornings before it was relegated to the Fox Kids cable network.

9 Miss - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-2011)

This Cartoon Network series brought back the Silver Age days of the Caped Crusader. It also made him more powerful and universally well-known than his red-caped buddy in Metropolis. Opposed to Batman: The Animated Series, each episode was a fun romp that didn't take itself too seriously.

Much of the enjoyment was in the show's teasers instead of the main story. In these moments, Bats joined characters like WWI's Enemy Ace and WWII's Sgt. Rock. In another teaser, the Dark Knight and Space Ghost teamed-up. Other teaser appearances included Steve Trevor, the original Teen Titans, and, unfortunately, Bat-Mite.

8 Don't Miss - The Amazing Spider-Man (1977-1979)

Marvel did their darnedest to crack the small screen in the 1970s. Out of the four live-action shows created, The Incredible Hulk was the most successful while small-screen versions of Doctor Strange and Captain America were, to be kind, total train wrecks.

RELATED: 10 Incarnations Of Spider-Man That Deserve Their Own TV Series (And 10 That Don't)

The live action Spider-Man was a good effort. They got Spidey's costume right-ish, but the show was ruined by poor special effects, even for the late 70s. The Spidey's Super Stories segments on the original Electric Company had better effects.

7 Miss - Marvel's Netflix Shows

Fans were ecstatic when Netflix premiered shows based on Marvel's street-level characters. Folks like Daredevil and Jessica Jones got their just dues as living, breathing, three-dimensional humans. Soon, these folks were joined by Luke Cage and Iron Fist to become the non-team group known as the Defenders. Between that and new episodes of Fuller House, all was good in the world.

Then Disney+ turned everything upside down, and Netflix decided to cancel these series when they were still popular. Disney+ is producing a new set of live-action shows for their more powerful heroes. However, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage are not part of that new batch. Furthermore, it's not certain if they will ever be.

6 Don't Miss - Night Man (1997-1999)

This syndicated series from the 1990s follows some superhero stereotypes. The main character, Johnny Domino, gets his powers not from spinning too many Top 40 records ("Here's N'Sync's latest, on KFRC). Instead, he gets hit by a bolt of lightning that gives him telepathic powers and ability to fly. The downside -- he doesn't sleep. We'll, maybe there aren't so many stereotypes.

Night Man was based on Malibu Comics' Ultraverse character. In 1994, Marvel bought Malibu and thought this guy, instead of Prime or Sludge, would bring in viewers. While it lasted for two seasons, the only thing people remember was the crossover with the main character from Manimal. Now, there's a show that needs to return.

5 Miss - Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)

Where the original Justice League was great, Justice League Unlimited was super in terms of character depth and storytelling. The creators grabbed as many current DC heroes as they could. They even helped themselves to members of the 7 Soldiers of Victory and included them in major storylines.

RELATED: 10 Best Justice League Unlimited Episodes

Some standout episodes of JLU include "For the Man Who Has Everything," adapted from a 1985 Alan Moore Superman story, and "Once and Future Story," where several present members meet DC's Western heroes as well as the future Justice League seen in Batman Beyond. One of the best, and most action-packed, is "Divided we Fall." Here, the founding JL members battle a Lex Luthor inhabited by Brainiac's robotic form.

Ah, comics.

4 Don't Miss - WildC.A.T.S. (1994-1995)

Putting a WildC.A.T.S cartoon together was a good effort. However, it completely missed the book's original concept by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi. What was shown as an ages-long battle between two alien races that breeds with us humans became a typical superhero cartoon with a totally radical rap-infused musical intro.

There's a little irony to the failure that was the WildC.A.T.S. series. There's a good chance it was given the green light so CBS could complete with the Saturday morning X-Men juggernaut. The fact that Jim Lee was the artist on the second volume of X-Men before he left for Image was probably not lost on him as his creator-owned cartoon tanked.

3 Miss - The Tick (All Incarnations)

Take your pick on this one. It can be The Tick cartoon that aired on Fox Kids 1994 to 1997, the first live-action series that lasted from 2001 to 2002, or the latest version that recently aired on Amazon Prime from 2016 to 2019. All of these were fan and critic faves and yet, they were all canceled in their prime... pardon the streaming service pun.

The animated series and second live-action version of The Tick are the most loved. The animated version stayed as close to the comic as possible. The second live-action series rated well with several critics and was nominated for a 2018 Saturn Award. The 2001 series with Patrick Warburton? Sadly, not even The Tick's cry of "Spoon!" can make people remember it.

2 Don't Miss - The Cape (2011)

Though not directly connected to a comic book, this superhero series from the early 2010s is here because, frankly, it wasn't good. The acting was bad, the writing was bad, and the action was bad. Even the star of the show, the spider-silk Cape, was a poor substitute for Doctor Strange's living cape. In fact, that one could beat the snot out of the TV version.

RELATED: You Can't Do That On Television: The 15 Biggest Comic Book TV Controversies

The Cape starred David Lyons, late of medical drama ER, as Vince Faraday, a good cop who is framed in a corruption scheme. Tired trope -- activated. Instead of falling into an irradiated vat of Amazon gamma spiders with power rings, Lyons' character ends up being abducted by a traveling-circus-turned-bank-robbery gang called the Carnival of Crime. It's here that Faraday learns about the many capabilities of the Cape. Apparently, not enough abilities to save the show.

1 Miss - The Flash (1990-1991)

DC has rarely failed with its live-action shows. Case in point, the first Flash series that aired on CBS in 1990. Yes, more than one network aired DC Comics shows back then.

There were several reasons it worked. First, it took costume technology from the live-action Batman and effectively utilized it for Flash's outfit. Second, John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen was the right choice to portray the smart, funny, and somewhat humble character. Third, the supporting cast enhanced Shipp's role. This included Amanda Pays as Tina McGee, pre-Homicide/SVU Richard Belzer as a news reporter, and this up-and-coming actor named Mark Hamill as Rouges Gallery villain The Trickster.

Thankfully, this continuity of The Flash will run once more in the upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover.

NEXT: DCAU: 5 Stories We Want In Live-Action (& 5 We Don't)


5 Plot Points From Kingdom Come That DC Used In Future Stories (& 5 They Didn't)

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When Kingdom Come hit the shelves in 1996, it was met with great fan and critical success. The Mark Waid/Alex Ross mini-series depicted a dark future for the DC Universe, as anti-heroes violently battled villains with little regard for preserving life, property or morality.

RELATED: Kingdom Come: 10 Things To Know About The DC Universe’s Bleakest Future

Beautifully painted by Ross, the series presented some wild scenarios in DC’s potential future, most of which have thankfully not come true. However, some threads were picked up by subsequent DC writers, and have found their way into mainstream continuity. Here are 5 key plot points from Kingdom Come that DC used in its future stories (and 5 more they didn't).

10 USED: Son of the Bat

One of the biggest themes to emerge from Kingdom Come was that of generational conflict, represented by the “straight-and-narrow” superheroes like Superman opposing the “grim-and-gritty” violent antiheroes like Magog. Batman is not immune to this, as he is shown to be at odds with his own son by Talia Al Ghul, Ibn al Xu'ffasch (translated to Son of the Bat).

RELATED: DC: 10 Most Savage Things That Damian Wayne Has Done in Batman History

A biological son for Bruce Wayne had been rumored in the DC Universe up until that point, and through this series, relegated to an Elseworlds tale. However, Grant Morrison introduced the character during his run on Batman, in the form of Damian Wayne, the current Robin.

9 DIDN'T USE: The Inhuman Spectre

Leading Norman McCay through his journey through the world of Kingdom Come is The Spectre, who as Deadman relates, has steadily begun to lose contact with his humanity, behaving more gaunt and remote.

RELATED: DC: 10 Things You Never Knew About The Spectre

Even forgoing the mortal trappings of clothing (save his cloak), Jim Corrigan seems to be permanently losing his tie to human affairs. However, in stories since the release of the series, he's either still very much involved and passionate about the human aspect of his mission, or has since moved on from being The Spectre altogether. In any event, DC has seemingly been unconcerned with exploring the idea of a Spectre that is slowly losing his human nature.

8 USED: Lois Lane’s Death

Part of the impetus for the growing rift between Superman and Magog is an attack on the Daily Planet that leaves hundreds dead, including Lois Lane. The instigator? None other than The Joker. Having tired of the cat-and-mouse game The Joker has played with law enforcement over the years, Magog blew a hole through his chest, to public approval and Superman’s consternation.

RELATED: Injustice: Gods Among Us: The 10 Best Moments That Rocked Our World

This is almost an exact summary of the main plot point of the Injustice: Gods Among Us video games and comic books. However, in this version, the attack on the Daily Planet is perpetrated by Superman himself (under the influence of The Joker’s hallucinogen) which then leads to a nuclear blast that levels Metropolis. In retaliation for his indirect involvement in Lois’ death, Superman punches a hole through The Joker’s chest and goes on to establish an authoritarian regime over the entire planet.

7 DIDN’T USE: The Luthor/Wayne Alliance

One of the most surprising plot twists in Kingdom Come revolves around the human resistance to the meta-human influence on world affairs. Chief amongst those resistance members is Lex Luthor, who leads the opposition, (named the Mankind Liberation Front) in exacerbating the adverse effects of meta-human behaviour so as to turn public opinion against them. Recognizing a need to expand his forces, Luthor shockingly joins forces with Bruce Wayne, who has similar reservations about how meta-human affairs are being conducted.

RELATED: 10 Times Batman Teamed Up With His Greatest Villains

Although Batman and Lex Luthor have recently found themselves on the same side of battle through Luthor’s membership in the Justice League and his involvement as a hero, such a direct and close partnership between the two has yet to be explored in mainstream continuity.

6 USED: Superman/Wonder Woman Romance

Shippers everywhere rejoiced when Superman and Wonder Woman finally became a couple in Kingdom Come. Perhaps finding each other in common values and in loss (Superman lost Lois and Diana her people), their pairing promised a child, as Diana found she was pregnant in the series’ epilogue.

This romantic partnership was explored in mainstream continuity during the New 52 era, where the two characters dated until the New 52 Superman met his death. Although retconned out of existence by the reappearance of the pre-Flashpoint Superman in the New 52 timeline, this romance enjoyed a brief time in the mainstream spotlight.

5 DIDN’T USE: Batman’s Exposed Identity

When Superman makes his comeback to public life as a superhero, he embarks on a campaign to gather support for his cause. Starting with his old friends in the Justice League, he manages to recruit Green Lantern, The Flash, and Wonder Woman and then proceeds to visit Batman at Wayne Manor.

Depicted as a broken-down, shell of a building, it is revealed that Bane and Two-Face destroyed the mansion when Batman’s identity was exposed. Although Batman’s identity is perhaps disseminated to more individuals than it should be, it still remains a secret to the public at large in current continuity, indicating a plotline DC didn’t want to explore.

4 USED: Grayson/Wayne Estrangement

In many continuities, Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne develop a deep rift between them in the autumn of their years, usually over a traumatic event or opposing ideologies. Kingdom Come is no different, with Grayson choosing to side with Superman’s faction over Batman’s.

A Grayson/Wayne estrangement is nothing new to comics, as the two have famously not seen eye-to-eye during arcs like Prodigal and Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, sometimes even coming to blows. With Grayson currently being primed as a Talon by the Court of Owls as a result of their machinations and Grayson’s amnesia, expect a contemporary ‘Ric’ Grayson/Bruce Wayne estrangement to soon meet a fevered and perhaps physical pitch.

3 DIDN’T USE: A Broken Martian

A big part of Kingdom Come revolved around the inevitable battle between Superman and Captain Marvel. However, a third participant may have proved decisive in the fray- especially someone whose power levels easily matched the aforementioned combatants: J’onn J’onzz, The Martian Manhunter. However, due to his opening his mind telepathically to all humankind at once, the experience shattered his mind, leaving him incapable of the focus needed to be useful in battle.

RELATED: All Of Martian Manhunter’s Powers, Ranked

Although the character has been killed and resurrected, there’s been no instance of the overload of his telepathic powers causing him a mental breakdown to the point of virtual incapacitation thus far in mainstream continuity.

2 USED: Superman vs ‘Evil’ Captain Marvel

The climax of Kingdom Come featured a knock-down, drag-out battle between Superman and Captain Marvel for the literal fate of the world. Having been mind-controlled by Luthor for so long, Marvel’s psyche is scrambled, and due to the nature of his power being magical, he is more than a match for even a super super-powered Superman.

Recently, the Dark Multiverse denizen The Batman Who Laughs has begun to infect mainstream DC heroes with his own brand of maliciousness, twisting them into evil mirrors of themselves. One hero to fall victim to this corruption is indeed, Captain Marvel, and a Kingdom Come-esque confrontation with Superman in the pages of Batman/Superman seems to be a forgone conclusion.

1 DIDN’T USE: Meta-Human Civil War

Aside from the ultimate showdown between Superman and Captain Marvel, the climax of Kingdom Come also featured a total war between Wonder Woman’s army and the prisoners of the Gulag, with Batman’s army thrown in for good measure. The battle was so intense and so threatening to the stability of the planet, that the United Nations sent nuclear bombers to destroy the combatants before they, in turn, destroyed the world.

Although there have been many instances in which groups of heroes and villains gather to have a massive battle in current continuities, there has yet to be a self-induced civil war between DC heroes that threatens to destroy the planet. It seems a Ragnarok-style ultimate conflict between meta-humans is something DC is comfortable relegating to the far-flung futures of its Elseworlds tales.

NEXT: X-Men: 5 Times Cyclops Saved The World (&5 Times He Almost Ended It)

Batman: 10 Worst Things That Bruce Wayne Did To His Robins | CBR

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Batman and Robin are the most iconic duo of the comic world. Together the two are known as the Caped Crusaders and/or the Dynamic Duo. Batman has remained a constant, but many Robins have come and gone. The chief reason having to do with Robin's age, an aging Boy Wonder would be an oxymoron.

RELATED: The Many Robins Of Batman: From Best To Worst

To have to shuffle between various Robins over the years, DC had to write their departure in ways that reflected Batman's failure (Jason Todd, Stephanie Brown). DC's canonical timeline holds some unacceptable things that Batman has done to his first Robin, Dick Grayson. Mistreatment, physical abuse, manipulation, lying, failure to protect him, are just a few examples. Here are the worst things Batman has done to Robin.

10 SPANKED DICK GRAYSON ON EACH BIRTHDAY

Batman spanked his first Boy Wonder, Dick Grayson on his birthday every year. It's one thing to discipline a child, but another to spank your adoptive ward in the middle of the night by sneaking into his room.

It so happens that every midnight on Dick Grayson's birthday, Batman would spank his derriere. He'd then sign off by saying, Happy Birthday. What's worse, Batman seemed to get a weird kick out of it.

9 ALMOST WENT SKINNY DIPPING WITH DICK

As bizarre as this sounds, it's true. In another incident of crossing limits, Batman and Superman are seen hanging at a pond where pre-pubescent boys are swimming. Dick is spotted with them too. Granted that Dick's a kid himself, so it'd be natural for him to jump in the pond with other kids and make a day out of it.

The story takes place in World's Finest #14. God knows what DC had in mind when they decided to make a cover page out of it. As Robin suggests they join the boys, Batman actually considers it, saying, "Hmm, that's not a bad idea."

8 SENT DICK BACK TO HIS ORPHANAGE

The image of Batman slapping Robin is something that all of you must have come across. It has a story behind it. In World's Finest #153 Batman is convinced that Superboy killed his father, Wayne Sr. So Batman is consumed in vengeance to take down Superman and his Superboy.

RELATED: Every Time Dick Grayson Committed Murder

Although his Wonder Boy tells him to let it go, Batman not only slaps him but forces him to erase his memory. In the end, Batman sends Dick Grayson to an orphanage and starts to plot against Superman.

7 KIDNAPS GRAYSON

In All-Star Batman, the Caped Crusader heatedly kidnaps Dick Grayson. After this, Batman takes the two of them in a life-threatening car chase. Please remember that Dick's just entered the Bat-family. Batman does this in order to prepare Dick to be a part of the Bat-family. But think of the costs incurred, child abuse, child endangerment to mention a few. And if this wasn't enough, Batman takes Grayson to a cold Bat-cave and makes him eat rats. All of this just to ensure that Dick is ready to take on the mantle of Robin.

6 HAD DICK GRAYSON FAKE HIS OWN DEATH

During Forever Evil, the cross-over DC event, Batman forced Dick Grayson to fake his own death. This was done to get Dick recruited at the spy agency Spyral. The purpose of this undercover mission was to find out the secrets Spyral had obtained about the superheroes. To what effect you ask? Dick had a severe case of an identity crisis.

Not to mention the rest of the Bat-family who were convinced that Dick had died and were deeply mourning his loss. Once Dick's mission was over, he turned up alive and well, but-obviously Alfred and the Bat-girl could never forgive him.

5 FAILURE TO PROTECT TIM DRAKE

In Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, it is retrospectively revealed that Batman couldn't prevent the joker from kidnapping Tim Drake. Not only he is poor lad kidnapped, but he is also tortured and drugged into becoming another Joker. Tim is then forced to kill Batman at a point-blank range. Instead, Tim shoots the Joker and breaks down.

RELATED: 5 Marvel Heroes Robin Can Defeat (& 5 He Can’t)

Now, Batman couldn't have avoided Joker's act of cruelty. However, Tim was being held at Arkham Asylum. This should have been the first place Batman checked, but it didn't cross his mind.

4 NOT PROTECTING BARBARA GORDON

In 1988 comic The Killing Joke, ex-Bat Girl Barbara Gordon was shot in the spine by the Joker. At the time, the Clown Prince of Crime didn't know of Babs' career as a Batgirl, but he showed up at her home to take police commissioner James Gordon hostage. Naturally, to get to her father, the Joker had to go through her.

The shot rendered Barbara crippled, and the Caped Crusader arrived when significant damage had been done. Shouldn't Batman have arranged for her safety in the first place? Is it not legally and ethically sound to insure your employee against any harm in the future?

3 FORCED DICK GRAYSON TO DIG HIS OWN GRAVE

In World's Finest #195,  Superman and Batman infiltrate the mafia and go undercover to bring it down. Superman is asked to kill Batman as a test of his loyalty. The plan is to kidnap Mafia's boss Lukaz and place Batman as his imposter. Halfway through the act of kidnapping Lukaz and digging Batman's grave, Batman bumps his head hard, which makes him think that he is actually the head of the mafia.

Not only does Batman rat out Superman, but he takes him along to kill Jimmy Olsen and Tim Drake. Jimmy and Tim Drake are forced to dig their own graves at Batman's orders while a helpless Superman goes along.

2 KNOCKED UP BARBARA GORDON

Not only did Batman wrong Dick Grayson, but his Batgirl, Barbara Gordon in Batman Beyond 2.0. The 'father of the year' slept with Grayson's girlfriend Barbara and got her pregnant. It gets worse.

The incident took place before Grayson and Babs got together, but he still engaged in a promiscuous relationship with a coworker. After Babs and Batman talk, the latter unilaterally decided to tell Grayson. As a result, an enraged Barbara Gordon took to streets, fought a thug, and lost her baby. Grayson could never bring himself to forgive Batman for this.

1 CREATING ROBIN IN THE FIRST PLACE

All of the incidents mentioned above reek of child abuse and crimes against humanity in general. Batman understandably needed help in his fight against crime, but he shouldn't have involved children in his mission. If anything, his vigilantism should have taken care of children and not hired them.

First, he created Robins, made them undergo arduous training. Then, he chose to part ways with them once they became older. Batman replaced Robin frequently and even sidelined them from time to time. He calls Jason Todd a failure and brushed aside Dick Grayson due to an injury from fighting Gorilla Hardy. Batman is probably the worst father and a patriarch to the Bat-family.

NEXT: Batman: The 5 Best Robin Costumes (& The 5 Worst)

Star Wars: Daisy Ridley on If She Plans to Reprise Her Role as Rey

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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has been heralded as the end of the Skywalker Saga, the story that spans the episodic installments of the iconic space opera franchise. With many classic Star Wars characters' arcs coming to a close, it's unknown what will come of the new generation led by Daisy Ridley's Rey.

This uncertainty has even extended to the actors, with Ridley noting the upcoming sequel feels like a definitive end. However, she hasn't completely sworn off the possibility of reprising her role as Rey should the opportunity potentially arise years later.

RELATED: Star Wars: Rey & Kylo's Final Battle Begins in Rise of Skywalker TV Spot

"It felt like an end... I can’t actually imagine it right now," Ridley said in an interview with GQ magazine. "I don’t know what’ll happen in however many years.”

Ridley debuted as Rey, an orphaned scavenger with a uniquely strong connection to the Force, in 2015's The Force Awakens. She then reprised the role in 2017's The Last Jedi, where she learned more about the legacy of the Jedi Order from Luke Skywalker while training under the reclusive Jedi Master.

Ridley also admitted filming her last scene during the production of The Rise of Skywalker was a particularly emotional experience, as it's possibly the final sendoff for the character she has portrayed for the past four years.

RELATED: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Will Explore Finn's Backstory

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.

Arrow: Roy Harper Just Underwent a Major Comic Book Transformation

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WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for "Purgatory," the latest episode of Arrow, Season 8.

After eight years, Arrow only has a handful of episodes left -- and this next batch is meant to deal with the larger Arrowverse. In fact, the series' next chapter will be as part of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover; then, the episode after that will star Mia Smoak in a backdoor pilot of sorts for the upcoming Green Arrow and the Canaries spinoff; and after this, all that will be left will be the series finale. Therefore, in a way, the series' latest episode, "Purgatory," worked as a conclusion of sorts, as it brought Oliver Queen back on Lian Yu -- back to where it all began.

In the episode, Oliver returned to the island where he spent the better part of five years for his final mission for the Monitor. And, as it so happens, Oliver faced an old foe in Edward Fyers and his mercenary army, the first villain he ever faced and took down. However, this time around, Oliver wasn't alone -- he had his entire team with him.

The return to Lian Yu certainly brought Oliver's emotional arc to a close... but it also saw a Team Arrow member undergo a brutal transformation right out of the comics.

RELATED: Arrow Just Changed The Future In A Massive, Violent Way

When "Purgatory" begins, Oliver, Diggle and Lyla are joined by their children, Mia, William and Connor on Lian Yu. The rest of Team Arrow is on its way, with Rene, Dinah and Roy soon arriving by plane. However, Edward Fyers first manifests himself by shooting the plane right out of the sky with a missile. Unfortunately, the plane crashes on the island and all three passengers are pretty banged up. However, it's Roy Harper, aka Arsenal, who has the worst of it: he is pinned down by heavy debris which traps his right arm.

With the wreckage of the plane -- and its leaking fuel line -- nearing an explosion, there is little time to save Roy. Since the combined might of Diggle, Connor and Dinah isn't enough to lift the debris, the only choice they have to save Roy's life is to cut his arm off.

The amputation is quick, if not completely brutal, and when it's done, Roy Harper has now undergone a transformation just like his comic book counterpart.

In the comics, Roy losing an arm is an important milestone for the character -- so much so in fact, that Arrow fans have been waiting for Roy to lose his arm almost as soon as he was introduced on the series back in its first season. In the comics, it was the villain Prometheus who cut Roy's arm off. He would later get a cybernetic arm which would become a signature part of his look. In fact, the transformation is so important that even the Young Justice animated series also featured its own take on how Roy loses his arm, and how he comes to sport a robotic one to replace it.

Now, something that fans have (dreadfully) waited a long time for has finally come to pass. What's more, near the end of the episode, Roy even mentions he might get an upgrade thanks to Diggle's A.R.G.U.S. contacts. Therefore, it stands to reason that Arrow's Roy will also get a cybernetic arm. Of course, with the series coming to an end, we might not see the final result. But then again, with the future now a mystery once again, Roy could always show up elsewhere in the Arrowverse.

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.

KEEP READING: Batwoman Stinger May Have Just Kickstarted Crisis On Infinite Earths

American Gods Casts Game of Thrones Villain as a Charming Leprechaun

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Fans of Game of Thrones might have a hard time thinking of Ramsay Bolton as anything but the evil villain he played on the HBO series, but casting officials for American Gods have something else in mind for him. Iwan Rheon, the actor who played Ramsay, has been cast in Season 3 of the Starz supernatural drama as a leprechaun named Liam Doyle.

According to TVLine, not much is known about the character, Liam, but it is worth mentioning that he will be the only leprechaun on the series after Mad Sweeney (Pablo Schrieber) left in Season 2. Fans will also be happy to know that Liam has been described as "good-natured" and "charming," which is a far cry from Rheon's role as Ramsay on Game of Thrones.

RELATED: American Gods Season 3 Casts Danny Trejo, Wale

This is only the most recent casting news for the Neil Gaiman series. It also announced the addition of Danny Trejo as one of the many forms of Mr. World, Marilyn Manson, Julia Sweeney and rapper Wale

Based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, American Gods stars Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Pablo Schreiber, Crispin Glover, Bruce Langley, Yetide Badaki, Ian McShane, Mousa Kraish, Kahyun Kim, Demore Barnes, Orlando Jones and Chris Obi. Season 3 began filming on Oct. 9 and will premiere some time next year.

KEEP READING: Games of Thrones: Clarke Credits Momoa With Helping Her Voice Nudity Concerns

Old Man Miles Kicks Ass in Miles Morales: The End First Look (EXCLUSIVE)

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Saladin Ahmed, Damion Scott and Dono Sanchez-Almara's The End one-shot will focus on Miles Morales/Spider-Man decades in the future, with humanity fighting for survival in Brooklyn. Marvel Comics has given CBR an exclusive first look at Miles Morales: The End #1 and comments from Ahmed on the book.

"It’s not hard to imagine the Earth as a pretty scary place a few decades from now," Ahmed said. "And the story definitely has its post apocalyptic element, set against a ravaged New York City. But more than anything THE END for Miles is a story about maintaining a hopeful, helpful energy even when surrounded by darkness and ugliness. As the mayor of Brooklyn Miles has, with the help of friends, carved out a space for beauty and fun in the dark world of the future. And this is the story about how they fight to hold on to that."

RELATED: Celebrating Marvel’s Stan Lee Special to Air on ABC

"Of course writing is only half the story, but if anything I’m the weak link here," he added. "Damion Scott’s art, with its manga and hip-hop influences, is so perfect for the story that I actually yelped when I saw it! You guys are in for a treat."

  • Writer: SALADIN AHMED
  • Artist: DAMION SCOTT
  • THE FINAL MILES MORALES STORY!
  • Humanity makes its last stand in the only place strong enough to survive: BROOKLYN. Former Spider-Man, Miles Morales, leads the last bastion of civilization into the future! Penned by MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN author SALADIN AHMED!

Marvel's The End one-shots will start releasing in January.

KEEP READING: X-Men Reveals the Deadly Secret That Fuels Krakoa

Dragon Ball: How Vegeta Achieved Super Saiyan God | CBR

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With Dragon Ball Super expanding Akira Toriyama's perennially popular Dragon Ball by adding new story arcs and characters, longtime fan-favorite heroes Goku and Vegeta each gained access to a powerful new transformation: Super Saiyan God. However, while Goku's attainment of the new form was seen in both the anime series and animated film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Vegeta's own process to achieve the form went unseen until its fiery debut sometime later.

Now, we're taking a closer look at this transformation, how the Saiyan Prince eventually unlocked the form himself and his most notable uses of it in both the manga and anime series.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Super: These Non-Canon Villains Should Get the Broly Treatment

Super Saiyan God is a Saiyan transformation with power levels far exceeding that of Super Saiyan 3, which had been the strongest transformation by the end of Dragon Ball Z, with users taking on an ethereal aura while their hair turns visibly red. Goku was the first character to achieve this form, learning of an ancient prophecy foretelling for a Saiyan obtaining the transformation to confront the God of Destruction Beerus. With Beerus threatening to destroy the Earth, Goku desperately used the Dragon Balls to summon the Eternal Dragon and learn how to obtain the form.

The creation of a Super Saiyan God required a ritual with five Saiyans channeling their energy into a sixth Saiyan among them. Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, Trunks and the still-unborn Pan from within Videl's womb gave their energy to Goku, triggering the transformation and allowing him to put up a valiant fight against Beerus, earning the God of Destruction's respect and saving Earth. In addition to a significant boost in combat strength, the agility and reflexes of a Super Saiyan God rapidly increase. However, the form consumes energy at an accelerated rate and users can only maintain it for a short time before reverting to baser forms due to exhaustion.

In the anime and manga series, Vegeta is shown to be able to transform into a Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan -- more widely known as Super Saiyan Blue -- evidently bypassing Super Saiyan God altogether. The manga later reveals that Vegeta is capable of achieving the form during his battle against Goku Black while the anime has Vegeta first unveil the red-haired transformation in the animated film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, as he fights against the eponymous antagonist.

RELATED: Dragon Ball: Is Zeno Really the Strongest Character?

Promotional materials for the film had revealed that Vegeta learned the form on the way to achieving Super Saiyan Blue while training under Beerus and his martial arts master Whis on their world. Favoring the higher form's increased combat strength, Vegeta only used the Super Saiyan God transformation in a limited capacity upon his return to Earth.

In the manga, the first time Vegeta is seen using Super Saiyan God is in his battle against Goku Black, an incarnation of Goku from an alternate reality possessed by the evil god Zamasu. Catching the villain off guard with the form's distinct appearance, Vegeta uses the faster transformation to move around the battlefield more quickly and evade Goku Black's attacks before transforming into Super Saiyan Blue to take advantage of the increased emphasis on strength to unleash attacks of his own.

In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Vegeta decides to utilize the form when Broly begins to overwhelm his Super Saiyan 2 transformation. After undergoing the transformation, Vegeta quickly turns the tide of battle and overpowers Broly until the rival Saiyan's raw rage causes him to achieve his Wrath state, turning the tables on Vegeta, which causes Goku to transform into Super Saiyan Blue and intervene.

KEEP READING: Dragon Ball: How Old Is Goku in Every Anime Series?


Watchmen: HBO Releases Technical Specs for Doctor Manhattan Sex Toy

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In Episode 3, fans of the HBO series Watchmen were introduced to an older version of Laurie Blake. Soon after, they were introduced to her... ahem... bedroom aid. Yes, the former Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre and current FBI agent is the proud owner of a giant metal sex toy modeled after her ex-lover Doctor Manhattan, complete with detachable parts. Now, for those interested in the logistical specs of the machinery, HBO has released the full schematics for "Excalibur."

The toy is meant to mimic the proportions of Doctor Manhattan, who is radioactive, all-powerful, all-knowing and, of course, blue. The show picks up 30 years after the events of the comic book source material by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, and for presumably a good portion of that time, Laurie has been carrying this keepsake in her briefcase.

RELATED: Watchmen: Next Episode Features Must-Watch Post-Credits Surprise

Although the aid might look a little intimidating to users of today's vibrator technology, it's probably just the thing for Laurie since she's effectively used to having sex with a god. That said, while humanity has made some significant strides in the Watchmen universe, watching Laurie fondle the sex toy makes this particular piece of equipment look a bit antiquated, not to mention proportionally unpleasant.

Developed by Damon Lindelof, HBO's Watchmen stars Jeremy Irons, Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, 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.

KEEP READING: Watchmen: Jean Smart Addresses Laurie Blake’s Big, Blue [SPOILER]

X-Men's Dysfunctional Team Adds Nanny and Orphan-Maker | CBR

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The murderous mutants Nanny and Orphan-Maker are the latest additions to Marvel's secret, dysfunctional X-Men team.

The latest teaser unveils Nanny and Orphan-Maker alongside Psylocke and Havok, with the caption, "All mutants are welcome on Krakoa. Even the most murderous. Nanny and Orphanmaker join Krakoa's newest team. #MarvelComics"

RELATED: Marvel’s Mystery X-Men Team Recruits Psylocke and Havok

Nanny and Orphan-Maker were created by Walter Simonson and Louise Simonson and debuted in 1988's X-Factor #30-31, respectively. The cybernetic scientist known only as Nanny resides in a suit of armor shaped like an egg. She would go on to rescue a man named Peter from Mister Sinister and craft a suit of armor for him as well, thus making him the Orphan-Maker.

Marvel released a piece of teaser art on Monday for "the most dysfunctional X-Men team you could possibly imagine," with the promise that a member of the team will be unveiled on the official Marvel Twitter account each day this week, beginning on Tuesday, December 3 at noon ET.

X-Men writer Jonathan Hickman has revealed there are several more titles in store to debut for the popular superhero franchise, including a solo series for Moira MacTaggert and an X-Corp team book.

Stay tuned to CBR each day this week as members of this mysterious, dysfunctional X-Men team are revealed.

KEEP READING: Marvel Is About to Introduce Its Most Dysfunctional X-Men Team Ever

Celebrate The Release of Baby Yoda Merch With Baby Yoda Merch!

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The internet collectively took a break yesterday to marvel over the official release of merchandise from The Mandalorian that features The Child/Baby Yoda, something fans had been eagerly anticipating since the first appearance of Baby Yoda on the Disney+ series.

RELATED: Entertainment Earth Has New Collectibles For Marvel And DC Fans

So today we will take a look at a few of the official Baby Yoda Funko Pop!s and T-shirts that have been made available while looking around the internet for a few other options Star Wars fans might be interested in as well.

That's right, you can now bring home your own Baby Yoda with a few different options, now available for pre-order on Entertainment Earth. The standard size Baby Yoda Funko is obviously adorable, but fans can also pick up an almost like-sized 10" super-sized Funko as well, plus an 11" plush to cuddle!

While these figures and plush, unfortunately, won't be available until the new year, it feels like a small price to pay to keep The Child a secret until The Mandalorian aired, which is becoming increasingly harder to do these days.

Disney+ is now available in the U.S. If you want to sign up for Disney+, while also supporting Comic Book Resources, you can do so through our affiliate partnership link.

Sign up now for your free week of Disney+!

The only place fans can watch The Mandalorian and see Baby Yoda for themselves is with a Disney+ subscription, which you can try now for free for one week! Not only do you get all the Baby Yoda you can handle, but also other great original series, classic animated films, and some of our favorite childhood animated series!

Fans can also pick up some official Baby Yoda attire with these T-Shirts that feature The Child and the logo for The Mandalorian, with one shirt featuring just The Child with the other featuring him in his hover crib/floating pod.

And you can also take part in Displate's extended Cyber Monday sale (up to 41% off with the code "CYBER") to pick up a few of their Baby Yoda prints, including the incredibly cute "Bounty Bros" print that features cartoon versions of The Mandalorian and The Child!

NEXT: Cyber Monday Is Here With Deals on Disney+, Comics, Statues, And More!

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.

Star Wars: Mandalorians Are Now Officially Cooler Than Jedi | CBR

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For years, the have Jedi reigned supreme as the coolest characters in the Star Wars canon; wielding their laser swords with deadly precision and throwing around magic powers that made them the strongest beings in the galaxy. But the debut of The Mandalorian popularizes the race of warrior aliens waiting in the wings to replace the Jedi's top spot as the coolest characters.

Originally conceived as an elite force of commandos prepared to hunt down the protagonists of Empire Strikes Back, the Mandalorians needed to wait years for their debut on screen when they were changed drastically in the pre-production stage. Consolidated down into the single character of Boba Fett, the Mandalorian concept went largely untapped for years and was left instead for the exploration of the Expanded Universe that, for years, filled the space between films.

RELATED: 'This Is the Way': Star Wars Mandalorian Culture, Explained

The general idea remained the same: A noble race of armor-clad warriors, the Mandalorians were a formidable military force throughout the Galaxy for millennia. Sometime before the events of A New Hope their race was decimated, and with so few surviving in the modern day it was Boba Fett who represented much of their legacy.

But, as most fans of Star Wars lore know, Boba Fett was not actually a Mandalorian himself. Donning their armor and some of their customs does not a Mandalorian make, and Boba was known as something of a poser among those who truly understood the Mandalorian kind. For years throughout his career as a bounty hunter in service of the Empire, Boba not only committed murder, but cultural appropriation.

The first actual look at Mandalorian culture came with the animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Between the cartoon and its successor, Star Wars Rebels, there was quite a lot more to learn about Mandalorians. The series' saw their internal political strife as factions formed between proud warmongers and pacifists that caused a civil war among their people. Eventually, that lead to their takeover at the hands of Darth Maul.

RELATED: The Mandalorian: What Is the Bounty Hunter Code?

Darth Maul, as most can agree, was the coolest part of The Phantom Menace and his involvement with the Mandalorians was no less cool. The splinter group of Mandalorians -- known as Death Watch -- threatened the pacifist philosophies of their people, and it was not until Darth Maul beat their leader in a duel that he gained control of the group. To represent his role as leader, Maul was awarded the single coolest item in the Star Wars universe: the Darksaber.

Anything that is cool about a Jedi's lightsaber goes doubly for the Darksaber. The black-and-white blade of the Darksaber not only has a distinctive look that makes it unique from other lightsabers, but its historical and cultural status makes its reputation all the greater. Created by the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order, the weapon became a valued part of their culture. While Darth Maul held possession of it for a while, the Mandalorian people eventually won it back when it was claimed by Rebels' Sabine Wren.

The gear and weapons is part of what makes the Mandalorians so cool. Most of the gear is recognizable to general audiences through the pretenders, Jango and Boba Fett, but a lot of people might not realize how widely used many of the items are. Jet packs, blasters, and wrist-mounted gadgets are all standard issue when it comes to the Mandalorian army. Among the gauntlet's armaments are whipcords and flamethrowers, whose cool factor needs no further explanation.

And then, of course, there's the armor itself. While the distinctive helmet comes with a useful array of sensors and targeting devices, even without the bells and whistles, Mandalorian armor is one of the strongest forged substances in the universe. Capable of resisting blaster fire -- as Mando himself showed off after winning new armor in a recent episode -- there's very little that could successfully pierce a fully-armored Mandalorian.

RELATED: VIDEO: Why The Mandalorian's Beskar Steel Is A Game Changer

When it comes to swag, the Mandalorians just flat-out have the Jedi beat. A lightsaber may be a deadly and visually appealing weapon but it's got nothing on all the gear a Mandalorian wears. No matter how effective a melee weapon is, it just can't stack up to a good suit of top-notch armor rocketing through the sky, spitting blaster bolts and raining fire down across the battlefield.

Of course, there's quite a lot more to Mandalorians than just what they wear. Their training and very culture itself emphasizes the importance of battle and weaponry. While the Jedi may have a complicated relationship with pacifism and right and wrong, the Mandalorians hone in on a much more focused approach to their philosophy. Yoda and Obi-Wan had all sorts of cute aphorisms, but for the Mandalorians it's as simple as saying: "This is the way."

The Jedi may have been the first ones to kick off the Star Wars craze, but now that the canon is really getting around to putting them in the spotlight there's just no competing with the Mandalorians. It's unknown what the status is on future films delving further into the history of the alien race, but with the Disney+ series skyrocketing their profile higher than ever it will only be a matter of time before they jump from the small screen to the big time.

Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog and Nick Nolte. Episodes 1-4 are now streaming on Disney+.

KEEP READING: Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season Finale Synopsis Released 

Black Widow: Jeremy Renner Reacts to First Trailer | CBR

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Excitement for Marvel Studios' upcoming Black Widow film has grown since the release of its first trailer. Now, Scarlett Johansson's Avengers: Endgame castmate Jeremy Renner has shared his support for the film.

"I think this will be amazing! Go Scarjo," Renner posted on Twitter along with a teaser poster for Black WidowThe poster was released along with the first trailer for the solo film. 

RELATED: Black Widow: Who's Who in the Teaser Trailer

In Avengers: Endgame, Johansson's Black Widow sacrificed herself for the Soul Stone so Renner's Hawkeye wouldn't have to. The upcoming Black Widow film is reported to take place after Captain America: Civil War and is the first film in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Renner is known for his role as Hawkeye/Clint Barton in the MCU. He has appeared as the character in 2012's The Avengers, 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2016's Captain America: Civil War and 2019's Avengers: Endgame. The actor is set to reprise his role as Clint Barton in the upcoming Disney+ series Hawkeye. The series will premiere sometime in Fall 2021.

RELATED: Yes, Black Widow’s New Movie Costume Comes From the Comics

Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour as Alexei aka The Red Guardian and Rachel Weisz as Melina. The film opens May 1, 2020.

Dark Horse's Kill Whitey Donovan Being Adapted to Film | CBR

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Sydney Duncan and Natalie Barahona's Kill Whitey Donovan, which is produced and developed by 12-Gauge Comics and is published by Dark Horse Comics, is being brought to the big screen by Hideout Pictures and Sigrid Gilmer.

Kill Whitey Donovan is set during the final days of the Civil War and tells the tale of two women who are committed to getting justice. For Anna Hoyt, that means killing Jim "Whitey" Donovan, who caused her sister to commit suicide. As for Hattie Virgil, a slave on the Donovan plantation, it means helping Hoyt in exchange for her freedom.

RELATED: Dark Horse Cancels Brian Wood Aliens Series After Misconduct Accusations

"When I first read Kill Whitey Donovan, I was amazed that the story lived up to its provocative title," Hideout Pictures Chief Content Officer Trevor O’Neil said. "In Sigrid, we found the perfect screenwriter who can meld incredible action with brilliant dialogue. We’re excited to be working with her on this project."

At the time of this writing, no release date or casting information for the Kill Whitey Donovan adaptation has been released, but stay tuned to CBR for more details as they're released.

(via Deadline)

KEEP READING: EXCLUSIVE: Murder's in the Air in The Butcher of Paris #1

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Unveils New Trailer for Home Release

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Disney has released a wave of live-action remakes and sequels over the course of 2019, and the last one, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, will be available on home video before the year's end.

The villain-centric sequel has released a new trailer, announcing it will be available on digital HD December 31 and on Blu-ray and DVD January 14, 2020.

RELATED: Maleficent 2 May Be the First Sign Disney's Remake Spell Is Fading

Released in theaters this past October, the sequel to 2014's Maleficent had Angelina Jolie reprise her role as The Sleeping Beauty villain, drawn into a renewed conflict against humanity by the parents of Prince Phillip, Princess Aurora's new fiancé.

Mistress of Evil opened to a mixed critical reception compared to its predecessor, and went on to earn $480.6 million at the worldwide box office. This is a significant decline from Maleficent's worldwide box office earnings of $758.5 million upon its initial theatrical release in 2014.

RELATED: Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil Gets the Last Laugh at Weekend Box Office

Directed by Joachim Rønning, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil stars Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Skrein, Jenn Murray, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple and Harris Dickinson. The film is available on digital HD December 31 and Blu-ray and DVD January 14.


Star Wars: Daisy Ridley Opens Up About Carrie Fisher's Death

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One of the more bittersweet elements in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the film will feature a posthumous performance from Carrie Fisher, who'll reprise her role as Leia Organa by way of unused footage from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

According to Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, acting out new material interwoven with the archival footage under the knowledge that she was performing opposite a recently departed friend and colleague made for a supremely emotional experience.

RELATED: Rise of Skywalker: Daisy Ridley Describes Her Emotional Final Scene

"It was definitely difficult," Ridley said in an interview with GQ magazine. "It was emotional doing it, because you’re also weirdly picturing her. You’re not picturing how the scene is going to be."

Trailers and promotional clips of The Rise of Skywalker have shown Leia interacting with Rey in an unknown capacity as the two women embrace. Noting that the final product -- used with the permission of Fisher's family -- appears sad and strangely beautiful, Ridley hopes that Fisher's final role elevates the story and serves as a proper sendoff for the iconic actor.

RELATED: Star Wars: Rey & Kylo's Final Battle Begins in Rise of Skywalker TV Spot

"It’s really sad. And it’s going to be really sad," Ridley said. "But also, it’s amazing that they have all this footage that is woven into the story in such a strange way.”

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.

James Bond: Lashana Lynch's 00 Agent Is Already Stealing No Time to Die

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The first trailer for No Time to Die sees the return of several characters from recent James Bond films, while also confirming it will serve as Daniel Craig's swan song as 007. There is also an array of exploding set pieces with at least one machine gun car, as tradition dictates. But none of those recycled elements promises more than a significant new one: Lashana Lynch's 00 Agent Nomi.

The 25th installment in the Bond franchise attracted attention not too long ago for a mix-up involving Lynch's character's role. Initial reports seemed to indicate Lynch would succeed Craig in his role as James Bond in the film when, in actuality, her character will appear alongside Craig's in No Time To Die. It appears that the two 00 agents will work as partners and, given that the film will be Craig's final turn as Bond, potentially set up Lynch's character to lead the franchise.

RELATED: James Bond: No Time To Die Trailer Pits Spy vs Spy vs Rami Malek

Nothing is set in stone, and there are no promises in that regard, but the trailer certainly makes the prospect all the more titillating. During the main trailer scene featuring Agent Nomi, she tells Bond the world is "moving on without [him]," and that if he doesn't stay in his lane she will put a bullet in his kneecap. The exchange indicates more of a rivalry than a partnership between the characters, and that Nomi is ready to stand on her own from the start.

There's definitely no lack of talent among the cast for Lynch to compete with when it comes to taking the spotlight, either. Many characters introduced previously in the series return, with Ralph Fiennes' M and Ben Wishaw's Q set to ally the 00 agents in their pursuit. Also returning is Christoph Waltz's Blofield, the villainous mastermind from Spectre who could steal the limelight all on his own. That is if he didn't have Lynch's Nomi to compete with.

Given the potential that Nomi could carry future films, it would be easy to pigeonhole her as a wide-eyed new recruit eager to learn from the experienced veteran. Instead, the film moves in a bolder direction and establishes her independence from the outset. Nomi even states that she has been a 00 Agent for two years and her experience in the action later in the trailer shows it.

RELATED: James Bond's "M" Retcon Could Cause Problems After No Time To Die

At one point, Nomi nails a shot with her gun perfectly on a transformer, causing it to explode in a shower of sparks. She certainly won't be a character taking a back seat in the spinning machine gun car that is the Bond franchise, and the sense overall is that the film series is prepared to update itself along with today's societal changes. The widely publicized recruitment of Fleabag and Killing Eve creator, Phoebe Waller-Bridge made the screenwriter only the second woman to serve on the franchise's writing staff.

Waller-Bridge made it clear that she would freshen up the tone of the series without changing the core character of Bond himself, respecting the character's history while also offering insight into what shape Bond takes in the modern-day. Through Nomi, the film has the perfect opportunity to update the too-often misogynistic and white-centric tone of the films without completely overhauling the series.

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 8, 2020.

KEEP READING: What the Title 'No Time to Die' Tells Us About James Bond 25

Naruto: 10 Ninjas Above Kage Level, Ranked | CBR

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The Kage are generally considered to be the strongest known shinobi in ninja villages in the Naruto series. Through sheer hard work, they rise to the top, gaining both immense power and recognition in the process. Although they're immensely powerful, there are several shinobi in the series who have honed their skills to such a level that the difference in power between them and a regular Kage is unbelievable.

RELATED: Naruto: 10 Best Costumes In The Franchise, Ranked

Simply put, classifying them as 'Kage Level' would be underestimating the abilities of these select few ninjas. Here are the 10 strongest ninjas that we've seen in Naruto who have surpassed the level of a regular Kage.

10 Itachi Uchiha

Itachi Uchiha, famously known as Itachi of the Sharingan, is an elite shinobi who belonged to Konohagakure. With the aim of changing the village for good by bringing peace, Itachi Uchiha strived to get stronger than anyone else. Although he didn't achieve that goal due to the circumstances, Itachi did gain enough power that far surpassed the likes of a regular Kage.

With his Mangekyo Sharingan abilities, few could pose a threat to Itachi Uchiha. Even without his ocular powers, Itachi was powerful enough to go toe-to-toe against the likes of 9-Tails chakra mode Naruto, which shows he's far stronger than people give him credit for.

9 Minato Namikaze

The prodigious ninja who went on to become Konohagakure's Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze was an extraordinary shinobi of his time. After witnessing his abilities, Jiraiya claimed that he was the strongest shinobi that he'd seen in years.

Minato's strength came from his speed, which earned him the moniker of 'Konoha's Yellow Flash'. A glimpse of his abilities was provided in a Third Great Ninja War, which he single-handedly ended. Furthermore, Minato went on to gain the powers of the Nine-tails during the Fourth Great Ninja War as well, making him even more powerful.

8 Hiruzen Sarutobi

Hiruzen Sarutobi was Konoha's Third Hokage, and quite possibly the strongest one after Naruto Uzumaki. According to many, Hiruzen was the strongest of all the Hokage during his prime, including Hashirama Senju, which is incredible, if true. Even in his old age, he was described as being stronger than all the other Kage, yet another testament to his strength.

RELATED: Naruto: Every Hokage Ranked By Strength

Therefore, in his prime, Hiruzen was levels above a normal Kage. In fact, he's one of the few who could take on multiple Kage level enemies at once on his own.

7 Hashirama Senju

Hashirama Senju was the First Hokage of Konohagakure, also renowned as the 'God of Shinobi'. Thanks to his immense power and love for peace, Hashirama succeeded in uniting multiple clans which ultimately led to the creation of the first Shinobi Village in the Naruto series.

According to Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju was the only shinobi capable of rivaling him. Madara himself was strong enough to beat all the Five Kage at once despite not being at full power. Therefore, it is easy to say that Hashirama Senju was, in fact, above your average Kage.

6 Obito Uchiha

Obito started off as a young child who didn't have much talent or skill. Thanks to his teachers, his latent potential was unlocked and he turned into a splendid fighter. Obito has played a massive role in Naruto, be it for good or bad, and much of it has been possible because of his strength.

As the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, Obito was strong enough to take on the entire shinobi alliance on his own, which itself consisted of multiple Kage and Kage level shinobi. It goes without saying that he was, in fact, an incredible ninja, and his power was comparable to the Otsutsuki.

5 Might Guy

The Jonin leader of Team Guy and Kakashi Hatake's rival, Might Guy was one of Konoha's strongest in his prime. When using all the Eight Inner Gates, Guy's strength rose dramatically. According to Minato, it was higher than all the Five Kage combined.

However, that's an understatement when it comes to Guy's real powers. After opening the Eighth Gate of Death, Might Guy was capable of rivaling Juubi Madara Uchiha in combat to some extent, which says a lot about his capabilities. Thanks to help from his allies, Guy nearly killed Madara, which confirms that his might was legendary indeed.

4 Madara Uchiha

Madara Uchiha was one of the strongest known shinobi of all time in the entire Naruto series. Being an Uchiha, Madara possessed incredible power, the likes of which only Hashirama Senju could match in a fight. Thanks to his hunger for strength, Madara managed to surpass the likes of regular Kage by awakening the power of the Rinnegan, and eventually, becoming the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails.

RELATED: Naruto: 10 Ninja Who Could Actually Become The 8th Hokage

By gaining the ultimate power, Madara Uchiha reached a level where he could be rivaled by a few shinobi. Even without the ten-tails amp, Madara was already above Kage level. At his full-power, he was strong enough to fight and win against the entire shinobi alliance, except for Naruto and Sasuke.

3 Kakashi Hatake (DMS)

After gaining Obito Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan in both eyes, along with receiving his Six Paths chakra, Kakashi Hatake became one of the Naruto series' strongest shinobi in history. His powers rose dramatically to the point where he could even rival the likes of Kaguya Otsutsuki in battle.

In fact, Kakashi Hatake became one of the few characters to hurt Kaguya, thanks to his newly acquired powers. Although the powers were temporary, for that moment, Kakashi was nearly invincible.

2 Sasuke Uchiha

Sasuke Uchiha is the strongest Uchiha in the entire Naruto and Boruto world, and one of the strongest known shinobi in the series. His powers are such that only Naruto Uzumaki can rival him in battle. Sasuke Uchiha was able to overwhelm the likes of Juubi Madara in the Fourth Great Ninja War, despite being nowhere near his current level.

Right now, he's, undoubtedly, several hundred levels above your average Kage. Sasuke has grown to a level where he can causally fight against the Otsutsuki Gods, such as Kinshiki and Momoshiki.

1 Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto Uzumaki is the strongest known shinobi in the history of the series, fast surpassing Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. Although his road to becoming Hokage was pretty rough, Naruto finally got to achieve his goal a couple of years after the war concluded.

When it comes to power, there is no shinobi except for Sasuke Uchiha who can give him a fight. He can fight on equal footing against the Gods, such as Momoshiki Otsutsuki. Although there are those stronger than Naruto Uzumaki, such as Isshiki, there's no saying that he won't get even stronger in the Boruto series.

NEXT: 10 Things Konohamaru Can Do That Naruto Can’t

Boruto: 5 Reasons Why The Anime Is Better (& 5 Why You Should Read The Manga)

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Boruto: Naruto Next Generations serves as a sequel to Naruto, with Boruto Uzumaki as the protagonist. The series is set in a peaceful era where Naruto Uzumaki leads as the Seventh Hokage. As Boruto puts it, this story isn't about his dad; instead, it's about him. So far, Boruto has been a decent story with loads of potential.

RELATED: Boruto: 5 Characters Sarada Can Beat (& 5 She Can't)

The manga began back in 2016, and it also got an anime adaptation shortly afterward, in 2017. Surprisingly, the manga and anime have taken different paths, and each of them has its own pros and cons. Here are 5 reasons why you should watch the Boruto anime, and 5 why you should read the manga.

10 Anime: More Side Characters

The Boruto world is extremely vast and, therefore, features a lot of characters. With the blistering pace that the manga is going at, focusing on all the characters is an arduous task. The anime does this job perfectly as it introduces arcs that let characters other than the Team 7 members shine as well.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Naruto series was that the support characters slowly lost their importance and by the end, Kishimoto barely even focused on them. In the Boruto anime, so far, almost every character has been involved, more or less.

9 Manga: Better Story

When it comes to the story of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the manga is certainly doing a lot better than the anime. The Boruto anime, while decent, isn't as interesting as the manga, simply because it has too much filler content. Although some would argue that it isn't really filler, most of it certainly does feel like it isn't necessary to watch.

The manga sees to it that we get all the interesting content, with focus thrown on the likes of the Kara, a new organization, and the mysteries of the Karma as well. In terms of story, you won't go wrong with the manga.

8 Anime: Fleshed Out Characters

The Boruto anime does a decent job of adding to the characters' story, and therefore, development is showcased better here than in the manga. The main characters are seen on lots of missions in the Boruto anime, and with time, you get to see them get better and become stronger.

RELATED: Boruto: 5 Characters Boruto Uzumaki Can Beat (& 5 He Can't)

In the manga, the fans are treated with fights on top of fights, which while fun to read, isn't necessarily the best when it comes to building a character. In terms of development, the anime wins, hands down.

7 Manga: Ahead Of The Anime

As with nearly every manga out there, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is much ahead of the anime when it comes to story progression. For those of you who prefer to stay up to date with the events of the story, the manga is the clear winner.

The anime tries to focus on side stories and characters that aren't really important to the story such as those shown in the Lemon arc. The manga, as a result, is way too ahead of the anime in terms of content, which is why it's far more interesting as well.

6 Anime: Better Fights

The Boruto manga is certainly much ahead of the anime where things are a lot more intense. However, despite the darker plot, and the higher intensity, the Boruto anime does much better when it comes to fights, as it should do. A prime example of this was the Momoshiki arc, where we got to see Naruto and Sasuke take on Momoshiki Otsutsuki in an epic fight.

The manga version of this fight was simply not good enough and it barely invoked any excitement. The anime episode featured incredible animation, thanks to talented animators such as Chengxi Huang, Guzzu, Kilo Crescent, Weilin Zhang, and Spencer Wan among many others. Undoubtedly, Boruto Episode 65 was a joy to watch.

5 Manga: Better Power-Scaling

Since the anime has ventured on its own, it often messes with the power-scaling of the characters set by Naruto before it and even the ongoing Boruto manga. During some episodes, Boruto Uzumaki is seen capable of fighting the likes of Momoshiki Otsutsuki to some extent. A few episodes later, he's dramatically nerfed, like many other characters including Naruto Uzumaki and, particularly, Sasuke Uchiha.

In the manga, this aspect isn't half as bad and the power-scaling makes much more sense than it does in the anime. If power-scaling is something that interests you, the manga is certainly the way to go.

4 Anime: Weekly Entertainment

The Boruto anime ensures that we get our dose of weekly entertainment, which the manga certainly doesn't guarantee. The Boruto manga comes out in V-Jump once every month. As such, there's just one Boruto chapter every month, and the contents of the chapter are way too less when compared to some other monthly mangas.

RELATED: Boruto: All Known Kara Members, Ranked By Strength

Consequently, the Boruto manga just doesn't feel satisfying at times. On the contrary, the anime comes out every week and makes sure that the fans get their share of enjoyment watching some of their favorite characters every week.

3 Manga: Higher Stakes

The Boruto manga doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to introducing powerful villains and darker plots. Interesting characters, such as Kawaki, have already made their entry in the manga. What's more, Godly beings in Isshiki Otsutsuki and other Kara members have made their move, which had raised the stakes dramatically.

The anime, while good in its own sense, isn't half as interesting as the manga. The story arcs that we see in the anime are simply irrelevant to the manga most of the time, and often, feel like a waste of time.

2 Anime: Unique Arcs

While the anime does feature a lot of unnecessary and irrelevant stuff, at times, some of the 'fillers' are really interesting. A prime example of this would be the ongoing Time Slip arc in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Despite its inconsistencies, some anime arcs are simply too fun to watch.

As fans of Boruto, and Naruto before it, these select few episodes are simply way too good to pass up on. These arcs add a lot to the manga and make the story feel richer. Furthermore, it brings nostalgia to Naruto fans, more often than not.

1 Manga: More Consistent

The Boruto manga is highly consistent when it comes to quality. Right from the beginning to where we are in the story right now, the Boruto manga has given the fans some quality content without any significant drop. The anime, on the other hand, had suffered drastically because of its inconsistencies.

Since most of the anime is 'filler', the episodes, and even the arcs end up being unpredictable. Some turn out to be good, to the luck of the fans, while others are plain awful. If inconsistencies bother you, by all means, go with the manga.

NEXT: Boruto: 10 Things Only True Fans Know About Sarada

10 Best Moments In The Sailor Moon Movies | CBR

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With snowy days ahead, the magic of the Sailor Moon franchise seems the perfect thing to watch to keep those winter blues away. From the various TV anime series, video games, and musicals, it can be hard to choose a piece of Sailor Senshi media to enjoy. But perhaps some of the most significant aspects of this mahou shoujo phenomenon come from its three cinematic adaptations.

RELATED: Sailor Moon: 10 Weirdest Monsters Of The Week

To prove such a fact, let's celebrate some of the best scenes within these moon power-filled flicks. From incredible representations of romance to excellent examples of galactic action, here are the 10 Best Moments in the Sailor Moon Movies!

10 Cookies Dancing

In Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie, Chibiusa passes by a candy store and encounters Perle, a boy who made indeed be a fairy. After talking, Perle mentions that he can feel the happiness within sweets - a comment that puzzles Chibiusa. But when Perle uses his magical abilities, leading the cookies in the window to dance, Chibiusa becomes immediately fascinated with this mysterious boy.

Sure, maybe he isn't a magical horse boyfriend, but this scene shows how enchanting Perle can be. He's got the charm and an appreciation for childhood whimsy that is a perfect match for Chibiusa - proving that sometimes the best of meet-cute scenarios can lead to the kind of loves you never forget.

9 Intergalactic Weeds

In a scene from Sailor Moon R: The Movie, Usagi and the girls are enjoying a casual stroll when they notice multiple people have had their life-force drained. Enter an evil plant-like alien named Glycina, who is just shy of going full Little Shop of Horrors levels of creepy.

But it is when Usagi swoops in to protect Chibiusa from this monster and gets the energy to transform into her hero persona, that makes this moment legendary. Her strength, confidence, and sass are top-notch  - coming off like the classic Sailor Moon we all know and love.

RELATED: 10 Anime To Watch If You Love Cardcaptor Sakura

8 Outer Senshi to The Rescue

While in the midst of a trying to rescue Chibiusa from Queen Badiane's henchmen, the Inner Senshi find themselves cornered. Yet when it seems the evil trio's Bonbon Babies are going destroy Sailor Moon and company, a powerful surge comes out of nowhere. Behold, it is the Outer Senshi - ready to show off their unique abilities while also delivering some incredible one-liners.

Sailor Moon fans love when the ridiculous elements of the show are properly mixed with the action, and this is one of those perfect examples. From a bit of fourth-wall breaking, flirting between Neptune and Uranus, to some excellent kick-butt attacks, this scene from Super S: The Movie has got it all.

7 Ice Battle

Though there have been some incredibly significant snowy battles in Sailor Moon history, none of them are quite as fantastical as this wintry fight in Sailor Moon S: The Movie. Featuring an Outer Senshi smackdown, emotional stakes, a Super Sailor Moon appearance, and Silver Crystal shenanigans, its got a combination of elements that are impossible not to find entertaining.

But the reason this specific battle makes the list is all due to the editing. Typically in Sailor Moon battles, the focus is on the Senshi and their aspect of the story. But with the shifting between Usagi's and Luna's storylines, the tensions are heightened big time - making the pay-off even grander than it could have been otherwise.

RELATED: Sailor Moon: 10 Most Powerful Attack Items

6 Breaking From The Dream

As Sailor Moon tries to rescue Chibiusa from her sleeping spell, she suddenly finds herself in her dream-like scenario. It begins with her adoring Mamoru trying to consul her worries about their future daughter in her current state. Showing off all of his charm, he comes off like the man Usagi always wishes he'd be like - but even she remarks that such a man is too good to be true. With this realization, she breaks from her dream coffins and continues on her quest.

If this moment from Super S: The Movie proves anything, its that you should never underestimate the smarts of a bun-hair rocking protagonist. Usagi is continuously portrayed as silly and innocent, but she ain't no fool, and sequences like this serve as the best examples of such a fact.

5 Santa Tuxedo Mask

Some moments on this list are full of tension, while others inspire action. But there's one incredibly silly sequence within the trilogy of Sailor Moon films that should be recognized and respected more than any other.

During the first battle in Sailor Moon S: The Movie, a jolly figure of real significance emerges. Could it indeed be Santa Clause? Sailor Moon and Chibi Moon seem to think so, until - surprise - it turns out to be Tuxedo Mask! And with a signature speech and hilarious pose, this scene goes down as one of the funniest in not just Sailor Moon history, but in all of modern anime.

RELATED: 10 Most Powerful Special Attacks In Sailor Moon

4 A Triangle of Drama

It's hard to deny that the best part of Sailor Moon R: The Movie is the emotional triangle at its center. It attempts to break apart what is (arguably) the best couple in modern anime history with a blast from the past, creating the kind of tension that hardcore fans can't get enough of.

But the scene that lands a spot on this list occurs when Tuxedo Mask is put right in the crossfire of Sailor Moon, and his childhood-BFF turned antagonist, Fiore. Neither side is going to back down - but when Fiore sends an attack towards Usagi, Mamoru is injured in the process. The emotions are turned up to an eleven here, making for one of the most legendary examples of romantic drama in all of the Sailor Moon franchise.

3 Luna's Wish Comes True

The romantic hills that Luna has to climb in Sailor Moon S: The Movie are insane. Not only does she have to go through the pain of unrequited love (when she falls for the human scientist, Kakeru), but then she has to go through the stress of watching him almost die in the snow. Yikes!

Thankfully, with the magic of her dear Sailor Moon, Luna can save Kakeru by transforming into her human form. And though Kakeru believes Luna is seeing the legendary Princess Snow Kaguya, true fans know what version this is of the character, and even though it is only shown for a brief moment, it's hard to not fall in love with this sequence.

RELATED: The 10 Creepiest Sailor Moon Villains

2 Luna and Artemis Reunite

If you thought the mush factor was intense at the end of a Meg Ryan romantic comedy, Sailor Moon S: The Movie would say, "hold on my moon beer." Because throughout its short-run time, it pulls the relationship between fan-favorites Luna and Artemis in multiple, heartbreaking directions.

Though the anime rarely focused on their romance as much as the manga did, these feline aliens are put through the ultimate emotional test when Luna suddenly gains an affection for Kakeru. But in the film's final moments, Luna finally realizes what has been right in front of her all along - real, genuine love. And between the music, blush-covered faces, and dialog, you find yourself rooting for this happily ever after.

1 The Power of Love

While stuck on a comet heading towards Earth, Usagi uses the Silver Crystal to transform into Princess Serenity. Though such a decision could kill her, she becomes filled with the strength of her Prince and her friends, in the hopes that she can indeed save the day.

When it comes to scenes from the Sailor Moon movie trilogy, none of them come even close to the epic scale of the final moments in Sailor Moon R. Why? Because it features every bit of action and sparkle you could hope to see. And when paired with the music from either the Japanese or English versions of the film, the final result is nothing short of spectacular.

NEXT: 10 Anime To Watch If You Love Sailor Moon

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