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The 2019 version of Fruits Basket has been very successful in its reboot. The storyline is said to stay truer to the original manga story than the previous anime adaptation and so far in the first season, it has. The story of Fruits Basket follows Tohru Honda, a young schoolgirl who has a hard time finding her place in the world after her mother meets an untimely death. Tohru meets the Soma family and it changes her life forever.

The Sohmas have a special ability to turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Tohru helps some of the members of the family navigate through the confusion of their changes as memories resurface and young love blooms. There are 12 zodiacs, all assigned a different animal spirit. They are all unique characters equipped with exceptional abilities. Some are very strong, others are very caring, and often they butt heads. Based on what we've seen in the series so far, let's take a look at how the zodiacs stack up against one another, ranked by their strengths.

10 Momiji - The Rabbit

Momiji Sohma is the Japanese-German zodiac bunny. When it comes to toughness, Momiji is a sensitive guy. He does not deal well with violence and prefers to talk things out with people. He is a cutesy character that often prefers to wear feminine clothing. It's safe to say that he is the least tough out of all of the other zodiacs.

9 Kisa - The Tiger

Kisa Sohma is the tiger zodiac. She is still a baby and is very fragile. She runs away from home and has a hard time standing up to bullies at her school.

In her first episode, she refuses to talk because of the incessant bullying. Tohru helps her get through it and reminds her that there are people who love her and want to support her.

She forms an attachment to Tohru and learns that standing up for herself is necessary sometimes. She dislikes confrontation and remains quiet throughout the first season. The only time she argues with anyone is when she and Hiro disagree. Hiro puts Tohru down and he is harsh on her, so Kisa asks him why he is so cruel to Tohru and the pair have a spat. It is nice to see Kisa stand up for what she believes in, especially since she does not do it often.

8 Hiro - The Sheep

Hiro Sohma is the sheep zodiac. Despite being the sheep he is not meek or timid at all. He is very outspoken and occasionally insensitive. He doesn't care who he is talking to, he will tell them what he thinks.

He has a temper and gets angry easily. He frequently berates Tohru out of jealousy. He goes as far as to steal Tohru's journal that contains the photo of her mother. He also does not show remorse well.

7 Ayame - The Snake

Ayame Sohma, the snake zodiac, is the eccentric brother of Yuki. Aya is older than Yuki and the two are as different as day and night. We do not get to see Ayame fight with anyone in the series, but his strengths are different than just muscles.

Aya is a smart and persuasive individual. He has a way of getting what he wants out of people, but can be overbearing.

6 Hatsuharu - The Ox

Haru is portrayed as a seemingly nice and polite young man, however, when he turns "dark" he causes quite the commotion. He is known to have two personalities. The Sohma's refer to them as light and dark Haru. When he was younger, kids would bully him because of his hair color. One day, he couldn't take it anymore and his polite demeanor snapped and he chased the kids around threatening to beat them up if they didn't stop.

His dark side only comes out when he is frustrated or in emotional distress, like the time Kyo refused to fight him. He went into dark mode until Yuki got sick and the fight had to be postponed. Haru has taken martial arts courses like Kyo and Yuki but is yet to beat either of them in a fight.

5 Shigure - The Dog

Shigure Sohma is the dog zodiac and is mostly a good-natured guy. He lets all the random kids live in his house and loves to make his editor angry.

He is by definition - a troll. He pranks a lot of people in the series and never really knows when to let up. As for strength, he isn't particularly strong but gives off an authoritative aura and parental tone.

4 Hatori - The Dragon

Hatori Sohma is the dragon (seahorse) zodiac. He is the Sohma family Dr. and has a cold nature to him. At first, he invites Tohru to his home to try and scare her away from living with the Sohmas. He does so with good intentions, but his unfriendly persona shows its ugly side. Luckily, Tohru is unshaken and stands her ground with him. They even become good friends later.

Hatori does not have any martial arts skills but his strength is his intelligence. He is a very smart individual and his sternness comes in handy when Ayame and Shigure are nearby. He has an innate ability in making them behave.

3 Kagura - The Boar

Kagura Sohma is the third strongest zodiac.

She is the boar and puts on a display of her strengths in the episode she first appears in. Kagura is in love with Kyo, but he doesn't exactly feel the same. She grows angry with him quickly because of his poor treatment of her. She often flies off the rail at him in human form, smacking and hitting him, breaking down doors, and destructing other buildings around her.

2 Kyo - The Cat

Kyo is the cat zodiac. He has extensive training in martial arts with his sensei and adoptive father, Kazuma. Kyo is naturally agile since the cat is his corresponding zodiac, but he sometimes lets his anger get in the way of his goals.

He and Yuki fight frequently, but he is yet to beat Yuki in a fight. He resents the rat and makes it his goal to beat him someday.

1 Yuki - The Rat

Commonly referred to by the girls at school as Prince Yuki, Yuki is the rat zodiac. Based on his looks and zodiac animal, you wouldn't think he would be the strongest member of the zodiac. However, given the limited information about the other zodiacs, he is the current strongest member.

Akito put him through much anguish and pain as a child. Yuki also trained in martial arts with Kazuma Sohma. He has not been beaten by any of the other Sohmas in a fight yet.

NEXT: Top 10 Emotional Scenes In Fruits Basket 2019, Ranked

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Annilhation Scourge: Nova #1 by Matthew Rosenberg, Ibraim Roberson, Carlos Lopez, VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.

Cowards get mentioned quite a bit in Marvel’s Annihilation - Scourge: Nova. With such a massive invasion from the Cancerverse assaulting the Marvel Universe right now, everyone is expected to fight. As Annihilus tells one of his wounded men earlier in the event, “If they can hold a weapon, they can fight. They will die fighting. I ask for nothing lesssss.”

With that in mind, it may come as a surprise to see just how Richard Rider's Nova reacts when he's captured by the Revengers, a corrupted team of Avengers from the Cancerverse, and threatened with being infected by the Scourge. He takes off, seemingly leaving the Negative Zone altogether, abandoning that dimension's inhabitants, and possibly ensuring the end of everything.

Even before he ran away, Richard Rider was already a drunken mess. Since the Nova Corps disappeared, he's been spending his time in yet another space station in the middle of Knowhere. Things only get worse once Annihilus, the other-dimensional tyrant who was behind the first Annihilation, shows up asking for his help.

Moments later, the crew of Annihulus’ ship arrives, and they're not too happy. Nova sends a few shots their way until one of their heads explodes. Out from the creature’s neck-stub comes long, black tentacles. This disgusting and bizarre sight instantly sobers Richard up and serves as an ominous sign of what’s to come.

The infected creatures overtake Nova. They surround him, grab his arms, begin to wrap their tentacles around his wrists and begin to envelop the Marvel hero. After understandably freaking out, Nova crashes through the wall into space. Once he’s clear of the things, he gives himself a moment to get his head straight - then throws the entire ship into a star, obliterating everyone on board. Subsequently, Nova and Annihilus team up to try to deal with the newest threat from the Cancerverse.

What this demonstrates is a severely twisted relationship between Richard Rider and the beings from the Cancerverse. Throughout his superhero career, he has spent a lot of time there, and was clearly traumatized by the experience. However, its residents appear to be infatuated with him, and the Cancerverse version of Captain America even calls him, “the One That Got Away.”

So when suddenly confronted by a bunch of these undying monsters, who have apparently been so efficient at taking over the Negative Zone that a warlord like Annihilus is begging for help, Nova runs away. However, he doesn’t stay away, though. He conquers his fears and pitches them into a star.

Eventually, Nova and Annihilus find themselves back in the Negative Zone on the moon of a burning planet. The Revengers arrive with the Sentry, and have every intention of making Nova one of them. When it seems like he has no other choice, he’s able to escape. Unlike before, however, he keeps going, and it looks like he may not be coming back.

At this point, it's not clear if Nova just hightailed it out of harm's way to save his own skin or is merely going to gather reinforcements. Rider has had an incredibly rough time over the past decade or so, and the sum total of his actions may have taken a very reasonable mental toll. While his quick departure does seem to be more of an instinctual response than a planned retreat, this event isn't quite finished yet, and Nova still has a chance to prove how heroic he is after all.

KEEP READING: The Human Torch Relives His Death in Annihilation: Scourge

Tommy Wiseau, the notorious director of The Room, has created a bizarre new Star Wars fan film.

Wiseau has been known to edit him into other movies, including Marvel Cinematic Universe fare. However, with Star Wars hype at an absolute peak due to The Rise of Skywalker, The Mandalorian and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, there was no better time for The Wiseau Cut to be released.

The video details the tragic fall and eventual redemption of Jedi Master Tommy Wiseau, beginning with the titular character getting some hard-earned rest and relaxation on Naboo with his fellow Jedi, and lover, Anakin Skywalker. The two are happy, but their bliss proves fleeting when it's revealed that Anakin doubts his love for Wiseau and that Kylo Ren is plotting to destroy the enigmatic Jedi Master. In time, however, it's Wiseau's own love for Anakin that proves to be his undoing, as his frustration and feelings of betrayal lead him down the familiar path to the dark side.

Perhaps most disturbing isn't watching the Kamino cloning facility field an entire army of Wiseau clones or hearing Wiseau ask Yoda about his sex life but rather the smoothness with which this crossover works. At no point does Wiseau's intensity seem out of place in the melodramatic Star Wars universe. The end result is a piece of media that lovingly pokes fun at both the greatest space opera ever made and the worst movie of all time.

Next up for the Star Wars franchise is The Rise of Skywalker. 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.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Castle Rock Season 2, Episode 9, "Caveat Emptor," now streaming on Hulu.

Horror legend Stephen King has taken more than his fair share of strolls through apocalyptic landscapes over the course of his long, illustrious career. From the searing epic The Stand, in which a virus eradicates much of humanity, to the white-knuckle zombie terror of Cell, King has explored global catastrophes through both wide and narrow narrative lenses. The casts of characters in these stories vary in size, but the scope of destruction mostly remains the same. However, when that scope narrows to one specific community instead of the world, King’s builds some of his most memorable stories. And Hulu’s Castle Rock has reproduced that affinity for communal Armageddon in the episode “Caveat Emptor.”

The fictitious New England town of Castle Rock is no stranger to terrible occurrences. The ostensibly bucolic setting has been terrorized by a notorious serial killer, a rabid Saint Bernard (which may or may not relate to the aforementioned murderer), and an antiquities dealer who pushed the town to the precipice of total destruction. “Caveat Emptor” continues this trend. With Ace Merrill and countless residents of the titular town, as well as the neighboring community of Jerusalem’s Lot, closing in on Pop and a handful of survivors, Castle Rock has turned into a localized apocalyptic nightmare. The tone has gone from Invasion of the Body Snatchers to Night of the Living Dead over the course of a single episode.

“Caveat Emptor” opens up with a shot of an eerily empty road, establishing that things in town are “far too quiet.” Of course, it becomes apparent this is just the calm before the storm when a high-speed car chase, and subsequent shoot-out, unfold immediately afterward. Survivors who have not been influenced by the ancient evil possessing Ace & Co. have barricaded themselves inside the Emporium Galorium to fend off the turned townsfolk with extreme prejudice. The gang brought together by serendipitous moments widens as Annie and another small group make their way into Pop’s store, only to find themselves being grilled by what’s left of the Merrill clan. The entire episode unfolds like an hour-long zombie film, even ending in the eventual breach of the survivors’ safe haven.

“Caveat Emptor” play out like the climax of a Stephen King novel that was never written, but it is far from being unfamiliar. Other towns have undergone similar calamities. In the 2009 novel Under the Dome, the town of Chester’s Mill is subjected to the most insane circumstances (it’s in the title, for those curious) while the rest of the world watches. And while there isn’t a direct group of possessed body-snatching monsters the victims of the titular dome have to contend with, there are folks within the narrative who exploit the small town's vulnerable state. After all, Big Jim, the novel’s main antagonist, is just as big of a monster as Ace, but at least the Merrill boy has an external excuse.

One could also draw parallels between Castle Rock and the 1996 novel Desperation in terms of the potentially larger apocalyptic ramifications that could occur if the possessed villain were to gain the upper hand. In Desperation, a deputy possessed by an ancient evil is quickly deteriorating as the entity starts to “outgrow” its host (and yes, it’s as gross as you’d imagine). Now, the ancient entity possessing Ace seems snug as a bug in his host, but if the turned townsfolk of Castle Rock were to see things through, there could be horrible implications for the rest of the world.

The biggest small-town apocalypse story Castle Rock is drawing from is 'Salem’s Lot, which makes sense, seeing as how so many landmarks from King’s sophomore vampire-horror novel appear in Castle Rock. In fact, a massive portion of the show centers on or takes place within Jerusalem’s Lot. In the second half of the novel, the villainous blood-sucker Kurt Barlow and his cronies have turned an alarming number of residents into vampires, leaving our heroes vastly outnumbered and out-fanged. Eventually this leads to those left alive attempting to burn down the town, specifically the old Marsten House, a source of evil in both Castle Rock and ‘Salem’s Lot.

Castle Rock borrows heavily from the themes and horror tropes Stephen King helped popularize in modern horror fiction, giving the show a very strange relationship to the source material it frequently apes. The opening credits of each episode proclaims the show is based by characters and settings by Stephen King, but the connection goes much deeper. And while the town has yet to go up in flames (despite Ace having the upper hand), there are enough "heroes" still standing to stop the madness from spreading ... or not.

Streaming now on Hulu, Castle Rock Season 2 stars Lizzy Caplan, Tim Robbins, Elsie Fisher, Paul Sparks, Barkhad Abdi, Yusra Warsama and Matthew Alan.

NEXT: Castle Rock Returns With a Bigger and Scarier Second Season

Although John Boyega and Oscar Isaac dampened fans' hopes for a Finn/Poe romance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, director/co-writer J.J. Abrams insisted the film will still include LGBT representation.

Speaking with Variety, Abrams remarked that he viewed the Finn/Poe relationship as "a far deeper one than a romantic one." However, he added that he wanted a cast that "looked more the way the world looks than not... And in the case of the LGBT community, it was important to me that people who go to see this movie feel that they're being represented in the film."

When pressed on the issue, Abrams coyly added, "I will say I'm giving away nothing about what happens in the movie. But I did just say what I just said." However, he stopped short of revealing if the hypothetical queer character in The Rise of Skywalker would be a new creation or a preexisting inhabitant of the Star Wars universe.

Of course, fans have long speculated that the Star Wars sequel trilogy has been building up a romance between the Finn and Poe Dameron, something even encouraged by Boyega and Isaac. The budding love has even taken on a life of its own in the fan community as both "FinnPoe" and "Stormpilot".

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.

KEEP READING: Star Wars: J.J. Abrams Warned Daisy Ridley About Joining The Franchise

Before Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a blockbuster movie star, he was one of WWE's most beloved wrestlers. Recently, a new GIF surfaced from a Twitter fan account that featured one of The Rock's most infamous "The People's Elbows," and Johnson explained just how that particular move became so iconic.

The Twitter account @90sWWE posted the GIF of Johnson performing his signature move with the caption, "This will forever be mesmerizing." The image showed Johnson in street clothes giving the People's Elbow to British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith, and you can see why he calls this one "the people's glide."

You can see Johnson slide a little before he goes in for the drop, and he explained it wasn't necessarily intentional. The combination of residue on the mat and the lack of traction on his dress shoes caused the effect that, although accidental, turned out to be one of the coolest moments in wrestling history.

The match in question took place September 20th, 1999, a popular time for the televised wrestling show. It originally featured a WWF Championship match between Triple H and the British Bulldog, and Johnson was meant to be the guest referee. However, he barely fulfilled that role and wound up intervening in the match.

Even though Johnson officially retired from wrestling in 2013 after his match with John Cena, he remains sporadically active in the sport, and has appeared on Smackdown as recently as October 2019.

WWE Smackdown on Fox airs live every Friday night at 8:00 pm ET.

KEEP READING: Dwayne Johnson Shares Photo of Himself Snuggling with Baby Yoda

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 15 of Dr. Stone, "The Culmination of Two Million Years."

The last episode of Dr. Stone ended with Chrome pulling off a dramatic win against the village bully, Magma, in the quarter-finals of the Grand Bout -- the tournament that will determine priestess Ruri's husband and the new village chief. Given that the final two competitors Chrome will have to face are his Kingdom of Science comrades, Senku and Ginro, Chrome's victory seemed assured.

Or, at least, it was assured until the worn-out science apprentice collapses from exhaustion at the start of Episode 15. This makes Senku -- against all the odds -- the actual winner of the Grand Bout following his easy win against Ginro in the semi-final match. Suddenly, Senku finds himself a married man. As he decries his fate, many of the villagers -- including Ruri's father -- are none too pleased about an outsider becoming their new leader, either.

As always, though, Senku quickly finds a modern solution to his Stone World problem. When the villagers bring out their stash of wine to celebrate the new union -- as is tradition -- Senku swiftly announces that he'll be divorcing his new bride and makes off with as much of the alcohol as he and his acolytes can carry, leaving the villagers to assume that he's gone "utterly insane." This alcohol isn't to have his own private party with, of course, but to use the liquid to finally complete the cure-all drug he's promised to heal Ruri with.

With all of their materials and ingredients in place after six months of hard labor, Senku gets Chrome, Kohaku, Suika, Kaseki and Gen to work on the complicated 25-step process. It takes them most of the night but somehow, and to Gen's utter delight, Senku also finds the time to throw together carbonated water, cilantro, lime and honey caramel to fulfill the promise he made to Gen in exchange for his defection from Tsukasa's Empire: a bottle of Cola.

While the Mentalist gleefully enjoys his drink, Senku administers the white powder to Ruri. At first, the priestess appears to take a turn for the worst and her father accuses Senku of poisoning her deliberately. But, as Senku points out, this is actually a good sign. At first, he'd worried after his examination of her that she may have tuberculosis, which the drug would be ineffective against. Seeing the infection fight to defend itself, however, means that she's actually suffering from pneumonia, which is well within the drug's remit to cure.

With further doses, Ruri is indeed fully cured of the life-threatening disease and, as a show of gratitude, her father passes his title onto Senku. It's during this handover ceremony that Senku learns the name of the village he's just won the governorship of, Ishigami Village, which is significant because "Ishigami" happens to be his surname. Adding to his shock, Ruri informs him that she's "known about [him] for some time."

Now, the biggest mystery in Dr. Stone's world is how a village established long after Senku became trapped in stone came to bear his name. As one arc of Dr. Stone's story comes to a close, a new one begins with the promise to further explore the Stone World's emerging mysteries.

New episodes of Dr. Stone air every Saturday night as part of Adult Swim's Toonami block and are available on Crunchyroll.

KEEP READING: Dr. Stone's Riichiro Inagaki & Boichi Share Secrets of Shonen Jump Success

Marvel has reportedly fired the showrunner and writing staff of its upcoming Hulu animated series, Tigra & Dazzler.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Erica Rivinoja and the writing staff were let go over creative differences with Marvel. Sources for the site said multiple scripts and outlines were completed by the time they were let go, with the team being "15 weeks into a planned 20-week production cycle."

The report adds that a new showrunner will be hired, with that person building their own writing staff for a creative overhaul of the Hulu animated series. However, though Hulu and Marvel declined to comment, sources say both companies are still committed to Tigra & Dazzler.

The series, which is set to be executive produced by Chelsea Handler, is set to join M.O.D.O.K., Howard the Duck and Hit-Monkey before they each culminate in an animated event titled The Offenders, which will force all of the characters to team up.

The official Tigra & Dazzler series description reads,

In Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show, two woke Super Heroes and best friends, Tigra and Dazzler, fight for recognition among powered people who make up the eight million stories in Los Angeles. “Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show” comes from writers Erica Rivinoja and Chelsea Handler, with Rivinoja, Handler, and Jeph Loeb serving as Executive Producers.

Airing on Hulu, Marvel's Tigra & Dazzler does not yet have a release date.

KEEP READING: Kevin Smith, Patton Oswalt Helm Marvel's Adult Animated Series

WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Batwoman Season 1, Episode 8, "A Mad Tea-Party," which premiered Sunday on The CW.

Ever since Kate Kane discovered Alice is actually her sister Beth, believed dead for fifteen years, in the show's pilot, Batwoman has put an emphasis on sisters. However, during this time, Kate has ignored her step-sister, Mary, who wonders why she’s not good enough to get the same attention as Alice. This came to a head in the mid-season finale, when Alice murdered Catherine Hamilton-Kane, Mary’s mother and Kate’s step-mother. This sets up a new direction for Kate, as Beth is gone and Alice isn’t worth saving.

But what does it mean for Mary? She’s just lost her mother because Kate refused to do anything about Alice. She’s also in the dark about her sister being Batwoman, putting her at odds with the title hero. The show seems unlikely to give Kate another evil sister, but these recent events could instead push her to take on the identity of a hero herself.

Mary already meets a lot of the requirements for a hero. She has a public identity (big social media influencer) and is hiding a secret life (running an illegal clinic for those who can’t afford hospitals), all while getting through medical school. She’s already doing many great things, which her mother reminded her of shortly before her death, so she's already a hero, not "becoming" one.

This is a show based on DC Comics, though, so almost everyone gets a costume or secret identity at some point. Even a code name would do, as Arrow did with Felicity becoming “Overwatch” and Diggle being “Spartan.” Although there's no prominent character in the comics that Mary is apparently based on, there are some she could potentially be, though many would be in name only.

This would be a pretty much in name-only adaptation, but the name at least fits quite well. Mary works at night in Gotham, a nightmare of a city. Mary has also dealt with and saved horrible people, some of them with terrible injuries, which she told Kate in the mid-season finale, talking about gang member she’s helped without getting any thanks or credit. Sure, Mary doesn’t have the demonic or magic background to make this a more faithful adaptation of the character, but it’s a great name to use and -- who knows -- there’s always the possibility for future plot and character developments.

Mary isn't a doctor yet, but when has that gotten in the way of a good superhero name? In the case of all the different versions of Doctor Mid-Nite (sometimes spelled Doctor Midnight), they’ve all been doctors when taking the name, and Mary could be by the time she starts using the moniker. Her taking on this name might also be a bit of foreshadowing: one of the defining aspects of every iteration of Doctor Mid-Nite has been their blindness. This would also play into the character’s legacy side in the comics: there have been three different versions of Doctor Mid-Nite, and we’ve already seen a Doctor Mid-Nite in this universe, having appeared as part of the Justice Society of America in the second season of Legends of Tomorrow. As that was in the past, there could still be room for a Doctor Mid-Nite later on in the timeline.

Don’t worry if you don’t recognize the name. Ri was a minor supporting character in Batman Confidential and Justice Society of America shortly before the New 52 wiped the continuity. Rather than taking on the name, however, Ri would likely be the basis for superpowers, if they become more of a presence in the show. Ri has the power to heal others, a perfect fit for Mary and what she's already doing for the people of Gotham. Plus, Ri was actually created by Marc Guggenheim, who has been one of the main architects of the Arrowverse.

From the introduction of her secret life in the pilot, Mary Hamilton has stuck out to fans as being a compelling hero already. Following the death of her mother, she’s going to have a lot to process. With Kate Kane already having one villainous sister in Alice, they’re probably not going to go the villain route again. Instead, this may push her to become more of a hero than she’s been already, complete with a code name to go with her current secret identity. With the Wonderland Gang causing chaos in Gotham and Kate finally deciding that Alice isn’t worth saving, Batwoman will need all the help she can get (once she's done with the Crisis, that is). This help might even just give the two step-sisters the chance they need to grow closer.

KEEP READING: Batwoman: Where Does the Series Fall in the Arrowverse Timeline?

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis #1, by James Tynion IV, Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan, on sale now.

In the original Countdown to Infinite Crisis, ex-Justice League International boss gone bad, Maxwell Lord -- then a member of covert ops organization, Checkmate -- is exposed by his former colleague and friend, Blue Beetle, for creating an army of OMACs (Observational Metahuman Activity Construct), so that he can subdue all the DC heroes.

When confronted, Lord kills Beetle in cold blood by shooting him in the head, assuming complete control of Checkmate and setting off a chain of events that led to the Infinite Crisis. Despite Max being killed by Wonder Woman in retaliation, his legacy continues, sparking several tie-ins and connected crises. But the thing that struck fans the most was Blue Beetle's tragic death. And it caused a whole lot of hot debate as to whether or not it was necessary.

Why kill off one of the Justice League International's most-loved characters? Well, Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis may finally have answered that question. And it's not an answer everyone is going to like.

In the Dark Multiverse version, the oft-underestimated Ted Kord (Blue Beetle) turns the tables on Max Lord, killing him instead. It's a change that, initially, would have made long-time JLI/Beetle & Booster fans very happy. But then, Beetle proceeds to systematically alter the events and outcomes of the Infinite Crisis we once knew, and we begin to realize that, sadly, his death may have been a necessary evil.

Blue Beetle's newfound life sees a complete turnaround in his actions, if not immediately in his attitude. He quickly becomes obsessively driven to right all of the wrongs Maxwell Lord would have caused, and he does so by filling Max's shoes as Checkmate's new "Black King." He then systematically uses his OMACs to stop the events of Day of Vengeance, the Rann-Thanagar War and Villains United -- all crises that altered the DCU in some way.

Beetle's noble intentions turn out to be his undoing. Pushed by Brother One to take evasive action against all of Earth's heroes -- just as Maxwell Lord intended to -- Beetle becomes the worst "accidental" villain the DC Universe has ever seen. Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis is the first chapter in the Dark Multiverse series to start off with a more positive outcome than the original timeline did, but its descent into darkness is no less shocking and destructive than the tales that preceded it. The sad and unfortunate fact is, Beetle had to die. It was a tragedy that weaved itself seamlessly into an outcome that left the DC Universe in a position to bounce back and triumph over a greater evil in the end.

The common thread in the Dark Multiverse seems to be that, when a timeline behaves out of character, the players do, too. We saw it with Lois Lane in Tales From the Dark Multiverse: The Death of Superman, when she becomes bitter and resentful about Superman's death, turning into a destructive avenging angel. In Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Knightfall, Bruce Wayne, having been tortured for many years, returns as an insane, nano-tech-driven machine that delivers his own warped brand of justice. And in Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night, Mister Miracle -- another inherently noble character -- brings about the destruction of a universe, which is replaced by a horrifying new one.

The damaged timeline in Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis results in Blue Beetle acting out of character, too. In the end, he becomes so obsessed with the "greater good" that he inadvertently descends into evil. Merging with Brother One to become a "One-Beetle Army Corps," he uploads the OMAC nano virus to Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, turning them into compliant drones.

Then, while the other OMACs battle Earth's remaining heroes, Booster Gold confronts Beetle and Brother One kills him, leaving Beetle emotionally distraught by his part in killing his best friend. To put an end to the pain and do what he feels is best to "save the world," Beetle allows Brother One to remove the emotional centers of his brain, turning him into a cold, robotic version of himself, bent on taking over the planet, which he and the OMAC forces ultimately do by assimilating everyone.

The world falls under the control of Brother One and the assimilated Blue Beetle -- a bleak reality that leaves behind a mechanical world under the despotic rule of a machine, with no heroes left to save it.

As has been the pattern with the Dark Multiverse titles so far, the bleakest possible outcome is brought about by a single event that was never meant to be, setting off a macabre chain reaction that leaves a world in tatters. Even though Beetle started out with the best intentions and prevented several terrible things from happening at first, the Dark Multiverse had its way and destroyed all hope. And as the story continues to unfold, it's becoming more apparent that the Dark Multiverse is quietly forming a seemingly unstoppable evil Justice League.

The team is set to become even more powerful with December's upcoming Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Teen Titans -- The Judas Contract. And the DCU could well be in for its biggest crisis yet.

KEEP READING: Dark Multiverse: Mister Miracle Turns Into DC's Most Sympathetic Traitor

The world of anime is known for its many tropes and conventions, and some tropes act as the framework for how a character thinks or behaves. You've got your magical girls, self-insert male leads in harem shows, the loudmouth, the genius kid, and more. But what about tsundere characters?

This Japanese term describes someone who is aloof, standoffish, or harsh at first, but they slowly show you their warm, caring, and friendly side over time. They've got a hard outer shell hiding their warm and fuzzy interior, and it's tough to say which are the best since everyone's got their own favorites. But many anime fans may agree that the following ten tsundere characters rank near the top. Let's meet them!

10 InuYasha (InuYasha)

Hmmmm. Is he the main character, or is Kagome the lead? It's tough to say, but one thing's for sure: this half-dog-demon boy is no ordinary friend. He's a bitter loner at first, having lost his lover Kikyo, but slowly, he extends the hand of friendship to the girl beyond the well, Kagome.

Both of them unite to hunt down the Shikon Jewel's shards, and make new friends along the way. The entire time, InuYasha himself is stubborn, a bit bratty, and has a short temper, but he is quick to fight and defend his friends. He even goes through the well himself to find Kagome and take care of her! Like an actual dog, he soon pines for his best friend if she's gone too long. So precious!

9 Hirotaka Nifuji (Wotakoi)

Now for someone more down to earth. The romantic comedy franchise Wotakoi is based on the hardship of being a total anime/game nerd in a workplace where such things are scorned, so four particular closet nerds unite to form a geek squad of sorts.

Among them is Mr. Hirotaka Nifuji, an introvert with extraordinary gaming skills. What's remarkable is that it would be easy for him to just stay wrapped up in his own comfy little life, but he gladly became Narumi Momose's best friend and boyfriend, and they find love with their common bond of geek life. Hirotaka loyal and patient, too, even if he's still a bit aloof with his friends at times.

8 Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi)

Many of the most popular tsundere characters are beautiful young women, such as Chitoge Kirisaki. She is half-Japanese and moved to Japan for schooling, and what's more, she's the daughter of an infamous crime family! Chitoge is paired up at once with a boy named Raku Ichijo, who is a yakuza boss's son.

The two of them really butt heads, and more girls are added to the mix to form a harem. But through it all, the surface-only relationship becomes something genuine, and Chitoge can't help but love her false boyfriend after all. Even if she won't readily admit it!

7 Uryu Ishida (Bleach)

We meet Uryu Ishida early on, and as a Quincy (spirit archer), he's a natural rival and enemy of the substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. But these boys make peace, and they are dependable partners during their rescue of Rukia and later, Orihime.

Uryu is calm and dignified, and he gets pretty annoyed by everyone's antics. He often scolds them, like a big brother. Still, he is loyal and will give his very life to protect Orihime (he seems to have a crush on her). He's also motivated as Ichigo's friendly rival, and when Ulquiorra struck down Ichigo, Uryu leaped into action at once.

6 Saitama (One-Punch Man)

At first, the parody action series One-Punch Man may seem like an odd place for a tsundere character, since this isn't a high school rom-com at all. But ultimately, Saitama, the caped baldy, really does check off the right boxes to be a tsundere himself.

He's lonely and vaguely bitter, being bored of his strength. He's also pretty reluctant to take on Genos as an apprentice, and he really rubs the other pro heroes the wrong way. Saitama is still a hero, though, and he fights hard to save the day (usually, one punch or slap seals the deal). He has also given his friends and allies some heartfelt words of encouragement before, sometimes even with a heroic smile.

5 Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)

Meet the "palm-top tiger"! Taiga is petite by any standards, but boy is she tough, and everyone knows not to mess with her. One day, she crosses paths with Ryuji Takasu, a boy who looks scary but is actually harmless and nurturing. Taiga and Ryuji each have a crush on the other's best friend, so they act as reciprocal matchmakers.

But you guessed it: these two oddballs end up becoming an item themselves, and it's a slow process at first. Taiga is pretty self-absorbed and short-tempered, and she's embarrassed to let Ryuji see how messy her house is. Eventually, though, we get to the point where they're willing to run off together!

4 Kyo Sohma (Fruits Basket)

Fruits Basket looms large over the Shojo world, being one of the must-read titles along with Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura. In this story, we meet the incredibly wholesome and kind Tohru Honda, an orphan with a heart of gold. She meets the cursed Sohma family, where 12 major family members are cursed with Chinese zodiac animal spirits.

But there is an unofficial 13th: the cat spirit, and it's embodied in Kyo Sohma. Until now, Kyo has been a bitter loner, envious of Yuki and ordinary people alike. But when Tohru enters the picture, he can't help but be drawn to her, and he becomes highly protective. He'll even stand up to the merciless family head, Akito, to shield Tohru from any abuse or mistreatment. Impressive!

3 Levi Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

He's one of a kind, isn't he? A high-ranking officer amoung the Scouts, Levi is a no-nonsense soldier who always has the mission on his mind. He is a fantastically skilled warrior, and also a total neat freak.

Soon, he accepts the Titan-soldier Eren Jeager into the Scouts, though he's pretty rough about it. He still prioritizes Eren's safety, though, and will take great risks to protect him. Levi is also fanatically loyal to Erwin Smith, but in the end, he made a choice and allowed Armin's life to be saved at the expense of Erwin's.

2 Isla (Plastic Memories)

And now, for a truly tragic figure... the Giftia (android) Isla! In the world of Plastic Memories, Giftias are highly realistic companion robots who serve as computers and friends to anyone who needs them, but the only live so long. Soon, they must be collected and taken away to be shut down before their programming gets frazzled.

Isla's job is to help retire other Giftias, but her time is running tragically short. During this time, her new co-worker Tsukasa takes a liking to her, and he's desperate to keep her alive and functional. It's a futile effort, but it's wonderful to see Tsukasa give Isla a deep and real friendship right up until her last moments. In fact, she "dies" in his arms atop a Ferris wheel. At first, Isla wanted no friendship of any kind... but later, it was all she ever wanted.

1 Erina Nakiri (Food Wars!)

This tsundere demonstrates some excellent personal growth in more than one way. She is near the top of the culinary world, being the grand-daughter of Totsuki Academy's esteemed dean, and her cooking skills and sense of taste are peerless. She's cold, though, and this is partly because of how her oppressive father treated her.

When Erina meets the cheery and optimistic Soma Yukihira, that icy exterior melts bit by bit. Erina can't stand Soma at first, but time and again, she has his back as he takes on the most talented chefs in Japan. Near the series' end, she is his trusted teammate in a team Shokugeki (cooking duel), and she even borrows Soma's goofy trademark visuals when she serves her food! The happy girl we knew in her past is back at last!

NEXT: 10 Best Anime Series of the Last Decade, Ranked

Who doesn't love Pikachu? He's been the mascot for the Pokémon franchise since it's inception and has stuck around in the TV series for more than 20 years. He's always been by Ash's side, through thick and thin, and there's no sign of that friendship coming to an end.

However, there have been a few weird things that the little guy seems to do that no one talks about. Be it moves he's used or something that's been off about him, these are just ten of the weirdest things we've noticed about Ash's Pikachu that doesn't get talked about.

10 His convenient learning of new moves

Does anyone ever notice that Pikachu learns new abilities out of the blue? We're not talking about moves that he shouldn't learn, like Tackle and Leer. Sure, Pikachu learned Iron Tail through training, but how in the world did he learn Electro Web without doing anything or through the use of a TM?

Speaking of which, how does Pikachu just learn Electro Ball out of nowhere? The Pokémon TV series may not have traditional leveling up like in the games, but they at least learn new moves when evolved and battling. Pikachu must have the power of "Plot Convenience."

9 Always saying "Pika-Pi"

Whenever Pikachu is talking to his trainer Ash, Pikachu is continuously referring to Ash as "Pika-Pi." While nothing about this isn't odd, if you watch an episode or two, it something you pick up when you watch a few episodes of the numerous seasons of Pokémon.

There's a good reason why Pikachu does this. You see, in Japanese, Ash is called Satoshi. Seeing how the name has three syllables to it, it's easy to see why the Japanese would have him refer to his trainer with that. Then again, since millions watch the TV show outside of Japan, maybe the team would have Pikachu's actress say just "Pika" for the US?

8 His Height

A lot of fans love to poke fun at how Pikachu went from chubby to skinny within a few years. One thing that fans rarely talk about is his constant size-shifting. Officially, Pikachu is only 1'4. However, Pikachu shifted size like there's no tomorrow back in the early days.

One minute, he's like 5 inches, another he's almost 2 ft. Maybe we can chop this up to the animators still figuring certain things out, but it's still a little weird to see Pikachu changing size like he's Ant-Man or something.

7 His old obsession with Ketchup Ending

In one episode of the TV series, Pikachu became obsessed with ketchup, almost like he was a kid trying to get some candy. He always had a bottle with him, up until it was cut in half by a Scyther. Okay, A lot of fans do love to bring this up, but why did Pikachu all a sudden stop this unhealthy obsession?

Did Ash send him to Pokémon Rehab cause it was affecting Pikachu's performance in battle? Did the sight of seeing his beloved ketchup killed scar him for life and he swore off the stuff?

6 That time he hung out with a baby Pikachu

So, in the episode "Pikachu's Goodbye"(A.K.A, the second episode of Pokémon that made children cry), Pikachu meets a tribe of his own. One of the little guys was so small that you swear that it was a baby Pikachu. However, it's been revealed that Pikachu's baby form is Pichu.

So, does that mean the little Pikachu he hung out with has dwarfism or something like that? Yeah, it was an earlier episode, and no one knew that Pikachu would get a Baby Evolution in Gold and Silver, but it makes you think what would make that little Pikachu now.

5 His unreasonable Strenght/Weakness

Pikachu is that one Pokémon you can't predict whenever he fights against an opponent. One minute, he's able to take on a Dragonite and Regice. Another Minute, Pikachu will have a tough time taking on something as simple as a Bunnelby and Tailow.

The little guy has fought against so many powerful Pokémon that you would think that he'd be unstoppable, but no. It makes things unpredictable, but we'd like a little consistency from the mouse that shoots Electricity from his body.

4 His voice is different from other Pikachu

Save for a few occasions in the dub, Ash's Pikachu has been always voiced by Ikue Ōtani. However, has anyone else noticed that every other Pikachu has had a different voice actor?

Maybe it's a fact people in the US are used to hearing voice actors play more than one role in a TV series, but every other Pikachu Ash meets had a different voice actor. Wouldn't it save on money if all of the Pikachu were voiced by Mrs. Otani?

3 He's Ash's only Electric Type

Ash has had a plethora of Pokémon types. From Grass, Flying, Water, and Fire Type Pokémon, Ash has captured just about every type of Pokémon imaginable. Yet, Electric is the only Pokémon type that he restricts himself to one of.

We get keeping a team of well-rounded Pokémon, but couldn't he use at least one other Electric Pokémon? Maybe have a Rotom that also fights when Team Rocket kidnaps Pikachu for the 15,000th time? Just throwing some ideas around.

2 He always has something to say

Pokémon may only say their name all the time, but some Pokémon can be quite the chatterbox. Pikachu, since he's still out of his Pokéball, loves to say what's on his mind while greeting people. The hardest thing to believe is that Pikachu's dialog is NOT re-used, despite a lot of his animation being so.

Pikachu's voice actor, Ikue Otani, has been recording new lines for the last 20 years. She's also helped in how Pikachu should sound and act if he's ever out of character. Talk about dedication to your work.

1 That time He gave kids Seizures

So, we all know the time the Pokémon series was responsible for giving kids in Japan seizures, right? We have just one question to ask: Why was Porygon banned from all episodes and not Pikachu? Porygon wasn't the one who gave dozens of Kids Seizures. It was Pikachu when he used Thunderbolt to destroy Team Rockets Missles.

Heck, thinking about it, Team Rocket should have been banned since they used the missiles. We should be following Cassidy and Butch now since they didn't cause children to have Seizures.

Next: 10 Dragon Ball Villain Cosplays That Look Exactly Like The Show

While not always in the mainstream, and definitely not nearly as available anywhere in the west as it is now, manga has had a long and running history in mainstream media. In that long and running history, there have been many genres and series that have graced the medium and some that fell flat, as is unavoidable in any media platform.

But, like in every form of media, there are some that stand high and above the majority of the rest. Berserk is one of those manga. It began its run all the way back in the late 1980s and is still ongoing to this day. It needs no introduction, but here is one anyway, and without further exposition, here are 10 reasons why Berserk is one of the best manga out there.

10 The Art

One of the very first, if not the first, thing or factor that is critical to the very particular form of media platform that is manga is the art. Detailed, beautifully drawn manga can certainly help a manga be a top class work and on the other side of the coin, a lazily, half-baked drawn manga can make help make it bottom tier in terms of the manga that is available out there.

Berserk is absolutely in the top-class category. Not only has it been detailed and wonderfully illustrated from the start, Kentaro Miura's work has aged like fine wine over the years and only has improved.

9 It's A Really Well Done Revenge Story

Revenge stories have been done quite a lot in pop culture media, whether it be books, movies, TV, video games, etc. They can also be done poorly and seem overly generic if they are done wrong also. However, Berserk makes a what could have been a very simple revenge story about one man taking away the newfound pieces of happiness that another very broken man had left into a consistently compelling and complicated narrative.

This list will go into further detail on how and why that is as the entries go on, but, without getting too deep into spoilers, there are a number of factors about the characters and their world that keep it always interesting and exciting.

8 Its Dark And Gritty Tone

Not there is anything wrong with the more lighthearted nature of many manga and anime out there, particularly with the shonen genre, this one is definitely for those that are fans of the more dark, gritty, and serious. It has probably been said many times before, but the tones that Berserk relies upon is comparable to George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and HBO TV series Game of Thrones.

Both are very dark by nature and there is nothing lighthearted about it. Not that there aren't good moments of positive sentimentality. In fact there are tender moments that are used well, but for those who are looking for something that isn't exactly "kid friendly," look no further.

7 Dark Fantasy Setting

For those who are fans of fantasy, but not quite the high fantasy of The Lord of the Rings, Berserk is the perfect setting. Once again, its dark fantasy setting is very much akin to that of Martin's aforementioned book and TV series A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones.

This one also kind of ties into the previous entry, as fans of dark fantasy will likely enjoy the dark and gritty tone and nature of the characters and the world around them. Berserk is set in an old European-inspired world ravaged by supernatural forces and creatures, especially after the events of a key story arc.

6 The Main Antagonist

Griffith is another big pull of the narrative of the world and characters of Berserk. He is arguably one of the most well written antagonists in all of anime and manga. He is a complex character because of his intentions and where those intentions ultimately bring him in terms of his status in the world and to the rest of the main cast of characters.

His appearance, for starters, is one that would resemble that of a hero; a protagonist. But because of the events that transpire largely because of his decisions, he very much becomes the main cast's, or at least to the main protagonist, antagonist.

5 A Layered Protagonist

Of course, any narrative is arguably going nowhere without a main protagonist. Berserk has a great one in Guts. The character might seem like a generic manga and anime fantasy hero on the surface level. He is quiet, carries a massive sword, is built like a brick house, and more. However, there is more to him than meets the eye.

He is a man ravaged by tragedy. Without delving into spoiler territory, everything good that he has had in his life has been brutally taken away from him and then some. But in spite of it all, he always fights his way forward; never giving up and always healing after the next hit he takes. When you think about it, he is truly inspiring.

4 Character Relationships Drive The Plot

While, at the base of the narrative, Berserk is certainly a revenge story, it is helped driven forward and kept interesting, exciting, and compelling by the relationships between the characters. The main cast that comes along Guts in his journey helps contribute to this, but the main relationships that drive the plot are between the main trio of characters early on in the story.

Those are the characters of Guts, Griffith, and Casca. The relationships these three characters make with each other and the events that transpire as a result of those relationships are the core of the plot throughout.

3 The Lines Of Good And Evil Are Blurred

Unlike many pieces of media, in whatever platform or medium they inhabit (books, TV, film, video games, etc.), or any given piece of fiction especially, in Kentaro Miura's Berserk, good and evil are not so clearly defined. Instead, Kentaro Miura chooses to paint the characters in a light dependent on the events of their lives and allows the audience, in this case, reader, to decide for themselves how to view them.

Of course, the reader is more likely inclined to view Guts and company to be the heroes of the story, but after a certain turning of events in the narrative, the roles could be argued to have flipped. Miura even does this in the appearance of the characters. Guts, especially at times, looks demonic or evil. Meanwhile, Griffith looks angelic and heroic. And sometimes, the monstrosities that plague the world aren't the workings of hell, rather, they are emissaries of God.

2 The Action Scenes Are Pure Hype

At the absolute basis of Miura's Berserk, at its core, is a dark fantasy action manga series. Therefore, the action displayed throughout the narrative has to be thrilling, well drawn, and, in this case given the target demographic, brutal and gory. In this respect, like in many other areas Berserk is responsible for satisfying, it does not disappoint.

Given the fact that the world of Berserk is one that is constantly plagued with horrific creatures wreaking havoc on the human world, there are plenty of action and fight scenes involving Guts and company against some daunting opponents and not one of them disappoint.

1 It's Arguably The Best Seinen Manga

This one can certainly be up for debate given the reader's perspective and the masterful level of work in the seinen manga genre. Other masterpieces of works like Vagabond and Vinland Saga rightfully earn their merit as world class pieces of not just manga, but works of fiction in general.

However, Berserk has been a long-running manga since the late 1980s and has consistently, and unfortunately with its fair share of hiatuses, consistently told and illustrated a compelling narrative for a longer amount of time. No disrespect given to works like the aforementioned newer works of Vagabond and Vinland Saga.

NEXT: 5 Ways Berserk and Game of Thrones Are Similar (& 5 Ways They Aren't)

Dec. 5-8 is Comic Con Experience, the largest fan convention and entertainment expo in Brazil, and the event is guaranteed to feature a whole host of announcements and exclusives.

Ahead of the event, the official CCXP exclusive poster for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog film has been unveiled on Reddit. Unlike the live-action and CG imagery straight from the movie itself, this poster features gorgeous original artwork by Brazilian artist Eduardo Vieira that features Sonic racing through the video game's signature rolling hills as Doctor Ivo Robotnik ominously towers over the landscape in the background. Notably, the artwork is highly evocative of the franchise's roots on the Sega Genesis/MegaDrive.

Vieira himself will be at the convention's artist alley for the weekend at table A02, though it's unknown if the upcoming video game adaptation will have a larger presence at the event.

Sonic the Hedgehog was originally slated to be released in November of this year. However, after the initial trailer received widespread backlash for the design of the eponymous speedster, additional post-production time to allow for a quick redesign pushed the film back to February. The new look for the classic video game character has since been warmly received by fans ahead of the film's release.

Opening Feb. 14, director Jeff Fowler's Sonic the Hedgehog stars Ben Schwartz as Sonic and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, with James Marsden, Neal McDonald, Tika Sumpter, Adam Pally and Natasha Rothwell.

It's more than a little expected nowadays: whenever new adaptation of an iconic or well-established character -- such as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher -- appears, a group of fans bombard it with negativity. Everyone has their own opinions on "toxic fandoms," but the general attitude seems to be that it's something filmmakers and artists are better off ignoring.

Actor Henry Cavill was asked about it an interview with Jake Hamilton. He was asked whether or not the witcher's world -- with all the hostility he's met with, despite his arguably noble intentions -- was at all comparable to toxic fandom. The actor said, "when it comes to fans, it is a fan's right to have whatever opinion they want to have, and people are going to be upset... I don't necessarily consider that toxic. I just consider that passion."

As Cavill later explained, the hostility of Geralt's world is rooted in bigotry, so it can't truly be compared to the occasional negativity vocally expressed by fans. The Man of Steel star is no stranger to the kind of fandom discussed in the interview, having appeared in several negatively received DCEU films over the decade. His view that that passion is not necessarily toxic, seems to be a view shared by The Witcher showrunner Lauren Hissrich, who interacts with the fanbase quite often and occasionally takes their views into account.

Although there were some complaints early on during production, the Witcher fanbase has been relatively accepting of everything it has been shown through trailers, photos and audio clips. That being said, it is entirely possibly that attitudes may change after release.

The Witcher stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg, Freya Allan as Ciri and Joey Batey as Jaskier. The series will be available to stream on Netflix starting December 20.

KEEP READING: The Witcher: Henry Cavill Compares Geralt to Batman and Superman

Marvel Comics has released a new teaser for what may be a new series based in a mystical school, led by Doctor Strange.

The teaser from the official Marvel Comics Twitter account came with the caption, "Applications Due: March 2020 #MarvelComics" The artwork features what appears to be a blue, red and gold school badge with the Eye of Agamotto placed at the top with the Latin phrase, "Electi Carent Electione," which loosely translates to, "The chosen lack choice.

Marvel will relaunch the Doctor Strange series in December as Dr. Strange: Surgeon Supreme, by writer Mark Waid and artist Kev Walker. Strange, of course, was originally a world-renowned surgeon until an accident crushed his hands. While on a quest to receive mystic healing from the Ancient One, he took a different path, learning sorcery and becoming the Sorcerer Supreme. But what would happen if Strange's hands were no longer injured? The new book aims to explore just that.

In Waid's current run, Strange's surgical prowess was required to aid his magical skills in order to stop a horde of demons from infecting humankind.

Stay tuned to CBR for more information on this upcoming March 2020 release.

KEEP READING: Slayer Supreme: If Doctor Strange Turns Evil, [SPOILER] Must Kill Him

A sequel to Marvel's Spider-Man -- the PlayStation 4-exclusive video game that captivated players in 2019 -- may come swinging onto shelves sooner than expected.

Speculation has run rampant after a particularly pertinent discussion on an episode of the Kinda Funny podcast, as the hosts wagered guesses as to the releases of several highly anticipated sequels, including Spider-Man. One of the hosts, former Game Informer Senior Editor Imran Khan, predicted Spider-Man 2 to release by Christmas 2021, shortly after the expected release of the PlayStation 5.

"I'm assuming Insomniac started working on that thing immediately," he said. "Sony's been showing off Spider-Man 1 on PS5 and saying, 'We're going to prove how different this game is.'"

Another one of the hosts disagreed, saying a 2022 release was more likely due to Sony wanting to make sure the game launched without imperfections. Khan then took a pause before quietly revealing his prediction may be based on insider knowledge.

"I know too much about this, so I can't speculate too much," he admitted. "I think Spider-Man 2 will come sooner than we think."

His co-hosts understandably couldn't counter, and it's tough for fans to, either. Considering Khan's connections, and that Sony intends to ship the PS5 worldwide by the end of 2020, it's looking likely that Spider-Man 2 would aim to release as an incentive for consumers to buy the next-generation console.

Talks of a sequel to Marvel's Spider-Man have been in the picture since the release of the first game in September 2018. Created by Insomniac Games, it became one of the fastest-selling games of the year, one of the best-selling PS4 4 games of all time and the fastest-selling superhero game in the U.S. It was also praised critically, earning several end-of-the-year accolades and releasing a Game of the Year edition in August 2019.

Marvel's Spider-Man is out now on the PlayStation 4.

Earlier this year, the English dub of Dragon Ball Super, the latest anime series in Akira Toriyama's perennially popular Dragon Ball franchise finally came to an end, with its original Japanese incarnation ending last year. For the first time in several years, there are no new episodes of the long-running anime franchise airing anywhere in the world, leaving fans clamor for additional adventures for Goku and the Z Fighters as they defend the universe from escalating new threats. However, given the enduring popularity of the franchise it is only a matter of time before a new anime series or animated film debuts, continuing the fan-favorite characters' exploits.

Fortunately, the ending of Super and its sequel animated film Dragon Ball Super: Broly has left plenty of potential avenues for the franchise to go next, from an adaptation of the continuing manga series that has gone far beyond the story of its anime counterpart, incorporating elements of the popular Japanese arcade game Dragon Ball Heroes or even having Toriyama develop brand-new stories and characters altogether for an entirely unexplored possibilities for the franchise beyond Super's anime conclusion.

Check out the video below for extensive details on all the potential routes for the long-running anime franchise to take next following the conclusion of Dragon Ball Super.

Following the runaway, worldwide success of Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball Super: Broly, producer Norihiro Hayashida has confirmed there are early, tentative plans for the franchise to continue without divulging the specifics on story or timetable when such new projects could be formally announced. With the franchise continuing to expand with new video games and other multimedia regularly, it is unlikely that the anime component of the franchise will stay dormant for long, practically guaranteeing fans will see Goku and his friends in action once again as increasingly stronger opponents take them on in the future.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and check out many other deep, thought-provoking videos on our YouTube channel! Don't forget to subscribe and click that bell for notifications of brand new content, posted every day!

KEEP READING: Dragon Ball: Is Zeno Really the Strongest Character?

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Disney's Frozen 2, in theaters now.

Disney's Frozen 2 was one of the most anticipated films to come out in in the history of animation. After the mega-success of Disney's Frozen, fans had high expectations for the second outing — as well as concerns that it wouldn't deliver.

A very vocal undercurrent among the hype was the hope that Elsa in the sequel might end up with a girlfriend. Very shortly after the original's release, Frozen gained a strong LGBTQA fanbase due to how many people in the community identified with Elsa's struggle. They saw Elsa as queer-coded, or someone who is written as part of the LGBTQA community in regard to their actions, wants, desires, but never explicitly confirmed.

This is common especially in Disney villains, such as Ursula or Scar, but Elsa's positive arc of coming out to be yourself resonated with a lot of this particular audience. The calls for Disney to deliver on the character's nature grew as the film was closer to release, and then... Elsa didn't end up with a girlfriend. However, she might still be an LGBTQA character. More specifically, that "A" at the end. What if Elsa isn't a lesbian, but rather asexual?

Many people who are not part of the LGBTQA community might not understand the queer subtext to Frozen. While this won't be a perfect explanation, it should, in short, give an idea why members of the LGBTQA community identify so often with Elsa.

Elsa has a quality of hers that makes her different, but her parents tell her not to tell anyone about it, because it might hurt those she cares about. So, throughout the first act, Elsa either remains literally closeted in her room or restrained as to not slip up and reveal her identity to those around her. The moment she does slip just once, the entire kingdom turns on her and treats her as something awful when she obviously isn't. This leads the character very musically Let Go of the restraints that kept her from being her true self.

This very much aligns with the experience many members of the LGBTQA community experience. Many hide themselves from those around them to avoid societal shame. They might either keep themselves away from a society they fear or just meticulously avoid saying anything incriminating. When they do slip up, however, people will inevitably treat them as different, even dangerous depending on the community. But still, with that comes the benefit of just "letting go" and being your true self, regardless of what anyone says.

Even the mantra "conceal, don't feel," has huge implications when applied to people who have to conceal their attraction to people society believes they shouldn't. Thankfully, Frozen ends with Elsa being accepted by society, which, again, resonated with audiences who would project their experiences onto her.

Many fans who hoped (possibly beyond hope) that Elsa would be a lesbian were aware that Disney might be doing what many refer to as "queer-baiting," or teasing a same-sex or otherwise LGBTQA relationship without actually intending on delivering. Many shows, such as the BBC's Sherlock, have been accused over the years for teasing relationships to draw in fans, despite the writers never actually intending on incorporating said relationships into the series.

This is very similar to ship-teasing in general, where, rather than potentially develop a canon relationship over the course of a narrative, writers just tease it. It's already a disappointing trope, made worse by the tease of actual representation of an otherwise under-represented minority group.

With Elsa, many fans petitioned for Disney to "Give Elsa a Girlfriend," but while this faction blossomed, many fans acknowledged Disney probably wouldn't bring in an explicitly queer character to headline its biggest film.

If you've seen Frozen II, you know that, no, Elsa doesn't get a girlfriend. In fact, she doesn't pursue any romantic relationships. She, very reasonably, destroys Hans's ice statue in her dream-like flashback sequence, which ties back to her dismissal of romantic relationships in the first film, where she refuses to even humor Anna's desire to marry Hans, seeing it as bizarre and alien.

Often ignored by mainstream society, asexuality is when an individual feels little to no sexual attraction towards people. There are multiple shades of asexuality, but the two catagories Elsa appears so far to fall under is asexual and aromantic. An asexual person can still find romantic satisfaction with a partner, since sexual want and romantic love are totally different. However, Elsa appears to be aromantic as well, having no desire for romance with anyone over the course of two films.

It is very uncommon to find representation of asexuality in animation. Bojack Horseman is one of the few to explicitly present a character, Todd Chavez. as asexual. Many anime fans might also point to characters like Rei Ayanami and Yuki Nagato as asexual, though this is never explicitly stated. But if you dig deeper, you'll find it's incredibly hard to find any representation of asexuality in fiction, which helps explain the unfamiliarity of so many. If populations don't see something in media, it can sometimes be hard to understand it. Even returning to BBC's Sherlock, it took Benedict Cumberbatch to argue he sees his character as asexual, though the writers didn't seem to confirm it one way or the other.

Of course, this being Disney, any sort of sexual attraction is far less likely to be explicitly presented (though appears with some frequency, such as in Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Hunchback of Notre Dame). However, the lack of any romantic prospect leaves Elsa seeming very unlike her peers. She appears from the start to have little to no want of anyone in her life as a romantic partner. Even during her iconic "Let it Go" song number, her sense of self-discovery is entirely over herself—she doesn't go out to create a perfect partner for herself or run into the arms of some romantic interest.

So is Elsa asexual? It's hard to say for sure in canon, but given the evidence provided, it would be a very valid interpretation of the text, especially if a theoretical Frozen III once more refuses to give Elsa a girlfriend, but, in order to not isolate the LGBTQA fans who have taken in Elsa as a pseudo-icon, doesn't give her a boyfriend either.

Disney's Frozen 2 reunites directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and producer Del Vecho with voice actors Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. Returning musical talents include Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

KEEP READING: Elsa's Journey in Frozen 2 is Surprisingly Dark

Popular anime FLCL is truly a show like no other. The surreal coming-of-age story of sixth-grader Naota Nandaba and his out-of-this-world housemaid, Haruko Haruhara, has been a long-time favorite for anime fans ever since its 2000 release. The way FLCL juggles the relatable anxieties of puberty with the absurdities of its awe-inspiring world is nothing short of brilliant. It's funny. It's touching. It's beautiful. And it's all set to the rocking tunes of Japanese alternative rock band The Pillows. It's also short (six episodes long), which can be seen as a godsend for anime fans with a never-ending backlog, or a serious drawback for anyone really invested in the show.

If you just finished watching FLCL and want something that's more of the same, then give the anime listed below a try. Also, don't forget to check out the official sequels to FLCL called FLCL: Alternative and FLCL: Progressive.

10 Punch Line

Punch Line follows the nonlinear storytelling of FLCL to deliver a hilariously nonsensical anime about a wondering spirit that's powered up by the sight of panties. After a bus hijacking goes awry, Yuuta Iridatsu discovers his soul has been ejected from his mortal body.

Until Yuuta can regain his body, he uses his new life as a spirit to watch over the female tenants of the Korai House apartment complex. While a single glare at a girl's panties can increase Yuuta's strength, seeing two in a row will cause an asteroid to crash land on Earth and destroy everything in its wake. The absurdities of Punch Line are ramped up from FLCL, no doubt. but both also deal with themes of sexuality and self-discovery.

9 Dead Leaves

Dead Leaves is a 52-minute OVA (original video animation) from Production I.G.; the same anime studio behind FLCL.

The story revolves around two intergalactic outlaws named Pandy and Retro, who are taken into custody after committing a crime spree on Earth. They soon discover that their new penitentiary surrounding is actually a top-secret cloning facility filled with genetically-experimented horrors. In comparison to FLCL, Dead Leaves pushes more boundaries with its adrenaline-rushed animation.

8 Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

While told in a more traditional way, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann carries that same passionate point-of-view at adolescent as FLCL.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a sci-fi anime about a young timid boy named Simon and his hot-blooded adult mentor, Kamina, as they pilot an ancient mecha of great power through the mysterious wastelands above. The gorgeous visuals and fast-paced action are enough to get anyone hooked on Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, but the show's honest look at adulthood and the pain and sacrifices that come with makes it a must-see.

7 Kill la Kill

Kill la Kill is a sexy and stylized action show that turns the anime high school genre on its head. The series follows 17-year-old high school student Ryuko Matoi, who transfers to Honnouji Academy to find her father's killer. Honnouji Academy, however, is under authoritarian rule by the cold-hearted student council president Satsuki Kiryuuin.

After losing to one of Satsuki's underlings, Ryuko encounters a symbiotic uniform that gives her tremendous powers through a ridiculously skimpy outfit. Not only does Kill la Kill embody the animated chaos of FLCL, but it comes from Hiroyuki Imaishi, the anime director behind Dead Leaves and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

6 Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is another zany anime comedy in the same vein as FLCL. 12-year-old Satoshi "Sasshi" Imamiya and his best friend, Arumi Asahina, are risked away from their mundane lives at the Abenobashi commercial district in Abeno-ku, Osaka to magical (and dangerous) variations of their hometown. While each new reality is different from the last, Sasshi and Arumi are continuously greeted by the buxom Mune-mune and a mysterious blue-haired loner named Eutus.

While Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi shares the same absurdist humor and juvenile charms of FLCL, it also takes a melancholy look at childhood.

5 Excel Saga

If you loved all the crazy anime parodies in FLCL, then you're gonna love everything Excel Saga has to offer and more. Excel is a young hyperactive woman who has dedicated her life to making the mighty Il Palazzo's dreams of world domination come true. Unfortunately, due to Excel's rash and brainless actions, most of Il Palazzo's plans end in unbelievable failure.

Excel Saga is an incredibly wacky show filled with hilarious parodies of mainstream and niche anime series; all performed by a bizarre cast of loveable, yet, deranged characters.

4 Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt follows in the footsteps of FLCL by delivering a visually surreal comedy that's cranked all the way up to 11. Two fallen angels, Panty and Stocking, must buy their way back to Heaven by eliminating the evil spirits that haunt Daten City. But even with the leadership of Father Garterbelt, Panty and Stocking are too preoccupied with their vices to take their angelic duties seriously.

Just like FLCL, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is loaded with risque jokes and WTF stories, but depicted in a Cartoon Network-like art style.

3 Kyousougiga

Kyousougiga is a fantasy action show that shares the same over-the-top humor and animation of FLCL while focusing on the themes of adulthood and family. The series takes place in a magical world called the Looking Glass City, which was created by a monk named Myoue, who could turn his drawings into real life.

After being exiled by his former home, Myoue lived in the Looking Glass City with his wife Koto - a black rabbit in human form - and their three children. However, Myoue and Koto vanished from the Looking Glass City, leaving their children to run their father's imaginative world. Making matters worse, a young girl with a large hammer - who also shares the name of Koto - has crash-landed into the alternate world in search of the black rabbit.

2 The Tatami Galaxy

The Tatami Galaxy and FLCL both deal with the hardships of maturity. However, while FLCL is told through a child's perspective, The Tatami Galaxy presents its story of regret and wasted youth through a young man's perspective.

Watashi is a third-year college student who regrets how he lived out his campus life. Thanks to a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a mysterious man with an eggplant-shaped head, Watashi is continuously hurled back into the past as a freshman until he achieves his ideal college life. The surreal, fast-paced storytelling and unique art style of The Tatami Galaxy will make FLCL fans feel right at home.

1 Space Patrol Luluco

Space Patrol Luluco is a 13-episode anime series about an everyday girl trying to balance middle school life with her duties as an intergalactic cop. Luluco was just a 13-year-old girl who wanted a normal life in her abnormal home of Ogikubo: a space colonization zone populated by humans and intergalactic aliens. Unfortunately for Luluco, her dreams of living an average schoolgirl's life are destroyed after her father accidentally swallows a sleeping pill that freezes his body, forcing her to take his place as a member of the Space Patrol.

The absurd sense of humor is similar to FLCL, but Space Patrol Luluco also invokes a Western-animated style, such as its seven-minute runtime.

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