Summons are a big part of any Final Fantasy game and for Final Fantasy VII Remake, many classic beasts returned. The game's Co-Director, Naoki Hamaguchi, explained the design decisions behind certain Summons and lamented the loss of one classic Summon he couldn't include.
"I'm happy with the final designs," he said, adding, "although I do have one minor regret. We actually wanted to include Ramuh as a Summon --fans of the original game will remember him fondly!"
Ramuh is a Lightning-based Summon whose signature move is the Judgment Bolt attack. He's an old man with a long beard and even longer, flowing robes. Like many Summons, he has appeared in multiple Final Fantasy games over the years.
With the Summons Final Fantasy VII Remake did include, Hamaguchi said the approach to recreating them involved keeping their original silhouettes but adding much more detail. He explained, "For example, "For example, Ifrit is a fire summon, so we expressed his ferocious brutality through cracks in burning lava and black volcanic rock formations. For Shiva, we changed the original color tones to be cooler and made her look colder by adding a lot of metallic accessories. In addition, to depict all the summons as these transcendent, supernatural beings in Final Fantasy VII Remake we used lots of glowing particle and other effects to really capture their unique essence."
Final Fantasy VII Remake is developed and published by Square Enix. The game is available now on PlayStation 4.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, FCO Plascencia and Tom Napolitano, available now.
Dark Nights: Death Metal takes place in a reshaped version of the DC Universe that was created after a terrible battle between the Justice League and Perpetua. As DC's greatest heroes and the dark creator of the multiverse faced off with the respective powers of the Connective and Chaos Energy, the cosmic clash rocked the DC Universe to its core. After that, the whole reality of the DCU was remade, the Sun had been burnt out and replaced, and the Earth was something we no longer recognized. In this new Metalverse, there are only four continents: Castle Bat, the Hellscape, the Arkham Wastelands and Megapokolips, and they are all overseen by the Batman Who Laughs, who rules with an iron fist (and crown) with the help of his Dark Knight enforcers.
While we still don't know much about this world, DC recently released an interactive map that offers plenty of new details about the different territories on each continent, and how they came to be this way. One of the bigger questions we had following the release of Death Metal #1 was how the most alien of these continents -- Megapokolips -- could have found its way on Earth. Now, thanks to the Metalverse map, the answer has been revealed.
Traditionally, Apokolips is the home of Darkseid and the evil New Gods. It's located far in the depths of space, and its one part of the larger the Fourth World. Since it debuted in Jack Kirby's New Gods #1, the planet these cosmic villains call home has been a dreaded place, a twisted and fiery hellscape void of hope. While Superman, Batman and plenty of other heroes have visited thsi dark alien world on occasion, it was a real surprise to discover that part of this planet was now one of the four continents of the Batman Who Laughs' Earth.
In Death Metal #1, we briefly met the ward of New Apokolips, Mister Miracle, and his evil handler, Darkfather. While no details about the Darkfather have been revealed just yet, he appears to be an evil Dark Knight who comes from a universe in which he has the powers of Darkseid. And now, thanks to DC's Metalverse map, we have learned that it was this Darkfather who built Megapokolips, an entire city controlled by the Anti-Life Equation -- and it's all facilitated by an imprisoned Superman.
Superman, as we saw in Death Metal #1, is trapped inside a machine that looks like a hi-tech elliptical machine, forced to power it constantly through his motion. This in turn powers the new Sun of Earth because, as we've mentioned before, the original one was destroyed during the battle between the League and Perpetua.
The map goes on to reveal that New Apokolips is the name given to the Earth's Sun, which is now Superman's prison. However, it doesn't just contain the Last Son of Krypton; New Apokolips is also the prison of most of the world's heroes. The prison's warden is a reluctant Mister Miracle, and that makes a whole lot of sense. After all, Mister Miracle is a New God from New Genesis who grew up on Apokolips, and he is the master of escape. If anyone could be used to keep prisoners from escaping, it would be him.
New Apokolips can be accessed via the Skyport, a portal located in Megapokolips which is protected by the Darkfather's Pararobins -- which, by their name, we can deduce to be a cross between Robins and Parademons.
As we learned in Death Metal #1, Superman himself has nearly been taken over by the Anti-Life, but his transformation isn't complete yet. As the heroes begin an uprising, there could still be time to save Superman and disconnect him from his machine before he succumbs to its innate hopelessness. While the Death Metal crossover is just starting in earnest, the secrets of Magapokolips are just starting to be revealed.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 7 "The Universe is Indifferent," of Snowpiercer.
When Snowpiercer sentenced LJ Folger (Annalise Basso) to the Drawers for murder on Wilford's Great Ark, many felt it was justice and that Melanie (Jennifer Connelly) may finally be moving to implement equality across the 1,001 cars. However, Mel quickly freed the troubled young girl for knowing some of her darkest secrets after LJ tortured and killed a Wilford spy, Sean.
Now, with Mel struggling to maintain order because many people see the freeing of LJ as unfair, the boss makes a big move by killing Layton's lover, Josie, to send a message. However, it's ill-advised because a deadly alliance just formed that could hasten a First-Class coup, ending Mel's reign as Wilford.
Brakeman Till is shocked at the authoritative attitude of Mel as she interrogates and murders Josie for helping Layton escape the Drawers. When Till gets word back to Layton, he ends the episode by holding a secret meeting with LJ. The killer's shocked as she figured he'd want to harm her for using her wealth and white privilege to escape sedation for her crimes, but instead, he wants to tell her the "dirtiest secret on the entire damn train."
It seems LJ didn't extract that piece of info about Mel being Wilford so once she takes this back up-train, it'll be disastrous. Sure, LJ brokered peace in exchange for Mel saving her, but she's free and doesn't need to protect the boss anymore. Layton knows LJ is twisted and will tease Mel with the news, so seeing as 'Lady Wilford' is killing people who know her secret, this could cause Mel to murder LJ. Even if she places the teen in the Drawers, it'll cause upheaval among the elite because LJ's parents are already at odds over how Mel had the trial in the first place.
Layton is disrupting order in First and to make matters worse for Mel, LJ's parents are already plotting to overthrow her, with Commander Grey part of the intended coup. He grows angrier towards the end when he confronts Mel for interrogating someone without him and as head of security, his suspicions are proven right as he can't trust Mel anymore. If LJ leaks this info to them, they'll have all rights to take the train for Mel's deception. Grey also asked Mel's right-hand woman to be part of the cabal, but when Ruth tried to sell them out to Mel, she dismissed Ruth in a highly-charged moment. The Folgers want Ruth to take over and this could be the key moment that turns her against her leader.
LJ's the key and who knows, Layton's trust may even see her flip sides and become his spy. It's even possible he trades to get the info LJ got. After all, she has potential as a double agent and would enjoy the civil war to come, watching the elite tear themselves apart. Either way, key players are incensed and soon enough, Mel will have enemies coming at her from both sides. She tried to placate the two ends of the train but now, it seems her reign is coming to an end. She's losing the confidence of First as the days go by and the lower-classes are ready to install someone who will fight for everyone. With LJ ready to blow the lid open, it's going to be hard for Mel to counter this as her inner-circle is now smaller than ever.
Snowpiercer stars Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Susan Park, Iddo Goldberg, Katie McGuinness, Lena Hall, Annalise Basso, Sam Otto, Roberto Urbina, Sheila Vand and Jaylin Fletcher. The series airs on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on TNT.
Introduced in Detective Comics #27 alongside Bruce Wayne himself, James Gordon has always been a crucial piece of the Batman mythos. One of his oldest and most important allies, Gordon has become a close friend of the hero over the years. So what happens when that goodwill turns sour and Gordon actually ends up going against Batman?
Here's a breakdown of stories where Gordon has been at odds with the Dark Knight.
After a series of disasters, Gotham is left decimated by a massive earthquake and cut off from the rest of the nation. Hoping to inspire the nation to do something to help, Bruce Wayne leaves Gotham to try and rally senators to his cause. This means Batman is missing for an extended period of time while the city is carved up into territories by the notable villains of Gotham.
Seeing his absence as proof Batman is "abandoning" the city, Gordon becomes spiteful and furious towards the Dark Knight. He tears down the Bat-Signal and it's recommended to the rest of the officers that they don't even bring up Batman's name while around Gordon.
When Batman does finally return, Gordon is still distrustful and furious with him. He resists his help, although Batman continues to give it. Batman even meets with Gordon in secret and the pair have a conversation about their relationship and whether or not they're even really friends. As a last-ditch effort, Batman tries to reveal his identity to Gordon in an attempt to regain his trust, but Gordon refuses to see who's behind the mask -- hinting that he's known for a while and that's not what he's mad about.
The two continue to work together through "No Man's Land" and eventually reach a place of mutual respect again, although the wounds of their fight still exist for a time.
The Grim Knight is a Batman from the Dark Multiverse. This Batman comes from a world where, the night his parents were murdered, a young Bruce took Joe Chill's dropped gun and killed him with it. Growing up without his distaste for firearms, this Batman eventually became a murderous vigilante, killing his way through the criminal element of his Gotham with ease.
Most of his villains never become major threats, because Batman just guns them down the first chance he gets. He eventually becomes something of a despotic ruler of his Gotham, using his access to WayneTech to monitor the city and kill remotely. His greatest enemy on this world is James Gordon, who commits himself to freeing the city from Batman's influence -- only made more personal when Batman kills his officers.
After going underground, Gordon is able to put together proof that Batman was Bruce Wayne. Working with Harvey Dent (who in this world has become mayor of Gotham after being scarred by Batman), Gordon is able to surprise Batman with a full raid and arrest him -- revealing his identity to the world. He's even able to convince Alfred, who's left Batman's side, to turn over evidence that leads to his arrest.
The Grim Knight eventually gets his revenge, killing his world's Gordon before joining up with the Batman Who Laughs to target the core-DC Universe Gotham. He even makes a particular target out of the core version of James Gordon, still furious over what his world's Gordon had done. Eventually, the Grim Knight nearly kills Gordon before being murdered by James Gordon Jr.
"Over the Edge" was a late episode of The New Batman Adventures. The episode focused on a Batgirl hallucination: After being exposed to Scarecrow's fear toxin, Barbara imagines a world where she ends up dying during a fight with the villain. Enraged that Batman would let his daughter join his war on crime, Gordon fully turns on Batman.
After hacking into Barbara's computer, Gordon is able to find proof that Bruce Wayne is Batman. He leads a large-scale raid on the Bat-Cave, leading to the arrest of Alfred. Nightwing soon follows, quickly surrounded by the police and (after trying to escape) arrested by Renee Montoya. Tim Drake is forced back onto the streets and Batman is left alone to contend with a furious Gordon and the full might of the GCPD.
The manhunt has a major effect on Gordon too. He's forced to resign as police commissioner, then has to make an alliance with Bane to bring down Batman once and for all. The battle that breaks out between all three of them ends with Bane successfully pushing both Batman and Gordon off the roof and to their deaths.
Luckily, the vision isn't real. It proves to a reawakened Barbara that her worst fear was that her father would hate her secret identity as Batgirl. She tries to confront this fear, but is actually surprised to have her father hint that he's already known.
Vampire: The Masquerade is a personal horror World of Darkness RPG that released in 1991 that allows players to get into the skins of vampires and become the monsters. It was heavily inspired by the destruction of middle America in the post-Reagan years, the punk and goth movements, and the eternal struggle between generations and class. In the game, vampires belong to factions, or Sects: the insanely evil Sabbat, the decadent but uptight Camarilla and the rebellious Anarchs.
Each sect is favored by different clans, vampires that descended from the same bloodline and share common Disciplines, Banes and (usually, but not always) ideological outlooks. Players that pick the Anarch Sect have to hit the ground running: loosely organized, aspirationally democratic and with a liberal Embrace policy, most Anarch fledglings are on their own from night one. In exchange, they get to live their unlife as they please, as long as they respect the basic Traditions of the Masquerade. Let's take a look at the main clans that favor the Anarch movement.
Brujah are the heart and soul of the Anarch Movement. They were once known as the Philosopher Kings of Carthage, and to this day, they combine their rebellious nature with intense ideals and a physical prowess able to move mountains. Brujah's are quick thinkers, passionate about causes and quick to anger. Within their clan, they are divided between Iconoclasts (usually younger, angrier and more active) and Idealists (usually elder or ancillae and more inclined to explore the theory of making the world a better place).
Brujah used to be evenly divided between the Anarchs and the Camarilla, with a few antitribu joining the Sabbat. However, a 2012 incident in which an elder Ventrue was killed made them leave the Camarilla en masse. Brujah prosper in the Anarch Free States set across the Pacific coast, and they are trying to extend their influence to Seattle.
The Brujah Disciplines are Celerity, Potence and Presence, which make them formidable foes in battle. Their clan Bane is how easily they Frenzy (losing control of their body to the thirsty, destructive Beast) combined with the Compulsion of constantly wanting to oppose the status quo (which can be their leader, an idea or even a construction project). This Compulsion makes them really fun to roleplay, as players will have to go out of their way to convince others of their point of view or destroy offending property before they can roll in peace.
The Gangrel are a nomadic clan that feels most at home in the wilderness and the open spaces. They are called the Clan of the Beast, as whenever they Frenzy, they gain an animalistic trait. They can also shapeshift into animals, as well as communicate with and control them. Gangrel are very independent, very loyal to their kind and very hands-off with their Childer, as they believe that experience will either kill the fledglings or make them stronger. They also have a strong oral tradition and are curious historians. It was this preference for truth over myth that made them leave the Camarilla, as they became disgusted with the king-making myth-building of the Ventrue, among many other things.
Gangrel embrace humans brave enough to walk alone in the wilderness and strong-willed enough to try to fight them while they're feeding. Their disciplines are Animalism, which allows them to communicate and dominate animals; Fortitude, which makes them impervious to damage; and Protean, the shapeshifting discipline. Their Bane is the temporary animalistic trait that they gain after Frenzying, which handicaps their social rolls, and their Compulsion is Feral Impulse, where they return to an animalistic state where they can barely speak, stand up straight, wear clothes or solve differences without teeth and claws.
The Ministry firmly believe in Set, the Egyptian god of destruction, dissent, darkness and desert storms, breaker of the chains of self and liberator of human mores. They originated in Egypt, quickly finding recruits and, as the centuries passed, mutating their mask to better fit the most appropriate theological theory. There are two kinds of Ministry vampires: those that were embraced within the Setite bloodline and those that were embraced by other clans but converted to the Ministry. The Ministry considers these conversions a time to rejoice, and they are very welcoming and accepting of these inductees, teaching them their clan Disciplines. Ministry characters are usually charismatic, warm and natural-born tempters, joyously encouraging others to follow their basest instincts into the abyss.
The Setite Disciplines are Obfuscate, to hide; Presence, to awe their followers; and Protean,which they tend to use to turn into serpentine creatures. Their Bane is their vulnerability to the light, both natural and artificial, which makes them recoil and weakens them. Their Compulsion forces them to constantly entice themselves and others to break their personal convictions -- what are these but chains by a different name?
Caitiff are either vampires that were abandoned by their sires right after the Embrace and were never inducted into their personal vampire society or vampires that mysteriously lack Banes, as well as the ease to learn new Disciplines. Both kinds are considered unbound bastards by the Camarilla, and their lack of in-built allegiance even makes some Anarchs mistrust them. Caitiff are usually (but not always) vampires from a high generation and used to surviving on their own. They usually came to understand their new state on their own or with the help of pop culture, and they are largely ignorant of the comings and goings of vampiric society.
Caitiff players can give their characters any Discipline when they create them, but once the game begins, they will have to spend six times the usual amount of experience points to purchase another dot. This system was put in place to discourage overpowered, flawless vampiric characters. Some Caitiff are able to join the Camarilla if they provide useful services like ruling over a small, unimportant domain and swearing loyalty to the closest Prince. Most are independent, Anarchs or even Sabbat.
Thin Bloods are vampires whose blood is so diluted that they can even walk in the sun -- if it's cloudy or twilight, at least. Many can still eat food, drink alcohol, have sex and carry on a mostly normal life -- except for their need for blood and their agelessness. However, Thin Bloods are extremely weak vampires, unable to acquire permanent Disciplines. They are, at best, frowned upon and, at worst, hunted by other vampires. Many clans are jealous of how close the Duskborn are to humanity, while others are convinced that their proliferation is a bad omen and a potential breach of the Masquerade.
Duskborn are also able to practice Blood Alchemy, a skill that allows them to create blood potions to acquire temporary powers and Disciplines. Duskborn that survive their first nights should find a way to render themselves indispensable or invisible to avoid elimination. At creation, players will have to chose up to three merits and flaws, which include characteristics like being fangless and having to cut or needle their victims, having a lifelike appearance or possessing a beastly temper.
The video game Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines featured the Santa Mónica coterie of thin-bloods, an NPC mission hub. In the upcoming sequel Bloodlines 2, the player character starts as a young Duskborn and will be able to pick a clan five hours into gameplay.
Every genre of video game offers up something special to its audience, but the fighting genre is especially important to a lot of people. A lot of fighters go back to the early days of arcades and they foster such a great source of competition and camaraderie between players. Mortal Kombatand Super Smash Bros.are two of the more popular fighting franchises to emerge and capture audiences.
Both of these franchises feature an incredibly eclectic roster of fighters, but it’s interesting to think how some would fare against each other, especially when certain characters bear strange similarities. Accordingly, here’s who would win between Johnny Cage and Captain Falcon.
10 Johnny Cage: He Has Martial Arts Training
It’s easy for Johnny Cage to bear a lot of criticism for his movie star origin story. He’s a character that’s supposed to represent exaggerated celebrity stereotypes and be a parody of action heroes rather than an actual one.
However, over time Johnny Cage has gone through extensive martial arts training and picked up several styles of defense. Karate is the most prominent fighting style that he turns to, but he’s put in the time for all of these. Cage’s expertise in this area could give him the advantage against Falcon.
9 Captain Falcon: He’s A Talented Bounty Hunter
The Super Smash Bros. and F-Zero games may be light on certain story elements, but Captain Falcon has also had an anime series to help develop his character. Part of Falcon’s history is that he makes some of his money working as a bounty hunter.
In addition to his successful tracking abilities, he also used to be a part of the Internova Police Force, which is where his Captain nickname comes from. Both of these positions reflect a heavy level of training in Falcon as well as people in high places that could help him against Johnny Cage.
8 Johnny Cage: His Understanding Of Pressure Points
Fatalities are a major aspect of the Mortal Kombat franchise and while all of these extravagant deaths lean towards hyperbole, Johnny Cage’s still manage to be somewhat grounded and come from a place of brute strength. Many of Cage’s Fatalities involve striking his opponent at particular points in the torso so they cough up blood and are incapacitated. Cage is also able to actually rip out body organs or pummel people excessively to the point of death, which exhibits a level of endurance and mastery of combat that seems beyond what Falcon can do.
7 Captain Falcon: He Has Masterful Control Over The Blue Falcon
Captain Falcon made his debut in the racing franchise, F-Zero, and even though he’s now become more of an icon for fighting games he’s still kept his Blue Falcon vehicle close by him. Plenty of fighters have weapons that they’re able to put to good use, but Falcon’s car is the ultimate example of this. He could either drive away from Cage if the tide turns against him, or he could go the opposite route and run over him. Falcon also seems to have a symbiotic bond with his vehicle, like with how he summons it during his Final Smash.
6 Johnny Cage: His Exploding Sunglasses
Johnny Cage’s movie star roots mean that he’s someone that appreciates fashion and style. He’s someone who wants to look his best whenever it’s possible. Chic sunglasses are part of Johnny Cage’s look and while they may initially seem like a fashion accessory, they actually pack a very deadly punch. Johnny Cage has an attack where he throws his shades at his opponent, only for them to explode and take out the person’s head. It seems silly, but the element of surprise is huge here and Falcon wouldn’t suspect a thing.
5 Captain Falcon: He’s Skilled In Fighting Against Crowds
Captain Falcon and Johnny Cage both come from fighting games, but they’re titles that play in drastically different ways. For instance, Mortal Kombat is a one-on-one fighter, but Smash Bros. features up to eight opponents wreaking havoc in an arena at once. These setups mean that Captain Falcon is much more comfortable taking on a group at once and he even has attacks that specifically cater to knocking out several people in tandem. Cage is good against one opponent, but he could get overwhelmed in a setup like this.
4 Johnny Cage: He Has Superhuman Powers
Johnny Cage enters Mortal Kombat as one of the “normal” characters in the ensemble, but as more of his backstory gets developed in the sequels it turns out that Cage has a more important history. His birth actually involves a cult who wants to make warriors for the Gods. Cage has superhuman skills, like the ability to propel himself forward with an afterimage. In addition to these shadows attacks, he can also launch blasts of energy, which goes beyond Falcon's skills. His energy abilities are so advanced that he can fight equally with an Elder God and withstand Shinnok's deathblow.
3 Captain Falcon: His Falcon Punch
The most famous of Captain Falcon’s attacks is his powerful Falcon Punch. The attack plays into Falcon’s performative nature and it seems very silly, but the immense strength behind it turns into something that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Falcon has several abilities that surpass standard physical attacks, but Falcon Punch (and Falcon Kick, for that matter) has the power to send people flying hundreds of feet through the air. Falcon moves at such a velocity that the attack makes the air combust into flames. Johnny Cage can handle a lot, but this would definitely make an impact on him.
2 Johnny Cage: Animality
The Mortal Kombat franchise has made some wild changes and developments over the course of its franchise. Fatalities were so popular that the games also introduced Animalities, where the fighters can transform into animals to off their opponent.
Cage has such a skill and he can become a giant kangaroo to kick his opponent to death. Falcon has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, but this feels like it’d seriously throw him off.
1 Captain Falcon: He Has Weapons Training
Captain Falcon has such flashy attire that it can be easy to fixate on the outfit itself and not some of the smaller touches that accompany it. One of such details is that Falcon always carries a holstered sidearm, even when he drives. This isn’t surprising considering the character’s bounty hunter and police training, but it gives him a severe advantage over his opponent. Johnny Cage is a character that’s almost never seen with a weapon, which means that Falcon likely has him outclassed in this area.
Marvel has had many great duos over the years of its long existence. Sometimes superheroes team up because there's no other option and they're facing an enemy they wouldn't be able to defeat on their own. This leads to them joining forces with heroes they might even not like that much.
But that's not the case was Luke Cage and Danny Rand aka Iron Fist. These two superheroes may have vastly different powers but they're very good and close friends, one could even say best friends and they formed Heroes for Hire together. Luke Cage and Iron Fist prefer to fight the bad guys and not themselves, but if they did, who would win?
Luke Cage is a strong man, plain and simple. He doesn't always use his fists to solve the problems he's facing, but when he does, all his enemies should beware. Throughout the years, his strength level has varied, but the most common range is 50+ tons.
Iron Fist, on the other hand, falls into the category 25+ tons which would make his good friend Luke twice stronger than him.
9 Training: Iron Fist
Iron Fist has trained hard at Kunlun for a long time and the training wasn't for the faint-hearted. Finally, when he was deemed worthy, he was also able to return back to the society which he had previously left.
His training gives him a distinct edge over other heroes who haven't been to Kunlun and trained there, which includes Luke Cage as well.
8 Weapons: Iron Fist
This round also goes to Iron Fist since Luke Cage doesn't use weapons that much. He can, and does when the situation asks for it but a lot of the times, he's fine without them.
After all, he's super-strong and his skin can't be pierced which means he doesn't have that much need for weapons. Iron Fist can be hurt more easily and while he has his fist, he also knows his ways around swords and other weapons and isn't afraid to use them when he sees the need for it.
7 Intelligence: Tie
Luke may look primarily like a strongman at first and isn't a grand scholar or anything like that, he's certainly not stupid. He knows the law very well, as he studied it at his own volition, and can speak several languages.
Iron Fist also knows that a powerful mind is just as important as a powerful body. He's multilingual as well and speaks K'Un-Lun, Chinese, English fluently, and knows a bit of Japanese.
6 Allies: Tie
Both Luke Cage and Iron Fist have been around for a while and managed to form strong times in the superhero community. That means they have friends who would come to help them out if they asked for their help in a fight. Luke Cage is married to Jessica Jones who's also an admirable fighter (and her best friend is none other than Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel). Iron Fist also isn't without friends, he has Colleen Wing at his side who's an expert in the martial arts.
5 Durability: Luke Cage
Luke Cage is hard to defeat, courtesy of his special powers. No matter how many bullets or punches his enemy manages to deliver, Luke will keep coming at him. His skin is as hard as the titanium steel and he's much more resistant to injury than an ordinary, non-powered human.
That doesn't mean he can't be hurt but it's much more difficult, and Luke also has an improved healing factor that plays in his favor.
4 Experience: Tie
Neither of the heroes is a beginner at what he does - they both have been superheroes for a long time. Luke Cage first appeared in the comics in June 1972. While Iron Fist's first comic book appearance took place in May 1974 which makes them more or less a very similar age.
What's more, both of them had been training for years so it's impossible to state which one of them is more experienced when it comes to fighting villains.
3 Hypnosis: Iron Fist
Iron Fist is best known for using his strength and the will of his mind against his enemies, which includes summoning his, well, Iron Fist. But there are some other powers he can use to defeat the villains he's fighting which aren't as popularized. One of them is hypnosis. Iron Fist has learned how to create various illusions and he has the ability to make his enemies see what he wants which helps to make them disorientated.
2 Number Of Powers: Iron Fist
Iron Fist can do even more things than mentioned above. He has a list of powers much longer than many heroes have. He has superior strength, his iron fist, can temporarily fuse his mind with another person, can detect energy signatures, has enhanced senses and reflexes, and many more.
Luke Cage's powers are also impressive but there aren't so many of them. Not that quantity always wins over quality.
1 Winner: Iron Fist
It was a close call but Iron Fist is the winner in the end. Both heroes are powerful and they work well as a team since they're very close and have been friends for what seems like forever. However, Iron Fist has more powers at his disposal which means he would most likely win over Luke Cage in a fight if they decided to go against each other.
There are a lot of Dungeons & Dragons podcasts and web series out there, but none have quite captured the imaginations of listeners and D&D fans like Critical Role. The series features a group of professional voice actors who play the game, going on different campaigns that serve as story arcs or seasons of the series.
The voice actors play different characters in each campaign, of which there are two so far, and fans have really latched onto them, creating fan art and basing their own D&D campaigns off of them. But in no realm has this fandom burst out quite like in the cosplay world, where fans have gone all out to create accurate portrayals of their favorite Critical Role characters.
10 Marion Lavorre
Marion Lavorre is Jester’s mother and a courtesan. Where Jester has blue skin, Marion has red, and she is well-known for her ruby-colored skin, which earns her the nickname Ruby of the Sea. This cosplayer has recreated that red skin and red hair, along with the large horns that grow out of Marion’s head.
9 Nott
Nott is a goblin/halfling rogue who was formerly associated with the goblins. She still maintains some of her goblin appearance with her large pointed ears and green skin and hair.
This cosplay has recreated the look of her skin, along with the wrapping she often wears to cover her face. She also carries a mask, which Nott can sometimes be seen wearing.
8 Calliope Clay
Calliope is a little bit of a deep cut even for Critical Role fans. She’s the youngest sibling in the Clay family and as yet hasn’t had a lot of her own adventures.
Still, this cosplayer has gone out of her way to represent this daughter of one of the ancient clans, getting her blue-gray skin tone and pink hair just right, along with her somewhat innocent, youthful expression.
7 Vex’ahlia De Rolo
Vex’ahlia is a ranger, which means that she spends a lot of time traveling and in the woods. That means her clothes have to be very practical and must protect her from the elements.
This cosplayer hits all the beats on making sure Vex’ahlia’s outfit is accurate and also functional, with tall black boots and belts and furs to keep her warm and secure as she’s adventuring.
6 Baroness Of The First House Of Whitestone
While Vex is definitely a ranger who no doubt spends a lot of time hunting and traveling, she is also a noblewoman, since she is married to a Lord. This cosplayer has sought to recreate the kind of outfit Vex might wear in a more formal situation as the Baroness, instead of what she might wear while traveling as a ranger. She has a feathered hat in her hair and wears a traditional corset with a fur over her shoulder.
5 Vax’ildan And Keyleth
Vax and Keyleth are one of the few couples in the series that are actually intimate with each other in continuity. These cosplayers have decided to focus on that relationship with their cosplays, posing in a kiss in this photo of the two together.
Their cosplays are also very impressive, which Keyleth’s shawl of autumn leaves over her shoulders and the ornaments braided into Vax’s hair.
4 Jester Lavorre
Jester Lavorre is a very tiefling cleric who is very cheerful and likely to pull pranks. She’s easy to recognize with her blue skin, dark blue hair, and the horns that grow out of the sides of her head.
This cosplayer does a great job of recreating Jester’s skin tone with blue body paint. She even delicately adds the freckles on her cheeks and nose that any Jester fan would immediately look for in an accurate cosplay.
3 Beauregard Lionett
Beauregard Lionett is a human monk, but she doesn’t look like a traditional monk might, which makes her a popular cosplay character. She has facial piercings and wears her hair in an undercut style, not to mention her cool adventurer’s outfit, which makes her look totally ready for battle.
This cosplayer created a great representation of Beau, complete with staff, ready to get out there on the road.
2 Keyleth
Keyleth is a half-elf druid, which automatically means that she has a pretty intense costume. And nothing draws cosplayers like a really involved look, which allows for a challenge in the making.
This cosplayer has done a great job recreating Keyleth’s autumnal, forest-inspired look, complete with the antlers that grow from her head and the flowers and leaves that she often wears in her red hair and as decoration on her clothing.
1 Essek Thelyss
Essek Thelyss is one of the more popular NPC characters in the series, which means that he is played by the Dungeon Master, instead of by one of the actual players of the game.
Here, cosplayer SarahndipityCos shares a WIP of her amazing Essek cosplay, fully capturing the spirit of the character. Her ears, eyes, and wig look incredible, really striking the viewer with their uncanny resemblance to Essek. The cosplayer is working on getting together the makeup for Essek, and has done several tests to great results. Hopefully, we will see the completed product very soon.
Superman made his official debut in 1938, and since that debut the hero has starred in hundreds of comic books as well as over a dozen live-action and animated television shows and movies. The DC icon's powers include superhuman strength, speed, durability, heat vision and x-ray vision, freeze breath, and invulnerability. He does have a few weaknesses though such as red suns, Kryptonite and magic.
The world of anime is vast, and it has its fair share of heroes, but for every great hero there is also a villain, and many of these anime villains are absurdly powerful, to the point that they can actually defeat someone as strong as Superman. This article will identify several anime villains who can beat The Last Son of Krypton, but it will also include a few villains who wouldn't be able to get the job done.
10 Can't Defeat Superman: Blackbeard
Blackbeard will most likely be the final antagonist of One Piece, and for good reason. Blackbeard is capable of manipulating darkness, and thanks to this ability he was able to absorb Whitebeard's ability to create quakes as well. These quakes can also affect the sky.
Superman can still beat him though, as the quakes would essentially feel like turbulence to him. Blackbeard's darkness can steal and nullify other Devil Fruits, but it wouldn't be able to hinder Superman's powers whatsoever, and if he tries to pull Superman into him, one good punch will do the trick because Blackbeard's body maintains its physical form during this technique.
9 Can Defeat Superman: Majin Buu
Majin Buu was the most powerful villain in Dragon Ball Z and although each of his forms had different power levels, they are all in fact capable of defeating Superman in a one-on-one fight, and they can do it in a very amusing way.
If they were to fight, Superman would only be able to win if he destroys every single one of Buu's cells, but that would be very difficult, while all Buu has to do is use his change beam to turn Superman into chocolate. This would work because the technique uses magic, which happens to be one of Superman's weaknesses.
8 Can't Defeat Superman: King Bradley
In Full Metal Alchemist, the Homunculi are artificial humans who represent one of the seven deadly sins, and they each come with their own unique abilities. King Bradley is also known as Wrath and aside from having enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, endurance, and durability, he also possesses the Ultimate Eye, which allows him to perfectly predict his opponent's attacks.
The eye may seem formidable, but unlike the other Homunculi, Bradley's body is that of an ordinary human, so if Superman attacks fast enough, he will be able to put him down with just one punch.
7 Can Defeat Superman: Yhwach
Yhwach is the ultimate villain in Bleach, and he can defeat Superman a number of ways thanks to his godly powers, which include the ability to see and manipulate the future. This means that Yhwach can see the outcome of every battle and learn from them, and if he does lose, he can just alter that future.
He also has the ability to absorb other beings, no matter how powerful they are just by touching them, so Superman would not even be able to hit him without losing. If this were to happen, Yhwach would then be able to add Superman's powers to his own.
6 Can't Defeat Superman: Kaguya
Kaguya may not be the best Naruto villain, but she still possesses unbelievable power. Kaguya has the ability to travel through dimensions, but she can also hypnotize and put people to sleep without even touching them. She can also produce bones from any part of her body and use them as weapons.
Kaguya can also absorb chakra based attacks with her Rinnegan, but that won't stop Superman's heat vision one bit. She could very well beat him via hypnosis, but in order for that to work, she would need to make eye contact with him first, which will be hard considering Superman's speed.
5 Can Defeat Superman: Gilgamesh
The Fate franchise involves legendary and mythological heroes battling it out against each other to see who will walk away with the Holy Grail, and to this day Gilgamesh is the most powerful antagonist we have seen.
As a spirit, Gilgamesh is capable of using his magical Noble Phantasm to summon every weapon ever conceived in the ancient world, and since they are all imbued with magic, they can definitely cut Superman, and if he's in a real bind he can pull out his Ea, which can tear holes in reality and engulf everything in a specific area.
4 Can't Defeat Superman: Freiza
Of all the villains to appear in the Dragon Ball franchise, Freiza is the most iconic, and thanks to Dragon Ball Super, he is far more powerful than he was before. Freiza can live in the vacuum of space, and he can also destroy an entire planet with just one finger.
If Superman and Freiza were to fight for real there would be a lot of heavy hits, but this fight would not be settled through brute force alone. The key to Superman's victory lies in his heat vision though, because if Freiza's body can be cut with a sword, heat vision can definitely do critical damage.
3 Can Defeat Superman: Aizen
When we first see Aizen, he looks like a gentle soul, but he goes on to become Bleach's greatest villain, and he is now immortal thanks to the power of the Hōgyoku, but that is not why Superman would lose.
Aizen's power is complete hypnosis, and it allows him to control all five of his opponent's senses at once, and the only way to break the hypnosis is by grabbing hold of him or his sword. Aizen can basically make Superman fly directly into the sun and the Man of Steel would never even know until it was too late.
2 Can't Defeat Superman: All For One
All For One is the strongest villain within My Hero Academia, and thanks to his ability to steal quirks, he has an innumerable amount of powers at his disposal, and he can switch between these powers whenever he wants.
From his battles with All Might, we know that All For One can be defeated with brute force, which means that Superman can beat him down, and he doesn't have to worry about his powers getting stolen either. Let's just hope All For One doesn't have a quirk that allows him to create Kryptonite.
1 Can Defeat Superman: Light Yagami
Death Note is still a must-watch anime and manga series that focuses on Light Yagami, a high school student who finds a Death Note and uses it to rid the world of criminals by writing their names in it.
Light may be an ordinary human, but he has the best chance of defeating Superman without actually fighting him thanks to his genius intellect and masterful lying skills. All Light needs to do is learn Superman's name and write it down in the Death Note, and if he writes the cause of death, it will happen in 40 seconds. If he doesn't write a cause, Superman will simply suffer a fatal heart attack.
Berserk and Naruto are two very different anime. They have different audiences and different styles of storytelling, and they’re honestly completely different genres in a lot of ways. Where Berserk is a violence-heavy revenge story, Naruto is a shonen anime focused on a young boy slowly learning how to be a better ninja and a better person.
But they are both some of the most well-loved anime out there, with huge fan bases. So while it’s difficult to compare two anime that are so incredibly different from one another, it’s definitely worth asking the question of which does what it’s trying to do better.
10 Berserk: Art Style
The art and animation of Berserk are beautiful. As a series that’s more than 20 years old, it has avoided some of the pitfalls of more recent anime in losing itself in computer animation, with the exception of course of its own reboot in 2016, which is CGI and doesn’t look very good. Still, the original 1997 anime doesn’t skimp out on the animation, particularly in fight scenes and facial expressions.
9 Naruto: Character Relationships
Naruto is almost all about the relationships that Naruto is trying to build after years of not having any. While pretty much all of his friends consistently think he’s annoying, they all care for him, and for each other, and they all work hard to protect each other. Naruto’s relationship with Sasuke alone is the heart of the series, and nothing that happens in it doesn’t affect the way they feel about each other.
8 Berserk: Battles
Berserk has some of the best, bloodiest battles in anime. It’s an incredibly violent series that doesn’t shy away from the idea that fighting with weapons is going to be pretty horrific and graphic.
Guts is a mercenary, so he’s a trained killer, and the fights he gets into are incredibly entertaining to watch, with impressive animation and a real feeling that there’s gravity to the proceedings.
7 Naruto: Unique Fighting Styles
Naruto is a series about ninjas, so the whole thing is ultimately about learning to fight and then using those skills in combat situations. But they’re not just learning how to do martial arts. There are a lot of different ways someone might be successful in battle, from Shikamaru’s use of his shadow Jutsu to Gaara’s ability to manipulate sand. Every character has their own ability, which makes every battle incredibly unique. No two matches ever look alike.
6 Berserk: Mythology
While Berserk is mostly a revenge fantasy about a mercenary with a big sword going around and killing people who have wronged him or have wronged the people he cares about, there’s also a lot going on besides it. There’s some complex and intricate religious mythology that colors the world and directly interacts with the plot. It also directly affects the ending of the series, in which Guts gets betrayed by someone seeking access to god-like power.
5 Naruto: World-Building
Naruto’s world-building is pretty impressive. The series takes place in a fictional version of Asia, which is split up into different lands, all of which have their own Hidden Village where ninjas train to work and to protect their land from invaders.
The complexity of these villages, how their education and employment systems work, and the way they interact with each other, adds a lot of layers to the series as a whole.
4 Berserk: Philosophical
Berserk deals a lot with how difficult and hard to live in the world can be. It considers a lot of philosophical questions, particularly those around religion, and doesn’t shy away from hard truths about the state of the world. Guts has to deal with a life that’s been hard for him, while also figuring out how to move forward. It doesn’t always work out, and nothing necessarily has a happy ending.
3 Naruto: Life Lessons
Naruto has a really tough childhood. He’s an orphan, and the Nine-Tailed Fox being sealed inside of him has made him an outcast in his community, even among those, like his classmates, who aren’t sure why the adults hate him so much. But he learns a lot about what it means to find family and to want to protect those with whom he’s formed a bond.
2 Berserk: Societal Critiques
Berserk sees a lot of people acting pretty terribly all the time. The series considers how greed affects the way people behave and faces hard truths about betrayal and selfishness, and how people might not particularly care whether they’re hurting other people, as long as they get what they want. It’s hard not to see this as a critique of modern society and the individualistic way people now view the world.
1 Naruto: Characters Grow Up
One of the things about shonen anime is that the characters are young, often middle-school age, and fans of the series often get to watch them grow up. While not all series take that as literally as Naruto, which actually sees Naruto and his friends get older, the series does make a point of showing how Naruto learns and changes, and fans of the series, many of whom are also young, get to experience that growth with him.
Answering fan inquiries on Vero, Zack Snyder revealed more details about his cut of Justice League, particularly in regards to the presence of further scenes involving Green Lanterns and Pa Kent.
Twitter user ScottDC27 recorded the exchanges between fans and Snyder in a series of tweets. One of these back-and-forths entailed a fan asking Snyder "I just have a question: what did you mean 'Unite the 7?' A green lantern is coming?" Snyder only responded with a cryptic winking face emoji.
While Green Lantern character Yalan Gur made a brief cameo in the theatrical cut of Justice League, the Green Lantern organization was originally supposed to have a far greater presence in the movie. This is rumored to have included a scrapped post-credits scene involving a meeting between Bruce Wayne and Green Lantern senior members Tomar-Re and Kilowog.
Another revelation came when a fan asked Snyder, "Sir will Jonathan Kent appear one more time in your JL movie?" Once again, Snyder responded with the cryptic winking face emoji.
Unlike the Green Lantern Corps, up to this point, there haven't been any rumors about scenes involving Jonathan Kent being cut from Justice League. However, the character, portrayed by Kevin Costner, was a prominent fixture in Zack Snyder's two preceding DC Comics movies, Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Zack Snyder's Justice League will premiere on HBO Max in early-to-mid 2021.
With a new line of comics personally curated and overseen by co-creator Neil Gaiman, a television series in the works at Netflix and a radio drama adaptation coming to Audible, it has perhaps never been a better time to be a fan of the flagship Vertigo Comics title The Sandman. Directed by Dirk Maggs, who previously adapted several other Gaiman titles in the radio drama format to critical acclaim and fan support, the Audible series boasts an all-star voice cast as it recounts the inaugural adventures of Dream of the Endless and his quest to rebuild his kingdom after a lengthy imprisonment.
The first part of the ambitious radio drama faithfully adapts the first three volumes of the Vertigo comic book series, crafted by Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg, Sam Kieth, Malcolm Jones III, Chris Bachalo, Colleen Doran and Kelley Jones. Morpheus, the eternal Lord of Dreams, is held captive for decades after a mysterious cult ritual. After regaining his freedom, Morpheus learns several key artifacts, necessary for restoring his full potential, have gone missing while his mythical kingdom has since fallen into neglect. The first part has Morpheus set out to recover his possessions, encountering monstrous foes and several familiar DC Comics characters along the way, an especially welcome nod to the series' origins set within the mainstream DC Universe.
Right from the outset, the fidelity to the original source material by the creative team is apparent, with each chapter of the radio drama directly adapting an individual issue of the comic book series. Narrated by Gaiman himself, virtually every story is brought to auditory life, line-for-line, with Gaiman's narration effectively setting each scene as the radio drama delivers terror in a handful of storytelling dust. Amazon has spared no expense in its adaptation, with an orchestral score and mood-setting sound effects dialing up the terror and fantastical wonder -- do not confuse this radio drama for a glorified audiobook.
Similarly, the voice cast brings their A-game to the material, with all due reverence to their respective characters but also knowing when to dial up the emotion and wit. Led by James McAvoy as the stoic Morpheus, the cast includes Taron Egerton as a particularly haunted John Constantine, Michael Sheen as Lucifer, Kat Dennings as Morpheus' older sister Death and more. The adaptation embellishes and expands on smaller details from the original story but also additive, never altering the original tale. In that sense, the radio drama not only adapts but enhances the comic story, with Gaiman's prominent participation providing his blessing as both creative director and executive producer in addition to his role as the narrator.
Genuinely gripping and even more terrifying, funny and heartbreaking in the radio drama format, Audible's adaptation of The Sandman is an effectively immersive way to experience the landmark comic book story. Both those that missed the Vertigo series the first time around or longtime readers will find the radio drama refreshing experience, expertly crafted with the horror story brought to life by a voice cast at the height of their powers to prove how timeless Gaiman's story truly is. For those unfamiliar with the radio drama format, The Sandman is the perfect gateway into the medium and will have listeners at the edge of their seat, waiting for the next chapter as Morpheus confronts walking nightmares in the darkest corners of the DCU.
Helmed by Dirk Maggs and narrated by Neil Gaiman, Audible's The Sandman stars the voices of James McAvoy, Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Samantha Morton, Bebe Neuwirth, Andy Serkis and Michael Sheen. The audio drama arrives July 15 and is currently available for pre-order.
Over the years, LEGO has established itself as a great video game producer, not just a toymaker. Since 1995, LEGO has developed 42 video games, including licensed properties, which have seen mixed success. However, one of the company's classic titles -- LEGO Racers -- is long overdue for a comeback.
LEGO Racers debuted in 1999 and released for PC, Nintendo 64, PlayStation and Game Boy Color. It also received a sequel in 2001, Lego Racers 2. Both games received fairly positive reviews; the franchise was one of the major early successes in the LEGO gaming line.
One of the major draws of LEGO Racers was its new, innovative features. It was one of the first games ever to allow the customization of characters and cars, which did a lot to help players feel more immersed in the game, as they could use their imagination to create their own story for their character.
Car customization also had an impact on gameplay, as opposed to just being a cosmetic change. Depending on what pieces were used and where they were placed, the balance and weight of the car would change. This would affect the car's performance on the track, so players had to be mindful when building their speedster.
It was also just plain fun to mess around in the character/car creator menu, since LEGO Racers offered a ton of customization options. Additional parts were unlocked upon beating bosses in game, so there was incentive to progress to get cooler pieces.
LEGO Racers also took a different approach to power-ups. Instead of having boxes with a random power-up inside, LEGO Racers had four different kinds of brick pick-ups in categories Hazard, Projectile, Turbo and Shield. Each pick-up had its own specific color, so players on the track could aim for whichever power-up would suit their needs most.
Additionally, the race track also featured white bricks that would boost power-up effectiveness. For example, upon picking up the Projectile brick, players would have access to a cannonball shot. However, if they were to also pick up three white bricks over the course of the race, the cannonball would upgrade to three guided rockets. This mechanic allowed players to have a choice in immediately using a weaker item or biding their time and having a potentially table-turning power-up activate later.
Finally, LEGO Racers maps were nothing to sneeze at. The games had a plethora of different locations, ranging from medieval castles to otherworldly space stations. Most tracks also had at least one shortcut that could be utilized to get ahead of the competition. Some shortcuts were even hidden behind obstacles that required a power-up to bypass.
Nearly two full decades after LEGO Racers 2, the company should consider releasing an additional sequel. Track creation, unique character abilities and online multiplayer could enhance the franchise's already great mechanics.
If any tag team in NXT should be using the classic Rodney Dangerfield quote, "I get no respect" as part of their gimmick, it should be Breezango. Despite years of indifference from management and several poorly timed injuries, Tyler Breeze and Fandango are still perennial fan favorites that keep pushing for more. Now, with a new wind blowing in the Cruiserweight Division, it might be time for the duo to jump in feet first.
WWE recently resurrected the WCW gimmick The Great American Bash to run as a two night event on NXT. Coincidentally, it's running on the same nights as AEW's two night Fyter Fest event. The Great American Bash was even the creation of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, whose sons are heavily involved in AEW. It's almost like the whole thing is a cheap shot at AEW or something.
During the first night of The Great American Bash, the new NXT Cruiserweight champion, Santos Escobar, came down to the ring with Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde. Now known as El Legado del Fantasma, the trio is already showing huge potential. It's also great to see NXT putting two solid talents to good use alongside Escobar. Mendoza and Wilde will definitely be in the mix for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
While Escobar delivered a promo about redeeming Lucha Libre, Drake Maverick made his way down to the ring. The recently re-signed superstar was still recovering from a beat down at the hands of El Legado del Fantasma, but that didn't stop him from rushing the ring. Naturally, that did not work out well as he's injured and it was a three on one situation. Fortunately, some unexpected backup soon jumped in to help.
After a bleak couple of minutes for Drake, Breezango hit the ring and cleared house. Even in those few moments, Breeze and Fandango showed their in ring chops and reminded everyone why they're still around after so many years. This set up a six man tag team match for night two of The Great American Bash pitting El Legado del Fantasma versus Drake Maverick and Breezango. It's a match that has the potential to steal the show, regardless of which side comes out on top.
Santos Escobar has been a breath of fresh air for the Cruiserweight Division, one it has desperately needed for some time. Talent has come and gone with few plans in place as to what to do with incoming superstars. Many of those who join the division don't really seem to fit in, which isn't their fault. It's hard to chase a championship that isn't even in the country. The pandemic forced WWE's hand and it had a tournament to crown a new champion in Jordan Devlin's absence.
This plan was put into place before the #SpeakingOut accusations came out against Devlin, but the tournament did solve the problem of what to do with a championship around the waist of someone caught up in the controversy. Escobar won, turned heel and revealed his new faction, giving the rest of the Cruiserweight Division a clear target and top heel, something it's been lacking for a long time.
On top of that, bringing Breezango into the mix can only benefit the division. Tyler Breeze has been competing in the Cruiserweight Division on and off during Fandango's long injury absences. These are a pair of smart, talented veterans who can bring eyes to the Cruiserweights. Management often appears unsure of how it feels about Breezango but the fans love them. Having them work in the division can only benefit everyone.
Night two of The Great American Bash is shaping up to be a good event, due in no small part to the upcoming six man tag team match. El Legado del Fantasma will prove to be the cohesive heel faction faction the Cruiserweight Division has been craving, and the combination of Drake Maverick and Breezango will make excellent opponents for them. This match could be the moment all six superstars have been waiting for -- one that will set the stage for the Cruiserweights for the next few months.
A second face has been added beside that of Mulan star Liu Yifei's in the growing #BoycottMulan movement: that of Liu's co-star, Donnie Yen, who is set to appear as Commander Tung in Disney's upcoming live-action remake.
Controversy surrounding the Chinese-born actor and martial artist stems from a recent post on Yen's Facebook page, celebrating July 1, Hong Kong's handover day. The actor wrote, "Today is the celebration day for Hong Kong returned to motherland China 23 years [sic]." He then recalled performing for Chairman Xi Jinping of the Chinese Communist Party in 2017, calling it a "memorable night."
Hong Kong observes the city's Establishment Day, marking the anniversary of the July 1 handover, when sovereignty over the region was transferred from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, as agreed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Yen's post and seemingly positive stance toward Xi Jinping has caused outrage in and around Hong Kong, where a national security law has been imposed by China, restricting the people's democratic rights -- which were promised to them in the Joint Declaration -- and conflicting with the special administrative region's own mini-constitution, the Basic Law. This follows more than a year of large-scale pro-democracy protests.
The #BoycottMulan movement began in Hong Kong after it was revealed that star Liu Yifei had expressed support for the Hong Kong Police Force and the often-brutal tactics it had employed on both peaceful protesters, journalists, medics and innocent bystanders. The movement has continued to grow around South East Asia in countries including South Korea and Thailand.
Directed by Niki Caro, Disney's Mulan stars Yifei Liu as Mulan, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan and Yoson An as Cheng Honghui, with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor. The film is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters August 21.
The actor behind a key character in HBO's Watchmen has explained exactly what aspect of the series appealed to him. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who played Cal Abar (and also Doctor Manhattan) in the series, cites the show's historical element, particularly the largely forgotten 1921 Greenwood massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"From the very first episode, we were into that story of the massacre in Oklahoma," Abdul-Mateen told Deadline. "And the way that it was very descriptive and detailed, and leaned into that history in a way I hadn’t seen before, I knew it was doing something special."
"I got each story one at a time, and as the scripts continued to come in and unfold, I saw the way they were writing this story about heroes, about the often untold side of American history," Abdul-Mateen said. "They were being very relentless and courageous with the content they were writing, telling the story of systemic racism in America, and the story of generational trauma, while also being a love story and a really exciting hero’s journey, and that was very exciting."
Cal Abar was the husband of Angela Abar, played by Regina King, who in turn portrayed the series' central costumed character Sister Night. Angela's grandfather Will Reeves, played by Louis Gossett Jr., in the context of the series was a survivor of the real-life Greenwood massacre. The historical event was repeatedly referenced throughout the show.
"Outside of the cast and the excellent artistic company, it’s really nice to be doing work that also speaks to the state of the world," Abdul-Mateen said. "We filmed this in 2018 and ’19, when the world was a lot more quiet than it is right now, but still, a lot of things were going on underneath. So, that definitely spoke to me."
Developed by Damon Lindelof, HBO's Watchmen stars Jeremy Irons, Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Jean Smart, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tom Mison, James Wolk, Adelaide Clemens, Andrew Howard, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, Lily Rose Smith and Adelynn Spoon.
Malcolm in the Middleis one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st century. It kickstarted the careers of its stars, most prominently Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, and gave Bryan Cranston a resurgence in his after starring as series patriarch, Hal. Much of the reason why this show is so well-remembered is because of the charms of young Muniz, and Malcolm's perceived ability to break the fourth wall, a la Deadpool.
Obviously, young Malcolm used much less profanity than Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson, but if a recent Reddit theory is to be believed, Malcolm may be a bit more unhinged than previously thought.
According to user Primetime22, Malcolm was never actually breaking the fourth wall, but rather, he was literally pretending to be in a television show. Now, such a theory would drastically change how a viewer might interpret the series, so what’s the evidence? Well, this particular theory also comes with some incredibly specific examples to back the idea up.
The first point the theorist makes draws attention to Malcolm’s home life. As can obviously be seen in the show, Malcolm’s family is constantly hanging on the edge, emotionally and financially speaking. The Reddit user suggests that this is the catalyst for Malcolm’s narration. To them, Malcolm copes with his lot in life by placing himself into the role of the protagonist of a television show, and he does this by narrating his thoughts out loud. They defend this reasoning by reminding us of Malcolm and his brothers’ love of television, as can be seen in the various television programs that flash by in the show’s opening credits.
If everyone can hear Malcolm when he’s doing his fourth-wall-breaking shtick, then why doesn’t anybody say anything? The theory then draws attention to the finale, as well as Malcolm’s family in general, stating that they are “no stranger to keeping secrets for Malcolm’s benefit.” They also say they’re familiar with manipulating others for their own personal gain, and that can be seen throughout the show.
One might reasonably assume that Malcolm’s family could take advantage of his penchant for speaking his thoughts out loud, and the theory uses specific examples to back this assumption up. There are multiple episodes wherein Malcolm breaking the fourth wall has some sort of consequence in his real-life -- even in the show’s pilot.
In the pilot, Malcolm makes a private comment to the audience about how Lois shaves Hal’s body. Immediately, Lois responds to the narration questioning what they’re going to do with all of the hair. This direct, relevant response to Malcolm’s fourth-wall-breaking antics isn’t just an outlier, either.
Even complete strangers seem to respond to Malcolm’s narration, as can be seen in the episode “Burning Man.” As he’s standing in a line, he remarks to the audience regarding the line’s ridiculous length. After he finishes, the man next to him turns and tells him to go check out another line. Would this man have said that to Malcolm had he not heard his narration? Probably not.
Another good example comes from the episode “Ida’s Boyfriend,” in which Malcolm gets his tongue pierced. After realizing he now has trouble pronouncing the letter “S” without a lisp, he tells the audience that he only needs to be careful with talking in order to hide the piercing from his parents. He finishes by saying “Simple!” with an obvious lisp. If the narration were really inside Malcolm’s head, why would he be lisping? The evidence is beginning to pile up!
So, is Malcolm actually using his narration to cope with his chaotic life? Maybe, maybe not. There are certainly many examples that show Malcolm’s narration being tied to his real life, but most of the time, Malcolm’s narration is really only heard by the audience. Just as well, too, as it is fairly difficult to believe that nobody in Malcolm's life would point out just how odd it is to narrate your life like a television show.
That being said, this is a well-presented and well-defended theory, and should certainly make for an interesting lens to view the show through on your next binge-watch.
When anime characters are as strong as Naruto, it’s fun to think about who and what else they might be able to take on in battle. With his incredible amounts of chakra and the fact that he has a fox demon locked inside of him, Naruto can give just about anyone a run for their money in a fight, and he proves that time and time again in the series.
But what about opponents other than ninjas? Could Naruto take on the various monsters that are present in Dungeons & Dragons? He would definitely be able to win against some of them, but there are a few that would give him a lot of trouble.
10 Destroy: Drow
A drow is a dark elf, and their powers mostly come from existing in the Underdark, where there isn’t much light. They rarely come out in the daylight. Many of their spells and powers are particularly defensive, and they don’t actually have a lot of practical use in combat; they’re mostly used to hide themselves or distract opponents. Plus, they find this kind of spell incredibly tiring to do. If Naruto could stay focused and keep his eyes on a drow, they wouldn’t stand a chance against him.
9 Put Up A Fight: Werebear
Werebears have several forms they can take during battle, which would definitely suit them from a strategic standpoint, since one might lend itself to speed and another to strength. In actual bear form, the werebear is incredibly strong, and on top of that, it uses weapons that supplement this strength. They also can’t be harmed easily with regular weapons due to their lycanthrope status, so Naruto would have to figure out a way to fight them using silver.
8 Destroy: Hook Horror
A hook horror is a strange bird-like creature that has hook-like appendages on the end of its arms. They mostly kill their prey via ambush, and they usually work in groups. In a fair fight, Naruto would already have the advantage because the hook horror would lose that element of surprise. He’d also simply need to stay out of the range of the hooks in order to win, since they’re really a hook horror’s only offensive weapon.
7 Put Up A Fight: Gold Dragon
Gold dragons use mostly fire-based spells and attacks in battle, and no matter how strong Naruto is, he’s probably going to get injured in the process of fighting one of these.
Gold dragons are also very strategic, and they often do what they can to buy time before a battle in order to prepare and find advantages against their opponents. Despite Naruto’s strength, strategizing is not his strong suit.
6 Destroy: Goblin
A single goblin is not a very formidable foe. While goblins usually fight in groups in order to overwhelm their foes, they’re pretty weak on their own. Naruto would certainly be able to handle one of these creatures if he were to come face to face with it. But even in a group, Naruto would likely be able to overpower them.
5 Put Up A Fight: Chain Devil
A chain devil would definitely be a struggle for Naruto. Because they’re physically powerful and also because they don’t actually have to get close to their opponent in order to cause damage, they’d be a difficult foe for Naruto to strategize against. They use chains– with weapons like hooks and scythes attached to chains– to fight, controlling them psychically. Naruto would have to get past this defense without getting slashed open in order to win.
4 Destroy: Griffon
Griffons aren’t usually very violent, which would certainly help Naruto in battle. They do have impressive talons and eagle beaks, which would definitely hurt if caught with them, but their powers aren’t so over the top that Naruto couldn’t fight back with his own extraordinary power.
Plus, griffons are intelligent creatures, so they’d probably avoid battle anyway.
3 Put Up A Fight: Shadow Demon
Shadow demons are traditional demons in that part of their powers is allowing them to get inside a person’s head in order to cause terror and nightmares, which Naruto would probably be susceptible to. They’re also mostly incorporeal, which means Naruto would have a hard time actually landing a blow on a shadow demon, and since he doesn’t use magic, it would be hard for him to defeat it.
2 Destroy: Demilich
The demilich is a lich, usually an undead wizard or sorcerer, who has evolved past the need for an actual physical body. Usually, they are just a floating head. Despite not having a body, they are very resistant to magical attacks. But Naruto doesn’t use magic, and his incredible amount of physical power would certainly be enough to come out victorious against a demilich.
1 Put Up A Fight: Mind Flayer
Mind flayers don’t really fight in a physical manner, but they are able to do an array of psychic attacks. They usually use this to take control of their prey and then eat their brains. Naruto is physically strong, but he has shown a good deal of mental weakness throughout the series, particularly when he’s in highly emotional situations. A mind flayer might be able to take advantage of that.
Pennyworthwas a DC series that put a supporting character into the spotlight. It's been a surprise success and with a second season on the way, it's clear that this formula could work for other characters. What sticks out about this superhero show is that the protagonist is powerless.
It's interesting to take characters like Alfred Pennyworth, to their days before their superhero origins, to see how they operated in their own respective worlds. It says a lot about them as they start to become heroes or at least move closer to their comic book counterparts. This formula could also work for villains who fans would love to explore a little deeper.
10 Amanda Waller
Amanda Waller has always known how to work her way to the top. She's manipulative and incredibly intelligent. She has a great mind for strategy and knows how to collect vital information.
The character likely had an incredibly interesting rise through the ranks of ARGUS and it would be compelling to see that journey before she founded the Suicide Squad program.
9 Lex Luthor
The man of tomorrow was once in the public's good books before he started a campaign against the man of steel. Lex Luthor was a great businessman and an inventor.
Over the years he has become more crazed despite his intelligence. It would be fascinating to see Lex Luthor in a world without Superman and how that character would operate within the power that he yields.
8 Helena Bertinelli
Helena Bertinelli was brought up as a trained assassin. She's been working on bettering her combat skills for most of her life, to try and get revenge and clean up the streets as the vigilante Huntress.
Characters like Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen have both had their origin stories explored in great detail, leading up to them donning their costumes. It would be great to see a similar approach taken with the Huntress, with a more gritty telling or her early life before the hood.
7 Vic Sage
One of the original versions of the Question, Vic Sage is an accomplished journalist and investigator, before taking on a more heroic role using those same skills.
It's a show that could be steeped in the mystery genre and of course, it wouldn't work narratively unless Sage was joined by his protegee and future Question, Renee Montoya.
6 Mari Jiwe McCabe
Mari is an iteration of Vixen. She has a long history with the animal totem, dating back throughout her people. it's a relic of her family and the powers that lie with that object are extremely strong.
The future Katana has her own story heavily linked to her husband and her enchanted blade. Her background in martial arts, her training, and her family, all play a huge part in her narrative.
Katana's story is complex and emotional. It would, therefore, be fascinating to see a series based on her origins, which will combine both action-thriller elements as well as heartbreaking drama.
4 John Stewart
John Stewart's background has been changed a few times, even to include time in the military. There's an option here to combine a few different versions to demonstrate many sides of Stewart's personality.
He was originally a backup version of the Green Lantern for Hal Jordon, jumping in and out of missions and trying to find his place in the corps. There's a science fiction and deeply personal adventure here that a show akin to Pennyworth could explore.
3 Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon was deeply entrenched into the superhero world even before she became Batgirl. With her history also involving time as Oracle and various careers relating to her missions, there's a lot to explore here.
A younger Bruce Wayne has been explored in a TV show, so why not look into an up and coming to Gordon, who is having to deal with the stresses of her Father's job and her secret life helping vigilantes.
2 J'onn J'onzz
The Martian Manhunter had a full life, career, and family on Mars before everything fell apart. This period of time is rarely explored but could be fascinating in a TV show.
There are a few great comics that could inform the show a little further, but much like the work done on Krypton, there's also room to invent some new lore surrounding J'onn J'onzz.
1 David Singh
Captain Singh is a vital part of the Flash's support network and one of the best cops in DC Comics. Much like Jim Gordon has experienced his origins told on a TV show, it could be interesting to do the same with Singh.
The character has played into many of the Flash's successful missions and has been a great Captain to the local police force. His story is one of action and a clash between humanity and over the top super-heroics.
Natsu and Lucy have had so many heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments throughout Fairy Tail. Their relationship is one of the best in the series, so filled with love and care. They are always looking out for each other, sometimes even above their own health. It's the type of kinship, anyone would love to have.
The sheer amount of cute moments the two get is unsurpassed in the guild, and only Levy and Gajeel come close in terms of being a loving couple. That's exactly what they are to, even if they want to still deny that fact. While there were many to choose from, here are some of the most heartwarming moments the pair has had.
10 Natsu Invites Lucy Into Fairy Tail
This is one of the earliest events that happened in the series, but it's also one of the biggest in the entire story. Natus inviting Lucy to join Fiary Tail showed how lovable and caring he really was, even if he is a hot-headed goofball a lot of the time. The fact he did it after saving her from the false Salamander, Bora, only made it better.
By this point, Lucy didn't have the same feelings towards Natsu as she does later in the series, but it was a near-perfect way to introduce the two to one another. Lucy's dream of joining Fairy Tail coming in the most unlikely of fashions.
9 Team Natsu Forever
The original reason behind the creation of Team Natsu was due to Lucy's looks, since Natsu thought that she could infiltrate Everlude Mansion easily and finish an easy job.
That was just the surface reason, though. Right after the mission, Natsu had no desire to break up the team. He genuinely wanted to work with Lucy more even though at that time, she was far from the most skilled or talented mage in the guild. The fact he didn't care is incredibly sweet.
8 Lucy Jumps From The Sky Prison
This moment was the one where fans could truly see the bond these two hand, and that it was one that could easily go beyond just being friends.
Here, Lucy was kidnapped by the Phantom Lord as a means of both ransom and a goad Fairy Tail into a fight. Lucy manages to break free and jumps from the top of the sky prison, having faith that Natsu will be there to catch her as she calls his name. Natsu hears the call, leaping through the air to catch her in the nick of time. Now that's a trust fall!
7 Natsu Reassures Lucy That She's Part Of The Team, No Matter What
Spiraling out of her plunge, Lucy blamed herself for everything Phantom Lord was doing to Fairy Tail but at the same time, expressed a desire to stay in the guild. She loved Fairy Tail too much to leave it behind.
Natsu never blamed her and instead reaffirmed that she was part of the guild, swearing revenge on Phantom Lord for what they did. To top it all off, he carried her over his back while Lucy was in tears, realizing that she couldn't walk on her own.
6 Natsu Saves Lucy From Gajeel
Later on, Natsu comes to her aid yet again, this time from a pummeling at the hands of Gajeel. While Natsu usually has a level of anger whenever he sees one of his friends being endangered, there is a certain level of anger that comes when that villain is being violent towards Lucy.
He unleashed everything he had to keep Lucy safe, even if Gajeel was the superior fighter at the time. The sheer tenacity that Natsu had towards Lucy was pretty heartwarming, letting you see just how far their bond had come.
5 Lucy Rushes Towards Natsu After Her Fight With Angel
Despite having a badly wounded arm, Lucy's main focus was rushing towards a motion sickness having Natsu. The injuries didn't matter to her; all that mattered was getting to her friend.
Even as Angel knocked away the log that Natsu had been floating on, Lucy still clutched Natsu as tightly as she could, not caring that they were toppling over a waterfall together. Caring about someone above yourself is always going to be pure and heartwarming.
4 Natsu Threatens To Turn Everyone To Ash
During the Edolas arc, Lucy was imprisoned by the Royal Army. Couple that with the fact many of Natsu's friends were encased in Lacrima and it's not hard to imagine just how pissed off Natsu is.
It's easy to see how he reacted when he found out Lucy was going to be executed. As expected, Natsu threatened to burn everything and everyone to ash. While it is rather violent in nature, the fact that Natsu was willing to burn down a whole kingdom over Lucy is proof of just how much he cared about her.
3 Natsu Encourages Lucy After Her Loss To Flare
Lucy has never been overly confident in her abilities... at least those that aren't tied to sex appeal. On more than one occasion, she felt like she was the weak link, holding both her team and the guild back at points. This was no more evident than after her battle with Flare.
She was saddened more by the loss than she was about her injuries, more focused on the fact that Fairy Tail still had zero points. Naturally, Natsu was the first person there to pick her up, saying that the loss only made it more fun and that they'd finish on top in the end.
2 Lucy Catches Natsu's Scarf
This is the epitome of sweetness, and more than any other thing here, it shows how well Lucy knows Natsu. During his fight with Hades, Natsu's scarf flew off of him, nearly falling from the airship they were fighting on.
If not for Lucy, Natsu's signature scarf may very well have drifted off into the breeze, never to be seen again. Lucy dove after it, nearly falling from the platform herself. To care so much for a memento that isn't even yours is beyond heartwarming.
1 Lucy Hugs Natsu & Saves The World
This is the biggest and most heartwarming moment the pair has had. Natsu defeated Mercuphobia with the aide of the Dragon Force, but couldn't regain control of himself, stating his desire to burn the entire world down. If it weren't for Lucy's quick thinking, he may very well of done just that.
She rushed forward, wrapping him in her arms and holding him as tight as she could. Very few would have risked that, especially with how Natsu was acting. Lucy didn't care, always putting him and his well being first.
