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01/22/15 @ 9:27 pm EST
Mark Rahner, writer of The Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance #1, talks with Eric Trautmann about Vampirella Feary Tales #4, both on sale now.  MARK RAHNER: You had a nice, long run on the monthly Vampirella series, and I’m glad to see you back. Did you miss her? And what do you like about writing her?ERIC TRAUTMANN: I did miss her, as it happens. I had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the property when I first wrote it—horror/supernatural fare wasn’t a genre I had played around in much. Joe Rybandt, the series’ editor, just wouldn’t take no for an answer. I felt like I’d done some good work building a fairly accessible and stable status quo for her by the time I left the book, and didn’t have any serious plans to come back, but when I was asked to contribute a story for Vampirella #100, I was surprised at how much it felt like a homecoming. MR: Tell me about your story in Vampirella Feary Tales #4. It’s for kids, right?ET: Sure. It’s a wholesome tale of axe murder and eating too many sweets. MR: When you think about it, fairy tales are pretty disturbing on their own. What was your approach? ET: I was given a list of fairy tales that had been spoken for by other writers, and the one I most wanted to do was not on that list, so it was simply a matter of extrapolating out from the end of the fairy tale in question (and I’m not immediately naming it to avoid spoilers), and just adding Vampirella to the mix to make sure there was plenty of murder-ness.In terms of approach, I wanted to take the general level of weirdness and amp it up just a little; there’s always a hint of whimsy and humor in fairy tales, and as you’re already quite aware, humorous Vampirella stories work very well.  MR: Related: “Just Add Vampi” seems like a winning strategy in all sorts of areas.ET: It actually does, doesn’t it? MR: Your story in Vampirella #100 is called “The Vodnik.” I was excited because I thought it had to do with vodka. Can you please explain yourself? ET: Sadly, no, it isn’t about vodka. It’s about murder, tobacco, gambling and other vices, though. Your continuing disappointment in me is just one more cross I have to bear, I suppose. MR: What can you say about the folklore without spoiling too much?ET: When I sat down to write my chapter of Vampirella #100, I knew that space was an obvious consideration, so I wanted to do something atmospheric, character-driven—there wasn’t a lot of room to develop a big conspiracy plot or some such. An excerpt from a book of folklore being run over Vampirella dealing with a minor monster infestation seemed to fit the bill.And, as often happens, I started researching weird monsters and ran across the Vodnik—a Czech water troll. There’s actually a statue of one near the Charles River bridge in Prague, and it just felt right. Then I started looking for a U.S. location to have a Vodnik hole up, and the bridge I chose (in Chicago) is actually being torn down. The story just sort of wrote itself from there. Like you said: Just add Vampi. MR: I grew up loving short stories – Matheson, Ellison, Fredric Brown. It’s a dying art, and I think it’s harder to write short than long. What do you think?ET: Sometimes it’s alarming just how similar our influences are, especially Richard Matheson and — in my personal “canon” — most especially Harlan Ellison.That said, I’m much more comfortable working long form; my first comics work was 32 pages, no ads, and that spoiled me for life. It’s challenging to stretch my long-dormant short fiction muscles. I had the good fortune to be asked to contribute to Vampirella Feary Tales #4, Vampirella #100 and Red Sonja #100 at roughly the same time, so it was a pretty effective refresher course.  MR: Would you care to say a few words about Vampi’s costume? Just briefly, of course … since it’s a subject no one has anything to say about … and I wouldn’t want to waste the time of people who don’t feel strongly about it.ET: I had been accused of “hating” Vampirella and her costume when I kicked off the Dynamite “era,” which isn’t true. There were specific reasons I chose to downplay it (despite it showing up on every cover, and later, re-appearing in the course of the story), in part to make it easier to adapt to film or television. I have fondness for the costume, but the tone of my roughly twenty issues was darker, more “realistic” (for lack of a better term) and it made it tougher to justify someone running around not really wearing clothes. People wear costumes for special occasions, not everyday walking around town. Some people loved it, some people hated it.The irony here is that, after the pseudo-“controversy” of redesigning Vampirella’s costume in “my” run on the main title, I wrote “The Vodnik” from her point-of-view; we see the story almost totally through Vampirella’s eyes until the last page. I fully expected her to appear in her traditional “costume” rather than the street clothes, and didn’t specify a costume in the script.So Dave Acosta — who did a magnificent job illustrating both this and the Red Sonja #100 piece — drew her in the Armani anyway. MR: What’s next for you? Is it vodka?ET: I’m more of a scotch guy.The next comic project from Dynamite I contributed to is Red Sonja #100, which comes out in February (and is more of a horror/weird tale than anything I’d written for her before).
10/11/25 @ 11:50 am EST
Rian Johnson, the acclaimed writer-director behind the “Knives Out” franchise, has made headlines with his latest entry, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.” Johnson has openly described this third film as the closest the series has come to emulating the classic structure of an Agatha Christie novel—a deliberate shift from the subversive approaches of “Knives Out” and “Glass Onion.” At the Deadline Contenders London event, Johnson explained that “Wake Up Dead Man” adopts a “more traditional murder mystery structure,” echoing the formula Christie perfected. In his words: “This is how most Agatha Christie books work, where in the first act you meet all the suspects, you meet the protagonist, who’s not the detective. Then the murder happens, and the detective shows up.” This marks a departure from the previous films, which played with audience expectations—solving the murder early in “Knives Out,” and presenting a deceptively simple case in “Glass Onion.” In “Wake Up Dead Man,” Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc returns to tackle a darker, more gothic mystery, set in a remote stone church and featuring religious intrigue. The film’s protagonist, played by Josh O’Connor, is a priest who becomes Blanc’s sidekick, further grounding the story in classic whodunnit territory. Johnson also cited inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe, aiming for a “grounded, gothic tone” that predates Christie’s work. With the release of “Wake Up Dead Man,” Johnson completes his two-film deal with Netflix. So, what’s next? Johnson has confirmed that he will be taking a break from the “Knives Out” series to focus on an original project. “I’m writing right now, [but] it’s not one of these [Knives Out] films. It’s just something completely different, an original thing. I actually feel very energized after making this one [Wake Up Dead Man], but this is three in a row. It’s probably healthy to see other people.” He hasn’t revealed details about this new project or whether it will be with Netflix, but he’s made it clear that he wants to explore a different genre. Johnson’s creative philosophy is to “empty the well and then start from scratch,” ensuring each new film is a fresh challenge. Despite the break, Johnson remains enthusiastic about returning to the world of Benoit Blanc. He’s stated that as long as Daniel Craig is interested and audiences are engaged, he’d be happy to keep making “Knives Out” mysteries for life. Producer Ram Bergman echoed this, saying future installments are possible, but for now, the focus is on Johnson’s original script.  ... 10/11/25 @ 11:37 am EST
The Season 2 finale of Peacemaker has left fans with mixed feelings and a lot of speculation for the future. Known for its irreverent humor, brutal action, and surprising depth, the closing episode focused more on wrapping up emotional drama but also planted significant seeds for the future of the DC Universe (DCU). This was done through the introduction of Checkmate and Salvation, signaling the long-term direction for the first phase of the new universe. Checkmate, for those unfamiliar with DC Comics lore, is a covert intelligence agency known for operating in the shadows, often handling threats that are too dangerous or politically sensitive for public superhero teams. They first appeared in Action Comics #598, created by Paul Kupperberg and Steve Erwin. While in the comics, the organization is created by Amanda Waller, in the HBO Max series, it is founded by Amanda’s daughter, Leota Adebayo and the rest of the 11th Street Kids using the drug money that Vigilante had been saving. Their arrival marks a significant turning point, suggesting that future seasons—and perhaps other DCU projects—will explore the complex world of espionage, betrayal, and secret wars within the superhero community. Salvation in the comics is a prison planet where Waller and Rick Flag started sending metahumans too powerful to be held in regular prisons. This was introduced in the Salvation Run comic series, originally pitched by George R.R. Martin, written by Bill Willingham and Lilah Sturges and drawn by a variety of artists including Sean Chen and Joe Bennet. This lead into the Final Crisis event which had Darkseid coming to Earth. In the series, Salvation is an alternate reality discovered through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber that appears to be Earth-like and ideal for Flag and Lex Luthor’s plan for a place to send Metahumans. The season ends with Chris Smith aka Peacemaker, forced into Salvation by Argus and left to fend for himself. These introductions show that James Gunn overall plan for Gods & Monsters, the first phase of the DCU, is going to loosely adapt Salvation Run and may lead us to a version of Final Crisis. Even though there is a cliffhanger ending, Gunn has said that there are no immediate plans for a third season of Peacemaker, but he’s promised that these characters will be seen again soon, and the existence of Salvation will playout over all of the DCU including the upcoming Lanterns series and the 2027 film Man of Tomorrow. Reaction to the finale has been mixed with some fans disappointed with the lack of action nor any big cameo that many had speculated. Other fans though appreciated the emotional catharsis achieved by the characters and the new direction which included a few members of Argus, specifically Sasha Bordeaux, Langston Feury and Judo Master, becoming members of Checkmate along with the 11th Street Kids. Where and how we’ll see this story continue has yet to be announced.  ... 10/05/25 @ 11:50 am EST
One of the more controversial things in this summer’s Superman film was the appearance of Kara Zor-El aka Supegirl played by House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock. The character has been on screen before, first played by Helen Slater and then Melissa Benoist and in both interpretations the character came across in a lot of ways as a female version of her cousin, Kal-El. This didn’t make sense to writer Ana Nogueira who DC Studios asked to take a swing at writing a new feature for. Nogueira, a former actor turned writer, told Variety, “She watched Krypton completely be destroyed. I was always like, ‘I can’t get my head around the version of the character that is so sunny.’” And then she came across Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow series with a rougher, grittier, edgier and funnier Supergirl. “When I read it, I was like, ‘There she is,’” Nogueira says. Fueled by this different take on the character, Nogueira crafted a script that not only won over DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, but earned her two more assignments, Wonder Woman and Teen Titans. Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie, will hit theaters in June of 2026.  10/05/25 @ 11:20 am EST
While appearing at the Hamptons International Film Festival to promote her new film Eternity, Elizabeth Olsen was asked about a possible return to the MCU. “It is something that I love, and it’s something I always want to return to. I think the thing that’s been so special about the last five years is I’ve gotten to do so much with the character that I never thought I would. There are still character through lines that have happened in the comics that I’d love to do that I think fans also want to. I mean, these movies aren’t for critics, these movies are for fans.” Olsen first appeared as Wanda Maximoff in a brief cameo at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014 and reprised the roles in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: End Game (2019) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) as well as lead a spinoff Disney+ series, WandaVision in 2021. And while her character has died, that doesn’t necessarily mean the end when it comes to comic=book-based movies. And while she’s not been announced for any new Scarlet Witch projects, she remains very positive towards the whole thing. “It’s really fruitful, and the stories have only gotten better for me, my character. I really enjoyed it. Some people have ongoing television series that they get to return to. Very few, I feel like, get to be a part of franchises that, I know we might culturally get a little bit exhausted by, but there is something about them that becomes very familial. There’s nothing else really like it, and I don’t know that I’ll have [that] again unless it’s for an ongoing show. I do like that kind of consistency. It feels good. I mean, job security feels nice — I think we can all agree on that.”  ... 10/04/25 @ 9:53 am EST
If you're a fan of Peacemaker, you may have recognized the familiar face of Keith Smith as David Denman, a seasoned actor whose career spans television, film, and even stage performances. Denman is perhaps best known for his role as Roy Anderson on the beloved NBC sitcom The Office. He played Pam Beesly’s fiancé during the first few seasons, making frequent appearances and creating memorable moments in the show's iconic Scranton branch setting. Where I first saw him was as Brian Murphy, one of the football players in the sports comedy The Replacements, starring alongside Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. His portrayal of the tough yet endearing deaf tight end made him a standout in this memorable ensemble cast. He also starred alongside John Krasinski in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, portraying a member of the security team. Denman worked with James Gunn previously in the horror film Brightburn, playing the adoptive father to the film’s central character. Denman’s television career includes appearances in shows like Parenthood, Outcast, and Mare of Easttown. His ability to slip into a variety of characters has made him a familiar face to audiences across genres, from comedy and drama to horror and action. In addition to his main roles, Denman has also shown up in guest spots on popular series such as Grey’s Anatomy, True Detective, and The X-Files. His versatility and range have made him a reliable presence in Hollywood for over two decades. So, if you’re watching Peacemaker and wondering where you’ve seen David Denman before, chances are it’s been in one of these standout projects. His extensive resume ensures that he’s a familiar face to fans of both television and film.  10/04/25 @ 9:36 am EST
After several seasons of quirky humor and heartwarming family moments, Fox has officially canceled the animated series The Great North. The series premiered on Fox as part of the network’s Sunday night animation lineup, joining the ranks of beloved shows like Bob’s Burgers and The Simpsons. Created by Wendy Molyneux, Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, and Minty Lewis, the show focused on the Tobin family living in the wilds of Alaska. Its cast featured the voices of Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Will Forte, and Dulcé Sloan, who brought the unique and eccentric characters to life. Fox did not cite a specific reason for the cancellation. Despite positive critical reception and a loyal audience, The Great North struggled to achieve the same mainstream popularity as some of its animated peers. This likely contributed to the network’s decision to end the series.  09/28/25 @ 8:53 am EST
If you are enjoying season 2 of Peacemaker and are wondering if there is going to be a season 3… well, sort of. According to writer/director James Gunn, the eight and final episode of the season will set up what’s next, “Some of these characters will continue, but also, it’s not exactly Peacemaker 3. I’m not ruling it out. You’ll see (episode) 8 and maybe you’ll find out a little bit more.” There is speculation that this might be tied into the planned Amanda Waller series with Viola Davis, which has been progressing slowly since the initial Gunn/ Peter Safran announcement. One interesting thing, it seems this week’s scene between Lex Luthor ( Nicholas Hoult) and Rick Flag Sr. ( Frank Grillo) had been in the works even before the Earth X plot for the season had been settled on. “When I pitched to DCU what the basic stories were throughout the TV shows and movies, this was a part of that.” The Belle Reve scene and the Justice Gang auditions were filmed on consecutive Saturdays during the filming of the Superman movie. There is also one more Superman character crossover to come in episode 8.  09/28/25 @ 8:37 am EST
Tom Holland is on the mend after an incident on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day which left the actor with a concussion and a week off as production halted. Holland was well enough to attend a recent gala for his parents’ nonprofit The Brothers Trust alongside his fiancée and co-star Zendaya. He posted to Instagram, “What a night! Another huge success. The Brothers Trust means more to me than I could possibly say and I have to say a huge thank you to my Mum and her wonderful friends for putting on another incredible night. Raising money for fantastic causes and having fun doing it! I’m sorry I had to leave early but I’m feeling better and on the mend. A huge thanks to my Dad for taking over after I left. The show got considerably funnier.” Holland received the mild concussion during a stunt gone wrong and was taken to the hospital immediately but not admitted. The film is being shot in Scotland and even with the delay should still be able to make it’s July 31st, 2026 release date. 
09/27/25 @ 1:01 pm EST
Earlier this year we learned that plans for a second season of Hawkeye were derailed when Jeremy Renner received an offer for only half of what he made on season one. The actor commented that perhaps Disney thought he was only half the actor he was after getting run over by a snowplow in 2023. But he made it clear that this wasn’t Marvel or even the higher ups at Disney but rather the accountants. He, of course, refused the offer, but he didn’t close the door to the idea. Renner, who continues to recover from the accident, was at Florida Supercon and was asked if he would still want to reprise the role in a second season. “It was great to dive more into the character a bit, in a world that’s more grounded. To me, it was a lot more fun to do and more to explore for the character, which is nice. I always wanted to do more of that stuff, and there’s the incident that happened, and I have to get my body in shape to be able to sling arrows again and dive around and do all that stuff, but I’ll get there. I’m doing good.” The actor remains hopeful for a second season, “I’ll always dance with Marvel. I’ll always dance with them for sure when appropriate, when it’s rocking, I’m happy to do season two of Hawkeye. I love that character. I think there’s so much for us to do.” Renner continues his series Mayor of Easttown as well as will be appearing in the upcming third Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man!.  09/27/25 @ 12:24 pm EST
Warner Bros made Superman available digitally after just 73 days, far earlier than normal for a tent pole film and when asked why, co-head of DC Studios James Gunn said that he wanted to make sure that fans could see the film before Peacemaker season 2 was released. Turns out that it also lined up that it would be released on HBO Max the weekend prior to the sixth episode which turned out to be very important to both the story and the future of the DCU. In a scene that is said to help set up Gunn’s next film, Man of Tomorrow, Nicholas Holt reprised his role as Lex Luthor showing us not only the ramifications of his actions in Superman, but we see Rick Flag Sr. ( Frank Grillo) give the character an opportunity that will likely lead to the believed team up between Lex and Superman in the summer of 2027. Gunn spoke about the scene on Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, “This was one of the first scenes we shot. I think we shot it in the middle of Superman, while we were shooting the pentagon sequences in Superman. It was cool, it was weird because tonally, it instantly felt different from Superman, which is so big and brash. And this show is so grounded and gritty. And then also hearing Nick curse. But I felt like even Nick’s performance was different. It felt a little darker, it was a little different.” In the scene, Flag travels to Belle Reve prison to see Lex to get his help tracking the dimensional portal currently in the hands of Peacemaker ( John Cena). Gunn explained, “We have a really important moment, for not only Peacemaker, but the entire DCU, in that Rick Flag, the head of ARGUS, strikes a deal basically with Lex Luthor. In exchange for Lex Luthor finding where Peacemaker’s portal might be, he is going to move him from a prison with metahumans to a prison with no metahumans.” The importance of this deal will undoubtedly play out in Man of Tomorrow, a film that Gunn has said isn’t a true sequel to Superman, but a film that will focus on both Superman and Lex.  ... |
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