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06/12/15 @ 8:54 am EST
Writer’s commentary by David Avallone for Legenderry: Vampirella #5Legenderry: Vampirella was my first series as a comic book writer, and I have to thank Allison Baker, Chris Roberson, Bill Willingham and Joseph Rybandt for pushing me to do it, recommending me for it, and having the faith that I could pull it off. I hope they were satisfied with the results. And so here we find ourselves in the final issue. In Chapter Four I tried to set up all the elements for the climax, and now the curtain rises on my (hopefully) Grand Finale. What follows will have some MAJOR spoilers, including the really big twist I’ve been building up to: this is best read AFTER you’ve read Legenderry Vampirella Chapter Five.  Page 1: Mercy and Rudolf Rassendyll riding to the rescue of Vampirella, and arriving to see her handiwork. On the one hand I always want to stress that Vampirella doesn’t want anybody’s assistance. On the other… we could all use a little help from our friends.  Page 2 & 3: A beautiful two-page splash from David Thomas Cabrera. I take every chance I get to say nice things about DTC, because his work on this book has been extraordinary. He’s used every piece of photo reference I threw at him, and graciously accepted my occasional small tweaks on framing and layout. The title of this issue is HEARTS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS: the reference to Jospeh Conrad (already present in the “Kurtz” character) is obvious. The reference to Roger Zelazny’s craziest novel is a little more obscure. The last page of the previous issue teased this issue’s title as THE VAMPIRE STRIKES BACK, but that was a joke.  Page 4: Vampirella has been previously established (long before I started writing her) as invulnerable. But… she’s made of matter, and a disintegrator (or “demolecularizer”, as my characters like to call them) is going to disintegrate matter. The glancing blow here isn’t quite enough to make her disappear in a puff of smoke, though. The sizzling glow where the beam hit is her body replacing cells at almost the same speed that the beam is burning them off. It’s worth mentioning here that in Chapter Three I tried to make it clear that I favor her original “Planet Draculon” sci-fi origin story, in all of its insane glory. No Biblical hoo-hah here.  Page 5: In my first drafts, I rarely gave the Clones any lines. When I see David’s art I am invariably moved to give them something to say. They’re pawns, and what’s really going on is always above their pay grade. Still, they see what’s happening and react like any confused pawn does when the important pieces start moving (and wiping them out.) Page 6, Panel 5: Doing a book set in a world populated by legends, you want to work with iconic characters. Bill Willingham, when he created the world of “Legenderry”, brought together a fantastic group of the Dynamite Comics characters and reimagined them in fun and interesting ways. When I was asked to spin-off a series with Vampirella, I was given a lot of freedom to add new characters to this setting. Working with turn-of-the-century public domain characters is not a new idea, and Alan Moore worked these fields rather thoroughly in his LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, so I had to take to my shelves to find characters I loved and wanted to write, given this opportunity. (I also took a moment to check with the irreplaceable Jess Nevins that Alan had not exploited any of these characters already in his books.) In this panel you see three at once: Kurtz, The Emperor Jones, and Rupert of Hentzau. In this “alternate universe” of Legenderry, I postulate that MY Kurtz – rather than dying – opens a trade route to the Jungle and becomes a very rich man, with some of the personality traits of a certain other famous billionaire whose initial is “K”. Likewise, the Emperor Jones survives his nightmarish flight from revolution, and finds refuge in the Council. The Devil-may-care Hentzau is much as he was at the end of The Prisoner of Zenda: out of a job, and pretty pissed off at Rudolph Rassendyll. I have loved writing these three guys, and hope I get a chance to use them again. Page 6, Panel 6: Valcallan returns, with an electro-rifle. We all know who the “mad old Sikh” is, right?  Page 8: I intended these panels to mirror each other, but left that out of the script. I thought the framing wouldn’t work. David Cabrera read my mind and did it anyway. Rassendyll is probably flashing back to his desperate assault on Zenda. His memory is hazy, though… because… (spoiler!) he’s not really Rassendyll. Page 9: The constable is named Sennett. Of course he is. Later, this man will go on to form the Keystone Kops, klearly. Page 10: I hate to send Mercy away from the big finale, but that’s how it worked out. She’s based on a pulp character from the late fifties, but I won’t say who… maybe next time.  Page 12: I love the “climbing the airship tow-rope” action beat. So did the producers of A VIEW TO A KILL. I think we’re BOTH ripping it off from a 1971 Michael York WWI movie called ZEPPELIN. And here’s a little more chatter from the Clones, for laughs. I think they’d definitely be talking about the death toll this one lady has racked up among their ranks. Page 14-15: Here we go. I’m genuinely curious if this worked… if people saw it coming. Naturally, Rupert figures it out before everyone else.  Page 16: It could be argued that Black Mass saving Vampirella here is a deus ex machina moment… but I did my best to set it up. It’s not random. Black Mass has been there all along, and he saves her because he loves her. It’s a love story. I’m pretty sure in the solicits for the first issue I mentioned that. You just forgot, in all the violence and fun. Page 17: The moment in the previous issue, where Rassendyll is looking at himself quizzically in the mirror, should come to mind here. Black Mass lost himself for a bit. The disguise was too perfect, including susceptibility to knock-out drugs. Page 18: This is a good time to mention Dave Lanphear, letterer and Robby Bevard, colorist. Like a bad movie director, all I told Dave about anything in this series was “it would be nice if there was a cool lettering treatment” (when Kurtz is orating, or Black Mass is speaking). I didn’t give him a single useful idea other than “make it cool”, and he did. In this issue, it was Robby Bevard’s idea to have the sun slowly setting, and the sky turning colors, as the story progressed. A perfect idea, beautifully pulled off, that helps the story – indeed TELLS the story – magnificently. Robby’s work on the whole series has been stunning, and always in service of the narrative. Page 19: In issue one, the story began on the airship platform of Kurtz tower. It ends there, too. I like that sort of thing.  Page 20: Last issue, Kurtz said “Exterminate the brutes!” Here he gets to use his most famous catchphrase. Page 21: Vampirella hasn’t had a reason (or a chance) to extend her wings in this series… I thought it would be lovely to do it here, at the end. I always listen to music when I write, and soundtrack nerds might find it interesting that I listened to “Taarna Forever” from Elmer Bernstein’s score for Heavy Metal when I was writing this sequence. (No one else will care.) Page 22: Our story ends, for now, with a joke from Citizen Kane, a hopeful ending not unlike Here Comes Mr. Jordan and the final payoff of the running gag about Rudolf’s silly name. I hope you enjoyed the ride… For more on Legenderry: Vampirella #5, click here.
05/09/26 @ 3:03 pm EST
We are in the age of Matthew Lillard and everyone except Quentin Tarantino seems to be happy about it. The Scream and Scooby-Doo actor has been having a bit of a resurgence lately coming shortly after Tarantino made some disparaging comments about the actor with no provocation. Many in the industry stood up for Lillard and now the actor seems to be popping up everywhere including the latest Scream film, the second season of Cross and the second season of Daredevil: Born Again. The latest news reported by multiple sites has the actor joining the cast of Man of Tomorrow, the next DC Studios film written and directed by James Gunn. Gunn, who is good friends with Lillard and has worked with him previously on both Scooby-Doo movies, posted the below image of the pair together, commenting on the news reports as “pure speculation” and saying that they are just “casually hanging out”. Most took the posts to be sarcasm and assume that Lillard is now in the film as that is where Gunn is right now, filming the project. Fans on-line have begun even more speculation as to who Lillard could be playing including various heroes and characters with the most notable being Jim Gordon from Gotham and Plastic Man, a character that Gunn and Lillard once tried to pitch as a project to DC/Warner Bros. It’s my belief that he will be a more Superman centric character such as STAR Labs Professor Emil Hamilton or police detective Dan Turpin. But that also would be pure speculation.  05/09/26 @ 2:44 pm EST
Fans of Matt Reeves’ film The Batman got excited this week because of driving in the snow. The director posted images to his social media showing test footage of the Batmobile driving in winter conditions, which were the first signs that the long-awaited sequel had begun production. Though it has been postponed many times, it is set to be released in October of 2027 and will make the first time live-action Batman and Superman films will be released in the same year. The cold weather setting has long been assumed for the film based on the timeline created in both the first movie starting on Halloween and ending on Election Day and then The Penguin series on HBO Max which took place over a week or so immediately after the flooding of Gotham. The new film will pick up right after the award-winning series which places the time frame squarely in December. The plot for the film is still under wraps, but along with returning stars Robert Pattinson, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan and Jeffrey Wright, the project has reportedly added Scarlett Johannson, Sebastian Stan and Charles Dance. Stan is reported to be playing Gotham DA Harvey Dent aka Two-Face while Dance is said to be his father, Christopher. These castings have been reported by multiple reputable outlets but not confirmed by DC Studios or Reeves. With production having begun, the film is on track to keep its release date of October 2027.  05/02/26 @ 1:59 pm EST
James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios, has addressed the strange “partial reboot” of the DCEU and why he didn’t just start completely fresh. With the new DCU starting with the animated Creature Commandos series and the new Superman movie, certain elements from the previous regime carried over like Viola Davis as Amanda Waller and there were some questions about more recent projects like Gunn’s own The Suicide Squad and Blue Beetle. And Gunn’s first DC movie also had elements from previous films including Margot Robbie as Harley Qiunn. So why not just start over? Turns out a lot of it has to do with the John Cena lead Peacemaker series on HBO Max. According to a social media post by Gunn, “Peacemaker Season 2 deals were all in place when I became head of DC. It was either break everyone's contracts and pay out all that money and take away HBO Max's biggest show at the time or find a way to make it work. I chose the latter. Mostly tho because I love the character and the show and thought he/they could be an important part of the DCU.” Now, this has left quite a mess trying to figure out what is and isn’t cannon, and Gunn realizes this. He posted, “I've been thinking about this a lot in regards to The Suicide Squad & Blue Beetle and I've been meaning to rewatch both with an eye towards that knowing what I know now almost three years into the DCU (with a couple more years of scripts being actively filmed or created). Maybe after MoT Jenn & Steve & I can get together for a special couple podcasts to discuss. What do you guys think is potentially or definitely NOT canon from TSS & BB?” He is referring to Jennifer Holland, his wife and actress who plays Harcourt and Steve Agee who plays Economos. The three of them did the post-episode podcasts for Peacemaker season two. Doing The Suicide Squad film makes sense with its ties to Peacemaker, but the reason for the Blue Beetle is that there are talks of an animated Blue Beetle series based on the 2023 film with Xolo Maridueña continuing in the role of Jaime Reyes. The fact it’s included here confirms the animated series is still happening.  ...
04/18/26 @ 12:44 pm EST
David Harbour is heading into the jungle. The actor has joined the cast of John Rambo, an upcoming origin-story film set before the events of First Blood. Harbour will portray Major (also known in earlier films as Colonel) Sam Trautman, the tough-minded commander and mentor figure long associated with the franchise. The film stars Noah Centineo as a younger John Rambo and is directed by Jalmari Helander ( Sisu) from a screenplay by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. The project is expected to explore the experiences that forged Rambo into one of action cinema’s most enduring figures—years before he returned home to the confrontation that launched the original 1982 film. John Rambo is backed by Lionsgate and Millennium Media, with Templeton Media and AGBO also involved, and has reportedly wrapped production in Thailand. Additional cast members include Yao, Jason Tobin, Quincy Isaiah, Jefferson White, and Tayme Thapthimthong. Sylvester Stallone—who originated the role across five films—is attached as an executive producer, alongside Anthony and Joe Russo and other producers tied to the project.  04/18/26 @ 12:24 pm EST
Deadline is reporting that Game of Thrones actor Charles Dance will be joining the cast of the upcoming The Batman Part 2, which is set to start filming in the next few weeks. While this is unconfirmed by DC Studios, Dance is believed to be playing Charles Dent, the father of Harvey Dent aka Two-Face played by fellow newcome to the franchise, Sebastian Stan. There had been many reports over the last few months of other actors turning down the role of the elder Dent which is believed to have some parallels with the role Dance is best known for, Tywin Lannister. He joins a cast that also returns Robert Pattinson, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell and that has added Scarlett Johansson in an undisclosed part. Prior to joining the Matt Reeves’ sequel, Dance appeared recently in Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein and the Peacock series Day of the Jackal. 
04/11/26 @ 11:27 am EST
FX is doubling down on one of television’s most unlikely success stories. The Emmy‑winning docuseries Welcome to Wrexham has been officially renewed for three additional seasons, ensuring the show will run through at least Season 8. The announcement comes just weeks ahead of the series’ Season 5 premiere on May 14, 2026. The series chronicles the ownership journey of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney—often credited onscreen as Rob Mac—after their 2020 takeover of Welsh football club Wrexham AFC. What began as a celebrity‑owned sports experiment has evolved into one of FX’s most successful and beloved nonfiction franchises, following the club’s extraordinary rise through the English football pyramid. FX Entertainment president Nick Grad called the renewal “nearly unheard of,” praising the creative team and the global connection audiences have formed with the club and its community. Reynolds and McElhenney echoed that sentiment in a joint statement, crediting the documentary crew and Wrexham’s rapid on‑field success for making such a long‑term commitment possible. Season 5 will continue to track Wrexham’s pursuit of promotion to the Premier League following three consecutive promotions, a feat never before achieved in English Football League history. With cameras set to keep rolling for years to come, FX has made it clear that Wrexham’s story—both on and off the pitch—is far from finished.  04/11/26 @ 11:17 am EST
As anticipation builds for DC Studios’ upcoming Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, speculation around its final unannounced role has gone into overdrive. Over the past several days, a wave of casting rumors surged online—only to be decisively debunked by director and DC Studios co‑chair James Gunn himself. The most prominent rumor centered on the alien queen Maxima, a character from DC Comics long speculated to appear in the film. An initial report from Deadline claimed that Ella Purnell, Marisa Abela, and Adria Arjona had screen‑tested for the role. Gunn fired back on Threads, calling the report “shoddy & incorrect” and stating that he had never even met two of the actresses named. He emphasized that had anyone from the outlet checked with the production, the story would have been immediately denied. Gunn further clarified that his statement was not an indirect confirmation that Maxima is in Man of Tomorrow at all. When pressed by fans, he said he was “absolutely not confirming” the character’s inclusion, while adding that the film has only one remaining role left to cast, with all major roles already announced. Shortly after Gunn posted, the Hollywood Reporter came out with its own list of finalists for the role that included Arjona, the one actress in the first report that Gunn has worked with previously, along with Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler, and Grace Van Patten. Another rumor floating around is that Maxima is just a cover character and that they are really casting the DCU’s new Wonder Woman. While the character’s stories are very different, the physicality of both women are similar enough and it would be a good cover if DC Studios wanted to keep the introduction of a major character quiet. Which ever it is, a decision will need to be made soon as Man of Tomorrow is slated to begin filming sometime this month down in Atlanta and is slated to be released July 9th, 2027.  ... 04/05/26 @ 4:17 pm EST
Marvel fans may finally be getting the reunion they’ve been waiting for. Mike Colter and Finn Jones were recently spotted on the New York set of Daredevil: Born Again season 3, sparking widespread excitement that The Defenders are officially back. Photos from the production show Colter and Jones alongside Krysten Ritter, who reprises her role as Jessica Jones, strongly suggesting that Luke Cage and Iron Fist are once again entering Marvel’s street-level corner. While Marvel Studios has not formally announced their return, the presence of all three actors together during filming points to a deliberate reunion rather than a coincidence. The sighting is significant because Colter and Jones last portrayed their characters during Marvel’s Netflix era, where they joined Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Ritter’s Jessica Jones in the 2017 crossover miniseries The Defenders. With Daredevil: Born Again already reestablishing that continuity on Disney+, season 3 now appears poised to fully reassemble the team for the first time in nearly a decade. Although plot details remain under wraps, the set photos alone have reignited fan enthusiasm for Marvel’s grounded, Hell’s Kitchen–based heroes. If the reunion is confirmed on screen, Daredevil: Born Again season 3 could mark a major turning point—bringing The Defenders back together and firmly reintegrating Marvel’s Netflix characters into the broader MCU.  03/28/26 @ 1:40 pm EST
Games Workshop has officially unveiled Warhammer 40,000: 11th Edition, confirming that the next evolution of its flagship tabletop wargame will launch in June 2026. The announcement was made during the AdeptiCon 2026 preview event, where a cinematic trailer, a new starter box, and early details about rules changes were revealed. The narrative focus of 11th Edition returns players to Armageddon, one of the most iconic war zones in Warhammer 40K lore. The new storyline centers on a massive conflict between the Imperium of Man and invading Ork forces, with the Blood Angels Space Marines positioned as the headline Imperial faction opposing an Ork Waaagh!. A major lore highlight is the confirmed return of Commissar Sebastian Yarrick, a long‑standing fan‑favorite character closely associated with Armageddon’s wars. His reappearance anchors the edition firmly in classic Warhammer history while advancing the ongoing narrative following recent campaign books. The launch of 11th Edition will be accompanied by a new boxed starter set titled Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon. The set includes newly revealed Space Marine and Ork miniatures, with early previews showing updated Intercessors that blend modern Primaris design with visual callbacks to older armor marks. While the full contents of the box have not yet been detailed, Games Workshop confirmed that additional starter products at different price points will follow, continuing the company’s recent approach to onboarding new players. Unlike the dramatic overhaul that accompanied 10th Edition, early information indicates that 11th Edition is designed as an iterative update rather than a full system reset. Existing 10th Edition Codex and Supplement books will remain valid at launch, meaning players will not need to immediately replace their current army rules. Confirmed design goals include streamlined core mechanics, reduced rules stacking, and a closer alignment between narrative and matched play. Games Workshop has emphasized faster gameplay, clearer interactions, and improved balance without discarding the foundations introduced in the previous edition. Although the June 2026 release window has been confirmed, many specifics—such as the full ruleset, complete model lineup, and codex roadmap—remain under wraps. Games Workshop has stated that deeper rules previews and additional reveals will be shared in the months leading up to launch.  ... 03/28/26 @ 1:16 pm EST
While attending a comics convention this weekend, Tom King offered fans a substantive update on the long‑anticipated Mister Miracle animated series, confirming that the project has moved into a significant new phase of development. King, who serves as both lead writer and showrunner on the series, revealed that the pilot episode has now been completed. According to his comments at the event, the show is no longer in early conceptual stages but is actively progressing, with King currently involved in editing the series and writing later episodes. One of the biggest takeaways from the panel was confirmation that a voice cast has already been hired. While no names were announced, King teased that fans would be extremely excited once the cast is officially revealed, suggesting that announcements are likely forthcoming. The Mister Miracle animated series is based on the acclaimed 12‑issue comic run written by King and illustrated by Mitch Gerads. During the panel, King reiterated that the show is aiming to closely reflect Gerads’ distinctive visual style, an approach that has been a priority throughout development. This commitment aligns with previous statements that the production is pushing the boundaries of animation to faithfully translate the look and tone of the original comics. King also confirmed that the series is set within the DC Universe and that he is writing all eight episodes himself. His dual role as writer and showrunner positions the project as a deeply personal adaptation of his Eisner Award–winning work, rather than a loose reinterpretation. Although no release date was announced during the convention, King’s update makes it clear that Mister Miracle is firmly in active development rather than stalled or uncertain. The completed pilot and hired voice cast mark major milestones, signaling that the project is steadily moving forward.  ... |
