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07/25/16 @ 8:51 pm EST
Nancy Collins, writer of Army of Darkness: Furious Road #5, talks with writer Phil Hester about Gold Key: Alliance #4, both on sale now from Dynamite. Interiors by Brent Peeples and cover by Felipe Massafera. .  PHIL HESTER: Before she begins asking me questions, Nancy [Collins] and I need to perform the Secret Former Swamp Thing Creator Handshake (the rest of y’all, don’t look, okay?). Now, let’s get started: NANCY COLLINS: Did you grow up reading the original Gold Key characters like I did? Back when they used to sell those grab-bags of 5 assorted GK comics for a buck?PH: Oh, yeah. Although I loved Marvel and DC as a kid, I was so excited to see anything else that I would snap up whatever odd ball publishers I could lay my hands on. I remember being turned off/weirded out by Dr. Solar, though. Magnus was my guy. NC: I shouldn’t be surprised that the Gold Key characters have their own multiverse, just like Marvel and DC. They’ve certainly been around long enough. How many of the “variants” that we see in the series are based on previous reboots of the characters, or are they all your own creation?PH: I tried to make an effort to at least make a visual nod to the last Dynamite reboot. Of course, I didn’t delve into the Valiant or Dark Horse takes for obvious reasons, and the original Gold Key runs figure prominently. I just thought it would be fun to pretend the Gold Key universe had been churning out alternate universes and continuities since the 1960s just like Marvel and DC have, we just haven’t seen it yet. NC: I have to admit I was surprised to see Samson playing a major role in the storyline. Mighty Samson was one of the more obscure original titles from what was already a second string publisher (at least in comparison to companies like Marvel and DC). That being said, I own a copy of Mighty Samson #29, the one where he’s trying to snap off the horn on a unicorn. Did you have any exposure to the character prior to writing this series?PH: Here and there, but like most people, mostly through those insane covers. And if you read the mini closely, you’ll see plenty of homages to those whacked out scenarios throughout. NC: What about other lesser-known GK characters, such as Dagar the Invincible and The Brothers of the Spear (which was actually one of my favorite series when I was a kid)? Is there a place for them in the Gold Key Multiverse?PH: If left to me? Yes. I even wrote them into issue #4, but the licensor had the ultimate call as to what to include and what to leave out. Sorry, Dagar fans! NC: You’re not just a writer, but also an accomplished artist as well. How does it feel, watching someone else realize your work? What are the benefits of being a writer, as opposed to an artist—and vice versa?PH: It’s equal parts frustrating and rewarding. In this case, mostly rewarding. I see Brent make decisions I wouldn’t necessarily make, but often those lead to exciting results I hadn’t foreseen either. I think my time as an artist has made me more conscious of what I’m asking from my artists. I know what a chore boring scenes are, even when necessary. I know what a drag car chases are, etc. NC: Now that the original recipe Gold Key characters have made themselves known—what can readers look forward to in the final issue of the series?PH: I hope something that both resets the Gold Key universe in a way that leaves all future takes on firmer footing and freshens it for new eyes. Of course, I hope readers find some emotional resonance in what the characters go through in the last issue, especially Erica Solar.     
05/01/25 @ 3:46 am EST
Jonathan Hickman’s sweeping new cosmic epic, IMPERIAL, arrives this June. Known for his influential work on Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men as well as the creation of Marvel’s hit new Ultimate line, the visionary writer will now team up with superstar artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello to revolutionize Marvel’s galactic canon in this four-part event series. The series lays the foundation for an entire new landscape of interconnected space-set series, making it the must-read comic book of the summer. And now, fans can see all the covers for the debut issue including pieces by acclaimed artists Adi Granov, Peach Momoko, Miguel Mercado, Alessandro Cappuccio, and Skottie Young. Plus, check the first of a four-part connecting cover by Javier Garrón, a new cover in Todd Nauck’s Iconic Variant Cover series, and a Hidden Gem cover by Jim Lee! The covers feature all the major players involved in the wars to come, including Hulk and She-Hulk, who return to Sakaar to restore order; Nova and Star-Lord, who team up to prevent the galaxy from falling into the worst hands; and the Shi’ar, who will be torn asunder in a battle for the throne! JONATHAN HICKMAN, FEDERICO VICENTINI AND IBAN COELLO TAKE ON THE UNIVERSE! IMPERIAL finds the galaxies of the Marvel Universe on the brink of major upheaval, following the elimination of several of its most prominent leaders. Nature abhors a vacuum, and empires fall, rulers are overthrown and power is seized in a saga of intrigue, mysteries and war, all taking place against the backdrop of the formation of new galactic order in the Marvel Universe. “I’m very excited about this project as I’m obviously a huge fan of all things Marvel Cosmic,” Hickman said. “The goal here is to kind of do what we did with the recent Ultimate line for all of our space titles, except having the setup book (IMPERIAL) be more of an event than a world building exercise (like Ultimate Invasion). The art team is killing it and we’re all just very excited for what’s happening in this special corner of the Marvel Universe.” Two of Marvel’s Stormbreakers, a group of Marvel’s most elite talent, Vicentini (Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Wolverine) and Coello (Venom War, Fantastic Four) have brought their innovative style and creativity to nearly ever corner of the Marvel Universe. Now, these two celebrated artists embark on their boldest venture yet. In addition to their interior artwork, Vicentini and Coello are delivering spectacular new designs for characters, locales and more as they bring a whole new era of storytelling to life within the pages of IMPERIAL and beyond! “Working with Hickman is a great challenge,” Vicentini shared. “I love his scripts. He writes really brilliant dialogue and puts incredible attention to details when it comes to the story’s setting. I had only knew Hickman as a reader, so it was incredible to be approached to work with him and Iban, who is a phenomenal artist! I'm working hard to produce my best work, and I'm certainly having a lot of fun!” "Being involved in this project is incredible,” Coello added. “Creating all these new characters and costumes is really fun. Working with Hickman is something I never expected to be able to do, and it's both cool and intimidating at the same time because of the magnitude of what he's doing in the scripts. I look forward to being able to rise to the challenge and do a great job!" Preorder IMPERIAL #1 at your local comic shop and stay tuned for more IMPERIAL news in the months ahead, including new tie-in announcements.          
... 04/30/25 @ 9:54 pm EST
Chris Hemsworth is taking a deep dive for Amazon MGM Studios. The actor, last seen in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, is set to star in Subversion, a submarine thriller that Patrick Vollrath will direct for Amazon MGM. Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing via his di Bonaventura Pictures banner. The project is eying a production start this fall in Australia. Written by Andrew Ferguson, the story has been described as a “Die Hard on a submarine” style thriller that centers on a once-promising Naval commander (Hemsworth) who is blackmailed by a cartel-like operation into piloting a dangerous submarine carrying illegal cargo across international waters. Thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the man must outmaneuver blockades and navigate perilous threats both in and outside of the submarine. (via The Hollywood Reporter) 04/30/25 @ 9:46 pm EST
Multiple Eisner award-winning team Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Reckless, Houses of the Unholy, Fatale) will bring an all new Criminal graphic novel to shelves this September from Image Comics with The Knives.
It has been nearly five years since fans had an opportunity to revel in new Criminal material and this highly anticipated new story promises to be the darkest and most ambitious installment in the critically lauded, contemporary classic yet.
Cartoonist Jacob Kurtz goes to Hollywood in the era of peak TV to work on an adaptation of his comic strip, only to find himself caught up in the life of his aging aunt and the vultures circling her estate. Angie was raised at the Undertow, but now everything she loves has been taken from her. She's on the streets with vengeance on her mind, her eyes set on the city's kingpin. And finally, Tracy Lawless is home from the Special Forces, finally a civilian again, but he's in bad shape and this city has always brought out the worst in him. These three tales collide in The Knives, a breathtaking noir story about greed, ambition, heartbreak, and blood ties.
"A few years ago someone reached out to me to return some of my uncle's lost possessions, after his family estate had been plundered, and bizarrely, that sparked the inspiration for what I hope is the biggest and best Criminal book yet. A crime story about one generation growing up in the life, another growing older and trying to get out of it, and Hollywood, somehow, too," said Brubaker. "This book is an epic, the longest original graphic novel we've ever done, and it's been a joy to return to this series and these characters, especially after spending most of the last three years watching them come to life on set and screen. I can't wait to get this book into readers' hands."
Further excitement surrounding Criminal has amped up since news hit that the television adaptation of this iconic series was in production last year with Brubaker serving as show runner, and is coming soon to Amazon Prime. The adaptation will star A-listers Charlie Hunnam, Luke Evans, and Emilia Clarke and the first season of the TV show will cover the first two story arcs of the comic book series, Criminal, Volume One: Coward and Criminal, Volume Two: Lawless.
Originally published in 2007, Criminal follows a cast of characters connected through a shared criminal history. For readers looking to catch up on the Criminal series, volumes 1-8 are available in “new edition” trade paperbacks, which feature new cover designs by Phillips, as well as in oversized, deluxe hardcover editions, Books 1-3. They can be found at comic book shops, independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones.
The Knives hardcover (ISBN: 9781534355590, Lunar Code 0525IM280) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, August 27 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, September 9.
Criminal is also available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.       
... 04/30/25 @ 11:03 am EST
A new 4K Ultra HD restoration of The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been struck and will be released in theatres across the U.S. to mark the film’s 50th anniversary. The cult classic has been restored over 10 months by the Walt Disney Studios Restoration team. The company has said the restoration included a meticulous digital scan and preservation process that ensures every frame of the film is presented with “unprecedented clarity and vibrancy.” The restoration also features a newly mixed Dolby Atmos audio track. “It’s a privilege to help preserve the legacy of a film that has meant so much to so many,” said Kevin Schaeffer, Disney’s Director of Restoration and Library Management. (via Deadline) 04/30/25 @ 10:55 am EST
Will “Thunderbolts*” bring the box office thunder? Disney’s latest Marvel superhero adventure is targeting $70 million to $75 million in its opening weekend, providing another needed jolt to movie theaters after the one-two punch of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners.” Globally, “Thunderbolts*” looks to finish the weekend with $160 million to $175 million. Those projected sales are softer than most of the recent entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; “Captain America: Brave New World” opened in February to $88 million over the weekend, $100 million through the extended Presidents’ Day holiday weekend and $192.4 million globally. And prior to that, only three post-pandemic Marvel adventures — 2021’s “Eternals” ($71 million), “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” ($75 million) and 2023’s “The Marvels” ($46 million) — have started below $100 million. Otherwise, big guns like 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($221 million), 2023’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ($118 million), “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ($181 million) and 2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder” ($144 million), were among the biggest opening weekends of their respective years. As the weekend’s only newcomer, “Thunderbolts*” will easily tower over box office charts. However, “Sinners” is expected to take another big bite with ticket sales and is on pace to decline just 20% in its third weekend of release. (via Variety) 04/30/25 @ 10:42 am EST
The first and most iconic TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (TMNT) villain, Oroku Saki aka SHREDDER, is making his terrifying return this summer and he wants one thing: revenge. IDW Publishing is proud to announce TMNT: SHREDDER, a thrilling new comic book series from celebrated writer Dan Watters (Batman: Dark Patterns) and rising star artist Michele Bandini (Spider-Man: City at War), featuring primary covers and a fearsome new character design by fan-favorite TMNT artist Mateus Santolouco. 
Prepare for the rags-to-revenge story of the ultimate ronin. Returned forever changed by a maddening ordeal beyond imagining, betrayed by all around him, and no longer with the Foot Clan, Shredder will quest deep into New York’s criminal underworld as a former protege has formed their own rival clan with sinister plans for the city. In his deadly mission for vengeance, enemies both old and new will brutally discover what defiance will bring them at the end of the Shredder’s blades. “The bad guys always have the best stories, and Shredder is no exception,” said Watters. “This story is Shredder on a quest of revenge – rejecting the gods and allegiances he’s made over his long and storied history, reminding New York exactly why it feared him so much – and why it should do so again. This is the kind of character I love to write. Driven, ruthless, and crawling his way back to the top with a new purpose. This is going to be a hell of a ride.” 
“I’m from the ‘80s, so I grew up with TMNT and I always wished to have the chance to work on one of their books since I was little kid. Yup, I wanted to be a comic book artist since I was five years old, and my favourite characters have always been the fun-loving Michelangelo and the ruthless ninja master, Shredder,” remarked Bandini. The artist added, “A revenge story with one of the coolest characters ever created? I can’t wait to see Shredder get back what he deserves: the crown of the deadliest villain New York has ever seen!” “TMNT: SHREDDER was the new title I was most eager to develop when I took the TMNT job,” stated Senior Editor Andy Khouri. “Shredder is unquestionably one of the coolest, most fearsome and iconic villains in the history of American comics, and the time is right to take him back to those sinister roots. Dan Watters was the only writer I approached about the project. His bibliography – which includes characters like Batman and Lucifer, as well as his own innovative indie comics – reads like a training manual for how to write about Shredder, a character as steeped in mysticism as he is in blades and blood.” Khouri continued, “Dan’s story is at once a back-to-basics approach that welcomes the new readers of Jason Aaron’s historic TMNT run while building on the indelible backstory of IDW’s version of this classic character.”  
“Working with Dan on this dark and mysterious new tale is Michele Bandini, a rising star in our industry,” commented Khouri. “Michele’s stunning cover artwork is just a taste of the passion and creativity he’s bringing to the project. Synthesizing comic book traditions from America, Europe and Asia, TMNT: SHREDDER will stand next to TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES as one of the most gorgeous books on sale this year.” TMNT: SHREDDER #1 is on sale Wednesday, August 13 with a pre-order deadline of Monday, July 7. In addition to Santolouco’s striking cover, the debut issue will also feature jaw-dropping variants by series artist Bandini, Kael Ngu, Dike Ruan, Stjepan Šejić, a black & white version of Ngu’s cover, a foil version of Santolouco’s cover, and a sketch variant.  
... 04/29/25 @ 6:02 pm EST
BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL #1, the premiere issue of the next exciting chapter of THE LAST WITCH from writer Conor McCreery (Assassin’s Creed), artist V.V. Glass’ (Kamen Rider Zero-One), colorist Natalia Nesterenko, and letterer Taylor Esposito. The young adult fantasy series returns with THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL from BOOM! Studios in June 2025! The one thing Saoirse has always known: witches are evil. But now she is one, and she has to contend with what that means for herself and her brother Brahm. All the while, Nicneven has plans that can mean the end of Ireland as they know it. Saoirse must learn to control her magic—and temper—if they want any chance of defeating her. Are her own prejudices against witches creating more of a barrier between herself, her powers, and her family? THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL #1 features main cover art by series artist V.V. Glass and variant covers by Jorge Corona (Batgirls). THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL is the latest release from BOOM! Studios’ award-winning BOOM! Box imprint, home to groundbreaking original series such as Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Gus Allen, and ND Stevenson; Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote; Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Max Sarin; Mamo by Sas Milledge; Save Yourself! by Bones Leopard and Kelly and Nichole Matthews; Specter Inspectors by Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto; The Last Witch by Conor McCreery and V.V. Glass; Ghosted in LA by Sina Grace and Siobhan Keenan; The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes; Fence by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad; Goldie Vance by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams; Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle; Getting Dizzy by Shea Fontana and Celia Moscote; and the educational series Seen: True Stories of Marginalized Trailblazers. THE LAST WITCH: BLOOD & BETRAYAL #1 will be available in comic shops June 18, 2025. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.      
... 04/29/25 @ 5:54 pm EST
Break out the old kill room, because Dexter Morgan is very not dead. Dexter: Resurrection, the sequel series to flagship Dexter, has set a release date and has dropped a teaser trailer saying as much as it reintroduces Michael C. Hall as titular serial killer Dexter Morgan. Dexter: Resurrection will debut with two episodes on Friday, July 11, on streaming and on demand for Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers, before its on-air debut Sunday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Remaining episodes will roll out weekly. Dexter: Resurrection, from showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips, is a continuation of Dexter: New Blood and picks up immediately after that 2021 limited series left off, where Dexter Morgan is revived after being shot by his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott). Dexter’s resuscitation was revealed in a flash-forward in Dexter: Original Sin, the prequel series that wrapped its first run in February (and has since been renewed). Phillips also headed up Original Sin. (via THR) Teaser: https://youtu.be/PC1ugbqJKNM 04/29/25 @ 11:37 am EST
James Gunn's Superman movie has finally offered fans the first full look at its secret villain. Several big baddies are confirmed for David Corenswet's Man of Steel to go up against in the DC Studios epic, Lex Luthor among them; however, one key member of the film's antagonistic bunch still has largely been kept under wraps. A new Amazon product listing shows the first head-to-toe look at Superman's villain, Ultraman. The sneak peek at the character popped up in the official activity book for Superman. It shows the masked villain in a skin-tight suit floating with his arms spread wide. The costume includes rounded goggles on the mask, a purple tint, and a metallic "U" splayed across the chest. Fans still do not know who the supervillain is, who they will be played by, or how they specifically factor in Superman's plot. Superman is set to soar into theaters on July 11, kicking off the newly minted DCU. (via The Direct) 
04/29/25 @ 11:01 am EST
Alan Tudyk’s beloved slouching quippy reprogrammed Imperial murder-bot K-2SO has an important role to play in Andor season two … just not quite yet. It’s understandable that some fans have been a bit impatient for this. When Andor was first announced as a prequel series to 2016’s Rogue One, the first thing that likely popped into your mind is Cassian Andor and his eight-foot-tall metal buddy roaming the galaxy, going on Rebel Alliance missions and having all sorts of adventures. But according to creator Tony Gilroy, the big reason we haven’t seen K-2SO is story-based. “[Limiting] K-2SO came from the experience of making Rogue, to be honest with you,” Gilroy says. “From the very beginning, that was one of the most difficult parts of the original conversation — how long I was going to have to delay [K-2SO]? Because what can you do with him? I don’t want people to go back and diagram Rogue, but just within that movie, there are two or three or four places where we are hiding him — where he has to stay on the ship or can’t go somewhere. He’s a really, really difficult piece of equipment to carry through a story. The limitations on him are huge. He’s a very visible, troublesome piece of story gear. So I knew intuitively how long I would have to wait to do it.” But K-2SO is coming. Really. (via The Hollywood Reporter) |
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