|
07/26/14 @ 9:44 am EST
In the first mini-series since Gail Simone relaunched Red Sonja for Dynamite, Frank Tieri takes the She-devil with a Sword to the Black Tower. Byron Brewer caught up with the writer to discuss his turn with the red-headed warrior.  BYRON BREWER: Like Conan, Tarzan and John Carter, Red Sonja has had a myriad of comic book stories. Is this miniseries an adaptation of a Robert E. Howard story or an original story, and is that difficult to do for such a traveled literary character?FRANK TIERI: Original story, definitely. And a very different one than what one might expect from a Sonja story, I’d say. To your point about her being such a well-traveled character, I wanted to make sure we weren’t covering ground that’s already been traveled upon with her. I didn’t want her just fighting another wizard or barbarian… that’s not to say there’s not some of that stuff in here, just that there’s a lot more to it going on. If I was going to do this, I wanted to tell a Sonja story unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and with BLACK TOWER, I believe that we have. BB: Frank, tell us your take on the She-Devil with a Sword.FT: Simply put… she’s the baddest motherfucker in her world.I think of her sort of as the female Hyborean version of Eastwood’s Man With No Name. She walks into a town or a bar or whatever and every man, woman and child shits their pants. (Or tunic, if you prefer) They all just pray to their gods that whoever she’s there for, whoever she has a problem with, it’s not them. Because if it is… they’re already dead.  BB: Are you a follower of Howard’s Sonja? Roy Thomas? Others along the way?FT: Not so much the Howard stuff (And really, Sonja with a J is a very different character than Howard’s Sonya with a Y, ya know?) but I was a big time Conan comic book guy growing up. And the issues where Sonja showed up, those were the special ones. You’d wait for those. Because in that whole fucked up universe of theirs, Sonja was the one person who could hang with Conan. She was one of the only people that could look him in the eye that he might have a second thought about fucking with.Plus, they had such a great dynamic together. If you were reading Conan back then and a part of you didn’t always hope they’d eventually end up together, then you’re dead to me. BB: Tell us a bit about the world and situation that Sonja finds herself in during this limited series.FT: The Black Tower just shows up one day. People are scared… they don’t know where this thing came from and what the hell’s going to happen now that it’s here. And what tends to happen when people are scared? They mob up, get their pitchforks and torches out and start doing some stupid violent shit to each other. That’s the situation Sonja finds herself when she hits town… so she pretty much hits the ground running.The story will actually take place over a number of years, with each issue representing a time jump. In issue 1, the Tower arrives and the stage is set. But fans won’t actually have long to wait to see it open because something comes out by the end of issue 2. What emerges is something unlike anything Sonja has faced before and going forward, it’s what she has to contend with for the rest of the series.  BB: I know this sounds like a strange question, but having worked with a character like Marvel’s Wolverine, how does that warrior compare to a swashbuckler like Red Sonja?FT: It’s not all that strange. In fact, it’s probably expected considering all the work I’ve done with Wolverine. And if you think about it, they have a lot more in common than you might think. They’ve both got that “lone wolf” thing going. They’ve both got a tremendous sense of honor, a code if you will. And they’re both pretty much the alphas of their respective universes.The big difference? Sonja’s got her shit together waaaay better than Wolvie. I mean, deep down…Wolvie’s fucking nuts. He’s got demons to fight that Sonja just doesn’t have. The demons she fights are, ya know… actual demons. BB: Does it make you feel a bit better on this mini to work with an artist like Cezar Razek, who has drawn the red-tressed warrior woman before?FT: Cezar’s really brought his A game to this, I’m happy to say. I mean, his Sonja just looks like Sonja should look, ya know? I’ve got some pretty violent stuff going on and he hasn’t shied away from any of it, which I like in an artist. Honestly, I may be a bit biased but I really think it’s the best stuff the guy’s ever done.  Plus we’ve also got the lovely Amanda Conner on covers which is worth the price of admission alone. We were down in Baltimore Comic Con last year when me and Nicky met to talk about me doing the book and Amanda was there and immediately volunteered to do covers. Let me tell you… that didn’t get a “yeah” from me, that got a “fuck yeah!”. And of course, she’s killed it as usual. BB: Is there any inspiration (beyond the obvious) for this particular tale?FT: You might be surprised when I say this but Stephen King, believe it or not. And for readers of the Dark Tower series—which I am a huge fan of – yes, the name of our series is a nod to that ( That said, I can promise you that what’s in our tower is NOT the center of the universe.). King often has these things show up in his stories out of nowhere—towers, talismans… even a buick 8—and as the story unravels you start to uncover where this thing came from and what does it all mean. Our story is very much like that. BB: Would you be interested in working with this character in a future book, and how do you see Red Sonja among the females who are heading regular comics these days?FT: Sure, I’d be open to more Sonja in the future. Hopefully this series does well enough and it opens the door for more because honestly, this story was a blast to write.As for Sonja and how she fits among her fellow female comic book compatriots… I’m always a bit surprised she’s not bigger, ya know? I mean, Sonja’s sort of the original “bad girl” character if you think about it. Before Electra and Painkiller Jane and Shi, etc… there was Sonja. To me I’d rank her right up there with a lot of those other female comic book icons and it would be cool for her to eventually get the props she deserves. 11/09/25 @ 2:03 pm EST
The Creeper is a unique character from DC Comics, first introduced in "Showcase #73" in 1968. Created by Steve Ditko, The Creeper’s real name is Jack Ryder, a former television talk show host and investigative journalist in Gotham City. After being attacked during an undercover operation at a costume party, Ryder is injected with a serum by Dr. Yatz and gains superhuman abilities, including enhanced strength, agility, rapid healing, and a pain tolerance bordering on the supernatural. The serum, combined with a bizarre costume, transforms him into The Creeper, a vigilante known for his wild laughter, erratic behavior, and flamboyant appearance—a shock of green hair, yellow skin, and a red mane-like cape. The Creeper remains largely untouched by mainstream media, providing an opportunity to introduce audiences to a fresh face and break away from more established archetypes. His blend of horror, humor, and psychological complexity could create a film that stands out from traditional superhero fare. The Creeper’s unsettling persona and visual style lend themselves well to a film that could blend genres—horror, black comedy, and superhero action. His maniacal laugh and unpredictable methods could inject dark humor and psychological thrills, appealing to fans of films like "Joker" and "Deadpool" while carving out a distinctive identity in the DCU. Jack Ryder’s journey from cynical journalist to bizarre vigilante offers rich storytelling potential. Exploring themes of identity, sanity, and the nature of heroism, a Creeper film could delve into Ryder’s internal struggles and the impact of his dual life, making for a character-driven narrative that resonates with audiences seeking depth and complexity. And with being set in Gotham City, The Creeper’s adventures naturally intersect with the city’s gritty underworld, providing opportunities for noir-style detective storytelling. His background in journalism and investigation can be leveraged to create suspenseful plots involving corruption, criminal conspiracies, and moral ambiguity—making him an ideal protagonist for a film that explores the darker aspects of the DC Universe. The Creeper stands as one of DC Comics’ most unconventional and intriguing characters. His untapped potential, distinctive personality, and ability to straddle multiple genres make him a perfect candidate to lead a film in the new DCU.  ... 11/09/25 @ 1:37 pm EST
Predator: Badlands is doing very well, thanks for asking. The latest film in the long-running franchise set a few high franchise marks including domestic opening with $40M, best worldwide opening with $80M and best Cinemascore with an A-. The film also sits a the top of this week’s box office beating out the 2nd place film, Regretting You, by $32.9M… though that film is in its 3rd week. Other new films opening this week, Sarah’s Oil and Nuremberg, opened in 4th and 5th with just over $4M each. Badlands is the third Predator project for director Dan Trachtenberg, the first Prey showed how he could handle the franchise but then he wanted to follow it up with an animated film, Killer of Killers and then for the first time Badlands make the Predator the protagonist. 
11/08/25 @ 4:21 pm EST
Recent reports about problems on the set of Stranger Things may not have been what they seemed. There were stories being published that Millie Bobby Brown had filed a report against co-star David Habour, accusing the older actor of bullying. But the validity of those reports are now in question as both Brown and Harbour joined their Stranger Things cast members at the red=carpet premiere of the show’s fifth and final season. Brown and Harbour were seen joking together and even hugging. Brown has also spoke of Habour to Extra, saying: “It’s been amazing. We’re so lucky to have each other. The show means so much to the both of us, and to everyone here. This has been the last 10 years of our lives.” Brown stars as the psych-powered Eleven and Harbour plays Sherriff Jim Hopper who ends up adopting her. The fifth and final season will release on Netflix in three sets with Volume 1 on November 26 (four episodes), Volume 2 on Christmas (three episodes), and The Finale on New Year’s Eve.  11/01/25 @ 2:53 pm EST
There is a major movie franchise out there that is not going by its original name and it’s thanks to the star. When screenwriter Derek Kolstad finished what would become is most popular film, he was inspired by revenge-thrillers with one-word titles like Payback and Shooter. He dubbed his film, Scorn. The problem came when the star of the film went out and talked about it, he always referred to it by the lead character’s name rather than the title. After a while, the studio realized that their star, Keanu Reeves, had done millions of dollars worth of brand recognition for the name John Wick… they decided to go with it and renamed the film. Why Reeves did this is unknown, but Kolstad has since admitted that John Wick is a better franchise name, saying, “I can’t imagine it being Scorn now.” Was this an intentional thing on Reeves’ part or just a happy coincidence? We may never know.  11/01/25 @ 2:38 pm EST
If you check the major Hollywood sites like Deadline and Variety, they’ll tell you that October 2025 has been the lowest box office take in almost 30 years. It sits currently at $440 million with a few days left to add. In 1998 the box office did $455 million, which this month should just creep past. By comparison October 2018 did $832 million with just three films: Venom, A Star is Born and Halloween, taking in $481 million. But last year, October only took in $478 million showing the decreasing trend. Adding to the decline is the fact that no major releases were scheduled for this weekend because of the Halloween holiday. And what was put into theaters the whole month really didn’t get people’s attention. Tron: Ares was the highest profile film and that hasn’t even broken $70 million in its four weeks in theaters. When you look at numbers like that, it’s hard not to think about what might have been. There was a big budget film slated for release this month, a film that got delayed and delayed and hasn’t even started filming. A film that finally has a finished script and is set to release in October of 2027… that of course is Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part 2. One of the most anticipated films currently in production, the sequel to the 2022 hit, bolstered also by the fan favorite HBO series The Penguin, would easily match and likely succeed the success of the first film. The Batman opened on March 4, 2022 and ended that month with $338 million domestically. It was originally scheduled to be released October 3rd, looking at that release date, this year there really wasn’t any big film put in its place. The film would’ve done better than the first and that amount would’ve driven 2025 towards the top of the list, maybe even surpassing 2018. Ah, what could’ve been.  ... 10/26/25 @ 12:25 pm EST
DC Studios has potentially taken a significant step by filing for a trademark for a film titled "Salvation Run." A move that isn’t too surprising since the Salvation planet and the idea of using it as a prison for meta humans was introduced in the season finale of Peacemaker season 2. But the filing does indicate just how big this idea could be for the DCU. "Salvation Run" is a storyline from DC Comics that originally ran in the late 2000s. The story centers on the mass exile of some of DC's most notorious villains to a hostile alien world, forcing them to band together for survival. It was a concept originally pitched to DC by Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin. The trademark filing by DC Studios suggests that the company is considering developing "Salvation Run" into a feature film. While trademark filings do not guarantee that a film will be produced, they often indicate serious intent or early-stage development. The filing protects the title and concept, ensuring that DC Studios retains exclusive rights as plans evolve. Should "Salvation Run" move forward, it could introduce a fresh dynamic to DC's film slate. Instead of focusing on heroes, this story would shine a spotlight on villains, possibly expanding character development and offering audiences new perspectives on well-known antagonists. It also opens opportunities for ensemble casting, complex storytelling, and connections to other DC properties.  10/26/25 @ 11:56 am EST
For many MCU fans, there has been concerns about when or even if Jeremy Renner would be returning to the role of Clint Barton aka the Avenger Hawkeye. Renner first portrayed the archer in 2011’s Thor and returned in 2012’s The Avengers. He has been popping up as the character in various films and even his own Disney+ series that had been rumored to be getting a second season. And then came New Year’s Day 2023 and a horrific snowplow accident where the actor sustained over 30 broken bones, including a shattered leg, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a punctured lung. Renner has made a miraculous recovery and has returned to working on projects like Mayor of Kingstown and Wake Up Dead Man… but his future in the MCU is still unclear. Earlier this year Renner gave fans a disappointing update when he revealed that Marvel had talked to him about returning for season two but only offered him half of what he made for season one, which he turned down. None of this was looking good, even with two Avengers movies on the horizon. Shift to now where Renner is out doing various interviews and talking about the character again. He spoke of how Clint Barton has repeatedly tried to retire but keeps coming back and how he believes that it will continue that way until the character is killed off. He also said of the Hawkeye series specifically, "We got to where we’re trying to do the second season. And I think I’ll get strong enough to be able to do it. And we’ll work it out. It’s gonna be great." He was also asked by another Avenger actor, Brie Larson, if he would be returning for Avengers: Doomsday, to which he said “no” and then turned it back on her asking, “Are you?” The whole thing was done very playfully. And even if he doesn’t return for Doomsday, there’s always Secret Wars a year later.  ... 10/25/25 @ 12:37 pm EST
The highly anticipated Marvel series, Fantastic Four: First Steps, is set to make its debut on Disney+. Fans of Marvel’s first family have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this new adaptation, which promises to bring fresh storytelling and exciting action to the beloved characters of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm. The film, which was directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, will be available for streaming starting November 5th. The Fantastic Four have long been favorites among comic book readers, and with Marvel Studios now handling the property after the luke-warm reception of the first two Fox films and the universally hated reboot. First Steps is not a retelling of the origin story but rather moves on to the team having been well established after four years and dealing with their greatest threat, the world-devourer Galactus. The new cast includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the quartet of heroes along with Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatis and Natasha Lyonne. The film did moderately well in theaters, taking in a worldwide box office total of $521M and an 86% critic’s score on Rotten Tomatoes.  10/25/25 @ 11:38 am EST
When James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as the new co-heads of DC Studios, they put out a list of projects as part of their first phase called Gods & Monsters. And while some of those projects like Creature Commandos, Superman and Lanterns have moved forward, one of the projects seems to be stalled. That would be the DCU version of Batman in an announced The Brave and The Bold project. This is a different Batman from the one Robert Pattinson portrays in the Matt Reeves films and would be a bit older and paired with his son Damian as the current Robin. Andy Muschietti, the director of The Flash, has been attached to the project the entire time and appears to still be in line to helm the project. But in the last week we’ve gotten the first movement on the project in a while. First Gunn said in various interviews that the project is still in the work and has changed some since the initial announcement, but he didn’t go into any specific details. Then Muschietti and his producing partner and sister Barbara were asked about the project while at the premier of their new series Welcome to Derry, and IT prequel story. When asked if they were still doing the film, Barbara said, “The intention is yes, but we can’t talk about it.” Andy added, “We have to wait a few, a couple of months to start talking about it.” But then realizing he may have said too much: “I screwed it already.” This is leading fans to speculate that an announcement is imminent and that we may finally learn who will be donning the cowl opposite David Corenswet’s Superman.  10/18/25 @ 2:06 pm EST
Though we have yet to see season two of the Percy Jackson series, season three is adding Kate McKinnon, known for her energetic performances and comedic brilliance on “Saturday Night Live,” as the goddess Aphrodite. McKinnon brings her unique charm and wit to the role, promising an exciting new take on the goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite is one of the most famous figures from Greek mythology. She is the goddess of love, beauty, desire, and passion. Ancient Greeks believed Aphrodite had the power to inspire love and attraction in gods and mortals alike. According to myth, she was born from the sea foam and emerged fully grown, captivating all who saw her. Aphrodite’s stories often involve her relationships with gods like Ares and mortal heroes, and she played a key role in the legendary events leading up to the Trojan War, most notably by awarding the golden apple to Paris. With Kate McKinnon stepping into the role, viewers can expect a fresh, humorous, and dynamic portrayal of Aphrodite. Besides her time on SNL, McKinnon has been in various movies including the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters and the 2023 mega-hit Barbie.  |
|
|
|
|
