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12/11/13 @ 1:26 pm EST
Walt Flanagan is an average, everyday comic shop manager… that also does a podcast, is on AMC’s Comic Book Men, has drawn Batman for DC Comics multiple times, appeared in multiple movies and has this third creator-owned series with Bryan Johnson on the shelves now. That’s what happens when you go to high school with Kevin Smith and turned him onto comic books in the first place. Flanagan sat down with Mike Raicht to talk about Cryptozoic Man being published by Dynamite Entertainment. MIKE RAICHT: How did Cryptozoic Man come to life for you guys?
WALT FLANIGAN: The Cryptozoic Man design/ idea came from the old 1980s plastic man Saturday morning cartoon. I picked up the entire series on DVD at a close out store for 5 bucks about 2 years ago… on one the episodes plastic man faced off against a villain who was half man half Bigfoot… I thought that was so cool… and if a man who is half Bigfoot is cool? How about A man who is than 1/4 Jersey Devil, a 1/4 Loch Ness Monster as well as part Bigfoot! Even cooler! MR: Following your other two collaborations, Karney and War of the Undead, when did you decide this book was the next book to pull the trigger on?
WF: It’s actually something that took a lot longer to bring to life than I thought it would have…But when the producers on comic book men started saying AMC wanted to see a pitch to a publisher…that’s when the ball really got rolling. MR: You guys were able to launch this title in an amazingly unique way with a televised pitch session with Dynamite. I can’t imagine the pressure of that.
WF: I get nervous enough sending in a pitch over e-mail without having to worry about television cameras in the room. Do you think this type of launch can ramp up the pressure or have you guys remained calm about the whole thing? Yea, I imagine our way of pitching the book to dynamite was the first time in comic book history that a pitch was filmed for a television show.as far as pressure? It was a bit nerve racking in the actual pitch. I certainly didn’t want to hear Dynamite wasn’t interested and that have that seen on national tv. MR: How would you describe launching a brand new title?
WF: It’s so fun when you can create a new character and universe to work in…there are no limits or restrictions. So you get to go crazy a bit! MR: You both have both done this before having launched both Karney and War of the Undead at IDW together. Is there anything you learned from those experiences which you brought to this book?
WF: Not really… The one thing we learned since Karney and War of the Undead were released is we were in a position to market the series in a different way than we did with those other 2 series from IDW. Since the release of War of the Undead, Bryan and I started a podcast along with an old friend named Brian Quinn of the hit TV show impractical jokers called “TELL EM STEVE DAVE” and we have slowly built a very loyal, supportive listener base that really came through for us in ordering the Cryptozoic Man set. We marketed the book substantially through our podcast and sold a lot of comics. I can’t thank those listeners enough who ordered the book in support of Bryan and myself. MR: You guys clearly have a pretty tight relationship to begin with, but from experience, co-writing can have some amazingly fun highs and be complicated and difficult at other times. How is it working as a writing team?
WF: Well, first off there’s no way I can call what I do as co- writing… I just offer some suggestions or more so visual suggestions… Bry does all the writing. I just came in at the beginning and offered more a plot or outline to Bryan… he’s done all the heavy lifting as far as writing goes. MR: How do you guys handle it?
WF: I gave him some character designs, some plot points i wanted to try to get in there and lay out some things i wanted to draw in the series and let Bry go to town. MR: Obviously, with you on art you have the final say, right?
WF: I guess so but if Bry felt strongly about changing something I drew or didn’t draw? I’d do what he asked. MR: I love the out of this world sci-fi, horror mix you have going on in this book. What would each of you consider your main influences while working on this title?
WF: Thanks… Wow. So many things I can point to as influences… From Swamp Thing, to Warlock, to the Animal Vegetable Mineral Man… The list goes on and on… Let’s just say any Marvel comic from the 70s and every DC comic from the 80s is an influence as well as the old television show “In Search Of” MR: What is the best thing Brian brings to your partnership?
WF: His insane, skewed but often very subtle weird outlook… Sometimes the creepiest thing is the most subtle thing he wrote on the page… I love that. MR: How would both of you recommend Cryptozoic Man to those looking for something new to try at the comic shop?
WF: Hmmmm, how about “You looking to take a trip”? Wanna sit in on the strangest tea party the universes have ever seen? Than give the cryptozoic man a go. It’s your ticket to the creepiest cosmic spookshow ever witnessed!” MR: Do you have more Cryptozoic Man planned beyond the initial 4 issue arc or are you going to develop a new property together?
WF: I guess that’s really up to dynamite more than us if we will see more cryptozoic man. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/11/25/comic-book-mens-walt-flanagan-on-cryptozoic-man/
05/03/25 @ 12:03 pm EST
Warner Bros appears to be taking a very big risk on rebooting a beloved franchise that now has some other issues attached to it as well. The Harry Potter franchise was a major hit for the film studio with eleven major motion pictures and becoming one of the top earning I.P.s in the world. Fans watched as the Wizarding World expanded and stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint grew into iconic roles. Now the studio wants fans to come back for the same story, but this time told as a longer form television series with a new cast… and you never know how fans of a cherished series might respond. And then there is the other issue, the once hailed author of the series, J.K. Rowlings, has become extremely polarizing with her outspoken, anti-trans public statements. She has quickly alienated a large portion of her fanbase which could also affect the potential audience for the reboot. This was addressed by HBO CEO Casey Bloys while a guest on The Town with Matthew Belloi podcast. Bloys spoke about doing business with Rowlings, “The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. We’ve been in business for 25 years. We already have a show on HBO from her called C.B. Strike that we do with the BBC. It’s pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She’s entitled to them. Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. If you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.” Bloys appears to be trying to distance the studio from the author’s political views while continuing to work with her as an executive producer on the new series.  05/03/25 @ 11:40 am EST
CBS has canceled The Equalizer after five seasons. The final episode of Season 5, airing on May 4, will now serve as the series finale. The decision comes as CBS reshuffles its programming lineup, canceling several shows, including FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, and S.W.A.T.. The Equalizer franchise is a long-running vigilante action thriller series that spans television and film. It all started with the original Equalizer TV show, which aired from 1985 to 1989 and starred Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a former intelligence agent who helps people in danger. The franchise was later rebooted into a trilogy of films starring Denzel Washington, beginning with The Equalizer (2014), followed by The Equalizer 2 (2018), and The Equalizer 3 (2023). These movies reimagined McCall as a retired Marine and DIA officer who takes justice into his own hands. In 2021, CBS launched a new TV reboot starring Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, a former CIA operative who aids people in need. Latifah responded to the news by thanking fans and teasing that she’ll be “back kicking ass in something new real soon”.  05/03/25 @ 11:30 am EST
While filming for Avengers: Doomsday has begun, the cast assembled recently in order to see another group of heroes make their debut… the Thunderbolts*. Robert Downey Jr. took to social media to post pictures of himself along with fellow Doomsday cast members Chris Hemsworth, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Paul Rudd, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Vanessa Kirby, Winston Duke and Anthony Mackie as they took break from filming to watch the latest MCU opus that hit theaters this weekend. There were no surprises in the photo as all of the actors had been announced for the upcoming Avengers film, but it is a pretty unique group that we haven’t seen share the screen together before. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to be released in May 2026.  05/02/25 @ 6:25 pm EST
Tanner Buchanan, Garrett Wareing and Quvenzhané Wallis have been tapped to star in a supernatural horror thriller “Hide and Don’t Speak,” with “The Beast Within” helmer Alexander J. Farrell directing. Range Media, which produced “Longlegs” and “The Monkey,” is shepherding the feature with Mister Smith introducing to buyers in Cannes. In “Hide and Don’t Speak,” six teenagers “play a terrifying viral Japanese game in which the players summon a vengeful spirit for a deadly round of hide-and-seek,” the synopsis reads. Currently in pre-production with production planned for later this year, “Hide and Don’t Speak” has a script from Farrell and Greer Ellison, and is loosely based on the real-life viral internet game hitori kakurenbo. (via Variety) 05/02/25 @ 6:08 pm EST
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock have reteamed to star in an untitled romantic thriller film in development at Amazon MGM Studios. Noah Oppenheim is writing the script, plot details of which are being kept under wraps. The film reunites Reeves, Bullock, and producer Mark Gordon following their work together on the 1994 hit film, Speed. Gordon and Oppenheim brought the idea for the film to Reeves and Bullock who went on to develop the film with them. Bullock will produce via Fortis Films, as will costar Reeves in addition to Gordon and Bibby Dunn via The Mark Gordon Company, and Noah Oppenheim and Sarah Bremner via Prologue Entertainment. (via Deadline) 05/02/25 @ 6:02 pm EST
BOOM! Studios, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, today revealed an exciting first look at VR TROOPERS #1; spinning out of Power Rangers Prime comes a brand-new story from returning team of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers veterans, writer Mairghread Scott and artist Sebastián Piriz, the exciting first chapter in the new six-issue series VR TROOPERS! Coming this Summer from BOOM! Studios–the ONLY place to get new, official POWER RANGERS comics.
The VR Troopers are the most elite of the Eltarian empire’s human heroes on Earth, but what secrets are the Eltarian’s keeping? When VR Ryan tracks down a rogue Skug, he’ll come face-to-face with a foe who will change his understanding of VR—and himself—forever! VR TROOPERS #1 features a main cover by acclaimed artist Taurin Clarke (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), with variants by James Stokoe (Godzilla), Christian Ward (Invisible Kingdom), Dan Panosian (The Last Boy), Goñi Montes (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Jorge Corona (Transformers), and series artist Sebastián Piriz! VR TROOPERS is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; bestselling horror anthology Hello Darkness; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross; Minor Arcana by Jeff Lemire; Vicarious by Ryan Parrott and Eleonora Carlini; The Creeping Below by Brian Azzarello and Vanesa Del Rey; Bronze Faces by Shobo, Shof, and Alexandre Tefenkgi; In Bloom by Michael W. Conrad and John J. Pearson; and When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee by Gus Moreno and Jakub Rebelka. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Corrino from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Simone Ragazzoni; Power Rangers Prime by Melissa Flores and Michael YG; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle, Rubine, and Francesco Pisa. VR TROOPERS #1 will be available in comic shops on June 25, 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.                
... 05/02/25 @ 5:55 pm EST
Thunderbolts* stormed to $11.5 million in Thursday previews in a promising start for Marvel’s ensemble superhero film. The star-studded movie, led by Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, kicks off the summer box office in what’s become a tradition for Kevin Feige‘s studio with only a few exceptions. The movie is winning over critics and audiences alike; as of Friday morning, Thunderbolts* boasted a 95 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the third-highest score for a title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a tie with Spider-Man: Far From Home and behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (98 percent) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (97 percent). It’s still early, of course, and scores can change by one or two points as the weekend wears on. And on PostTrak exit polls, audiences are giving it a rave 4.5 out 5 stars. The unexpected spring bloom currently underway at the box office — led by Ryan Coogler’s sleeper sensation Sinners — proves that people want the communal experience of watching a film together. Thunderbolts* is a pivotal moment for Marvel as it kicks off a new hoped-for franchise. Directed by Jake Schreier, the film brings together a band of dysfunctional outsiders — and lesser-known comic book characters — who discover their potential to be heroes when working together. (via The Hollywood Reporter) 05/02/25 @ 5:48 pm EST
In the aftermath of Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds remained firm that he did not see another solo Deadpool movie in his future. That was despite the film grossing $1.338 billion, a number that validated the extraordinary amount of creative control he wields over the franchise, and which proved he was the most valuable new player in the Marvel Studios arsenal. Now, nine months after Deadpool & Wolverine became the top-grossing R-rated movie of all time, Reynolds is quietly plotting his return to the character, but true to his word, it won’t be as the lead of a solo movie. Reynolds is exploring ideas for a Deadpool movie that would feature X-Men characters, as well as continuing to script the Paramount comedy Boy Band after making writing a priority for much of this year before tackling other obligations, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting. The multi-hyphenate is working on various treatments for an ensemble film featuring three or four X-Men characters. Deadpool would of course appear, but perhaps only as a supporting player. Reynolds is said to believe that keeping his f-bomb wielding anti-hero more on the sidelines could allow for the X-Men characters to be used in unexpected ways. Reynolds has been open about every Deadpool movie needing a strong reason to exist, and it’s possible this could provide the avenue he needs. Reynolds' proposed film is separate from a potential X-Men movie that Hunger Games writer Michael Lesslie is penning for Marvel Studios. 05/01/25 @ 2:10 pm EST
Lily James will star in the thriller Photo Booth. HanWay films and UTA Independent Film Group have boarded the film and will launch sales in Cannes. The film is set to start principal photography this October in Australia and London. James stars in the lead role of Jean Bouchet, a world-renowned performance artist who has decided to put her career before having children, and Raffey Cassidy (The Brutalist, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) is in the role of Millie, a young, free-spirited woman very much still figuring life out. The full synopsis reads: Jean (James), a renowned performance artist at the height of her career, has always chosen ambition over family. But after another devastating setback in her struggle to have a child with her artist husband Ben, their carefully curated life and marriage begin to fracture. When Ben confesses to a drunken one-night stand with Millie (Raffey Cassidy) – a fragile, rootless young woman now unexpectedly pregnant — Jean makes a radical and unorthodox choice: she invites Millie into their home, offering financial support in exchange for the baby. What starts as a calculated attempt to regain control quickly spirals into emotional chaos. Boundaries blur, loyalties shift, and resentments fester as the trio spirals towards implosion. All the while, Jean is racing towards the opening of her major retrospective at the Tate Modern, a career-defining moment shadowed by personal upheaval. As the retrospective nears, Jean reflects on her body of work: equally raw, visceral performances that chart the fault lines of her life, culminating in Photo Booth – her most intimate piece yet, rooted in childhood trauma and her estranged, alcoholic mother, Eileen. As reality blurs and tensions explode, Jean is forced to confront the ultimate question: can love survive the truth? (via Deadline) ... 05/01/25 @ 2:01 pm EST
Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, revealed interior pages and the lineup of variant covers for Void Rivals #19. This all-new story arc will feature the blockbuster creative team of writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist Conor Hughes (White Ash, The Game), colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country), and letterer Rus Wooton (Fire Power). Jumpstarting the third story arc of the space opera, Void Rivals #19 hits comic book shops on May 28, 2025. Void Rivals #19 serves as a standalone Skuxxoid epic, with the breakout fan-favorite of the Energon Universe taking center stage. Who is Skuxxoid? What is Skuxxoid? This issue answers all of your burning questions and more! Plus, the first appearance of Wreck-Gar and the Junkions. Each issue of Void Rivals promises to take readers further into the Energon Universe, with more familiar faces to appear, including some of the most popular TRANSFORMERS bots, allies, and enemies! "Robert has been pretty transparent about how close Skuxxoid has come to taking over this series in the past and it’s finally happened,” said executive editor Ben Abernathy. “Even non-Skuxxoid fans are in for a treat as this issue has it all—an amazing new artist with Conor Huges coming aboard, incredible first appearances for the Energon Universe...and Skuxxoid’s darkest secret revealed!” Void Rivals #19 will feature a main cover by Lorenzo De Felici, along with a lineup of variant covers including an open-to-order cover B by Conor Hughes, a 1:10 incentive variant kicking off a new connecting cover series by Martín Morazzo and Patricio Delpeche, a 1:25 incentive variant by Eric Canete, a 1:50 incentive variant by Patricia Martín, a 1:100 incentive variant by E.J. Su, and a blank sketch cover. Void Rivals is a tentpole of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Other Energon Universe ongoing series include the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon) and G.I. JOE by writer Joshua Williamson (Superman, Dark Ride), artist Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander), colorist Lee Loughridge (Universal Monsters: The Mummy). Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today. Void Rivals #19 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday May 28, 2025. The full list of covers is below: Void Rivals #19 Cover A by Lorenzo De Felici (Lunar Code: 0325IM381) Void Rivals #19 Cover B by Conor Hughes (Lunar Code: 0325IM382) Void Rivals #19 Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive – Connecting) by Martín Morazzo (Lunar Code: 0325IM383) Void Rivals #19 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Eric Canete (Lunar Code: 0325IM384) Void Rivals #19 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Patricia Martin (Lunar Code: 0325IM385) Void Rivals #19 Cover F (1:100 Copy Incentive) by E.J. Su (Lunar Code: 0325IM386) Void Rivals #19 Cover G Blank Sketch Cover (Lunar Code: 0325IM387) 
 
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