Author: Shawn Madden

Comic enthusiast. Lover of Mexican food. Movie watcher. Destroyer of worlds. Or...something like that.

Geekscape Comics: Eisner Winning Artist Mike Allred Returns To Marvel With ‘Daredevil #17’

by Shawn Madden

So, not too long ago artist Mike Allred (Madman) wrote a letter to the letter page of Daredevil expressing an interest to be involved in the book. Well, it looks like he got his wish.

“It’s the issue Mike Allred was born to draw” – Marvel Senior Editor, Stephen Wacker.

Courtesy of Mark Waid and special guest artist Michael Allred & colorist Laura Allred, this pulse-pounding adventure pits the Man Without Fear against an old foe…Stilt-Man! Can Daredevil make it out of this grudge match in one piece?

DAREDEVIL #17
Written by Mark Waid
Pencils and Cover by Michael Allred
Colors by Laura Allred

Source: CBR

Geekscape Comics: Is Rob Liefeld Planning On Leaving The New 52?

by Shawn Madden

After Grant Morrison’s announcement yesterday that he would be leaving DC it appears that Rob Liefeld may be next. Earlier today he tweeted:

After this caused a bit of buzz he tweeted the following:

Rumor is that if Liefeld can’t make the Hawkman or Grifter books work than they may be next for cancellation. Maybe he is returning to Image to focus on some of his own work? So, what do you think or do any of you care if he leaves the New 52?

Source: Twitter

 

Christopher Nolan Bids Farewell To Batman

by Shawn Madden

Nolan gave a heartfelt adieu to the characters and events that have inhabited his Gotham in a foreword for The Art And Making Of The Dark Knight Trilogy. Thanks to a member of the SuperHeroHype forums we have it to share with you.

Alfred. Gordon. Lucius. Bruce . . . Wayne. Names that have come to mean so much to me. Today, I’m three weeks from saying a final good-bye to these characters and their world. It’s my son’s ninth birthday. He was born as the Tumbler was being glued together in my garage from random parts of model kits. Much time, many changes. A shift from sets where some gunplay or a helicopter were extraordinary events to working days where crowds of extras, building demolitions, or mayhem thousands of feet in the air have become familiar.

People ask if we’d always planned a trilogy. This is like being asked whether you had planned on growing up, getting married, having kids. The answer is complicated. When David and I first started cracking open Bruce’s story, we flirted with what might come after, then backed away, not wanting to look too deep into the future. I didn’t want to know everything that Bruce couldn’t; I wanted to live it with him. I told David and Jonah to put everything they knew into each film as we made it. The entire cast and crew put all they had into the first film. Nothing held back. Nothing saved for next time. They built an entire city. Then Christian and Michael and Gary and Morgan and Liam and Cillian started living in it. Christian bit off a big chunk of Bruce Wayne’s life and made it utterly compelling. He took us into a pop icon’s mind and never let us notice for an instant the fanciful nature of Bruce’s methods.

I never thought we’d do a second — how many good sequels are there? Why roll those dice? But once I knew where it would take Bruce, and when I started to see glimpses of the antagonist, it became essential. We re-assembled the team and went back to Gotham. It had changed in three years. Bigger. More real. More modern. And a new force of chaos was coming to the fore. The ultimate scary clown, as brought to terrifying life by Heath. We’d held nothing back, but there were things we hadn’t been able to do the first time out — a Batsuit with a flexible neck, shooting on Imax. And things we’d chickened out on — destroying the Batmobile, burning up the villain’s blood money to show a complete disregard for conventional motivation. We took the supposed security of a sequel as license to throw caution to the wind and headed for the darkest corners of Gotham.

I never thought we’d do a third — are there any great second sequels? But I kept wondering about the end of Bruce’s journey, and once David and I discovered it, I had to see it for myself. We had come back to what we had barely dared whisper about in those first days in my garage. We had been making a trilogy. I called everyone back together for another tour of Gotham. Four years later, it was still there. It even seemed a little cleaner, a little more polished. Wayne Manor had been rebuilt. Familiar faces were back — a little older, a little wiser . . . but not all was as it seemed.

Gotham was rotting away at its foundations. A new evil bubbling up from beneath. Bruce had thought Batman was not needed anymore, but Bruce was wrong, just as I had been wrong. The Batman had to come back. I suppose he always will.

Michael, Morgan, Gary, Cillian, Liam, Heath, Christian . . . Bale. Names that have come to mean so much to me. My time in Gotham, looking after one of the greatest and most enduring figures in pop culture, has been the most challenging and rewarding experience a filmmaker could hope for. I will miss the Batman. I like to think that he’ll miss me, but he’s never been particularly sentimental.

It’s been said numerous times but whoever has to follow up after Nolan really has his work cut out for him. There are few directors that I have seen with the level of passion that Nolan has for his work. While I and many others are sad we will never get a Nolan directed Bat-flick I eagerly await what he has coming next.

‘All You Need Is Kill’ Adaptation Has Been Greenlit

by Shawn Madden

Reports are coming in that Warner Bros. has officially given the green light to All You Need Is Kill, an adaptation of the science fiction graphic novel of the same name. Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) will be directing, while Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt are set to star in the film. Originally Brad Bitt was was approached to play the lead, but he has conflicts with other films for which Warner wanted him. Dante Harper wrote the script with executive producer Joby Harold. Cruise began work on the movie last Friday in London. He recently completed production on another sci-fi graphic novel adaptation, Oblivion.

No release date for All You Need Is Kill has been set yet. But we should be expecting an announcement from Warner Bros. sometime soon.

If you’ve never read nor heard of All You Need Is Kill here’s a plot summary:

The story is told from the perspective of Keiji Kiriya, the protagonist, a new recruit in the United Defense Force which fights against the mysterious ‘Mimics’ which have laid siege to Earth. Keiji is killed on his first sortie, but through some inexplicable phenomenon wakes up having returned to the day before the battle, only to find himself caught in time loop as his death and resurrection repeats time and time again. Keiji’s skill as a soldier grows as he passes through each time loop in a desperate attempt to change his fate.

While it does seem cool I am not too sure about the cast and director on this one. But I will have to wait and see before I pass judgement because Tom Cruise has surprised me in the past before.

Source: Deadline

 

Hot Toys Gives A Sneak Peak At Agent Coulson And Chitauri Footsoldier Figures!

by Shawn Madden

Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong are both coming up, and collectibles company Hot Toys gives us a sneak peak at what we can expect to find on display during the show. Prepare to empty out your kids college fund. Again.

The annual Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong event will kick off this Friday! Fans may have expected to preview a series of upcoming collectibles there!

We will be showcasing the firstly unveiled Mark VII & Hulk from The Avengers, The Bat and Catwoman from The Dark Knight Rises……

A great surprise to fans – the prototype of Agent Phil Coulson and Chitauri Footsoldier from The Avengers will be unveiled there!

What’s more, we will also showcase our first collectible figure of the 1/4th scale series at the Ani-Com! Batman fans can have a look at our first-of-its-kind 1/4th scale Batman Collectible Figure from The Dark Knight Rises!


Source: The HDR

Geekscape Comics: Grant Morrison Leaving Action Comics And Batman Incorporated

by Shawn Madden

An a recent interview with CBR, Grant Morrison made an announcement that is sure to be very upsetting to fans. Morrison announced that he would be stepping away from ongoing superhero books for the time being.

The ‘Action Comics’ run concludes with issue #16, ‘Batman Incorporated’ wraps up my take with issue #12, and after that I don’t have any plans for monthly superhero books for a while. ‘Multiversity’ is eight issues and I’m 30-odd pages into a Wonder Woman project but those are finite stories.

While the news of Morrison working on a Wonder Woman project may make Geekscape writer Eric Diaz quite happy the rest of the news here is sure to disappoint a number of Morrison’s fans.

Edgar Wright To Direct Paramount’s ‘Collider’

by Shawn Madden

So, Edgar Wright is getting ready to go into production on Worlds End in September and then gearing up for Ant-Man after that. Well add yet another movie to his schedule now.

Paramount pictures is mobilizing a sci-fi film called Collider, and it is a collision of several of the top guys in the genre. Edgar Wright will direct the film, and he is co-writing the script with I Am Legend‘s Mark Protosevich. Wright is producing with his longtime Big Talk Productions partner Nira Park and JJ Abrams through his Bad Robot banner.

Wow. Edgar seems to be a hot name right now and us over at Geekscape are definitely happy for him. I have yet to be let down by any of his films and definitely looking forward to all three of these projects myself. Just maybe Ant-man a bit more so than the others.

Source: Deadline

Geekscape Comics: The Stories That Inspired Christopher Nolan’s Batman Films

by Shawn Madden

So, you just saw The Dark Knight Rises and want to read some of the stories that influenced Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy? Well, we are here to help you out with that!

Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli

A young Bruce Wayne has spent his adolescence and early adulthood, traveling the world so he could hone his body and mind into the perfect fighting and investigative machine. But now as he returns to Gotham City, he must find a way to focus his passion and bring justice to his city. Retracing Batman’s first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante, we watch as he chooses a guise of a giant bat, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon, inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a corrupt political system that infests Gotham.

The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Taking place during Batman’s early days of crime fighting, The Long Halloween tells the story of a mysterious killer named Holiday, who murders people on holidays, one each month. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month, while attempting to stop the crime war between two of Gotham’s most powerful families, Maroni and Falcone. This novel also acted as a main introduction for one of Batman’s most eluding foes, The Calendar Man, who knows the true identity of the Holiday killer but refuses to share this with Batman. He instead works in riddles and leaves Batman hints from his Arkham Asylum cell. The story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman’s enemy, Two-Face.

Knightfall by various writers/artists

The story takes place over approximately six months. In it we see Bruce Wayne suffer from burnout and systematically assaulted and crippled by Bane. This is the story where we see Bane “break the bat” which is what he has become most known for doing. Wayne is replaced as Batman by an apprentice named Jean-Paul Valley, who becomes increasingly violent and unstable, tarnishing Batman’s reputation. Eventually, Wayne is healed through paranormal means, and reclaims his role as Batman. Knightfall resulted in long-term ramifications for the Batman mythos, as Batman’s trust from the police, the public, and fellow superheroes had to be rebuilt. Additionally, Wayne realizes the peril and burden of attempting to work in solitude, leading to the eventual creation of the modern incarnation of the Batman family. The events of Knightfall also led to the resignation of Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. We also see one element of this story in Batman Begins when they release the inmates from Arkham Asylum.

No Man’s Land by various writers/artists

The story began with a major earthquake hitting Gotham City. This was followed by the storylines “Aftershock” and then “Road to No Man’s Land” which resulted in the U.S. government officially evacuating Gotham and then abandoning and isolating those who chose to remain in the city. “No Man’s Land” covered, in detail, a period in the lives of the residents of the city, explaining all events from the time of isolation, until its time of re-opening and the beginning of rebuilding. This story influenced quite a bit of the second half of The Dark Knight Rises.

The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland

The plot revolves around a largely psychological battle between Batman and his longtime foe the Joker, who has escaped fromArkham Asylum. The Joker intends to drive James Gordon, the Police Commissioner of Gotham City, insane, in order to prove that the most upstanding citizen is capable of going mad after having “one bad day.” Along the way, the Joker has flashbacks to his early life, gradually explaining his origin. Heath Ledger studied this story heavily while preparing for The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson

The Dark Knight Returns is set ten years in an alternate future, with a worn and weary, aged Bruce Wayne. He numbs his conscience with alcohol to soothe the guilt he feels for his responsibility for the death of Jason Todd. Gotham City is under siege by a vicious criminal gang who call themselves the Mutants. Wayne unleashes his demons to confront the new threats to Gotham, and Batman is born again. Wayne finds himself struggling with the decline of his physique as he patrols and defends Gotham City. An inexperienced but courageous young girl named Carrie Kelly saves Batman’s life, and Wayne takes her in as a new Robin. Batman is seen now as a menace to Gotham’s society and an anti-vigilantism wave is carried on from the government.

I hope you guys enjoy reading these and finding what bits and pieces Nolan and the cast took inspiration from and even maybe just enjoying some stories you may have not read before.

Cast Photo From ‘Mockingbird Lane’ Gives Us First Look At The Munsters!

by Shawn Madden

So, if you haven’t heard by now they’re remaking The Munsters but taking a less-comedy, more drama approach to it. The pilot, written by Bryan Fuller and to be directed by Bryan Singer, is described as:

A reinvention of the 1960s sitcom about The Munsters, a family of “monsters” — vampires, werewolves and Frankenstein, and their “plain” cousin (Charity Wakefield) — that will feature striking visuals in the vein of Fuller’s ABC dramedy Pushing Daisies. O’Connell will play family patriarch, the handsome and gangly Herman Munster, a great dad and devoted husband. He is married to Lily, a vampire, with whom he has fathered a 10-year-old boy, Eddie (Mason Cook). Strong but sentimental, Herman works at a funeral home, and worries that Eddie’s transformation into a werewolf and burgeoning awareness of his family’s origins will crush the boy’s spirit.

Take your first look at the cast as The Munsters!

From left to right: Charity Wakefield, Eddie Izzard, Mason Cook, Portia de Rossi, and Jerry O’Connell.

The show is said to have a much darker and serious tone. As described by Fuller:

“The Munsters actually do what monsters do. They eat people and they have to live with the ramifications of being monstrous. It’s like grounding it in a reality because the half-hour was a sitcom, we saw the monsters: they were monsters on the outside and weren’t monsters on the inside. For us, they’re monsters outside and inside, and we get to double our story.”

“Everything is a metaphor for something that you can identify with in a relationship. The fact that Herman is in a constant state of decay and he’s married to someone who doesn’t age. We get to play with all those insecurities. The fact that he was made by his father-in-law and then has to live up to those standards; he’s always trying to find his own identity.”

Source: JoBlo

Comic-Con 2012: Peter Jackson’s Final Production Blog From ‘The Hobbit’

by Shawn Madden

So, while not showing all of the footage that was shown at this years San Diego Comic-Con (sorry guys)…this does feature the 11-minute opening that we were shown that gives a behind the scenes look at the filming and touches of new footage. This video also does feature some extras shot by Peter Jackson at this years Comic-Con.

I know that not everybody gets to Comic Con, so I thought I’d bring a little bit of Comic Con to you! Here’s a bit of what I saw in San Diego, and what those in Hall H got to see of The Hobbit! This is THE HOBBIT Production Diary #8, covering Comic Con and the final days of principal photography on the film. – Peter Jackson

Source: Peter Jackson

Jena Malone Joins Cast Of ‘The Hunger Game: Catching Fire’

by Shawn Madden

Deadline is reporting that Jena Malone (Sucker Punch) has been cast in the role of Johanna Mason in the sequel to The Hunger Games. Other actresses had been up for the role and Malone was first rumored to be in talks earlier in the month and has now officially signed on. Johanna Mason is the female victor of an unidentified Games from District 7. She was reaped for the third Quarter Quell. She was one of the youngest tributes in the Quarter Quell. She is the last living female victor of District 7, whose principal industry is lumber. In her original Hunger Games, Johanna pretended to be a weakling, feigning hunger and fatigue, when in reality she was sly and cunning. She is considered to be most psychologically scarred Quarter Quell participants.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hits theaters November 22, 2013.

The Man Of Steel Trailer From Comic-Con Leaks Online!

by Shawn Madden

So, there has been a few leaks of this footage but not really any clear ones. Yesterday we gave you two teaser trailers and now we have the full trailer from San Diego Comic-Con. While it may go out of focus a few times I saw this in person and was blown away. You can definitely tell by fans reactions how good this looked. But why am I still writing? Watch and judge for yourselves!

Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel hits theaters June 14th, 2013.

Five Easter Eggs You May Have Missed In ‘The Dark Knight Rises’!

by Shawn Madden

So, if you have not seen The Dark Knight Rises by now I advise you to not read any further because spoilers do lie ahead.

– Christopher Nolan loves Year One. Juno Temple played a version of Holly Robinson.

If you didn’t know by now, Christopher Nolan loves Frank Miller’s work. He even once gave his brother Jonathan an issue of Year One as a birthday present. So, right off the bat, I could tell who this character was from her first introduction. If you somehow have not read nor seen (there is an animated version which is great) Batman: Year One, here is a little info on the character:

Holly first appeared in Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One as a juvenile prostitute who lives with Selina Kyle. Holly plays a small but significant role in the story when she encounters a disguised Bruce Wayne during one of his early attempts at crimefighting and stabs him in the leg. Wounded by this attack and a subsequent battle, Wayne escapes back to his home, brooding on the fact that his enemies do not fear him. This encounter is an impetus for his creation of the Batman persona. As such, Holly plays an indirect role in the Dark Knight’s origin.

Now obviously the character is different in the movie, as many of them are in the Nolan-verse, and she only had a very minor role, but it is definitely a cool little nod to the fans of Year One.

– Roland Daggett from Batman: The Animated Series

Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn portrays John Daggett in The Dark Knight Rises. In the animated series, Roland Daggett runs a rival corporation called Daggett Industries. In the movie, Daggett runs a rival company and uses Bane to take Wayne Enterprises down (which doesn’t necessarily work out well for him in the end).

– Killer Croc in the sewers

Remember when Foley makes the comment about Gordon seeing “giant alligators” down in the sewer? Now, some of you are going to say that this is far fetched but hear me out.

It’s not. Because Killer Croc already did appear in the Nolan-verse. I take it that many of you have already forgotten about Batman: Gotham Knight, the animated DVD that was released which took place between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight? THE SHAME!

If you didn’t, you’d realize that Batman and Gordon have already gone into the sewer where they ended up fighting Killer Croc. Yup. This was the same animated short that also saw Jonathan Crane putting someone on trial and sentencing them to death. Sound familiar now?

– Yet ANOTHER Frank Miller reference during the chase scene

Remember during the chase scene when a veteran cop tells a rookie to “sit back, you’re in for a show?” As pointed out in our recent TDKR analysis podcast, that’s a wink-and-a-nod to an almost identical scene from The Dark Knight Returns, a story which features a similarly resurgent Batman after years of retirement, once again showing that Nolan does know his source material.

– All of the numerous Robin Easter eggs. Yup. Robin Eggs. Both intentional and unintentional.

If you’ve seen the film than by now you know the ending. And you’ve probably figured out that John Blake is somewhat of a mixture of Dick Grayson and Tim Drake. Grayson was an orphan in the comics while Tim Drake figured out that Bruce Wayne was Batman, thus leading to him becoming the third Robin after Grayson’s first.

Did you also notice the name of the one football player to survive the field caving in?

Now, Hines Ward was obviously playing himself but they definitely could have changed the name. But maybe Nolan and company left it as kind of a nod to Burt Ward who played Robin in the television series? Intentional? Unintentional? What do you think?

And I know quite a few people that missed this one. That R is the one that Tim Drake used on his Robin suit. Now, it’s a truly “blink and you miss it” moment, but Nolan could have taken it out and instead chose to leave it.

So, while none of these are really big deals, they are cool nods to the fans. Bravo Nolan.

Now, can you think of any that we might have missed?

Geekscape Comics: First Look At ‘Venom #21’

by Shawn Madden

• Toxin vs. Venom! Flash Thompson’s Last Stand! The Crime-Master Triumphant! – It’s the Savage Six Finale the comics world will be talking about!
• CRIME MASTER’S IDENTITY IS REVEALED – and Flash Thompson and Betty Brant’s lives will never be the same!

VENOM #21
Written by Cullen Bunn, Rick Remender
Pencils by Lan Medina
Cover by Tony Moore

Simon Kinberg Talks About The Much Anticipated Sequel To ‘X-Men: First Class’!

by Shawn Madden

Simon Kinberg  has already given some hints as to the direction that the X-Men: First Class sequel may take and in a recent interview with Collider he went a little more in-depth (well…minus actual plot points that is) into it. He also comments that he, Vaughn and Goldman have been given a little more creative room due to the success of movies such as Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and Chronicle.

“I wish I could tell you about it, but literally, it’s like the most guarded state secret I’ve ever been around.  I can tell you that it’s going really well, and I can tell you that I’ve been working closely with Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman on the script of the movie and that we hope to be shooting in Spring of next year to come out in July of 2014 and that I’m really excited about it, because the only thing I can say, because I have to be extraordinarily vague about it, because the last time I talked to anybody about it, I got in trouble…big trouble…what I can tell you is [that] it’s extraordinarily ambitious.  It is unlike the other X-Men movies and yet very much a celebration of the X-Men movies.”
“I don’t know enough of what he [Vaughn] has or hasn’t talked about.  I can tell you it’s been a very fluid process in the sense of we really went into it, Matthew, Jane and myself, just wanting to create a movie that was as…I’m very proud of First Class…as dramatic as that movie, I think it is as dramatic as that movie, but more epic, mythic in a way as well.  So, there are ideas that we’ve started with that haven’t survived, there are ideas that we started with from conversations we had from making First Class that are going to be in the sequel.  So, it’s vague but…”
“It’s one of those movies that, because it’s such a big deal for the studio, they have some sense of what it is that we’re writing and they are ambitious about the movie, too.  I don’t know what the budget’s going to be, we’ve got to finish the script before we have a budget, but I would assume that it is a bigger movie than the last in physical scope, and that we have the license to do that because of the success of First Class. And because I think Fox has had success with interesting movies in the last couple of years in the genre, like Planet of the Apes was a really good movie, Chronicle was a cool movie, First Class, they’re just narratively or creatively a little bit more ambitious.  So they’ve encouraged us to do that with the sequel.”

Geekscape Comics: First Look At ‘Secret Avengers #29’

by Shawn Madden

• To prevent a death the Secret Avengers must risk starting a war!
• A secret romance heats up!
• A rivalry between two members threatens to jeopardize the mission!
• Will Hawkeye discover he has a spy on his team in time to prevent tragedy?

SECRET AVENGERS #29
Written by Rick Remender
Pencils by Matteo Scalera
Cover by Art Adams

 

Official Teaser Trailer For ‘Man Of Steel’!

by Shawn Madden

If you haven’t seen The Dark Knight Rises in theaters yet you may not have seen this. Or maybe you just want to see it again. The teaser trailer for Man Of Steel is now online. If you like this…just wait until you see the stuff we saw at Comic-Con!

Kevin Costner voice over:

Russell Crowe voice over:

In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago to Earth from Krypton, a highly advanced, distant planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question ‘Why am I here?’ Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha (Diane Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner), Clark discovers having extraordinary abilities means making difficult decisions. When the world is in dire need of stability, an even greater threat emerges. Clark must become a Man of Steel, to protect the people he loves and shine as the world’s beacon of hope – Superman.

Man Of Steel hits theaters June 13, 2013.

Geekscape Comics: First Look At ‘Uncanny X-Force #28’

by Shawn Madden

• X-Force land themselves somewhere you’ve never seen them.
• A new member joins the team!
• Rising star Julian Totino Tedesco (VENOM: CIRCLE OF FOUR, JOHN CARTER GODS OF MARS covers) joins the best creative team in comics for two issues!

UNCANNY X-FORCE #28
Written by Rick Remender
Pencils by Julian Titino Tedesco
Cover by Jerome Opena

Jackie Earle Hayley Joins Cast Of ‘Robocop’

by Shawn Madden

Reports are coming in that Jackie Earle Hayley (Watchmen) has signed up for the Robocop remake. His character goes by the name of “Maddox” and he will have the vital role of supplying Robocop with military training. That adds yet another name to an already impressive cast. This movie is shaping up quite nicely and is definitely on my anticipated list.

Source: Deadline

Geekscape Comics: The Final Marvel NOW! Teaser Reveals A Fan Favorite

by Shawn Madden

So far Fury’s files have shown him to be keeping tabs on Ant-Man, Nova, Wiccan & Loki and Cable. The final teaser reveals he will also be keeping tabs on a fan-favorite…Star-Lord! This most likely will be an introduction to Bendis’ new Guardians Of The Galaxy series.

 MARVEL NOW! Point One #1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Jeph Loeb, Nick Spencer, Kieron Gillen, Dennis Hopeless
Art by Michael Allred, Ed McGuinness, Steve McNiven, Jamie Mckelvie, Salvador Larroca and more!
Cover by Adi Granov
Variant Cover by Joe Quesada
Sketch Variant Cover by Joe Quesada
Variant Cover by Skottie Young
THE FUTURE OF MARVEL IS NOW!
64 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99

New Official ‘Iron Man 3’ Concept Art Shows Off The New Armor

by Shawn Madden

So, if you haven’t seen the new suit that Tony Stark will be donning in Iron Man 3 by now…you may be a bit behind. However we have some new concept art featuring the suit in action for you to check out. The suit looks fantastic on screen from the footage that I have seen.

Described as a “technological crisis thriller,” set in the world of international war, arms & terror, Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man 3” stars Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Andy Lau, Ashley Hamilton, James Badge Dale, with Sir Ben Kingsley and Jon Favreau. Shane Black (“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”) takes over directorial duties from Jon Favreau, who helmed the first two “Iron Man” films. Principal photography will occur primarily in North Carolina and China. And “Iron Man 3” is set for release in May 3, 2013.

Source: Stark Industries

Geekscape Comics: First Look At ‘Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates #13’

by Shawn Madden

• THE RETURN OF ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA!

• Enter DIVIDED WE FALL, the UltimateComics line-wide event of the summer!

• ALL CAP ACTION — perfect jumping on point for new readers!

ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #13

Story by Sam Humphries

Art by Billy Tan

Cover by Adi Granov

Let The Games Begin! A Review Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Shawn Madden

Prepare to have all your expectations met and more. Much like I stated in my piece that took a look back at the other films… some had their doubts about The Dark Knight Rises‘ casting. I am here to say have no worries. This is Christian Bales finest performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Forget about Heath Ledger as The Joker and do not try to compare  that performance to Tom Hardy’s Bane. This is an entirely different beast and Bane is both menacing and vicious. The muzzled voice due to the mask makes the character all the more real and for me made him even more threatening. Anne Hathaway is great as Selina Kyle and pulls the role off quite well. The standout performance to me, thought, is Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake. Going in, I underestimated the importance of the character. He brings humanity, decency, and probably a bit more physicality than you might be expecting to the story. The only person I expected more from would be Marion Cotillard, but I am going to avoid spoiler territory here. She is good but I expected a bit more from her.

Is the movie better than The Dark Knight? In some ways… yes it is. There definitely is more action in this one. That’s for damn sure. Some of the interaction between characters is really touching, especially between Wayne and Alfred. It’s really hard to compare the two because they truly are two different films that are going to be incredibly hard for many to pick between as the best chapter of the trilogy. It is a satisfying ending that lives up to all expectations. Whoever makes a Bat-film after Nolan is going to have their work cut out. That ending alone is going to be talked about for weeks on end. Whether it be praise of the whining of the internet purists who are never happy with anything. I hope they realize that this is an interpretation just like the many we have seen in the comics over the years and a damn good one. We can’t see the same stories and endings we already know because as cool as it would be…they’d grow stale and boring. I already expect that there are some out there cracking their fingers getting ready to type angrily. But let us move on past that and to the end here.

I cannot comment too much on the ending because I refuse to spoil anything. The last fifteen or so minutes of the movie are phenomenal. There was a really short period where I was almost angry at Nolan until the first plot twist eased my worries. You will get it when you see it. I am still thinking about it right now as I write this. Some have even gone on to state “Holy fuck!” after. No, really. The person that I went to the theater with absolutely did.

This movie goes out with the appropriate bang that was needed to conclude Nolan’s trilogy. I agree with those praising it and stating that this could be the first comic book movie to win an Oscar. Between the writing, the performances and the incredible visuals, the movie is on par with anything we can expect to see come Awards Season. So, why are you still reading this? Stop reading reviews (and definitely avoid spoilers) and just go see the damn movie, already!

5/5. Hands down. Bravo, Nolan and Company.

Trailer For ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe – Phase One: Avengers Assembled’ Box Set

by Shawn Madden

Have you been wondering just what comes in the ten-disc Marvel Cinematic Universe – Phase One: Avengers Assembled Box Set? Well we now have a trailer for you detailing just what you will be getting. Minus the access denied folder with contents that not even I know. Trust me…I am dying to know what’s in it. Our own Scott Alminiana has pre-ordered this set after we saw it on the floor of this years San Diego Comic-Con. Will you assemble and purchase this ultimate collection?

Geekscape Comics: Wiccan And Kid Loki In Latest Marvel NOW! Teaser

by Shawn Madden

So far we have seen Cable, Nova, Ant-Man and now we have a teaser showing Wiccan, young Loki and Miss America Chavez. Could these three be the focus from here on in Journey Into Mystery? Maybe even an all new title all together? Damn it Marvel! Tell us now! Check back tomorrow to find out who the fifth and final folder features.

MARVEL NOW! Point One #1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Jeph Loeb, Nick Spencer, Kieron Gillen, Dennis Hopeless
Art by Michael Allred, Ed McGuinness, Steve McNiven, Jamie Mckelvie, Salvador Larroca and more!
Cover by Adi Granov
Variant Cover by Joe Quesada
Sketch Variant Cover by Joe Quesada
Variant Cover by Skottie Young
THE FUTURE OF MARVEL IS NOW!
64 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99

Geekscape Comics: First Issue Of ‘Captain Marvel’ Sells Out. Going Into Second Print!

by Shawn Madden

Did you pick up an issue of Captain Marvelyesterday? Well you just may want to head back to the shop and get one. The first issue that is being praised which sets up Carol Danvers as a major player in the Marvel Universe has already sold out. The artwork alone is fantastic.

Marvel’s official press release:

It’s official, fans can’t get enough Captain Marvel – so much so that both Captain Marvel #1 AND Avenging Spider-Man #9 have sold out! This August, get your second chance to experience Carol Danvers’ marvelous new adventures in Captain Marvel #1 Second Printing Variant, where Carol begins her life as the new Captain Marvel! But that’s not all, as she embarks on a high-flying team-up with none other than your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in Avenging Spider-Man #9 Second Printing Variant

While I haven’t read the issue myself I now fully plan to. So what do other critics have to say about the first issue of the title?

“Brilliant.” – Benjamin Bailey, IGN.com

“Fantastic.” – Ali Colluccio, iFanboy

“Energetic.” – George Marston, Newsarama

Don’t miss your chance! Get this issue now!

Have The Villains For ‘Thor: The Dark World’ Been Revealed?

by Shawn Madden

Now while none of this has been confirmed we have news that Thor may be going head to head wituh dark elves in his upcoming sequel. During a recent interview James Grogan revealed that stuntmen working on the next film are training to be elves.

“The other day for example, this is quite random but I was working on Thor 2,” he explains, “I had a load of stunt guys in and the director came in and he said ‘Look, we want you all to be elves,’ and I was like ‘What the hell is an elf anyway?’ and he said ‘I want you all to walk around like these supernatural animals,’ honestly it was the most ridiculous thing ever but you just have to not be self aware and get on with it.”

Now while this isn’t confirmation that these are the villains with a title such as The Dark World it could be entirely likely. And if so that means we would be seeing Thor go head to head with Malekith The Accursed who rules over The Dark Elves. But as stated above this has not been confirmed yet. Keep checking back for updates.

Source: I Review Too

A Look Back At ‘Batman Begins’ And ‘The Dark Knight’

by Shawn Madden

The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters tomorrow at midnight and I thought I would take a look at Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. There is no doubt that this trilogy will go down as one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. A main factor in this being the common theme that Christopher Nolan has always set as the heart of the stories. Rather than focusing on Batman as the superhero he focused on the man who was Batman and the symbol he created. Something that film makers that had come before failed to truly capture. As stated in Batman Begins:

People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can’t do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I’m flesh and blood. I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol — as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting. – Bruce Wayne (Batman Begins)

Ever since Batman Begins hit screens movies have began taking a more realistic approach to their characters thus making them more relatable. By making a story more believable you can lose yourself in it. Batman Begins took a risk by actually being the first Batman film to be actually about Batman. The film was not about the villains who took a back seat to the exploration of Bruce Wayne’s psyche. But what really made this movie had to be the casting. Christian Bale is by far the best Bruce Wayne to date and with a supporting cast that was flawless and made this first piece to the story truly memorable and a movie that improves over time rather than one that deteriorates. We were introduced to a new Gotham unlike the ones we had seen in the past and a Bruce Wayne unlike the ones we had seen in the past. This character was real. That was the difference here. One of the most memorable scenes in being a great ending scene that would lead into one of the greatest sequels ever made.

“Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” – Alfred Pennyworth (The Dark Knight)

A line from The Dark Knight that to this day is still one of the most memorable. This movie truly set the bar for comic book films if not films in general. A movie that received criticism from the masses of the internet for its casting of Heath Ledger as Batman’s greatest villain of all time…The Joker. I remember clearly reading on an internet board the numerous randoms who referred to this move as “the worst casting decision ever made” and jokes about this actors role from Brokeback Mountain that even referred to this sequel as being “Broke-Bat Mountain”. And this once again proves just how wrong we all can be. If we thought the casting in Batman Begins was brilliant we hadn’t seen anything yet.

Nolan had made his masterpiece with The Dark Knight. It was dark, intelligent, incredibly exciting and cinematically rich, while remaining utterly true to the soul of its source material. The actors were at their finest here and truly gripping performances sucked us in to a movie that will go down as one of the greatest films ever made in my opinion. Not just because it is a comic book movie but because it is a fantastic film. The bitter-sweet tragedy here is that this was Heath Ledgers finest performance but sadly his last. If any actor deserved to win the Oscar for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” in 2009 it was Heath Ledger. However the movie otherwise was snubbed at the Oscars and is now why they have expanded how many movies are nominated from five to ten. The midnight screening that I attended received a standing ovation for a film that honestly deserved it but at the same time left fans sad that we would never see Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker grace the screen again.

So now we approach the grand finale to the Dark Knight Trilogy. Tomorrow at midnight The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters and is already receiving praise from many. Once again some have been skeptical to casting but if history has taught us anything it is that we should have faith in Christopher Nolan here because he has not let us down before.

“If anything, it’s a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to sort of follow in the footsteps of somebody who was so brilliant. So I’m just grateful to be part of the family, actually, the Batman, Chris Nolan family. And that I got brought in to be the villain in this film.” – Tom Hardy on Heath Ledger

The Joker may be Batman’s arch-nemesis but Bane is one of the greatest enemies he has ever faced. Known best as the man who “broke the bat” we are truly in store for a completely different type of animal here. Bane is not only one of Batman’s greatest enemies physically but mentally. Tom Hardy has had his performance referred to as “powerful” and that “his simple presence intimidates anyone”. Do not compare his performance to Heath but instead remember that he is playing a completely different character and a new threat that we have not seen before. Many who have already seen the film have called this Christian Bale’s finest performance of the three and a fantastic end to the story that Nolan has set out to tell. While The Dark Knight may be a tough act to follow I have complete faith myself that we will be getting the film that we all need and deserve. There has been much talk that this could be the first comic book movie to win an Oscar and it seems quite possible that it can. Have we seen all that Nolan and company have to give?

Not everything. Not yet. – Batman (The Dark Knight Rises)

A look back at the trilogy:

 

Joss Whedon And Dave Foley Star In This Short Written By A Five Year Old

by Shawn Madden

We all love Joss Whedon Right? Well, you may love him even more after this. While this isn’t the first time something like that he been done (see: Axe-Cop) this is a very creative short starring some quite familiar faces.

A monster, a milk truck, a S.Q.U.A.T. team leader named Gerald and an epic 7 day battle–all from the mind of 5-year-old Brett.

If still hesitant to watch just note that it was produced by Felicia Day (The Guild) and directed by Daniel Strange (The Ballad Of GI Joe)

Source: Collider