COMICS BLEND

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON For Virgins

The Avengers reassemble for Earth’s Mightiest Sequel. (“Avengers Assemble!” is their comic book battle cry – for the non-comic reader.)

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, our heroes face one of their oldest and most relentless enemies from comics.Ultron is an artificial intelligence who can download his evil sentience into a legion of robot bodies.

A lot has happened since the epic battle with Loki in their first cinematic meeting so it’s time to catch up on our heroes and villains.

In our continuing series that started with Avengers for Virgins, here’s our guide to get you on up to speed for the biggest movie of the summer. If you’re film fan only or hardcore geek here’s what you need to know to be ready for Avengers: Age of Ultron. Continue reading AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON For Virgins

ANIMATED SPIDER-MAN, BLOODSHOT Join SUPERHERO MOVIE LINEUP

Bloodshot Reborn #1 ECCC Variant courtesy Valiant

Are ready for even more superhero movies?

Major announcements this week mean more Spidey, new comic book heroes hitting the big screen, and adding to a packed schedule between now and 2020.

This week Valiant and Sony announced a plan to make 2 Bloodshot films, 2 Harbinger films and leading to crossover based on Harbinger Wars.

Plus, The Lego Movie directors are signed up for a Spider-Man animated movie for Sony.

Here’s the revised superhero movie timeline. Continue reading ANIMATED SPIDER-MAN, BLOODSHOT Join SUPERHERO MOVIE LINEUP

KITTY PRYDE & STAR-LORD’S Next Chapter

The outing of an X-Man may have dominated news and social media this week but something HUGE happened to another fan-favorite X-Man.

The long-distance love affair between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) reached a pivotal moment in The Black Vortex: Omega this week.

The crossover between X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy pitted the teams against the forces of Mister Knife and the Son of Thanos with billions of lives at stake.

Kitty and Peter first met during The Trial of Jean Grey crossover and began a long-distance relationship. When Quill’s sinister father kidnapped him and seized the powerful Black Vortex, Kitty went into deep space to save her man. The X-Men joined the fight that include their old enemies, The Brood.

The Black Vortex is an ancient artifact giving incredible powers but at the risk of losing your soul. The heroes may have won but the Guardians and X-Men were dramatically changed especially Kitty Pryde! Continue reading KITTY PRYDE & STAR-LORD’S Next Chapter

Shocking X-MEN Stories Before the AGE OF SPOILERS

Beware The Leaks & The Spoilers!

These are not new super villains but they are a phenomenons of the modern age of entertainment. They may be forces for good. Good for sales. Are they negative forces in the experience of enjoying a comic book, television episode or movie?

A superhero was outed this week in All-New X-Men #40. The pages where this major character development happened were leaked online. A wave of love, hate and berate erupted on social media. Without even reading the whole book and context, judgement was unleashed.

I couldn’t help but think of dramatic moments in X-Men history when I was actually surprised, when a shocking moment was actually shocking and impactful? They were all before the dominance of social media. Continue reading Shocking X-MEN Stories Before the AGE OF SPOILERS

AL EWING On DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR

Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #1 courtesy Titan Comics

With Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor writer Al Ewing (Loki: Agent of Asgard, Mighty Avengers) gives us new comic book adventures starring the previous Time Lord played by Matt Smith.

It’s one of expanding Doctor Who series from Titan Comics starring the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors.

New companion Alice was a sad library assistant in London feeling empty and gray after a family tragedy when the Eleventh Doctor burst into her life with a colorful, strange entrance. Instead of falling into Wonderland, the wonder and spirit of the Eleventh Doctor series falls into her world and before our eyes.

Writers Al Ewing and Rob Williams reignited the playful yet emotional tone of the show. I asked Ewing about capturing the energy of Matt Smith’s Eleventh. Continue reading AL EWING On DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR

SPIDER-MAN ANIMATED MOVIE In 2018

Spider-Man – a new animated movie is swinging into cinemas in 2018.

Sony announced The LEGO Movie directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller will helm a new animated feature starring the Marvel super hero according to Variety.

Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman made the announcement at CinemaCon saying the film will “co-exist” with the live-action Spiderman universe, but the press release clarifies: “The film will exist independently of the projects in the live-action Spider-Man universe, all of which are continuing. Continue reading SPIDER-MAN ANIMATED MOVIE In 2018

COMMON Joins SUICIDE SQUAD?

Harley Quinn and Deadshot in Suicide Squad #7 courtesy DC Comics

Oscar-winning rapper-turned-actor Common has joined Suicide Squad according to The Hollywood Reporter though his role is not revealed and Warner Brothers had not commented.

The film is based on the DC Comic about super villains secretly working for a government agency. David Ayer is directing with production under way in Toronto.

The cast includes Jared Leto as Joker, Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

Suicide Squad is scheduled for August 2016. Continue reading COMMON Joins SUICIDE SQUAD?

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS

Sometimes young girls can be mischievous like Harley Quinn or noble like Supergirl but we hope they grow up to become a Wonder Woman.

A whole heroic universe is coming…just for girls with some familiar characters as you’ve never seen them before.

DC Comics is the home of Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl and more famous female heroes and bad girls. The publisher is teaming up with Warner Brothers and Mattel Toys to create a new universe of storytelling to inspire and empower young girls.

DC Super Hero Girls will feature iconic superheroes and villains including the classic trio above along with Poison Ivy, Bumble Bee, Katana and more in their early years just before discovering their super powered potential. Continue reading DC SUPER HERO GIRLS

Escape. Engage. Enjoy.