Summit Entertainment has released the final trailer for The Diverent Series: Insurgent. This is the sequel to the dystopian thriller Divergent, and it stars Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Theo James, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Octavia Spencer, and Naomi Watts.

The trailer features some solid new footage from the movie, and in case you wanted an explanation behind Tris' new short haircut, this trailer gives it to you. “I wanted something different,” she says as she stares deep into the eyes of her love interest, played by James. She's also being consumed by anger.

The first movie was OK, but the sequel seems like it could be much better. I'm not the biggest fan of Woodley, but regardless of that, I'll go check it out. It looks like the movie will deliver fans the entertainment they are looking for.

THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris’s family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.

The movie will be released in theaters on March 20th.

In this case, the slap was totally justified, but it was too good a pic to pass up.

With events like Secret Wars and Convergence going on at the big two, I thought it would be relevant to single out some characters that could use some love in the aftermath of those events. Today we focus on the House of Ideas, and while these are by no means the only characters who have been disrespected over the years, these are ones I feel should be at the top of the list. A character qualifies as disrespected in a few ways, whether by the company as a whole, or by the writers and creative team that were working on their respective books, the characters within the Marvel U, or even by the fans. With that said, let's get started. 

Hank Pym

I have to be upfront about this, but Hank Pym has never been on my good side. Part of that is I find characters of his ilk grating as a whole. Characters whose brilliance is overshadowed by their complete lack of self-awareness, with a heavy dose of aloofness - so much so, you wonder how they even function in day to day society. The best comparison I can make is to Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory, and frankly he is my least favorite part of that show (can't get enough of Amy, though). That’s not even throwing in the hubris that created one of the most tyrannical characters in the Marvel U, or the verbal and physical abuse that he inflicted on Janet van Dyne, aka The Wasp. The latter has become synonymous with Pym anytime he comes up in conversation.

Take that for what you will, but it's not hard to see why Hank would be disliked by the majority of fans. In saying that, however, this is not really his fault. It lies as much on the writers and editors that the character is in this murky mess to begin with. Over the years, no one ever seemed to have a true road map to get him back to a place of recovery. In most cases you put a character through the ringer to ultimately get him to a better place, or at least to another growth point in their respective lives, but that upswing never really happened with Hank. Throughout his career the guy has had at least 4 breakdowns, switched costumes, identities, and personalities so much he could give Moon Knight a run for his money, and then had the scarlet letter tacked on when he lost it with Janet. Without a Green Lantern Rebirth-style reconstruction, the character is doomed to be constantly dogged by his past failures, without any way to shake them off. This character has too much potential, and it's a shame that most stories just tend to repeat the same pattern and leave Hank in the same position he was before, if not worse off.

Ironically, according to Jim Shooter, that abuse toward Janet wasn't even supposed to happen, well, at least on purpose, as he has stated that it was written as an accident, but an admittedly newer (at the time anyway) comic artist didn't illustrate it as such. No one can be blamed for assuming the image was purposeful, though. I mean look at it. Regardless of the slap's intent, he had already been verbally abusive to Janet, so the character was still not nearly innocent.

Either way, it would be nice to see the character get a little nudge in the right direction courtesy of the universe cherry picking possibilities of Marvel’s upcoming Secret Wars. Age of Ultron and Avengers AI have helped some, but with the possibilities of Secret Wars, I think it's time to let Hank Pym out of the rudderless cycle he's been in all these years, and either put him on the road to redemption or go all in and make him a non-apologetic villain. 

Dazzler

Ah, Alison Blaire. The pop star turned X-Man always had a great deal of potential to be something completely unique, but due to a history that reads like a Monday through Thursday episode of Days of Our Lives (everybody knows all the big stuff happens on Friday) the potential has been mostly squandered. Her history reads as either A. person who is trying to find herself B. person being taken advantage of, or C. Dying and then coming back. Seriously though, Psylocke and Jean Grey are both looking over their shoulders. It would be nice to see this character actually use the confidence and power that she has built up along the way. I mean, at one point she absorbed a whole person and turned him into energy, and even attempted to take on the Juggernaut solo. She didn’t win, but lots of people wouldn’t have even tried.

I don’t want this Dazzler anymore.

I want this one.

or this one.

I don't even mind this one, but I just need to see Alison kick ass again.

It can be done, and has been done, but maybe now is the time for it to be a bit more consistent.

Iceman

Speaking of alternate universes, Iceman seems to thrive only when he is living in one. In the central Marvel U, Bobby Drake is stuck, and not only personality-wise but also when it comes to his power levels. Bobby has always had a Peter Parker-esque quality, quipping and wisecracking his way through battles, but the character has been trudging through mediocrity for quite a while now, even in his own mini series. It's only when writers are able to branch out without consequences that the character ever evolves or becomes more then an angsty teen.

Age of Apocalypse shows us a more weathered Bobby Drake, whose quip-a-minute attitude has been not replaced but adjusted to one with a measure of sarcasm and a power set that sees the hero at his most lethal. His look follows suit, with an ethereal ice trail replacing his more human form riding on ice slides. The character is able to freeze people from the inside out for heaven's sake, but he is never allowed that kind of freedom in the regular universe. He still has doubts, sure, but he is a force to be reckoned with while working through them.

You can also see a unique take within the series Mutant X, where due to some tinkering by Loki, Bobby cannot transform out of his ice form, so is unable to touch anything without freezing and subsequently killing it. The character retains the humor, but with more substance underneath, as he uses that humor to compensate for his unfortunate condition. Outside of these alternate takes, Iceman seems to be the runt of the original X-Men in the normal Marvel U, and if Angel, who literally is just someone with wings, gets more character development than someone with Bobby’s potential, well, then that qualifies as disrespect.

Maggot

During the late 90s/early 2000s there was a new Mutant boom so to speak, but none stick out in my mind more than Maggot. Maggot was one of those off-the-wall ideas that, given some time and TLC (the term, not the group or that song by Michael Bolton), could've really become a fixture of X-teams for years to come. Instead, the promising idea was left to rot so they could introduce yet another glut of characters into the already-packed mutant population. He didn’t really turn up again (aside from a cameo or two) until they decided to kill him, and that wasn’t even in a core X-book.

For the uninitiated, Maggot was a mutant who had the “gift” of carrying around 2 slugs, named Eany and Meany, who could and would eat pretty much anything. They were nigh indestructible, and also shared a pseudo telepathic connection with their host. For a long time they were living inside him, thus they had nothing to feed on but him and what he ate, at least until Magneto removed them. Maggot shared a love-hate relationship with the creatures, and before he vanished from the books there were storylines dangling about where they actually came from, if they were supernatural in nature, or if someone created them, and why they chose him as their host.

All interesting directions, but sadly those were never delved into. To me this character is truthfully what the X-Men are all about. He has a power that has truly caused him suffering and pain, especially early on. He at times resents them and his abilities, and yet within the framework of a team and people who can teach him how to hone his powers, his abilities prove immensely valuable. Ultimately that is what the Xavier school is supposed to be about, and people like Maggot should be its star students. I feel like if Maggot were introduced now, when the mutant population is nowhere near what it used to be, he would stand a much better chance. If Sabertooth can come back from the dead, why can’t Maggot?

Mary Jane

Hear me out on this one.

I can go on about One More Day for literally weeks at a time, and I still won’t get out all of the issues I have with it. Yes yes, I know all those old stories “still happened” and so on and so on, but the fact is these decisions were made directly as a result of personal views, not what was best for the character, and that is my biggest issue.

The worst part of it was how it completely undermined the smart, intelligent, and adept woman that Mary Jane had become. This is a woman who stood by Peter through all, and I stress ALL, of his issues. Depressed “I can’t go on” Peter, angry “I’m going to bring back the black suit and almost kill people” Peter, tunnel vision “the city is all that matters” Peter, and don’t forget “oh my god Aunt May got hurt for like the 90th time so I must be by her bedside” Peter. She doesn’t get enough credit for all the junk she put up with.

When times were tough, she was right there, and the powers that be thanked her for all that time and effort by making her a scapegoat for the ultimate storyline cop out. Because obviously, someone who has been in the thick of it fighting for her marriage would just randomly decide to make a deal with the devil so Aunt May, who had to be well into her 70s or 80s at this point, wouldn't die. It couldn’t be Peter, because we can’t have our hero making a deal with Mephisto, but the woman? Yeah, why not.

After that, Marvel had to explain why they never got married, so their solution was a brick.

Okay, a cinder block and a really bad fall, but that doesn't ring off the tongue like a brick. Peter, on his way to his wedding, saves a couple from being murdered, and in the ensuing fight gets hit over the head with a cinder block, and then takes the brunt of a bad fall. This knocks him out for a good long while, and in that time he completely misses his wedding. All of this due to Mephisto's meddling, and this results in their relationship dissolving.

Now, I'll grant you, Mary Jane would probably be livid, and she would have an absolute right to be. However, does anyone really think that this woman, who even at this earlier point in their relationship (continuity wise, stay with me here) adores this man, would not be able to forgive him and move on with their lives together, instead of that one event causing them to break up? You make her look unreasonable and selfish when she throws down an ultimatum to either give up being Spider-Man or lose her, when he was trying to save someone's life.

In the effort of not just complaining about something without offering a solution, here is my take on how events would realistically play out.

(Also, when I say realistically, I am aware these are fictional characters, and we are dealing with a fictional marriage between a supermodel and a superhero that has powers like a spider. This does not change my opinion, but I felt I should at least make that known.)

(Ahem.)

Peter: (Walks in the house)

Mary Jane: Peter, is that you?

Peter: Yeah. (Still groggy)

Mary Jane: (seeing his condition) Oh my god, are you okay? (Seeing he is no worse for wear) You're fine? Good, now where the hell have you been?

Peter: I’m so sorry, there was this couple being attacked and I...

Mary Jane: ...leaped in to save the day? Of course that’s the reason, why wouldn’t it be? Even on our wedding day you have to be the hero. You really couldn’t just one time leave it for the police? After alI this time I still come in second to that damn costume.

Peter: Okay, first of all, whoa. First off, I prevented two people from being murdered, so I think I get some points for that. Secondly that brick really hurt, and third, you knew before you agreed to marry me that this comes with the territory. This is what I do, and I can’t just turn my back to that. Its not like when I missed the rehearsal dinner last week when I broke up that Walkman mugging.

Mary Jane: Hold up slugger, this isn’t ...wait...a Walkman? Do they even make those anymore? You missed our rehearsal dinner over a Walkman?

Peter: It was one of those limited edition ones, you know, with the yellow color scheme and -

Mary Jane: SERIOUSLY! Okay, back to the point, I’m just upset because you couldn’t, just for once, put me first, and that Walkman thing doesn't help. I know what I signed up for, and I’m not asking you to give up being Spider-Man or curtailing you in any way, but what I am asking for is just some consideration, and possibly, just possibly, some better prioritization on your part. That’s all. If it were this one event that would be different, but this is a pattern.

It was our wedding day, Peter, and I understand if Rhino comes charging through the wall of a casino you have a job to do, and I want you to do that. But if Carl and Hobart want to steal a Walkman, maybe let the police handle that. They kinda get paid to do that, ya know.

Peter: Hobart? Really?

MJ: FOCUS!

Peter: Okay okay, I get it. You’re right, and I really am sorry. Doctor Strange can help with smoothing things over with everybody that came. I would also really like an ice pack.

MJ: Sure thing, just hope I don't get distracted on my way to go get it. Too soon?

Now, I am far from any kind of comic or script writer, so please pardon the many script flaws there, but if we are being honest, that was way more believable then the story shoehorning via editorial mandate that was One More Day and Brand New Day in general.

All right, soapbox time is over.

Well there you have it, my top 5 disrespected Marvel characters. DC’s will be coming next week, but if you have any other nominees, let me know in the comments!

It looks like there's a good chance that the Tomb Raider reboot being developed by Warner Bros. and MGM could be very disappointing. The studio just hired Evan Daugherty to write the script for the film. He has previously written the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which sucked;  Divergent, which was mediocre; Snow White and the Huntsman, which sucked; and he's currently working on G.I. Joe 3, which has been a pretty crappy film franchise. 

I know it's not easy to write a script for a movie. A lot of work goes into it, and Daugherty is obviously a hard worker. But being a hard working screenwriter doesn't mean the scripts they write are good, and this guy doesn't have a very good batting average. Yeah, the films make a lot of money, but let's be honest, that's because of the built-in fanbase of the franchises. For the most part, the reviews for the films that he's worked on have been terrible.

That being said, if he's writing the new Tomb Raider reboot, I'm not expecting much. Of course, I hope it's good! But when they bring on someone like Daugherty to write it, my faith in the project goes down.

Tomb Raider was first adapted into a feature film back in 2001, and it starred Angelina Jolie. At the time it was released I really enjoyed the film. When I look back at it now, I don't see why. I guess it was just the excitement of seeing one of my favorite video game characters brought to life.

According to Deadline, the reboot is on "a fast track, and there is strong progress to production language in the rights deal with Square Enix." Iron Man screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby were initially brought on to develop the film, and it seemed they had a good handle on what they wanted to do with it. I guess the studios didn't think so.

The reboot will feature a younger Lara Croft as she embarks on her first adventure. 

Here's an entertaining little short film called Fish Friend that was inspired by the films of Tim Burton, the short films of Pixar, and 1950s Americana. It hails from some very talented filmmakers, including director Jordan Blum (writer/producer on American Dad, writer for Community), producers John Swartz (Lucasfilm development executive) and Justin Wagman (Director of Worldwide Distribution at Paramount Pictures), editor Spencer Houck (Community, Franklin & Bash) and cinematographer Devin Doyle. It's a fun short that goes to some pretty unexpected places, and it's worth a watch if you appreciate movies that take advantage of this format. Watch the short below, and at the bottom of the page, check out a behind-the-scenes video showing how they made the stop-motion piranha.

You never forget your first pet: this is the lesson ten-year-old Sally learns when she discovers, the hard way, that her new goldfish is actually a bloodthirsty piranha. As Sally and her fish friend forge a lasting relationship, the carnivorous pet wreaks havoc on an unsuspecting neighborhood.

The Beach Boys created some of the most iconic American music of all time, and co-founder Brian Wilson was a large creative force behind dozens of their songs. Now a biopic has been made about Wilson's life called Love & Mercy, and it stars Paul Dano as a young Wilson and John Cusack as an older version of the singer/writer/producer. Cusack and Dano actually do share a bit of a resemblance, and it helps that apparently the production was able to secure the rights to the Beach Boys' discography to help tell their story. Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks co-star, and this looks like a must-watch for fans of the 1960s California rockers. Check out the trailer below, thanks to The Playlist.

Love & Mercy arrives in theaters on June 5th, 2015.

Marvel has found their movie groove, and they are kicking ass with one film after another. But it didn’t start out that way. There was a lot of trial and error that these movies had to go through. Before Jon Favreau’s Iron Man blew up in theaters and launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there were a lot of theatrical films and TV movies that were made to cash in on the brand. Some of them were really good, while others really sucked. It had to start somewhere though, and the first Marvel movie ever made was an adaptation of Captain America back in 1944.

I thought it would be fun to put together a list of films that take us through the history of the Marvel Comics based movie. This first list starts in 1944 with Captain America, and ends with The Death of the Incredible Hulk in 1990. 

There are two other lists that will follow this one, so stay tuned!

1944 - CAPTAIN AMERICA - Republic Pictures 

This was the last Republic serial made about a superhero. It’s also the most expensive serial that they ever made. It starred Dick Purcell as Captain America. What is interesting about this is that the real name of Cap in the series was Grant Gardner, not Steve Rogers. The series also rejected the original backstory of Rogers being injected with a Super-Soldier Serum. Apparently it would have required costly retakes.

Superhero Captain America battles the evil forces of the archvillain called The Scarab, who poisons his enemies and steals a secret device capable of destroying buildings by sound vibrations.

1978 - DOCTOR STRANGE - Universal Television

The TV movie originally aired on CBS, and starred Peter Hooten as Dr. Stephen Strange and Sir John Mills as Lindmer "The Ancient One." Morgan Le Fay was the first Marvel Comics villain to be adapted for live action. She is the half-faerie half-sister of the mythic Arthur. She had the gift of immortality thanks to her elven heritage, and she used this time to master the mystic arts.

Thomas Lindmer, a world-weary sorcerer, foresees the return to Earth of his ancient adversary Morgan LeFey, who has been granted dominance over men's souls by The Nameless One. In order to combat her evil magic, Lindmer must pass the Guardianship of the Light onto a young psychiatry-resident, Dr. Stephen Strange, who has no inkling of his destiny.

1979 - CAPTAIN AMERICA - Universal Television

Reb Brown played Captain America a.k.a. Steve Rogers in this TV movie. This was the first Marvel movie I ever recall watching, and I loved it!

When a commercial artist is almost murdered by spies looking for his late father's secrets, he is saved in surgery when the FLAG formula is injected into him. This serum not only healed him but also gave him tremendous strength and lightening reflexes. To help him retaliate for his attack, a government agency equipments him with a special motorcycle loaded with gadgets and a detachable shield is not only bulletproof, but can be thrown as a offensive returning weapon. Thus armed, he battles against the nation's enemies as the Sentinel of Liberty, Captain America.

1979 - CAPTAIN AMERICA II - DEATH TOO SOON - Universal Television

The first movie must have hit well with audiences if Universal moved forward with this sequel. It actually ended up getting a theatrical release in France for some reason. Christopher Lee had a villainous role in the film as a character named Miguel who was a freelance revolutionary terrorist.

The star spangled hero must battle a villain's plan to poison America with a chemical that horrifically accelerates the aging process.

1986 - HOWARD THE DUCK - Universal Studios

How crazy is it that Howard the Duck was the first feature-length film based on a Marvel character? The movie starred Lea Thomspson, and I’m surprised that she ever worked in Hollywood again after the movie was released. This film was so awful on so many levels. 

A sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invader.

1988 - THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS - New World Television

The TV movie was a continuation of the classic TV series with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. I loved that they introduced Thor into the series! This was the first time we would see two heroic Marvel characters like this fight each other.

It's been two years since the Hulk has surfaced, and Dr. David Bruce Banner is on the verge of curing himself of the Hulk. A device he helped create, the Gamma Transponder, will rid him of his own Gamma radiation, among other uses. Enter Don Blake, a former colleague of Banner's, who is now in possession of a mystic hammer which can summon Thor, an ancient Viking warrior. When the Gamma Transponder is nearly stolen and Banner's girlfriend is kidnapped, Banner must abandon the hope of being cured and rely on the Hulk and Thor to save the day.

1989 - THE TRIAL OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK - New World Television

This was another fun made-for-TV Hulk movie, and it was the first Marvel film ever to include a cameo by Stan Lee. It also included the first live-action appearances by The Kingpin, played by John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings), and Matt Murdock a.k.a. Daredevil.

When David Banner is held for questioning about a mob crime, his only chance lies with his lawyer who is also the superhero, Daredevil.

1989 - THE PUNISHER - Artisan Entertainment

Dolph Lundgren was awesomely cast as Frank Castle. He performed most of his own stunts, and even co-wrote the Punisher’s monologues at the beginning and end of the film. Marvel only granted the production certain rights to the character, and they weren’t allowed to use the signature defining traits of him, like the skull shirt.

When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as the Punisher.

1990 - CAPTAIN AMERICA - 21st Century Film Corporation 

Val Kilmer was actually offered the lead role in this movie, but turned it down to star in The Doors. That was a very wise decision. The movie never got a theatrical release in the United States, probably because it would have been too embarrassing. Like a lot of early Marvel films, having no money proved difficult to make a decent movie.

Frozen in the ice for decades, Captain America is freed to battle against arch-criminal, The Red Skull.

1990 - THE DEATH OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK - New World Television

The previous Hulk TV movies included characters like Thor and Daredevil, this one was supposed to feature Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, but they never went through with it. it would have been really interesting to see how Iron Man would have looked in this thing! There were two other films planned after this, "Rebirth of the Incredible Hulk" and "Revenge of the Incredible Hulk" but actor Bill Bixby passed away and they never happened.

During the critical experiment that would rid David Banner of the Hulk, a spy sabotages the laboratory. Banner falls in love with the spy, Jasmin, who performs missions only because her sister is being held hostage by Jasmin's superiors. Banner and Jasmin try to escape from the enemy agents to rebuild their lives together, but the Hulk is never far from them.

The creative collaboration between director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan resulted in one of the most heartbreaking movies of recent years in Fruitvale Station, and now the duo are reteaming for something completely different. Since 2013, they've been developing a Rocky sequel/spin-off called Creed that will feature Jordan as Apollo Creed's son, who wants to become a boxer and seeks out Rocky to train him. It sounds like a great concept, and I'm definitely interested in the idea of some new voices being brought into this franchise. Sylvester Stallone did a great job with Rocky Balboa, but there's no way he could have convinced anyone that he was going to enter the ring again. Now he won't have to. Warner Bros. has released an official synopsis for the movie (via Badass Digest), and it actually seems like Rocky might not make it through this movie at all.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born.  Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer.  Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend.  Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Sounds like Rocky's days are numbered, but the character is going to die, this movie sounds like a great way to go out. Filming has been going on in Philadelphia for a while already (a group of Rocky fans actually ran to the top of the famous steps and Stallone was up there and took a photo with them), and the film arrives in theaters on November 25th, 2015. Are you looking forward to Creed as much as I am?

There have been a lot of great, custom Nintendo game consoles made by fans over the years. One of my favorites is the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 console that you can check out here. I've never seen one made out of a retro toaster before, though, and this one built by Jarno Kotavuopio, is freakin' brilliant. The cool looking NES toaster features lots of lights, a few cool buttons, and even chrome fixtures. The best part is, it actually works! Here's a note from the creator (his English is a little rough, but you'll get the gist of it):

"This is my second Nintoaster what i have build. Every button in toaster works, power, reset and led brightnes control. Inside the toaster is Nintendo 8 bit (NES) game console. I have also painted Controller to match the Nintoaster."

Check out the video demonstration below.

Via: That's Nerdalicious 

The married team of Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick are two of the most exciting voices in comics right now, having done some really solid work on characters ranging from Hawkeye to Captain Marvel and beyond. Deadline reports that they've just signed a two year deal with Universal Television and one of the first projects they'll be developing into a TV series is Sex Criminals, Fraction's award-winning comic about a librarian and an actor who discover that they can freeze time when they orgasm, leading them to become bank robbers.

Sounds pretty crazy, right? I haven't yet read the comics myself, but I've heard nothing but great things, even from people who aren't hardcore comic book readers. And this could be only the tip of the iceberg. If we're looking only at comics created by Fractino and DeConnick, here are a few other options that might pan out into TV shows (descriptions via Image Comics):

Pretty Deadly: KELLY SUE DECONNICK (Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel) & EMMA RÍOS (Dr. Strange, Osborn) reunite to bring you an all-new ongoing series that marries the magical realism of Sandman with the western brutality of Preacher. Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her tale of retribution is as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage.

ODY-C: An epic 26 centuries in the making: In the aftermath of a galactic war a hundred years long, Odyssia the Clever Champion and her compatriots begin their longest, strangest trip yet: the one home. A gender-bent eye-popping psychedelic science fiction odyssey begins HERE, by MATT FRACTION (CASANOVA, SEX CRIMINALS, SATELLITE SAM) and CHRISTIAN WARD (INFINITE VACATION, OLYMPUS).

Bitch Planet: 2014 Best Writer Eisner Award nominee KELLY SUE DeCONNICK (PRETTY DEADLY, Captain Marvel) and VALENTINE DE LANDRO (X-Factor) team up for the very third time to bring you the premiere issue of BITCH PLANET, their highly-anticipated women in- prison sci-fi exploitation riff. Think Margaret Atwood meets Inglourious Basterds.

Whoa. Hopefully some of these other projects come to light, but even if they don't, I'm psyched to see how Sex Criminals gets adapted. Hopefully it'll show up on HBO or a premium channel that doesn't shy away from nudity, since that seems to be a main aspect of the comics. What do you think? Have you read any of these comics before? Want to see them on the small screen?

Last year we posted three videos from a YouTuber, who goes by the name of Pistol Shrimps, and they featured Batman replacing other characters in multiple films. You can watch Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. He has released a new funny video for our entertainment, but this time around, Batman recreates a few scenes from classic TV shows. The shows include Breaking Bad, Friends, Freaks & Geeks, Two and Half Man, and that Tyra Banks reality TV show. If you liked the previous videos released, you'll definitely enjoy this one!

Thanks to Empire, we have four new photos from Josh Trank's Fantastic Four movie. They feature Miles Teller as Mr. Fantastic, Kate Mara as the Invisible Woman, Michael B. Jordan as the Human Torch, and Jamie Bell as Thing. A lot of people seemed to warm up to this reboot a little more after the teaser trailer was released. But there are still a bunch of people out there that aren't on board. 

When talking to Empire, Trank talked about the tone of the film, and describes it as a "dark Amblin movie." Writer and producer Simon Kinberg added that "there was an Amblin-style approach to the characterisation, and to contextualising everything in a real world". Trank then explained:

"There's the opportunity to make something that is challenging and tragic and dramatic. The opportunity is right there in the material. We'd rather steer it in that direction as opposed to just embracing a tone that comes right off the page."

I'm on the fence with the movie. What I've seen looks cool, and if it wasn't a Fantastic Four reboot, I think a lot of people would but a lot more open to it. I'm looking forward to seeing more footage. In the meantime, here's the synopsis and the additional photos:

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

The movie hits theaters on August 7th, 2015.

This is the first photo that we’ve seen from Jon M. Chu’s live-action big screen adaptation of Jem and the Holograms. As you can see, it features the main characters rocking out on stage. The image is blurry because it has been blown up from a micro version that debuted in the latest issue of Elle Magazine.

We got our first peek at the characters in a poster that was released last year. Those characters include Aubrey Peeples as Jem, Stefanie Scott as Kimber, Hayley Kiyoko as Aja, and Aurora Perrineau as Shan. This new image is the first production still though.

The movie is based on the 1980s animated series, and it "centers on an orphaned teenage girl who becomes an online recording sensation. She and her sisters embark on a music-driven scavenger hunt -- one that sends them on an adventure across Los Angeles in an attempt to unlock a final message left by her father."

Jem and the Holograms is set to be released on October 23rd, 2015, and it also stars Juliette Lewis and Molly Ringwald.

Via: io9

Sideshow Collectibles has revealed a new 1/6th scale action figure of Batman. The "Gotham Knight" figure has several Batman faces and cowls to choose from. One thing that the faces all have in common is that they all portray him being ultimately pissed off.

The figure has a very cool and dark vibe too it. I really like the style, especially the the costume. They managed to make the spandex aspect of the costume not look cheesy, and the weathered utility belt looks great.

Shine the signal, and the protector of Gotham City will emerge from the shadows to fight crime and bring justice! Bruce Wayne springs into action as his famed alter ego – Batman!

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail on a fully articulated muscular body design, our hero is disguised in a grey and black tailored Batsuit and cape. Inspired by a number of timeless comic book appearances, the Batman ‘Gotham Knight’ Sixth Scale Figure invites collectors to further define their favorite look for the Caped Crusader with three cowl and mask options, and three interchangeable facial expressions, which are also compatible with Sideshow’s Batman Sixth Scale Figure.

Equipped with hi-tech ‘Bat’-gadgets, utility belt and grapple hook gun, the Dark Knight is always one step ahead of his foes… and for times of true crisis he keeps a powerful gift from his closest friend nearby in the form of a green Kryptonite ring (shown below).

The Batman ‘Gotham Knight’ Sixth Scale Figure is the perfect addition to your DC sixth scale collection, and the ultimate must-have for fans of the hero, the legend… the Batman!

Sideshow's Gotham Knight is available for preorder, and it’ll cost you $200.

Everyone’s favorite Mandalorian Merc gets a Snow White makeover in this awesome mashup cosplay outfit. The costume was created by Amber Arden, who is also wearing it, and the photos were taken by Erik Estrada from Estrada Photography. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d see Boba Fett smashed together with Snow White. But here it is, and it’s awesome!

Via: Geeks Are Sexy

In 1982, a couple of friends were inspired to remake Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Art, and they set out on a journey to do that, shot for shot. Their names are Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala, and it took them seven years to finish the movie. 

There was some drama involved while they were making the film. With one scene left to go, they stopped production, and it was all because of a girl. They friends had a falling out, and it wasn’t until the footage they shot was discovered years later and posted online that the two friends got back together to finish what they started. There was a lot of fan support, and a book was even written about the experience. 

Now there’s a documentary coming out called Raiders! It was directed by Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen, and it’s set to premiere at next month’s South by Southwest film festival. The documentary takes us through the entire story, and it looks absolutely intriguing. Here's a brief description of the the doc:

In 1982, two 11 year-olds in Mississippi set out to remake their favorite film: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It took seven turbulent years that tested the limits of their friendship and nearly burned down their mother’s house. By the end, they had completed every scene except one… the explosive airplane scene. 30 years later, they attempt to finally realize their childhood dream by building a replica of the 75 foot “Flying Wing” plane from Raiders in a mud pit in the backwoods of Mississippi… and then blow it up! This is the story behind the making of what is known as “the greatest fan film ever made.”

It’s pretty awesome that something that was started so long ago, actually ended up coming this far and ramped up an impressive fanbase in the process. I've include a more detailed description of the the film below the trailer that you can read through as well.

Raiders!, a documentary of the story behind the greatest fan film ever made, is set to have its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX on March 14, 2015. Raiders! chronicles the epic thirty year journey that began in 1982 when two twelve-year-old kids in Mississipi set out to film a mind-bogglingly ambitious shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

It took Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos seven summers to make Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation. By saving up their allowances, hijacking younger siblings, and setting Eric's basement on fire, the boys used astonishing ingenuity to make a film that is surprisingly entertaining and even stunning at times. 

For fifteen years, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation was nearly a forgotten masterpiece of fan filmmaking until Aint It Cool News' Harry Knowles screened it publicly in Austin, TX from a copy obtained by filmmaker Eli Roth. It became an instant phenomenon, generating global media coverage and even getting the attention of Chris and Eric's idol, Steven Spielberg.

Eric, Chris and their childhood cast and crew reshot every scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Every scene except one: the infamous Flying Wing scene where the shirtless Nazi strongman is cut up by the circling plane's propeller. Needless to say, as children in the early 1980s, it was difficult for them to procure a suitable plane to blow up in Mississippi. Being the perfectionists that they are, it's something that has always nagged at Eric and Chris.

Raiders! follows the twenty-five year reunion of most of the original cast and crew, now in their early 40s, in Ocean Springs, MS to finally complete the adaptation with this last missing scene in the summer of 2014. How have time and adulthood changed everyone? Will they still have the same determination and excitement they had as kids? What do their family members think of it? This insightful and heartfelt documentary reveals for the first time the full behind-the-scenes story of Chris and Eric's inspiring journey to finally finish their labor of love. Raiders! digs deep into their friendship and their mutual persistence to complete a seemingly ridiculous and impossible task, reminding us of the innocence and purity we had as children to follow our dreams no matter how crazy or stupid others said they are.

World Wide Interweb has released a hilarious video compilation that features some of the greatest outtakes in television history. I always enjoy watching outtakes like this, and this video is full of great ones that I think you'll all get a laugh from.  Some of the shows included in the video are Parks and Recreation, Seinfeld, Full House, The Office, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, X-Files, Battlestar Galactica, Fresh Prince of BelAir, Friends, and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Marvel has released a few new photos from their highly anticipated Netflix series, Daredevil. The images came from Empire but found their way on to Tumblr.

The photos feature Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil (Charlie Cox), in and out of his costume, Claire Temple, a.k.a. Night Nurse (Rosario Dawson), Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), and Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson). There's also an image the image that teases Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. The Kingpin, (Vincent D'Onofrio).

Marvel’s Daredevil follows the journey of Matt Murdock, who was blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, now fighting against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the super hero Daredevil in modern day Hell’s Kitchen, New York City.

Steven S. DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is an executive producer and showrunner on the series. Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods) and Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb are also producers. Goddard wrote the first two episodes of the series.

All 13 episodes of Daredevil will be released simultaneously on Netflix Friday, April 10th at 12:01 AM Pacific time. Daredevil is the first of four Marvel shows coming to Netflix. The next one that we'll see is AKA Jessica Jones starring Krysten Ritter, then Luke Cage starring Mike Colter, and Iron Fist. All four heroes will then team for The Defenders.

Via: CBM

Threadless is currently holding a competition for artists and designers to create an original Peanuts-inspired T-shirt in association with Peanuts Worldwide. This design was created by Dennis Davis, and it's pretty damn awesome. It's called "Run For Your Life, Charlie Brown," and it features the Peanuts gang as horror movie icons. I found the art over on Bleeding Cool, and they don't think the design will be a contender in the competition for too long. 

I’m insanely curious to see what exactly director Neill Blomkamp has planned for the Alien sequel that he’s officially set to direct. The concept art he posted kind of gives us an idea of where he was going with it, and it seems like it will include Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley and Michael Biehn’s Corporal Hicks. We don’t really have any clue what the story will entail, though.

Weaver and Blomkamp are currently making the press rounds for his new film Chappie, and in an interview with Sky Movies, Weaver expresses her hope that the film will give her character Ripley a “proper finish,” and Blomkamp explains that he wants the movie to feel like a “Genetic Sibling” to James Cameron's Aliens. He makes it very clear that the movie will be a sequel to Aliens and pretend that Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection never happened. He explains it like this, “So it’s Alien, Aliens, and then this movie.” That’s definitely the smartest way to go about doing it (we talked about this exact scenario on our most recent podcast episode). I was never the biggest fan of those last two movies.

The sequel will be the director's next project, and they make it sound like this could be the final Alien film to close out the franchise. Make sure to check out the video interview below.

We've got a new TV spot to share with you for Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron, and it features all of our favorite heroes in peril and distress. It's sad to know that Ultron is going to tear the team apart in the movie, but it's sure going to open up a great story arc for Captain America: Civil War and a few of the other upcoming Marvel movies. The Joss Whedon-directed film is set to be released on May 1st!