Marvel & DC Vs Everyone Else

With  superhero movies dominating the box office, and their comics now in the forefront of mainstream media are there any alternatives to spandex, super strength and speed?

Many people’s first comic was a superhero comic. Whether it was a Marvel comic like Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, X-force or Avengers, or a DC comic like Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Justice League, Wonder Woman or Green Arrow. Chances are we all started out with one of those titles.

Depending on the time in your life you discovered comics you may or may not feel that the current state of superhero comics in 2016 is a bit stagnate and somewhat frustrating. In the past five years, alone Marvel and DC have rebooted and relaunched their universes numerous times. Countless #1 issues have been appearing on comic shop shelves, which for the most part is to increase sales and to attract new readers.

With superhero movies making big money at the box office this makes sense from a business standpoint. The thing is that rebooting an entire universe messes with some 30-75 years of history depending on the character. This contradicting information can confuse new readers as well as longtime fans, and unfortunately, can anger them to the point of uttering death threats. (Sigh…which is a topic for another article)

The significant events that Marvel and DC have every summer have been criticised as a cash grab. Many Events required you to buy books outside of the main storyline to get the full story. Thankfully recently that has started to change.

That being all said there is a certain predictability to superhero stories. We know when a Character is “killed” off they are never really dead for long. The many crossovers with other books in the universe, with minimal new characters created, makes for a not so bright future for superhero comics.

What I believe we should consider and support are creator-owned comic books. Creator-owned comics are original ideas and intellectual property owned by the creative team. The creators do not answer to a corporate overseer, they have complete control and say in their creation.

Image Comics is a publisher that releases 100% creator-owned comics. In the past four or five years, Image Comics popularity and sales have grown significantly. Thanks to comics like The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman Tony Moore and Charlie Adler, Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark and East of West by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta. Many of these creators made their name with their work at Marvel and DC, which helped them sell their projects at Image.

Comics publisher IDW has the comic book rights some of the 80’s and 90’s biggest tv shows and movies such as Transformers, G.I Joe, Ghostbusters, Back To The Future, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and My Little Pony. They have also brought back older ones like Godzilla, Star Trek and the Rocketeer. IDW even had the 10th season of X-Files before its recent return to tv back  in January.

Other smaller publishers like Boom Studios, Comix Tribe, Oni Press, and many others offer original comic properties. While it may seem like a risk to invest in non-superhero comics, it’s worth it for the variety available today. You also have countless free webcomics and Kickstarter campaigns from amateurs and professionals.

Don’t get me wrong I still pick up a few superhero titles; I’m not saying there aren’t any good superhero titles at all, just not nearly as many as there used to be. So if you find yourself like me lacking a choice in mainstream comics take a chance with creator-owned comics. When you support them, the creators get the money directly allowing them to help themselves and continue to create great content. Many creators have had some awful experiences with Marvel and or DC so supporting their dreams, in turn, gives you new, exciting comics to read.

It would be great to see creator-owned comics surpass Marvel and DC in sales. Hopefully, that day is soon the odds are in their favour.

 

COMPETITION TIME!! WIN An Exclusive Screening Of Suicide Squad

 

Skatronixxx.com is partnering with the awesome team at Bluebeards Revenge to offer you and your friends the chance to win an exclusive screening to the Suicide Squad movie! Interested? You know you are!!  Read on to find out more!

Suicide Squad centres around a group of uniquely skilled super villains made up of legendary characters from the Batman universe such as The Joker and Harley Quinn. The team already under incarceration in a high security prison, who are recruited into a top secret task force by a shady government agent named Amanda Waller. Nicknaming themselves the Suicide Squad when they realize their criminal pasts make them expendable, they are assigned to execute dangerous missions in exchange for certain perks only the government can offer.

‘The Bluebeards Revenge is a premium men’s shaving and grooming brand boasting a range of quality products for the face, body, hair and beard. More information can be found at www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk ‘

Bluebeards Revenge makes them the ideal partner, after all who said that you can’t look good whilst saving the world? 😉

OK HOW CAN I WIN AN EXCLUSIVE SCREENING??? TELL ME MORE!!!

It’s as easy as sliding down the batpole! All you need to do is click here and fill in your details. With the the main prize being you and up to fifty (yes fifty) of your friends getting an exclusive screening at a cinema.

Even if you don’t win you won’t lose out! There are runners up prizes of 15 sets of exclusive film merchandise, each including: black Suicide Squad hat with embroidery, Suicide Squad playing cards with glow in the dark logo, Suicide Squad temporary tattoos.

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 Still not convinced? Check out the trailer for Suicide Squad that hits UK cinemas on Friday the 5th of August 2016 .

IMPORTANT INFO

•  Closing date for entries for the private screening is August 15th, 2016
•  Closing date for entries for the film merchandise is September 19th, 2016
• Check out the competition’s Terms & Conditions here.

New Batman Game Coming From Telltale Games!

The popular Telltale Games is soon releasing another addition to it’s ever growing list of point-and-click graphic adventure games. The unique gameplay and style is going to depict Batman’s exploits, not only as Batman but also as Bruce Wayne. At some scenes the player is able to choose whether to approach a situation as Batman or mr. Wayne. And of course we can expect the same kind of effect from our chosen actions as in the games before. The art and the engine used in the new game is selected to be as perfectly suited as possible for illustrating the comic bookish style that Batman deserves. The moment in which the game takes place is the early years of Batman’s career. The game will be in 5 pieces just as the other Telltale Games’ titles have been. The sequences will be around 90-120 minutes long and the maturity of the game should resemble Telltale Games’ earlier works, The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among us. The first episode is due this summer.

Play with passion!

auburn.geek

A Recasted Poison Ivy Is Going To Tangle Up Gotham In Season 3

Gotham the amazing prequel series to Batman that tells the story of Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne becoming their best selves is entering it’s third season.

Now we have seen a slew of villains growing into who they will one day be, from The Riddler to the Penguin with a splash of Joker. Catwoman has also been a main character since season one with her best female friend being a young red head named Ivy Pepper.

Now clearly this girl is supposed to become Ivy. She has all the right things in regard to looks and an affinity for plants to boot.

But there is something about her that really doesn’t mesh with the Ivy’s mythos. She is a little too young, and doesn’t have the seductive power, not even a hint of what she should have.

They will be recasting our dear Ivy Pepper and I honestly think it’s for the best. I have no doubts that they will really pick the perfect young woman for the role.

Besides Ivy, expect more villains in season 3. Fish can swim as we see Fish Mooney is back, Killer Croc is also jumping out of the water along with the Mad Hatter and rumors of Solomon Grundy famous for being born on a Monday. Jerome also appears to be back along with the Court of Owls teased in the finale.

All I know is I’m excited for Season 3 and can’t wait to find out who they will cast as Ivy!

Mallrats Follow-Up Will Be a Television Series

As someone from New Jersey who just moved to California, there’s not many people I consider bigger role models than Kevin Smith. Interesting news came out about him this week involving the sequel to Mallrats.

Personally, Mallrats is my favorite Smith film. I love every Kevin Smith movie though! Smith is my favorite director around, as well as podcaster.

Hollywood Babble On (which he hosts with Ralph Garman) is one of the few podcasts I feel I must listen to on a weekly basis.

Smith doesn’t just do these things mind you. He wrote one of my favorite comics in recent memory with his Hollywood Babble-On co-host, Batman ’66 Meets The Green Hornet.

Back to the news involving Mallrats.

It was recently revealed that rather then release a sequel in theaters. The follow-up to Mallrats will now be a ten-part TV series.

I’m am very intrigued to see where the show will be airing. It’ll be great to see the band back together and I’d love another Stan Lee appearance like in the first film.

I love Smith but know many may feel differently. To those I say, give this show a shot when it is released. When he’s doing something involving Jay & Silent Bob, he is at his best. I have a feeling myself and many other Smith fans will enjoy this show and it will bring them back to 1995 when Mallrats was originally released.

‘DC Animation’ To Tackle ‘Justice League Dark’ Next

DC Animations much-anticipated DVD/Blu-Ray release of Batman: The Killing Joke, offers up fans an “exclusive sneak peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie.” And its going to get dark.

Sources close to Comicbook.com brought attention to a listing courtesy of the BBFC, which reveals bonus features on The Killing Joke includes “A Sneak Peek at Justice League Dark.“

Fans of the dark and macabre corner of the DC universe will be familiar with the title that sees mystic wielders like John Constantine, Zatanna, Deadman, and Swamp Thing deal with supernatural entities that The Justice League proper can’t.

A live action adaptation of Justice League Dark has long been in the works at Warner Bros. with Guillermo del Toro attached. But the Director step down late last year in order to produce the project alongside Oscar winner Scott Rudin, who was keen to push the project through with shooting possibly taking place this year.

Reports regarding the planned movie have been scarce since then however, with many believing that the rescheduling of DC’s Extended Universe in light of Dawn of Justice’s less than stellar performance at the box office. May have nixed Warner Bros. planned creation of a Dark Universe – of which Justice League Dark would be its headliner – in favour of more popular characters such as Harley Quinn and Batman receiving their own solo movies.

If this is the case, an animated film would be a great way to give fans of Justice League Dark comics something to look forward. While introducing these characters to a new audience with the prospect of a live action adaptation further down the line, should demand grow for it.

Batman: The Killing Joke will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray & DVD on August 2, with a Digital format premiering before then on July 26.

Until then enjoy the Trailer below:

For all your Film News & Reviews, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

We Look At ‘Batman – Return to Arkham’

The Arkham series, hands down the best series of superhero games ever created. This series first began in 2011 with Arkham Asylum and then was followed in 2013 by Arkham City with Arkham Knight being its swan song. This game is certainly a game that all Batman fans should delve into.

Now Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are last gen games and they needed a little work. But the re release of these games as Return to Arkham is spectacular. They really have gone all out to make the games look beautiful.

Having all of these games on on one system is definitely a good thing. Plus the fact that this is a remaster means they actually went through the work of upgrading the game and making it as crisp as can be. Honestly I remember showing my mother Arkham City and her asking if it was a movie, so it proves that remaking the game with Unreal 4 will highly advance an already beautiful game. Looking at these images, it is clear that this new engine has done wonders for a game that already looked so realistic.

The added bonus is of course the DLC which did cost a pretty penny when the game was released.You get all of the DLC for these two awesome games in one package without any downloading. I actually don’t know if I picked up the DLC  If you loved the games earlier it will definitely be something worth picking up.

If you have for some reason passed this game up before I highly recommend picking it up! It is truly a game worth playing simply because it is the definitive Batman video game series. The series really does get better as you continue to play the games and delve deeper into the world that is so artfully created. Plus, Mark Hamill’s portrayal of the Joker is sublime and even though he is crazy, you end up feeling for him. His energy flows through the game and really affects Batman in interesting ways.

I honestly think that this is a good way to introduce to a newer fan to the world of Batman, as it really is a fantastic open world game. As the crew grew more bold, they made more and more explorable areas and besides who doesn’t want to be Batman!

Return to Arkham comes out on July 26, for the Xbox One and PS4. Get ready to come back to the Asylum and the City. The Joker is waiting. You can check out the trailer below.

‘Ben Affleck’ To Star & Direct Solo ‘Batman’ Movie

Batfleck fans brace yourself! That standalone Batman movie that your wanted will actually happen with Dawn of Justice star Ben Affleck once again doning the Cape n’ Cowel and also directing.

The news comes hot off the heels of last months confirmation that Affleck is contractual oblige to star in at least two more Justice League films with a solo Batman film “an option“ for the multi-talented Hollywood star.

Well it seems that “option” has been picked up, with Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara confirming during their press event at CinemaCon yesterday. Affleck, on stage alongside Tsujihara, shared his excitement for future DC instalments expressing that it has been “tremendously exciting for us to be a part of the DC Universe, and we’re looking forward to working on Justice League.“

With David Ayer’s Suicide Squad set to introduce a number of Batman’s most infamous Villains – including a cameo from Affleck’s Batman no less – it would be safe to assume that groundwork will already be in place by the time we see Affleck’s Batman movie further down the line.

So in the meantime, enjoy the prospect of Jared Leto’s Joker and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn kicking some Batfleck arse in the future with the latest Suicide Squad trailer.

For all your DC-Franchise-Machine-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

Ben Affleck’s Solo Batman Movie Is “An Option”

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice was released this month to a mixed response from fans and critics alike. Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman however has been almost universally noted as a highlight in Zack Snyder’s problematic DC Universe builder, brining a rejuvenated interest to the prospect of a Batfleck solo movie in the future.

In light of this, Patrick Whitesell of William Morris Endeavor was quick to revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that Affleck is “contracted to do at least Justice League One and Two, so at least three times wearing the cape;” noting that BVS being the first of three contractual DC appearances.

Whitesell further elaborated on rumours of a solo outing for Batfleck commenting that “there’s a script that he’s written that is a really cool [Batman] idea, so that’s out there as an option.“

Ben Affleck will also make a cameo appearance in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad later this Summer, as a bunch of his Rogue Gallery alumni – including The Joker (Jared Leto), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Deadshot (Will Smith) – raise hell as part of the US Governments Black-Ops team.

Justice League Part One is currently scheduled to hit the big screen in November 17, 2017 with Part Two to follow shortly after in June 14, 2019.

For all your Batfleck-Solo-Outing-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

‘Mark Hamill’ & ‘Kevin Conroy’ Team-Up For ‘The Killing Joke’ Animated Movie

Batman: The Animated Series legends Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill have confirmed that they will once again face-off as Batman and The Joker in DC’s animated adaptation of The Killing Joke.

It had been rumoured that the voice acting duo had been tapped to star after DC announced they were working on brining one of their more controversial stories to the small screen at Comic-Con last year.

Comic Book Resources got the confirmation however when they had a chance to speak with Geekdom’s fan favourites: “I’ve had the great privilege of voicing Batman for more than two decades, and some of my favorite moments in the recording booth have been alongside Mark Hamill,” Conroy said. “Mark always enables me to be a better actor. I’m thrilled that we’re both back to bring these characters to life in one of the most heralded Batman/Joker stories of all time.”

Hamill, who will make his official return as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode 8 next year. Also shared the same sentiments as his his co-hort expressing that “the chance to work once again with Kevin Conroy, my favorite Batman, in what some consider the definitive origin of this iconic villain is a dream come true for me. I am beyond thrilled to return as The Joker in ‘The Killing Joke!“

Fans of the Cape Crusader will remember the story as a dark period for Jim Gordon and his family as The Joker sets out to prove that even a hero can become a villain given “one bad day.” The 1988 Alan Moore comic also revealed for the first time Joker’s origin story as a failed comedian and featured the iconic villain shooting Barbara Gordon – which not only ended her superhero career as Batgirl – but also confined her to a wheelchair until DC’s New 52 comic book reboot in 2011.

CBR also indicates that another voice-acting legend Tara Strong (Teen Titans, Powerpuff Girls, Rugrats) will voice Barbra Gordon while Twin Peaks’s Ray Wise will play her father Commissioner Gordon.

Although Warner Bros. have yet to reveal a release date for the film, this years Comic-Con San Diego attendees will be treated to the world premiere with the animated feature hitting stores later in the summer.

For all your Comic-Book-Animated-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx