Donald Trump Joins The Spider-Man Universe As M.O.D.O.K

Some people love him, most people loath him, there’s one thing you can’t deny Donald Trump has a really big chance of being the next President of America. Never before has there been such a polarizing character that has divided the opinion of the people. It seems now that Marvel (who are in the anti-Trump camp by the way), have decided to capitalise on this with the latest issue of Spider-Gwen.

Set in the alternate reality where Gwen Stacey was bitten by the spider instead of Peter Parker, Spider-Gwen features a hot of already well established characters from the Spider-Man Universe.

One of these characters is M.O.D.O.K (Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing), now how would I a long time Spider-Man fan describe M.O.D.O.K ? Well how about a self indulgent, ego maniacal, giant head?

Sound familiar?

Look at the picture and decide for yourself, is the humorously renamed M.O.D.A.A.K (Mental/Organism/Designed/As/America’s/King) a shot at Donald Trump?

The team at Skatronixxx.com certainly thinks so!

.K.,,.,

Interview With UK Crime Writer Tom Bale

UK Crime Writer Tom Bale

After my review about Tom Bale’s recent book  ‘See how they run’, I can proudly announce, that he agreed to give me an interview too! How cool is that? I’m pretty excited to share this awesome interview about an incredidbly talented writer with you . Let’s find out some more about top author Tom Bale.

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First of all, the question you’ll probably answer the most.

How did you become a writer?

A lot of reading, and a lot of writing: it really is as simple as that. I’ve never taken any classes, never belonged to a writers’ group or had any kind of mentoring. I just read a lot of books, and taught myself how to analyze what worked and what didn’t. Over the years I wrote short stories, novels, TV scripts, comedy sketches, poems – I sent them out and got nearly all of them rejected, but gradually I began to get a few encouraging comments from editors, and I used that feedback to improve my writing.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your job as a fulltime writer changed your life.

I was submitting my work from the age of fifteen, but it took nearly a quarter of a century to become a full-time writer. Before that happened I had various other jobs – I was an insurance claims handler, a project manager and business analyst, and I also had a few years at home as a house-husband when my children were very young. When I finally had the break-through it was literally a dream come true – I still have to pinch myself, almost, at the thought that I earn a living from making up stories.

What is your writing progress? Do you have a strict process from the shape of the idea to the finished book?

Often I set out to write a detailed plan, but I tend to reach a point where the notes start to morph into the book itself. My main goal, once I’ve begun, is simply to get a finished draft, no matter what kind of state it’s in. That means I usually end up with a large, messy document, full of odd little ideas that I’ve thrown in on impulse – and then the real work begins! I love the process of rewriting, throwing out the ideas that no longer fit, and building up those that do. Typically I will cut around 25% of the total word count in order to get the story as streamlined as it can possibly be.

What do you feel when you have finished a book? And what is the first thing you do, when you’ve finished a book? Probably sleeping the whole day, right?

That’s a good question – and very relevant right now, as I’ve just finished an intense period of rewriting. For several weeks I was working from 8am till 2am, seven days a week, so catching up on sleep is certainly a high priority! There’s always a great exhilaration when a book is finished, and but the strange thing is how quickly it wears off – within a few days I’m usually starting to feel a bit low, a bit grouchy, and then my wife will remind me that I’m always like this when I’m not writing, and that means it’s time to think about the next project.

Let’s have a look at your recent work, how did you came up with the idea for ‘See how they run’?

See How They Run is different to most of my books in that it was inspired by a real event. Someone tried to break into our house one night, soon after I’d gone to bed. Because I was still awake, I heard a noise and then saw our outside light come on. When I opened the bedroom window, the intruder escaped through the garden. But afterwards I realized that if I’d been asleep I probably wouldn’t have heard him – and the thought of someone prowling through the house where my family were sleeping was very scary. From that I came up with the idea of a young couple, Harry & Alice, who wake to find two men in their room, demanding to know the whereabouts of a man called Renshaw…

I have to say, that I really liked the bad guys the most. You really have a talent for bad guys, don’t you?

Thank you, that’s very kind. I have to admit that I love writing the scenes with my bad guys, though I have to be careful not to become too sympathetic to them. It’s a case of getting the right balance, so that they come across as human rather than cartoon-like, while also remaining nasty enough to truly unsettle the reader.

What inspires you during writing? Do you listen to music, or do you got out for a walk and just let the nature inspire you?

Most days I try to leave the house and walk or cycle to a local café. I find that a bit of fresh air and exercise helps to get me in the right mood to write; and odd as it sounds, I often find it easier to concentrate in a busy environment – especially if I make sure there’s no wifi! But for the rewriting and editing I prefer to work at home in my study, and then I’ll often listen to music. As long as it’s something very familiar, I find it easy to concentrate with music playing.

Do you have some ideas, which you want to put into a new book?

I have lots that I haven’t yet been able to use, some of them going back twenty years or more. Although I mainly write thrillers, I sometimes get ideas that are better suited to other genres. At the moment there’s a supernatural horror novel that I’m desperate to write, but it’s probably going to have to wait a while.

Can you remember your very first story, you’ve written?

I can remember it very clearly indeed. It was called The Other Side of the Hill, and I wrote it when I was thirteen. It’s about a young boy who takes his dog for a walk – they discover an alien spacecraft and come to a grisly end!

One last question: Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming book ‘All fall down’?

Yes, All Fall Down is another standalone thriller, which starts with the Turner family enjoying a Sunday afternoon barbecue. Suddenly a dying man stumbles into their garden, pleading for help. The family do what they can, but the man dies before he can tell anyone what happened to him. In the days that follow, the Turners experience a number of strange and unsettling events, but by the time they realize they’re being stalked, it’s too late…

So that was my interview with Tom Bale! I want to thank Tom, who took his precious time for this awesome interview and a special thanks to Kim Nash from Bookouture! She made it possible, that we can raffle a eBook version of ‘See how they run’ on our site! So here’s how you can win a copy: Make sure you’ve liked and retweeted this interview on twitter. I’ll announce the winner on Sunday, 10th July.

If you want to learn more about Tom, you can check him out at his homepage: www.tombale.net

Or use social media channels to be updated about his actual and upcoming projects at twitter @t0mbale and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tombalewriter

And for those who haven’t read my review of ‘See how they run’ yet, check it out here: https://skatronixxx.com/2016/05/23/review-of-tom-bales-see-how-they-run/

Weekly Bookette #1 Genre of the Month (July 2016)

Skatronixxx.com is your home for all things nerdy, geeky, trendy, and awesome. The site covers many different angles on the entertainment world, and today we are proud to expand on one of those angles. Books!

Ilvermorny The School’s Origins And Houses

Earlier this year, J K Rowling, through PotterMore, introduced us to many different wizarding schools all over the world!

Earlier this week however, a short story about how Ilvermorny, the North American Wizarding School, was founded found its way online, and it is such a beautiful story!

Marvel’s ‘Luke Cage’ On Netflix is Heading to Comic-Con

San Diego Comic-Con is the yearly event for fans of all things comic and nerdy – with tickets selling insanely fast, incredible line ups and exclusive sneak peeks at the most anticipated upcoming tv-shows and movies, it’s the place to be every Summer.

So it should come as no surprise to Marvel fans that Marvel’s Luke Cage will be making an appearance at SDCC next month. Joining the debut for the upcoming series, the main man Mike Colter (The Good Wife, Salt, Jessica Jones), alongside Alfre Woodward (State of Affairs, 12 Years a Slave, True Blood) who will be playing Mariah Dillard, a politician who wants to usher in a new age for the streets of Harlem where she grew up. Also joining them will be Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy, Cloverfield, Meth Head), who will be playing Shades, AKA Alvarez and and showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker.

Further casting for the show includes Rosario Dawson (Rent, Sin City, Death Proof) reprising her role as Claire Temple (seen in Daredevil and Jessica Jones), Sonia Braga (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Outlaw, Donas de Casa Desesperadas) as her mother, Soledad Temple; Frank Whaley (Pulp Fiction, Vacancy, Under the Dome) has been cast as Detective Scarfe and Simone Missick (The Road to Sundance, Black Card, Ray Donovan) as Misty Knight.

Luke Cage first made his appearance in the first season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones, a bartender who Jones is drawn towards due to her ties to the murder of his wife. During the series, Jessica and Luke strike up a relationship, and she comes to learn of his unbreakable skin and superhuman strength. Luke Cage will be exploring Luke’s story as a wrongly accused man who escapes prison. He’s a fugitive, trying to keep a low profile and rebuild his life. But soon, he’ll be forced to confront the past he’s tried to keep behind him.

Marvel intend to show preview footage from Luke Cage during their panel at SDCC, which many fans are excited for, especially since all we’ve had so far is the short (but oh so very sweet) trailer for the show.

At present, Jessica Jones leading lady Krysten Ritter isn’t due to make an appearance with the cast.

Luke Cage is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on September 30th 2016.

Previewing This Week In Comics: 6/29/16 Edition

Hey everybody you may know me as the Lucha Underground writer for this site so I’d like to welcome you to my new weekly comic book preview for Skatronixxx.

I recently got a job at a comic book store and have the chance to check out and read these issues before many others get the chance to. I hope this info helps you decide what you may pick up this week and I’ll make sure to do it spoiler free.

I’d like to start my first article by beginning with my pick of the week.

Steve’s Pick of the Week: Captain America: Steve Rogers #2

I know many people are frustrated and bothered by the end of the last issue and I was no different. Cap turning “heel” (that’s a wrestling term for you non-wrestling fans) was one of the weirdest decisions in recent comic book history.

Why is this my pick of the week? Let’s just say this issue may be even more intense than the first one. I will admit though, if you had problems with the first issue you may have them with this one as well.

Also this week from Marvel we are getting new issues of Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Darth Vader, Squirrel Girl and Star-Lord. Just to name a few.

Black Panther has been remarkably well-received at my store so far and is consistently towards the top of the popularity list. I’ve enjoyed the first two issues and am looking forward to checking out the third in the next few days.

As I mentioned, we are also getting new issues of other Marvel comics this week. One I suggest you check out is Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #9. I really enjoy this series and this issue is no different. Each issue of this comic is just plain fun.

On the DC side of things its a bit of an off week. There’s no new Rebirth comics week but we do get some interesting annuals from Teen Titans, Grayson and Deathstroke.

My pick on the DC side of things this week would be Dark Knight III: The Master Race #5.

The series is off to a great start and I think that streak continues this week in issue #5.

This week from IDW we get new release like Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #5, Micronauts #3 and Wynona Earp #5. As a massive TMNT fan, I suggest you check out Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #5 this week.

For other companies like Oni Press, Dark Horse, Image and Boom!, we’ll see some pretty great releases this week from them too. Those being new issues of Rick & Morty, Steven Universe, East of West and Mae.

East of West has been terrific and continues to be in the next issue as does Mae in what is only it’s second issue.

I hope you all have enjoyed my first article on the comics of the week! If you decide to pick up any that I suggest, tweet me at @JellyBeanSteve or @Skatronixxx and let us know what you thought about my choices (rather good or bad).

Thanks for reading and go out and buy comics everybody!

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW – Zero By Morgan Dark

Watch the video below as I provide you with a SPOILER FREE review of the book ‘Zero’ by Morgan Dark.

Nicolas Winding Refn Interested in Directing a Batgirl Movie

Nicolas Winding Refn, director of the recently released The Neon Demon, has expressed an eagerness to direct a Batgirl movie.

Refn’s The Neon Demon, which has encountered some very mixed reviews, is his first movie with a female lead. This isn’t for a lack of trying though – Refn also expressed interest in directing a Wonder Woman movie. Obviously, this didn’t pan out (Warner Bros. and DC’s Wonder Woman due out next year has Patty Jenkins directing) – but now Refn has brought up another DC superheroine.

Refn told Business Insider in a recent interview;

“God, I would love to make one [a superhero movie], it would probably be great fun, I just don’t know when it’s going to happen. I very much enjoy my freedom creatively, but I also would love to make one of those big Hollywood films that costs a lot of money and has a lot of people running around with cell phones and all that insanity.”

When asked what hero he’d like to work with, he thought for a moment (“What ones are left?”) before continuing on “You know the one I want to do? I want to make Batgirl. Let’s get Warner working on it.”

Refn has shown with The Neon Demon that he can make a dark, beautifully visual movie with an interesting lead protagonist – it’s the story of a young girl (Elle Fanning –  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Super 8, Malificent) as she succumbs to her career in the fashion world of Los Angeles. It’s described as a gory thriller show – so perhaps not something Warner Bros. would be interested in to keep it’s PG-13 rating with it’s movies. But, at the very least, it would be visually interesting.

Perhaps one day we’ll see Batgirl hit the big screen – she’s already rumoured to be part of the Harley Quinn standalone project, slated to star and be produced by Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, . Robbie would be reprising the role as the anti-heroine after her debut in Suicide Squad, due for release this summer.

But whether Barbara Gordon, or any of the Batgirls will ever have a stand-alone, or if Refn would be crowned director, is something we’ll just have to wait and see about.

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Announces Further Casting And A Potential CARNAGE!

Spider-Man: Homecoming has announced further casting, including Donald Glover (Community, The Martian, Magic Mike XXL), Hannibal Buress (30 Rock, Bad Neighbours, The Secret Life of Pets) and Michael Mando (Better Call Saul, Orphan Black).

Other cast members include Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo, Ray, Total Recall), Martin Starr (Knocked Up, Adventureland, This is the End) and Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus, Devil, The O.C.).

Donald Glover’s role has yet to be revealed, though fans are incredibly excited as he’s been a popular internet favourite for a Spider-Man role, and many have fancast him as the Ultimate Universe Spider-Man, Miles Morales. Glover voiced Morales in the Disney animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, prompting speculators to wonder if his role will involve a Miles Morales Easter Egg.

Hannibal Buress is mostly known for his stand-up comedy, but has recently turned his career to more acting roles. His most recent role is as the voice of Buddy in the recently released animated movie The Secret Life of Pets. Marvel and Sony have not commented on what his role will entail.

Michael Mando, who played Nacho Varga in Breaking Bad spin-off show Better Call Saul,
has potentially the most exciting rumour around his character, as he is strongly rumoured to be playing Cletus Kasady, aka. Carnage.

Cletus Kasady was first introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #344, and then made his debut as Carnage in issue #361. While his abilities are based off of the other highly popular symbiotic villain Venom, Carnage has absolutely no morals, and is a completely deranged character. However, it would be odd to throw in Carnage without Venom, let alone in Spider-Man’s introduction (not origin.) story. I imagine at this stage they’d introduce Mando playing Kasady, and give us a glimpse into what he’ll become.

Bokeem Woodbine and Logan Marshall-Green haven’t had their definite confirmed, however, Sony and Marvel have let us know that they will be playing villain roles. This brings our tally of villains for this movie to four, with Michael Keaton to join as The Vulture.

Martin Starr has also been confirmed for the cast, and judging by released set photos, will be playing one of the teachers at Peter Parker’s high school.

Overall, the cast line-up and the sheer amount of massive names being dropped for  Marvel’s summer 2017 blockbuster show that Marvel and Sony aren’t here for a one-off drop – they’re here for the long haul, intending to make their take on the Spider-Man franchise one massive universe of it’s own, just as Sony intended to do with The Amazing Spider-Man franchise starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is currently filming, and is scheduled for a release July 7th 2017. The movie will be starring Tom Holland as the lead web-slinger following his debut in Captain America: Civil War.

 

 

 

Deadpool 2 To Start Filming Early 2017

During an appearance at the Saturn awards Producer of the first Deadpool film Simon Kinberg revealed to Collider that the filming of Deadpool 2 is likely to start early next year (2017). This makes perfect sense due to the sequels release dates rumoured to be March 2018 despite the film being given a larger budget than the first it appears that it will still be a lean production so a year should be the right amount of time for Tim Miller to finish filming.

The sequel has a lot to live up to due to the immensely successful outing of box office hit of the first film. Other details of the sequel have been pretty much non existent but it would be surprising if T.J. Miller, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapicic, and Brianna Hildebrand would turn down the chance to return for the sequel. What we do know about the sequel is that we will see the first appearance of Cable as teased at the end of the first Deadpool film, actors who have already expressed a public interest in the role range from Ron Perlman (My personal favourite) to Dolph Lundgren.

I for one cannot wait to hear more details regarding this film and as most people are touting the first Deadpool film as one of the best films released in 2016 could we see Deadpool 2 be the highest grossing R-rated film of 2018.

As always for all your Merc with the mouth needs stick with Deadpool_1984 only at skatronixxx.com