Let’s Meet The Owl-Vengers

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Let’s face it the internet is full of dark and depressing news these days apart from at Skatronixxx.com of course. Whilst doing my daily rounds looking for breaking news I stumbled across a DeviantArt artist who drew the ‘Owl-Vengers‘ well, what are the Owl-vengers I hear you cry? Well it is what it says on the tin! It’s our furry feathered friends crossed over and mashed up with Marvel’s Avengers. Yes I know it may not be news as such, but as I’m boss of the site, I thought people could do with a cheering up, and a smile on a Sunday afternoon 🙂 So sit back and click through the slideshow and enjoy!

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P.S. Yes I know there’s Deadpool in there and he’s not an Avenger but evetyone loves Deadpool, so why not!

 

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.,,.,

The Perfect LEGO Doctor Who Videogame

In a time where LEGO Doctor Who is a thing, it’s hard to imagine now that at one point it seemed pretty unlikely to happen. Eleven years ago, despite the hugely successful revival the show just didn’t have the global reach. Fast forward eleven years and Doctor Who is talked about everywhere, from the pizza heaven of Italy to the McDonalds’ country of America. Doctor Who even got a level pack in the hugely popular toys­to­life game LEGO Dimensions. Yet there’s still no LEGO Doctor Who videogame…

So how would a LEGO Doctor Who videogame work? In this article, I will break it up into four areas: the hub, characters, vehicles and narrative (including gameplay).

The Hub

 

In a LEGO Doctor Who videogame, what else could the main hub be other than the TARDIS? The TARDIS is the show’s one remaining constant throughout its entire fifty three year history. Companions come and go, Doctors leave…but the TARDIS always remains. Imagine being able to explore the TARDIS corridors, enter the library or take a dip in the TARDIS swimming pool. In the control room, the central console should allow you to change the TARDIS’s desktop theme as well as travel to six hub worlds: Gallifrey, Skaro, Present Day London, New Earth, Victorian London and the Cavemen Era.

Gallifrey being the Doctor’s home planet would offer a fun place for Whovians to explore. I would want to be able to visit iconic places like the Time Lord Academy, the Citadel and the Death Zone. Skaro, meanwhile, would give you the other edge of the coin as the home of the Daleks. We’ve already seen the potential of an explorable Skaro in the Doctor Who Adventure World on LEGO Dimensions but there is one notable thing it misses out: the Dalek City. I want to be able to explore the Dalek corridors and maybe even stumble across a certain Barbara Wright who needs rescuing from them.

Present Day London of course would need to be a hub world given its importance in the new series. The majority of the new series companions are from London and only one is from anywhere other than the present day (Captain Jack Harkness). Whilst it doesn’t seem as exciting a place to explore as the previously mentioned hub worlds, it could be made more exciting by the ability to enter UNIT’s headquarters in the Tower of London and explore the Black Archive.

The only Earth location as prominent as Present Day London in Doctor Who is arguably Victorian London. Victorian London is something the show has explored as far back as 1967’s The Evil of the Daleks. Possibly the most famous Victorian London serial is 1977’s The Talons of Weing Chang, featuring two of the show’s most popular supporting characters in Jago & Litefoot. Victorian London could give you the chance to meet Jago & Litefoot at the Palace Theatre…or those other popular Victorian ­based characters Vastra, Jenny and Strax at 13 Paternoster Row.

As for The Cavemen Era, whilst admittedly it would a little limited in its potential as a hub environment it would make for a nice callback to the very first serial. The cavemen could give you various quests to complete such as making fire or helping an injured caveman.

New Earth would offer a larger variety of things to do. One of the things I would find fun in this setting would be trying to find a cure for the injured patients (maybe as part of a hub world quest). Flying through the Macra­i nfested motorway of Gridlock would be hugely enjoyable and being able to visit the hospital from New Earth would make for a nice bonus.

The Narrative

 

Okay, so we’ve covered the Hub…but what should the narrative actually be about?

Well, for a start I don’t think I’d want to see a LEGO version of already­ existing Doctor Who stories with the first LEGO Doctor Who video game. That could come with a later game, akin to how LEGO Marvel’s Avengers followed LEGO Marvel Superheroes. The first LEGO Doctor Who game should be an original storyline that pays tribute to the show’s entire history.

The best way to do that would be through a Multi­Doctor adventure. If the TV series can’t give us all thirteen Doctors onscreen at the same time, then let’s see LEGO do it. Better yet, let’s see LEGO actually bring together the surviving actors to voice their Doctors. William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee could be voiced by David Bradley, Reece Shearsmith and Sean Pertwee and if Christoper Eccleston can’t be enticed, Nicholas Briggs did a pretty decent impression for the Destiny of the Doctor audiobook Night of the Whisper.

And what of the companions? Well, I would like to see some of the most iconic companions joining the Doctors but it would be a bit much to expect every companion to appear in the main narrative. Mary Tamm, Nicholas Courtney and Elisabeth Sladen are sadly no longer with us and their deaths are too recent for their characters to be recast so sadly they can be ruled out. There’s no reason why Ian, Jo Grant, Ace or Leela couldn’t be a part of the narrative though and I would be open to Jemma Powell reprising her role as Barbara Wright from the Big Finish audios. Rose, Captain Jack, Mickey, Donna, Amy, Rory and Clara I would like to see a part of the same narrative also.

One thing I wouldn’t do is have the companions stick with their respective Doctors. Part of the fun of LEGO Marvel Superheroes was seeing the various characters from Marvel’s comicbook history interact with one another. I loved the bizarre combinations of Captain America and Mr Fantastic or Wolverine and the Human Torch. I would therefore want to see strange combinations like the first Doctor and Donna or the 11th Doctor and Zoe Heriot.

I would also want the iconic LEGO brick to be a big part of the story. My storyline would be as follows:

The Master is searching for the legendary Time Brick; a brick which grants its user the ability to erase time periods from existence. In order to help him claim the brick, the Master has teamed up with some of the Doctor’s deadliest enemies including the Daleks and the Nestene Consciousness. In order to combat this threat, Kate Lethbridge-­Stewart brings together every Doctor and a few of his most loyal companions. Can they get to the Time Brick before the Master?

One of my favourite things about the gameplay of the LEGO videogames are the puzzle­solving mechanics. My idea for a LEGO Doctor Who videogame therefore would see a large focus on solving puzzles in order to progress the narrative. Of course, the story would still see you fighting the Dalek Emperor or fending off the Wiirn but rather than achieving this through brawn you would be required to solve various puzzles such as mesmerizing a button pattern or solving a Pac­Man style maze. The Doctor has never been a fan of using fists and a LEGO game would have to reflect that as much as it can whilst maintaining the traditional LEGO formula.

Characters

 

Earlier in the article, I mentioned how including Sarah Jane, the Brigadier and Romana 1 in the main narrative would be unrealistic due to their unfortunate deaths, however their inclusion would be possible through characters that can be unlocked by completing quests in the hub worlds. The LEGO games generally don’t tend to give characters who aren’t in the main narrative dialogue (unless it’s LEGO Dimensions) so if they were to be included as playable characters outside the campaign recasting wouldn’t be required. In fact, it could make for a nice tribute that their characters live on through other mediums.

As well as Sarah, the Brigadier and Romana 1 I think it would be a good idea if the game allowed the other companions not in the main narrative to be unlockable also. I wouldn’t just want a handful of companions playable, I’d want to be able to play as them all. Every single one of them has played a big part in the show’s history (yes, even Adam Mitchell) and the LEGO games tend to have huge rosters anyway so I’m sure Traveller’s Tales would be able to find room to fit them all in.

Of course, no good hero would be complete without his enemies. And the Doctor is a good hero. There is therefore no way I would want to see a LEGO Doctor Who videogame

without a few of the Doctor’s enemies as playable characters. The Daleks would simply have to be playable – could you imagine a LEGO Doctor Who game where they aren’t? – but preferably as characters this time. I don’t like Traveller’s Tales’ decision to make the NFC Dalek in LEGO Dimensions a vehicle. Sure, the actual ‘Dalek’ is the Kaled mutant inside but the prospect of driving the travel machine is not as much fun as the idea of actually playing as a LEGO Dalek. Other villains I would want to play as include the Ice Warriors (I mean, they even have the LEGO hands), the Vashta Nerada and the Axons.

Something that many complain about when it comes to the LEGO rosters are the inclusion of generic characters like ‘Angry Cannibal’ from LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean or ‘Gryffindor Boy’ from LEGO Harry Potter Years 1­4. Doctor Who, being the marvelous show it is, has many infamous background characters though who would be fun to play as despite appearing generic. The Policeman from An Unearthly Child is one example. Or how about

Man Eating Chips from The Bells of Saint John? Perhaps the most popular inclusion would be Pigbin Josh from 1971’s The Claws of Axos. Simply put, LEGO Doctor Who: The Videogame would make the generic characters fun.

Vehicles

None of us think of Doctor Who for the vehicles but there are still a number I’d want to see. I particularly would love to be able to drive Bessie around Gallifrey as the 11th Doctor. Bessie had a small cameo in the LEGO Dimensions Doctor Who level pack The Dalek Extermination of Earth and it would be nice to be given the option to drive her around next time round.

Speaking of Pertwee Era vehicles, wouldn’t it be fun to pilot the Whomobile? Just imagine flying it above the fields of New Earth. What would make it even more fun is that you could be the Celestial Toymaker piloting it around. Imagine the Celestial Toymaker piloting one of the Doctor’s most well­known vehicles! Try telling me you wouldn’t want to see that.

Go on. Try.

You can’t, can you?

Because it would be undeniably awesome.

There aren’t really many other vehicles to mention, other than a UNIT Jeep. Spaceships would offer the most variety – not really surprising for a sci­fi show. You could have a Dalek spaceship, the Valiant, a Sontaran Battlecraft Pod, Cyber­ship…the list is endless. I’m sure if Traveller’s Tales were to release a LEGO Doctor Who game, the number of spaceships would be higher than the number of Earth vehicles. There would likely be a number of generic vehicles to make up the numbers (a random car here, a random bus there…) but from a LEGO Doctor Who game I would expect a higher emphasis on spacecraft overall.

Having said that, driving a UNIT Jeep around the Cavemen Era would be fun.

So those were my ideas for a LEGO Doctor Who videogame. We can only hope that one day Traveller’s Tales and LEGO will announce plans for a Doctor Who game. Doctor Who

would make the perfect LEGO videogame that I am sure many would buy and if it were to be as good as LEGO Marvel Superheroes, then one thing’s for sure: we’d be in for a trip of a lifetime.

Justin Trudeau – A Leader of a Different Sort

Move over Captain America! Step Aside Captain Britain! Make way for Captain Canada!
Teacher, occasional Boxer and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can now add Superhero to his CV.
Toronto based Ramon Perez has designed the variant cover for Civil War II: Choosing Sides #5, featuring Justin Trudeau sporting a big red Maple leaf on his tank top, the Haida tattoo on his shoulder, the famous tousled hair, grin and brilliant blue eyes.

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!

‘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.

 

 

 

Daredevil SN1 EP5 – ‘ World On Fire ‘

This episode works by lulling the viewer into a false sense of security. It starts out like a day at the office for these characters. Foggy and Nelson take on a new client. Fisk and Vanessa have another dinner date. Matt and Claire conflict over their ideologies.

Even before the big action happens, this episode works. Naturally the dialogue scenes flesh out characters. We learn about Fisk’s unique honor system and bizarre but sincere affection for Vanessa. There is a great scene where Matt reveals how he uses his senses to “see” – as the title implies, he is able to build pictures in his mind that resemble fire. These scenes also effectively show the unusual comparisons and contrasts between Daredevil and Kingpin. Both are men who genuinely believe what they are doing, and both are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals.

These calms scenes are good, but they last long enough to lure us into thinking things will be normal – a few scenes with Daredevil in action and all. Then, Fisk’s plan goes into action and parts of Hell’s Kitchen begin going boom. Suddenly all these characters we’ve recognized either for the last few episodes or just this episode – are in real jeopardy. As everyone is scrambling to either figure out what is going on or simply survive, Daredevil springs into action. After trying to fight the real villains, Daredevil is cornered by the police. Every episode in the first season has been excellent, but this is the episode that works as a great turning point. Action scenes and romance/dialogue scenes are used to pace this episode and build suspense.

‘Bryan Fuller’ Reveals Future Plans For ‘Hannibal’

When Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal came to an end during the summer of last year. The critical acclaimed showrunner and cast had expressed interest in returning to the twisted world of Dr. Hannibal Lecter at some point in the future. Be it a fourth season of the show, a series of special episodes or even a feature film. Fans hopes to see Fullers unique vision on-screen once more was at the very least, a possibility.

Well now it appears that Fuller himself confirmed that fans may actually get what they want sooner than we first thought.

In an interview with Collider, Fuller revealed that the complicated rights surrounding the show will be up for negotiation next year. “August 2017 is when we can actually start talking about it” confirmed the Tv show creator. “That’s when we would have to see what the rights are for the character and for the story, and see who’s interested and how we get it done.“

During its tenure, the show had to constantly concede to legal rights with regards to characters and stories the writers were allowed to use. The NBC show had the rights to Thomas Harris’ Hannibal, Hannibal Rising and Red Dragon, with the latter making up a substantial part of Season 3’s second half. But intellectual properties like the character of Clarice Starling is still owned by MGM. Which means, should Fuller press ahead with an adaptation of Silence of the Lambs (the natural next step after Red Dragon), negotiations for the use of Starling will be tough going.

Not that Fuller seems bothered by the fight ahead, explaining that if “the cast is game, I’m game, [-] but I would love to continue to tell the story with Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen.“

With Mikkelsen currently conquering Hollywood with appearances in Marvels upcoming Doctor Strange and Disney’s first Anthology Star Wars Story, Rogue One. Hopefully the actor will find time to once again bring one of literature, Tv and films most infamous serial killers to life.

He has until next year to clear his calendar. Get on it Mads!

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

Totally Awesome Hulk #7 Review

Happy new comic book day!

Totally Awesome Hulk Issue #7 is the first Civil War 2 (Marvels big summer event) tie in of the series. I can say with confidence as someone who has not had a chance to read the previous six issues; this is a great jumping on point. There is an excellent summary at the start of the book that will not leave you confused before reading the first page.

The original Hulk Bruce Banner has been missing for eight months, after the events of last years Secret Wars.  Amadeus Cho (also know as  Mastermind Excello, Prince of Power, Iron Spider) has been the Hulk in Banner’s absence. Right from the very first page we see Bruce looking like he does after he reverts from Hulk back to himself, a complete confused mess. As the story progresses, Bruce learns some shocking information and has quite the time processing it. I don’t want to spoil the issue so I can’t say much more.

Writer Greg Pak does an excellent job putting Bruce through different emotions, and it doesn’t feel forced. Artist Alan Daivs brings out the passion of Greg’s writing with his fantastic art. they both seem to show great range on this issue and complement each other nicely, making this book a pleasure to read and look at. There are no filler or unnecessary panels. Every panel has a purpose. I don’t know why this panel sticks out to me the most but let’s just say there’s one involving a bear and it is awesome! There is not a whole lot of negative to talk about on this issue. It’s only a personal negative. I am not a big Hulk fan. That being said this issue does make me want to continue reading and seeing where this storyline goes. Hopefully, it will make me a bigger Hulk fan.

I know that a lot of the big comic review sites use a score out of five system, but I hate it. I prefer a score out of ten it just makes more sense to me. So I give Totally Awesome Hulk #7 9/10.

I recommend you pick this up at your LCS (local comic book store) or online through Comixolgy for those who don’t have a store nearby or just prefer a digital library.

I would like to thank Greg Pak for providing me with a copy of Totally Awesome HulK #7; I was fortunate enough to catch a tweet of his this morning about giving digital copies to reviewers and bloggers.

I know I said my article output would be dropping for a couple weeks but was an unexpected opportunity and wanted to get it out as soon as possible. Sorry for it being short.

Enjoy new comic book day!