The main event of tonight’s WWE Monday Night Raw saw Jey Uso defend the Intercontinental Championship — his first singles title in WWE — against former titleholder Bron Breakker. They had a pretty even fight to start but it seemed like the match would never end because both men were unwilling to lose. That’s precisely when a Ula Fala wearing Solo Sikoa appeared and Jey immediately became suspicious. The rest of The Bloodline eventually appeared and Jey wiped all of them out.

Solo and Jacob Fatu were the only men left standing and Bron ended up giving Solo a wicked clothesline. Jey then hopped over the ropes to take out both Jacob and Bron. The Bloodline continued to meddle into the match but they were eventually kicked out. However, the damage to Jey had been done. Bron picked up a victory, winning back the championship.

This makes Bron look even stronger, only having lost the title the first time due to his arrogance. But now he’s defeated two of WWE’s strongest babyfaces, so it’s clear he’s got a bright future ahead of him.

So what does Jey do now? Well, it’s fairly obvious that they’ve been positioning him to be apart of the Bloodline WarGames storyline for Survivor Series. On last week’s SmackDown Jey appeared and threatened his younger brother, letting him know that the next time they meet the outcome will be a lot different.

While his relationship with Roman Reigns appears to be mellowing out, the betrayal from his twin, Jimmy, is something he still can’t get over. But now that he’s no longer champion, it frees up a lot of time for him to reconcile, put the past behind him and take out Solo’s group once and for all, leaving the OTC Reigns standing tall.

Of course from there WWE has plenty of routes to take on the road to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. The Rock has already claimed he’d be there, and his recent returns surrounding The Bloodline seem to make it clear that he’ll be involved in one way or another.

2024 Hollywood Rock just barely scratched the surface in the lead up to this year’s grand event, so if the final showdown between Rock and Reigns is planned for next year for the title of “Tribal Chief” the seeds could already be being planted. Of course, only time will tell what’s next in the compelling Bloodline saga but it’s looking like Jey will make amends sooner rather than later.

The post WWE: Jey Uso’s Title Loss Sets up Bloodline Reunion at Survivor Series appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Ahead of tonight’s WWE Monday Night Raw, ring announcer Samantha Irvin announced that she’s departing WWE. She first appeared on the NXT brand when she signed in 2021 but her skillset was virtually undeniable and she was soon moved to SmackDown. Last year she officially moved over to the red brand where she’s been a staple ever since.

Irvin expressed her gratitude to the locker room, WWE personnel and the WWE universe for the last several years. “I love you all tremendously and this does not mark the end of my art, I have a lifetime more to share. Thank you to every WWE fan who accepted me,” she wrote, later adding she’s excited to see where her future leads. “To my fans, my entire career I’ve been waiting for you! We are meant to be and I can prove it. Stay tuned.”

Reports that former longtime announcer Lillian Garcia was in town for Raw began to hit the internet fueling speculation that she’d be replacing Irvin. Shortly before the show, it was reported that she’d be returning to Raw full-time. This was confirmed during the opening match, a #1 contenders tag team title match between The New Day and Authors of Pain.

Garcia has had several runs in WWE over the past three decades, first signing in 1999. She helped break down barriers for women in sports announcing. Her original run lasted until 2009 but she’d reappear just a few years later and once again remain a key fixture until 2016. While she’s had various appearances since then announcing for the WWE universe, she hasn’t been full-time since then.

Garcia immediately fell back into step as the night progressed, and the call was certainly a smart one given not many can live up to the power that Irvin brings to television every week. She joins the commentary team of Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore who replaced Michael Cole over the summer. WWE is shaking things up ahead of Raw‘s move to Netflix in the new year which, according to reports, is planned to be a PLE caliber show that will feature stars from SmackDown.

The premiere definitely seems like the perfect time to make a statement given a lot of people will be tuning in to see the transition. Given Netflix reported over 200 million paid subscribers in the third quarter of 2024, it’ll reach a wider audience as well. WWE signed the $5 billion deal which is expected to include original content of the incredible superstars.

The post WWE Brings Back Iconic Ring Announcer as Samantha Irvin’s Replacement appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Netflix’s latest high-profile fantasy project has officially found a writer. It has been revealed that Jason Fuchs (Welcome to Derry, Wonder Woman) will pen the script for Amulet, a feature film adaptation of Kazu Kibuishi’s graphic novel series of the same name. Based on a story by Fuchs and Kibuishi, the film will be produced by 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen and Dan Levine, with Kibuishi serving as an executive producer.

Amulet follows a young woman who discovers a magical amulet that belonged to her great-grandfather and uses it to enter a fantastical new world. The series has spanned nine books so far, with the finale culminating in February of this year. The books have sold more than 7 million copies in the US and Canada and been translated into 23 languages worldwide. am

“I try not to write themes and morals into my stories, but I’m aware that they will show up every now and then,” Kibuishi said of the final book, Amulet: Book Nine: Waverider, in an interview with The Beat earlier this year. “What my characters say is reflective of who they are and are not always representations of what I believe. However, I do think what the characters have gone through in the story is relatable to many communities, where they feel it is now a time to rebuild. In order to rebuild, they will first need to begin by forgiving themselves. So if there is some kind of theme that people take away from this book, I hope it is that of forgiveness.’

Kibuishi had previously confirmed on social media in 2021 that an Amulet movie adaptation was in the works at Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and later at Disney, before the rights reverted back to him.

“I have so many side stories that just didn’t go into the book that could be great books, but I only have so much time,” Kibuishi explained during a New York Comic Con panel in 2023. “I have other series I want to do. There’s a lot of others project that probably take priority… I can’t talk much about movies related to Amulet, but it’s possible I could be working on one. And it’s possible I could be very involved in it. And it’s possible the writer and I are going through a lot of thing that I’d cut out of the story, and we’re bringing it back in.”

The post Netflix Sets Writer for Adaptation of Beloved Amulet Graphic Novels appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While the world of The Big Bang Theory is looking to the future with some new spinoffs, the cast members of the iconic sitcom are keeping plenty busy with other projects. Melissa Rauch, who played Bernadette on over 200 episodes of The Big Bang Theory, has spent the last couple of years as the star of NBC’s Night Court reboot. When the third season of that series premieres next month, Rauch will be reunited with Mayim Bialik, one of her longtime Big Bang co-stars.

Night Court doesn’t return to NBC for its third season until November 19th, but the series has already revealed that its next big guest star is a beloved Big Bang alum. Bialik is set to guest star early in Season 3 as a fictional version of herself.

Bialik will appear in the Night Court episode as a defendant in a case being handled by Rauch’s Judge Abby Stone. At first, Abby starts to get close to Bialik because she’s such a big fan of the actress’ classic TV series Blossom. It doesn’t take long, however, for Abby to learn that Bialik is actually her stalker.

This episode of Night Court will mark the first time Bialik and Rauch have appeared on screen together since the conclusion of The Big Bang Theory in 2019. Rauch joined the series in 2009 and went on to become a series regular, appearing in 209 total episodes. Bialik joined a year later, in 2010, and appeared in a total of 203 episodes. While each of them began their tenure as supporting characters, they both became integral parts of The Big Bang Theory.

While Rauch hasn’t returned to the world of The Big Bang Theory since the show concluded, Bialik actually reprised her role as Amy Farrah Fowler a couple of times over the last few years. She appeared alongside Jim Parsons in a couple episodes of Young Sheldon, showing new glimpses into the the titular character’s future.

With Young Sheldon now over, the Big Bang Theory franchise is turning to a couple of different shows in different eras of the story. There’s a Young Sheldon spinoff now airing on CBS in the form of Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. Over on Max, there’s a Big Bang spinoff in the works that will likely follow the characters often found in the local comic book shop. Big Bang alum Brian Posehn, Lauren Lapkus, and Kevin Sussman have all had contracts picked up for the show, potentially making them the trio of series leads.

The post Two Big Bang Theory Stars Set to Reunite on Another Hit Sitcom appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rick and Morty: The Anime has wrapped up its debut season with Adult Swim, and the spinoff anime’s launch has been such an unfortunate story with fans that this could end up being the one and only season of the series. Rick and Morty: The Anime made its debut earlier this Summer following Rick and Morty‘s greater experiments with the world of anime. Starting out as a series of anime shorts developed by Tower of God director Takashi Sano, Adult Swim had approached the creator about taking on Rick and Morty in a more full way with a full spinoff anime series.

Featuring a brand new story of its own not connected with the original Rick and Morty animated series, Rick and Morty: The Anime started out with a mixed reception among fans. It was admittedly always going to be an uphill battle as anime fans aren’t exactly Rick and Morty fans, and Rick and Morty fans were actually just hoping for Season 8 instead. But this new series bridging the worlds together had the best chance at successfully appeasing both audiences. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it has hit that mark as the first season has come to an end without anyone really talking about it. And ultimately, that’s what’s going to make it a failure.

What Happened to Rick and Morty: The Anime?

Rick and Morty: The Anime got off to an impressive start with its first two episodes. It introduced a new anime take on the titular duo along with a brand new angle for the multiverse. Dealing with space and time in constant flux, the first two episodes were telling the story out of order as it teased that fans would get the blanks filled in the coming weeks. It was an intriguing start to this new era of the series, and offered a new vision of the titular duo from a different creator. But that storytelling twist continued through the weeks ahead.

Rick and Morty: The Anime told its story out of order as Rick’s new entropy device was revealed to be messing with the flow of time. But as it tried to lay out this mystery, it also started to further add even more questions before answering what it needed to. On top of introducing brand new characters like Elle and Frank (both of who play a significant role in one of the Morty’s lives across the multiverse’s timelines), and the anime always kind of felt like it was continuing to spin its wheels while trying to tell a story with a grand scope. It’s just that those pieces never quite connected properly in the way the anime seemed to have hoped.

This nonlinear style of storytelling is ultimately the fatal flaw for Rick and Morty: The Anime. With the anime having to tell its story out of order, conversations between characters could never really allude to anything happening because it was unclear as to when a particular scene was taking place. It wasn’t clear as to what the actual timeline of the series looks like, and that was an issue that was carried all the way to the end. Making matters even tougher to figure out was the fact that it all started with Morty getting sucked into a virtual reality game, so it was a whole other virtual experience on top of everything else happening.

Rick and Morty: The Anime Lost Its Fans

Due to the combination of its nonlinear storytelling and the fact it was an uphill battle anyway, Rick and Morty: The Anime had a high barrier to entry that only got higher with each new week. Though the final episode of the season (and likely series) was able to find a heartwarming conclusion for it all, it was still mired by the weight of its timeline. Rick and Morty is no stranger to these kind of science fiction shenanigans, but it’s usually solved within the span of a single episodic adventure. It’s a completely different case for a season long serialized narrative.

While Rick and Morty: The Anime still had a few standout episodes that had some fun ideas such as the Jerry focused adventure in Episode 5, each episode still had to deal with the fact that nothing felt tangibly connected with the others. This made it hard for fans to not only stick around, but hard for new fans to catch an episode and get hooked that way. Unlike the episodic main series that allows lapsed viewers to happen to catch an episode and seek out more, the serialized story (told out of order) in the anime doesn’t have that same welcoming nature.

Where Does Rick and Morty: The Anime Succeed?

Even with that fatal flaw that meant Rick and Morty fans are no longer around to see it, Rick and Morty: The Anime did tell a notable love story for Morty. He has a history of tragic romance in the main animated series, so creator Takashi Sano opted to start a love story here to make it stand out on its own. It’s a successful romance for Morty that allows him to actually have a full life with someone he loves. He goes on to marry Elle, have a child named Maria together with her, and dies within the virtual world as Rick brings him back to his own universe.

It’s tragic in how it hits, but the focus on the love story between Morty and Elle was ultimately the anime’s strongest quality. It’s a type of story that Rick and Morty hasn’t really explored in any kind of meaningful way, and made the anime significant. It was an interesting experiment to see play out that proves Rick and Morty can indeed work in other mediums with other creators. But if there’s another shot at taking Rick and Morty in an anime direction, maybe make it easier for fans to keep up with each episode. It might have gone for too big of an idea for its first outing.

The post Rick and Morty: The Anime Failed Fans and Here’s Why appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Tom Hardy wants to sink his teeth into a Spider-Man-Venom crossover. But which Spider-Man? Venom: The Last Dance (out October 25) is the third and final film in Sony’s Venom trilogy, marking Hardy’s fourth outing as the symbiote-bonded Eddie Brock, who we last saw in the mid-credits scene of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. After a haywire spell cast by Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange brought him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside other Spider-Man villains from throughout the multiverse, Eddie spent his stint in the MCU at a bar in Mexico before he was blipped back to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe — leaving the almost-Sinister Six shy of one member and never crossing paths with Peter Parker 1 (Tom Holland), Peter 2 (Tobey Maguire), or Peter 3 (Andrew Garfield).

“I would love to fight Spider-Man. I would love to fight him now. I’m happy to fight Spider-Man today, 100 percent,” Hardy said onstage during the Venom 3 New York Comic Con panel. “I would never say never. We were specifically set up to bring Venom to a movie format, and that’s what we’ve done. The Last Dance is the final piece in that trilogy, and we’re really excited about that.”

But with there being three live-action Spider-Men, ComicBook asked Hardy to clarify which webhead he wants to tango with after The Last Dance. “Tom Holland, without a shadow of a doubt,” Hardy said in our exclusive interview (below).

After he faced off with another comic book adversary in 2021’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage — Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), a.k.a. the symbiotic serial killer Carnage — Hardy said that a potential run-in with Spider-Man depended on Sony and Marvel Studios’ ongoing partnership concerning the Spider-Man movie rights.

“I would be remiss if I wasn’t trying to steer any kind of connectivity,” he told Esquire. “I wouldn’t be doing the job if I wasn’t awake and open to any opportunity or eventuality or be excited by that. Obviously, that’s a large canyon to leap, to be bridged by one person alone, and it would take a much higher level of diplomacy and intelligence, sitting down and talking, to take on an arena such as that.

“Should both sides be willing, and it be beneficial to both sides, I don’t see why it couldn’t be,” he continued. “I hope and strongly, with both hands, push, eagerly, towards that potential, and would do anything to make that happen, within what’s right in business. But it would be foolish not to head towards the Olympic Games if you were running 100 meters, so yeah! I want to play on that field.”

In Venom: The Last Dance, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Venom are on the run, hunted by both their worlds: on Earth, by the military (at the charge of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character) and off-world, by the God of the Symbiotes, Lord of the Abyss, King in Black: Knull. In the conclusion to the Venom trilogy, “The duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance,” per the synopsis.

In addition to Hardy and Ejiofor, Venom 3 stars Juno Temple (Ted Lasso), Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria), Peggy Lu (reprising her role as Mrs. Chen), and Stephen Graham (reprising his Venom 2 role as Detective Mulligan). Kelly Marcel, co-writer of the first two films, makes her directorial debut and directs from a script she co-wrote with Hardy. Avi Arad (Borderlands), Matt Tolmach (Morbius), Amy Pascal (Spider-Man: No Way Home), and Hutch Parker (The Wolverine) are the producers with Marcel and Hardy. Venom 3 is in theaters Oct. 25.

The post Tom Hardy Reveals Which Spider-Man He Wants Venom to Fight (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is about to be a Marvel movie veteran in more ways than one. The actor starred in Doctor Strange as Baron Mordo, and fans saw his path from hero-in-training to potentially dangerous villain. This month he’s set to make the jump from the MCU to Sony’s universe of Marvel characters, taking on the role of General Strickland in Venom: The Last Dance.

While both characters are integral to Marvel movies, they couldn’t be more different. Mordo is a sorcerer, a master of dark and ancient arts. Strickland is much more grounded, rooted in what we know of as reality, making him an interesting fit for a film about symbiotic alien goo that can take over other life forms.

Ahead of Venom: The Last Dance‘s arrival in theaters this weekend, ComicBook.com spoke with Ejiofor about the differences between his two major Marvel characters.

“It’s just such a different character, and that’s the main thing,” Ejiofor told us. “For General Strickland, just how organized everything is, and the responsibility. How Earthy it is. It’s all just kind of built on reality and on these really high stakes for him, this attempt to keep in line the military part of this incredibly secret facility. His life, in many ways, is being complicated by the scientific wing of that, headed by Doctor Payne. So they end up in this kind of conflict about what’s best, and the best ways to proceed with these alien life forms. And all of that, all of those dynamics, were really interesting to play. And fun to play, with Juno [Temple].”

Mordo and Strickland are such different characters that it would be hard to find some common ground that could connect them in-universe. Before knowing who Ejiofor was playing, though, many Marvel fans thought his role could somehow be related to Mordo, or even an alt-universe version of the character in disguise.

Those theories almost all stem from the “crossover” between Venom and the MCU in the post-credits for Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Spider-Man: No Way Home. The former saw Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his Symbiote end up in the same universe as Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, while the latter saw those characters shipped back to their universe, although they left a little piece of Symbiote behind.

This gave both Marvel franchises a way to connect with one another if need be, but there hasn’t been any real connective tissue between Hardy and Holland’s characters on-screen.

Given this lack of connection, it seems as though the door is still open for Ejiofor to reprise his Mordo role in the MCU, should a future opportunity arise.

The post Chiwetel Ejiofor Breaks Down Big Difference In His Venom, MCU Characters appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Delicious in Dungeon has firmly cemented itself as one of the best new anime releases of the past couple of years, and now Ryuko Kui’s original manga has earned its own honors by nabbing a prestigious award for Best Manga! Delicious in Dungeon has really been taking over as the anime wrapped up its debut season earlier this year. This was the second half of the series that kicked off its run last Fall, but this wave of episodes in particular really started to catch the attention of anime fans. With the original manga now ended, the anime is bringing it all to life.

Delicious in Dungeon‘s anime popularity has also been driving fans to check out the original manga as a result (making it one of Kadokawa’s top IPs in the process). Ryoko Kui’s manga had ended its run with Enterbrain’s Harta magazine last Fall, but really started to get cooking this year. It’s why the series has started to get recognition for everything that Kui had set out to do over the course of its run, and why ultimately it won the award for Best Manga during the Harvey Awards as part of the New York Comic Con 2024 weekend.

Delicious in Dungeon Wins Best Manga 2024

Announced during the New York Comic Con 2024 weekend, Delicious in Dungeon has won the award for Best Manga in a very tight category alongside other breakout hits such as Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier (which are also in the midst of their own anime productions to get a bigger audience) and more. To get an idea of how competitive it was this year, here’s the breakdown of all of the manga nominated for the Best Manga category at the Harvey Awards this year.

• The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren, translated by Ajani Oloye (Yen Press)
• Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama, translated by Stephen Kohler (Kodansha)
• Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui, translated by Taylor Engel (Yen Press)
• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, translated by Misa ‘Japanese Ammo’ (VIZ)
• Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection by Junji Ito, translated by Jocelyne Allen (VIZ)
• H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth by Gou Tanabe, translated by Zack Davisson (Dark Horse)
• Berserk Deluxe Edition Vol 14 by Kentaro Miura, translated by Duane Johnson (Dark Horse)
• Second Hand Love by Yamada Murasaki, translated by Ryan Holmberg (Drawn & Quarterly)
• My Picture Diary by Fujiwara Maki, translated by Ryan Holmberg (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Okinawa by Susumu Higa, translated by Jocelyne Allen (Fantagraphics)

What’s Next for Delicious in Dungeon?

Delicious in Dungeon might have ended its original manga run, but the anime still has quite a bright future ahead of it. The first season ended right at the halfway point of Kui’s original story, and thus only has half of the series left to go for the rest of its adaptation. It’s the later episodes that fans had enjoyed the most, and it’s because of the major pivot from its earlier wacky food based adventures to the more intense plan to eventually become the ruler of the dungeon.

Delicious in Dungeon’s anime future has been set in stone as well as the anime has confirmed it’s now working on a second season of the TV series. Confirmed to be in the works immediately after the first season came to an end, the second season of the series will feature a return from Studio Trigger to handle the animation production behind it all. If you wanted to catch up with the anime to find out what the fuss is all about, you can now check out Delicious in Dungeon‘s first season now streaming on Netflix.

The post Delicious in Dungeon Earns Prestigious New Award for Best Manga appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A trio of PS2 games that were recently released for PS5 and PS4 have already been discounted on the PlayStation Store. Over the past few months, Sony has steadily been re-releasing a slew of games from the PS2 era on current PlayStation hardware. Titles like Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Mister Mosquito, Sky Gunner, and most recently, Siren, have all made the jump to PS5 and PS4 among many others. Now, three PS2 games from the same series that just launched two months ago have been hit with a sizable sale that won’t last long.

As of this moment, all three entries in the TimeSplitters series can be purchased on the PS Store at a discount of 30%. This deal, which is set to last until November 2nd, brings the prices of TimeSplitters, TimeSplitters 2, and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect down to a mere $6.99. This marks the first time that all three PS2-era shooters have been on sale since they were added to the PlayStation marketplace in August.

While this is a great deal that should definitely be taken into account, it’s worth noting that all three TimeSplitters games for PS2 are also available for “free” as part of PlayStation Plus Premium. Like many other PlayStation Classics, the PS Plus Premium tier gives subscribers access to all sorts of games from PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, and other legacy platforms. As such, if you’re already a member of PS Plus Premium, you can simply download and play these TimeSplitters games right now as part of your subscription.

If you’re not familiar with TimeSplitters but you’d like to learn more about the throwback PS2 franchise, you can get a look at descriptions and old-school trailers for each below.

TimeSplitters

“TimeSplitters is a renowned first-person shooter series that plunges players into an epic battle against the malevolent TimeSplitters, a race dwelling outside of time and space. Awakened from an ancient sleep, these entities tear through time’s fabric to erase humanity from history. Players must unite against this common enemy or face a grim future under their shadow.

TimeSplitters infuses humor and personality into its gameplay. Its characters are well-defined and often quirky, adding a light-hearted element to the intense action. This blend of humor and high-stakes battle sets the game apart from other shooters.”

TimeSplitters 2

“TimeSplitters 2 returns, surpassing its predecessor with a larger-than-life experience. This sequel expands on every front, offering faster-paced action, richer storytelling, and diverse graphical styles across nine thrilling time-traveling adventures. From the lawless Wild West to the neon-lit streets of Neo Tokyo, each era boasts its own atmosphere and challenges.

TimeSplitters 2 blends engaging gameplay, rich narrative, and multiplayer excitement into a definitive gaming experience. Whether you’re a shooter fan or seeking compelling storytelling, this title promises unforgettable adventures through time and space.”

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

“TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is the pinnacle of the acclaimed series, blending action, humor, and intricate storytelling. Play as Sergeant Cortez, embarking on a time-bending journey across past, present, and future to thwart the sinister TimeSplitters. Explore diverse environments from ancient temples to futuristic cities, each with unique challenges and visual splendor.

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect honors the series’ legacy while innovating with modern gameplay elements, appealing to both longtime fans and new players. Whether for its compelling story, engaging multiplayer, or sheer entertainment value, it promises an unforgettable journey through time and space, making it a timeless addition to any gamer’s collection.”

The post New PS2 Games for PS5 and PS4 Already Hit With Sale appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has ushered in a whole new era of the Dragon Ball franchise in celebration of its 40th anniversary, and the newest episode has already started raising questions about Trunks and Goten’s own secret ability. Dragon Ball Daima has kicked off its new adventure with Goku and the others being turned into children as a result of a new wish on the Dragon Balls. But as the new Demon King Gomah had discovered, Shenron hilariously needed some clarification on the wish to make those that were already children even younger and turned them all into babies. So, Kid Trunks and Goten are now Baby Trunks and Goten Mini.

Dragon Ball Daima saw Trunks and Goten reacting to the fact that they had been turned into babies, but the wildest part of their reactions is the fact that they are able to still communicate with one another. It’s not that their thoughts about turning into babies are being communicated to the viewers, but it’s clear that they are responding to one another at their surprise. So it turns out that Trunks and Goten can actually telepathically communicate with one another even if it is just a small joke tossed in. And it has some big implications.

Goten and Trunks Can Read Each Other’s Thoughts

Goten and Trunks are the closest duo in Dragon Ball’s history overall. The two have a unique position as young half-Saiyans who are interested in the sam things. While Trunks is more adept at training, Goten makes up for it with his inner prowess. It’s led to the two to have a very close friendship, and even a bit of a rivalry. Which means they were also the perfect candidates to use the Fusion Dance technique during the events of the Majin Buu arc to turn into the new fighter, Gotenks.

It’s possible that all of their time together makes it easy for the two of them to actually know what one another’s thinking, and can just easily tell what the other is saying even if they’ve become babies. But what if it’s actually a result of the Fusion Dance technique? They have fused so many times through trial and error and in the actual fights that it’s possible that they are now able to feel some kind of residual thoughts between the two of them that almost looks like telepathic communication from the outside.

Has Fusion Changed Goten and Trunks Forever?

Because Dragon Ball Daima takes place immediately after the events of the Majin Buu arc, Goten and Trunks are fresh off of their recent fight against Majin Buu as Gotenks. This is following all of the training they underwent to use the technique that saw them failing to fuse after a few attempts. But as the timeline continued through the events of Dragon Ball Super, we saw less and less of Trunks and Goten playing a role in the fights moving forward. So unfortunately we didn’t really get to see their full slate of abilities in action.

Because we’ve really only seen Fusion Dance used by Goten and Trunks on multiple occasions (with Goku and Vegeta only using it in the fight against Broly once), Dragon Ball has not really gotten to explore what the after effects of the Fusion Dance technique could actually be. Goten and Trunks just might be more connected than they had let on, and unfortunately it’s something that is left unexplored because Trunks and Goten themselves aren’t really interested in tapping into this unseen power. So for now, it’s just a one-off joke that teases there could be more happening than we see.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Raises Major Question About Trunks and Goten appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Penguin Episode 5 “Homecoming” has truly taken things up a notch, by featuring some of the most gruesome death scenes we’ve seen in this show – or any comic book TV show, for that matter. The latest chapter of The Penguin picked up from the big twist of Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) killing off her mob family and seizing control as the new don. Sofia’s power grab is just one element of Oz Cobb/Penguin’s (Colin Farrell) master plan that goes wrong: his triple-cross play against the Maronis also blows up in his face. By the time the dust settles, some bodies get dropped, in ways viewers are never going to forget!

WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Getting Rid of the Competition

A big turn in Penguin Episode 5’s story happens when Oz kidnaps Taj Maroni (Aria Shahghasemi), the spoiled influencer son of mob boss Sal Maroni (Clancy Brown). Oz uses Taj as a hostage to negotiate for the return of the psychotropic mushrooms that create the hit new party drug Bliss – product that Sal’s wife Nadia (Shohreh Aghdashloo) stole from him.

The Maronis concede to an exchange of the mushrooms for their son but plan their own double-cross, ambushing Oz and his man with some additional gunmen hidden in the rafters. However, Oz has his own betrayal planned: giving Taj a kerosine shower before the exchange and then lighting the trail of liquid behind him on fire.

Nadia can’t stop the trail of fire from catching up with her son but refuses to let him go, leaving mother and son to burn alive, screaming. The most chilling part about the scene is how director Helen Shaver keeps the camera on Oz’s face the entire time, as we see a gleeful smile spread over his face, watching the horrific event. If we didn’t know who “The Penguin” was before… we do now.

New Don, New Day

Sofia spends most of the episode trying to both get out from under the murders she committed and secure her new place as the queenpin of her own crime family. Early on in the episode, it’s revealed that Sofia is keeping Falcone underboss Johnny Viti (Michael Kelly) prisoner, to locate and secure the nest egg of money she knows her father Carmine Falcone amassed. Instead, Johnny appeals to Sofia on the strength of their family bond, and offers to help her grab the respect of the underworld, so they can lead the Falcone mob into a new era.

Johnny indeed gets the various Gotham mobs and syndicates to come to the table with Sofia. However, he’s blindsided by her sudden announcement that she’s ending the Falcone line and starting a new mob, under her mother’s maiden name, “Gigante.” Johnny dismisses Sofia in the middle of her speech, trying to wrestle control of the meeting – only to catch a bullet to the skull. Sofia dumps a bag of money into the blood pool as the entry fee to her new family. The table of gangsters all snatch up the literal blood money, while Vitis lies slumped on the table with a bullet hole in his head.

The Penguin is now, officially, the most violent and disturbing vision of Gotham City we’ve seen onscreen. It’s actually getting hard to see how fans of The Batman can go back to the almost-certain PG-13 rating of The Batman: Part II when Penguin is giving us R-rated greatness – that also haunts our dreams.

The Penguin is now airing on HBO and streaming on Max.

The post The Penguin Episode 5 Horrifies With The Batman Universe’s Most Gruesome Death Scenes Yet appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Following on the heels of a strong appearance at New York Comic Con, DC released a first look at some of the merchandise they will be releasing to promote the DC Universe’s first installment, December’s Creature Commandos animated series. Hailing from creator James Gunn, the series centers on a group of monsters who are put to work by Amanda Waller, essentially filling the Suicide Squad-shaped hole in her heart after Task Force X gets shut down. With actors who will play the characters across animation and live action, Creature Commandos doesn’t have the same hype behind it as Gunn’s Superman, but it gives fans a first glimpse at how Gunn intends to run his new cinematic universe.

The just-released first look at Creature Commandos merch not only shows off some of the t-shirts and apparel coming to DC’s own shop — where they’re up for preorder now — but also a number of Funko Pops and even a Weasel statue from McFarlane Toys.

The Funko pops, which you can order at the DC store, at Funko.com, or at some of DC’s partner retailers (we haven’t looked, but we’re guessing it’s Amazon and Hot Topic), include figurines based on Eric Frankenstein; The Bride; Weasel; Nina Mazursky; G.I. Robot; and Doctor Phosphorous.

As far as the clothing line goes, DC is double-dipping on things that the fans are excited about in the coming months — and it’s playing out in a kind of fun way. In addition to the first wave of merch for Creature Commandos, DC is leaning hard into a line of t-shirts, hoodies, and hats featuring their classic “bullet” logo, which is being reintroduced this month on comics and as the DC Studios logo.

Some of the t-shirts and mugs and hats just feature the DC bullet, but there’s also a couple of Creature Commandos shirts that feature the characters swarming around the logo itself. Other designs feature “floating heads” around the design of the logo in a way that feels like a retro team-book title page…and floating heads in three columns, not too dissimilar to how it might have appeared in a pre-2000s corner box on a comic book.

Everything listed is in the preorder phase. The Funko pops are $11.99, the Creature Commandos t-shirts are $25, and the DC logo collection ranges from $25-$45.

That Weasel collectable statue from McFarlane, showing off the character in all his hilarious hideousness, will run you $129.99.

The post DC Unveils First Creature Commandos T-Shirts and Toys appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Bloober Team, the company most recently behind Konami’s remake of Silent Hill 2, says that it’s ready to move on from some of its “sh*tty games” of the past. Prior to SH2 releasing earlier this month, there was quite a bit of skepticism from horror fans that Bloober Team could pull off remaking one of the most beloved games of all-time. Fortunately, many were proven wrong as Bloober Team was met with rousing acclaim from fans and critics alike for its work on Silent Hill 2. Now, with this achievement under its belt, those at the developer are looking toward improving even further with its next projects.

Speaking to GameSpot, members of Bloober Team opened up a bit about their trajectory in the wake of Silent Hill 2 launching. Just recently, Bloober unveiled Cronos: The New Dawn, which is a new IP from the studio that’s again rooted in horror. Rather than being skeptical of Cronos in the same way that fans were of Silent Hill 2, though, Bloober Team director and producer Jacek Zieba said that he’s already seen a turnaround in perception thanks to the success of the new remake.

“It was tough for those couple of years before [Silent Hill 2‘s] release,” Zieba said. “We made it. Bloober made it. And now, it’s very good spirits inside [the studio.] We want to show what we can do on our own, how we can evolve our ideas.”

Despite wanting to evolve further, Zieba still knows that Bloober’s strength lies in its ability to create horror experiences. This is something that the studio has done almost entirely since 2016 when it released the original Layers of Fear. In the same way that it moved on from its games of the past prior to Layers of Fear, those at Bloober are viewing the company now at another point of evolution where it can put previous projects that might not have been well-received in the rearview mirror.

“We want to be a horror company,” Zieba added. “We want to find our niche, and we think we found our niche, so now we just–let’s evolve with it. […] And how that happens is more complex, but it also happens organically in a way, like with [2016’s] Layers of Fear, people in the studio were like, ‘Okay, we made some shitty games before, but we [can] evolve.'”

For now, it remains to be seen if Cronos: The New Dawn will be met with the same praise as Silent Hill 2. Luckily, interested players won’t have to wait that long to find out as Cronos is due out at some point in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Silent Hill 2 Developer Bloober Team Says It Wants to Evolve From Making “Sh*tty Games” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Godzilla Minus One was a celebration of 70 years of Toho’s Godzilla‘s franchise, but it almost didn’t have a happy ending as one of its best characters was originally going to be killed off before the end. Godzilla Minus One was a groundbreaking entry for the Godzilla franchise. As the most critically and commercially successful Godzilla releases in Toho’s long history, Godzilla Minus One continues to dominate as fans are even going to get the chance to see the film in theaters again later this year as part of a limited screening event. But it almost had a much different, more depressing ending than what was seen in the film.

Godzilla Minus One writer and director Takashi Yamazaki spoke about the Academy Award winning feature film during a special panel as part of New York Comic Con 2024, and revealed some key details about its production. Because when asked about the ending that saw Koichi Shikishima (as performed by Ryunosuke Kamiki) reuniting with an injured Noriko Oishi (as performed by Minami Hamabe), Yamazaki revealed that the first draft of the film actually had Noriko dying. But he ultimately changed that in later drafts as he felt that Shikishima needed a win after everything he had been through.

Godzilla Minus One Almost Killed Off Noriko

In Godzilla Minus One, Noriko and Shikishima are caught in the crossfire of Godzilla’s then biggest attack in the film at that point. Noriko was presumed to be dead as Shikishima lost all hope, and then united with the others for a plan to take down the giant monster once and for all. It wasn’t until the film’s final moments that Shikishima sees that Noriko had survived the attack, and only got a few injuries from it despite the fact that it looked like she had been killed. It turns out she almost was.

As Yamazaki explained during the New York Comic Con 2024 panel, Noriko died in the first draft of the film. Yamazaki eventually changed it because he felt like Shikishima needed a win, “If he came home and she [wasn’t there], that would be tragic.” He even explained that when they filmed the scene where Noriko was caught in Godzilla’s attack, they made up Noriko actress Minami Hamabe in a way that could have CG placed over it if she had survived the attack. They did decide to keep her alive, and Yamazaki himself was satisfied with the choice.

What’s Next for Godzilla Minus One?

Godzilla Minus One might have ended with a tease for a potential future, but Toho has yet to announced their potential plans for the next Godzilla feature film. Yamazaki has noted his own interest in returning for another film, and even has some ideas about how to remake past films and use classic Kaiju such as Hedorah in a future project. But as of the time of this publication, Yamazaki also clarifies that he has yet to be contacted by Toho about potentially moving forward.

A direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One would make a lot of sense considering how well the film has done commercially and critically, and it’s won the Godzilla franchise notable awards such as its very first Academy Award. But with a franchise like this one, the next Godzilla film is also just as likely to try a brand new take from a new creative team at the helm. It likely won’t be releasing for a few more years at the earliest, and it could end up a much different kind of film that fans enjoyed with Godzilla Minus One. But that’s also what makes each new Godzilla exciting.

HT – Flixist

The post Godzilla Minus One Director Originally Wanted to Kill One of Its Best Characters appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Winx Club is going to be coming back in a whole new way with a fully CG animated reboot series, and now fans have gotten the first real look at how it’s going to be in motion with its first full trailer. The Winx franchise has been steadily releasing new projects over the course of the last couple of decades, but it’s really going all out as it celebrates 20 years since its first broadcast debut in 2004. Winx Club is getting a full reboot animated series, and the central Winx are getting new redesigns for the occasion as they make the jump to a new dimension.

Winx Club’s new reboot series is currently scheduled for a release some time next year with Netflix, and it teases a back to basics approach for the franchise. Because while the original run of the animated series went on for eight full seasons, both fans of the classic series and new animation fans will be able to jump into this new version of the series without much problem. To check out the first look at how it’s all going to look in motion when it releases, you can check out the trailer for the Winx Club reboot series in the video above.

What Is Winx Club?

Originally making its debut in Italy in 2004 before becoming an international success, Winx Club was created and directed by Iginio Straffi. Set in a magical world full of mythical creatures, the series stars Bloom, a young girl who has the ability to transform into a Fairy warrior. Enrolling in a school to better use her abilities, Bloom makes friends with other Fairy warriors as they take on all sorts of dangerous foes over the course of its run. It was such a success that it went on for much longer than Straffi had initially envisioned.

While the creator had reportedly only initially written out Winx Club to only last for a few seasons, it soon grabbed the attention of an international audience and became a full co-production with Nickelodeon. This is likely the version that many fans in the United States are more familiar with, and went on for several seasons in its own right before Paramount eventually sold their stake in Rainbow SpA, which ultimately then led to creator Straffi being able to pursue new Winx Club projects such as this full CG animated reboot coming our way next year.

How to Watch Winx Club

Although this new rebooted take on Winx Club will be the best way or new fans to enjoy the franchise, there is actually still a way to check out the original animated series if you wanted to catch up with it all. You can find all eight seasons of the series available for streaming legally through Winx Club‘s official YouTube channel, and there are two seasons of the now cancelled live-action adaptation, Fate: The Winx Saga, now streaming with Netflix if you wanted to see the series in that way.

While the cancellation of that live-action series (which continued in comic form) was a bummer to fans, it ultimately led to this new rebooted Winx Club series moving forward too. Rainbow teases this new but familiar feeling take on Winx Club as such, “We will rediscover the journey of Bloom, a teenage girl from Earth who finds out she is a fairy with extraordinary powers. As she enrolls in the Alfea College for Fairies, Bloom will form the Winx Club with her new friends, embarking on fairy adventures across magical dimensions. Let’s get ready to fly.”

The post Winx Club Reboot Brings Its Fairies to Life in First Trailer: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller recently released a sequel to the Tim Burton 1989 Batman film in novel form, and you can experience it now with a discount. Batman: Resurrection, a sequel that’s set between Batman and Batman Returns, was released on October 15th. However, it is currently priced at $22, which is 26% off and an all-time low. You can pick it up from Amazon here. Kindle and Audible versions are also available. A Comicbook exclusive excerpt from the book can be found here.

If you’re interested in continuing the story of Michael Keaton’s Batman, then you don’t want to miss this novel. Miller has also confirmed that a second book is in the works, Batman: Revolution. In Miller’s announcement post he included a tongue-in-cheek reference to one of the Bat’s most famous villains… a question mark to signify the dastardly Riddler! Not much else is known of the plot, but luckily this sequel-to-a-sequel book is currently slated for a Fall 2025 release, so we don’t have too long to wait before the story continues.

What is Batman: Resurrection about?

The book’s synopsis goes as follows: “The Joker is dead, but not forgotten. Gotham City is saved, but it is still not safe. By night, its new symbol of hope, Batman, continues his fight to protect the innocent and the powerless. By day, his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, wonders whether there may someday be a future beyond skulking the city’s rooftops or the cavernous halls of his stately manor alongside the ever-dutiful Alfred Pennyworth.

But even after death, the Clown Prince of Crime’s imprint can be seen in more than just the pavement. Remnants from The Joker’s gang are leading wannabes fascinated by his bizarre mystique on a campaign of arson that threatens the city—even as it serves greedy opportunists, including millionaire Max Shreck. And survivors of exposure to The Joker’s chemical weapon Smylex continue to crowd Gotham City’s main hospital.

To quell the chaos, Batman needs more than his cape and his well-stocked Utility Belt. Bruce Wayne is forced into action, prompting a partnership with a charismatic scientist to help solve the health crisis. But as he works in both the shadows and the light, Bruce finds himself drawn deeper into Gotham City’s turmoil than ever before, fueling his obsession to save the city—an obsession that has already driven a wedge between him and Vicki Vale. The loyal Alfred, who had hoped Bruce’s efforts as Batman could help him find closure, finds the opposite happening. Nightmares begin to prompt Bruce to ask new questions about the climactic events in the cathedral, and investigations by Commissioner Gordon and reporter Alexander Knox into the arsons only amplify his concerns.

Having told the people of Gotham City that they’d earned a rest from crime, Batman finds the forces of evil growing ever more organized—and orchestrated—by a sinister hand behind the scenes. The World’s Greatest Detective must solve the greatest mystery of all: Could The Joker have somehow survived? And could he still have the last laugh against the people of Gotham City?”

The post Batman: Resurrection: Sequel to Tim Burton’s ’89 Film Is Available Now With a Deal appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Earlier this fall, the anime fandom turned its eye to Junji Ito as the master of horror returned to television. His hit story Uzumaki was brought to life with an anime ordered by Adult Swim and Production I.G. After a long production period, Uzumaki went live to great fanfare as many horror buffs heralded the anime as Ito’s latest hit. That tune, however, changed as Uzumaki‘s animation took a major hit in subsequent weeks. And with its final episode now live, we are sad to say Uzumaki failed to reclaim the high peaks that its first episode reached.

If you did not realize, the final episode of Uzumaki recently, and it was there fans watched as Ito’s iconic tale whimpered to a close. Not only did Uzumaki set a fast pace with the finale that left netizens dumbfounded, but its animation was hard to take in. As you can see below, the last episode of Uzumaki was loaded with stilted animation, and some it could have been done using PowerPoint.

THE RISE AND FALL OF UZUMAKI

The brief rise and heavy fall of Uzumaki is one that anime fans never wanted to see. Junji Ito is a master of his craft, and for decades, he has been releasing some of the best horror stories in the world. When people relate Ito to Stephen King, well – the comparison is warranted. The two men are incredible storytellers with an eye for unsettling tales. For Ito, it is not just his writing but his art that imbues his work with such unease. So when Uzumaki was announced, fans were incredibly hopeful the anime would succeed.

Sadly, that dream was not realize. The first episode of Uzumaki was nothing short of perfection save for some tiny pacing issues; However, that all turned around within a week. The second episode of Uzumaki was dubbed a hot mess by fans given its laughable decline in animation. This continued with Uzumaki episode three, and finally, the anime wrapped with a disappointing finale.

As for why Uzumaki ran into so much trouble, the answer is not simple. For one, Adult Swim executive Jason DeMarco stressed COVID-19 impacted the production of the anime. The show was hit with a long delay due to the pandemic, and in that time, the anime industry’s staffing crisis only got worse. By the time Studio Drive and Studio Akatsuki began work on Uzumaki, things had reached critical mass behind the scenes. The situation was held together long enough for episode one to be finished as intended, but the same could not be said for the other episodes.

“The options were A) not finish it, air nothing & call it a loss, B) Just finish Ep. 1 & leave it incomplete or C) run all 4, warts & all,” DeMarco shared on social media after Uzumaki’s maligned animation went public. As you can see, the team chose the third option and let Uzumaki set forward all four episodes. But of course, fans are now questioning that logic. A longer delay could have given the anime staff more time to perfect Uzumaki, but such a choice requires time and money. There is no telling how much of those Adult Swim had for the anime, so in the end, it was best to cut losses and bring Uzumaki to life as is.

IS JUNJI ITO UNDER AN ANIME CURSE?

In the wake of Uzumaki‘s downfall, fans are desperate for answers that address how the situation came to light. Henry Thurlow, an animator on One Piece, tried to share their own understanding of the problem. His message put the blame on the anime industry’s crunch culture and the lack of understanding Western execs have about anime production.

“I’m truly not sure who’s to blame. Of course artists need time & resources to do great things. If that was taken from IG it’s terrible. It does seem though that IG recently (unlike its glory days) endlessly delays their projects. They go year after year completing very little. TO BE CLEAR. I love IG. I’m nostalgic for the days where IG, Madhouse, & 4C were at the top & always outdoing each other. All 3 though seem to have lost their ability to consistently & on-time turn out powerhouse work. It takes them forever to do just a little now,” Thurlow shared.

“As for the Uzumaki production, at the end of the day it’s almost certainly some western producer’s fault. “This is taking too long so force some other studio to finish it I don’t care what it looks like.” I’d bet everything I have that’s how it went down. Again & again these western-produced anime have problems because the western producers are fucking trash. Kawajiri’s last few anime, the unreleased AvP anime, now Uzumaki. Again & again I see western producers screw over the artists & anime studios here & it’s infuriating.”

Uzumaki had high expectations from fans, but in the end, a series of behind-the-scenes stumbles put the anime on the wrong track. For now, Ito fans will have to wait for the horror master to get an anime of the same caliber of his art. They watch the first episode of Uzumaki on repeat to see what that kind of project might look like. And someday if we are lucky, Ito will get the full-blown anime adaptation that he deserves.

What do you make of Uzumaki‘s rise and fall? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Uzumaki Finale Drums Up Scares With Its Truly Terrible Animation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hasbro’s list of reveals for New York Comic-Con 2024 this past weekend included plenty of Star Wars Black Series and G.I. Joe Classified Series figures, but they certainly didn’t forget about Transformers. The collection includes Studio Series Galvatron, Double Punch, Skywarp, and Hatchet figures from various films and games. The wave also includes crossover figures inspired by Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Naruto Shippuden.

Full details on each figure in the wave can be found below. Pre-orders for most of the figures will begin on October 22nd at 10am PT / 1pm ET here at Entertainment Earth (free US shipping on orders $39+ for a limited time. Includes their mint condition guarantee). The only exceptions are the Naruto and Mandalorian figures, which have already launched in pre-order. Direct links for all of the figures will be available in the following list after the launch.

Transformers Collaborative Star Wars: The Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter / $54.97 / Spring 2025 / Available for pre-order exclusively at Walmart: “The iconic N-1 Starfighter from Star Wars: The Mandalorian is now a converting TRANSFORMERS toy! This 7.5-inch figure converts from character mode to N-1 Starfighter alt mode in 37 steps. Comes with 6 blast effects, 2 blasters, and a shield and cape that convert to a display stand for the figure in N-1 Starfighter mode.”

Transformers Collaborative Naruto Shippuden X Transformers Kurama and Gamakichi / $54.99 / Spring 2025 / See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: “Inspired by the characters from the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series, this 2-pack features the iconic Kurama and Gamakichi characters as TRANSFORMERS robots. The Kurama figure converts between robot mode and 9-tailed fox mode in 14 steps, and the Gamakichi figure converts between robot mode and toad mode in 12 steps. Includes 2 kunai, 2 chakra plates, rasengan, rasenshuriken, and 2 swappable hands for the Kurama figure, and sword and summoning scroll for the Gamakichi figure.”

Transformers Studio Series Leader Class The Transformers: The Movie 86-31 Galvatron / $54.99 / Spring 2025 / See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: “Inspired by The Transformers: The Movie, this 8.5-inch figure converts between robot and galactic cannon modes in 33 steps. Features articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses. Comes with 3 cannons that attach in both modes and a Matrix of Leadership that can hang around the figure’s neck.”

Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class Transformers: Rise of the Beasts 115 Double Punch / $24.99 / Spring 2025 / See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: “Inspired by Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, this 4.5-inch figure converts between robot and scorpion modes in 20 steps. Features articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses and comes with a scorpion tail that attaches in both modes. Pose the Double Punch toy with the removable Volcano Showdown backdrop scene.”

Transformers Studio Series Voyager Class Transformers: War for Cybertron 11 Skywarp / $34.99 / Spring 2025 / See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: “Inspired by the TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTRON video game, this 6.5-inch figure converts between robot and jet modes in 29 steps. Features articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses and comes with blaster accessories that attach in both modes. Pose the Skywarp toy with the removable Reactivate the Bridge backdrop scene.”

Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class Transformers: Dark of the Moon 94 Decepticon Hatchet / $24.99 / Spring 2025 / See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon:
“Inspired by the TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON film, this 4.5-inch figure converts between robot and vehicle modes in 19 steps. Features articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses and comes with a detailed accessory that attaches in both modes. Pose the Decepticon Hatchet toy with the removable High-Speed Chase backdrop scene.”

The post NYCC 2024 Transformers Pre-Orders Include Naruto and Mandalorian Crossovers appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Family Guy has kicked off its 25th anniversary celebration with Peter Griffin making a surprise appearance on the hot wing eating talk show Hot Ones, and he actually made history with the messy end to the promo. First We Feast and Complex Media’s Hot Ones has grown into a massive show over the years as multiple stars and celebrities take on eating increasingly hotter hot wings while answering hard hitting questions about their respective work. It’s gotten so big that the last year has seen a few animated characters getting in on the action, and Family Guy is the latest to join in.

With Family Guy having a lot to celebrate this year despite the fact that its next season won’t be hitting until 2025, Peter Griffin was the latest animated character to join Hot Ones and take on the hot wings. This version of the interview makes history, however, as not only does Peter get his own Family Guy inspired hot sauces, but he’s also the first one to have full intestinal distress in the history of the show. While many guests have quit eating their wings before the end, it’s never really ended in just as messy of a way as Peter’s did. Check it out in the video above.

What’s New for Family Guy in 2024?

As Family Guy is now in the midst of celebrating 25 years since its initial debut with Fox, there’s quite a lot in the works for the franchise. There are still some new episodes of the animated series to enjoy as Peter mentions in the Hot Ones interview. There’s an exclusive Halloween special now streaming with Hulu that features Twisters and Hit Man star Glen Powell in a guest role (who serves as a rival to Joe Swanson in the annual pumpkin growing contest), and Peter also confirms that a second special is coming to Hulu later this year as well.

Family Guy previously announced that there would be two exclusive streaming specials released with Hulu this year, and they would be focusing on the Halloween and Christmas holidays. Peter further confirms this in the video as he notes that the second of these specials is the Christmas one coming later this year, but Hulu has yet to announce a release date for the new special as of the time of this publication. And the series in full will be returning to Fox some time next year.

Family Guy Season 23 Finally Airs in 2025

Family Guy Season 23 is currently scheduled to air with Fox some time in 2025. It has yet to confirm a concrete release date as of the time of this publication, and was recently hit with a major shake up from Fox as they changed their Animation Domination block’s schedule for the first time in many years. Family Guy was moved out of its Sunday time slot, and didn’t return for the Fall as expected along with the other animated mainstays The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers.

But while this is a big shake up for the series, it’s currently stronger than ever as it celebrates 25 years. It’s a funny anniversary too considering that it was cancelled on Fox for a few of those years before it was brought back, and has been releasing new episodes ever since. With a guest spot on a show like Hot Ones, it also goes to show how big Peter Griffin is as a character even with younger audiences. Proving it’s got a bigger reach online than some of its other counterparts, Family Guy really isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The post Family Guy Makes History With Peter Griffin’s Hot Ones Debut: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Samantha Irvin has been a staple of WWE programming since 2021. The former America’s Got Talent contestant was discovered by WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry and encouraged to try out for WWE, which she initially did as a wrestler. Irvin was hired instead as a ring announcer, a duty that she began fulfilling for WWE shows like WWE 205 Live and WWE NXT. Less than one year after her debut, Irvin was promoted to WWE SmackDown, serving as the ring announcer for the FOX broadcast. Come 2023, Irvin migrated to WWE Monday Night Raw on the USA Network. Irvin began to catch fire in these years for her vocal power and unique tonal tricks for superstars like Chelsea Green and Ludwig Kaiser. WWE doubled down on that popularity by making Irvin the sole ring announcer for all 14 matches of WWE WrestleMania XL this past April.

Samantha Irvin Leaves WWE, Shocks Company

Samantha Irvin is leaving WWE.

Taking to social media, the WWE Monday Night Raw ring announcer revealed that her time “has come to an end” within WWE.

“WWE Universe, my time has come to an end as your Monday Night Raw Ring Announcer,” Irvin wrote in a statement. “I love you all tremendously and this does not mark the end of my art, I have a lifetime more to share.”

Irvin went on to thank multiple people in the company including Brian “Road Dogg” James, Scott Armstrong, Gabe Sapolsky, George Carroll Jr., and Paul “Triple H” Levesque as well as teams like the women’s locker room, production crew, coaches, producers, medical, writers, talent relations, makeup, photography, social media, digital, travel, catering, merchandise, WWE 2K, referees, security, and the announce team.

Thank you to every WWE fan who accepted me,” Irvin continued. “To my fans, my entire career l’ve been waiting for you! We are meant to be and I can prove it. Stay tuned. All my love! And still… Samantha.”

As reported by insider account @WrestleVotes, Irvin’s departure has “genuinely shocked” numerous people backstage at WWE Monday Night Raw ahead of the show’s airing from Philadelphia tonight on USA Network.

Will Samantha Irvin Join AEW?

Based on her statement, it appears that Samantha Irvin already has her next career move planned out. While she references this exit “not [marking] the end of [her] art,” suggesting she could pivot into another artistic venture, there is reason to believe that her ring announcing will continue in an All Elite Wrestling ring.

As reported by Fightful Select, both WWE and AEW sources would “be shocked” if AEW does not make Irvin an offer to join the company. AEW has primarily used Justin Roberts as its ring announcer since its inception in 2019. AEW also utilizes Arkady Aura and Bobby Cruise on occasion.

Irvin’s fiancée, Ricochet, left WWE earlier this summer to take his talents to AEW. Ricochet made his AEW debut at AEW ALL IN: London and has pursued the AEW International Championship ever since, locking horns with longtime rival Will Ospreay in the process. Irvin and Ricochet have been together since 2021 and became engaged in 2023.

Irvin’s situation has parallels to a circumstance that Jon Moxley and Renee Paquette found themselves in a couple of years ago. Moxley and Paquette, then known as Dean Ambrose and Renee Young, met in WWE in the early 2010s and began dating in 2013. The two were married in 2017. Moxley would leave WWE in early 2019 and jump ship to AEW while Paquette remained part of the WWE broadcast team until late 2020. She would pursue some independent media ventures over the subsequent years before signing with AEW in October 2022, sharing a travel schedule with her husband again for the first time in three years.

Stay tuned to ComicBook for updates on Samantha Irvin’s next career moves.

The post WWE “Shocked” Over Samantha Irvin Exit: Will She Join Ricochet in AEW? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

October is the perfect time for ghostly things, and that extends to the world of Pokemon. This month, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players can check out a brand-new 5-star Tera Raid event that will be centered around Gengar. During this event, the beloved Ghost/Poison-type will begin appearing in Raids in the Nintendo Switch game. The Gengar that players encounter will have a Ghost Tera type, so players won’t be able to take advantage of its Poison-type weaknesses! The event will begin on October 28th, and will run through October 31st.

When Gengar made its debut in Pokemon Red and Green, it had a lot of negatives attached. While Ghost-type attacks have a type advantage against Psychics, Gengar’s Poison-type makes it susceptible to taking heavy damage from Pokemon like Mewtwo and Alakazam. The beauty of Terastallization in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is that it can help a Pokemon shed some of its weaknesses. In this case, by becoming a pure Ghost-type, Gengar is now harder to type match against (at least while Terastallized). That makes it slightly harder for opponents, but also a lot easier to use in battle! Players that plan on checking out Raids during this event will want to bring in a Dark-type, or a Pokemon that can use Ghost-type moves.

In addition to the Gengar Tera Raids, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players can celebrate spooky season with a mass outbreak event. Starting the same day as the Gengar event, players can expect to see mass outbreaks featuring Gastly, Misdreavus, Shuppet, and Bramblin. These mass outbreaks will all take place throughout Paldea, though nothing seems to be happening in Kitakami or Blueberry Academy. During the event, players will have an increased chance of finding these Ghost-types with the Crafty mark. When that mark is assigned by the player, it will apply the title “the opportunist” when the Pokemon is sent into battle.

All in all, this is a pretty minor event, but it’s nice to see Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is still getting some kind of content to keep players invested. At this point, the game is nearly two years old, and it’s pretty atypical to see Game Freak giving fans a reason to spend any time with an existing game that far into its lifespan. The next mainline game in the franchise is Pokemon Legends: Z-A, but that still does not have a release date at the moment, and we don’t know of any other Pokemon games coming to Switch. Basically, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is going to have to continue to tide fans over for the time being, so even these small events are welcome. As 2025 starts to approach, hopefully we’ll start to get a better idea of when the next Pokemon game can be expected!

Are you planning to check out these Gengar Tera Raid Battles? Are you still spending time with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Announces New Events for Halloween Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Spider-Man star Tom Holland might be headed to the world of Christopher Nolan. On Monday, reports indicated that Holland is set to star in the currently-untitled new feature from Nolan, which will be released by Oppenheimer distributor Universal Pictures in theaters and on IMAX screens on July 17, 2026. Holland will join Matt Damon, who previously appeared in Oppenheimer as General Leslie Groves​ and Interstellar as Dr. Mann.

Plot details are currently unknown about the new Nolan movie, except for the fact that it is not set in the present day. Nolan is expected to write as well as executive produce alongside his wife Emma Thomas. Production on the project is expected to begin in early 2025.

That latter detail is particularly interesting, especially in the context of Holland’s work portraying Peter Parker / Spider-Man in various projects for Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios. Initial reports indicate that in 2025, Holland will likely be juggling production on Nolan’s movie with the highly-anticipated Spider-Man 4, as well as 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. Spider-Man 4 has been in the works in various capacities for several years now, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton confirmed to be directing it earlier this fall. While Spider-Man 4 does not currently have a confirmed release date, some fans have already begun to speculate that it could debut in between Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars.

“It needs work, but the writers are doing a great job,” Holland shared of the script for Spider-Man 4 earlier this month. “I read it three weeks ago and it really lit a fire in me. Zendaya and I sat down, read it together and we at times were bouncing around the living room.”

As far as Nolan’s mystery film is concerned, the director explained in a previous interview that the subject matter will not be as dark as Oppenheimer.

“I definitely– part of me wants to leave the story behind,” Nolan explained. “I mean, it’s a great privilege to be able to talk about a film that you’ve made that’s now going into the home and on 4k and Blu-ray and all the rest. It’s great to be able to sit here and talk to you about the success of the movie. That’s a huge privilege. But the subject matter is very dark. It’s nihilistic. And, yeah, there’s part of me that’s quite keen to move on and maybe do something, you know, not quite as bleak.”

The post Tom Holland Joins Christopher Nolan’s New Movie, What Does It Mean for Spider-Man 4? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Earlier this year, the Lambert family returned to the Insidious franchise with Insidious: The Red Door, but if there’s a future for the franchise, original writer Leigh Whannell is hoping that a fresh perspective can be brought to the project to reimagine it. The debut entry was released in 2010 and The Red Door marked the fifth entry into the series, with Insidious: Chapter 3 and Insidious: The Last Key serving somewhat as spinoffs from the exploits of the Lambert family, though still featured Lin Shaye’s Elise Rainier character. Given the compelling mythology of the otherworldly realm of “The Further,” there’s lots of untapped potential that could be mined in future films.

“I think those characters have run their course. I would like to see someone reinvent that series a little bit, do something new with it,” Whannell shared with ComicBook of what the future could hold for Insidious. “I don’t know what’s happening with it right now. We’re trying to do something with it, but you know how it goes with movies: Just when you think you’re starting with something, it’s over, and then it starts up again, and so you’ll probably know about it before I do.”

The original film introduced fans to the Lambert family, whose young son seemingly suffered a head injury that caused him to slip into a coma. Over the course of the film, however, viewers realized that the boy actually had his consciousness trapped by a nefarious entity in another realm, known as “The Further.” Father Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) was alerted by Elise that this wasn’t a random occurrence, as Josh had the ability to venture into The Further on his own and had been able to since he was a young boy. Josh managed to rescue his son from the “Red-Faced Demon,” while also encountering a variety of other intimidating presences.

Despite The Red Door bringing back original stars Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Ty Simpkins, the film sits at only 39% positive reviews. Even with those disappointing reviews, it performed relatively well financially, and once it debuted on Netflix, it saw a surge in popularity. This year’s Halloween Horror Nights event at Universal Studios had a house honoring the franchise, confirming just how much interest there still is in the property.

While Whannell wrote the first four movies in the series, he also starred in those entries as one of Elise’s investigators, and he seemed to shoot down the idea of appear on screen in a future film.

Whannell spoke with ComicBook ahead of the debut of the Shop Blumhouse store. Now you can shop from a treasure trove of exclusive Blumhouse merchandise. From collectibles to killer apparel, there is something for everyone to take home a piece of cinematic terror.

Stay tuned for possible updates on the Insidious franchise.

What do you think of the filmmaker’s remarks? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

The post Insidious Writer Hoping the Franchise Will Be Reinvented After This Year’s Sequel appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Penguin episode 5. The Falcone crime Family is dead. Long live the Gigante-Maroni Family. Sunday’s “Homecoming” episode of The Penguin ended with Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) shooting and killing made man Johnny Viti (Michael Kelly) after gassing Don Luca (Scott Cohen) and the Falcones, then embracing her late mother’s maiden name: Gigante. “As of today, my father’s legacy is dead, and we will never speak his name again,” Sofia said of the late Carmine Falcone. “From this point on, I am a Gigante — and this is a new Family now.”

Having learned that Oz (Colin Farrell) killed her brother Alberto (Michael Zegen) and has been pitting the Falcones and the Maronis against each other to get his new mushroom-based Bliss drug operation going and seize power, Sofia — rechristened as Sofia Gigante, head of the Gigantes — makes Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) an offer he can’t refuse: end the war between the Families that claimed the lives of his son Taj (Aria Shahghasemi) and wife Nadia (Shohreh Aghdashloo).

“The Falcones don’t exist anymore. I am offering you an alliance. We join our Families, the Maronis and Gigantes, as a show of strength. We kill Oz. And then we take over the city,” Sofia says. “Together.”

“Notoriously, the Falcones and the Maronis are always at odds in the comics,” series creator and showrunner Lauren LeFranc explains in this week’s Episode 5 Insider. “I thought it was interesting, and seems right, to have Sofia — knowing that the Falcones have wronged her just as much as the Falcones have wronged the Maronis — to try to team up with Sal Maroni, to align the powers that they have to get Oz.”

It’s a change from Sofia’s comic counterpart, who is introduced in 1997’s Batman: The Long Halloween #6 as Sofia Falcone-Gigante. The issue sees Carmine Falcone’s daughter released from Gotham Penitentiary (rather than Arkham Asylum) as Batman unravels the mystery of the Holiday killer during a war between two rival gangs: the Falcones and the Maronis.

“She wants to own this part of her past that rejects this sort of dark patriarchy of her father,” says series executive producer and The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves. LeFranc notes that “in the comics, it’s Sofia Falcone-Gigante because she marries into a Gigante family. But I thought it was more appropriate to have her take her mother’s maiden name. That’s Sofia’s moment of taking back power and declaring herself to the world.”

“That’s such an excellent last twist of the knife into her father’s legacy,” Milioti adds. “To be like, ‘Your legacy ends with you, and I’m going to honor my mother, and this is going to be a matriarchal mob family.'”

A flashback to ten years earlier revealed Sofia was poised to inherit her father’s crime empire as head of the Family. But when Oz betrayed Sofia to her father (Mark Strong), Carmine framed her for his Hangman murders, faked her mental illness, and had his daughter remanded to Arkham for a decade.

New episodes of The Penguin premiere Sundays on HBO and Max.

The post The Penguin Boss Explains the Major Change to Sofia Falcone appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fresh off Monsters Season 2, Cooper Koch is taking advantage of his newfound fame by campaigning to be on the shortlist for Luca Guadagnino’s take on American Psycho. Ryan Murphy’s controversial series which has helped launch his career, focuses on the complicated case of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted of brutally killing their parents in 1989.

Koch plays the younger of the two siblings, Erik which has garnered him loads of attention from social media in the month since its release. While many have praised him for his sensitivity and knowledge on the case while advocating for their release, others have slammed him for recent jokes made in reference to a graphic scene of his body in one of the earlier episodes.

Cooper Koch Wants to Play Patrick Bateman

“Luca’s doing American Psycho, so I think I can do Patrick Bateman,” Koch told The Hollywood Reporter when asked what role he’d like to take on next. “I haven’t played a serial killer yet so I think I could do it.”

Guadagnino’s adaption was announced over the weekend causing mixed reactions, but the fan casting has already begun. Many want to see Koch’s Monsters co-star Nicholas Chavez in the film. He is currently starring in FX’s Grotesquerie, a crime-thriller that takes notes from the earlier seasons of American Horror Story. Others believe that standout Jacob Elordi could be eyed for the role after he was spotted at lunch with the Challengers director.

Koch also teased that the things are moving full steam ahead, so it doesn’t seem like it’ll be long before his next project is revealed. “Things are coming in, things are moving, things are happening, taking meetings, and the needle is threading so we’ll see, nothing is locked in or happening yet.” Prior to Monsters, Koch starred alongside Kevin Bacon in Blumhouse’s They/Them as well as the independent body horror Swallowed.

Guadagnino’s American Psycho film is intended to be an adaption of the novel by Bret Easton Ellis and not a remake on the cult classic 2000s film starring Christian Bale as the bloodthirsty banker. Given Guadagnino’s sexy and gorgeous visuals but his ability to go balls-to-the-wall in projects like Bones for All, he ironically seems like the perfect person to helm the film.

The Italian film director has several other projects in development, including the Amazon MGM thriller After the Hunt with Chloë Sevigny, Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield. He is also working on Separate Rooms which reportedly stars Josh O’Connor and Léa Seydoux in the Queer film. It is an adaption of late author Pier Vittorio Tondelli’s 1989 novel.

The post Cooper Koch Campaigns for American Psycho Role After Netflix’s Lyle and Erik Menendez Story appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Solo Leveling is gearing up for its second season, and it would put things lightly to say fans are excited. In the wake of season one, A-1 Pictures earned little but praise for its ambitious adaptation of the best-selling webtoon. All eyes are now on Solo Leveling‘s comeback as season two has some big things to unpack. But first, Solo Leveling has a movie to release, and its latest trailer just went live.

As you can see above, the trailer for Solo Leveling: Reawakening is out, and the official clip puts Jinwoo center stage. The movie, which debuts this winter, is meant to recap Solo Leveling season one ahead of its new season. A-1 Pictures has included all-new footage in this film along with updates scenes from season one. And in the second half of the movie, Solo Leveling: Reawakening will screen the first two episodes of season two. If that doesn’t make you want to check out the movie, then what will?

SOLO LEVELING: REAWAKENING WILL HIT U.S. THEATERS

From the movie’s official trailer, you can see that Solo Leveling: Reawakening looks gorgeous, and fans are eager to see how the movie cuts down season one. The anime’s first season had a strong back half, but the beginning was a bit slow. The biggest critique facing Solo Leveling in its first few weeks was pacing, so this movie could fix that issue. After all, the film will have to speed up season one, and the show’s slower pace is what angered fans to begin with.

If you want to check out Solo Leveling: Reawakening, the movie will be released in the United States on December 6th. Before then, the movie will premiere in South Korea as well as Japan. Naturally, this means some spoilers for the movie will hit social media ahead of its U.S. release, so netizens can start planning.

HOW TO CATCH UP ON SOLO LEVELING

Naturally, this new Solo Leveling project will help fans prepare for the anime’s second season. The show is expected to return in January 2025 with season two, and Solo Leveling: Arise From the Shadow is expected to be one of year’s must-watch series. Solo Leveling: Reawakening will give new fans a quick lesson on what they missed in season one, and of course, they can check out the show’s first episodes if they’d like.

Currently, you can stream Solo Leveling season one over on Crunchyroll. The anime is available subbed and dubbed. As for the hit webtoon, Solo Leveling is complete as the action fantasy began in July 2016. The story’s final chapter went live in December 2021, and Yen Press oversees its release in English. Currently, Solo Leveling is back in action, and we have a sequel to thank. Solo Leveling: Ragnarok is now available, and the sequel is set after the original webtoon’s finale. It tells the story of Sung Su-ho, the son of Sung Jinwoo, as he discovers his powers as the Shadow Monarch.

Want to know more about Solo Leveling before diving into the hit series? You can read its official synopsis here for all the details: “Over a decade after ‘gates’ connecting worlds appeared, awakening ‘hunters’ with superpowers, weakest hunter Sung Jinwoo encounters a double dungeon and accepts a mysterious quest, becoming the only one able to level up, changing his fate.”

Do you plan on checking out Solo Leveling: Reawakening when it hits theaters? What do you want to see from the anime’s second season? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Solo Leveling: Reawakening Unleashes Jinwoo in Epic First Trailer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, users are often given the opportunity to play trials of various games. A new trial has been announced for North America, and this time around, subscribers can try out three full games for free. The trial is set to begin on October 23rd at 10 a.m., and will run through October 30th at 11:59 p.m. PT. During that time, subscribers will have access to A Little to the Left, Cursed to Golf, and Vampire Survivors. A similar promotion will be happening in Europe, but with Minecraft Dungeons in place of Vampire Survivors.

For those that have never taken advantage of a Switch game trial, it’s important to note that these are not demos. Demos only give the player access to a limited amount of content from a game. Comparatively, Switch game trials give players access to the entire game for a short window, as if it had been borrow from a friend. In theory, this means that subscribers could even beat the campaigns for these games without having to spend anything extra! Of course, the idea is to get Switch users to try a game they might not have otherwise, and potentially convince them to make a purchase. To that end, all three of these games will be getting discounts this week, allowing users to pick them up for a lower cost of entry. The following discounts will go live this week:

All three of these games have been well-received by audiences and reviewers over the years. On Steam, A Little to the Left currently holds a “very positive” rating, Cursed to Golf has a “mostly positive,” while Vampire Survivors holds the rare “extremely positive” designation. Basically, there’s a pretty good chance Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will find something that appeals to them out of this batch of games.

The timing on this Vampire Survivors trial couldn’t be better! Those that decide to purchase the game following the trial’s conclusion will be happy to know that new DLC will be released on October 31st, offering a new collaboration. The collaboration will feature a ton of new content based on Konami’s Castlevania franchise, including new playable characters, weapons, a new location, and new music. That DLC will require a separate purchase, but for those that end up liking the game enough to buy extra content, it should be worth it.

Are you planning to check out any of these free game trials? Have you been looking for an excuse to try one or all of these games? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch Online Users Can Try Three Full Games For Free This Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s wild looking at the fall 2024 television season and seeing both Marvel and DC shows getting acclaim as they enter their respective back halves. HBO’s The Penguin is getting phrases like “best of the year,” and “Emmy contender” thrown around; meanwhile, Agatha All Along is the dark horse breakout that many Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are pleasantly surprised to be enjoying so much. As the discourse about both series flows, there is one thing that is true about both of them, collectively: they are performance-driven shows, built on two very talented lead actors.

And with their respective levels of success and/or acclaim, Agatha All Along and The Penguin are proving that some new-age theories about entertainment are dead wrong, and the old ways are still true: franchises are built primarily on star power, not necessarily just the power of IP.

Let’s just step back and look at this: The Penguin and Agatha All Along were initially met with overwhelming skepticism. The question of why either show needs to exist was asked often and repeatedly, with the only real answer being the strength of the performances of Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/Penguin in The Batman, and Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness in WandaVision. That didn’t seem like enough to justify spinoff series for two minor characters – but both Penguin and Agatha have been wise to take those central performances as foundations, and build on them with entire ensembles of acting talent.

Penguin is giving Sofia Falcone actress Cristin Milioti the breakout she’s long deserved, and all but locking her for the Emmys next year; it’s also earning praise for Rhenzy Feliz, a young actor who has been trying to break through in projects like Marvel’s Runaways. Agatha All Along is both reminding fans that Aubrey Plaza is a top-tier talent while breaking in new Marvel franchise talent like actor Joe Locke – who is just now breaking out with the reveal that he’s Scarlet Witch’s son Billy Maximoff, the magical Young Avenger known as Wiccan. Those standout supporting actors are also bolstered by many talented veteran actors, with a list that includes the likes of Clancy Brown, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mark Strong, and Michael Kelly for Penguin, and Debra Jo Rupp, Patti LuPone, Sasheer Zamata and Ali Ahn for Agatha All Along.

The buzz on both shows makes it undeniable that the individual performances and character interactions are taking precedence over any in-universe ties, crossovers, or cameos. Now granted: by the time Penguin and Agatha both come to an end, one or both shows may get the biggest signal boost from some kind of late-game crossover or game-changing reveal for the franchise. Yet it feels like Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc and Agtha All Along showrunner Jac Schaeffer (no dots to connect there…) are much more interested in focusing on complex and layered characters, created by actors who have the talent to deliver on them.

Marvel Studios and DC Studios are hopefully taking note that the old star-driven franchise model isn’t yet as dead as many declared it to be. Loyalty to an actor and their performance as a character will get audiences to engage with even the most unlikely IP concepts. Farrell and Hahn’s now-proven ability to go from supporting roles to carrying shows also proves that no casting should be taken frivolously, as any breakout performance is potentially a new spinoff project of some kind. For the actors, it should be well-earned validation (and future leverage) that the craft is still a valuable commodity.

The Penguin airs Sunday nights on HBO and streams on Max. Agatha All Along streams on Disney+.

The post The Penguin & All Along Prove Superhero Franchises Are Driven By Actors, Not IP appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Celebrated concept artist Alex Ries, who has been designing creatures and aliens from  Subnautica: Below Zero to the denizens of the hollow earth in Godzilla X Kong: The New Kingdom, just launched a crowdfunding campaign for a coffee table art book, Other Worlds: The Art of Alex Ries. Besides creatures from fantastical alternate versions of Earth, many of his creations hail from deep space, so you’ll also get a look behind the curtain at films like Warriors of the Future and the worldbuilding of The Birrin Saga. Incorporating real-life animals into fantastical designs, Ries is a master of creating bizarre creatures that look like they could actually exist, because they come from a place of informed speculative biology.

Spike Trotman’s Iron Circus Comics is returning to Kickstarter to publish Other Worlds: The Art of Alex Ries, which marks the first ever collection of personal and professional artworks by Ries, featuring iconic art from Subnautica: Below Zero as well as many never-before published pieces. The 300+ page hardcover will include forewords by Jamie Beswarick and Greg Broadmore, and extensive commentary from the artist himself. Other Worlds: The Art of Alex Ries will be available via Kickstarter.

“This book is the culmination of decades of work, passing through traditional illustration, concept art and even sculpture,” Alex Ries said in a statement. “I have filled it with works that have marked important creative moments not just in my professional but personal life. This is a culmination of my life as a creative person thus far that I will be able to actually hold, and the kind of book I always loved as a child: creatures, machines, and life from other worlds.”

“With a unique imagination, a timeless sense of wonder, and a detailed grounding in reality that gives it all life, Ries’s creatures and worlds light a lasting spark within the viewer,” added Iron Circus Founder C. Spike Trotman. 

Ever since his youth spent in the vast, rural expanse of South Eastern Australia, Ries has explored his sense of connection to the natural world and fascination with science. Explorations of the diversity of life on Earth, the possibilities of life beyond it, and the pressing themes of conflict and reconciliation between civilization and the natural world have come to define his work as an artist. Ries’ sublime work on Subnautica: Below Zero allowed him to use his knowledge of real-world marine life to create biologically plausible extraterrestrial creatures, while The Birrin Saga, his major personal work, explores the alien planet of Chriirah and tells the story of this world and its inhabitants. 

You can see a short, exclusive preview from the book below.

The post Iron Circus Comics Teams With Alex Ries for Other Worlds Coffee Table Book appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Professional wrestling is once again taking over Hollywood — next January Shudder will release a horror-themed wrestling film, Dark Match, which they recently acquired rights for. Wrestling legend Chris Jericho, who is no stranger to Hollywood films, is set to star. Jericho most recently appeared in the Terrifier threequel which released earlier this month.

Dark Match, which was written and directed by Lowell Dean, follows a small wrestling company which accepts a well-paying gig in a rather sketchy town — the backwoods. Per the synopsis, they do this “only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match.”

The film follows on the heels of several major pop culture wrestling-adjacent projects, like STARZ’s Heels starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig, A24’s Iron Claw biopic which tells the story of iconic wrestling royalty the Von Erichs, and Netflix’s recent Vince McMahon documentary.

Alongside Jericho, the project stars Ayisha Issa (Transplant), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead, Westworld), Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries), Michael Eklund (The Call) and Jonathan Cherry (Goon).

The poster pictured below features a variation of what appears to be a pink Cross of Lorraine. Above Issa, who is sporting a wicked bloody lip and bruised eye while holding chains, is a masked gunman. The rest of the crew look ready for battle, surrounded by what looks to be blood splatters.

The film is produced by John K. MacDonald, Don Depoe, Michael Feehan, Rhonda Baker and Michael Peterson. Executive producers include Eleanor Wiebe and Jericho. Additionally, cinematography was done by Karim Hussain, CSC.

Wrestling has been dipping its toes into the horror realm for decades, featuring characters like The Undertaker, manager Paul Bearer, Kane, Mankind and vampy stable The Brood among many others. They all found great success in a landscape that was transitioning away from the ways of the colorful babyfaces that ruled the 1980s. It paved the way for modern characters like AEW’s Abadon and Danhausen to pick up a ton of steam with fans because of their uniqueness.

Jericho isn’t the only full-time wrestling figure following in the footsteps of The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista. Drew McIntyre starred in The Killer’s Game alongside “The Animal.” CM Punk has two projects lined up that will likely keep him out of commission in WWE for some time and AEW’s MJF is taking the acting world by storm starring alongside Adam Sandler in the Happy Gilmore sequel.

Dark Match heads to Shudder on January 31st, 2025. In the meantime, get your spooky fix by checking out our list of the best horror movies that are currently available on Shudder!

The post Shudder Releasing Wrestling Themed Horror Film Starring Chris Jericho appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball does a lot of things well, but nothing can compare to its fusions. If you thought Super Saiyan Goku was the pinnacle of the series, well – think again. From Vegito to Gotenks, we have seen a number of top-tier fusions tackle Dragon Ball. Still, there are some combos we’ve yet to see, but Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is helping fulfill those requests. After all, the game is going viral thanks to a mod that brings Goku’s fusion with Gohan to life.

As you can see below, the fusion in question just hit up Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, and it has the fandom buzzing. All it took was a bit of initiative and a mod design to get things going. The mod simple ties together Goku and Gohan using a Potara Earring, and the resulting fusion must be seriously strong.

I mean, this is Goku we are talking about. The only person who can outdo the Saiyan is his son, so imagine the power level a fusion between Gohan and Goku would boast.

GOKU DESERVES A NEW FUSION WITH GOHAN

Thanks to Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, a Goku x Gohan fusion is now a reality. The fandom has been begging for this combination since fusions were introduced. Back in the day, Vegito took the Dragon Ball fandom by surprise, and the character’s power made fans look hard at Gohan. The half-Saiyan is insanely powerful, and Goku has said before that Gohan is the one who could surpass him in power. To be frank, fans have begged for Gohan to get a fusion period, but one with Goku would be extra special. But beyond this fan-made mod, Gohan has never been given a fusion.

Of course, lots of characters have been given fusions over the years. Shin and Kibito fused using the Potara Earrings ages ago, and other temporary merges have come to light. Xeno Trunks and Xeno Vegeta have paired up, and the same goes for Goku Black and Future Zamasu. Honestly, the list goes on and on when you factor in God Fusions and the like. But when it comes to the canon, well – Gohan and Goku have never buddied up for a fusion.

So, c’mon. Throw us a bone, Dragon Ball! Gohan deserves a canon fusion, and Goku is the perfect person for the fighter to pair up with. Dragon Ball Daima just made its debut, and no one would complain if the character made an appearance there.

DRAGON BALL: SPARKING ZERO IS A BONAFIDE HIT

For now, it seems Dragon Ball fans will have to turn to mods to bring Gohan’s fusion with Goku to life. The game has become a sandbox for the fandam to explore, and gamers are flocking to the game. After all, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is being hailed as the anime’s best game in nearly 20 years, and the sales prove as much.

After all, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero sold three million copies in its first 24 hours, and those numbers are only rising. From Steam to Twitch, Dragon Ball is taking over the gaming community with ease. Now, top-tier modders are getting in on the action, and their impressive projects are making dreams come true for fans.

If you are not familiar with Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, you can find the game easily enough. The title is available on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Plus, three DLC packs have been announced with the first one focusing on characters from Dragon Ball Daima.

What do you make of this Goku x Gohan fusion? Do you think Dragon Ball needs to make this fusion official? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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Naughty Dog has today released its first major update for The Last of Us Part II Remastered in nine months. At the start of the year, the latest version of The Last of Us Part II launched on PS5 with improved visuals, a new game mode, and a handful of additional features. Now, with the PS5 Pro console set to launch in mere weeks, Naughty Dog has let loose another patch that paves the way for this new PlayStation hardware.

Available to download now, patch version 1.2.0 for The Last of Us Part II Remastered is predominantly tied to PS5 Pro. Even if you don’t plan on picking up Sony’s new PS5 model, this update will make the game compatible with the upcoming console and brings the new PSSR resolution upgrades. Beyond this, Naughty Dog has also looked to resolve a handful of bugs. Most of these errors are related to the No Return game mode, while others are related to accessibility and audio options.

To get a full look at everything that has been done with this new update for The Last of Us Part II Remastered, you can find the full patch notes attached below.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered Update 1.2.0 Patch Notes

PlayStation 5 Pro

• New rendering mode added that takes advantage of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR)
  • New “Pro” mode renders at 1440p, with PSSR upscaling output to 4K, while maintaining a target of 60 fps*
  • Performance and Fidelity rendering modes are still available and provide smoother experience and high framerates compared to the original PS5*

*Enhanced features require a compatible display in addition to the PlayStation 5 Pro console.

General

• Fixed an issue where some trophies would not unlock after importing PS4 save data
• Fixed an issue where Abby’s torso could disappear when switching between her bonus skins

Gameplay

• [The Tunnels] Fixed an issue where Dina could be grabbed an additional time while escaping in the subway

No Return

• Fixed an issue where the stun bomb was not being accurately counted toward the player’s “Stun” stats
• Fixed an issue where some weapon kills were not accurately tracking toward player’s stats when performing stealth kills in between those weapon kills
• Fixed an issue where shiv kills were not being accurately counted toward the player’s “Shiv” stats

Audio

• [On Foot] Fixed an issue where music tracks would not progress as intended when speedrunning

Accessibility

• Added additional support so more PlayStation 5 console Accessibility settings are now reflected in-game
• [The Tunnels] Fixed an issue where code for the locked room could not be located using Enhanced Listen Mode
• [No Return] Fixed an issue where enemies specified by a Gambit were not properly identified when using High Contrast Mode

Localization

• Various minor localization fixes across multiple languages

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Face front, true believers: Stan Lee’s The Excelsiors, one of the visionary Marvel creator’s largest initial superhero ensembles, is being developed as a graphic novel with plans for TV and film adaptations from Kartoon Studios. The studio, which is the controlling partner of Stan Lee Universe, also announced Monday that Batman franchise executive producer Michael Uslan — who collaborated with Lee on the DC Comics series Just Imagine… — is co-developing and will produce the projects.

The Excelsiors, about a team of 10 original superheroes inspired by Lee’s signature “Excelsior” catchphrase, will launch as a graphic novel through online book streaming platform Legible Comics, with concurrent development for television and film adaptations.

Kartoon announced its partnership with Legible in 2023 when the company formed Stan Lee Comics, a line of digital and print comic books based on never-before-released stories and characters created by Lee, who died at age 95 in 2018.

“Stan was incredibly proud of The Excelsiors, and he was proud to have his eponymous ‘namesake’ signature, developed by his friend and collaborator, Michael Uslan,” said Andy Heyward, Kartoon Studios CEO. “Stan took all his storytelling and character development skills, which he developed over the years at Marvel Comics, and incorporated them into The Excelsiors.”

Added Uslan, “Stan always told me that the most exciting superheroes could only meet their potential if matched by equally worthy and interesting supervillains. We expect to do Stan justice by not only having extraordinary superheroes but extraordinarily interesting supervillains. This was Stan’s baby, and I fully understand the gravity of overseeing this team to carry forth his vision. My son David, who also worked closely with Stan and myself, will help create this universe. Our north star is to write these books like Stan is looking over our shoulders.”

The Excelsiors features a team of ten original superheroes working for Amaz-Ing Tech LLC, a giant multi-national corporation in the near future, where global corporations, not governments, rule the world. They range from X-Otic, a doctor who extracted super powers from roots and plants she cultivated as a naturalist, to X-T: The only member of The Excelsiors, who is an actual extraterrestrial. (He is the great-grandson of the aliens who crash-landed near Roswell’s Area 57 in the 1960’s. He is an alien by birth, raised in utter secrecy by America’s scientists and psychologists who have tried to bring a human element to his nurturing and upbringing.)

Among the others are X-Change, a shapeshifter, X-Hale, X-Tricate, X-Isle, and X-Ecutioner, an almost uncontrollable force of human nature gone amok, controlling wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, only unleashed in last resort emergencies, and otherwise, kept in a titanium self-containment unit.

Lee co-created many of Marvel’s most famous characters, including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and the superhero teams the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the X-Men. Kartoon Studios’ portfolio includes original animated content like the Arnold Schwarzenegger-voiced Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten on Kartoon Channel!, the Shaq’s Garage animated series starring Shaquille O’Neal, Rainbow Rangers, and the Netflix original animated series Llama Llama, featuring the voice of Jennifer Garner.

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Spawn, Todd McFarlane’s anti-hero from Hell, got a limited-edition 1:10 statue today, bringing to life McFarlane’s historic Spawn #1 cover artwork. Made of resin, this Spawn stands 10-inches tall and includes a hand-drawn number on its base. The statue is currently priced at $449.50, which is shockingly high, but there’s a good chance that it sells out anyway. If you want to get your hands on this, head to Entertainment Earth now.(free shipping and mint condition guarantee). You can also find it here on Amazon. It’s currently stated to arrive in April 2025. 

King Spawn Movie 

While we wait for the limited-edition statue to arrive, Spawn fans will also be looking forward to the new Spawn movie. Todd McFarlane has paired with Blumhouse Productions to bring us a full-length feature film based on the revitalized 2021 version of the character, King Spawn. 

King Spawn takes on the larger mythos of the war between heaven and hell, as Spawn is caught up in the prophecy of King Spawn and the throne of Hell. Spawn’s creator, Todd McFarlane, has been able to combine the larger mythos of the Spawn series (the throne of Hell, God Throne, and the Dead Zones, Wanda Blake’s death) into a grand epic tale. Al Simmons/Spawn has to decide where he stands in the war between ultimate good and evil, from a position of considerable power as a leader. 

Currently, Todd McFarlane has academy-award nominated writer Scott Silver as the lead on the project, promising fans that he’s taking this seriously and he wants movie-going audiences to pay attention. 

Todd also wants us to know that the actors we want will be there. McFarlane said to ComicBook. “We’re bringing on A-list people. Not just one, but multiple A-list people… What they’re not going to want is to do a cheap, low-budget movie with all of these big-name people on it. That’s not why they’re signing up. They’re not looking for a big extravaganza. But, they’re also not looking for an 8 million dollar horror movie budget.

We don’t know exactly when King Spawn will release, but Jason Blum had previously stated he hoped for 2025. So if that’s true, we won’t be waiting too long. With Spawn’s New York City background and fun heroes and villains making up its cast, this film is sure to be a good time.  Warner Bros. had previously released a Spawn movie in 1997, and it did fairly well, doubling its budget and earning $88 million. Unfortunately, it wasn’t well regarded by critics or audiences. With new information and a new cinema landscape, maybe now’s the time that Spawn will reach its international audience.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 hasn’t even released yet but many who intend to play on PS5 are already frustrated with the game. This past year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III drew major criticism for failing to include a Platinum trophy in its trophy list on PS5. While a Platinum was present on the PS4 version of MW3, the PS5 version didn’t feature one as its trophy list was instead merely designated as an add-on for the Call of Duty HQ app. Despite so much anger directed at this previous decision from Activision, it seems that the publisher hasn’t opted to address this criticism and will instead be doing the same thing with Black Ops 6.

Spotted by @PlayStationSize on X, the trophy list for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 today appeared on the backend of the PS Store. In total, BO6 is said to contain 44 trophies that players can unlock. Unfortunately, for those who do earn all 44 trophies, a final Platinum trophy won’t be then granted. It was confirmed that, like with Modern Warfare III, this lack of a Platinum is only present on PS5, as the PS4 version does have one.

Not long after this information came out, prospective Black Ops 6 players on the PS5 subreddit began airing their frustrations. Many hardcore PlayStation fans bemoaned that they wouldn’t be able to get yet another CoD Platinum trophy, which was a big motivator to keep playing each new Call of Duty entry.

“I just love, love how one of the only reasons I was still playing Call of Duty was to get that Plat and now I can’t,” said u/dream066 of the move. “Love how CoD ruins everything.”

Others simply used this as yet another point of annoyance with the Call of Duty HQ app. Rather than have each game be its own separate product, Activision introduced CoD HQ last year as a single launcher that houses games like Warzone, Modern Warfare II, and Modern Warfare III. In the wake of the app being introduced, fans have criticized it for being far too hefty in terms of storage while also generally being a headache to navigate. Now, for those on PlayStation, it seems clear that CoD HQ will lead to no further Platinum trophies coming about.

“I will rage endlessly about this sh*t,” said u/shawnisboring about Call of Duty HQ. “The COD experience is absolutely abysmal and remarkably anti-consumer.”

“I really wish Sony would just ban these launchers for multiple games,” added u/poklane. “Not only because of this but also because they’re just a giant waste of storage space.”

Although there are many Call of Duty fans on PlayStation who are angered by this move with Black Ops 6, it’s unlikely that Activision will look to change anything, especially in the short term. With BO6 launching this week, Activision’s main concern is surely to get the game up and running for millions of players around the globe. After this, it might start to look into rectifying issues like this further down the line. Still, even if a Platinum trophy on PS5 does come back to Call of Duty, it’s more likely to be seen with the 2025 entry in the series rather than BO6.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will launch later this week on October 25th and will come to PS5 and PS4 in addition to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

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Typically, November 2024 is packed full of game releases. November 2024 is bit of an outlier in this regard. While there are some promising PS5 games releasing next month, there aren’t as many as you’d expect. How this happened, who knows, but even in a peculiarly slow month there are still plenty of PS5 games for PlayStation fans to check out.

Headlining the PS5 games releasing on the PlayStation Store and elsewhere next month is a new LEGO game, the return of a JRPG classic, and a bizarre new game from the creator of series such as Siren, Gravity Rush, and Silent Hill.

LEGO Horizon Adventures

About: In a far future, where giant mechanized beasts roam a landscape reclaimed by nature and humans live in primitive tribes, an ancient evil seeks to destroy the world… Join hunter Aloy as she leads a colorful crew of heroes on a quest to save the meadows, forests, and mountains of Earth from a man called Helis, who leads a gang of sunworshippers that follow an Ancient Evil shrouded in mystery.

Release Date: November 14

Slitterhead

About: Set in the densely cluttered streets of Kowlong, filled with obscurity and chaos, this battle action-adventure game casts players as the “Hyoki,” an entity devoid of memory and physical form. His only motive is to eradicate the monstrous beings known as “Slitterheads” crawling around the city, disguising themselves as humans. Roaming the vibrant neon-lit cityscape, Hyoki must seek out allies among humans known as “Rarities,” infiltrate and track dangerous organizations, and engage in battles harnessing the power of blood. As the suspenseful drama unfolds, delve into the mystery behind Hyoki’s existence and the appearance of the Slitterheads.

Release Date: November 8

Planet Coaster 2

About: Dive into the thrilling world of Planet Coaster 2! Construct the theme park of your dreams with an intuitive piece-by-piece building system, as you meticulously craft and customize every aspect of your park like never before, down to the smallest detail. From towering rollercoasters to spectacular twisting water slides, let your imagination reach new heights to delight and thrill your guests.

Release Date: November 6

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

About: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy— the first three games of the mainline Dragon Quest series. Featuring vibrant HD-2D graphics, new and modernized features, and a refined narrative, players are invited to set out on an epic fantasy adventure to save the world from a dark evil.

Release Date: November 14

The Rise of the Golden Idol

About: The award-winning detective saga returns. Uncover the truth behind 15 strange cases of crime, death, and depravity in the 1970s. The world has changed dramatically—the sins of humanity have not.

Release Date: November 12

Metro Awakening

About: Crafted by series creator Dmitry Glukhovsky, this standalone prequel to Metro 2033 follows Serdar, a doctor braving the treacherous tunnels in search of his missing wife. As his sanity is pushed to the limit, Serdar confronts the edge between life and death, ultimately awakening as Khan, the legendary mystic figure whose wisdom and understanding of the tunnels’ supernatural forces will echo through time, becoming the spiritual guide shaping the fate of those who dwell in the Metro depths.

Release Date: November 7

Path of Exile II

About: Path of Exile 2 is a next generation free-to-play Action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, featuring co-op for up to six players. Path of Exile 2 takes place in the land of Wraeclast, a dark continent populated by unique cultures, ancient secrets, and monstrous dangers. A sinister threat, long thought destroyed, has begun creeping back on the edge of civilisation, driving people mad and sickening the land with Corruption.

Release Date: November 15 (Early Access)

Nine Sols

About: Nine Sols is a lore rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer featuring Sekiro-inspired deflection focused combat. Embark on a journey of Asian fantasy, explore the land once home to an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero’s quest to slay the 9 Sols, formidable rulers of this forsaken realm.

Release Date: November 26

Empire of Ants

About: Empire of the Ants immerses players in a magnificently microscopic forest ecosystem as 103,683rd, an ant sworn to protect their colony no matter the cost. In Empire of the Ants, use every move to your advantage on the path to world domination. Strategy, exploration, conflict, and alliances with local wildlife species will be essential for your colony’s survival.

Release Date: November 7

Towers of Aghasba

About: Decades after the Shimu people were forced to flee their homeland due to the invasion of a mysterious force known as the Withered, the Shimu have returned to reclaim their rightful home: the fantastical island of AGHASBA. As junior architect, it’s your job to rebuild the villages of your once-mighty civilization as well as nurse Aghasba’s once-thriving ecosystems back to life.

Release Date: November TBA (Early Access)

Honorable Mentions –

• Neon Blood
• Behemoth
• Farming Simulator 25

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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been renewed for a second season, even before the first season premiered. The upcoming series is one of many Star Trek projects at Paramount+, joining the likes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Section 31. Star Trek held a panel at New York Comic Con over the weekend, where a host of announcements were made. One of those announcements was for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 2, as well as the addition of She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany as a recurring special guest star during its first season.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is currently in production in Toronto. Executive producer and co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman made a surprise appearance during the Star Trek Universe panel at NYCC when a livestream from the Toronto set was shown to the audience. Kurtzman announced Starfleet Academy being greenlit for a second season alongside cast members including Sandro Rosta, Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané, and Zoë Steiner.

The series will follow a new class of Starfleet cadets who all have the dream of becoming a part of the decorated Starfleet officers. They will navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves, and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself, so it sounds like there will be plenty of action and drama for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Before portraying Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany was known for her breakout performance in Orphan Black. “I’ve had the incredible privilege of being able to direct her, and I can tell you that she is such a genius… she is just incredible,” Alex Kurtzman said about Maslany. “She has been just an amazing addition to the cast.”

It can always be a tricky proposition to introduce fans to a whole new group of characters within an established franchise, but it shouldn’t be something that keeps viewers away from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. It boasts an impressive cast list including the recently-added Kerrice Brooks (My Old Ass), Bella Shepard (Wolf Pack), and George Hawkins (Tell Me Everything), who all play cadets at Starfleet Academy. They join previously announced cast members, Holly Hunter, playing a Starfleet captain and current chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and Paul Giamatti, playing Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1’s villain.

Are you excited for Tatiana Maslany in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy? Let us know your thoughts on social media @ComicBook!

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One Piece has been around for decades, and in that time, the anime has done a lot. We have seen Monkey D. Luffy overcome the most intense obstacles on his journey to become the pirate king. From movies to specials, One Piece has done it all, and now it has a new project in the works. This fall, One Piece will begin its remaster of the Fish-Man Island arc, but the new anime was just hit by a delay.

Yes, that is right. Even series as big as One Piece can be delayed. The team at Toei Animation confirmed the delay earlier today, so One Piece fans can expect to revisit Fish-Man Island in early November.

ONE PIECE WAYLAYS ITS NEW PROJECT FOR THE MLB

“The first episode of One Piece: Special Edit – Fish-Man Island arc scheduled for October 27th has been delayed due to the live broadcasting of the MLB World Series,” the One Piece crew shared. “We apologize to everyone who was looking forward to the event. The episode is now scheduled for November 3rd. Please make sure to tune in.”

As you can see, we have Major League Baseball to thank for the delay. The Yankees and the Dodgers may be the only powers alive that can cause One Piece to push back a release date. After all, the MLB World Series has six games scheduled, and the first will go live on October 25th. However, the big problem comes with Game 2 on October 26th. When you account for the time difference with Japan, the game is airing during One Piece’s slot overseas. So rather than air the game on a delay, One Piece is moving.

And if you are wondering why the MLB World Series is so powerful, well – Japan really loves baseball. The game is considered a staple in Japan, and to make things more pressing, we have Shohei Ohtani to consider. The breakout athlete hails from Japan, and Ohtani is a designated hitter for the Dodgers. His fanbase in Japan is massive, so interest in the MLB World Series is higher than ever. So when push comes to shove, Ohtani vs Luffy has a clear winner when the World Series is involved.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE FISH-MAN ISLAND REMASTER?

Thankfully, the new anime will not have fans waiting long. One Piece will bring the remaster to life on November 3rd, and we have already been shown a sneak peek at the project. The Fish-Man Island remake will begin at the arc’s start, so fans will get to visit Sabaody soon. The island is where the Straw Hat crew reunited after their time away training. The gang will have new abilities to show off when its members reunite, and of course, Luffy’s team runs into trouble along the way.

The Fish-Man Island arc marks a turning point for the anime, so fans are very eager to see how its facelift looks. From new Dolby sound to updates visuals and color filters, One Piece is pulling out all the stops for this remaster. The Fish-Man Island arc is ready to channel the aesthetic of the Wano Country saga, so fans better brace themselves for the stylish makeover. Of course, the original version of the Fish-Man Island arc is still available to watch. The One Piece arc, which first hit television in 2011, can be streamed over on Hulu and Crunchyroll.

What do you make of this latest One Piece project? Are you excited to check out the remaster? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post One Piece Makes Last-Minute Delay to Its New Anime (and Here’s Why) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol episode 4. “Who came back?” That was the question that Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) asked Carol (Melissa McBride) when his best friend connected with him over the radio to tell him that someone or something “came back” just before Daryl went missing in Freeport, Maine. But then the connection was lost, and Daryl didn’t get an answer to his question before he was transported halfway around the world to France on a cargo ship.

After Carol tracked down Daryl, following his trail from Maine to France, Sunday’s “La Paradis Pour Toi” episode finally reunited the duo for the first time since The Walking Dead series finale in 2022. The pair physically reconnected during an attack on the Nest, then emotionally reconnected during a trek through the French countryside.

“You said on the radio that time someone came back. Who was it?” Daryl asked. Carol then revealed “it wasn’t a person, it was a feeling.”

After settling at the Commonwealth community in Ohio, and then watching Daryl ride off on his bike, “Everything at Commonwealth got so quiet,” she said. “All that old stuff came back like ghosts. So I got out of there, and I was worried about you.” Carol also name-dropped Connie (Lauren Ridloff) and Judith Grimes (Cailey Fleming), telling Daryl, “She didn’t want me to go. Part of her knew I had to if there was a chance I could find you.”

It’s not unlike Daryl’s reason for leaving the Commonwealth: He told Judith that he would keep an eye out for her parents, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira), while out on the road. Rick and Michonne eventually found their way back to each other and returned home in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, placing the events of Daryl Dixon and The Book of Carol before that series.

“I always sort of took it as maybe that Rick had come back, and that it was Rick’s return that sort of triggered or reignited some of that trauma,” series executive producer Greg Nicotero told ComicBook about Carol’s visions of her dead daughter, Sophia. “And it’s interesting, because you would have thought that she had sort of dealt with that trauma already after so many years. So it definitely had to have been something that kind of reignited it.”

“That’s one thing that I had talked to Melissa about: Maybe it’s actually the fact that she’s searching for Daryl, just like Daryl was searching for Sophia,” Nicotero added. “And that could have sort of brought a lot of that back to the surface because of the sense of loss that she was feeling and the desperation to find him. She had the desperation to find Sophia.”

New episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 air Sundays on AMC and AMC+. Stay tuned to ComicBook/TWD and ComicBook TWD on Facebook for more Walking Dead Universe coverage.

The post The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Reveals “Who Came Back,” Answering a Burning Carol Question appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has cast actor Rhys Darby as another legacy character from the Star Trek Universe – but who is it? The creators of Strange New Worlds got Star Trek fans wondering during the franchise’s panel at New York Comic-Con, where it was announced that Darby will have a guest-starring role in Season 3. Darby is best known for his role as Stede Bonnet in the pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death, as well as playing Nigel in the Jumanji reboot films. He also has a long list of voice-acting roles in some popular gaming and animated series (The Venture Bros., We Bare Bears, The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, SpongeBob, etc).

One early theory is that Darby (50) could guest star as George Samuel Kirk Sr., the father of James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) and “Sam” Kirk (Dan Jeannotte). The Kirk brothers have already appeared in Strange New Worlds, with Sam appearing first in Season 1, before James (future captain of the USS Enterprise) appeared at the end of the first season, becoming a regular cast member in Season 2.

The only onscreen appearance of George Kirk Sr. was in J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek (2009), which used the character as the catalyst for a major timeline change, creating Star Trek’s “Kelvin Timeline” in which Abrams’ films take place. The “Prime Timeline” of the Star Trek franchise has yet to explore George Kirk’s character. We know that his total devotion to Starfleet and its mission took him away from his wife and sons quite often – leading to James, in particular, having conflicted feelings about his father choosing exploration and aiding strangers over his own family. Darby has demonstrated that he can nail the kind of comedy-drama line that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds revels in; an episode of Kirk family drama would also be the kind of Star Trek canon expansion that the series has excelled at.

As always, however, fans should hold on to any casting theories loosely, as there are literally a dozen characters from classic Star Trek: TOS episodes and lore that Strange New Worlds could be refitting for the modern era.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun and Martin Quinn, along with special guest stars Paul Wesley and Carol Kane. The series is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Jenny Lumet, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Dana Horgan, Davy Perez, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers.

You can stream Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+.

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An eighth V/H/S movie is coming next year, in keeping with a tradition that has seen one come out each of the last four years just in time for Halloween. In fact, of the seven V/H/S movies already available to stream, five of them (the first, then four in a row) came out in October, with only V/H/S 2 and V/H/S: Viral getting “off-season” releases (in July and November, respectively). A new V/H/S movie is hardly surprising, of course; the franchise has really come into its own, becoming a mainstay in the direct-to-consumer horror space and earning pretty great reviews for most of the recent installments.

Bloody Disgusting reported the news. There are no details yet on who might be working on the new movie, which will drop in 2025. Shudder just released V/H/S Beyond, which featured some big names, including Justin Long, Mike Flanagan, and Kate Siegel.

Flanagan already made news once today, with a report that he will team with Stephen King for an eight-episode, prestige miniseries based on King’s novel Carrie.

The first V/H/S was released in 2012, and the franchise can be viewed as two distinct “eras.” The first era got a release on-demand and a brief theatrical window, and the second went straight to streaming. While reviews were mediocre, there were some bright spots, including contributions to the anthology by filmmaker Adam Wingard and Radio Silence, the duo behind Ready Or Not and Scream 6. The V/H/S premise is that the stories in the anthology play out on haunted, abandoned videocassettes, which can then possess the viewer.

We got one V/H/S movie a year for another two years after that, but after V/H/S Viral, the franchise took a few years off. Since returning in 2021 with V/H/S 94, the franchise has lived on Shudder rather than getting modest theatrical releases. It has become a genre mainstay, giving some of the best creators in horror a place to make creative shorts. In addition to the six sequels already released, the world of V/H/S has spawned a pair of spinoffs: Siren and Kids vs. Aliens — as well the V/H/S: Video Horror Shorts miniseries on Snapchat’s Snap Originals platform.

The franchise seems like a perfect fit for Shudder, a streaming service dedicated exclusively to horror. Not only does it help them build relationships with beloved and up-and-coming horror names, but the V/H/S movies have been among some of the most-watched movies on the app. On a larger streamer, the movies might get lost in the shuffle, but on Shudder, they’re always a key release with plenty of attention when they drop.

The post Shudder Confirms New Sequel to Keep Halloween Tradition Alive appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Physical copies of Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 are cheaper than they ever have been. Since its launch in the first half of 2023, the cost of RE4 has slowly been dropping lower and lower. In fact, since earlier this year, the game’s standard retail price has dropped to $40, with physical versions recently going all the way down to $30. Now, a new sale for Resident Evil 4 remake has kicked in on top of this price cut which makes it available for less than ever before.

As of this week, Resident Evil 4 has seen its price slashed further and is now being sold for only $19.99. While RE4 has been available for this amount digitally in the past, it has never been this low for physical copies across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One. As for the retailers taking part in this promotion, virtually all major storefronts including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, GameStop, and others should be selling Resident Evil 4 at this value.

This deal for Resident Evil 4 remake is also taking place in the midst of a larger sale tied to the entire Resident Evil franchise. Across the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop, Capcom has cut the cost of just about every game in the Resident Evil saga. Whether it be more recent entries like Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remake or older titles like Resident Evil and Resident Evil 0, this sale is offering up various games for as little as $5. So if you’re looking to dive into the Resident Evil series in a major way with Halloween drawing near, now is your chance to do so while also saving some money.

If you’re somehow not familiar with Resident Evil 4 and would like to learn more about Capcom’s latest RE remake, you can find its launch trailer and official synopsis below.

Resident Evil 4

“Resident Evil 4, 2005’s legendary survival horror, is brought fully up-to-date in this ground-up remake.

Six years after the events of Resident Evil 2, Raccoon City survivor Leon Kennedy has been dispatched to a secluded European village to investigate the disappearance of the US president’s daughter. What he discovers there is unlike anything he has faced before.

Every aspect of the classic game has been updated for the current generation, from modernized graphics and controls, to a reimagined storyline that may surprise even hardened fans of the original game.”

The post Resident Evil 4 Remake Drops to Lowest Price Yet Physically appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Batman and Robin won’t make their debut in the new DC Universe until The Brave and the Bold, but the dynamic duo are already filling out their rogues’ gallery. DC Studios dropped the new Creature Commandos trailer during its New York Comic Con panel on Saturday, and in it, fans got their first look at the shape-shifting mud-monster Clayface in the DCU. The footage also revealed a glimpse of a second Batman villain: Gotham City crime boss Rupert Thorne, who is tied to the origin of another member of Batman’s rogue’s gallery, the radioactive Dr. Phosphorus (voiced by Alan Tudyk).

DC Studios co-chief James Gunn announced that Benjamin Byron Davis will be voicing Rupert Thorne in Creature Commandos, the seven-episode Max Original adult animated series written and executive produced by Gunn. The actor, who is best known for his role as the gang leader Dutch van der Linde in the Red Dead Redemption video games, also appeared in Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the Gunn-produced The Miracle of Phil and The Belko Experiment.

Davis joins just-announced cast members Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), and Linda Cardellini (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) in undisclosed roles. Creature Commandos is the first series set in the new DCU that will continue with Gunn’s live-action Superman movie in 2025.

Thorne first appeared alongside the atomic-powered supervillain in 1977’s Detective Comics #469, which introduced the character as corrupt city council chairman Boss Rupert Thorne — one of the most powerful men in Gotham City. Dr. Phosphorus’ origin story revealed he was once Dr. Alex Sartorius, who was convinced to sink his life savings into Thorne’s power plant and was turned into living phosphorus when he was exposed to the reactor core’s radioactive sand.

Blaming the council for his transformation, he irradiated the Gotham reservoir, and Batman felt Dr. Phosphorus’ burning touch for the first time when the Dark Knight tracked down the combustible culprit who poisoned the city’s water supply. After a run for Mayor of Gotham City, Thorne is imprisoned in Blackgate Penitentiary when Batman saves him from a vengeful Dr. Phosphorus.

Andy Muschietti (The Flash) is attached to direct The Brave and the Bold, described as an “unusual father-son story inspired by Grant Morrison’s comic series” that introduced the Damian Wayne Robin as the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. The movie, which is separate from The Batman film saga starring Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight, is also set to include other members of the extended Bat-family.

DC Studios’ Creature Commandos — featuring the voices of Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, Indira Varma as The Bride, David Harbour as Frankenstein, Tudyk as Dr. Phosphorus, and Sean Gunn as Weasel and GI Robot — is streaming December 5 on Max.

The post The New DCU Casts Another Batman Villain appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The recent Pokemon leaks have revealed a treasure trove of information about unannounced games, including some that won’t be seeing the light of day. The X/Twitter account Centro Leaks has been sharing images and video from many of these games, including a new one today that was under the working title “Project Swallow.” The game was in development for mobile platforms, and seemed to take a page from Nintendo’s cult favorite WarioWare series. Basically, “Project Swallow” would have featured a number of short micro games that all centered around Pokemon themes. Like WarioWare, some of these micro games would have even used assets from past games.

In a post on X/Twitter by Centro Leaks, four different Pokemon themed micro games can be seen. The first of these features Machoke punching a crack in the moon. To successfully do so, the player has to tap the screen when a meter is within the red area. The second game involves moving lily pads to find the Poliwag hiding underneath. The third involves grabbing a Great Ball as it falls from out of the air. The fourth and final of these micro games uses assets from the champion battle in Pokemon Yellow. However, rather than sending their Pokemon into battle, the Rival tosses a Poke Ball which the trainer then has to hit with a baseball bat!

Videos of these micro games can be found in the post from Centro Leaks embedded below.

Mashing up WarioWare with Pokemon is pretty unexpected, but the results look fantastic! This could have made for a very fun game, and it’s unfortunate that The Pokemon Company decided to cancel this project. It’s unclear exactly why they decided to do so, but it’s possible the team couldn’t come up with enough micro game concepts to fill an entire title. At the end of the day, it’s nice fans at least got a chance to see what could have been. The video game industry is unfortunately inundated with promising games that never made it to market for one reason or another. Unless The Pokemon Company decides to offer some clarification on these leaks (which seems unlikely), we’ll all just have to speculate about what happened.

For anyone that sees these micro games and wants to try something similar, Nintendo’s WarioWare series should help you get your fix. The concept is basically identical, but without the Pokemon factor. The WarioWare series has featured callbacks to other Nintendo franchises, including Mario and Zelda, but Pokemon has never made the cut. Given the relationship between Nintendo and The Pokemon Company, it would be nice to see some of these finished micro games get a second chance at life in a future WarioWare game. That seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened!

Are you disappointed that this Pokemon game never ended up released? Do you think a mash-up of Pokemon and WarioWare would have found an audience? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Leak Reveals Cancelled Game That Looks Like WarioWare appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Stephen King and Mike Flanagan are continuing their successful collaboration with a new rendition of Carrie. King’s popular 1974 novel has been adapted several times for the big screen, most notably in 1976 by director Brian De Palma. The horror story follows teenager Carrie White as she has to put up with abuse from her classmates as well as her mother, and starts to exhibit telekinetic powers. As you can imagine with a property as old as Carrie, there have been numerous attempts to reboot the franchise. However, Flanagan isn’t going to let that stop him from turning Carrie into a streaming series.

Deadline reports director Mike Flanagan and author Stephen King are working on a Carrie series for Prime Video. The report also states the Amazon streaming series would be eight-episodes long. This follows the news that Stephen King’s Fairy Tale, which was once planned as a feature film from Jason Bourne director Paul Greengrass, will now be developed as a 10-episode TV series instead. Greengrass will co-write the scripts with J.H. Wyman, who will serve as showrunner. The Fairy Tale movie was originally going to be from Universal, but A24 will now be developing it as a series.

Salem’s Lot, a film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 bestselling novel of the same name, also made its Max debut this month, just in time for Halloween.

Another recent collaboration between Mike Flanagan and Stephen King is The Life of Chuck, an adaptation of King’s novella starring Tom Hiddleston, Nick Offerman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Hamill, and Karen Gillan. Flanagan has also put his spin on Doctor Sleep, and adaptation of King’s The Shining, and is working to develop The Dark Tower for a movie and TV show.

“That thing’s launching an oil tanker. But we’re working on,” Flanagan told The Hollywood Reporter in September. “It was stalled first by me moving from Netflix to Amazon and stalled again by the strikes. It’s progressing, and we’re further along than we’ve ever been on it. I do see feature components to some of the other stories, but the main storyline is ongoing series.”

If anyone can do Carrie justice as its own show, it would be Mike Flanagan. He’s one of the most prolific horror filmmakers of his generation and has already proved he has the skill make it happen, while also appeasing loyal fans.

The post Stephen King’s Carrie Getting TV Adaptation From Fan-Favorite Collaborator appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Those in charge at Double Fine Productions have acknowledged a desire to return to the world of Brutal Legend. Released in 2009, Brutal Legend is one of the most famous games that Double Fine has ever created. Set within a heavy-metal-inspired world, the title was a mix of action and real-time strategy genres and saw famed actor Jack Black portray the game’s central protagonist, Eddie Riggs. And while fifteen years have now passed without a sequel ever coming about, those at Double Fine are said to be wondering about such an endeavor.

In a recent post on Double Fine’s website, the topic of Brutal Legend 2 was touched on quite directly. Community manager Harper Jay acknowledged that fans continue to request Brutal Legend 2 in droves, as it’s the project that is asked about most often. Despite this, it was said plainly that a sequel isn’t happening at the moment, even if it has been talked about internally at Double Fine.

“It’s one of Double Fine’s best selling games and the one that people ask me about most. When is Brutal Legend 2!?” Jay wrote. “And while that’s not in the card for now, it’s certainly a universe many folks here at the studio wonder about returning to.”

Talking a bit more about what Brutal Legend 2 would even be, creative director Tim Schafer said that he would like to expand more on the RTS elements of the original game. While many fans would like a Brutal Legend sequel to be more akin to God of War, Schafer said what excites him the most is the thought of iterating on the most divisive aspect of the first installment.

“People ask about Brutal Legend 2 all the time and I’m torn about that,” Schafer said. “I know some of them want it with an evolution of the RTS stuff and some of them just want God of War with Eddie Riggs. I understand the logic of making the second option, but I’m much more excited about the first.”

For now, it’s still not known what Double Fine will look to do next. The studio’s most recent game, Psychonauts 2, was released in 2021 to critical acclaim. Since then, Double Fine has been laying relatively low but is surely well into development on its next project. While Brutal Legend 2 clearly won’t be happening any time soon, hopefully, Double Fine can one day satiate requests from fans and return with a sequel or spin-off.

The post Brutal Legend Developer Has Ideas for Brutal Legend 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

New York Comic-Con 2024 is in the books, but the pre-orders for the lineup of G.I. Joe Classified Series figures that Hasbro revealed at the show are about to get started. Retro Cardback Cobra Viper, Dr. Mindbender, and Craig “Rock ’N Roll” McConnel figures are set to launch in pre-order on October 22nd at 10am PT / 1pm ET.

At the launch time the G.I Joe figures will be available here at Entertainment Earth (free US shipping on orders $39+ for a limited time. Includes mint condition guarantee). The figures should also be available on Amazon, and links will be added to the list below after the launch. They’re expected to retail for $24.99 each.

• G.I. Joe Classified Retro Cardback Cobra Viper: Includes rifle and pistol accessories, swappable hands, a backpack, googles, and a footlocker.
• G.I. Joe Classified Dr. Mindbender: Includes weapon accessories and a footlocker.
• G.I. Joe Classified Craig “Rock ’N Roll” McConnel: Includes rifle and pistol accessories, a swappable hand, walkie talkie, ammo, a helmet, and a footlocker.
• You can keep up with more of Hasbro’s latest action figure releases right here.

What Is the Transformers / G.I. Joe Movie About?

Officially announced by Paramount Pictures earlier this year, Transformers / G.I. Joe will finally introduce a live-action crossover between the two iconic Hasbro multimedia lines. The prospect of the crossover was first teased in the ending of 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, Michael Bay, Tom DeSanto & Don Murphy are producing, while Steven Spielberg and Hasbro Entertainment are executive producers. A director for the film is not currently confirmed.

Speaking to Collider about Transformers One, franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirmed that the crossover movie with G.I. Joe would be the next live-action movie to come from the world of Transformers:

“Well, we’re going, again, subject to success, we’re going to do a sequel to this, and there will be an animated version, and it will exist completely separately to whatever we do live-action. The next live-action movie will be a crossover,” the producer said. “Where it will be particularly affected is the fact that we now know what these robots are capable of emotionally in a way. So we’re going to have to figure out how to create that room, that we can afford that, and create a story that you can take more advantage of that. So one of the things that I’m particularly interested in doing, and we’re still in the development phase, so nothing is by any means written in stone, but I think we need to do more now from the robot point of view in the live-action because that’s the only way you’re really going to get inside them.”

“Instead of them reacting to humans or reacting to the human plot, what is their drive, has to be part of that story now,” he explained. “So it’s going to be complicated because now the hardest thing about a lot of franchise movies is how many characters there are, and the more characters you try to manage, the harder it is to make a bunch of really good ones. You kind of got to keep going, keep it smaller, keep it smaller. So we’ll be in that process for a while where we’ll start with a bunch of Joes and a bunch of Transformers and I’ll say, regular humans, and then you’re going to do this. That’s kind of where we are right now, is trying to put the larger thing in place. The trick in this one, like we were talking about here, in trying to find that tone and balance is like, ‘Well, how much of the Joes do you want? And how much of the Transformers do you want?’”

The post NYCC 2024 G.I. Joe Classified Figure Pre-Orders Launch October 22nd appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s possible that no one wants to see a Happy Death Day 3 more than director Christopher Landon, with the filmmaker recently confirming he has written a treatment for the project, though hasn’t committed to writing a full script as the project hasn’t yet been confirmed. Fans have been asking Landon about the third entry, which was teased with a post-credits scene in Happy Death Day 2U, ever since 2019, and another promising tease is that Landon doesn’t get sick of all the love fans show him and even encourages audiences to keep showing their support. Despite fan enthusiasm for the series, the last entry wasn’t a major financial earner, which has prevented momentum from developing on a trilogy closer.

“I could say that I wrote a treatment. I didn’t write the script, because I wouldn’t write a script unless it was a sure thing,” Landon confirmed to ComicBook at New York Comic Con when asked about the status of the third entry. “Here’s the cool thing: It is a bigger movie, and it is not set on the same day as the previous two films. That’s the biggest spoiler I’ve put out there.”

As far as whether fans should stop pestering Landon about it, the filmmaker teased, “I don’t hate it at all. I love it, I’m all for it. I want people to keep asking because I feel like if people keep asking, we all might actually get it.”

The original movie was released in 2017, which followed Tree (Jessica Rothe) as she is stalked and killed on her birthday, only to wake up that morning and re-live the day’s events. Tree uses this unexpected opportunity to try to track down clues that could reveal who killed her, as she pieces together the clues over the course of dozens of deaths. After identifying and thwarting the killer, Happy Death Day 2U opened up the world to explore how Tree got caught in this time loop in the first place, while also hinting that this was just the beginning of an even bigger world.

Back in 2023, Landon had similarly teased how the upcoming movie wouldn’t be set on the same day, which means there’s not as much pressure to move forward on it like there was with the first sequel.

“I have a whole movie! It’s not even an idea. I pitched the entire movie to [Universal] and they loved it,” Landon confirmed to IndieWire last year. “That was the funny part. They were like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s so unexpected and so cool.’ It’s not dependent, it’s not set in the same day as the previous films, so it could be made now, or in two years or three years. It would still work. But the trickier thing, too, and in fairness to them, it’s a bigger idea than the previous two films, so it would be a more expensive movie.”

Not only is Landon hoping that the sequel will move forward, but star Rothe is just as excited, as she shared earlier this year how passionate she is about reviving Tree.

“Well, I can say [writer/director] Chris Landon has the whole thing figured out,” Rothe confirmed to Screen Geek. “We just need to wait for Blumhouse and Universal to get their ducks in a row. But my fingers are so crossed. I think Tree [Gelbman] deserves her third and final chapter to bring that incredible character and franchise to a close or a new beginning.”

Landon spoke with ComicBook ahead of the debut of the Shop Blumhouse store. Now you can shop from a treasure trove of exclusive Blumhouse merchandise. From collectibles to killer apparel, there is something for everyone to take home a piece of cinematic terror.

Stay tuned for updates on Happy Death Day 3.

Would you like to get a third film in the series? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

The post Happy Death Day Director Has Huge Update for Third Film appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Everything is exactly what it seems. The Wizards Beyond Waverly Place reboot is finally hitting Disney+ and Disney Channel on October 29th, reuniting Disney vets Selena Gomez and David Henrie who are reprising their roles as the beloved sibling duo Alex and Justin Russo, respectively.

In the series, meant to be a continuation of Wizards of Waverly Place which ran for five seasons from 2007-2012 on Disney Channel, Justin now has a family of his own. He lives a “normal” life with his wife Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) and two sons Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko). However, once something goes mysteriously awry at WizTech, a young, powerful wizard named Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) shows up at his door in need of training. Justin must embrace his past in order to save all of Wizard World.

David Henrie & Selena Gomez Want New Series To Be a “Big, Warm Hug”

During the Covid pandemic, Henrie and Gomez began teasing that they were working on a project together. Naturally, fans began speculating that it had to do with Wizards of Waverly Place, but that wasn’t the case.

Henrie told ComicBook during the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place press junket that their reminiscing conversations about the past eventually began to snowball into ideas for a show. From there, it was pitched and went into development with Disney where Henrie admits it stayed “for years.” The revival was officially announced in January.

“Yeah, I mean, honestly, we’ve been talking about our characters and what they were up to since the show ended. Like, whenever Selena would come over to hang out with me and my wife, we would be talking about the characters, just because we loved it. It was a great experience for us, and we had fun with that.

And as the years went on, it kind of just snowballed into a place where we went, ‘I think we got something here.’ I think we should do this in front of Disney. And we did. And then it went into years of development with Disney and that took time as well. But there was never like a, ‘I have an idea, let’s make a show!’ It really came from such an organic place and I hope people feel that love when they when they watch the show. Selena and I really wanted to make a show that would be a big, warm hug.”

The post David Henrie Reveals Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Took “Years” of Development (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When Godzilla Minus One hit theaters, no one could have seen just how big the movie would become. The project ushered in a new era for Toho as the Japanese company took Godzilla back to basics. With director Takashi Yamazaki at the helm, the movie has gone on to become one of the best in Godzilla’s history. Much of its success came on the back of its director, and now, it seems like Yamazaki is interested in revisiting the IP so long as he can remake a classic Godzilla film.

The confession comes from Yamazaki directly as the director appeared at New York Comic Con. It was there guests like Kaiju United got to learn more about movie monsters, and Yamazaki admitted he is interested in remaking Godzilla vs Hedorah.

TAKASHI YAMAZAKI WANTS TO TACKLE HEDORAH

“I think that for its time, Hedorah was a very cutting-edge kaiju. Thinking about the type of visual expression we can do with technology and how far it’s come today – I’m imagining how it would move, and I think that would be a really cool remake,” the director shared. And as you can imagine, the Godzilla fandom is now begging for Toho to greenlight such a movie for Yamazaki.

If you are not familiar with Hedorah, well – the monster is one of Godzilla‘s most famous. The character made their grand debut in 1971 with Godzilla vs Hedorah which Yoshimitsu Banno directed and co-wrote. Starring Akira Yamauchi and Toshio Shiba, the Toho film was moderately successful upon launch. As the years went by, critics began dubbing Godzilla vs Hedorah as one of the monster’s worst movies of all time. But these days, well – that sentiment has changed.

Just as Yamazaki noted, Godzilla vs Hedorah was ahead of its time in certain respects. From its take on environmentalism to its whacky action, the movie had a unique balance. Godzilla vs Hedorah could be serious in some places and then all-out in another. This tonal shift confused many in 1971, but these days, the fandom loves Godzilla vs Hedorah. From Adam Wingard to Roger Ebert, the film ranks as a personal favorite with Godzilla fans. And now, we know Yamazaki is also high on that list.

Given Hedorah’s history, the character is all but begging for a comeback. The monster embodies the worst of pollution, after all. In the ’70s, urban pollution was a big concern in Japan, and it is still a worrisome threat. To be frank, the state of global pollution makes Hedorah a great character for Godzilla to revive. The IP is at its best when it is timely and dealing with topics that feel relevant. Nothing could be more ominous to today’s society that pollution as things like climate change continue to threaten us. And given what we saw in Godzilla Minus One, Yamazaki could work magic with Hedorah.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR GODZILLA?

For now, the jury is out on whether Hedorah is eyeing a comeback. The monster may be a favorite with fans, but Toho is still navigating the waters after its latest film. Godzilla Minus One overcame all expectations with its debut and even won an Academy Award for the trouble. Toho wants to make sure its next Godzilla movie lives up to those standards, so here’s to hoping the team there is doing alright.

In the meantime, fans can look to the MonsterVerse for updates. The hit franchise brought Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire to life earlier this year, and a follow up is already in the works. With a movie slated for launch in 2027, the MonsterVerse is thriving on the big screen. And given the success of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the franchise’s television pursuits are looking just as good.

Do you want to see Yamazaki tackle Godzilla vs Hedorah? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Godzilla Minus One Director Is Down to Redo the Kaiju’s Best Film appeared first on ComicBook.com.