https://www.cbr.com From movies to comics, TV and beyond, CBR ranks, rates and curates everything from across the entertainment multiverse into the internet's most eclectic and informative lists. Mon, 16 Oct 2023 23:31:42 GMT en-US hourly 60 Critical Role is one of the top Dungeons & Dragons actual play shows in the world. Its mixture of high-quality storytelling, talented cast of players, and warm sense of humor have given it immense reach among D&D players and far beyond. However, it can be a daunting show to get into.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 23:31:42 GMT https://www.cbr.com/critical-role-new-listeners-tips/ Some anime characters are so charming that fans want to know as much about them as possible. It's helpful to have some extra identifying criteria to help paint a picture for fan works. Zodiac signs, especially, can say a lot about a character's personality.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 22:31:34 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-husbandos-birthdays-heights-zodiac-signs/ Since Disney acquired Marvel in 2009, the company has turned it into a multimedia franchise. This has had many benefits, including a renewed interest in the comic book exploits of heroes featured in the MCU.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 21:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-disney-variant-covers-ranked/ Most characters play fair in anime, and follow the rules of the established combat system. This leads to balanced fights where everyone has a chance to win, and the characters must rely on creative thinking and resourceful tactics to be victorious. There will always be rule breakers, however, who simply deploy overpowered and unfair attacks or skills to easily win.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 21:01:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/overpowered-anime-villain-attacks/ DC Comics pioneered the superhero, creating the first, and many would argue greatest, heroes of all time. These Golden Age originals were bold new creations. Early DC creators took inspiration from the world of pulp detective stories, sci-fi, fantasy, and more to bring them to life. Many of the origin tropes most associated with superheroes came from DC at this time, and creators working for the publisher have re-used them time and time again.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 20:01:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-overused-origin-tropes/ First love, second chances, or enemies who become lovers -- romance movies always find a way to make audiences feel butterflies with diverse love stories. Compelling romantic entanglements are essential in this genre, but mesmerizing love interests are central to creating a romance movie that will be remembered for decades.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:31:29 GMT https://www.cbr.com/iconic-romance-movie-love-interests/ Halloween is the perfect time for gamers to enjoy some social gaming sessions. Plenty of players enjoy horror games alone, delighting in the unease and fear they generate. However, many prefer to have company, whether for reassurance or to share the scares with others.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:10:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-multiplayer-halloween-games/ The isekai subgenre of Japanese anime has been soaring in popularity in recent years, and every anime season adds a few more titles to the isekai pool. Even if some anime fans feel burnt out by now, plenty more are eager for new isekai anime series to lose themselves in.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:46:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-isekai-on-crunchyroll/ The horror genre is able to be paired up with a wide variety of other film genres to create a movie that is more welcoming to a wider audience. Comedy and science fiction have proven to be quite compatible with horror, but another genre that has found success using horror elements is musicals. Broadway adaptations like Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Little Shop of Horrors along with other original horror movie musicals like Phantom of the Paradise have made their sinister stories told through songs accessible, and there are a few underrated movies that both horror and musical fans should add to their lists.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:31:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/horror-musicals-underrated/ The Guardians of the Universe chose their Green Lantern Corps members based on several requirements: those worthy must have strong wills and must possess the ability to overcome great fear. While the majority of Green Lantern members are heroes like Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner and John Stewart, the power rings have chosen several villains like Sinestro and Harley Quinn.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:20:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-best-villains-green-latern-rings-worthy/ Anime rivalries entrance fans with continuous tension. Their ongoing struggles to best each other drive many anime stories. In some anime rivalries, however, one party always outsmarts the other. Try as they might, the losing side can never seem to eclipse their rival.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:10:29 GMT https://www.cbr.com/10-anime-characters-who-always-outsmart-their-rival/ The Netflix docuseries Beckham took viewers by surprise, offering a candid, heartwarming, emotional look into the life of star English football (American soccer) player, model, and businessman David Beckham. The athlete has become a household name thanks to his prowess on the field, his chiseled good looks, and his marriage to a former Spice Girl.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:10:29 GMT https://www.cbr.com/celebrity-docuseries-watch-liked-beckham/ For the vast majority of the time, a horror film's success depends upon the quality of its score. A phenomenal horror score builds tension, adds layers to the narrative's suspense, and often evokes more fear than the imagery itself.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-horror-movie-original-scores-ranked/ Classic battle anime like Dragon Ball and Hunter X Hunter set a standard for complicated power systems that most modern anime have adopted. My Hero Academia and One Punch Man are prime examples of modern battle anime that lean heavily into the idea of superpowers and abilities. On the other hand, Demon Slayer tries something different by simplifying its power system.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:20:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/demon-slayer-tanjiro-water-breathing-techniques-forms-explained/ It's no secret that DC Comics have made Batman the centerpiece of their publishing strategy, through both miniseries and ongoing titles. Having been created in 1939, Batman was one of the company's first heroes. Over time, his story got reimagined and reinvented through multiple eras of comics. Many of these takes on Batman are more than overdue for a revisit.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:10:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-batman-miniseries-timeline-wishlist/ Video game characters come in many forms. Plenty of them are grizzled modern-day soldiers or futuristic space travelers. Others are superheroes, knights, adventurers, and any other number of archetypes. Some video games go for a darker or more gothic approach by having their protagonist be one of the living dead.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 16:20:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-living-dead-video-game-characters/ Unquestionably one of the most iconic Star Wars characters, Darth Vader has some of the best stories in the series even in the comic book space. It might not be the primary medium fans will think to look into the villain considering how strong the franchise's presence is on screen.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:50:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-dark-horse-marvel-best-darth-vader-comics/ Horror is one of the most iconic genres because there’s a film for every type of fan. It can blend other genres like comedy and drama, leaving room for a compelling scare. Fans can find something for almost everyone to get satisfying thrills among horror's different subgenres.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:23:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-horror-movies-of-all-time/ Makoto Yukimura's Vinland Saga is an acclaimed Viking epic across manga and anime, with the former providing some of the best artwork in the medium. The creator's storytelling and artistic talents are arguably in the same tier as Kentaro Miura's Berserk and Takehiko Inoue's Vagabond.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:21:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/vinland-saga-best-manga-panels/ The world is in an era with no shortage of movies to watch. Whether watching solo, with friends, or with a partner, there's something worth watching for every occasion, and plenty of streaming services offer immediate satisfaction. For those who like to view things with the entire family, there's an abundance of movies that have come out recently that are sure to win the hearts of everyone, from the kids to the parents, and possibly even the pets.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:45:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-kids-family-movies/ Doctor Doom may have debuted as a Fantastic Four villain, but he has repeatedly threatened the entire Marvel Universe, using his power and resources from Latveria to challenge Spider-Man and the Avengers, and gaining godlike powers in multiple Secret Wars events. If Doctor Doom crossed over into the DC Comics universe, which villains would he team up with?

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:40:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/doctor-doom-dc-villains-team-ups-wishlist/ The hit shonen anime One Piece is packed with a dazzling variety of characters who all have different powers, personalities, and goals, including the villains. Some of One Piece's villains seem evil or antagonistic just for the fun of it, such as Foxy the Silver Fox, and some are just following orders, like Rob Lucci. Meanwhile, the most conniving One Piece villains are those who coldly use underhanded, dishonest means to accomplish a particular goal.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sneaky-one-piece-villains/ From Metropolis to Avengers: Age of Ultron, robots are such a staple of movie-going that it's easy to forget they haven't always been around. The idea of automated machines doing work for us has existed for as long as civilization, but it wasn't until 1920 that Czech playwright Karel Čapek coined the word "robot" to describe a humanoid machine in a play called R.U.R.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:06:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-robot-movies-ranked/ Major character deaths and mass murders of entire communities are practically a tradition in horror anime. Having memorably gory kills plus a high casualty rate that doesn't spare named characters are surefire ways for a horror anime to gain fame or notoriety. Notable anime, however, went the extra mile.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/horror-anime-where-everyone-dies/ The Simpsons has produced some of the most remarkable pieces of television, taking animation into many bold and unexpected places. The animated sitcom has been surprising and delighting viewers for over 30 seasons. A recent Simpsons episode, "A Mid-Childhood Night's Dream," has teased the prospect of the show's cast being aged up. This has led to viewers sharing which storylines they believe to be the most groundbreaking.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 13:15:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-simpsons-most-groundbreaking-storylines/ Following the boom of streaming services in the last decade, viewers are often overwhelmed with options. Max, Netflix, and Hulu, among others, have dozens of incredible shows perfect for binge-watching. For those unfamiliar with the term, devouring an entire season or series in one sitting is what it means to binge-watch. Since most of these streaming sites release entire seasons or series at a time, binge-watching culture has become central to television.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 13:15:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/most-binge-worthy-tv-shows/ When it comes to magical classes in Dungeons & Dragons, it's hard to not immediately think of wizards. Intelligent spell casters who record their spells in spellbooks, wizards are among the most well-read adventurers in D&D. Wizards are characteristically glass canons who have low hit points and defenses but can dish out devastating damage through their spells. There are numerous wizard subclasses in D&D 5e, each focusing on a different style of magic.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:35:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-best-wizard-subclasses-in-dungeons-dragons-ranked/ Batman: The Animated Series earns its status as an all-time classic in part because of the sheer variety of tones and genres it touches. Beneath its distinctive film noir version of Gotham City, it explores all kinds of stories, from comedy to romance to gothic horror to science fiction. Yet, they're all still Batman stories, and its universe remains effortlessly cohesive.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:15:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-the-animated-series-best-halloween-episodes/ My Hero Academia is packed with terrific action scenes, but despite all the fighting, surprisingly few characters got themselves killed in the main story. My Hero Academia has generous plot armor for the heroes and villains alike, since pro heroes are supposed to capture villains and the heroes use the power of hope and friendship to survive anything the villains can throw at them. Still, some fatalities are inevitable, and a handful of characters have died on-screen in the My Hero Academia anime.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:16:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/every-death-in-mha/ The Penguin stars in his own ongoing comic series written by Tom King and illustrated by Rafael de Latorre. Three issues into his run, the Penguin is probably not the Batman villain that most DC readers expected to headline his own comic book. Surely, the Dark Knight's rogues gallery is full of foes who deserve the spotlight more.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:16:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-best-villains-deserve-comic-series-after-penguin/ There are many ways to write a villain in a Japanese anime series in terms of their personality and powers, and for some villains, those two things are closely intertwined. Antagonists such as Akaza in Demon Slayer and Muscular in My Hero Academia have brutish, strength-oriented techniques and an attitude to match, but other anime villains believe brains beat brawn, and that makes them even more dangerous and unpredictable.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:01:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sneaky-anime-villains/ The Pokemon anime is one of the longest-running and most successful anime in history, so it's no surprise it's got its fair share of memorable quotes. Despite how long the series has been continuously airing, the original anime still retains all the charm that made it a global phenomenon in the first place.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 22:30:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-original-pokemon-anime-quotes/ The most powerful anime characters are only as strong as their greatest weaknesses. Many of the strongest animated characters of all time are found in anime, but some of them have surprising or unusual vulnerabilities. Their heroics almost always shine through, but these strong characters falter when their weaknesses are exploited.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:45:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/strong-anime-characters-surprising-weakness/ The narrative game genre has exploded over the past decade, with developers exploring endless new storytelling techniques as the interactive medium matures. While there are hundreds of excellent story games for narratively-inclined players to enjoy, there are a few titles that stand out as being some of the most beautifully-written games the industry has ever seen.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:30:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/video-games-book-vibes/ The Justice League was formed by DC Comics in 1960 to unite seven of their greatest heroes in comics at the time, from Batman to Aquaman. In the over six decades since their creation, the team has expanded greatly, with a slew of unique rosters that assembled heroes from across the DCU. With such variety on the powerhouse team, countless heroes from across indie comics would also be great fits to serve on the JLA alongside Batman and Superman.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/justice-league-indie-comic-heroes-who-could-join/ There are many great mecha anime, as it is one of the oldest subgenres in anime, but its history also means that there is a great variety within the subgenre. As might be obvious, many of these are nowhere near scientifically accurate, but they don't let realism get in the way of telling a good story.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-least-scientifically-accurate-mecha-anime/ One of the most important characters in all of Dragon Ball, Piccolo has filled many roles throughout the series' history. From villain and arch-rival to hero and father figure, and despite how much his character has changed, he still remains the same stoic icon of strength that made him so popular from the start.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dbz-piccolo-most-iconic-scenes/ Digimon may have done a lot of things right since the franchise's debut in the '90s. However, it fell a little short of its female representation. Even though every Digimon season has a female protagonist, most of them don't have an arc as strong as the franchise's iconic goggled heroes.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 20:20:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/digimon-greatest-female-leads/ Universally acknowledged as the unequivocal master of horror manga, Junji Ito is beloved worldwide for his exceptional ability to capture the most raw and unimaginable fears through art. His most notable works — Uzumaki, Tomie, and Gyo — as well as countless other short stories and series, have developed an unprecedented cult following that spreads beyond fans of horror media. The art Ito creates can be appallingly disquieting and even downright disturbing due to the mangaka's hyper-detailed, unsettling art style and uncanny ability to evoke the readers' primal fears.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:51:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/junji-ito-uzumaki-creator-trivia-fun-facts/ Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition campaigns come in all shapes and sizes. While some are large-scale epics of whimsy that span pastoral landscapes, others may be smaller-scale, tense mysteries within a fantastical city. Horror is a very popular spin for a D&D 5e campaign that feels different from anything else.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:40:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-monsters-perfect-for-horror-campaign/ Bleach is a long-running shonen anime series with a huge cast of characters. This includes Soul Reapers, humans like protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, the villainous Arrancars, and the entire Quincy tribe as well. Plenty of the best Bleach characters have survived throughout the anime to see action once again, but not everyone will survive. For the sake of tension, stakes, and certain character arcs, some Bleach characters must die.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/every-death-in-bleach/ The 2000s were all about recovering from Y2K, wearing low-rise jeans and cargo pants, and listening to mixed CDs, though those eventually got loaded onto the new iPod. On television, reality TV got its beginning with the premiere of Survivor on May 31, 2000, and film franchises like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean ruled the box office.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/15-2000s-movies-to-watch/ Over the hero's sixty-one-year publishing history, Spider-Man has demonstrated an astounding capacity for genre-hopping. The misfortune marring Peter Parker's life coupled with his unimpeachable quippy nature means the Web-Slinger is just as home in a romping comedy as he is in a heartbreaking tragedy.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:20:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-spider-man-comics-from-other-genres/ The Final Girl trope has been around since the slasher films of the 1970s, with the official term being coined by Carol J. Clover in her 1992 book Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film. It has been used to describe the sole surviving female character at the end of a horror movie. The names Laurie Strode (Halloween), Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare on Elm Street), and Sidney Prescott (Scream) are all iconic to the horror genre and are just some of the many women who have either escaped from or defeated the movie's main villain. This begs the question, "what about the Final Boys?"

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 17:30:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-final-boys-horror/ Comics are an amazing synthesis of art and writing. The creators who work on comics aren't in it for the money, as the vast majority of creators never make enough money to be creators full-time. The ones who are lucky enough to get to Marvel or DC have made it through an industry that is known for chewing up and spitting out creators. Artists have long been the superstars of the comic world, as their work is the first thing people see when they buy a comic.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 17:10:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-artists-who-clearly-adore-what-they-draw/ Fantasy show fans have enjoyed new seasons of hit shows throughout 2023, including The Witcher, Good Omens, and The Wheel of Time. These shows have some exceptional female role models, such as young Ciri in The Witcher and Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones. However, many female characters are poorly written in fantasy TV shows, or have miserable arcs that don't serve them.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 17:10:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/unappreciated-female-fantasy-characters/ Falling in love can make anyone a little bit awkward. Some anime love interests get so beside themselves that they're a total tripping ball of nerves. The most awkward love interests are full-on yandere characters who lose their composure entirely and get whiny and territorial about the person they're crushing on.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 16:50:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/most-awkward-shojo-love-interests-ranked/ When it comes to slasher villains like Jason Vorhees or Michael Myers, what precedes their reputation is the mask they wear on their faces. While the hockey mask and white cast of William Shatner's face are indeed iconic, most would not consider them to be all that creepy, at least when they are not on the face of their respective owners. In fact, the horror genre is home to many a masked villain, some wearing masks that are far creepier than the likes of Ghostface and Hannibal Lecter.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 16:30:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/creepiest-horror-movie-masks/ LEGO is no stranger to capitalizing on the biggest names in pop culture, including video games. The toy company has impressed gamers with sets based on Mario and most recently Animal Crossing. While these moves have caused no shortage of excitement among Nintendo fans, LEGO has dabbled with other famous video games too.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 16:20:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/vg-franchises-worthy-of-lego-sets/ In 1983, DC acquired Charlton comics. With it, they also acquired their catalog of superhero characters, many created by Steve Ditko. Alan Moore (an admirer of Ditko despite their polar opposite politics), saw an opportunity to use these characters for a story he'd been eager to write: a superhero murder mystery.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 15:50:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/watchmen-charlton-comics-inspiration-explained/ The Star Wars universe was riddled with cleverly crafted characters that stood out through their individualistic abilities and traits. With his various Jedi, Sith and outlaws, George Lucas did his absolute best in creating a unique and timeless experience for every Star Wars fans. With new Star Wars series such as Ahsoka and Tales of the Jedi being released, Star Wars continued to expand its huge galaxy.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 15:30:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-iconic-catchphrase/ An adaptation of Keisuke Itagaki's Baki the Grappler manga and a continuation of the 2001 series by Group TAC, Netflix's Baki debuted its second season on June 4, 2020. While the first season of the streaming service's anime covered the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc, a brutal saga that saw five high-profile criminals head to Japan in hope of tasting defeat, the second season revolves around a Chinese martial arts tournament that attracts the world's strongest fighters.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 15:15:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/netflix-baki-anime-series-similar-recommendations/ One of the most iconic aspects of the John Wick Universe is the series of brutal kills that have unfolded in four movies. Sure, fans enjoy the shoot-'em-up style that nods to '90s action flicks. But amid all that gun-fu, those older films with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, etc. weren't excessive in terms of graphic violence and gore.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 15:10:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-continentals-brutal-kills-ranked/ Horror is one of the most difficult genres to perform effectively. Fear is subjective. Where some people may recoil at the sight of body horror and gore, others may squirm at the feeling of isolation and dread. Translating fear and horror into the video game medium is no easy feat; video games are multisensory experiences that put players in positions otherwise impossible for cinema and books.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 15:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-retro-horror-games/ Koyoharu Gotouge's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is a smash hit, having sold millions of tankobon volumes since its inception. The anime series proved to be just as popular, making it a pop-cultural landmark. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after Muzan Kibutsuji kills his entire family.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:55:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/demon-slayer-arcs-chronological-order/ The world of DC Comics is populated by a wide variety of heroes and villains, whose abilities range from feeble mortals to god-like beings from beyond the stars. Sometimes, even the weakest of villains can get an upgrade, occasionally developing abilities that make them almost unbeatable. These upgrades are sometimes accompanied by the heroes gaining an upgrade, finally meeting their match or even being overpowered, forcing them to use their intellect.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:40:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-weak-villains-who-went-god-mode/ The original Matrix trilogy was a landmark in the world of science fiction cinema. The movies asked deep, thoughtful questions about the nature of reality and people's perception of it, the dangers of runaway technology, and human destiny. These movies aren't just sci-fi musings, though -- they're also packed with action, and heroes like Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus will fight back against mechanical tyranny with fists, bullets and much more.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-matrix-strongest-fighters-ranked/ Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows Tanjiro Kamodo, a young warrior who turns to demon-slaying after the death of his family and the cursing of his sister, Nezuko. Tanjiro has made incredible allies and mastered unbelievable skills over the course of his adventures, which arguably reach their apex during the anime's action-packed third season.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/demon-slayer-s3-all-episodes-ranked/ With Halloween just around the corner, now is an excellent time to look at the funny side of things that go bump in the night. So, where better to look than the hit animated comedy series Family Guy? Sure, The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror" episodes seem to have cornered the All Hallows Eve viewership, but Fox's other long-running animated sitcom definitely deserves its due.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:10:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-family-guy-episodes-halloween/ The Digimon franchise has plenty of action, music, and stories, but one thing the popular franchise does better than anyone is glorify the precious bond of friendship. The digimon-human relationship is an essential aspect of what connects the audience to the anime.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 14:01:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-digimon-human-frienships/ Folk horror is a subgenre focusing on pagan practices, traditional spiritual beliefs, and isolated settings to deliver a tone of fear and dread. While supernatural entities may be involved, most folk horror movies focus on human evils and how faith and fear can engender acts of absolute evil. The genre more or less began with literary works like Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery," and hit critical mass with British horror films such as The Blood on Satan's Claw and the original version of The Wicker Man.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 13:30:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-folk-horror-films-of-the-past-decade/ The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a band of anthropomorphic terrapin teenage brothers who fight crime in New York City and usually lives in the Metropolis' sewer system. The beloved franchise was inspired by characters from a comic book written and illustrated by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, though they've since grown far beyond these printed roots.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 13:16:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ninja-turtles-tv-versions-shows-explained-tmnt/ As the cover to Batman/Superman: World's Finest #20 promises, "Mark Waid returns to the world of Kingdom Come!" Created by Waid and artist Alex Ross, Kingdom Come explored an alternate DC future where a new generation of heroes and a misguided older Batman force Superman out of retirement. The new arc of the World's Finest comic teases the Superman and Batman of the main DC continuity journeying to this beloved Elseworld.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 13:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/worlds-finest-batman-superman-elseworlds-comic-wishlist/ Terraria has been out since 2011, and over the past twelve years, fans have discovered numerous ways to start their playthroughs. Normally, the world seed that Terraria generates when players start a new world is completely random, meaning everything about the world's design is out of the player's hand. Starting with the 2020 World's End update, though, the option to fully customize worlds with different world seeds was added into Terraria, giving players more control over their starting environment.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 12:30:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/terraria-best-seeds-according-to-reddit/ Aliens are a popular trope in movies, influencing pop culture in iconic franchises like Star Wars and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Though the various creatures from outer space are common in horror and sci-fi, they are also represented in some influential comedies and animated movies.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 12:30:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/weirdest-aliens-in-movies-ranked/ Wednesday Addams has been a staple of pop culture since cartoonist Charles Addams created her in the 1930s. But she's always been a part of her larger clan, which makes Christina Ricci's breakout performance in the two Addams Family movies in the 1990s so impressive. Amid stellar performances from the likes of Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia and Christopher Lloyd, she sneaks in and steals the show from under everyone's noses. Her performance has become a classic, leading to a long and successful career for the veteran actor.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 12:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-wednesday-jenna-ortega-christina-ricci/ Many audiences were first introduced to Dragon Ball through its anime adaptation rather than Toriyama’s original manga. Certain anime veer incredibly off course from their source material, but Dragon Ball benefits from an accurate adaptation that’s true to the manga.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 12:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-manga-spoilers/ Superhero stories have some pretty well-known tropes. One of these is the comeback story. Marvel and DC have told countless stories that have had characters, heroes, and villains alike, taken out of play. Sometimes they're killed, sometimes their books are canceled, and sometimes the characters lose popularity and just go away. Comeback stories bring these characters back in a variety of ways.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-superhero-comeback-comics/ Jujutsu Kaisen has fans around the world. Since its debut, the show has become one of the most popular anime in recent memory and has sparked a renewed interest in darker shows. The latest season has just aired, and many fans are looking to other series that have the same feel as this dark shonen anime.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:15:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-anime-similar-to-jjk/ Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball has endured for nearly four decades, and it's made as much of an impact as an anime as it has as a manga. There's no right or wrong way to experience Dragon Ball's story, but there are distinct differences between these contrasting mediums that may be better suited for some individuals over others.

]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-fan-favorite-manga-only-characters/ The original Mobile Suit Gundam anime blew the lid of the mecha genre within anime. Creating the "Real Robot" subgenre, it eschewed the more unrealistic and cartoonish elements of previous works for a more military-based story. This was reflected in the mechs themselves, and while they weren't as over the top as some other giant robots, they were still every bit as cool.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 21:00:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-original-gundam-mechs/ The late Kentaro Miura's Berserk is one of the most acclaimed manga ever written and illustrated, and this dark fantasy world is packed with fascinating lore that should properly immerse readers into its mythos. The core of the manga is the deeply personal journeys of Guts, Casca, and the rest of the group going through grueling trials and finding ways to overcome and heal.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 19:50:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/berserk-important-lore-for-beginners/ DC Comics has given readers some amazing superheroes over the years — DC's heroes are seen as some of the greatest ever and held to a higher standard. However, that doesn't mean those standards are upheld for everyone. There are some pretty apparent double standards in the DC Universe, where one hero can get away with something that others can't, or some heroes are treated better when their actions are pretty reprehensible.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 19:30:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-biggest-double-standards/ Demon Slayer has become one of the best and most popular shonen action anime series of the current era. It's a straightforward but charming and gripping story about protagonist Tanjiro Kamado and his quest to restore his sister Nezuko's humanity while fighting demons, and there is plenty of carnage along the way. More than a few characters have already lost their lives in Demon Slayer, including major ones, and many more will perish in future seasons.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 19:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/demon-slayer-every-character-death-when-they-happened/ There are many factors that go into crafting an excellent fight scene in a movie, such as choreography, cinematography, and, of course, sound design. While most fight scenes in film are accompanied by an instrumental score, there are some instances where filmmakers decide to go a different route and instead insert a popular song.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:30:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-fight-scene-songs-movies/ The X-Men's Krakoa Era has been the most fruitful era for the team since Grant Morrison took over the rechristened New X-Men. The whole thing started hopefully, with the X-Men creating a mutant nation and finally taking power for themselves in the world. However, these are X-Men comics, so things have to get pretty dark. Marvel would never allow the X-Men to get a moment where the world isn't trying to destroy them.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:21:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/x-men-darkest-krakoa-age-comics/ Now in its 25th season, Big Brother has had to come up with some twists and turns to help shake up the game. There are consistently new elements introduced to the series and exciting new competitions, or variations of old ones. But a handful of competitions, including endurance, Head of Household, Veto, and Have Not, have continued to come back because the fans can't get enough of them.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:10:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/big-brother-competitions-ranked/ The anime landscape is saturated with shounen staples: ceaseless battles, soaring power levels, and the never-ending quest for greatness. Then there's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, an anime that defies the very framework of traditional shounen. This emotional fantasy tale, which focuses on Frieren – an elf mage haunted by existential angst – contemplates the subtler dimensions of life and friendship that shounen often glosses over.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:10:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/frieren-destroys-shonen-anime-tropes/ As the term "dungeon" implies, these parts of any game have the potential to be downright scary with the right atmosphere and setting. While many Zelda Temples truly live up to their dungeon status, some in the series have even taken things a step further in being as creepy as even the spookiest haunted house on Halloween.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:01:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tloz-spookiest-dungeons/ Ninjas, mutants, demons, cyborgs, and aliens battle across anime with sword strokes powerful enough to slice through steel and energy blasts that can level mountains. There are many powerful characters in Japanese anime, so it's hard to determine exactly which characters are the strongest of all time.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:35:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/strongest-anime-characters/ The Marvel Cinematic Universe entered a new chapter with Phase Four, bringing the Infinity Saga to a close and kicking off the new Multiverse Saga. With some of the old guard gone, the franchise soon began introducing new heroes to fill their shoes. Many of them quickly became fan favorites, but without a team-up movie to bring them together, several heroes haven't been seen since their debuts.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:30:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mcu-phase-4-heroes-not-returned/ Upon release, The Legend of Korra was regarded as an unpopular sequel to Avatar the Last Airbender. Fans who had grown up watching Aang’s journey to mastering the four elements didn’t appreciate how different Korra was to the young airbending prodigy or the series’ steampunk setting. Although the Legend of Korra has since secured a cult following, the public opinion about the changes it made hasn’t improved.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:20:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/atla-theories-tlok-disproved/ Star Wars Rebels introduced fans to a whole new side of the Star Wars universe. The animated series, set during the formative years of the Rebel Alliance, brought the rebel cell known as the Spectres into Star Wars canon, telling their story through the eyes of young Jedi-to-be, Ezra Bridger.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/rebels-characters-star-wars-bring-live-action-next/ The Justice League was created in 1960 to assemble DC Comics' greatest heroes to protect Earth, with an all-star line-up that included Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The team has since become one of the biggest hits in comics and is arguably the biggest and most well-known superhero team alongside the X-Men. It should come as no surprise that such an iconic team would have many analogs and homages throughout the industry.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:11:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/indie-comics-variations-of-the-justice-league/ The iconic tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition can fulfill all manner of genres. Although it's a heroic fantasy game by default, it takes influences from all types of stories. Tables playing around Halloween might want to tell a horror story, and D&D 5e has plenty of character options to choose from.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spooky-dnd-subclasses-for-halloween-one-shots/ Anime is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the entire world, and with each passing year, the medium becomes even more popular among international viewers. However, as impressive as the contemporary success of anime is, it would be nothing were it not for the influential anime series that paved the way in previous decades.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 16:51:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/groundbreaking-80s-anime-moments/ By now, most people are familiar with popular TV shows like American Horror Story, Stranger Things, and The Haunting of Hill House. These series pave the way for brilliant storytelling in small-screen horror. However, several horror shows don't have the same popularity as the ones mentioned before.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 16:10:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-underrated-horror-tv-shows/ In the world of superhero comics, there is an age-old question: who would win — Marvel's heroes or DC's? This issue has caused discord among fans for years and sometimes the companies themselves have gotten in on it. This was most notable at Marvel during Stan Lee's time and Joe Quesada's, who stoked the fires of this friendly rivalry.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:50:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-heroes-vs-dc-heroes/ Matt Reeves' The Batman isn't just a regular superhero movie: it's also an enthralling detective thriller that evokes the best of the Bat-mythos. As the Riddler/Edward Nashton (Paul Dano) works to reveal to the public various corruptions and conspiracies, Batman/Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) and Lieutenant Gordon (Jeffery Wright) attempt to discover the villain's true identity.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:30:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-batman-riddle-the-riddler/ Anime is an extremely versatile storytelling medium that’s made a huge impact not only on television, but also in movie theaters. There’s an easy appeal in long-running anime series that have hundreds–or even thousands–of episodes to explore. That being said, the average anime fan may not have the necessary time to commit to such sprawling narratives like the ones seen in One Piece or Dragon Ball. A popular way to enjoy anime, but in a fraction of the time, lies in the concise stories told in the top anime movies.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:20:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-movies-best-ranked/ The last few years have provided Star Wars fans with some of the best live-action entertainment they could ask for. The Mandalorian helped pave the way for live-action Star Wars TV shows to become a staple of the fandom, and several more excellent shows followed. Most recently, this included Ahsoka, an eight-episode show starring the noble Jedi Ahsoka Tano herself.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:11:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-better-than-the-mandalorian/ Even though its dungeon exploration, puzzling and combat can at times be challenging enough to even present difficulty to more mature players, The Legend of Zelda series never tends to go too over the top where younger audiences wouldn't be able to enjoy the games as well. However, there are some Zelda monsters whose designs and concepts are so creepy that even adult fans can't help but cringe when they approach.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tloz-creepiest-enemies/ Wolverine is the best there is at what he does. This is something Wolverine has reminded people of for ages now, but everyone knows it isn't exactly true. Wolverine's healing factor, adamantium skeleton, and claws have made him an incredibly dangerous mutant, and his over a century of life has made him into an extremely skilled fighter. Wolverine might not always win, but he definitely does a lot of damage. However, he could do way more damage.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 14:40:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wolverine-best-useful-villain-upgrades/ John Carptenter's Halloween is one of the most influential horror films ever made, inspiring a decade of slasher films and popularizing many tropes in the horror genre after its release in 1978. With its titular villain, Michael Myers, and instantly recognizable score, Halloween is certainly a slasher film for the ages. It preceded a long list of sequels and reboots, the latest of which, Halloween Ends, appears to have put the last nail in the original Michael Myers' coffin.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 14:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/halloween-1978-continuity/ Romance plays a big role in many anime series. However, not every anime love story has a happy ending. Some of the best romances in anime are the ones that never come to be. Passionate and heartfelt, these stories tell of star-crossed lovers who will never get their happily ever after.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 14:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/doomed-anime-couples/ The gaming market is full of free-to-play titles, but they're a mixed bag in quality. Plenty of them are barely worth wasting time trying them. Here and there, however, fans find truly excellent games that don't cost a penny.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 14:15:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-multiplayer-free-to-play-games/ Haikyu!! is one of the most prominent sports anime of all time. Focused on an unconventional game, Haikyu!! elevated volleyball for the better, and that's all thanks to its creator. Haruichi Furudate is an influential Japanese mangaka who won the audience with his intricate yet passionate depiction of the sport through well-developed characters and an emotionally sated story.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 14:01:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/haruichi-furudate-haikyu-creator-trivia-fun-facts/ Horror and comedy may seem like opposites – experiences that rarely overlap in the real world – but they have much in common. Both depend on timing, for example, and both use the element of surprise to catch their audience unawares. In the hands of a skillful filmmaker, horror and comedy can be combined to memorable effect, as directors and writers like Edgar Wright, Jordan Peele, Wes Craven, and even Mel Brooks can attest.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 13:30:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-horror-comedies-of-the-past-decade/ It's hard to overstate the impact Gundam has had not just on anime but on pop culture worldwide. As the single most prolific mecha anime franchise, Gundam is responsible for cementing giant robots in the collective human subconscious. Thanks in no small part to relentless merchandising, Gundam has successfully made space opera mainstream in Japan in the same way Star Wars has in the West.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 13:20:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gundam-every-anime-chronological-order/ Spooky season is upon us, and there is no better way to indulge than to binge-watch vampires, witches, and werewolves. Fortunately, The Vampire Diaries has a wealth of all things supernatural that fans keep coming back to years after the series finale. TVD focused mainly on romance and drama around Elena, Stefan and Damon's love triangle, but there were some truly scary moments throughout the eight seasons of the CW series, as well.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 13:16:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/scariest-vampire-diaries-moments/