https://www.cbr.com CBR's exclusive editorials offer informative commentary and in-depth analysis on every entertainment industry, from comics and movies to TV, anime, gaming and more. Tue, 17 Oct 2023 02:41:21 GMT en-US hourly 60 Nickelodeon's Monster High's latest batch of episodes brings Frankie Stein, Draculaura, Clawdeen Wolf, and the rest of their friends back for some new adventures at the titular school. Building on the revelations from the prior season and the quiet character beats filtered through the show, these new episodes put the girls on a mission to find Clawdeen's mother, confront their fears, and take on a brand-new threat to their world.

]]> Tue, 17 Oct 2023 02:41:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/monster-high-ep-shea-fontana/ Four years after 2019's successful adaptation of the Stephen King horror classic Pet Sematary, Paramount+ takes audiences back to the cursed earth of Ludlow, Maine, with its prequel film Pet Sematary: Bloodlines. Directed and co-written by Lindsey Anderson Beer in her feature directorial debut, the prequel adapts a tale in King's original text of a young man rising from his grave in Ludlow's unholy ground as something more lethally sinister. It falls on a young Jud Crandall to save his hometown from the undead menace as the bloody history of Pet Sematary comes to horrifying light.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 23:03:40 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pet-sematary-bloodlines-lindsey-anderson-beer-interview/ To children, leprechauns have an innocent reputation of being the supernatural creature printed on the Lucky Charms cereal box. To director Mark Jones, leprechauns were a bit more devious. As the horror-comedy franchise Leprechaun makes its way to streaming on Hulu for its "Huluween" event this spooky season, Jones looks back on creating the Warwick Davis and Jennifer Aniston-led film that spawned seven movies.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 22:11:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/leprechaun-director-mark-jones-interview/ After playing Mortal Kombat's wise-cracking martial arts superstar Johnny Cage in two previous animated movies, Joel McHale is back to reprise the role for an even bigger spotlight in Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match. Out on home video this October, Cage Match is set at the neon-lit pinnacle of '80s glitz and glamor as movie star Johnny Cage finds himself roped into the machinations of a sinister cult in the City of Angels. Realizing the adventure extends deep into Hollywood, Johnny has to discover his inner hero if he hopes to stay alive and save the day, with no stunt doubles to back him up.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 20:18:32 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mortal-kombat-legends-cage-match-joel-mchale-interview/ The bestselling manga series Blue Giant, created by Shinichi Ishizuka, ran from 2013 to 2016 with a number of sequel manga series, receiving an English-language translation through Seven Seas Entertainment. Telling a group of young men's obsessive quest to achieve jazz music excellence and recognition in Tokyo, the manga has been adapted into a new anime movie of the same name, directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, who previously helmed the popular anime Mob Psycho 100. Released in North America by GKIDS, the film is a celebration of the awe-inspiring power of music and the friendships forged in the midst of joining forces towards a common cause.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:49:36 GMT https://www.cbr.com/blue-giant-review/ Another B-movie with big ambitions, The Puppetman contains an intriguing premise, but its half-baked execution erases most of the film's potential. The Puppetman takes inspiration from Nightmare on Elm Street and Final Destination but fails to make its own mark as a memorable addition to the horror genre. The film is confusing, and there is a wasted opportunity to establish an exciting new villain. With a title like The Puppetman, fans might think that the film would be a fun, cheesy time, but this movie is convoluted and dull, and it never manages to lean into its campy premise.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:35:08 GMT https://www.cbr.com/puppetman-review/ Fright Crewe isn't the first all-ages horror story that Eli Roth has ever played with. While 2018’s The House with a Clock in Its Walls felt like Roth's take on a children's fable, Fright Crewe (which he created and executive produced with I Am Number Four author James Frey) takes more cues from the teenage supernatural genre -- at times operating like a fusion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Power Rangers. Executive produced by Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco, the series may not be breaking new ground, but Fright Crewe's colorful and creepy take on the premise delivers a fun show for older kids.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:19:31 GMT https://www.cbr.com/review-fright-crewe-dreamworks/ It's been nearly 20 years since Frasier went off the air, but the sitcom's new Paramount+ revival picks up as if no time has passed. That's not to say that things haven't progressed for the characters, but the new Frasier feels exactly like a sitcom from 2004, aside from the slightly longer episode running times for a streaming service. In an era of more artistically ambitious, less joke-oriented TV comedies, Frasier feels decidedly out of place. The dedication to an old-school format also gives it a certain retro charm, though, and anyone who misses the days of multi-camera sitcoms taped in front of a live studio audience should find Frasier refreshing.

]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:39:00 GMT https://www.cbr.com/frasier-review/ In the aftermath of the recent Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event, there was a changing of the guard in the DC Universe. The Justice League took a step back and let the group of heroes that followed in their footsteps since they were adolescents, the Titans, step forward and become the premier protectors of Earth. Under the leadership of Nightwing, the Titans established a new headquarters in Blüdhaven and began tackling superpowered emergencies across the globe.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 19:00:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/titans-beast-world-tom-taylor-interview/ The first thing to know about Yorgos Lanthimos' (Dogtooth, The Favourite, The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) latest film is that it takes a very nifty metaphor for self-actualization, and turns it into a film that wants, more than anything, to drive that point home in as many ways as it possibly can – subtlety be damned.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 16:46:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/review-poor-things-movie/ One Piece may revolve around the actions of its protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, but none of the events of the series would be possible were it not for the influence of a different figure — Gol D. Roger. By the time that the Straw Hat Pirates set sail in the Grand Line, Roger is more myth than man, having served as the catalyst for the Golden Age of Pirates decades before the series. Thanks to his legendary status and long list of accomplishments, the King of the Pirates is one of the most interesting characters in the entire series. One of the more noteworthy parts of his character is his striking similarity to Monkey D. Luffy, who seems poised to follow in Roger's footsteps as the series approaches its final narrative.

]]> Sat, 14 Oct 2023 14:50:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/luffy-gol-d-roger-one-piece-relationship-explained/ The original Goosebumps series holds a special place in many horror fans' hearts. R.L. Stine's book series was an ideal gateway for young readers to discover scary stories on their own terms, with a focus on reflecting the real experiences children and teenagers had every day. This was the guiding light for the Disney reboot of Goosebumps: reimagining many of the classic scares as part of an overarching plot focusing on a group of teenagers struggling to survive the supernatural threats underneath their seemingly sleepy town.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 20:48:37 GMT https://www.cbr.com/goosebumps-rob-letterman-nicholas-stroller-interview/ Transformers: EarthSpark is the latest incarnation of the well-known animated series. Nickelodeon's approach to the iconic robots in disguise places the action firmly on Earth, with many classic Transformers like Optimus Prime and Megatron working side-by-side with a group of humans and some new Earth-born robots known as Terrans. It's one of these humans -- Dot, the matriarch of the Malto family -- who has some of the show's most compelling relationships.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:43:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/transformers-earthspark-benni-latham-interview/ Victor LaValle is a multi-award-winning author who first hit the literary scene with his 2002 debut, Slapboxing with Jesus. Since then, he's remained utterly prolific, putting out an endless stream of novels, novellas, graphic novels, short stories, and more into the universe.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 18:15:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/interview-the-changeling-victor-lavalle/ The first season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is almost complete -- but there is still more to see from Daryl and his French allies and enemies. The series has already been renewed for a second season, meaning that Daryl's enemies have not completely given up on their quests for revenge. And among the reveal that another TWD survivor may be joining Daryl soon, "Deux Amours" hones in on the fatal consequences of treachery.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:53:50 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-romain-levi-lukerya-ilyashenko-interview/ To kick off Halloween month, Shudder has released V/H/S/85, the sixth entry in the found footage horror anthology franchise. Among the shorts featured in the film is "Dreamkill," which is helmed by Doctor Strange and Sinister director Scott Derrickson. "Dreamkill" tells the story of a detective who receives ominous videotapes depicting murders that have not yet been committed. The short also follows a teen named Gunther who has vivid dreams that may be able to help crack the case.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:23:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/vhs-85-scott-derrickson-interview/ Divinity comes to us like a black box communiqué from a retro-futuristic alternate history that no longer exists – if it ever existed at all. It's got all of the staticky hallmarks of a sci-fi distress signal, but is a feature-length experimental feature courtesy of writer-director Eddie Alcazar (Perfect), who has been doling out mildly abrasive antidotes to the clean-cut sameness of contemporary science fiction over the past several years.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 21:40:37 GMT https://www.cbr.com/divinity-movie-review/ As Lucasfilm continues to chart a bold new future for Star Wars on Disney+, Ahsoka brought together fan-favorite characters from Star Wars Rebels to take on the heir to the Empire for the fate of that galaxy far, far away. The series' primary cinematographer was Eric Steelberg, who previously worked on Hawkeye and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. For Steelberg, the chance to work on a Star Wars project was a dream come true, from Ahsoka Tano's live-action adventures to debuting the sinister Grand Admiral Thrawn in live-action.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 19:37:43 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-eric-steelberg-interview/ Being an Avenger means coming together with other heroes to face impossible threats. Sometimes, those dangers arise on multiple fronts, and individual members of Earth's Mightiest Heroes have to endure and find a way to triumph on their own. That's exactly what happened in the current "Citykillers" arc of Avengers, which came to a close in Issue #6 by writer Jed MacKay and guest artist Ivan Fiorelli.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/earth-mightiest-spoilers-mackay-on-the-avengers-endgame-against-the-ashen-combine/ Halloween is a special time of year when we don't flinch away from our fears of the unknown and the coming dark. Instead, we celebrate them by donning creepy costumes and telling scary stories. Some of the most enjoyable and effective spooky season tales are the ones that balance the chills with chuckles. Actor and writer Dave Dastmalchian understands the potency of that combination, and he has two comic projects set to be released in the coming weeks designed to make readers shudder and laugh.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/count-crowley-horror-house-david-dastmalchian-leah-kilpatrick-interview/ Since 2008's The Stonekeeper, writer and artist Kazu Kibuishi has been delighting readers of all ages with his Amulet series, which chronicles the fantastical adventures of Emily, her brother, and the sentient titular Amulet. Fans haven't heard from the heroes since 2018's Amulet: Supernova, but in February, Kibuishi will release the ninth and final volume in the series, Amulet: Waverider.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/kazu-kibuishi-teases-amulet/ Over nine months after its midseason finale, with news that its fourth and current season would be its last, Doom Patrol is back on Max this October to conclude its fan-favorite run with six new episodes. Kicking things off with a two-episode midseason premiere, Doom Patrol Season 4 picks up right where the story paused this past January, mixing heartbreak with irreverent humor as is the quirky superhero's team way. And though the scope doesn't quite match that of preceding seasons, Doom Patrol provides audiences with a satisfying conclusion as it leans into what made its ensemble so endearing in the first place.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/doom-patrol-season-4-part-2-review/ A critique of corporate America with a technological twist, Hulu's The Mill is a single-location thriller with several well-rounded points to make. However, the film can't manage to break away from its claustrophobic location, hindering the narrative. The Mill is an hour and 45 minutes long but could have still successfully conveyed its themes with 20 minutes chopped off the runtime. Lil Rel Howery, who is usually seen as comic relief, delivers a layered and nuanced lead performance here. Despite its many strong elements, the film makes the viewer feel just as trapped as its lead character with its somber tone and tedious pacing.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:52:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-mill-reviewthe/ Batman is no stranger to horror. The character emerges from the dark and gothic, often leaning into the supernatural elements of his world. In a new Black Label title from DC, Batman will see an eldritch reflection of his world. When a Gotham buried deep below the one Batman knows begins to leak into the world above, The Dark Knight is faced with an existential threat. Batman: City of Madness #1, written and drawn by Christian Ward with letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, brings strikingly beautiful Lovecraftian dread in what is certain to be an iconic new title for The Caped Crusader.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:27:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-city-of-madness-1/ It is officially time to welcome the Halloween season. To satisfy the horror needs of its fans, DC is here with an anthology of spine-tingling, bone-chilling stories, cherry-picking characters from its vast universe and putting them in amongst ghosts, demons, and vampires. With talents like Ellen Tremiti, Michael W. Conrad, Tyler Crook, Riley Rossmo, Dexter Soy, Ivan Plascencia, Becca Carey, Wes Abbott, and many others getting behind the wheel, DC's Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun #1 is one bumpy ride full of emotion, humor, and curiosity.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:04:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ghouls-just-wanna-have-fun-1-review/ Not long ago, DC had the Lazarus Planet crossover, where the Lazarus rain permanently changed people across the Earth -- including Power Girl, who gained new psionic abilities. Although she wrestled with feeling alienated from the Super-Family, someone has been trying to get to her through them, using coded psychic attacks to target them. Now that she has unmasked her stalker and found a new civilian identity for herself, it is time for Power Girl to embark on a new journey of self-discovery. Written by Leah Williams with artwork from Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr., and letters from Becca Carey, Power Girl #1 lets the woman of the hour blow off some steam on her own terms in a solid -- if predictable-- first issue.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:58:37 GMT https://www.cbr.com/power-girl-1-review/ The first live-action spinoff of The Boys, Gen V unfolds at Godolkin University School of Crimefighting. The institution trains college-aged supes to hone their fantastical abilities in order to launch their superhero careers and hopefully join The Seven. It's a cutthroat system where students are ranked on social media.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:00:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gen-v-michele-fazekas-eric-kripke-interview/ So every week, I post a topic here. You reply to it on the CSBG Twitter page (just write @csbg with your reply), our artists will each pick one of your suggestions and I will post their drawings based on your suggestions here every week. So every week you will have a new question and you will see the choices picked from the previous week.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:06:59 GMT https://www.cbr.com/line-it-is-drawn-taylor-swift-dates-famous-superheroes/ Capitalistic torture is nothing new in the film industry. Severance exceptionally succeeded on Apple TV+, and Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite is the template for stories fighting the hard battle against greed and corruption. Sean King O'Grady's The Mill takes these concepts to another level, placing one man in a single setting with an AI watching over him.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:51:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-mill-sean-king-ogrady-interview/ The Cerritos takes a voyage to the Ferengi homeworld of Ferenginar as Star Trek: Lower Decks moves into the second half of its fourth season. Assigned to assist on a vital diplomatic mission, the Cerritos crew decides to take the opportunity to learn more about Ferengi culture firsthand through an undercover insertion. With its concentrated focus on the Ferengi and examination of several long-building plot threads and character arcs, the episode stands as one of the best in Lower Decks Season 4 so far.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:29:09 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-lower-decks-season-4-episode-6-review/ R. L. Stine's Goosebumps returns to the small screen with a brand-new spooky adaptation. Unlike the previous '90s television show, which focused on an anthology format for the episodes, this latest series connects the paranormal experiences under an overarching arc. Think of it as part-Creepshow and part-Scream the television series, but always with a healthy dose of Stine's wicked sense of humor from the novels pumped into its storyline.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:03:56 GMT https://www.cbr.com/goosebumps-review/ Batman and Catwoman have gone to war over Gotham City's future, the latter advocating for redirecting the flow of crime to harmless scores on the rich while the former takes a hardline stance. Catwoman has an army of henchmen at her disposal who want to lead a better life out of their former bosses' shadows. All she needs now is someone to train them to be better at crime. Enter Red Hood, whose experience as an anti-hero makes him the ideal candidate for the job. Written by Matthew Rosenberg with artwork from Nikola Čižmešija and Rex Lokus and letters from Troy Peteri, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War - Red Hood #1 focuses on the black sheep of the Bat Family and the personal reason he's gotten involved in Batman and Catwoman's war.

]]> Sun, 08 Oct 2023 14:06:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batman-catwoman-gotham-war-red-hood-1-review/ After exploring the grim and grounded side of the DC Universe with the acclaimed GCPD: The Blue Wall, Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley, along with fellow GCPD creative team members Stefano Raffaele, Brad Anderson, and Ariana Maher, are launching the bold IDW Publishing series, The Ministry of Compliance. Launching this November, the series follows Earth after it is secretly invaded by an extraterrestrial race known as the Devolution. One of the ministries established to steer humanity toward its eventual assimilation is the Ministry of Compliance. Heading the Ministry's mission is no-nonsense warrior Avigail Senna, who uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to completely upend the Devolution's conquest and makes her question everything she knows across a bloody, globe-trotting adventure.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 23:26:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ministry-of-compliance-john-ridley-brad-anderson-interview/ The year is 2065. Earth is dying. Somewhere in the blighted midwest, our story begins. A squat trapezoidal car pulls up to a house, not too close, but close enough to wake up the man who's been sleeping on the couch, Junior (Paul Mescal), who is on the outs with his wife, Henrietta (Saoirse Ronan) – who goes by Hen, for short. A man appears at the door. With a rifle in hand, Junior wants to know who he is and what he wants. Hen says to let him in.

]]> Sat, 07 Oct 2023 02:50:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/review-foe-movie/ The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no longer the unstoppable pop culture juggernaut it once was. Yet, for all the highs and lows of Phases 4 and 5, Disney+'s Loki remains one of the franchise's best post-Endgame outings. Part of this was always guaranteed, given how effortlessly Tom Hiddleston transformed the Thor adversary into a fan-favorite anti-hero over the years. But Loki surprised everyone with its colorful band of supporting characters, detailed Brazill-meets-Rick and Morty temporal bureaucracy setting, and another strong character arc for Loki himself as he uncovered the Time Variance Authority's true purpose.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:47:56 GMT https://www.cbr.com/loki-season-2-premiere-review/ There are many ways to approach The Continental: From the World of John Wick. On the one hand, it's a perfectly valid story in its own right that provides a story with a beginning, middle, and end. No prior knowledge is necessary, and to have any would only serve to tickle the part of the brain that finds comfort in familiarity. On the other hand, The Continental's efficacy is entirely contingent upon how much the viewer cares about the John Wick universe, and whether the films have done enough to warrant further narrative pursuit.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:50:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/review-the-continental-from-the-world-of-john-wick/ Fiona Dourif is no stranger to scares and thrills. Best known for her work across the Chucky franchise -- including multiple roles in SyFy's Chucky series -- she also stole scenes as the vicious Bart Curlish in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. That's what makes her appearance in On Fire so surprising. In Cineverse's survival thriller, Fiona plays a character as grounded as they come: Sarah Laughlin, a wife and mother determined to keep her family alive in the middle of a wildfire.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:01:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/on-fire-fiona-dourif-interview/ Earlier this year, Skybound Entertainment, in collaboration with toy and game company Hasbro, launched a brand-new shared universe in the pages of Void Rivals #1. Dubbed the "Energon Universe," the new shared space combines the worlds of Transformers and G.I. Joe. With Void Rivals came the announcement of a new ongoing Transformers title, brought to life by superstar writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson. Johnson has made an enormous splash in the comics world and is set to bring his attention to detail and mastery of scale to the robots in disguise. Transformers #1, written and illustrated by Johnson with colors by Mike Spicer and letters by Rus Wooton, is a fantastic start to a fresh new Transformers epic.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/transformers-1-review/ Of all the masterful horror works by legendary author Stephen King, one of the most downright chilling is his 1983 novel Pet Sematary. A meditation on the loss of loved ones and how far someone will go to end their grief despite all warnings, the successful 2019 cinematic adaptation of the novel has received a prequel with Pet Sematary: Bloodlines. Directed and co-written by Lindsey Anderson Beer, the prequel brings some interesting angles to the classic story and its cursed world but doesn't quite deliver when it comes to executing the requisite scares that come with a Pet Sematary story.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:30:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pet-sematary-bloodlines-review/ Agatha Harkness has been manipulating the heroes of the Marvel Universe. Throughout the Contest of Chaos event, Agatha has been pitting hero against hero at nexus points of magic. She's been harnessing the magical energy created from these conflicts to forge a new Darkhold. Agatha believes she's the only person who can control and contain chaos magic, and this new Darkhold will be her way of doing so. In Avengers Annual 2023, written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Alberto Foche and Álvaro López, colors by Raúl Angulo, and letters by VC's Cory Petit, the Avengers find themselves battling heroic friends while trying to thwart the creation of Agatha's new Darkhold. The resulting issue is a fun battle and a relatively satisfying conclusion to the Contest of Chaos event.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:30:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/avengers-annual-2023-review/ Evil does a lot more than lurk in Argentinean writer-director Demián Rugna's intense and terrifying horror film When Evil Lurks. Demonic possession is a constant background threat in When Evil Lurks, set in what appears to be a world where such occurrences are commonly accepted as an everyday risk. Rugna drops the audience in the middle of that world without explanation, and his matter-of-fact approach to the subject amplifies the horror. Gruesome acts of violence often arise without warning for both the characters and the audience. Rugna keeps viewers on edge from the moment When Evil Lurks begins until the final shot.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/when-evil-lurks-review/ With A24's Dicks: The Musical, co-writers and co-stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp have done the unthinkable: they've brought the now-bygone era of unabashedly crass, lowbrow humor back to the big screen – although it's arguable that many films masquerading as "serious-minded" have been filling the same void of idiocy for a while now.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/review-dicks-the-musical/ Indie comics legend Daniel Clowes has added to his already impressive bibliography with a new graphic novel that's sure to be one of the year's most talked about and celebrated comics. Comic fans will recognize Clowes' work from the pages of his groundbreaking series Eightball, which featured everything from hilarious humor strips to the surreal, nightmarish Like A Velvet Glove Cast in Iron. Now, Clowes is returning for his first book since 2016. Published by Fantagraphics, Monica is a wild ride that is sure to stick with readers long after they've finished reading.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:55:32 GMT https://www.cbr.com/daniel-clowes-monica-review/ Dealing with the trauma of being raised in one of the Marvel Universe's most infamous super-assassin programs, the Red Room, is an insanely difficult task, and when you compound that with living in the shadow of that organization's most famous operative, the Black Widow, it becomes an almost Herculean one. But it's a labor that Yelena Belova, AKA the White Widow, is finally ready to confront head-on, and this November, she'll go at it guns blazing in the pages of her own four-issue miniseries.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:04:48 GMT https://www.cbr.com/white-widow-sarah-gailey-alessandro-miracolo-interview/ The average person knows Tom DeLonge for his time in Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves; however, he also holds an interest in other areas such as clothing, art, and the paranormal. Now, DeLonge can add co-writer and director to his list of accolades with the release of his feature film directorial debut, Monsters of California, which finds a way to combine the sophomoric sense of humor of Blink182 and his obsession with the supernatural. The resulting effort is a surprisingly entertaining film, even if it does falter in its emotional peaks.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:44:40 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tom-delonge-monsters-of-california-review/ Actor and writer Felicia Day is best known for creating the web series The Guild and Dragon Age: Redemption. Combining fantasy and nerd culture, Day has opened up endless worlds of possibilities for her imagination to run wild. Her newest Audible Original series, Third Eye, is no different.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 17:31:10 GMT https://www.cbr.com/third-eye-felicia-day-interview/ It's hard to fault horror-comedy Totally Killer for being a Back to the Future rip-off when the movie's own main character explicitly references that 1985 classic so often. That kind of good-natured self-awareness is part of what makes Totally Killer so much fun, even if it also holds the movie back from being more than the sum of its influences. Totally Killer also obviously emulates Christopher Landon's Happy Death Day movies and Freaky, although it's not quite as clever or energetic as its fellow Blumhouse productions. It's similarly colorful and upbeat, with an appealing lead performance from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's Kiernan Shipka and an amusing high-concept story that's just fast-paced enough to keep from falling apart.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:15:51 GMT https://www.cbr.com/totally-killer-review/ BOOM! Studios presents an all-new original series in Rare Flavours #1, a story that blends adventure, crime fiction, and mystery like no other --written by Ram V, author of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr and Justice League Dark contributor, illustrated and colored by longtime creative collaborator Filipe Andrade of Rocket Raccoon and Groot acclaim, with letters by AndWorld Design.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:53:09 GMT https://www.cbr.com/rare-flavours-1-review/ More than any other live-action Star Wars show, Ahsoka has leaned heavily into the fantasy side of George Lucas' universe. You can see it in the mythological names of new characters (i.e. Shin and Hati), the Tolkienesque-nature of Thrawn's exiled planet, or simply naming its finale "Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord" as a C.S. Lewis homage. That's certainly separated Ahsoka from Andor's tales of gritty espionage and The Mandalorian's western-infused adventures, even as its back half established Thrawn's return as one of many factors linking the New Republic years to the First Order's eventual rise. But it also came with risks. Namely, could such a finale wrap up the story of Ahsoka Tano and her Rebels compatriots, reassert Thrawn's place in the Imperial hierarchy, and satisfy all of its eight-episode run's lingering plot threads?

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 21:07:43 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-episode-8-review/ The Continental is the 1970s set prequel to the John Wick films, exploring the origins of Winston and how he came to control one of the franchise's most fundamental locations. By turning back the clock, Peacock's series showcases a different view of the franchise that lands with a harsher, grittier crunch than the streamlined and stylish films. It's an interesting approach that pays tribute to the grimy cinema of the era in fun and clever ways.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:01:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-continental-behind-the-scenes-team/ In the body horror film Appendage, an anxiety-ridden Hannah begins to experience a burden that turns her life into a disastrous creep show. Her worries and fears manifest into a monstrous appendage that takes control of its own destiny. The transformative body part and the film's stylistic approach were inspired by many other films that rely on the human body to deliver its horror element, says director Anna Zlokovic.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 18:31:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/appendage-anna-zlokovic-interview/ One of Marvel's most highly anticipated new series finally arrives with the release of G.O.D.S. #1. The series has been teased in the pages of various Marvel titles over the last few months and promises to be a "once in a generation" title. Marvel has kept specific details about the series closely guarded, instead building much of the anticipation for the series around the creative team. G.O.D.S. #1, written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Valerio Schiti, colors by Marte Gracia, letters by VC's Travis Lanham, and design by Jay Bowen, sets out to re-invent the Marvel Cosmology. The first issue is propelled by its superstar creative team and plants the seeds for an all-time great Marvel story.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 17:49:38 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gods-1-review/ The thing about Dicks: The Musical is that you should know as little as possible about it going in. It's a strange amalgam of things: on the one hand, it's a paean to stagecraft, and the patently absurd situation of looking off into the distance -- at nothing in particular -- and breaking into song. It's also a crass, flaming middle finger aimed at what's considered "good taste."

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:31:45 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dicks-the-musical-megan-mullally-nathan-lane-interview/ After launching the supernatural horror trilogy The Night Eaters with last year's original graphic novel She Eats the Night, the Eisner Award-winning creative team of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda are back for the trilogy's middle installment, Her Little Reapers, published by Abrams ComicArts. After the Ting twins, Milly and Billy, were at the center of a failed demonic summoning in the first volume, they must come to terms with the horrific truths about their lives after enduring a harrowingly gory night. Meanwhile, Milly and Billy's parents, Ipo and Keon, contend with the consequences of bringing their children into a world where the dead have unfinished business.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:53:44 GMT https://www.cbr.com/night-eaters-her-little-reapers-marjorie-liu-sana-takeda-interview/ Role-playing games have gone through a huge resurgence in recent years. The success of shows like Critical Role and Dimension 20 has helped bring in a new generation of fans, while gamers have been able to throw themselves into table-top games like Dungeons & Dragons and videogames like Baldur's Gate 3. Now, the world of fantasy and adventure is coming to an unlikely (but perfect) space -- the bar.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 21:54:09 GMT https://www.cbr.com/quests-end-matthew-lillard/ The old adage, "You can't fight city hall" takes on a whole new meaning in the New York City of the Marvel Universe. That's because the person currently in charge of the Big Apple's municipal government is a bulletproof, superhumanly strong veteran crime fighter named Luke Cage. Still, there are some people looking to commit crimes and cause chaos on NYC's streets, and Cage's political responsibilities mean taking care of those people is no longer as simple as punching them out. Now, he needs to find a balance between his political prowess and his superpowers.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:51:55 GMT https://www.cbr.com/luke-cage-gang-war-rodney-barnes-interview/ Based on the manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is a brand-new anime series animated by Madhouse (Death Note, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Perfect Blue). The success of the manga has only fueled fans' anticipation for the anime. The emotionally charged fantasy show debuted on Crunchyroll with a two-hour special premiere, collecting the first four episodes.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:46:39 GMT https://www.cbr.com/frieren-beyond-journeys-end-review/ Since One Piece's debut in 1997, the series has grown into one of the most popular media franchises in history, earning it the honor of being the best-selling manga of all time. Its protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, is a major reason for this success, and over the course of 25 years, his antics have entertained multiple generations of fans. Luffy's impulsive nature puts him and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, in a variety of unexpected situations, but thanks to his combat prowess, he can almost always get himself and his allies out of most sticky situations. This is due in part to Monkey D. Luffy's strange body, which gained the properties of rubber after he ate a Devil Fruit as a child.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:00:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-5-weirdest-things-luffy-body-explained/ So every week, I post a topic here. You reply to it on the CSBG Twitter page (just write @csbg with your reply), our artists will each pick one of your suggestions and I will post their drawings based on your suggestions here every week. So every week you will have a new question and you will see the choices picked from the previous week.

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 02:31:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/line-it-is-drawn-star-wars-rebels/ Writer-director Anna Zlokovic doesn't waste any time establishing the horror premise of her film Appendage. Immediately in the first scene, it's clear that there's something very wrong with aspiring fashion designer Hannah (Hadley Robinson), and things only get worse from there. So many modern horror movies rely on slow builds and vague hints that it's refreshing for Appendage to reveal its grotesque monster early on. The problem is that Zlokovic runs through so much plot so quickly that Appendage nearly exhausts its premise before it really gets going. The one-note allegory about a monstrous manifestation of the protagonist's anxieties and fears wears thin before Appendage is halfway over.

]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:42:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/appendage-review/ Dimension 20 has distinguished itself from other series in the TTRPG scene by embracing the inherent comedy of Dropout as a brand with genre-bending adventure, intrigue, and drama. Shifting from setting and genre with each storyline, the show's twentieth season -- corresponding with Dropout's fifth anniversary -- brings back Aabria Iyengar (who has previously helmed Misfits & Magic and A Court of Fey & Flowers on top of playing in Pirates of Leviathan, The Seven, and The Ravening War) as DM for Burrow's End.

]]> Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:05:43 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dimension-20-aabria-iyengar-burrows-end-interview/ There are many great things about One Piece, like its unique and detailed setting, for example. The world of One Piece is far removed from real-life Earth, featuring large seas packed full of strange locations and massive monsters. However, this does not mean that the series is immune to real-world controversy with its otherwise stellar worldbuilding. In fact, a question and answer session with One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda showed that even something set in a fantasy world may carry real-world baggage with it if handled improperly.

]]> Sun, 01 Oct 2023 13:00:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-usopp-africa-sbs/ In a world where comic books receive reboots at the drop of a hat, IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series stands out as a title, creating cohesive and compelling storytelling that isn't resetting itself every year. Part of the book's success has been retaining key creative talent such as writer-artist Sophie Campbell, who has worked on over 50 issues in the series. Now, the flagship title about the Heroes in a Half-Shell nears another major milestone in this seminal run: Issue #150.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 20:12:41 GMT https://www.cbr.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-sophie-campbell-interview/ On Fire is a harrowing survival drama, as the titular wildfires threaten the safety of the Laughlin family. But Peter Facinelli -- who stars as family patriarch Dave Laughlin and serves as co-director and producer -- believes the movie has much more to offer than nail-biting scenes of landscape burning. He spoke to CBR about the numerous themes interwoven into what aims to be the next great disaster movie.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 19:31:44 GMT https://www.cbr.com/on-fire-movie-peter-facinelli-interview/ Four years after his children's book debut with 2019's Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging and Being Yourself, author (and Criminal Minds star) Matthew Gray Gubler returns with his follow-up: The Little Kid with the Big Green Hand. Published through Amulet Books -- an imprint of Abrams Books -- the new children's book is bigger and more ambitious. Gubler writes and provides his own illustrations for the story. While the gorgeous hardcover physical edition may come with a steeper price tag, it is a solid read and looks great on a shelf.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:43:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/little-kid-with-big-green-hand-review/ In the latest Netflix crime thriller, Reptile, a small-town tragedy unearths dark truths and the breadth of institutionalized corruption as one police detective searches for the culprit. Directed and co-written by Grant Singer, the movie stars Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro as Detective Tom Nichols, who investigates the murder of a young realtor. As Nichols and his wife, Judy (Alicia Silverstone), dig deeper into the case, including looking into the realtor's boyfriend, Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), they begin to realize his longtime friends and colleagues have murderous secrets of their own.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:25:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/reptile-grant-singer-interview/ Spy Kids: Armageddon marks the fifth chapter in the popular family franchise. It also serves as a reboot. Co-produced, directed, and co-written by creator Robert Rodriguez, the action-comedy flick follows Tony and Patty, youngsters blissfully unaware that their folks serve as two of the world's top-secret agents. That all changes when a powerful game developer -- dubbed The King -- unleashes a computer virus designed to give him complete control over technology. The siblings must embark on the adventure of a lifetime in order to rescue their kidnapped parents and save the world. That mission requires them to learn the art of espionage, employ cool gadgets, and even venture into a video game to beat the baddie.

]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:55:52 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spy-kids-armageddon-robert-rodriguez-interview/ It's morphin' time as Power Rangers Cosmic Fury arrives on Netflix. The core cast from Dino Fury returns for a new 10-episode adventure that sends the Power Rangers into space and pits them against a familiar and dangerous foe. This season marks 30 years since the franchise debuted on TV, and there are several surprises in store for long-time fans of the franchise.

]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:34:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/power-rangers-cosmic-fury-review/ The USS Cerritos' visiting Vulcan science officer, T'Lyn, takes center stage in the latest episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. The fourth season reaches its halfway point with its fifth episode, "Empathological Fallacies." The episode has the Cerritos fall into complete chaos, leaving the emotionally stoic T'Lyn as the starship's best hope to restore order before it's too late. With a concentrated dose of unbridled mayhem, the episode runs dangerously close to running entirely off the rails -- but manages to stick the landing.

]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:21:48 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-lower-decks-season-4-episode-5-review/ In 2023, the unthinkable happened: Futurama returned to television. Following its debut on Fox, first cancellation, re-runs on Adult Swim, revival in four four-episode-long films, multi-season revival on Comedy Central, and second cancellation in 2013, the series has now landed on Hulu.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:15:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/interview-futurama-producer-claudia-katz/ Created and Executive-Produced by Eli Roth and James Frey, Fright Krewe is DreamWorks' latest animated series. Focusing on an unlikely group of teenagers with mystical powers and a duty to stop an ancient evil from ripping apart New Orleans, Fright Krewe takes the classic adventure animation dynamics and infuses them with some of the frights and tension that Roth is most famous for. There are plenty of monsters and horrific images, but Roth maintains a consistently appealing edge to the central characters and their stories.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 20:58:01 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fright-krewe-eli-roth-interview/ The Dungeons & Dragons world is ever-evolving, with classic campaigns and settings like Phandalin being reimagined for current players. The original Planescape setting enchanted plenty of gamers -- but Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse takes it to another level. The set includes nearly 300 pages of new content, including more than three dozen creatures to create additional challenges for even the strongest heroes.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 20:08:59 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-and-dragons-planescape-multiverse-adventures/ Wally West -- The Flash -- is the fastest man who ever lived. He's never been quicker or more fulfilled. He's solidified in his place as The Flash. Wally should be taking everything in stride, but something feels very wrong. He's uncovering more about his powers and the Speed Force than ever before, which seems to be bringing some unintended consequences. The Flash #1 -- written by Si Spurrier with art by Mike Deodato Jr., colors by Trish Mulvihill, and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou -- ushers in a compelling new beginning for the Scarlet Speedster.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:09:39 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-flash-1-2023-review/ After the explosive conclusion of the Hellfire Gala, Nightcrawler has been left to pick up the pieces in Uncanny Spider-Man #1. With mutants being hunted worldwide (and still a fugitive after the events of Legion of X), Nightcrawler has become a Friendly Neighborhood Superhero, taking up the Spider-Mantle to do good in New York City. Written by longtime X-writer Si Spurrier, illustrated by acclaimed Captain Marvel and Lucifer artist Lee Garbett, with colors by Matt Milla and letters by VC's Joe Caramagna, Uncanny Spider-Man #1 is an impressive start to the hero's next adventure.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 18:32:44 GMT https://www.cbr.com/uncanny-spider-man-1-review/ Captain America is going back to his roots. When news that the apartment complex he grew up in with his mother during the Depression is slated to be condemned, Steve Rogers buys the place himself. As he balances his duties between superhero and local hero, Steve can't help but get a little nostalgic and finds himself reliving the days before he was Captain America.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 18:22:55 GMT https://www.cbr.com/captain-america-1-2023-review/ What makes Grand Admiral Thrawn such an engaging Star Wars villain is his intellect. Thrawn doesn't wield the Force. He's tough but not an absolute brawler. He doesn't seem to care much about pursuing vengeance, a line of thinking that often plagued Darth Vader's career. Thrawn always plans five moves ahead of everyone in order to "control all variables," as he so elegantly informs Morgan Elsbeth in Ahsoka's penultimate episode, "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness." He enjoys studying opponents and outflanking them to achieve his own ends, abilities that served him quite well in Star Wars Rebels and translate as successfully to live-action as Lars Mikkelsen's performance.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 18:00:34 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-episode-7-review/ Being an Avenger means not being able to quit -- especially in the face of overwhelming odds. So, when Earth's Mightiest Heroes find their plans imploding and up against seemingly unbeatable foes, they dig in their heels, reaffirm their commitment to protecting the defenseless, and try to fight harder. That's exactly what happened in Avengers #5 by writer Jed MacKay and guest artist Ivan Fiorelli.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:17:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/avengers-5-jed-mackay-interview/ Over the past several years, Lawrence Lindell has made a name for himself as an interdisciplinary artist and educator. At his base of operations in San Francisco, Lindell co-runs Laneha Press with his spouse, Breena Nuñez. Lindell's work can be seen in The New Yorker, countless zines, and other localized publications in the Bay Area. Lindell's prolific artistry extends to his teaching, which includes panels on zine-making, comics as a tool for the LGBTQ community, queerness, and many other subjects besides.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:11:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/interview-lawrence-lindell-blackward/ The Darkhold is one of the most powerful magical artifacts in the Marvel Universe. Scarlet Witch had previously contained the Darkhold (along with the elder god Cthon) inside her soul, keeping it out of the wrong hands. But Agatha Harkness secretly broke into Wanda's prison and stole Cthon's heart, unleashing chaos back into the world. While Agatha's exact plans remain a mystery, she's been pitting the heroes of the Marvel Universe against each other to fuel her schemes in Contest of Chaos. In X-Men Annual 2023 #1, written by Paul Allor with art by Alessandro Miracolo, colors by Annalisa Leoni, and letters by VC's Clayton Cowles, Captain Marvel and Cyclops find themselves embroiled in an unexpected but explosive face-off. The result is an entertaining throwdown that works as a solo piece and part of the Contest of Chaos narrative.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:38:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/x-men-annual-2023-review/ Writer-director Brian Duffield's gripping thriller No One Will Save You opens on a shot that could be the introduction to a fairy tale, with a quaint, isolated house surrounded by trees. The almost entirely dialogue-free No One Will Save You then unfolds a bit like a fairy tale, albeit one featuring terrifying alien invaders. It's ethereal and haunting as much as it's tense and violent. The main character, Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever), isn't a princess, but she's a young woman living alone in the forest who spends her time making clothes and assembling an idyllic model town.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:20:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/no-one-will-save-you-review/ The title of Daryl Dixon's third episode reminds audiences that "Paris will always be Paris." Even 12 years after a zombie outbreak that demolished society and decimated most of the world's population, Paris' entertainment scene is as alive as ever. The world may be broken and battered, but Daryl Dixon soon discovers that there are still people trying to keep the best of the old world in the new.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:05:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-hugo-bardin-interview/ Science Fiction stories often explore the complex ways robots serve humanity, but what if there was a future where they served people by distracting them from the climate disaster ravaging their planet? And what if those robots were programmed to have emotions so their successes and failures were especially resonant? And what becomes of us if the fate of humanity rests upon the shoulders of a particularly grizzled and disgruntled robot?

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 19:23:41 GMT https://www.cbr.com/petrol-head-rob-williams-pye-parr-interview/ Dynamite Entertainment goes all in on the She-Devil with a Sword with the release of the upcoming series Savage Red Sonja. Written by Dan Panosian (who also handled the main cover), drawn by Alessio Petillo, colored by Francesco Segala, and lettered by Dave Sharpe, this brand-new title promises to capture the spirit of Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery stories of yesteryear. The tale sees Red Sonja venture across treacherous lands in search of an ancient gem.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:12:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/savage-red-sonja-dan-panosian-interview/ Wally West is about to embark on a new journey in writer Si Spurrier's Dawn of DC relaunch series, The Flash.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:27:39 GMT https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-si-spurrier-the-flash-speed-force/ So every week, I post a topic here. You reply to it on the CSBG Twitter page (just write @csbg with your reply), our artists will each pick one of your suggestions and I will post their drawings based on your suggestions here every week. So every week you will have a new question and you will see the choices picked from the previous week.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 04:47:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/line-it-is-drawn-mortal-kombat-featuring-comic-book-characters/ Earlier this year, it was revealed that toy and game company Hasbro and Skybound Entertainment would be launching a brand-new universe shared by two of the most popular brands in entertainment, Transformers and G.I. Joe. The new shared universe, dubbed the "Energon Universe," was first launched in the pages of Robert Kirkman's Void Rivals #1. Launching in October, Transformers #1 marks the beginning of a brand-new era for the robots in disguise.

]]> Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:31:56 GMT https://www.cbr.com/daniel-warren-johnson-transformers-interview/ After nearly a decade, the Expendables are back in action on the big screen with the film franchise's fourth cinematic installment, the cheekily titled Expend4bles. Paring down the ensemble significantly from the previous two movies and narrowing the primary focus to star Jason Statham, the sequel never matches the old-school action movie ambition of its predecessors. But as one might expect with the '80s action cinema that inspired it, Expend4bles delivers the thrills fans have come to expect.

]]> Mon, 25 Sep 2023 20:15:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/expendables-4-review/ Wally West is in for a horrific adventure unlike any other as Si Spurrier and Mike Deodato, Jr. take the creative reins on relaunching The Flash this September. As the West family continues to defend Central City from all sorts of supervillains and other crises, an unknown evil rises from beyond the Speed Force, ready to plunge the Fastest Man Alive and his friends through a nightmarish gauntlet of new enemies and realms to explore. But even as the Flash races into the terrifying possibilities of the Speed Force, the West family finds itself at a major crossroads.

]]> Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:55:05 GMT https://www.cbr.com/flash-si-spurrier-interview/ In the world of The Witcher, humans tend to dominate, despite being latecomers to The Continent. Dwarves, halflings, and elves were the primary inhabitants prior to their arrival, but humankind bred quickly, filling The Continent with their numbers. It wasn't long before non-humans became little more than an afterthought. The Scoia'tael were originally a faction of elves born of hatred and resentment brought on by the racism humans displayed toward their people, and over the years, the tactics they employed were as terrifying as they were lethal.

]]> Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:50:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/witcher-scoiatael-aen-sidhe-elves/ In a world inundated with post-apocalyptic premises, it can feel like end-of-the-world series are a dime a dozen. Luckily, Jordan Thomas and Shaky Kane, the team behind Image Comics' Weird Work, are teaming up with Oni Press to produce a singular and scintillating saga of the wasteland in The Man From Maybe.

]]> Sat, 23 Sep 2023 00:22:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/man-from-maybe-jordan-thomas-interview/ Final Fantasy VII remains one of the benchmarks of modern gaming. Even nearly thirty years after its debut on the original PlayStation, the adventures of Cloud and his allies in AVALANCHE linger in the cultural consciousness. This made their return in 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake all the more impactful, as the game's new approach to gameplay and tweaks to the original story brought new energy to the classic adventure.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:20:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-hands-on/ Comic fans have been delighted by Patrick McDonnell's comic strip MUTTS for almost thirty years, but they might be surprised to see his work in the context of the Marvel Universe. But next week, on Sept. 26, Abrams ComicArts and Marel Comics are joining forces to present McDonnell's The Super Hero's Journey, starring The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-Man, and more.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/super-heros-journey-patrick-mcdonnell-interview/ After introducing the teenage superhero Boy Thunder in an early story arc of Batman/Superman: World's Finest and revealing him to be the eventual antihero Magog from the seminal story Kingdom Come, Mark Waid and Dan Mora are returning to the world of Kingdom Come in the latest World's Finest storyline. Starting in Issue #20, Batman and Superman will explore Earth-22, the alternate universe where Kingdom Come takes place, to learn what happened to Boy Thunder after Superman's estranged former sidekick was whisked back to his native dimension. The superhero duo will find themselves facing their Earth-22 counterparts as the Kingdom Come Superman and Batman deal with what has become of their world.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/batmansuperman-worlds-finest-kingdom-come-mark-waid-interview/ As Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 nears its halfway point, the animated series peels back the curtain on D'Vana Tendi's backstory among the Orion Syndicate in a sudden trip back home. The season's fourth episode, titled "Something Borrowed, Something Green," mostly takes place off the USS Cerritos as it gives Tendi a well-deserved spotlight with a complicated homecoming. With its strong character beats and doubling down on admittedly absurd humor, the episode is one of the more memorable installments in Season 4, paying off years of character development while maintaining its comical tone.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:30:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-lower-decks-season-4-episode-4-review/ Based on the online phenomenon of the same name, Elevator Game follows a group of recent high school graduates who host an online series that debunks urban legends. However, when the entertainers hit a snag about what subject matter to cover for their next session, their new intern, Ryan [Gino Anania], suggests playing the "Elevator Game." The rules are simple. Participants ride the elevator in a specific sequence in hopes of unlocking a gateway to another dimension. But beware! If the 5th Floor Woman enters, do not look at her or talk to her.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 22:19:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/elevator-games-gino-anania-stefan-bruner-interview/ The action titans assemble for Expend4bles. Starring Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, 50 Cent, and Megan Fox, the fourth entry in this locked-and-loaded franchise hits after a nine-year gap between sequels. Directed by Scott Waugh (Need for Speed, Hidden Strike) from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, and Max Adams, this latest installment holds the potential to be the most action-packed film in the series yet -- and that's saying something considering the previous offerings.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/expendables-4-stunt-coordinator-interview/ The power of storytelling is a major theme in Ahsoka's sixth episode, "Part Six: Far Far Away." In the opening minutes, Ahsoka reminisces on stories Huyang used to tell her and other Jedi younglings about the galaxy's history. Baylan Skoll describes Peridea, the planet where Grand Admiral Thrawn spent his many years in exile, as "Children's stories come to life," a source of folklore even by Star Wars standards. The episode marks the live-action debut of a villain who first appeared in a 1991 Star Wars novel and features three Dathomirian soothsayers inspired by everything from Greek mythology's Fates to the witches of Macbeth. The subtext, by all accounts, is pretty on the nose.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:00:30 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-episode-6-review/ Debuting Sept. 22 on Peacock, The Continental is an experiment that could test the vitality of the John Wick franchise going forward. Set decades before the events of the four films, the show delves into the history of the Continental and how it fell into the hands of Ian McShane's Winston. Focusing on a young Winston (Colin Woodell) and his conflict with the 1970s owner of the hotel Cormac (Mel Gibson), the show is rooted in both the high-octane action of the original films and a grimy and neon-colored version of New York City.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:00:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/continental-executive-producers-interview/ Fans have wondered for decades who would win in a fight between the X-Men's most savage hero, Wolverine, and the alien hunter only known as the Predator. Marvel's 20th Century Studios comics imprint is aiming to solve this conundrum in Predator vs. Wolverine #1, an impressive start to a grisly series. Written by Benjamin Percy, drawn by Ken Lashley, Andrea Di Vito, and Greg Land with Jay Leisten on inking duties, colored by Juan Fernandez and Frank D'Armata, and lettered by VC's Cory Petit, the first installment in this four-issue miniseries looks back at why Logan and the intergalactic warrior Yautja would have beef to begin with -- and how long their rivalry has been going on.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:50:54 GMT https://www.cbr.com/review-predator-vs-wolverine-1/ For many players new to Dungeons & Dragons, learning the mechanics of the game and endeavoring into that very first adventure can be daunting. Both players and Dungeon Masters who started adventuring in 2014 with the original D&D 5e Starter Set no doubt found themselves delving deep into The Lost Mine of Phandelver, the set's accompanying starter adventure. Designed to see Level 1 players through to Level 5, The Lost Mine of Phandelver was an adequate taste of the game, but there was always the potential for so much more adventure.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:30:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dnd-phandelver-and-below-the-shattered-obelisk-review/