First SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Trailer

After five previous Spider-Man movies, Tom Holland calls this the first actual movie about Peter Parker.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32299-first-spider-man-homecoming-trailer.html

Check Out the Spider-Man Homecoming Trailer

The newest Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer is here. The upcoming summer film will be the first time a solo Spider-Man movie takes place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Check it out for yourself below.

The Homecoming trailer debuted Thursday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The story follows a young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as he continues to fight crime in New York City, in a post-Civil War universe. Michael Keaton is also set to appear as the classic Spider-Man villain The Vulture, and he looks like he's going to be a tough villain for the web-slinger to battle.

The two will star alongside Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Bokeem Woodbine as Shocker, and Donald Glover in an unrevealed role. In addition, Robert Downey Jr. will be reprising his role as Tony Stark.

While the film will not debut until July, there are already talks of a sequel. Sony has the rights to the character, but the latest Amazing Spider-Man films did not live up to expectations. The company has since partnered with Marvel for the new Spider-Man franchise, which led to the character's appearance in 2016's Captain America: Civil War.

Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theaters on July 7, 2017.

Mat 'Inferiorego' Elfring
via Comic Vine

Preview: IVX #1

Preview: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #15

Preview: HAWKEYE #1

Preview: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #2

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Midseason Mayhem

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Midseason Mayhem

Welcome back, Legends fans! It’s been awhile! Hopefully you’ve had enough time to recover from last week’s “Invasion” before we hit the ground running tonight because, man alive, there is a ton to talk about.

Read more

Meg Downey
via DC Comics

http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2016/12/08/dcs-legends-of-tomorrow-midseason-mayhem

Ranking 2017’s Most Anticipated Comic Book/Superhero Movies

Newsarama counts down our most anticipated comic book movies of 2017.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32303-ranking-2017s-most-anticipated-comic-book-superhero-movies.html

#265.5 - Lola Kirke

Lola Kirke, star of Amazon Prime's 'Mozart in the Jungle,' talks season 3, how she wants to play a super hero someday and much more!

via This Week in Marvel

http://marvel.com/podcasts/10/this_week_in_marvel?utm_campaign=&utm_source=&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=podcast_series-10&

REBIRTH Recon: Looking at BATMAN & DETECTIVE COMICS 12 Issues In

Breaking down the big moments (and the big unanswered questions) of the Dark Knight's major books in "Rebirth."

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http://www.newsarama.com/32300-rebirth-recon-looking-at-batman-detective-comics-12-issues-in.html

SPIDER-MAN/VENOM Event Coming In 2017, Spider-Changes Coming Too?

What Marvel calls "a momentous occasion."

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32302-spider-man-venom-event-coming-in-2017.html

NBC's DC Comedy POWERLESS Gets Debut Date

Inside the offices of Retcon Insurance, for help against superhero catastrophe.

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http://www.newsarama.com/32301-nbc-s-dc-comedy-powerless-gets-debut-date.html

CAPTAIN KID's Secret Origin Revealed In CAPTAIN KID #3

Check out a preview of CAPTAIN KID #3 from AfterShock.

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http://www.newsarama.com/32295-captain-kid-s-secret-origin-revealed-in-captain-kid-3.html

Marvel Announces New IRON FIST Series

Saga, Vol. 1 - Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Saga, Vol. 1 Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples Genre: Graphic Novels Price: $7.99 Publish Date: October 10, 2012 Publisher: Image Comics Seller: Image Comics, Inc.

From New York Times bestselling writer BRIAN K.VAUGHAN (Y: THE LAST MAN, EX MACHINA) and critically acclaimed artist FIONA STAPLES (MYSTERY SOCIETY, NORTH 40), SAGA is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in a sexy, subversive drama for adults. This specially priced volume collects the first arc of the smash hit series The Onion A.V. Club calls "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it could make. "Collects SAGA #1-6

get it now at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/saga-vol.-1/id878241369?mt=11&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE

Best Shots Review: UNWORTHY THOR #2

The quest for the hammer.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32291-best-shots-review-unworthy-thor-2.html

M Turns On Her Fellow Mutants In UNCANNY X-MEN #17

Inhumans vs. X-Men... versus Monet?

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http://www.newsarama.com/32298-first-look-uncanny-x-men-17.html

Watch Dogs 2 Review

By: Thomas Riccardi

In this modern day and age, we are all connected. We talk to each other via our phones, computers, and tablets to keep in touch with work and friends. We share events online and our tastes and preferences are being monitored. The first city that was run by the ctOS (a central operating system) was so popular that other cities starting adopting it. In 2016, it has spread to more than a few cities; however, there are some that are using this network for more vile deeds. Companies can profile your habits, track what you buy, and manipulate you like a puppet on a string. This is the backdrop for the new game from Ubisoft, Watch Dogs 2. But is this a system you will want to overrun?

Gamers will play as Marcus Holloway, a bright, young hacker who wants to prove himself and make a difference. He teams up with the hacker group known as DeadSec for the first mission: hacking into a giant technology firm called Blume that monitors and creates profiles. As you make your way through the systems, you find something troubling. Marcus is flagged for a crime that he did not commit and right then and there, he vows to take down Blume and everything it stands for. However, he cannot do this alone and he will need to gather an army of followers and their computing power to take down Blume.

Watch Dogs 2 is simply amazing. There is a slogan that goes along with the game: hack everything. And they mean it. You can hack people that pass you by on the street and steal money, info, and other resources. There are cameras that allow you to see into areas that you would not be able to access. You can hack into vehicles remotely, trigger electrical shorts to stun enemies, and hack robots that are on the city streets. You will also have remote access to drones – a quadcopter and a remote-controlled car – that can help you out of tight situations.

Not all situations can be resolved by hacking; sometimes you need to resort to violence. There are a few weapons that you can use in the game, but the one you start with is awesome. Marcus carries a stun gun that can knock a person out from range and can also be upgraded. Imagine engaging enemies with a stun gun that can fire and reload quickly while you simultaneously steal their weapons. This makes for some amazing gameplay as you can play the game how you want to. You can use stealth and take out enemies with melee attacks, stun them from range, or go in guns blazing.

Another cool aspect for me personally is that the game is set right in my own backyard, which makes me want to get out and explore. Granted, I live in Sacramento but San Francisco is not that far from me and I used to live in the Bay Area. The Ubisoft team really went above and beyond with it by including iconic locations and familiar layouts of the area. The game is split up into four different areas: Oakland, Marin, San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and each of these areas has their own unique look and feel to them. Believe me, if you have even visited the Bay Area, you’ll be looking at this game and shouting, “I know where that is!”

Additionally, there is a multiplayer component to Watch Dogs 2 that integrates seamlessly. For example, you could start a mission and someone from online can join and assist you, which is great if you have a hard mission. However, for some of us who want to play the game on our own, you can turn that element off in the options menu. You can also start an Online Invasion where you search for a hacker and try to steal his data or prevent your data from being stolen. Speed, stealth, and ingenuity are your key tools here as you try to keep your wits about you. If you commit too much chaos in the world of Watch Dogs 2, you might find a contract on your head. This is the Bounty Hunter mode, where you try to evade three other players as they attempt to take you down. If the players manage to defeat you, they are given a bonus but, if you take them out, you receive an even larger bonus.

I have been playing Watch Dogs 2 for days on the PC and I’ve barely scratched the surface, which is why that is also the case with this review, but I can tell you it is simply wonderful. If you haven’t checked it out for consoles or PC, you definitely need to. For more information on this great game, head over the official website. Are you ready to hack everything?

admin
via The Nerd Machine

http://www.nerdhq.com/watch-dogs-2-review/

MILES Re-Lives That Moment In SPIDER-MAN #10

Spoilers gone wild.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32288-miles-re-lives-that-moment-in-spider-man-10.html

Best Shots Review: MIDNIGHTER & APOLLO #3 'A Gory But Heartfelt Romance' (10/10)

Steve Orlando and Fernando Blanco take DC's new World's Finest couple.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32290-best-shots-review-midnighter-apollo-3-10-10.html

MILES & GWEN Sitting In A Tree: Your First Look At SPIDER-MAN #12

Here are the first interior pages from SPIDER-MAN #12.

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http://www.newsarama.com/32296-miles-gwen-sitting-in-a-tree-your-first-look-at-spider-man-12.html

Miles Morales & Gwen Stacy Together in SPIDER-MAN #12 First Look

Looking Back on the First Decade of FIRST SECOND

The imprint that changed the face of graphic novels hits its tenth – and they’re just getting started

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http://www.newsarama.com/32294-looking-back-on-the-first-decade-of-first-second.html

What We Leave Behind - Arrow

What We Leave Behind Arrow, Season 5 Arrow Genre: Drama Price: $2.99 Release Date: December 7, 2016

After Prometheus attacks Curtis, Oliver realizes that Prometheus knows all of Team Arrow’s secret identities and is planning to come for them one by one. Felicity and Detective Malone (guest star TYLER RITTER) discover a clue that links Prometheus to Oliver’s past. © © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/what-we-leave-behind/id1143585436?i=1183878236&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE

LINE WEBTOON Creators Earning $100k A Month From Patreon

LINE WEBTOON has launched an enormously successful Patreon campaign.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32293-line-webtoon-creators-earning-100k-a-month-from-patreon.html

Once Upon a Time: Wish You Were Here (Review)

By: Marianne Paluso (@Marianne_P81)

If I were to describe my thoughts on the Once Upon a Time mid-season finale “Wish You Were Here,” they would be conflicted but still hopeful for what’s to come. Upon first viewing, I found the episode odd and confusing and was quite upset and angered by some aspects, which was an entirely new experience. So I did something I never do. I read what other people were analyzing and because of that, combined with clarifications from writers, and another viewing with those things in my mind, I was no longer confused or completely upset and understood things much more clearly. However, I should not have to rely on those things. It should’ve been clearer in the episode, so we are faced with a case where the intent and the execution did not meld as well as they should have. Overall, some things I quite enjoyed, some things left me intrigued, and some things left me somewhat disappointed in a comparison and “what could have been” sense. But in the end I still feel hopeful for what’s to come.

To summarize the plot: upon discovering the sword fated to kill Emma can harm the Evil Queen but not Regina, they plan to take care of her once and for all. Unfortunately, the Evil Queen gets a hold of the magic lamp and wishes Emma away to a world where she was never the Savior. After Killian, David, and Jasmine work together against the Evil Queen, they get the lamp for themselves and Aladdin and Jasmine depart wish a wish back to Agrabah. But danger still looms as the hooded figure from Emma’s vision arrives, turning the Queen into a snake and revealing themselves to Belle and Rumple who were grief stricken that their son had been taken by the Black Fairy. But the hooded figure and their son are one and the same. Meanwhile, Regina wished herself to the same world as Emma, who had memories of growing up happy, but was not herself, and so Regina resorts to violence to try to convince her of the truth. It’s only when Henry was about to kill that Emma wakes up. They’re ready to go home with the magic bean this world’s Rumpelstiltskin traded to them for his freedom, but Emma and Regina lose their chance when Robin Hood suddenly appears and the portal closes before they can return home.

One of the things that was most intriguing was that the hooded figure fated to kill Emma turned out to be Rumple and Belle’s now fully grown son Gideon. How did he go from sweet son protecting his mother to an evil and ominous figure who wants to kill Emma? He was taken by the Black Fairy so it seems she has corrupted him. To what point and purpose? Is it because Emma is destined to vanquish darkness? As far as his parents, I thought Rumple had crossed too many lines to make a reconciliation with him and Belle possible, but I’m willing to be open-minded based on the positive improvement in his behavior in this episode, leading with his actions instead of empty words. Although I wasn’t keen on Belle saying “what have we done to each other,” because all she has done was stand up and protect herself, I do like that what we are seeing between them is about protecting their son. With Gideon clearly on a dark path, now it will be interesting to see how they go about helping their son and not wanting to hurt Emma (at least from Belle’s perspective) and how those two things can reconcile. Corrupt or not, I did enjoy seeing him turn the Evil Queen into a snake, as her presence has worn thin. And was that a clue that perhaps Jafar is involved in all of this?

Speaking of reconciling, as I’ve stated before, it’s time to reconcile both sides of Regina, either by finding a way to absorb the other, or by killing the Evil Queen. What’s conflicting is that we’re finally seeing more recognition that they are two halves to one whole, but at the same time it feels like Regina still hasn’t learned much. With half the season over that’s disappointing, but one thing that has been made clear is that even with splitting herself, darkness is still in Regina because you can’t simply cut part of yourself away. I once thought destroying Evil Queen would be a bad message, but because of the darkness she still has, I actually think it could progress her story. We could see more growth where her good intentions are matched by good methods. That’s still a struggle and perhaps this could be a positive way that lesson could be learned. I hope the reappearance of Robin Hood in her life in whatever form he is will lead to this and help her find peace and happiness in whatever way that may look like. Robin was always a positive force in her life, so I look forward to where their story may lead. And it’s quite interesting how these two sides of Regina may very well be associated with David’s wish. He called the Evil Queen a snake and made a wish that she get exactly what she deserves. At first it seemed as if that was wasted, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that right after, Gideon arrived and turned her into one. But the price of that wish is that Emma’s fated foe is now in Storybrooke. And this would also explain why Robin suddenly appeared in the wish world – so Regina could find what she deserves with her soulmate. What that is remains to be seen.

My favorite aspect of “Wish You Were Here ” was David and Killian working together, which showcased some wonderful development for their characters. After being noticeably absent last episode, I loved seeing David back in action and working alongside his friend. From tension to understanding, these two have come such a long way in their relationship and the way that has progressed was showcased within this episode in itself. Besides becoming friends, there are no two men who love Emma more. Side note – when David questions Killian’s knowledge of Emma’s wish because they live together now and Killian yells back that they don’t sit around discussing when a genie would appear, I thought to myself, “Please show us what they really do because we’ve yet to see it!” But I digress. What I found really interesting was the way the two characters reversed roles in a way and it says significant things about where they are individually and in relation to each other. David is always fiercely protective of his daughter. It is one of the best parts of the series and one that continually moves me. And while he often has bursts of anger, David more often than not remains cool and collected. But for a moment, his anger nearly got the best of him when he confronted the Evil Queen, but thankfully Killian knew something had gone wrong and arrived just in time. But that didn’t stop David from feeling ashamed and fearful that he is as dark as his brother. And I really love that the writers are giving his character more complexities to deal with. Between the shared curse with Snow and threats and dangers involving his daughter, David is understandably stressed and worried. It broke my heart to hear him fear that without Snow, his dark side will break free. But it warmed my heart to see Killian be the one to assure him that we all make mistakes, that he is a good person, and to go kiss his wife. If you think about who they are, it feels like it would have been Killian expressing these fears. But the fact that it was David’s fears and Killian’s reassurance was a really significant and meaningful moment for them. The camaraderie between them is a joy to watch and as far as Killian, the growth he demonstrated here was simply amazing. The roles were reversed indeed as he acted in the way David usually does. One may think Killian wasn’t frantic enough. But just because he was more calm doesn’t mean he wasn’t deeply worried and doing what whatever he could to help Emma. On the contrary, he was merely showing how far he’s come and how much everything he’s gone through has affected him. In the past he’s been reckless, and Emma was horrified at the thought of losing him because of it. But now he’s acting in a way that Emma would be proud of and being the Killian Jones he lost and has once again found: thoughtful, intelligent, and still proactive. He would go to the end of the world or time for Emma but he can’t do that if he gets himself killed. After having his life miraculously restored, he never wants to leave Emma again.

As far as the other moments of the episode I enjoyed, these were: Emma, David, and Killian walking down Main Street in slow-motion, hero-style with such an epic feel; and Aladdin and Jasmine continuing to be sweet and a little nod to the film where Jasmine reaches out her hand and asks him, “Do you trust me?” It was wonderful and while I am sad to see them go, I know there is still much more to their story. From one Savior to another, Aladdin’s gesture of leaving Emma his scarab jewel was touching and however their stories intertwine, I will be a captive audience. I also loved the way in which Robin Hood appeared and seeing Sean Maguire on my screen again made me incredibly happy. His robbery attempt made me smile and Regina’s awed and tearful pull toward him was touching. Even though no one in this world is supposed to be real, one cannot fault someone being amazed and overwhelmed to see the love of their life suddenly before them. I also laughed at Aladdin’s little “Eww” at the Evil Queen’s advances, at Regina’s happiness of seeing dwarves, as well as her amusement at seeing Snow and David much older. I liked revisiting Rumple at his most impish self as well, and how Robert Carlyle always has a way of making him creepy and funny simultaneously; and lastly Emma softly humming “Someday My Prince Will Come” while flower picking was very sweet.

Which leads me to the conflicting parts of the episode. From an aesthetic perspective, I really loved the wish realm. The costumes were gorgeous and sets stunning and I loved not only the grand marble statue of Snow with David, but also seeing how they would look as an older, regal, and royal couple. Similarly, seeing Emma as a princess instantly brought a smile to my face and Jennifer Morrison looked absolutely radiant. And it was incredibly sweet hearing her call her parents “mommy and daddy” and her in a world where she clearly grew up with endless love. However, while the sweetness makes sense, the way in which and she was also meek, timid, and afraid of the Evil Queen with absolutely no sign of the fierceness and strength that she embodies left me feeling very upset. Emma would never act this way and Snow and David would have raised her to be courageous and not grovel or beg for mercy. I could not believe they would present this character that way and had to instead believe that this wasn’t the intent. Thankfully, as I said, it shouldn’t have come to this, and seeing analysis and confirmation that this wasn’t the case and merely my confusion was a relief but also clearly showed a lack of proper execution. I thought this was meant to be a world to show what Emma’s life would have been like without being the Savior if the curse was never cast. And it was in a sense, but it wasn’t that straightforward. Instead, this was the Evil Queen’s twisted perversion of that and knowing this not only alleviated the bad feelings, but also made things make perfect sense that didn’t previously – Henry’s existence despite Neal not being in the Enchanted Forest at that time, Rumple still wanting the curse cast, Granny not aging while Snow and David did, Killian being conspicuously absent, and most of all Emma’s behavior. It still was far from my favorite thing to watch but when examining it, it certainly sheds interesting light on how the Evil Queen views Emma. This world was meant to trap Emma in a place where she felt comfort but with nothing that would trigger that something was not right. It perfectly explains why Killian wasn’t there. He would have been so altered that whatever he was would cause a rift in the dream because the real Killian challenges her, encourages her, and praises her tenacity. It makes me wonder what the Killian she is bound to encounter will be like. Whatever version of him she meets, I am happy that the real Emma has returned.

The most difficult scene to wrap my head around was the one in which Emma is woken up from this dream. Regina pretends to be the Evil Queen, threatening, and then crushing the hearts of Snow and David with Emma on the floor completely broken and sobbing. It’s only when Henry arrives, Regina says she won’t hurt him, and most importantly when Henry was about to become a killer that she woke up. I think it’s very important to note that it’s clear Regina still doesn’t know the right method to get through to Emma (forcefulness and trauma do not work), that there is still some form of darkness in her, and that it was Henry’s actions that truly woke Emma up. Her intentions were good but the methods were so severe. And even though this was not the real Snow and David, seeing them murdered on screen was horrible to watch and as Emma said, “Very dark,” and seeing her say thank you after was a bit too much. Regina did a good thing in going there to help Emma but this way she tried to accomplish awakening her was something I really want to forget.

While I was able to understand upon reflection and enjoyed some aspects of the midseason finale, there was also a sense of disappointment. While I maintain an emphasis on positivity, critique and honesty are also important. When I compared to where the show was a year ago, “Swan Song” had so much more emotional resonance and epicness that “Wish You Were Here” lacked. And if I compare it to another similar scenario in “Operation Mongoose,” that episode had a clear premise and more heart and gusto. To be fair, “Wish You Were Here” is clearly meant to continue to the next episode and I suspect some great things are still to come. Moreover, I’ve always wanted to see a “what if the curse never happened” type of episode and I’m sad that this was only partially done and therefore the premise squandered. I don’t see them revisiting this either, though I suppose one could still hope. Lastly, although the scene where Emma blew out her birthday candle was lovely and a nice callback to the pilot, I’m disappointed it was used in a world that was not real. I had long since dreamed to see a scene like this at the end of the series, and then it literally played out word for word exactly how I imagined it. Except because this world wasn’t real, it rang hollow and false. My only solace and hope is that because this was shown here, perhaps they will revisit this and Emma saying she has everything she could ever wish for will mean something because it will be in the real world and she truly will have everything she could want, with everyone she loves around her: Her true love Killian, her son Henry, her parents, and her friends. That is the hopeful attitude I’m choosing to focus on.

Whatever is next for our characters and Once Upon a Time, I am also choosing to be hopeful and excited because I know what they can accomplish. How will Emma and Regina get home? We know Emma will meet the wish world’s version of Captain Hook. And no matter what he’s like, there will always be a connection between them, so I believe he will help bring her home as he always has. But how? There could be many scenarios but I would love it if perhaps we finally saw a version on screen of one of the show’s most significant moments. We know there are magic beans and we know that Killian will encounter them. Will we perhaps see Killian once again trade the Jolly Roger for a magic bean in order to bring Emma home? There are many things I hope to see play out the rest of season six, and although the first half was inconsistent, they also achieved greatness in many episodes. I hope to see a re-focus on Emma, what it means to be the Savior, her love story with Killian, and her familial love with her family.

Moreover, I hope for a more balanced story character-wise; to finally see Emma and Killian living together in proper scenes; Regina and Robin’s story to play out in a meaningful way; for Snow and David to break their sleeping curse; more between Killian, David, and Henry because their scenes are golden; Zelena to earn forgiveness; Regina to continue her growth; and Rumple and Belle to help bring their son back to the light. I also hope for more character moments balanced with plot, with emotional resolution and resonance, the return of Aladdin and Jasmine, and lots of romance and adventure. Most of all, I believe if the main story returns to the beauty of Emma’s journey, the magic that we’ve seen so often will be achieved. We’ve seen it this season and I hope the second half will show this more abundantly. Her story of overcoming adversity, opening her heart, and embracing her destiny is the kind of story that is endlessly beautiful, inspiring, and the one worthy of the most magical of storybooks.

Favorite Moments: I loved seeing Killian a David working together and reversing roles in a way as it showed such great things for them individually and as friends. The fact that David fears his dark side but Killian reassured him that he is a good man was really touching, as was how much Killian has grown in the way he handles a crisis. The wish world, though not my favorite thing, had some beauty and nice moments: Emma looking radiant and singing as she picked flowers, and getting a glimpse at an older Snow and Charming. Lastly, Emma, David, and Killian walking down the street in slow motion was such a great hero moment, Regina being happy to see the dwarves was funny, Jasmine asking Aladdin if she had his trust, Aladdin’s look as the Genie, and the wonderful reappearance of Robin Hood were highlights.

Favorite Lines:
David: What if I’m just like my brother?
Killian: You’re not your brother, mate. We all make mistakes, it doesn’t change who we are. Now go kiss your damn wife.

Jasmine: Do you trust me?
Aladdin: Always, princess.

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http://www.nerdhq.com/once-upon-a-time-wish-you-were-here-review/

IDW Opens Portland Office For New Imprint & Entertainment Magazine

IDW expands its operation with an office in Portland.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32292-idw-opens-portland-office-for-new-imprint-entertainment-magazine.html

FANTAGRAPHICS Launches Shared Superhero Universe... No, Really

Noah Van Sciver, Jim Rugg, Ben Marra, Josh Bayer, and more.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/32289-fantagraphics-launches-shared-superhero-universe-no-really.html

The Flash: The Present Review

By: Ashley Binion (@ashleybinion)

“The Present,” aka The Flash’s Christmas episode, showcased a series first, a fun cameo, and a wrap-up on Alchemy.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

I’m glad the series finally found another way to use Barry’s time travel. Going to the past and constantly changing the timeline was something that was getting really old. I will be the first to admit that I love the time travel trope (Shameless plug for 12 Monkeys. It’s phenomenal.), but, The Flash has used and reused this plot device too many times. At least this time they used time travel it was in a different way. Only time will tell if their new use of time travel will work.

In the episode, the writers once again managed to create a secret that someone, in this case Barry, has to keep. This seems to be an Arrowverse problem. At this point I’m so over it that I’ve actually come to somewhat accept that this is something that the Arrow and The Flash will continue to do and that it’s almost a waste of energy continuing to write about it.

The Flash made an excellent choice regarding Julian and his evil counterpart Alchemy. Throughout the run of the series, the ‘Big Bads’ have been people who were close to the team then ended up betraying them. Thankfully, The Flash chose to go a different route with Julian. Of course, Julian and Barry weren’t exactly friends to start the season so his ‘betrayal’ wouldn’t be one that was as emotional as Reverse Flash or Zoom. I’m just glad they are showing Julian as a potential good guy who was manipulated by the actual villain, Savitar. (Indiana Jones Julian for the win!)

Savitar hating future Barry is very reminiscent of Reverse Flash. That was a plot point that didn’t need to be repeated. It was done so perfectly in season one with Reverse Flash that anything will pale in comparison.

Cisco falling for the dead brother mirage was ridiculous and out of character. He’s one of the few characters who wouldn’t fall for that trick. To be fair, this is not Original Timeline Cisco so who really knows what he would and would not fall for. If the series decides to go here, which they should, they are creating a quintessential backstory for a villain. It seems like the theory of Cisco being the villain in the fight with Caitlin may actually come true.

I loved the brief Earth-3 scene. It was so fun and goofy and something The Flash needs to take advantage of from time to time. Seeing John Wesley Shipp and Mark Hamill interact again as The Flash and Trickster was wonderful. I never thought that was going to happen, so it was a fantastic surprise. The more I see of Shipp and his Flash costume, the better. For some reason, I actually prefer his suit to Barry’s. And it looks like the series is setting up a tradition of having Mark Hamill crash Christmas episodes. Yes, please.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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