10 BEST Comic Book-Based Animated Features of All Time

FLASHPOINT is making the jump from comics to animation to live action feature. Time to talk about the best comic book animated movies ever.

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https://www.newsarama.com/17564-10-best-comic-book-based-animated-features-of-all-time.html

GREEN ARROW Preps For METAL, GREEN LANTERN Team-Up, 'Make-Up Sex' With BLACK CANARY

Benjamin Percy tell-all? Not quite, but close.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35708-green-arrow-preps-for-metal-green-lantern-team-up-make-up-sex-with-black-canary.html

Best Shots Rapid-Fire Reviews: CROSSWIND #2, SPIDER-GWEN #22, WWE #7, More

Also YOUR PAL ARCHIE #1 and POWER & MAGIC: THE QUEER WITCH COMICS ANTHOLOGY.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35709-best-shots-rapid-fire-reviews-crosswind-2-spider-gwen-22-wwe-7-more.html

Titans (2016-) #13 - Dan Abnett, V. Ken Marion, Kenneth Rocafort & Dan Brown

Titans (2016-) #13 Dan Abnett, V. Ken Marion, Kenneth Rocafort & Dan Brown Genre: Graphic Novels Price: $2.99 Publish Date: July 12, 2017 Publisher: DC Comics Seller: DC Comics

“JUDAS AMONG US”! As Omen begins her investigation into the identity of the team’s traitor, the Titans launch a full assault on H.I.V.E., who they believe hold the key to restoring Bumblebee’s broken mind. Meanwhile, tensions rise when Roy discovers Wally and Donna’s blossoming romance—which threatens to tear the Titans apart!

get it now at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/titans-2016-13/id1232336619?mt=11&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE

Injustice: Gods Among Us #3 - Tom Taylor & Mike S. Miller

Injustice: Gods Among Us #3 Tom Taylor & Mike S. Miller Genre: Graphic Novels Price: $0.99 Publish Date: January 29, 2013 Publisher: DC Comics Seller: DC Comics

Superman battles one of his most deadly foes while an innocent life is in danger. Tragic events are about to unfold that will change the course of history for the heroes of the DC Universe. It all kicks into high gear here!

get it now at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/injustice-gods-among-us-3/id597754102?mt=11&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE

People Will Die in SAMARITAN: VERITAS #3 Preview

It's the end of the first arc for SAMARITAN: VERITAS.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35701-samaritan-veritas-3-preview.html

Report: Another ANT-MAN Actor Joins ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

Another familiar face from ANT-MAN is returning.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35707-report-judy-greer-reprises-ant-man-role.html

Batman Forever Retrospective

By: Kimberly Kuxhause

Batman Forever debuted in 1995, three years after the iconic Batman Returns, with the wondrously dark tale of Bruce Wayne and his tortured psyche fresh in our minds. Yet it was obvious from the get-go that the character on our movie screens was not the same caped crusader we had come to know and love. His alien world, changed face, and newly nippled chest sent viewers on a chaotic thrill ride through a nightmarish cast of characters. Although the movie achieved financial success, critics were less than pleased. So what caused the bat-astrophe known as Batman Forever?

First, let’s look at the positives. Batman Forever was a financial success, partially because of its lighter tone and decent effects. It had an entirely original score, thanks to Elliot Goldenthal, which, like the movie, achieved commercial success. The softer material allowed families the opportunity to see the film together (no pesky penguin to bite off fingers here!). And yet, despite the lighter characters, it still had an all-star cast. Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Nicole Kidman, and Jim Carrey brought their acting chops and displayed them with vibrant gusto. In re-watching the movie, their performances made me wonder why I didn’t revisit Batman Forever more often. Then, I remembered.

The darkness of Batman and Batman Returns brought a serious tone to the series, granting a sense of risk and urgency. This urgency was necessary to maintain the audience’s interest for an entire two hours. Yet that urgency faded in Joel Schumacher’s adaptation, which included a dizzying number of characters – Jim Gordon, Robin, Batman, Chase Meridian, Two Face, Riddler, and Alfred, among others. The movie’s segmented scenes attempt to give each character their own story arc. Harvey Dent’s origins get but a mention on a TV news station, which is easily missed, and Edward Nygma’s mental break occurs within the span of two minutes. Villains appear, and then exist, with little to nothing justifying their descent into lunacy. The same is true with our supposed heroes. Dick Grayson is introduced and characterized in a flash and in the exact same scene, his entire family is killed. The Waynes iconic death scene is explored (a second time) as Schumacher attempts to revisit and rewrite the Dark Knight’s origins with a guilt-tripping journal thrown into the mix. And yet the origin’s attempted exploration, and explanation, fades away in light of Dr. Meridian and Wayne’s budding love story…or do I mean Dr. Meridian and Batman’s love story? At this point, I doubt even the characters know.

And a lot of what made Batman Returns a critical success, like the dark wit and the mysterious sets, disintegrated in favor of a lighter background and comic relief. The city of Gotham became some kind of mash-up between New York City and the futuristic cities of Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Neon signs and graffiti were everywhere – on gangsters’ faces, on walls, and on buildings. Nightmarish statues lurked above the cramped town, depicting gargoyles and tortured souls. Gotham’s twisted streets became mockery of itself – the criminals weren’t actually dangerous and the heroes weren’t all that good. And boy oh boy, do I have words about the constant, never-ending pun-land. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pun and oodles of situational irony, but Schumacher’s vision sapped out every cringeworthy ounce of hokey-ness the script could offer, particularly in Robin’s case.

I don’t blame the actors for their performances; in fact, I think they did rather well with the task at hand. And I can’t completely hate on Schumacher, as I thoroughly enjoyed his work on The Phantom of the Opera and Phone Booth. But the overall tone, comedic relief, and warped vision of Gotham left me uncomfortable and unsatisfied. It’s predictable and alien all at the same time. Mainly, I attribute the film’s failings to the new “light” concept executives wanted Batman Forever to have. Batman is either a dark (see Keaton or Bale) or campy (Adam West) character; there is no in between. Anything in between and you get a confused, aimless character. In my experience, a straight to film adaptation of comics isn’t enough to attract moviegoers and I think that’s what Schumacher attempted to do here. Whether you look at Batman Forever, Superman Returns, or the incredibly cringeworthy Hulk (2003), the comic format isn’t forgiving on the big screen.

All this being said, there are those who adore Batman Forever. I both see and acknowledge you. But for me, and a significant number of others, the chaotic compilation of good, bad, and neutral characters diluted the plot and simplified the characters. The film did not achieve the depth of its predecessors which made it hard to care about Gotham’s fate. I left the movie conflicted about the series – a feeling which only worsened with the sequel.

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http://www.nerdhq.com/batman-forever-retrospective/

The FALCON Tells Everyone His Origin Story In CHAMPIONS #11 Preview

A superheroic version of body dysmorphia.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35705-the-falcon-tells-everyone-his-origin-story-in-champions-11-preview.html

SHATNER, GIBBONS, KESEL, More Coming To LONG BEACH COMIC CON

The first group of guests announced.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35706-shatner-gibbons-kesel-more-coming-to-long-beach-comic-con.html

THINK TANK Finale Leading to World World War III? ANIMAL #4 Preview

THINK TANK: ANIMAL reaches its conclusion.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35702-think-tank-animal-4-preview.html

Disney's TINKER BELL Goes Solo In TOKYOPOP October 2017 Solicitations

Disney's TINKER BELL.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35684-tokyopop-october-2017-solicitations.html

MARVEL LEGACY Resurrects Marvel Trading Cards - As Variant Covers

MARVEL LEGACY brings back another classic Marvel concept.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35704-marvel-legacy-trading-card-variant-covers.html

Sith Lord Down In DARTH VADER #4 Preview

We haven't seen a beating like this since Mustafar.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35703-sith-lord-broken-in-darth-vader-4-preview.html

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT October 2017 Solicitations

HERO CATS, PRINCELESS, and more.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35676-action-lab-entertainment-october-2017-solicitations.html

What We Know: The Foreigner

By: Jaclyn Cascio (@jaclynator)

Jackie Chan is well known for his comedic hijinks and acrobatic stunts. But this fall, The Foreigner will show Chan as we’ve never seen him before! The new action-thriller flick will treat us with whole new side of the 63-year-old dynamo and pair him with more than one James Bond alumni. Intrigued? Get the scoop on the upcoming film here!

Stephen Leather’s “The Chinaman” was published in 1992. A suspenseful and thrilling read, David Marconi (Live Free or Die Hard) eventually adapted the novel into a film script. In June 2015, the film project was announced with Chan already signed on to star. The next month brought Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) on board to direct. By November 2015, Pierce Brosnan joined the cast – reuniting Campbell and Brosnan for the first time since their work together on the James Bond flick GoldenEye in 1995. Working on an estimated $35 million budget, the British-Chinese co-production began principal photography in London in January 2016.

Producers Wayne Marc Godfrey, D. Scott Lumpkin, Jamie Marshall, and Arthur M. Sarkissian certainly had their work cut out for them, along with other behind-the-scenes personnel, in shooting in London. A sequence involving a bus explosion on Lambeth Bridge caused alarm in many London residents, despite a four-month long process of negotiation to make the event happen and numerous warnings to the public. The Foreigner is a great feat of cooperation, bringing together production companies The Fyzz Facility, SparkleRoll Media, and Huayi Brothers Pictures with the film set to be distributed by STX Entertainment.

Backed by music written by former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Cliff Martinez, The Foreigner tells of the story of local restaurant owner Ngoc Minh Quan (Chan), a businessman with a troubled past that comes back to haunt him as he embarks on a journey of revenge against the terrorists who carried out a politically motivated attack that left his innocent teen daughter dead. Hunting the terrorists who took his child from the world too soon, Quan meets with conflict with British government official Liam Hennessey (Brosnan) whose one questionable past may hold the answers Quan needs to find the murderous terrorists.

Take a look at the tension-filled and dramatic trailer for yourself!



The Foreigner stars Jackie Chan as Quan and Pierce Brosnan as Hennessey with Harry Potter’s Katie Leung as Quan’s daughter, Fan. They are joined by Charlie Murphy (Love/Hate) as Maggie, Liu Tao (Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils) as Keyi Lan, Orla Brady (Into the Badlands) as Mary, Manolo Cardona as Pedro Lopez, Simon Kunz (The Last Kingdom) as Matthew Rice, Pippa Bennett (Doctor Who) as Marissa Levitt, Roberta Taylor (EastEnders) as Mrs. Taylor, Dermot Crowley (Return of the Jedi) as McGrath, Rufus Jones as Woody, and Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones).

If you’re thinking that this looks like a new direction for Jackie Chan, you’re not alone. Director Campbell has stated, “It’s a very unique role for him, not what you’d expect of Jackie Chan. He’s playing a dead-straight role, a very quiet, determined old man with a singular focus of tracking down whoever killed his daughter.”

Known for his work as a talented and acrobatic martial artist, even Chan’s fighting style may look a little different in The Foreigner. Campbell stated, “Quan’s fighting skills are slightly more military. Jackie keeps Quan well-grounded. Pierce keeps his character well-grounded. It’s actually a very serious drama.”

So how did Chan prepare for the serious drama? “It was important for me to do a role that was more serious, with a lot of emotion. To prepare, I imagined what it would be like to be a father dealing with that situation,” he said. With a teenage daughter himself, it likely wasn’t a far stretch for Chan to imagine the lengths his character would go to.

Deviating from the days of Rush Hour (although there’s a rumored sequel in the works), Chan looks to be giving us a fresh look at his abilities. Grim and thrilling, The Foreigner might be a box office hit this fall!

The Foreigner is slated to premiere in the United States October 14, 2017 (with a slightly earlier release of September 30, 2017 in China). Are you excited to see what Chan brings to the table in the suspense flick?

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http://www.nerdhq.com/what-we-know-the-foreigner/

Infant Crying Opens A Portal To Hell In BABYTEETH #3 Preview

Have kids? You might understand.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35700-preview-babyteeth.html

Robot KIRK? Klingon Starfleet? SPOCK's Not a Vulcan? STAR TREK: BOLDLY GO Boldly Goes There In October

An exploration of Vulcan philosophy's idea of "Infinite Diversity (in) Infinite Combinations."

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https://www.newsarama.com/35697-star-trek-boldly-go-exploring-alternate-dimensions-beyond-the-mirror-universe.html

Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne Among Cast Joining Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp

By: Michaela Bush

A whole new batch of awesomeness just landed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

During the Ant-Man panel at San Diego Comic Con 2017, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced a handful of actors had been cast for the new 2018 film, Ant-Man and The Wasp.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns) has joined the cast as Janet van Dyne. Walton Goggins (Maze Runner: The Death Cure, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) and Laurence Fishburne (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Hannibal, The Matrix series) have also joined as Sonny Burch and Dr. Bill Foster (AKA Goliath), respectively. Finally, Hannah John-Kamen (Ready Player One, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Game of Thrones) will be appearing as Ghost and Randall Park has been cast as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jimmy Woo.

These new characters come from interesting comic backgrounds. One could say that an Easter egg for Goliath’s character and his abilities was placed in Captain America: Civil War, as Ant-Man used size-changing abilities (while cackling maniacally) to fight the other Avengers. In the comics, Fishburne’s character was originally a biochemist who worked with Hank Pym. He later became a size-switching superhero known as Goliath. Also interesting is John-Kamen’s role, whose character is originally from the Iron Man comics: a paranoid villain (or perhaps anti-hero) who started out as an industrial saboteur. Finally, Goggins’ character is the chairman of Cross Technologies. In the comics, obviously, Cross Tech was affiliated with Darren Cross, who appeared in the 2015 Ant-Man film as Yellow Jacket.

At the panel, Feige further stated that Pfeiffer was their “dream choice” for the role of Janet van Dyne. Originally, Hayley Lovitt briefly played the role in Ant-Man.

Of course, Evangeline Lilly, Paul Rudd, Michael Pena, and Michael Douglas will be back in action for the Ant-Man sequel, which is set for a 2018 release.

Adding these new characters into the mix, what are you looking forward to the most in this film?

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http://www.nerdhq.com/michelle-pfeiffer-laurence-fishburne-among-cast-joining-marvels-ant-man-and-the-wasp/

ALEX ROSS Joins MARVEL LEGACY For CAPTAIN AMERICA #695 Lenticular Cover

Alex Ross has joined Mark Waid and Chris Samnee on the upcoming storyline.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35696-kingdom-come-team-reunites-for-captain-america-s-legacy.html

Meet the SORCERER SUPREME, IRON FIST, PHOENIX Of MARVEL LEGACY #1's 1,000,000 B.C. AVENGERS

Legacy, indeed.

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https://www.newsarama.com/35695-1-000-000-b-c-avengers-revealed-teaser-album.html