Task Force X may be expendable, but John Ostrander's Suicide Squad comics are indispensable. Decades after a version of the Col. Rick Flag-led government team debuted during DC's Silver Age in 1959, Ostrander reinvented the Suicide Squad for the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths era. Spinning out of Legends #3 -- plotted by Ostrander, written by Len Wein (Swamp Thing), and penciled by John Byrne (Superman: The Man of Steel) -- 1987's Suicide Squad comic run redefined the motley crew of incarcerated supervillains deemed disposable by ruthless program director Amanda Waller.

DC Comics will collect the first 18 issues of Ostrander and Luke McDonnell's Suicide Squad, plus the complete six-issue miniseries Legends and related issues -- including "The Secret Origin of the Suicide Squad" in Secret Origins #14 and the Ostrander-penned Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special -- in the Suicide Squad by John Ostrander Omnibus (releasing May 20th, 2025). The 1008-page collection retails for $125 and is available for pre-order here on Amazon.

The newly-formed Suicide Squad under Flag's command -- rogues Captain Boomerang, Enchantress, Bronze Tiger, and the assassin Deadshot -- were dispatched to eliminate Brimstone, an agent of Darkseid's, on a mission that came with the first casualty (the monstrous man-brute Blockbuster). Suicide Squad #1, titled "Trial by Blood," mined the cells of the super-powered prison of Belle Reve for the new Task Force X, adding Karin Grace, Plastique, and the ill-fated Mindboggler to the ever-changing ranks of Task Force X.

Ostrander's 66-issue run on Suicide Squad would go on to add marquee characters -- former Batgirl Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Oracle, Batman villain Poison Ivy, and the former Justice Leaguer Vixen -- alongside lesser-known anti-heroes and costumed criminals alike, including Green Arrow and Black Canary enemy Count Vertigo, Doctor Light, Ravan, The Thinker, Outlaw, Nightshade, Punch and Jewelee, Javelin, and Shade, the Changing Man.

The comic run influenced the David Ayer-directed Suicide Squad and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. In a 2021 interview with ComicBook, Gunn credited Ostrander's Suicide Squad for inspiring "the tone and the premise" of his R-rated, death-filled DC movie.

"I do think of [The Suicide Squad] as being a sequel to John Ostrander stories from the late '80s," Gunn said. "It's a bunch of Z-grade superheroes who are thought of as disposable by the US government and put out on a suicidal missions, Black Ops operations around the world, and really just sticking to that central premise and keeping that there is what was important to me."

Discover the definitive and explosive introduction to the modern version of the Suicide Squad by comics legend John Ostrander.

When new threats emerge deemed too dangerous for the United States military, Batman, and even Superman, who is called in to answer the call of duty? Seems like a job for Task Force X, also known as the Suicide Squad. Led by the no-nonsense federal agent Amanda Waller, this band of notorious super-criminals are faced with a dilemma: accept these highly dangerous missions and stare death in the face to earn their freedom or rot forever in prison. Comics legend John Ostrander defines the Suicide Squad for the modern age in this brutal tale of war and redemption.

Collects: Suicide Squad #1-18; Checkmate #1, #8; Manhunter #1; Justice League International #13; Secret Origins #14, #28; Who's Who #14; Detective Comics #582; The Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special #1; Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3-8, #11-12, #15-18, #20-23, #25; The New Teen Titans #31; The Fury of Firestorm #62-64; Firestorm: The Nuclear Man Annual #5; Who's Who Update 1987 #1, #3-5; Legends #1-6; Millennium #4; Who's Who Update 1988 #1-4.

To quote Lois Lane: "What a super man." Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story -- a new documentary about the real-life man behind the Man of Steel in 1978's Superman: The Movie and its sequels -- chronicles the life and career of actor and activist Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed from the neck down following an equestrian accident in 1995. The feature-length film, which premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, will screen only in theaters September 21st and again on Reeve's birthday, Sept. 25th, with an international rollout slated for later this year.

In the just-released trailer below, Reeve's children -- ABC News correspondent Will Reeve, Matthew Reeve, and Alexandra Reeve Givens, who serve on the Board of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation -- reflect on their father's legacy and his life after the accident.

The documentary is directed by BAFTA Award-nominated filmmakers Ian Bonh?te and Peter Ettedgui (McQueen) and includes never-before-seen intimate home movies and an extraordinary trove of personal archive material, as well as the first extended interviews ever filmed with Reeve's three children about their father, and interviews with the A-list Hollywood actors who were Reeve's colleagues and friends, including Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, and Jeff Daniels.

"With 2024 being the 20-year anniversary of our father's death, that felt like the right time to reintroduce him and his heroic story to the world," Will Reeve said at Sundance. "And as we met the folks at Passion Pictures and Misfits Entertainment, and Ian and Peter and our friends at Words + Pictures, we knew we had the right team. Everything came together in a way that we knew as a family we could be open and honest and vulnerable and hand everything over to them and see what they came back with. And that trust has been rewarded in a way that we're just so thrilled about and can't wait for the world to experience as well."

Added Reeve Givens, "There are so many different parts of his personality and his passions that come through in the film. He was dedicated to his craft, of course, before the accident, but also after being able to return to acting and directing and showing that a disability wouldn't hold him back. So that legacy of what it is to care about your career and keep moving even after overwhelming obstacles is one key part of it. But the other part is his life as an advocate. He was an activist again before the injury. And then after the injury, of course, he became known around the world for his advocacy, for medical research and for disability rights."

Described as "a moving and vivid cinematic retelling of Reeve's remarkable story," Super/Man hails from Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films, Words + Pictures, Passion Pictures, Misfits Entertainment, and Fathom Events.

"The story of Christopher Reeve is an astonishing rise from unknown actor to iconic movie star, and his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the benchmark for the superhero cinematic universes that dominate cinema today. Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down," the synopsis reads. "After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and care - all while continuing his career in cinema in front of and behind the camera and dedicating himself to his beloved family."

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is in U.S. theaters on Sept. 21st and Sept. 25th. Tickets are now on sale via the Fathom Events website.

The Twisters cast threw a celebration when they found out their co-star David Corenswet will be playing Superman on the big screen. Twisters was an instant hit at the box office, even surpassing its 1996 predecessor, Twister. One of the movie's stars, David Corenswet, made news earlier this year when DC Studios and James Gunn announced him as the next actor to suit up as the Man of Steel in next year's Superman. While fans were excited to finally have their Superman, this excitement was also shared by the cast and crew of Twisters.

Twisters star Brandon Perea shared some behind-the-scenes videos from the set on social media, with one of the videos featuring the cast's reaction to David Corenswet's Superman announcement. Glen Powell and Sasha Lane are just some of the people you can see jumping up and down and screaming. "Brandon, congrats!! That's our Superman, baby!!" Perea screams. You can tell everyone involved in Twisters is happy for Corenswet, since Superman is one of the more coveted roles in Hollywood, especially with the relaunch of the DC Universe under filmmaker James Gunn. You can watch the video below in the fifth slide of Perea's post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brandon Perea (@brandonperea)

Superman wraps filming

The end of July came the confirmation that James Gunn's Superman had wrapped filming. The film is the inaugural film entry in Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Studios and stars David Corenswet in the titular role of Clark Kent / Superman. Corenswet also commemorated the end of production with a post on social media.

The video consists solely of him looking at the character and eating a piece of chocolate cake, seemingly as a celebration of him not needing to maintain his superhero physique in the immediate future.

What is Superman about?

Per DC Studios, Superman tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Superman will also star Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Terence Rosemore as Otis, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe.

What is Twisters about?

Twisters follows Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City. She is lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), the charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew, the more dangerous the better. As storm season intensifies, terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed, and Kate, Tyler, and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives.

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung (Minari), Twisters also stars Brandon Perea (Nope), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Daryl McCormack (Peaky Blinders), Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Nik Dodani (Atypical), David Corenswet (Superman), Katy O'Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), and Golden Globe winner Maura Tierney (Beautiful Boy).

Twisters is now playing in theaters and will return to 4DX on August 30th.

Mike Flanagan has spent much of his career directing horror pictures, but the filmmaker appears to hoping for a change of pace. At an appearance at FanEXPO Canada on Saturday, Flanagan said he's a fan of DC Studios boss James Gunn on both a personal and professional level, saying he'd love to join Gunn's new DC Universe at some point in his career.

"I've always been a huge fan of James Gunn as a person and filmmaker, and that is a universe I would absolutely love to be apart of," Flanagan said during his spotlight panel.

Mike Flanagan when asked if he will do something with DC:

"I've always been a huge fan of James Gunn as a person and filmmaker, and that is a universe I would absolutely love to be apart of."

(via @pekennenino | Toronto FanExpo) pic.twitter.com/wNji6ezxfx

-- Home of DCU (@homeofdcu) August 24, 2024

Before he joins the DC Universe, however, Flanagan will be tackling a new remake of The Exorcist.

"The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying within its universe," Flanagan said in a statement earlier this year. "Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom I've made some of my favorite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting."

What is on the DC Universe slate?

As Gunn and Safran have revealed, the initial DC Studios slate for "Gods and Monsters" will include movies for Superman, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. It will include the HBO Max television shows Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and an animated Creature Commandos series.

"We're honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we've loved since we were children," Gunn and Safran said in a statement when their roles were first announced. "We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved. Our commitment to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the rest of the DC stable of characters is only equaled by our commitment to the wonder of human possibility these characters represent. We're excited to invigorate the theatrical experience around the world as we tell some of the biggest, most beautiful, and grandest stories ever told."

The DC Universe officially kicks off with Creature Commandos, which will see release this December, and Superman, which enters theaters July 11, 2025.

What part of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters excites you most? Let us know your thoughts by hitting our writer @AdamBarnhardt up on Twitter!

Batman's tragic origin story is one of the most famous ever told across mediums. But do you know the origins of the man who put the Bat on the big screen? Michael Uslan -- the DC Comics writer turned producer who purchased the Batman movie rights in 1979 with fellow producer Benjamin Melniker -- has been credited as an executive producer on every film featuring the Dark Knight since 1989's Tim Burton-directed Batman. Now Tony Award-winning actor and comic creator Dan Fogler (the Fantastic Beasts films) will play Uslan in a stage play adaptation of his 2011 memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman.

Nederlander Worldwide -- behind The Who's Tommy, On Your Feet!: The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, and Grease -- in association with Legion M Productions is developing the play, which was first announced by The Hollywood Reporter.

The Boy Who Loved Batman stage play (formerly known as Darknights and Daydreams) is "an inspirational comedy about one man's vision that became a national phenomenon," according to the official synopsis. "It's a crazy journey that goes from New Jersey to Hollywood, comic books to the silver screen. Every hero needs a hero, even Batman." The true story-inspired show will premiere at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida, running from October 1st-November 10th.

"Dan's exceptional talent, comic timing, impressive stage presence and deep, enthusiastic roots as an unabashed fanboy make him the perfect actor to take on the obviously challenging, complicated role of Michael Uslan," Uslan told THR. "From the first moment he was given the script, Dan has been spot-on in his approach to the material, and I could not be happier that he agreed to join us on this journey."

"I can't wait to be back on stage again, and Batman and comic books are two of my favorite subjects," added Fogler, who won the Tony his role as William Barf?e in the Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and who played Francis Ford Coppola in The Offer, about the making of The Godfather. "I was 12 in 1989 and seeing Batman on screen -- how he was meant to be in all his dark brooding glory -- was a life-changing experience. It was electric, and I can't wait to tell the story of how it all came to be."

Directed by Tony winner Jeff Calhoun (Newsies), The Boy Who Loved Batman also features Paul Adam Schaefer (Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera) as Imaginary Friend, Katherine Yacko (Hamlet) as Nancy Uslan, with Kelly Bashar, Nicholas Perez-Hoop, and Hugh Timoney portraying multiple roles including Uslan's family members, as well as visionary Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee -- who collaborated with Uslan on DC's Just Imagine -- and Bill Finger, the long-uncredited co-creator of Batman.

Thank you to @LegionMOfficial for sharing this.

"We are so excited to share with you some BTS of the first table read for 'The Boy Who Loved Batman' play, formerly known as 'Dark Knights and Daydreams, based on the book by @michaeluslan.

The play delves into the life of... pic.twitter.com/TnFe5d3t4i

-- Michael Uslan (@MichaelUslan) April 9, 2024

The book, which was republished as an updated second edition in 2019, chronicles the comic book-obsessed Uslan's decade-long effort to bring the brooding Batman of the page to screen with a tone unlike the 1960s TV show that starred Adam West as the campy caped crusader alongside Burt Ward's boy wonder Robin.

Despising the campy Batman, Uslan was "determined to bring the real Batman -- dark, serious, burdened by a tragic past -- to the silver screen," the description reads. "Undeterred by Hollywood's initial lackluster response, after a ten-year human endurance contest in which every major movie studio turned him down, Uslan went on to become Executive Producer on every modern Batman film, beginning with Tim Burton's widely hailed Batman in 1989 to Christopher Nolan's celebrated Dark Knight trilogy and well beyond."

"The story of a young boy seeing his parents murdered, and then taking a vow that he would get the people responsible as well as all the other criminals out there that do terrible wrongs even if he has to walk through hell to do it was so compelling to me, I knew I had to be involved with it forever," Uslan said in a 2011 interview for his book.

"When I saw the TV series with Adam West, I knew I couldn't let it stand. I thought of myself as a young Bruce Wayne," Uslan continued. "I was thrilled and horrified at what I saw. The car was cool, and they were spending money, but I was so horrified that the whole world was laughing at Batman -- it just killed me. It was then that I knew that some day, some way, some how I would bring the story of the real Batman to life. The Batman that was created in 1939: a creature of the night stalking criminals from the shadows and would one day erase those three words, 'Pow!' 'Zap!' and 'Wam!' from the collective consciousness of the world."

The ComicBook Nation crew previews the Fall TV and Movie schedules and share their hype levels for some of the most highly anticipated releases! There's also a review and discussion of The Crow reboot starring Bill Skarsg?rd!

PLUS: Deep-dive discussion about the status of Star Wars after The Acolyte's cancelation, and a debate about Marvel's Blade reboot and what kind of film it should be.

The Crow Reboot Review

This is what ComicBook Nation host Kofi Outlaw had to say in his 2-star review of The Crow:

Under the direction of Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) and the genuine effort made by stars Bill Skarsg?rd and FKA Twigs, The Crow isn't a total failure - but it is a messy mismatch of high-art aspirations and bloody, brutal, B-movie action-horror. It's both vibrantly alive with creative spark and passion - and a listless, muddled attempt at telling a cinematic story.

...It's not impossible that, despite its flaws, The Crow will follow the path of the original and grow into a cult hit in years to come. If nothing else, it's one of the biggest showcases yet of Bill Skarsg?rd's potential as a leading man (and not just the lineup of odd creatures and/or creeps he's played). But, after more than a decade of trying to get this reboot off the ground - and all the creative talent that's been attached to it along the way - it's almost amusing that middling effort is the end result.

FALL PREVIEW

MOVIES

• BEETLEJUICE 2 (9/6)
• TRANSFORMERS ONE (9/13)
• THE WILD ROBOT (9/20)
• JOKER 2 (10/4)
• VENOM 3 (10/25)
• RED ONE (11/15)
• GLADIATOR 2 (11/22)
• MOANA 2 (11/27)
• WICKED PT. 1 (11/27)

TV

• RINGS OF POWER S2 (8/29 - Prime Video)
• TERMINATOR: ZERO (8/29 - NETFLIX)
• PENGUIN (9/19 - HBO)
• AGATHA ALL ALONG (9/18 - Disney+)
• ZACK SNYDER's TWILIGHT OF THE GODS (9/19 - Netflix)
• CITADEL: DIANA (10/10 - Prime Video)
• CITADEL: HONEY BUNNY (11/7 - Prime Video)
• SILO SEASON 2 (11/15 - Apple TV+)
• JAMES WAN'S TEACUP (10/10 - Peacock)
• LIKE A DRAGON: YAKUZA (10/24 - Prime Video)
• STAR WARS: SKELETON CREW (12/3 - Disney+)
• KOFI: ST. DENIS MEDICAL - IMAGE
• MATT: MATLOCK - IMAGE

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Meet Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen. 86 years after the character's first appearance, James Gunn -- who wrote and directed the just-wrapped Superman reboot for DC Studios -- commemorated the anniversary with the first official look at actor Skyler Gisondo (The Righteous Gemstones) as the freckle-faced Daily Planet photographer who pals around with Clark Kent and Lois Lane.

"Happy Anniversary to Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen, who debuted on this day in 1941 (although he did appear earlier as 'office boy' in Action Comics 6)," Gunn wrote on X with an on-set photo of Gisondo giving the thumbs up. "Created by Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Bob Maxwell. I can't wait for you to see @skylergisondo's portrayal in Superman on July 11, 2025." See the just-released photo and Gunn's social media post below.

While the unnamed, bow tie-clad office boy who appeared in the pages of 1938's Action Comics #6 would later be identified as Jimmy, DC Comics recognizes Superman #13 -- published in August 1941 -- as Jimmy Olsen's official first appearance. By issue #15, the office boy and aspiring Daily Planet reporter took his surname from the Jackie Kelk-voiced Jimmy Olsen on The Adventures of Superman radio serial.

The first film in the new DC Universe "tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned," according to the synopsis.

Happy Anniversary to Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen, who debuted on this day in 1941 (although he did appear earlier as "office boy" in Action Comics 6). Created by Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster & Bob Maxwell. I can't wait for you to see @SkylerGisondo's portrayal in #Superman on July... pic.twitter.com/PG7DdF7QSL

-- James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 25, 2024

Superman stars David Corenswet (Twisters) in the title role opposite Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane, Wendell Pierce (The Wire) as editor-in-chief Perry White, and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Metropolis industrialist Lex Luthor. The ensemble includes Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) and Mikaela Hoover (Guardians of the Galaxy) as Jimmy's Daily Planet colleagues Steve Lombard and Cat Grant, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a (Deadly Class) as The Engineer of The Authority, Frank Grillo (Creature Commandos) as Rick Flagg Sr., and Edi Gathegi (For All Mankind) as Mister Terrific, Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus) as Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan (Barry) as Metamorpho, and Nathan Fillion (The Suicide Squad) as the Guy Gardner Green Lantern.

Gisondo, who previously appeared as Gwen Stacy's younger brother in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man and 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2, is the latest actor to play Superman's sidekick.

On television, Jack Larson starred opposite George Reeves' Man of Steel on Adventures of Superman, Aaron Ashmore on Smallville, Mehcad Brooks on Supergirl, and David Kaufman on Superman: The Animated Series. Marc McClure appeared as Jimmy in all four Christopher Reeve-starring Superman movies between 1978 and 1987; most recently, Jimmy was played by Sam Huntington in 2006's Superman Returns and by Michael Cassidy in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

DC Studios' Superman soars into theaters July 11th, 2025.

DC's All In initiative kicks into high gear this October, and now DC has revealed a delightful bonus for comic stores and fans who are jumping in. All In will encompass all of DC's core books as well as the launch of the new DC Absolute line, Scott Snyder took to social media and shared that throughout October, DC will be giving retailers new Justice League cards to give out free to fans who buy a few DC books that week. The exact number isn't known yet, but you can get a look at the cards in the image below.

Justice League Recruit

On X Snyder shared an image of the card and wrote, "THE DC ALL IN #1 Special that launches everything the 1st week of October focuses on the rebirth of the justice league. So Every week in Oct we're giving retailers a new Justice league card to give free to fans who buy a few DC comics of any kind. Thank you for buying weekly!"

The image shows off the covers to Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman, and Absolute Wonder Woman, and then shows off cards for Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in their modern classic looks. We also get the blank card and then the Darkseid version, so if you're wanting to pick one up make sure to add some DC books to the list that week.

DC's All In

DC All In officially begins with the DC All In Special #1 from the team of Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere, and Wes Craig, and since it is a flip book, reading from one direction will spotlight Sampere's work while Craig's is highlighted from the opposite direction. The 64 page one-shot will pick up in the aftermath of Absolute Power, and it will kick off the beginning of the DC Absolute line as well. Here are the descriptions for Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman's upcoming All In debuts.

Wonder Woman #14 (October 16) - Courtesy of Tom King and Daniel Sampere, the tide is turning in Wonder Woman's battle against the Sovereign as Steve Trevor takes matters into his own hands, with deadly consequences. But Steve's end could be the beginning of Diana's greatest adventure yet-motherhood!

Batman #153-154 (October 2, 16) - Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jim?nez, and Carmine Di Giandomenico are back with a vengeance with a new story arc, "The Dying City," featuring an unexpected turn from the Riddler, a mysterious new Super Hero named Commander Star, and the shocking murder of one of Gotham City's greatest citizens as Batman ships twice monthly in October.

Superman #19 (October 23) - Superstar artist Dan Mora joins Joshua Williamson in a new story arc spinning out of Absolute Power. One of Superman's most lethal enemies returns as the Man of Steel and Superwoman (Lois Lane) deal with the return of the rampaging Doomsday, but how long will Lois's newfound powers last? And as if Doomsday isn't trouble enough, another one of Superman's greatest enemies lurks in the shadows: the Time Trapper.

Are you excited for All In? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

A number of new DC movies and television shows are expected to debut in the next few years, thanks to the guidance of current DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. The duo have promised to showcase plenty of beloved and unexpected elements from DC's comics on the big screen, as already evident by the number of characters and titles confirmed for their new DC Universe. On Friday, Gunn added an interesting layer to fans' speculations, posting a photo of a physical package of Chocos, the DC analog to Oreo cookies that are beloved by J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter. With in-universe advertisements for Chocos already spotted on the set of Gunn's Superman movie, there's no telling exactly how the snack brand will be utilized in-universe. Still, it has led to one question in fans' minds -- could we see Martian Manhunter join the DCU sooner than later?

While Martian Manhunter's overall superhero gimmick -- being a stoic and powerful survivor of an alien war on Mars -- has very little to do with Chocos, his love of the snack has become a part of his characterization since it was introduced in the Justice League International run of the 1980s. It has also already made its way into media beyond the comics, as his identity was teased on Smallville by Clark Kent (Tom Welling) discovering stray cookies across town, and the snack was also hinted at in last year's Blue Beetle movie. It wouldn't be unheard of for the new DCU to use Chocos to lay the groundwork for J'onn's introduction, even as he isn't currently publicly confirmed to be appearing in any of the franchise's projects.

Of course, that then raises a whole separate question of how Martian Manhunter could be folded into the DCU. At the moment, with the debut of the first new DC Studios project still several months away, there are plenty of possibilities. There is always the chance that the DCU could hide J'onn in plain sight, only to later reveal that he is secretly the shapeshifting superhero, a trope that has been used to varying levels of success in Smallville, Supergirl, Zack Snyder's DCEU, and even the infamous Justice League of America TV movie. An argument could be made for a twist of that nature working in virtually every confirmed DCU project thus far, whether in live-action or animation.

That being said, there are plenty of avenues for the DCU to have Martian Manhunter established without any sort of twist, especially given the narrative and thematic beats that seem to be on the horizon for the franchise. Superman has been teasing a version of the Justice League that is corporately owned by businessman Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), which has led to speculation that the fan-favorite Justice League International roster either already exists, or will exist at a later point. To an extent, J'onn's involvement in that version of the team is too vital to ignore, and would help introduce the character in a different manner than his previous live-action incarnations. The same can be said for how the DCU plans to introduce the concept of the Justice League as a whole, as Martian Manhunter is a founding member of the team in both the pre-Crisis and post-Crisis continuities, and could be baked into the new live-action history as a result.

Even beyond that, the new DCU seems to have room to introduce Martian Manhunter as a few steps away from being an established hero, potentially even in some sort of solo project. J'onn's time as a private eye or police detective, particularly in Steve Orlando and Riley Rossmo's genre-bending 2018 Martian Manhunter maxiseries, could provide another cosmic True Detective-esque project alongside the forthcoming Lanterns television show. There's also the prevailing theory that Gunn and Safran's plans for the universe will lead to an adaptation of Darwyn Cooke's beloved comic miniseries DC: The New Frontier, as their "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters" subtitle for the slate is lifted directly from that text. Martian Manhunter plays a significant role in the original events of New Frontier, so having him in the theoretical live-action adaptation doesn't seem like too much of a long shot. Even then, it has been safe to assume that Gunn and Safran's DCU will be filled with surprises, and we'll just have to wait and see if Martian Manhunter ends up being one of them.

The live-action DC Universe is headed to a new uncharted territory, thanks to James Gunn and Peter Safran's upcoming slate of movies and television shows. A number of these projects are already in various stages of becoming a reality, from Creature Commandos arriving on Max later this year, to Gunn's Superman movie having just wrapped filming, to the sophomore season of Peacemaker being currently in the middle of production. Thanks to the latest social media post from Gunn, we now know one bit of world-building that will be a part of that new era. On Friday, Gunn took to Threads to respond to a fan's thread about comic-accurate moments they would like to see recreated in the DCU, which includes J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter's obsession with the fictional cookies Chocos. He attached a picture of a physical package of Chocos cookies, seeming to insinuate that the cookies will play a role in some live-action DC project, outside of a billboard being spotted in set photos for Superman. He subsequently shared the Chocos packaging on his Instagram and Twitter.

"Gosh @dcofficial is full of such fun lore," Gunn's post on Threads reads. "Can't wait to see some of these moments (and the thousands of more like them) on the big and small screen. Thanks for the fun thread, @captain_mohando."

pic.twitter.com/HKKOtsoQ22

-- James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 23, 2024

What Are Chocos?

Chocos are the DC Universe's stand-in for Oreo cookies, which were originally introduced during Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire's Justice League International run. A recurring gag in the run's early issues established that Billy Batson / Captain Marvel ate Oreos and drank milk during team meetings -- a habit that Martian Manhunter quickly adopted as well. This habit quickly became something of an obsession, with J'onn frequently stress eating the cookies in various appearances. By 2000, John Ostrander, Doug Mahnke and Patrick Gleason's Martian Manhunter series renamed the Oreos to Chocos, in order to avoid any copyright issues with Oreo's parent company, Nabisco. Martian Manhunter #24 took J'onn's penchant for Chocos even further, establishing that his Martian physiology is negatively effected when he suffers withdrawls from the cookies.

It is unclear at this point where Gunn's physical prop of a Chocos package could factor into the DCU, especially since the character of Martian Manhunter has not been publicly cast in the franchise. It's not impossible to imagine a character in Superman or Peacemaker Season 2 eating the cookies, as a clever way to establish the various pieces of in-universe ephemera for the new DCU before Martian Manhunter appears onscreen.

What Is on the DC Universe Slate?

As Gunn and Safran revealed back in January of 2023, the initial DC Studios slate will include 2025's Superman, 2026's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and currently-undated movies The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. It will also include the HBO Max television shows Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and an animated Creature Commandos series. Reports have indicated that a live-action Teen Titans movie and an animated Jurassic League movie are in the works at DC Studios, although neither have been publicly confirmed.

"A lot of people think it's going to be Marvel 2.0, and definitely I learned a lot of stuff at Marvel. I think that we have a lot of differences," Gunn explained in 2023. "We are telling a big, huge, central story that is like Marvel, except for, I think that we're a lot more planned out than Marvel from the beginning because we've gotten a group of writers together to work that story out completely. But we're also creating a universe that is like Star Wars, where there's different times, different places, different things, or Game of Thrones, where characters are a little bit more morally complex."

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice arrives in theaters very soon, bringing the latest collaboration between actor Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton to the big screen. In addition to Beetlejuice, the pair have definitely become known for 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns, which are still cited as being among the best comic book movies of all time. In a recent interview with GQ, Keaton took that notoriety even further, revealing that he credits Burton's work on Batman with having paved the way for the modern Marvel and DC cinematic universes that we know today.

"Tim deserves enormous credit. He changed everything," Keaton said. "I can't necessarily say this, but there's a strong possibility there is no Marvel Universe, there is no DC Universe, without Tim Burton. He was doubted and questioned."

Will Michael Keaton Play Batman Again?

When it comes to Batman, Keaton starred as the character in both Burton's two Batman films, as well as 2023's The Flash movie. While Keaton was set to reprise his role another time in the now-cancelled Batgirl movie, he is not entirely sure if he will appear onscreen as the character again.

"I don't think about it much," Keaton told Happy Sad Confused earlier this year. "Never say never, I don't think. Everything depends upon something else."

Will Tim Burton Make Another Superhero Movie?

Given the ever-evolving nature of the superhero movie space, some have naturally wondered if Burton might return to direct another adaptation of some kind for Marvel, DC, or otherwise. Burton most recently told Variety that while he won't completely rule out the possibility, he isn't currently planning on it.

"At the moment, I would say no," Burton explained. "Like I said, I come at things from different points of view, so I would never say never to anything. But, at the moment, it's not something I'd be interested in."

What Is Beetlejuice Beetlejuice About?

In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the Deetz family returns home to Winter River after Charles Deetz's unexpected death. Lydia's life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened, releasing Betelgeuse.

Directed by Burton, the cast of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice includes Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released exclusively in theaters on Friday, September 6th.

A new NetherRealm Studios job listing may have leaked the first Injustice 3 details. Following the release of Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat 1 in back-to-back fashion, the expectation is that NetherRealm Studios will return to the other series it is known for: Injustice. In other words, the world is anticipating that the Chicago-based studio is hard at work on Injustice 3, or whatever this anticipated next installment ends up being called.

To this end, NetherRealm Studios is currently looking to hire an Associate Producer to work on an unannounced project that it obviously divulges no details on other than that it is AAA. That said, if you inspect the listing a little harder, there is one tidbit that sticks out. The listing mentions a "high-quality cinematic animation for our story mode campaign."

Assuming this mystery project is Injustice 3, which is a seemingly safe assumption, this would mean Injustice 3 is set to have a story mode like previous NetherRealm Studios' games before it, including the previous Injustice games. In other words, it's not that surprising, though it will be reassuring to fans worried the more popular multiplayer could one day nudge out the single-player story campaign. And this may still happen, one day, but not with NetherRealm Studios' next project.

For now, take everything here with a grain of salt. While technically job listings are official sources of information, they aren't always the greatest for the most reliable information for various reasons. Further, there is nothing here that points to this mystery project being Injustice 3. Again, it is a reasonable assumption to assume this project is Injustice 3, but for now this is just speculation.

It is unlikely NetherRealm Studios or WB Games is going to comment on this job listing and the speculation it has created. However, if either or both do, we will update the story accordingly. In the meantime, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think or, alternatively, hit me up on Twitter @Tyler_Fischer_ and let me know over there. Do you think it is time for Injustice 3?

H/T, Reddit.

Following the debut of The Court of Owls 3-Pack and Joker Dragon Gold Label releases earlier this week, McFarlane Toys has even more in store for the DC Multiverse lineup. These new releases include the Red Hood Hood (Dawn of DC) and Cyborg (DC Rebirth) figures along with the Red Hood Sportsbike vehicle inspired by the Red Hood: Outlaw series that was first revealed at SDCC this year.

Pre-orders for these releases are expected to go live on August 23rd at 9am PT / 12pm ET here at Entertainment Earth (free U.S. shipping on orders $59+. The should also be available on Amazon at that time. Direct links will be added to the list below after the launch so stay tuned. UPDATE: The figures are live! Direct links added.

• DC Multiverse Red Hood's Sportsbike (Red Hood: Outlaw) 7-Inch Scale Vehicle - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• DC Multiverse Red Hood (Dawn of DC) 7-Inch Scale Action Figure - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• DC Multiverse Cyborg (DC Rebirth) 7-Inch Scale Action Figure - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon

Speaking of DC Multiverse vehicles from McFarlane Toys, the Batman Forever Batmobile 2-pack that launched a short while ago is still available to pre-order here at Entertainment Earth priced at $109.99 (free US shipping on orders $59+) .The GITD Gold Label exclusive is available here on Amazon priced at $79.99. Naturally, you'll want to pair your Batman Forever Batmobile with DC Multiverse figures inspired by the 1995 film. Fortunately, McFarlane Toys has you covered with a Build-A-Wave series that includes figures based on Batman (Val Kilmer), Robin (Chris O'Donnell), Riddler (Jim Carrey), and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones). All of the details you need about the collection can be found right here.

"From the 1995 Batman Forever movie comes the iconic Batmobile! The vehicle comes with a 7-inch scale action figure of Batman's trusty butler, Alfred Pennyworth! A display base for the fully articulated Alfred and collectible art card is also included. The Batmobile measures approximately 31-inches long and can fit a figuure in the cockpit. Plus, the Batmobile features lights and sound! The vehicle requires 3x AAA batteries, which are not included.

Every hero needs a right-hand man, and Alfred Pennyworth was precisely that for the Dark Knight of Gotham City. This iteration of the Batmobile was designed to have a more organic aesthetic. The end result appeared to have ribs and wind while the engine panels, wheels, and undercarriage glowed blue. This Batmobile was destroyed partway through Batman Forever when The Riddler deposited a sack full of explosives in the cockpit."

Greg Berlanti has had nothing short of a prolific career in the entertainment industry, executive producing a record-breaking number of television shows across networks and genres. Berlanti's career has spanned everything from Dawson's Creek to Riverdale to You to The CW's Arrowverse of DC shows -- and now, it looks like he will be honored in a prestigious way. On Thursday, it was announced that Berlanti will be the latest recipient of the Governors Award at the 76th Emmy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, September 15th in Los Angeles. The Governors Award recognizes figures or organizations that have "made a profound, transformational and long-lasting contribution to the arts and/or science of television."

"Greg is an extraordinary creator, who consistently delivers characters and stories that are in dialogue with the real world," TV Academy chair Cris Abrego said in a statement. "From the beginning of his career, his commitment to representing three-dimensional LGBTQ+ characters in particular has paved the way for greater cultural understanding and acceptance of a community that is often under attack in both social and political discourse. For seizing the power of television to move our culture forward, the Academy is honored to select Greg Berlanti for this year's Governors Award."

Will Greg Berlanti Return to DC?

At the moment, Berlanti Productions is only attached to a single DC television show, the forthcoming final season of The CW's Superman & Lois. In a recent interview with Deadline, Berlanti reflected on the grand experiment that the Arrowverse became, while acknowledging that the larger DC franchise is now in great hands with DC Studios' James Gunn and Peter Safran.

"It was a moment in time for me, and one plan, the size and the scope of which we were altogether able to achieve," Berlanti explained. "The closeness that I had with many of the actors, and still have, and other writers and directors and the family that we built over that time. And the opportunity where every year we were doing these big crossover episodes and all the different showrunners would come in from all the different shows. To create in that way was such a joy and incredibly challenging. But it is nothing I would try and replicate again at this moment. That felt very singular. I love Warner Bros. I wish them all the best with these amazing characters. We had a credo that I would say to everybody all the time, which is, we're so lucky to have these characters. Let's return them to the shelf more valuable than when we took them off. It was very much about that, and trying to build a world and a place where everybody who loved them as much as we did could come and tell stories. Now I think it's time for new; the torch has been passed beautifully, and I'm really excited by all they're doing there now."

Batman director Tim Burton says that he probably won't end up making another superhero movie. Variety asked the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice creator his take on returning to Gotham or the world of comic book heroes. Candidly, the filmmaker said that he's not exactly clamoring to get back into the world of superheroes. But, that doesn't mean never. Burton admitted, "At the moment, I would say no. Like I said, I come at things from different points of view, so I would never say never to anything. But, at the moment, it's not something I'd be interested in." After all, his star Michael Keaton just played Batman again last year, and nostalgic reintroductions of heroes is all the rage. But, for now, he has his camera trained on other opportunities.

Burton's Batman films came along at a very interesting time. The concept of a cinematic universe didn't even exist, even franchises were less dominant in Hollywood. The director recognizes that he really lucked out with how little the studio had to say about his approach to Batman and Gotham in particular. Burton argues thatIt allowed him to focus on the movie at hand rather than an overarching list of directives to adhere to.

"I was lucky because at that time, the word "franchise" didn't exist. So Batman felt slightly experimental at the time. ... It deviated from what the perception [of a superhero movie] might be," Burton mused. "So you didn't hear that kind of studio feedback, and being in England, it was even further removed. We really just got to focus on the film and not really think about those things that now they think about even before you do it."

Burton Has Been Vocal About The Flash

With Keaton returning for The Flash last year, Burton had a lot to say about his friend's reintroduction to Batman. In addition, one of his rarer projects also made an appearance, even though it was never made. Superman Lives, which mostly lived on through fan whispers about Nicolas Cage's turn as The Man of Steel, was also included in The Flash. Burton told BFI that he had a number of issues with the cameos in that film.

"No, I don't have regrets," Burton previously mentioned of Superman Lives. "I will say this: when you work that long on a project and it doesn't happen, it affects you for the rest of your life. Because you get passionate about things, and each thing is an unknown journey, and it wasn't there yet. But it's one of those experiences that never leaves you, a little bit."

"But also it goes into another AI thing, and this is why I think I'm over it with the studio. They can take what you did, Batman or whatever, and culturally misappropriate it, or whatever you want to call it," he added. "Even though you're a slave of Disney or Warner Brothers, they can do whatever they want. So in my latter years of life, I'm in quiet revolt against all this."

Would you want him and Keaton to do another Batman? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

Filmmaker Tim Burton helped change the game of superhero cinema with Batman in 1989, which offered a much darker and more gothic take on a beloved figure than seen in the Superman films, with that legacy still being felt today. Burton also attempted to develop Superman Lives back in the '90s with Nicolas Cage, and despite his impact on the superhero genre, he currently doesn't have much of an interest in returning to that realm. Given that the director confirmed he was considering retirement from the studio system, his storytelling sensibilities might not fall in line with Marvel or DC in the near future.

When asked by Variety about potentially returning to a superhero franchise, Burton confirmed, "At the moment, I would say no. Like I said, I come at things from different points of view, so I would never say never to anything. But, at the moment, it's not something I'd be interested in."

The last movie Burton directed was Dumbo in 2019 and he has expressed his frustrations about dealing with a major studio and their restrictions ever since. Interestingly, last year saw the release of The Flash, which featured Michael Keaton reprising his role of Batman from Burton's films, and also included a nod to Cage's brush with Superman. Additionally, Spider-Man director Sam Raimi returned to Marvel for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022, having been away from superheroes for 15 years.

Between Keaton reprising his Dark Knight, Burton collaborating with Keaton on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and Raimi returning to superheroes years after delivering seminal adventures, it would seem more likely than ever that Burton could return to the genre, though he seems to think otherwise.

Even though Batman was an important film in the realm of superheroes, Burton reflected on how he didn't have to consider the concept of a "franchise" when he was making it.

"I was lucky because at that time, the word 'franchise' didn't exist. So Batman felt slightly experimental at the time," the filmmaker recalled. "It deviated from what the perception [of a superhero movie] might be. So you didn't hear that kind of studio feedback, and being in England, it was even further removed. We really just got to focus on the film and not really think about those things that now they think about even before you do it."

Burton's latest film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, is set to hit theaters on September 6th.

Would you like to see Burton direct a new superhero movie? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

The Suicide Squad Isekai recently ended its first season by seeing Harley and company successful in their off-world adventure. Not satisfied with simply ended the Wit Studio anime adaptation, the story also revealed some major elements that could make for an interesting second season. While the Wit and Warner Bros collaboration has yet to confirm if it will return, this fact isn't stopping the anime series from sharing brand new behind-the-scenes information on the Squad's first anime foray. In a recent video, Wit demonstrates how they used real-life stunt actors to help create some of the anime's biggest battles.

Suicide Squad Isekai's first season finale revealed that the Joker wasn't as far away from Harley Quinn as many fans had initially believed. Hiding in plain sight, the Clown Prince of Crime used a variety of magical items to pretend to be Katana, amongst other characters, as he kept an eye on his girlfriend. The season one finale also revealed that Rick Flagg and Amanda Waller knew that the Joker was working behind the scenes in this isekai landscape and that Flagg's ultimate goal was to find and stop the Joker. Should a season two be confirmed, expect the Joker to hold a much bigger presence in the series.

Suicide Squad Isekai And The Real World

The battle in question that is featured in the video below focuses on Harley fighting against the real Katana in the comic book universe. Ultimately, Quinn lost this fight and was captured by Amanda Waller, becoming a key member of "Task Force X". Joining the likes of Peacemaker, Deadshot, Clayface, and King Shark, Warner Bros and Wit hit the ground floor running with their latest anime adaptation.

Recently, we here at ComicBook had the chance to chat with Wit Studio producer Sho Ohtani, who discussed their favorite DC superhero, perhaps giving us an idea for where the Warner Bros collaboration with the studio might go in the future, "Well then, I would say the Flash. I like the Flash himself, but the other characters from the series are so compelling that I end up loving the entire show. The character that would suit anime...hmm then I would say Savitar from the show. When I first watched The Flash, I was amazed by how complex and well-developed the characters were. I can't go into details without giving away spoilers, so what I can share is that, I really like is how relatable his situation is. Given what happens to him, it's understandable that he ends up the way he does, and that makes it easy to empathize with him. In the Flash series, there are so many villains that make you wonder, "How is he going to win against this one?" Among them, Savitar really left a strong impression on me."

Want to see if we get a second anime season for DC's popular super villain team? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for the latest updates on the Suicide Squad Isekai.

From Mezco Toys' premium One:12 Collective DC lineup comes Dick Grayson / Nightwing complete with tons of features and accessories. For starters, the detailed suit includes a removable utility belt, pouch, and leg strap holster. There are also four interchangeable head portraits, eighteen interchangeable hands (some with weapons), two Escrima Sticks that can form a staff thanks to the Escrima connector, multiple electric and spinning FXs, Wing-Dings, grapple hooks, and more.

Pre-orders for Mezco's One:12 Collective Nightwing figure are live here at Entertainment Earth for $95 with free U.S, shipping, You won't be charged until it's on the way to your doorstep in March 2025. A complete list of features and accessories can be found below.

One:12 Nightwing Figure Features:

• One:12 Collective body with over 30 points of articulation
• Hand painted authentic detailing
• Approximately 17cm tall
• Four (4) interchangeable head portraits
• Eighteen (18) interchangeable hands
• One (1) pair of fists (L&R)
• One (1) pair of brass knuckles hands (L&R)
• One (1) pair of stick spin holding hands (L&R)
• One (1) pair of stick holding hands (L&R)
• One (1) pair of Wing-Ding holding hands (L&R)
• One (1) pair of three (3) darts holding hands (L&R)
• One (1) posing hand (L)
• One (1) smoke bomb throwing underhand (L)
• One (1) single dart holding hand (L)
• One (1) smoke bomb holding hand (L)
• One (1) smoke bomb throwing overhand (R)
• One (1) grabbing hand (R)

Costume:

• Chest armor
• Shoulder pads
• Back armor
• Gauntlets (L&R)
• Utility belt
• Pouch (attaches to belt)
• Leg strap holster (attaches to belt)
• Knee pads
• Combat boots

Accessories:

• Three (3) Wing-Dings
• Two (2) Escrima Sticks (fit in back armor)
• One (1) Escrima connector
• One (1) grapple hook with rope (attaches to Escrima Sticks)
• One (1) grapple hook with wire (attaches to Escrima Sticks)
• Four (4) electric FX (attaches to Escrima Sticks)
• Two (2) spinning FX (attaches to Escrima Sticks)
• Two (2) dart FX (attaches to R Gauntlet)
• One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo
• One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post

While it's only the middle of the week, it also happens to be new comic book day, and that's always a reason to celebrate. This week features a bevy of new titles from DC, Marvel, Image, BOOM!, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Titan, and more, and the ComicBook Nation crew is breaking down some of the biggest books of the week on the new episode of The Pull List. This week that list includes the debut of a new Sinister Six in Ultimate Spider-Man #8, as well as the welcome return of Greg Capullo to Marvel in Wolverine: Revenge #1. We also dig into a stellar new Power Rangers book, the debut of Huge Detective, an advanced review of The Missionary, and new tie-ins to Absolute Power with Wonder Woman and Superman. You can listen to the new episode right here, and we've got a rundown of the biggest highlights from the episode below.

Ultimate Renaissance

Ultimate Spider-Man has managed to capture what many longtime fans have wanted in a Spidey story for quite some time, and issue #8 is indicative of that, featuring so many small but powerful moments amongst the cast that will resonate in some form or fashion. The attention paid to the cast of characters and how they interact with each other has resulted in wonderful and nuanced relationships that feel fresh and full of possibility without abandoning what made those characters great in the first place.

That isn't just in regards to the heroes either, as the villains feel reenergized across the board. The concept of the Sinister Six still feels true to form, but the roster shakes things up and allows for a host of new storytelling possibilities. Did I mention J. Jonah Jameson being an absolute MVP? Well, I have now, and that moment at the birthday party has definitely had a major effect on how I perceive him in this universe.

A Savage Return

Sticking with Marvel, I had no idea what to expect with Wolverine: Revenge from Jonathan Hickman and Greg Capullo, and that might have been the best way possible to experience it. Hickman and Capullo come out swinging with big moments funneled along a simple but absurd effective premise, and the moments of pure shock and brutality are quintessential Wolverine in every way. This book had me from the opening blurb and it never lost steam, upping the ante continuously and setting the stage for what promises to be an epic and even bloodier conflict in future issues. Dinosaurs, exploding supers, and revenge are all on the menu here, and you simply can't pass that up.

This Week's Comics:

• Ultimate Spider-Man #8
• Wolverine: Revenge #1
• Power Rangers: Infinity #1
• Superman #17
• Wonder Woman #12
• Phoenix #2
• Destro #3
• The Missionary #1
• Spider-Woman #10
• Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #2
• Predator vs. Black Panther #1
• Huge Detective #1

Trade Watch:

• Titans: Beast World TP
• The Tea Dragon Tapestry Treasury Edition TP
• Batman Vol. 2: The Bat-Man of Gotham TP
• Bear Pirate Viking Queen TP
• Zorro: Man of the Dead TP

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From next year's Superman movie and beyond, James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe has a lot for the world to look forward to. Fans have been particularly curious to see Gunn's take on the mythos, especially after his beloved work on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. At the moment, Sean Gunn is the only main Guardians cast member to be confirmed to join the DCU, portraying the roles of Maxwell Lord, Weasel, and G.I. Robot. In a recent post on Threads, Gunn was asked to reveal what characters he would cast his other former Guardians of the Galaxy collaborators as in the DCU -- and explained why he can't exactly answer that question.

"Well that would be a spoiler wouldn't it?" Gunn answered.

Will the Guardians of the Galaxy Cast Join the DCU?

Ever since Gunn was first appointed to his DC Studios role, fans have begun to campaign for certain DC roles for members of the Guardians cast, ranging from Peter Quill / Star-Lord actor Chris Pratt as Booster Gold, to Drax actor Dave Bautista as Bane or Hugo Strange. While speaking to ComicBook earlier this year about his work on The Garfield Movie, Pratt argued that either option is equally likely, and that he could very well end up appearing in both superhero sagas.

"Well, it probably make more sense that I would be Star Lord again," Pratt said in our interview, which you can check out above. "But anything is possible, and especially with James over at DC. Maybe there's something that would be right over there. Maybe both. How about both? Let's do both. I think it's 100% both."

What Is On the DC Universe Slate?

As Gunn and Safran revealed back in January of 2023, the initial DC Studios slate will include 2025's Superman, 2026's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and currently-undated movies The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. It will also include the HBO Max television shows Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and an animated Creature Commandos series. Reports have indicated that a live-action Teen Titans movie and an animated Jurassic League movie are in the works at DC Studios, although neither have been publicly confirmed.

"A lot of people think it's going to be Marvel 2.0, and definitely I learned a lot of stuff at Marvel. I think that we have a lot of differences," Gunn explained in 2023. "We are telling a big, huge, central story that is like Marvel, except for, I think that we're a lot more planned out than Marvel from the beginning because we've gotten a group of writers together to work that story out completely. But we're also creating a universe that is like Star Wars, where there's different times, different places, different things, or Game of Thrones, where characters are a little bit more morally complex."

2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum is widely considered to be one of the best video games of all time. The Rocksteady video game was written by comic book creator Paul Dini, one of the producers behind the Emmy-award winning TV show Batman: The Animated Series, and again pit the Kevin Conroy-voiced Dark Knight against a rogue's gallery of villains unleashed by the unhinged Joker (voiced by Mark Hamill). Set inside the titular institution for the criminally insane, Arkham Asylum's bone-breaking freeflow combat and strategically sleuthy detective mode made the player say: "I'm Batman."

A lone Batman faced an onslaught of Arkham Asylum's most infamous inmates -- including Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Bane, Killer Croc, and omnipresent taunts from the Riddler -- all of whom had their backstories detailed in collectible character bios featuring art by Carlos D'Anda.

D'Anda illustrated the prelude comic Batman: Arkham Asylum: The Road to Arkham, set moments before the start of the first game, and a five-issue prequel comic bridging the gap between Asylum and its 2011 sequel Batman: Arkham City. DC Comics also published a tie-in comic, Batman: Arkham Unhinged, featuring characters like Catwoman, Two-Face, Penguin, Clayface, and Hugo Strange.

As the series expanded with more games -- including the 2013 prequel Batman: Arkham Origins and 2015's Batman: Arkham Knight -- DC published a multipath graphic novel about an inexperienced Batman's first encounter with crime bosses Black Mask and Penguin (Origins), a six-chapter story set between the events of Arkham City and Arkham Knight (End Game), and a six-issue miniseries revealing the origins of the mysterious Arkham Knight (Genesis).

These stories and more were collected in DC's long-out-of-print Batman: The Arkham Saga Omnibus. Spanning more than 1,600 pages, the companion book will receive a new printing for the first time since 2018 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Batman: Arkham Asylum.

The Batman: Arkham Saga Omnibus reprint is slated for release on September 24th and is available for pre-order here on Amazon. The new printing collects the following:

• Batman: Arkham Asylum: The Road to Arkham
• Batman: Arkham City #1-5
• Batman: Arkham City: End Game #1
• Batman: Arkham Knight #1-12
• Batman: Arkham Knight Annual #1
• Batman: Arkham Knight: Batgirl & Harley Quinn #1
• Batman: Arkham Knight Genesis #1-6
• Batman: Arkham Knight: Robin Special #1
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Batman: Arkham Unhinged

Batman: The Arkham Saga Omnibus is the ultimate companion to the best-selling Batman: Arkham series of video games!

This volume collects all the games' action-packed backstories, from the volatile beginnings of Batman: Arkham Origins to the dark and deadly story of Batman: Arkham Knight Genesis and everything in between.

The Dark Knight was young, inexperienced and untested when he began his one-man war to save the soul of Gotham City. The vigilante known as Batman was new to the city's dark streets, and his errors were costly. Though his mind, body and arsenal of crime-fighting gear were all honed to near-perfection, his methods were yet unproven.

But Batman's rookie lessons were just the prelude to far more desperate tales.

Despite becoming an outlaw himself after quelling the Arkham Asylum riots, the World's Greatest Detective takes it on his shoulders to unravel why the new mayor, Quincy Sharp, wants to create Arkham City--a section of Gotham where heinous criminals and the insane can roam freely. Now not only is the Dark Knight up against City Hall, but also the amassing armies of his numerous enemies--the Penguin, Two-Face and even The Joker himself.

On top of the machinations of Batman's full rogues gallery, a new vigilante emerges--the Arkham Knight. It's a life-or-death battle unlike any other for the Caped Crusader's allies and enemies, with no end in sight!

It has been over two years since The Batman first debuted in theaters, bringing to life Matt Reevess' relatively grounded vision for the DC mythos. After years of waiting and production delays, it has been confirmed that the film's sequel, The Batman Part II, is headed to theaters in the fall of 2026 -- and it sounds like it is getting off the ground in a significant way. In a recent interview with ScreenRant, The Batman Part II co-writer Mattson Tomlin confirmed that production on the film will begin next year, and that his collaborative process with Reeves and has been "pretty tremendous" thus far.

"It's shooting next year. We're gearing up, and I will say that the bar just couldn't be higher. It's the sequel to the first one. But also, Matt [Reeves] is like no other. In the five years now that I've been working with him as closely as I have, I've tried to absorb as much as humanly possible from him, and I'm so grateful for the time that I get to spend with him, because he is a true artist who is operating in a world where sometimes art doesn't get to flourish, and he's trying to make something that really matters. So to be able to just be on the ride and be part of that process, it's pretty unbelievable, pretty tremendous. I'm psyched for the movie."

What Is The Batman Sequel About?

Plot details regarding The Batman Part II are currently a mystery, although it is expected to feature the return of Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, and more of the original film's cast.

"Basically, I know nothing about the movie other than that I've just found out that we're probably likely to be starting filming early next year," Alfred Pennyworth actor Andy Serkis explained during a panel appearance earlier this year. "Therefore, if you do the math, it'll be a year and a half after that. I know that Matt [Reeves] is working really hard on the script. Matt Reeves being Matt Reeves, the extraordinary filmmaker that he is, I can only assume that it's going to be another brilliant script, because I thought what he did with that first film was pretty amazing. I loved working with Rob Pattinson, and I really look forward to playing Alfred once more."

Is The Batman Part II in the New DCU?

It has already been confirmed that The Batman Part II will be operating as a DC Elseworlds project, separate from James Gunn and Peter Safran's upcoming DC Universe of movies and Max-exclusive television shows.

"Matt is working on [The] Batman 2, which he thinks of it as a Batman crime saga, which also includes The Penguin TV series," Gunn previously said when asked about the project. "And it is its own thing, and he's hard at work on that. He came in and pitched us some amazing, really cool stuff the other day. Our plan is for that to continue."

The Batman Part II will be released exclusively in theaters on October 2, 2026.

Joker: Folie A Deux Director Todd Phillips says that the movie isn't a musical. Now, by most accounts, the Joker sequel would fulfill most of the qualities of a musical. But Phillips had more to say with Variety. In essence, the filmmaker argues that most of the musical action happens in between Arthur Fleck's ears and then branches out to the rest of the world. That would explain why people aren't just spontaneously just breaking into song in most of the action fans have seen so far. However, plenty of viewers online are responding to these comments with a measure of sarcasm, because of the presence of multiple musicals that behave like this. (In The Heights fans especially are going to want to see this for themselves.) Check out what he had to say.

Phillips argued, "I just don't want people to think that it's like In The Heights, where the lady in the Bodega starts to sing and they take it out onto the street, and the police are dancing. No disrespect, because I loved In The Heights."

"We asked ourselves what would need to be true for two people to just break into song in the middle of a conversation?," Gaga added. "Where does the music come from when no one can hear it but the characters? Neither Arthur nor Lee are professional singers, and they shouldn't sound like they are."

Will There Be A Joker 3?

With all of this focus on Joker: Folie A Deux, Some fans might be wondering if we'll get a third installment in this franchise. During the same interview, Todd Phillips had some bad news for anybody expecting to get Joker 3. He said, "It was fun to play in this sort of sandbox for two movies, but I think we've said what we wanted to say in this world." That seems pretty definitive. But, in an ever-changing media landscape, nothing is really gone forever. However after two movies, the filmmaker thinks that it's time to close the curtain on Arthur Fleck and his new love interest. After all, there's still that comedy to make withJoaquin Phoenix.

"I'd love to keep working with Joaquin, but on a comedy, because he can be so loose and funny," Phillips says. "And I think people really want comedies right now. The trailer for 'Joker 2' sort of sums things up when it says, 'What the world needs now is love.' But I would go farther: We could use a good laugh too."

Do you mind Joker 2 being a musical? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

McFarlane Toys has launched some pretty exciting new additions to the DC Multiverse Gold Label lineup in the form of Nightwing vs Talon & Owl (Batman: The Court of Owls) 3-pack and The Joker Dragon (Dark Nights: Metal) glow-in-the-dark vehicle. Both are Amazon exclusives and pre-orders were expected to go live today, August 21st. However, the listing for The Court of Owls 3-pack didn't launch properly, and the listing was down at the time of writing. Keep tabs on the link below for pre-orders to open. UPDATE: Pre-orders for The Court of Owls 3-pack is back up!

McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Nightwing vs Talon & Owl 3pk Gold Label ($59.99)- See on Amazon: "Nightwing faces another villain claiming to be the Talon at City Hall as the Court of Owls' plans go into action-but will he be able to figure out what's going on before it's too late? A clandestine organization active since the birth of Gotham City, the Court of Owls is a powerful, well-connected cabal of Gotham society's elite. However, to bend an entire city to its will, the Court deployed a succession of lethal enforcers: A near-invisible assassin haunting the night, before vanishing without a trace. The "Talon" served the Court after undergoing a series of demanding challenges, including physical and mental conditioning ensuring loyalty to their cause above all else." Accessories include owl, 2 escrima sticks, 2 swords, 2 knives, 3 bases, 3 collectible art cards and a deluxe art card.

McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Vehicles - The Joker Dragon (GITD) Gold Label ($29.99) - See on Amazon: "Nobody knows the exact origin of these beasts from the Dark Multiverse, but what is known is that they do the bidding of The Batman Who Laughs wherever they appear. During the invasion of Earth-0, the Bat-God known as Barbatos summons these great dragons to help his Dark Knights destroy the world, but they're ultimately defeated by Batman and his allies. These ghastly beasts are as deadly as they are horrifying, and a powerful addition to the army of darkness that threatens to engulf the entire DC Multiverse." Features a bendable tail, movable jaw and clear base and it fits most 7-inch scale DC Multiverse figures. Includes a collectible art card.

What James Gunn Has Planned For Batman

At the moment, The Brave and the Bold is a bit of a mystery. DC Studios has started off the James Gunn and Peter Safran era with a lot of fun plans. One of the biggest announcements was their Batman project. Longtime fans are excited to see what this Bat-Family-centric take on The Caped Crusader will be like. Damian Wayne fans, your time is here, and this time we're going to see the character in live-action.

"This is the introduction of the DCU's Batman..." Gunn previously wrote. "This is the story of Damian Wayne, who is Batman's actual son who we didn't know existed for the first eight to 10 years of his life. He was raised as a little murderer and assassin. He's a little son of a bitch. He's my favorite Robin. It's based on the Grant Morrison comic book's run, which is one of my favorite Batman runs, and we are putting that all together right now."

"And this is obviously a feature film, and it's going to feature other members of the extended 'Bat-family', just because we feel like they've been left out of the Batman stories in the theater for far too long," Safran added during the announcement.

It's been 20 years since Jenny Sparks appeared at DC Comics, but now she returns in Jenny Sparks #1 with The Authority hero getting her own story from writer Tom King and artist Jeff Spokes. The timing of the new comic book is interesting--James Gunn's DC Universe is set to bring The Authority to the big screen with a feature film in development--but the comic doesn't feel like a simple play for connective relevance or even character nostalgia. Instead, thanks to King's unique approach to story-building with not only the main character but the characters surrounding them, it feels like the start of something bigger than just the Spirit of the 20th Century's return. But whether the pieces actually come together remains to be seen.

Jenny Sparks #1 starts off with introductions. We meet Jenny and four other people from different walks of life each with their own issues and secrets who are seemingly just ordinary people. But soon enough things get interesting with the arrival of Batman, crashing the morning after for Jenny's one-night-stand with news that Captain Atom has gone rogue and it's Jenny's problem.

One of the things King does best as a writer is character voice and it shines here. Jenny is sharp tongued, giving as good as she gets, but is never over-the-top. She is straightforward and knows exactly what she needs to do while making no secret of how she feels about the more dazzling "heroes" who don't want to get their hands dirty with what could very well be a major issue. What we get with Jenny Sparks #1 is a lead that is holding the big names accountable while also getting down to the work of things herself; it feels rooted in realism. This isn't bombastic optimism or gritty pessimism that we often receive in superhero comics. This is straight reality with just a bit of wit and it feels very refreshing. It lines up beautifully with Spokes' artwork. Things are clean and uncluttered with just the right amount of realism and details. It's a story that seems set in the real world, with real world stakes and consequences.

My only real concern with Jenny Sparks #1 is that while the comic book sets things up and establishes the players on the page, there are already some signs this will get needlessly complicated and quickly. With four key side characters in play from the jump that inevitably intersect, the story is already poised to be a balancing act. However, even in the first issue it can be difficult to keep the stories straight. Part of that is how the panels are arranged and the story is presented, but part is also in the way we're only given snippets that feel, in the final pages, almost too convenient. There's some heavy-handedness in trying to explain to the reader who Jenny Sparks is that doesn't do an especially good job of making the reveal, as it were unless you're already familiar with the character.

Those things aside, however. the story seems like it's off to a good start with enough of a mystery to propel it to the next issue and a primary character just interesting enough to keep readers turning the page.

Published by DC Comics

On August 21, 2024

Written by Tom King

Art by Jeff Spokes

Colors by Jeff Spokes

Letters by Clayton Cowles

Cover by Jeff Spokes

DC's Watchmen has made its way into a new medium, with the first installment in a two-part animated movie making its debut on multiple platforms this month. The iconic comic storyline is brought to life with the help of an all-star ensemble cast, including Titus Welliver, who voices the shady private eye Rorschach. Welliver is no stranger to embodying hard-boiled detectives, having starred on the Bosch television franchise for the past decade. While speaking to ComicBook about his involvement with Watchmen: Chapter 1, Welliver made the connection between his onscreen portrayals of both Rorschach and Bosch's Harry Bosch.

"I think the similarity is that Rorschach is relentless in the same way that Harry Bosch is," Welliver explained in our interview, which you can check out above. "I mean, there's a kind of obsessive nature to the character. Even his attire is a throwback to the gumshoes -- the fedora and the raincoat and all that. And Harry Bosch obviously is not as dark as Rorschach, but there's a weird similarity coming from a really bad and traumatic childhood. There are some similarities there. That's what made it kind of fun, was doing that. I've always said, I don't know why somebody doesn't do an animated series of Bosch. It would be really cool if they could pull that off. But I'd be a purist, man. I'd say, 'Well, it's gotta be cell animation.'"

What Is the Watchmen Animated Movie About?

In Watchmen: Chapter 1, in an alternate world history set in 1985, the murder of a government sponsored superhero draws his outlawed colleagues out of retirement and into a mystery that threatens to upend their personal lives and the world itself.

The cast of the Watchmen animated movie includes Titus Welliver as Rorschach, Matthew Rhys as Nite Owl, Katee Sackhoff as Silk Spectre, Michael Cerveris as Doctor Manhattan, and Troy Baker as Ozymandias.

Will Bosch: Legacy Return for Season 3?

In the same interview with ComicBook, Welliver provided a long-awaited update on the latest chapter of the Bosch saga, the forthcoming third season of Bosch: Legacy.

"We don't have a date yet. I have to imagine that it will come sometime in 2025, hopefully early in 2025. They're shooting the spinoff Ballard with Maggie Q and we introduced her character, Renee Ballard, in our tenth episode of Bosch: Legacy in this season three that's yet to come out so I imagine they'd want to kind of try to release those within some proximity of each other," Welliver said. "I'm actually shooting this week on the first episode. I'm contracted to do three episodes for this first season of Ballard so, yeah, I hope we get some sense of a release date, but that would be my suspicion. It would be somewhere around there, fingers crossed. But all I can say in advance is that our producers every year just seem to raise the bar on themselves and so I'm excited for this third season to come out because I think it's truly one of the best and I mean, including Bosch, in the ten years that I've been doing this. It's a really, really substantive season for us."

Watchmen: Chapter 1 is available exclusively on Digital as August 13, followed by an arrival on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on August 27. Watchmen: Chapter 2 is set to debut later in 2024.

The first gameplay trailer for Batman: Arkham Shadow, the upcoming VR title from Meta and Camouflaj, has been revealed. Earlier this year, Meta announced that it was working on a new VR-based entry in the Batman: Arkham franchise that would come to Meta Quest 3 headsets in 2024. Now, ahead of its launch in just a couple of short months, Batman fans have been given a look at what it will be like to actually play Arkham Shadow in this new perspective.

Revealed to coincide with Gamescom Opening Night Live, the latest trailer for Batman: Arkham Shadow has been shown off and clocks in at a little more than two minutes in length. Compared to previous trailers, this new video features entirely in-game footage and highlights the various gameplay mechanics that will be found in Arkham Shadow. Those familiar with the Batman: Arkham series will likely recognize many of these features as Detective Vision and Predator Mode both notably appear in the game. Additionally, Camouflaj has adapted Batman's iconic fighting style from the Arkham franchise and has made it playable from a first-person viewpoint.

You can watch this new trailer for Batman: Arkham Shadow for yourself right here:

"This time around, you are Batman," says Meta's latest description of Arkham Shadow. "Land bone-crushing punches. Glide into hapless enemies. Retreat to the shadows. Camouflaj has reimagined the core Arkham experience for VR, drawing particular inspiration from Batman: Arkham Asylum and its intricate and interconnected level design. You'll need to master all of Batman's abilities in order to save Gotham City. Set between the events of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, you'll step into the shoes of a relatively young--and increasingly confident--Bruce Wayne as he takes on the Rat King, a dangerous new criminal with a cultish following."

In addition to revealing this new trailer, Meta also happened to provide a new breakdown of the voice actors who will appear in Batman: Arkham Shadow. Roger Craig Smith will return to the role of Batman after previously playing the character in Arkham Origins. He's joined by Troy Baker as Harvey Dent, Tara Strong as Harleen Quinzel, Mark Rolston as Commissioner Gordon, Khary Payton as Ratcatcher, Earl Baylon as Lyle Bolton, Chelsea Kane as Barbara Gordon, and Martin Jarvis as Alfred.

Lastly, Meta also happened to provide a new release window for Batman: Arkham Shadow at the trailer's conclusion. Although it remains without a specific date, Arkham Shadow will drop at some point in October 2024. When it does arrive, the game will be exclusive only to Meta Quest 3 devices.

The Batman Star Zoe Kravitz revealed what she wants to see from Selena Kyle in the sequel. The Catwoman actress talked to Collider ahead of Blink Twice, and she had to give her read on what's next for the cat burglar in Matt Reeves's universe. Kravitz previewed The Batman: Part II and said the origin story for a Catwoman is complete. Now, her character is free to be the chaos agent in Gotham and to cross paths with Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader again. Expect a more authoritative take on Ms. Kyle next time she takes that motorcycle for a spin. While Kravitz's character was a little bit reserved last time out, that confidence is probably going to be dialed up. (With that added bonus of flustering Batman.)

"The whole concept of Selina in that film was it's an origin story," Kravitz says of her character in The Batman. "So obviously there's a lot more to explore... It was a woman coming into her power and wanting to explore what it feels like when she can be playful and sit into that power. Hopefully, it will be very fun one day."

Selina Kyle Is Such An Iconic Role

The Batman star knows that putting on those ears is not for the faint of heart. Kravitz talked about slipping into the role of Selina Kyle in the DC movie in the pages of The Art of The Batman. There was a quick response from a lot of critics that thought her casting was a bit puzzling. But, all that attention didn't even compare to the internal pressure she felt to live up to the iconic women who had worn the mask before.

"When I got this part, I was floored, and then when the news came out I, to this day, not even on my birthday, have never received so many phone calls and text messages," recalled Kravitz. "That was when it hit me-this isn't just big to me, this is just a big deal. Eartha Kitt and Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry, everybody. It's an honor to be in that group of people."

"There were times when I really had to actually step away from that, because I think the pressure for it to be iconic, or to compare myself to those other incredible actresses, I think that's really dangerous," Kravitz continued. "Especially because this story is so specific, I really wanted it to feel character driven, and I wanted it to feel like it was coming from the inside, an internal thing, not an external thing. It is, in a way, about how she looks and moves-but it's really about her spirit, and that was what I really wanted to focus on. I didn't want to get trapped in trying to make something iconic or sexy. I really wanted it to be a story about a woman who survived a hell of a hell of a life and is trying to figure out what to do next."

Are you hoping for more Catwoman in Part II? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

Joker: Folie A Deux Director Todd Phillips has addressed the possibility of a Joker 3. Warner Bros. is opening the curtains on the Joker sequel this fall and Variety asked the filmmaker about a final curtain call for Joaquin Phoenix's version of the Batman villain. It turns out, this is the last show we'll see Arhtur Fleck perform for now. Phillips said, "It was fun to play in this sort of sandbox for two movies, but I think we've said what we wanted to say in this world." So anyone counting on a Joker 3 is probably going to be waiting for a long time. Never say never, because Joker: Folie A Deux exists after Phillips seemed lukewarm at best on delivering another installment of this franchise.

Still, that seems pretty concrete from the filmmaker behind the Oscar winning entry and upcoming sequel. If he ends up working with Joaquin Phoenix again, it would probably be a comedy of some kind. After all, the fabled origin story for this project was that Philips wanted to work with the venerated actor on some sort of black comedy and couldn't secure the funding. Now that they've proved that chemistry, it could happen in earnest.

"I'd love to keep working with Joaquin, but on a comedy, because he can be so loose and funny," Phillips says. "And I think people really want comedies right now. The trailer for 'Joker 2' sort of sums things up when it says, 'What the world needs now is love.' But I would go farther: We could use a good laugh too."

Joker 2 Takes Things To The Stage

Joker: Folie A Deux is still very grounded compared to some other comic book movies that have populated the multiplex over the last couple of years. Joaquin Phoenix had to prepare for singing in front of millions of folks. Talking to Empire Magazine, the Joker star talked about getting singing advice from Lady Gaga and how Arthur Fleck's singing prowess reflects that grounded tone from the first movie. It sounds like we're in for a real barn burner.

Phoenix said, "Gaga was always very encouraging of just, 'Go with what you feel, it's fine'. For somebody who's not a performer in that way, it can be... uncomfortable to do that, but also very exciting".

"It was important to protect that with poor phrasing and occasional bum notes," he continued. "Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs on the radio. He's not a singer, and he shouldn't sound like a professional singer. He should sound like somebody that's taking a shower and just bursts out into song.

Do you want a Joker 3 to continue the story? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

James Gunn has built a career off of turning D-list comic characters into household names. With Marvel Studios, the filmmaker was responsible for transforming the Guardians of the Galaxy into one of Marvel's most popular IPs, a formula he went on to replicate with DC and the publisher's Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and soon enough, the Creature Commandos. Now that Gunn himself is in post-production on Superman, there's one particularly interesting character he should set his eyes on next for a film or series--Buddy Baker, a.k.a. Animal Man.

Even though the character's relative anonymity is enough for Gunn to pull the trigger, one of the character's most popular comic runs is perfect for the filmmaker to adapt.

As a part of DC's New 52 relaunch, Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman told the perfectly Gunnian story. The story deconstructs Animal Man, taking a hero with seemingly inconsequential powers and putting him through a story that'd make David Lynch salivate. It builds on the concept of The Red, a mystical force the connects all living creatures and organisms. It's through this otherworldly realm the character undergoes horrific changes as the story involves body horror and takes on the tones of a creature feature.

With a resume that features both Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither, and with a knack for making gut-wrenching superhero films involving virtual nobodies, James Gunn's Animal Man could be the makings of one Hell of a superhero flick.

What is on the DC Universe slate?

As Gunn and Safran revealed, the initial DC Studios slate for "Gods and Monsters" will include movies for Superman: Legacy, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. It will include the HBO Max television shows Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and an animated Creature Commandos series.

"We're honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we've loved since we were children," Gunn and Safran said in a statement when their roles were first announced. "We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved. Our commitment to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the rest of the DC stable of characters is only equaled by our commitment to the wonder of human possibility these characters represent. We're excited to invigorate the theatrical experience around the world as we tell some of the biggest, most beautiful, and grandest stories ever told."

The DC Universe officially kicks off with Creature Commandos, which will see release this December, and Superman, which enters theaters July 11, 2025.

What part of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters excites you most? Let us know your thoughts by hitting our writer @AdamBarnhardt up on Twitter!

Michael Keaton's Batman flies solo. Two years after Warner Bros. shockingly canceled the Batgirl movie from directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah -- which would have seen Keaton reprise his iconic role as the Dark Knight opposite Leslie Grace's caped crusader following the events of The Flash -- Keaton told GQ magazine he's unfazed by the fate of the shelved DC movie that studio brass deemed "not releasable." Warner Bros. Discovery took a tax write-off on the $90 million Batgirl, which was filmed and in post-production when the directing duo learned their movie was axed.

"No, I didn't care one way or another. Big, fun, nice check," Keaton said when asked if he's disappointed about what happened to Batgirl. "Rubbing his fingers together in the universal gesture for 'moolah,'" GQ noted the actor softened and added of the duo collectively known as Adil & Bilall: "I like those boys. They're nice guys. I pull for them. I want them to succeed, and I think they felt very badly, and that made me feel bad. Me? I'm good."

The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star became "visibly agitated" by the line of Batman questioning, according to GQ, with the outlet noting the Oscar-nominated actor considers his role in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns no different than any other character he's played in his nearly 50-year career. "I'm nothing but only respectful and grateful, 100%," Keaton said of Batman. "And proud of it actually, because I like to prove everybody wrong. It's fun for me."

The Flash was supposed to position Keaton's Batman as a Nick Fury-type figure in the DC Extended Universe, but those plans fell through when the Andy Muschietti-directed feature flopped with a global box office of $271 million. Keaton shot a cameo in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom that was scrapped as DC Films -- and the defunct DCEU -- was reworked into DC Studios and the new DC Universe under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran.

The cancellation of Batgirl, which was described as "grounded" and "more like Tim Burton's Gotham City" from the two Keaton Batman movies, was "the biggest disappointment of our careers," Fallah said in a 2022 interview. "As a fanboy, just to be in the presence of Keaton as Batman, that's just a privilege and an honor. But it's a bittersweet feeling."

"We watched [The Flash] and we were sad," Arbi said. "We love director Andy Muschietti and his sister Barbara, who produced the movie. But when we watched it, we felt we could have been part of the whole thing. We didn't get the chance to show Batgirl to the world and let the audience judge for themselves. Because the audience really is our ultimate boss and should be the deciders of if something is good or bad, or if something should be seen or not."

A new poster for Joker: Folie ? Deux finds Joker and Harley Quinn gazing into each other's eyes. The sequel to 2019's Joker comes out later this year, and inserts Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn into the madness that surrounds Arther Fleck, aka Joaquin Phoenix's Joker. Warner Bros. Pictures has already given us a new trailer for Joker: Folie ? Deux, and the most recent poster promises to give fans what they want, and what they want is more of the Clown Prince of Crime and Harleen Quinzel.

"Let's give the people what they want. Joker: Folie ? Deux - only in theaters and @imax, October 4. #JokerMovie #FilmedForIMAX" a post from the official Joker: Folie ? Deux movie account on social media reads. The poster shows Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga with their clown makeup on, and they are face-to-face while engaged in a romantic dance. While they do have the makeup of Joker and Harley Quinn on, you can see splattering of blood on both of their faces and on Joker's tuxedo shirt and jacket. You can take a look at the Joker 2 poster below.

Joker 2 casting director praises Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn

During a panel at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Joker: Folie ? Deux casting director Francine Maisler offered high praise for Lady Gaga's work in the film, arguing that the actress and musician more than holds her own while playing such an iconic character.

"She's so good in it, you guys," Maisler explained. "She's going to blow your mind. I didn't suggest Lady Gaga. It wasn't my idea. That was Todd Phillips, before me. But I will tell you, she's really surprising -- and really good. I saw it and I was really surprised. I mean, we all knew what she could do in A Star is Born, but I thought, 'Oh, well, that's kind of in her wheelhouse.' Something she could do and just be real. But this... Man, she's good. Joaquin blows your mind, but that she could keep up with him, and be real -- and not just wiped off the screen by what that role is and what the performance is -- shows she's good."

What is Joker: Folie ? Deux about?

Joker: Folie ? Deux will be a musical that follows the twisted romance between Arthur Fleck and Harley Quinn, with a lot of the film believed to be taking place within Arkham Asylum. Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie ? Deux will also feature appearances from Zazie Beetz, Brendon Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Jacob Lofland.

"I actually think it makes wonderful sense," Beetz previously said of the film's musical elements. "I wasn't really surprised by that Todd has always had a creative approach to the character. I love musicals, and I think of them as the characters are feeling and experiencing so much that they can only sing and dance about it, whether in sorrow or in joy. And I can actually see that within myself as well, because singing and dancing is quite a cathartic experience for me. I was going through a really, really difficult time at one point in my life, and I just started dancing and crying by myself. And that was an expression that matched where I was at that moment. And so, I can see Arthur, who is feeling and experiencing so much, dancing and singing about it. He's the Joker, so I think it makes sense to me."

Joker: Folie ? Deux arrives in theaters on October 4th.

Long before comic books were inspiring billion-dollar TV shows and expansive TV universes, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman debuted on ABC in 1993 and became an overnight hit. Riding a wave of comic book mania kicked off in part by "The Death of Superman," Lois & Clark ran for four seasons and 88 episodes, and helped make Teri Hatcher a household name. The star, who played Lois on the series, would go on to lead Desperate Housewives and star in movies like Coraline and Tomorrow Never Dies. But first, she became one of the first people to "break the internet," with a provocative photo from Lois & Clark supposedly becoming the most-downloaded photo of all time for a while.

A promotional image of Hatcher, topless and wrapped in Superman's cape, became one of the earliest defining images from the show (in spite of never actually being onscreen). During a recent chat with The Guardian, Hatcher took questions from readers, and was asked to look back on the image's early virality.

"I broke the internet when we still had dial-up," Hatcher joked, but added, "I don't credit myself with being so fabulous. I do remember the photoshoot, which was to promote the TV show. It took all day. I was wearing a white blouse and pencil skirt because Lois is a reporter from the Daily Planet, with the cape wrapped over. It wasn't until the last take of the day that someone said: 'Could we try the cape without the blouse?' I thought: 'What does that imply? Why would Lois Lane be naked under the cape?' We only did it as a lark, but the result was evocative. Now I'm so much older, I still feel proud of it."

In spite of whatever questions Hatcher had at the time, the shoot was so well-received that she later did another, steamier shoot which featured her in photos on a Superman-themed bed, its red blankets wrapped around her.

Lois & Clark ran from 1993 until 1997, and featured a number of high-profile guest stars, including The Jeffersons star Sherman Hemsley as the Toyman and Bobby's World star Howie Mandel as Mr. Mxyzptlk. It was a hit outside of geek spaces, and a huge hit within, spawning spinoff novels and a trade paperback collection featuring various stories centering on Lois and Clark's romance, with a promotional photo of Hatcher and co-star Dean Cain on the cover.

In recent years, the work crunch visual effects workers have faced amid a growing slate of superhero films has been a main topic of discourse in film circles online. Oftentimes, various VFX vendors have found themselves rushed given the new norm of reshoots, resulting in less-than-average results. When it comes to DC Studios, James Gunn says visual effects partners won't have to worry about crunching to the finish line.

"If you do some research you'll see my films have always taken a different approach and I've always given my VFX artist-collaborators time to do their jobs properly, and the respect they deserve," Gunn said on Threads over the weekend. "And the quality of the VFX in those films is uniformly great because of it (and because my friends at Weta and Framestore and ILM and more are amazingly talented)."

Gunn has been known for the great care taken in developing his films, personally sketching out each and every shot seen in the film.

"This is why we wrapped on Superman a year before release and why they've been hard at work on many shots for months before that," Gunn added. "This is why we start heartily editing during the shoot. It's why I prepare so vigorously and why we only shoot finished screenplays. And Supergirl, which I'm not directing, is being handled the same way. I can't praise the VFX artists that help us create magic enough."

Superman stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Terence Rosemore as Otis, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe.

The DC Universe officially kicks off with Creature Commandos, which is set to hit Max this December, and Superman: Legacy, which enters theaters July 11, 2025.

What part of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters excites you most? Let us know your thoughts by hitting our writer @AdamBarnhardt up on social media!

Deadpool & Wolverine is officially the highest-grossing R-rated film to ever hit theaters. The record is one previously held by Joker, the Oscar-winning Joaquin Phoenix vehicle that will soon get a sequel, and Joker helmer Todd Phillips is congratulating the Marvel picture on its success. Saturday, the filmmaker took to his Instagram account to share a series of Deadpool-related photographs while applauding Ryan Reynolds and company on their success with the threequel.

"Have to tip my hat to @vancityreynolds and @slevydirect for this absolute steam roller of a movie," Phillips shared on the image-based social network. "We knew it was gonna be big, but this is too much. ? Congrats to everyone involved!!"

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A post shared by Todd Phillips (@toddphillips)

Through Saturday, Deadpool & Wolverine has pulled in a staggering $1.142 billion in global box office receipts, the most any R-rated movie has ever made. Phillips' Joker finished its award-winning box office run with a $1.047 billion global haul. The R-rated top five is then rounded out by Oppenheimer ($976 million), Deadpool 2 ($785 million), and Deadpool ($782 million). Joker ended up being nominated for 11 Oscars after releasing, winning Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix's performance, and Best Original Score.

Joker: Folie ? Deux is a direct follow-up to the picture, featuring Phoenix back as the Clown Prince of Crime and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.

"She's so good in it, you guys," casting director Francine Maisler previously said of Gaga's performance. "She's going to blow your mind. I didn't suggest Lady Gaga. It wasn't my idea. That was Todd Phillips, before me. But I will tell you, she's really surprising -- and really good. I saw it and I was really surprised. I mean, we all knew what she could do in A Star is Born, but I thought, 'Oh, well, that's kind of in her wheelhouse.' Something she could do and just be real. But this... Man, she's good. Joaquin blows your mind, but that she could keep up with him, and be real -- and not just wiped off the screen by what that role is and what the performance is -- shows she's good."

Joker: Folie ? Deux is set for release on October 4th, while Deadpool & Wolverine is exclusively in theaters now. The first Joker can be seen streaming on Max and the first two films in the Deadpool franchise are streaming on Disney+.

DC's had a string of welcome announcements over the past few months, but one of the biggest took place at San Diego Comic-Con. Amidst several reveals, DC announced that Mark Waid and Dan Mora would be teaming up on another series, but not just any series. The new project is none other than Justice League Unlimited, which will bring in a rotating cast of heroes into the mix along with the main Trinity. That's already a big deal, but DC recently revealed more details about the series, which will deal with the fallout after the shocking death of Darkseid in the All In Special.

Darkseid No More

One of the biggest revelations from the official synopsis for Justice League Unlimited #1 is that Darkseid is now dead after the All In Special, and that has left a huge power vacuum in the DC Universe. A successor has emerged however, and to battle this ultimate evil, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman will bring together as many heroes as they can to meet the new threat head-on, and that's where Justice League Unlimited kicks things off.

That's not the only big reveal though, as the synopsis states Ray Palmer's Atom Project sets off another huge domino, resulting in a race between heroes and villains for the control of metahuman abilities on Earth. The issue also teases a surprise on the very last page and that worlds will live and die .

Pretty epic stakes on both counts, and in an interview with DC, Waid spoke about the concept of this bigger and btter team and how the events of Absolute Power gave the heroes some perspective. "One of the things that comes out of Absolute Power is the heroes deciding that this whole event probably wouldn't have happened had the Justice League not disbanded and they were still properly communicating with each other," Waid said. "So now it's not a matter of the traditional JL working together, it's a case of enlisting everyone who has powers and wants to be on the team. There's space for the Justice Society, for the Titans, and it will be Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman knowing based on any oncoming threats who is best to take that threat on.

Justice League Unlimited #1

Written By: Mark Waid
Art and cover by Dan Mora
Variant Covers by Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, Howard porter, Ed Benes, and Simone Bianchi
1:25 Variant Cover by Dave Wilkins
1:50 Variant Cover by Edwin Galmon
1:100 Variant Cover by Yasmine Putri
Raised UV Foil Variant Cover by Daniel Sampere ($7.99 US)
Blank Sketch Variant
$3.99 / 32 pages / Variant $4.99 US (card stock) On Sale 11/27/24

The Watchtower rises! The Justice League is back and bigger than ever! In the wake of Absolute Power and the DC All In Special, Darkseid's death has triggered a massive power vacuum in the DCU, and Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman must unite like never before and expand the Justice League to encompass every hero championing the forces of good in the face of incredible evil! As our heroes work to uncover the mystery of the dark lord's successor, Ray Palmer's Atom Project triggers a race between hero and villain to control the fate of metahuman abilities on planet Earth, which threatens to destroy everything the League has built. Worlds will live, worlds will die, and a surprise is waiting in store on the last page...Do not miss the dawn of the new era of justice-it all begins here!

Justice League Unlimited #1 hits comic stores on November 27th.

Are you excited for Justice League Unlimited? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

Suicide Squad Isekai might have ended its run for the Summer, but the anime is keeping the hype going with the release of a new Webtoon. DC Comics teamed up with Warner Bros. Japan and Wit Studio on the release of Suicide Squad Isekai, a new anime that introduces a whole new take on the famous DC Comics villains group. The series made its debut as part of the packed Summer 2024 anime schedule, and ran for ten episodes before it came to an end earlier this week. But thankfully for fans of the series, it's not completely over as a franchise just yet.

Suicide Squad Isekai has announced on their official website it will be launching a new Webtoon comic release with Line Manga and Jump Toon beginning on August 25th. This is the first anime series that Wit Studio has ever released a simultaneous Webtoon adaptation for, and will be featured with a fully colored, vertical read format release. To celebrate the announcement of the new Webtoon adaptation coming later this month, you can check out the cover art for the Suicide Squad Isekai Webtoon below.

How to Watch Suicide Squad Isekai

Featuring Eri Osada directing Suicide Squad Isekai for WIT Studio with Tappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara writing the scripts, Suicide Squad Isekai's currently available debut season is now streaming with Max and Hulu. It's yet to be announced if the series will continue, but it begins to tease itself as such, "Amanda Waller, the head of A.R.G.U.S., has assembled a group of notorious criminals for a mission: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface, and King Shark. These DC Super-Villains are sent into an otherworldly realm that's connected to this world through a gate. It's a world of swords and magic where orcs rampage and dragons rule the skies-an "ISEKAI!" Harley Quinn and the others go berserk after arriving in the ISEKAI but are captured by the Kingdom's soldiers and sent to prison. They only have 72 hours before the bombs implanted in their necks explode. The clock is ticking."

The synopsis continues with, "After negotiations with Queen Aldora, their liberation is contingent upon the conquest of her enemies, the hostile Imperial army. The Squad members have no choice but to throw themselves head-first into the battle's frontline. If they run, they die. If they lose, they die. With their lives on the line, can Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad survive in the ISEKAI? Brace yourselves for the pulse-pounding saga of the elite task force known as the "Suicide Squad" as they embark on a jaw-dropping adventure! Let the party begin!"

We're officially less than a year away from Superman, James Gunn's ambitious take on a brand new DC Universe. As the film's production commenced across the past few months, a number of set photos leaked online showing brief glimpses of what the project has in store -- including the official superhero costumes for Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Guy Gardner / Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion). In a recent interview with Deadline, Merced teased her "badass" super-suit and helmet for Hawkgirl, confirming fans' theories that there will be a very specific narrative reason for the costumes in the world of the movie.

"Well, there have been some leaked pictures online," Merced explained. "However, I think James knows what he wants, and this specific suit is for this specific timeline in the story. I don't know what else I can say, but I gotta say, the helmet was my absolute favorite. It's so sick. It's so badass. It's perfect."

Who Is DC's Hawkgirl?

DC has had multiple iterations of Hawkgirl, who first made her debut alongside Hawkman in the pages of Flash Comics #1. One iteration is Shiera Sanders Hall, the reincarnation of the Egyptian princess Chay-Ara, and the partner of Hawkman. In the Silver Age, the pair's canon was retconned into being cosmic police officers from the planet Thanagar, with Shiera now being known as Shayera Hol. Shayera later changed her superhero moniker to Hawkwoman in the 1980s, a name she has held in the years since.

The modern-day version of Hawkgirl is Kendra Saunders, who was created by James Robinson, David Goyer, and Scott Benefiel in JSA: Secret Files #1. Kendra was a a young Hispanic woman who became possessed by Shiera Hall after committing suicide, and who went on to reluctantly embrace her destiny as Hawkgirl, and still holds the mantle to this day. This will be the second time Hawkgirl is portrayed in live-action, after Ciara Ren?e played Kendra across The CW's Arrowverse of shows.

Superman's Cast and Crew

Per DC Studios, Superman tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Superman will also star Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Terence Rosemore as Otis, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe.

James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe is about to be in full swing, with the first cinematic entry hitting the big screen next summer with Superman. The larger franchise has already confirmed the casting of a number of surprising roles, including Gunn's brother Sean Gunn as the businessman Maxwell Lord. While Gunn's take on Maxwell Lord is not confirmed to appear in Superman, set photos from the production hint at his company, Lord Tech, having a pivotal role in the superhero community. In a recent interview with The Wrap, Gunn teased that when we do meet his take on Lord, it will be rooted in the comics in a distinct way.

"I can't talk too much about it," Gunn revealed. "I can say that my my brother James and I did discuss... what reference materials from the canon were relevant to to my process. I love doing my own music."

"I can't say that much, other than we did talk about about relevant materials, and we discussed the character in detail on before I dove in," Gunn continued. "We referenced no live performances of the character. It's all from written materials with things that we figure we're looking at."

Who Is DC's Maxwell Lord?

Created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire in 1987's Justice League #1, Maxwell Lord IV is originally introduced as the secret benefactor of the Justice League International roster, who hopes to reimagine the superhero team on a global scale. Unbeknownst to the team, Lord was being mentally manipulated by an alien computer program, eventually breaking free and establishing himself as more of a shady businessman.

Lord later made a heel turn into being a supervillain by the events of Infinite Crisis, which revealed that he had been secretly stealing intel on the entire superhero community to use against them. The event began with him brutally murdering Ted Kord, and ended with Lord's neck being snapped by Wonder Woman, and the footage being broadcast throughout the world. He eventually was resurrected, and has continued to be both an adversary and a suspicious ally of the DC Universe. He was previously portrayed in live action by Peter Facinelli in The CW's Supergirl, and Pedro Pascal in the film Wonder Woman 1984.

The DC Universe Slate

The first chapter of DC Studios' DC Universe slate will include 2025's Superman, 2026's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, as well as the currently-undated movies The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. On the television side, the DC Universe will launch an animated Creature Commandos series, the sophomore season of Peacemaker, as well as future shows Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, and Paradise Lost. An animated Jurassic League movie and a live-action Teen Titans movie are also reported to be in the works, but neither have been officially confirmed by DC Studios.

"A lot of people think it's going to be Marvel 2.0, and definitely I learned a lot of stuff at Marvel. I think that we have a lot of differences," Gunn explained in January of 2023. "We are telling a big, huge, central story that is like Marvel, except for, I think that we're a lot more planned out than Marvel from the beginning because we've gotten a group of writers together to work that story out completely. But we're also creating a universe that is like Star Wars, where there's different times, different places, different things, or Game of Thrones, where characters are a little bit more morally complex."

Superman will be released exclusively in theaters on July 11, 2025.

Glen Powell has been having quite a big couple of years. After having a large role in in Top Gun: Maverick, the actor went on to star alongside Sydney Sweeney in the box office hit, Anyone But You. Earlier this year, Powell caught audiences' attention by starring in Richard Linklater's newest Netflix movie, Hit Man. This summer, fans fell in love with him all over again in Twisters. Last month, it was announced that a Backdraft remake was in development with Powell set to star. While the actor may be gracing our screens, it doesn't sound like he'll be joining DC or Marvel any time soon. During a recent appearance on The Playlist's The Discourse podcast, Powell shut down rumors that he's met with the studios.

"You know I've never gotten a call from DC or Marvel," Powell revealed. "But I'm a fan of everything they do," he added. "I just saw Deadpool [and Wolverine]. I freaking had a blast. I think what Shawn [Levy] and Ryan [Reynolds] did with that is like extraordinary and just such a fun flavor for audiences. And I cheer for them. And I love what [they do]."

"I think James Gunn, Peter Safran, and what they're doing at DC- I think it's going to be really, really good for that business. So, it's like, yeah, I cheer them all on. I'm a big fan of the movies," he continued.

Glen Powell To Star in The Running Man Remake:

Backdraft isn't the only remake with Powell's name on it. In fact, before he potentially suits up as a fireman, Powell is expected to star in Edgar Wright's remake of Stephen King's The Running Man. The story was previously (and more loosely) adapted into a movie in 1987, directed by Paul Michael Glaser with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the titular role. In a recent interview with IndieWire, Powell revealed that he plans on returning to the University of Texas to finish his degree in Spanish & Early American history in the fall while simultaneously beginning work on The Running Man.

"I'm not going to be sitting in a class with other students on the regular," Powell explained. "I'm basically going to be coming back because I have to finish up, but I'm going to be shooting The Running Man in the fall. So I'm going to be in London, but I am going to be going back for proctored exams. So, they're letting me figure it out [with] distance learning. And I'm obviously going to be coming in, Zooming in for classes and whatnot, but I have to be back for the proctored exams. So, we're figuring that out for two or three times a semester, I'll come back for all my stuff. Edgar has been very nice about letting me finish my degree in the middle of his massive movie."

Stay tuned for more updates about Glen Powell.

Twisters blew through theaters this summer and Glen Powell has an update on Marvel and DC castings. Talking to The Playlist, the Hollywood heartthrob revealed that Kevin Feige and James Gunn haven't reached out to him just yet. Powell told The Discourse Podcast that he loved Deadpool & Wolverine but the MCU hasn't come knocking just yet. There's still time for film fans, but it seems like we're going to have to wait for whatever eventual superhero role Powell will end up taking on. Check out what he had to say on the podcast right here.

The Twisters star shocked the panel when he said, "You know I've never gotten a call from DC or Marvel. but I'm a fan of everything they do. I just saw Deadpool & Wolverine. I freaking had a blast. I think what Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds did with that is extraordinary and just such a fun flavor for audiences. And I cheer for them, and I love what [they do.]"

"I think James Gunn, Peter Safran, and what they're doing at DC-- I think it's going to be really, really good for that business," he added. "So, it's like, yeah, I cheer them all on. I'm a big fan of the movies." So comic book movie fans are left waiting for the eventual announcement of some casting. To think that DC or Marvel haven't been monitoring the success of Twisters or Top Gun: Maverick or Anyone But You would be wild to consider. That role is going to come around at some point if he keeps breaking the box office.

What Roles Would Powell Be Interested In?

Clearly, the status of superhero stardom has been on Powell's mind. not that long ago he spoke to GQ Magazine about his prospects for DC or Marvel. While the House of Ideas hasn't spoken to him about any roles yet, he's hoping James Gunn calls about one hero in particular. that interview revealed that Powell is a massive Batman guy. He wants to take The Caped Crusader in a really interesting direction, if he ever got the opportunity.

"I was always a Batman guy," Powell shared. "I would have a wild take on Batman. It definitely would not be like a Matt Reeves tone - it'd probably be closer to Keaton. Oh, sick!" The actor said as he found the 80s Batmobile. "See? This is the era."

Who do you want To see Powell play in DC or Marvel? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

HBO has some big plans for the first weekend of The Penguin. The HBO Original limited series is a spinoff of The Batman and features Colin Farrell reprising his role as Oz Cobb, aka Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin. Instead of focusing on the Dark Knight, The Penguin looks to put the spotlight on the underbelly of Gotham City and how the different crime families are fighting for supremacy. Instead of a Sunday night premiere, The Penguin releases its first episode on Thursday, September 19th at 9 p.m. ET/PT, but HBO plans to re-air it several times over the weekend.

The series premiere of The Penguin will be available on Thursday, September 19th along with re-runs over the weekend, concluding Sunday, September 22nd at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Going forward, each new episode of The Penguin will debut on Sundays at 9 p.m. with Episode 2 airing Sunday, September 29th. So if you're an HBO subscriber, you have the opportunity to catch any of the debut's air dates, while Max streamers can just open the app and stream The Penguin on-demand. In celebration, HBO released new key art of The Penguin which you can see below.

How The Penguin sets up The Batman sequel

The Penguin creator Matt Reeves and showrunner Lauren LeFranc recently spoke about how the series will set up events in The Batman Part II. "We are the bridge between the two films," LeFranc told Entertainment Weekly. "We're going almost directly into the second film Matt [Reeves] has planned."

Producer Dylan Clark also teased that another addition to The Batman franchise is also in the works. "There's another television exploration we're going to do," Clark revealed. "We're looking at this entire world as it relates to who Batman is -- the antagonists around them, all the crime that has to be navigated in the city -- and trying to figure out where are the areas that are best to explore."

What is The Penguin about?

Starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb (aka "The Penguin"), the DC Studios series continues filmmaker Matt Reeves' The Batman epic crime saga that began with Warner Bros. Pictures' global blockbuster The Batman. Developed by showrunner Lauren LeFranc, the series centers on the character played by Farrell in the film.

The series stars Colin Farrell (Oz Cobb), Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone), Rhenzy Feliz (Victor Aguilar), Michael Kelly (Johnny Viti), Shohreh Aghdashloo (Nadia Maroni), Deirdre O'Connell (Francis Cobb), Clancy Brown (Salvatore Maroni), James Madio (Milos Grapa), Scott Cohen (Luca Falcone), Michael Zegen (Alberto Falcone), Carmen Ejogo (Eve Karlo), and Theo Rossi (Dr. Julian Rush).

The Penguin premieres Thursday, September 19th at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with subsequent new episodes of the eight-episode series on HBO and Max airing on Sundays.

McFarlane Toys launched a Darkseid (DC Classic) Megafig in their DC Multiverse lineup back in May, and it sold out in a heartbeat. The same thing happened each time that it was restocked. That said, it is back up for sale here on Amazon priced at $39.99, though we don't expect it to last long. Note that McFarlane Toys also launched a Batman Forever Batmobile and Collector Edition wave this week.

"The DC Collector Megafig Wave 8 Darkseid DC Classic Action Figure features ultra articulation with up to 22 moving parts for full range of posing and play. Darkseid is featured in his classic DC Comics look and is in scale with the 7-inch figures in the DC Multiverse line (sold separately). Darkseid comes with a soft goods cape, extra hands, extra head portrait, and display base. Also included is a collectable card with artwork on the front, and a character biography on the back."

On a related note, McFarlane Toys launched a wave of 7-inch DC Direct action figures around the time of the Darkseid figure that they've dubbed as "PHYGITAL" releases. As the name suggests, each physical figure will be paired with a digital collectible, which is a strategy that that McFarlane Toys is leaning into more and more. In this case, a virtual piece that can be used to construct a virtual Animal Man when you collect all three figures. Yes, digital Build-A-Figures are a thing now.

Still, the wave is an interesting one with The Atom (DC: The Silver Age), Superman (Our Worlds at War) and Green Arrow (Longbow Hunter) figures. Note that this is the second wave of figures in the DC Direct Phygital series following a Batman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman wave that launched earlier this year and quickly sold out. These figures are set to ship this month, and you can find pre-order links below. Note that U.S. shipping is free at Entertainment Earth on orders $59+.

• DC Direct The Atom DC: The Silver Age 7-inch scale figure ($24.99) - See at Entertainment Earth
• DC Direct Green Arrow Longbow Hunter 7-inch scale figure ($24.99) - See at Entertainment Earth
• DC Direct Superman Our Worlds at War 7-inch scale figure ($24.99) - See at Entertainment Earth
• Collector's Case of 6 - See at Entertainment Earth

Following a three-part story in The Brave and the Bold, writer Alex Segura will continue the adventures of Renee Montoya/The Question in a new series, along with artist Cian Tormey. Segura, a mystery novelist, is also writing Spider-Society for Marvel right now, and Mad Cave's new take on Dick Tracy. In the new series, titled The Question: All Along the Watchtower, Montoya will be tasked with solving a series of crimes, with murder in the mix. Whether that means a Justice Leaguer will actually be a victim, or whether there's some other reason the investigation has to happen out of the Watchtower, is anyone's guess at this point.

On his Substack, Segura promised fans plenty of cameos and Easter eggs in the book. Where's Batman? Well, maybe he called in Renee for a particular reason -- or maybe he's a suspect and doesn't feel right investigating. Either way, Segura called the story "a love letter to Renee, the work of [Dennis] O'Neil and [Greg] Rucka, and the DC universe as a whole."

"If the title didn't tip you off, All Along the Watchtower chronicles Renee/The Question's story about the JL Watchtower, after she's enlisted by Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to get to the bottom of a series of deadly events And yes, there might be a murder or two," Segura teased. "It's a noir murder mystery on the biggest DC stage, featuring, hands down, my favorite DC Comics character. To say I'm thrilled would be an understatement. The Denny O'Neil/Denys Cowan run on The Question, along with Greg Rucka's work on Renee in Gotham Central, 52, and with Cully Hamner as the Question, are seismic influences on me as a writer, period, and on this book in particular. It's not a job I take lightly, and I'm definitely trying to do my best to perfect that potent blend that makes Renee stories sing: weaving through the tenets of classic noir crime fiction and mixing them with the wide-eyed wonder of superheroics."

"All Along the Watchtower" is also the name of a Bob Dylan song. Appearing on Dylan's 1967 album John Wesley Harding, "All Along the Watchtower" debuted in the same year as the character of The Question, which Steve Ditko created for 1967's Blue Beetle #1. Those characters, along with other Charlton characters, would eventually be sold to DC and would serve as the underlying basis for Watchmen. The tenth issue of Watchmen, titled "Two Riders Were Approaching," takes its title from lyrics in the Dylan song.

Here's the solicitation text for the first issue, per Polygon:

Renee Montoya investigates a murder mystery on the Justice League Watchtower

Who watches the Watchtower? In the wake of Absolute Power, the Justice League Unlimited has created a haven for all heroes--but can they keep it secure? Enter Renee Montoya, reeling from an abrupt end to her time in Gotham and looking for a place to hang her hat. But the Trinity didn't bring her up to the Watchtower to relax--there's a dark threat bubbling underneath the surface, and only the Question and her ad hoc support team stand a chance of figuring out who the problem is before it's too late.

McFarlane Toys collectors might remember the fiasco surrounding the release of the DC Multiverse Gold Label Batmobile inspired by Tim Burton's '89 Batman film. It sold out in a heartbeat initially, and there's a good chance that the same situation occurs with the upcoming Batman Forever Batmobile. McFarlane Toys is set to open up pre-orders for a standard edition 2-pack that includes an Alfred Pennyworth figure, and a glow-in-the-dark Gold Label Amazon exclusive starting on August 15th at 9am PT / 12pm ET.

Pre-orders for the Batman Forever Batmobile 2-pack will be available here at Entertainment Earth (free US shipping on orders $59+) after the launch time. We also expect it to launch here on Amazon. The GITD Gold Label exclusive is available here. Pricing details haven't been revealed but, based on McFarlane Toys' recent The Dark Knight rises Tumbler drop, expect the exclusive to come in around $70 with the 2-pack priced at $100. Direct links will be added to this article after the launch, so stay tuned for updates. UPDATE: Direct links added. Pricing is set at $79.99 and $109.99.

Naturally, you'll want to pair your Batman Forever Batmobile with DC Multiverse figures inspired by the 1995 film. Fortunately, McFarlane Toys has you covered with a Build-A-Wave series that includes figures based on Batman (Val Kilmer), Robin (Chris O'Donnell), Riddler (Jim Carrey), and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones). All of the details you need about the collection can be found right here.

On a related note, McFarlane Toys has teased a new Collector Edition wave for August 16th at 9am PT / 12pm ET.. At the time of writing, only The Dark Knight Returns Batman figure has been teased for the drop, though these waves typically include three figures, so expect two more reveals to show up here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon after the launch time. UPDATE: The wave will also include Green Lantern (Green Lantern Corps) and Huntress (The New 52).

What Is Batman: Caped Crusader?

The Batman: Caped Crusader animated series is a hard-boiled detective noir set in 1940s Gotham City and reimagines Barbara -- the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon (Eric Morgan Stuart) -- as a different kind of crusader: a public defender whose pursuit of justice brings her face-to-face with Gotham District Attorney Harvey Dent (Diedrich Bader). The series showrunner is Bruce Timm, who co-created the Emmy-winning Batman: The Animated Series and its spinoffs. It's produced by Timm, Matt Reeves, J.J. Abrams, and Ed Brubaker, and is now streaming on Prime Video.