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SDCC: Mattel Announces New Monster High Dolls

Kat
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SDCC: Mattel Announces New Monster High Dolls

Mattel have announced their new Monster High Skullector Dolls. 

MORE FROM NI’S COLLECTIBLES TEAM HERE 

They revealed a whole slate of new dolls at Comic-Con, and they are all amazing. From a Disney Villain to an Iconic Horror Movie Villain to even some new dolls. And we start off with the Universal Monsters dolls. 

Classic Villains Reimagined

These dolls are inspired by 3 Iconic Universal Monsters films from 1931 & 1932. The details for them are below:

  • Monster High® x Universal Monsters Frankenstein Doll
    • Inspired by the iconic 1931 Frankenstein film, the Monster High® x Universal Monsters Frankenstein doll electrifies with an all-black ensemble featuring a cropped jacket with pointed shoulders, electricity-inspired accents, matching pants, and platform boots. Film-inspired accessories, including a windmill purse, silvery barrettes, and a statement necklace, pay tribute to the original horror classic.
  • Monster High® x Universal Monsters Dracula Doll
    • Inspired by the legendary 1931 Dracula film, the Monster High® x Universal Monsters Dracula doll brings the iconic vampire to life with a hauntingly chic look. She features a collared dress paired with netted tights and two-tone buckled bat heels, while her pale complexion, striking red eyes, and jet-black hair capture Dracula’s unmistakable presence. Blood drip earrings, a coffin-inspired purse, and a medallion necklace complete the look with subtle nods to the original horror classic.
  • Monster High® x Universal Monsters The Mummy Doll
    • Inspired by the classic 1932 The Mummy film, the Monster High® x Universal Monsters The Mummy doll emerges in a hauntingly elegant look featuring a gauzy, wrapped dress with flowing fringe sleeves. Her gray-toned skin and eerily golden eyes capture the character’s mysterious presence, while strappy sandals with skullette sarcophagus heels, a sarcophagus-inspired handbag, scarab ring, and golden belt pay tribute to the original horror classic.

These have already been released to Walmart (and are most likely sold out), but another restock is happening on September 1st, and they will also be available internationally then as well. 

The Sack Is Alive

From there, we have the villain of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas coming out. This doll looks amazing, and the description for it is even better:

  • Monster High® Skullector™ Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Oogie Boogie Doll
    • Skullector expands its Disney collaboration with a Monster High interpretation of Oogie Boogie from Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Inspired by the burlap sack villain from Halloween Town, the collectible incorporates signature character details, including a patchwork-inspired silhouette, textured platform boots, and accessories that reference Oogie’s mischievous insect-filled lair. The design brings together recognizable elements from the film with Monster High’s distinctive aesthetic, offering fans and collectors a fresh take on the iconic character.

This one will be out in the fall. Next up is another Iconic Movie Villain. 

He’s Back

We have a Michael Myers doll, and it is very spooky and cool:

  • Monster High® Skullector™ Michael Myers Doll
    • Skullector pays tribute to one of horror’s most iconic villains with a Monster High interpretation of Michael Myers inspired by 1981’s Halloween II. The doll features design details that reference the film, including a red glitter-spattered jumpsuit and accessories inspired by memorable moments from the movie. Fans attending Midsummer Scream will also have the opportunity to hear directly from the designers behind the doll, who will discuss the creative process and inspiration during a panel on Saturday, August 8th at 3:00 PM PT at Universal’s booth.

This one is out this Summer, and if you are heading to Midsummer Scream in 2 weeks, go check that panel out. 

Fashionable Halloween

Now we move on to this year’s Halloween Edition doll, and it’s everyone’s favorite bat-best friend:

  • Monster High® Draculaura™ Halloween Edition Doll
    • To celebrate the Halloween season, Monster High Skullector introduces an original Draculaura collector doll in an elevated bat-inspired look. The design pairs a winged headpiece with spiderweb-sheer veiling alongside a lace-up satin bodice and gravity-defying jacquard skirt. Additional premium touches include haunted house heels, ribbon bracelets, and a countess collar for added drama. Seasonal details like a custom Halloween-themed doll stand and jack-o’-lantern purse complete this gore-geously gothic collectible.

This one drops in the Fall. 

Classics Reinvented

Now, also dropping in the Fall are the reprinted Dawn Of The Dance dolls. These haven’t been seen in years, and they are looking as fa-boo-lous as always:

  • Monster High® Boo-riginal Creeproduction™ Dawn of the Dance™ Dolls
    • The original Monster High Dawn of the Dance doll line returns with creeproductions of everyone’s favorite party ghouls – Clawdeen Wolf™, Frankie Stein™, Cleo De Nile™, Lagoona Blue™, and Draculaura™. It’s the biggest bash of the year for everybody at Monster High, and they’re just dying to show off their most frighteningly fabulous fashions.

This will also be released in the Fall. 

Evil Santa Is Here

Finally, we have the Krampus doll. This one we don’t have an image for just yet, but the description for it sounds awesome:

  • Monster High® Skullector™ Krampus Doll
    • This year, Monster High Skullector is skelebrating the Legendary Pictures’ 2015 Krampus movie with a creeptastic collectible inspired by the titular terrifier. This Krampus doll is dressed to haunt your nightmares in a hooded jacket and ruched dress with sinister, blood-red tones. Extralong chains add eerie movement, while black knee-high boots re-create Krampus’ cloven hooves.

This one releases in the Winter.

  • Monster High® x Universal Monsters Frankenstein Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® x Universal Monsters Dracula Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® x Universal Monsters The Mummy Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Skullector™ Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Oogie Boogie Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Skullector™ Michael Myers Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Draculaura™ Halloween Edition Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Boo-riginal Creeproduction™ Dawn of the Dance™ Clawdeen Wolf™ Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Boo-riginal Creeproduction™ Dawn of the Dance™ Frankie Stein™ Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Boo-riginal Creeproduction™ Dawn of the Dance™ Cleo De Nile™ Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Boo-riginal Creeproduction™ Dawn of the Dance™ Lagoona Blue™ Doll (Credit: Mattel)
  • Monster High® Boo-riginal Creeproduction™ Dawn of the Dance™ Draculaura™ Doll (Credit: Mattel)

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DC COMICS RUNS SAN DIEGO: Full List of Announcements Saturday at SDCC!

Matthew Roth
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DC COMICS RUNS SAN DIEGO: Full List of Announcements Saturday at SDCC!
Panel of six people seated at a long table on stage, with a wall covered in San Diego Comic-Con logos behind them and audience in the foreground.
Photo by Christopher True

DC Comics runs the world at SDCC as they came out swinging with heavy-hitting announcement after announcement. Friday’s announcements of Static and Vixen were just the start for the publisher who had their best selling year in their 80 year history in 2025. Below is the full list of what is to come between their All-In and Absolute worlds!

Absolute Black Canary 1 Shot– Written by Pornsak Pichetshote and art by Belen Ortega.

Absolute Batman: Beyond Ark M– Written by Frank Tieri and Scott Snyder, and art by Francesco Francavilla.

Photo By Christopher True

DC All-In: Darkseid Vs. The World– Written by Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson and with art by Sanford Greene and Yasmine Putri.

Steel– By Morgan Hampton

Marilyn Moonlight (more to come)- By Morgan Hampton and Stephanie Williams.

These were just a few of their big announcements as they teased more from Green Lantern, Action Comics, Kingdom of Zod, Superman Unlimited, and a few other exciting things to come. What cannot be understated is how DC Comics has announced three black-led ongoing titles on the horizon with Vixen, Steel, and Static. DC also had a banner night at The Eisner Awards as they took home awards for Best Limited Series and Best Penciller/Inker for Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez.

Big night at the Eisners!

Other wins included Best Cover Artist by Javier Rodriguez and Best Lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, and Meredith McClaren won Best One-Shot for Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1. DC Pride 2025 took home hardware for Best Anthology edited by Andrea Shea and Jillian Grant, Best Graphic Album-Reprint (Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen: The Deluxe Edition), and Best Writer/Artist (Jamal Campbell, Zatanna).

There is so much to be excited about right now in the world of comics. What are your favorite announcements from this weekend? Let us know below and make sure to check out more by Matt!

Three panelists sit at a table during a San Diego Comic-Con event, microphones and water bottles in front of them, backdrop filled with Comic-Con logos.
Panel at San Diego Comic-Con with three speakers seated behind a table; backdrop shows Comic-Con logos; center man with glasses speaks into a microphone; nameplate reads Jeff Lemire; woman on the right.
Sign reading BLACK GARDEN in bold black letters with a white dove graphic overlapping the text.
Fiery Superman S-shield logo glowing in orange and yellow on a dark background with blue side panels
DC Comics poster featuring a colorful group of superheroes in action, with 'Kingdom of Zod' at the bottom and a DC logo in the top-left corner.
Panel of creators and speakers seated at a long table on stage, San Diego Comic-Con banners behind them.
Panelists at Comic-Con International San Diego, seated at a long table with nameplates for Morgan Hampton, Stephanie Williams, and Nicole Maines.

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SDCC: Dark Horse Announces Minor Threats: The Cleaner

Kat
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SDCC: Dark Horse Announces Minor Threats: The Cleaner

Dark Horse has announced a new Minor Threats series. 

MORE FROM NI’S COMICS BULLPEN HERE 

Minor Threats: The Cleaner #1 Main Cover By Scott Hepburn (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)

Minor Threats: The Cleaner is spinning out of the Minor Threats: Welcome To Twilight anthology series. The book’s all-star creative team includes: 

  • Writers: Gerry Duggan, Patton Oswalt & Jordan Blum
  • Artist/Colorist: Mark Torres
  • Letterer: Nate Piekos 

The book’s official description reads: 

“Twilight City is a hard place to live—and an easier place to die. But some bodies never make the headlines. When the capes make a mess too big to bury, they call one number: THE CLEANER. 

By day, David O’Halloran is a struggling small-business owner. By night, he’s the spandex world’s last call for cleanup—disposing of the un-disposable with precision, secrecy, and a price. But when his path crosses with the deadly and dazzling Diamond Dahlia, everything changes. She has a secret past with the legendary vigilante The Insomniac, and it’s about to erupt onto the blood-slicked streets.” 

Writer Jordan Blum had this to say about the new series: 

“When Gerry and Mark introduced The Cleaner in Welcome To Twilight, we knew there were more bodies buried in that fertile ground. Along with those rotting heroes and villains was a deeply human, personal, twisted, pulpy, gorgeous story that Gerry and Mark Torres needed their own series to tell. The Cleaner is one of the best examples of what a Minor Threats story can be, a point of view in the genre of spandex we’ve never seen, grounded by an emotional hook that pulls you deep into their world.” 

Minor Threats: The Cleaner #1 releases November 11th.

  • Minor Threats: the Cleaner #1 Variant Cover By Mark Torres (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
  • Minor Threats: The Cleaner #1 Variant Cover By Subversive Girl (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
  • Minor Threats: The Cleaner #1 Variant Cover By Declan Shalvey (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
  • Minor Threats: The Cleaner #1 Variant Cover By Jae Lee (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)

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Paramount-Warner Brothers Merger Put on Hold. Here’s What We Know.

Kyle
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Paramount-Warner Brothers Merger Put on Hold. Here’s What We Know.

The Paramount and Warner Bros. merger has been put on hold by a multi-state lawsuit, throwing the future of Paramount’s ambitions and Warner Brothers itself into June of 2027. Hollywood loves a clash of titans, however, and while audiences might prefer battles between giant kaiju and superheroes, this antitrust lawsuit and its history are far more interesting. Let’s break down the lawsuit, just what’s at stake, and how this is a positive strike for the entertainment industry.

Photo Courtesy of Deadline

​

WARNER BROTHERS AND PARAMOUNT: THE MERGER

September 2025. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav had a problem: The studio was too big.

​After a storied history with the company beginning in the 2000s, Zaslav planned to separate the company to increase efficiency and maximize creative endeavors in “the evolving media landscape.” On September 12 2025, Paramount Skydance made an unsolicited offer to buy Warner Brothers despite the studio not being (at the time) for sale.

​Generating a great deal of industry concern, Warner Brothers opened the company to formal bids on October 21, 2025. 2025 ended, and 2026 began with two main bidders in final negotiations, Netflix and Paramount Skydance. The news caused a great deal of concern in industry circles, with artists citing a lack of jobs, unique projects, and opportunities, with fewer studios to work for. Hollywood audiences love a clash of titans, and while audiences might prefer superheroes or monsters, businesses and boardrooms hold far more sway over culture, news, and influence.

​Netflix and Paramount Skydance emerged as the dominant bidders for Warner Brothers out of a lineup that included Starz (Lionsgate), Comcast (NBCUniversal), and Netflix and Paramount. Starz was eliminated early, leaving Comcast hoping to acquire and combine parts of the studio with its own network. Netflix hoped for the streaming and content libraries, while Paramount Skydance wanted to acquire all of it, from streaming content to news networks.

​Paramount Skydance has something of a contentious history. The studio merged with Skydance under CEO David Ellison in 2024. Paramount Skydance’s merger earned the ire of critics, including Stephen Colbert, when it chose to settle a CBS lawsuit with United States President Donald J Trump in an effort Colbert himself called “a big fat bribe.” Paramount has denied it, calling it a business decision. Paramount Skydance saw itself as an early contender against Warner Brothers, hoping to build a media giant that could rival Disney.

​Netflix had less lofty goals, only hoping to gain access to streaming content and its thousands of hours of programming. The streaming giant demonstrated no interest in the news networks or sports programming that Warner Brothers had produced. Paramount raised its bid to cover the entire studio, leaving co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters bowing out after Warner Bros. asked if they wanted to match Paramount’s offer.

​Movie studios are like treasure chests; each one holds different artifacts that matter to audiences. Warner Brothers is no exception, with a catalog holding things like Harry Potter and DC Comics, along with Adult Swim and the Looney Tunes. Warner Brothers Discovery owns CNN, one of the most influential news networks on the planet. Paramount was determined to have it without considering the cost to the artist or the consumer.

​

ARTISTS FIGHT BACK HARD

​From creatives like Mark Ruffalo to Denis Villeneuve and unions like the Writers Guild of America, over 5500 film and television professionals signed an open letter urging regulators to block the merger. The argument is that fewer studios would likely reduce opportunities for artists to work in the industry. With business moving overseas, it would be a massive contributor to damaging America’s film industry as a whole.

​They were joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who announced he was filing an antitrust lawsuit to block the 111 billion-dollar merger, calling it “a check on the oligarchy.” California, acting as the lead plaintiff, worked with eleven other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

​

After District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín initially blocked the order for 2 weeks, Paramount agreed to delay the merger, saying they wanted their day in court.

​

“This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached. We look forward to proving our case at trial.”

​

California AG Bonta released a statement on the merger calling it, “ great news for audiences, movie theaters, and the many people who write, build, and create the art, news, and entertainment so many of us enjoy.”

​

“We are eager to continue to make our case in court and celebrate another tremendous win in our effort to ensure this unlawful merger never sees the light of day,”

​

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian

THE 2018 DISNEY-FOX MERGER.

​

This is not the first major studio merger that Hollywood has encountered. The Walt Disney Company’s 71 billion dollar deal to buy Fox Studios triggered a Department of Justice review that resulted in Fox having to sell off their Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). Disney, already owning ESPN, would have unfair dominance over sports coverage. The Department of Justice approved the merger if the RSNs were sold and Disney gained the rights to the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Alien franchise, and more. Fox News and Fox Sports became a part of the newly created “Fox Corporation,” now wholly owned by Rupert Murdoch.

​

The difference between these two mergers is interesting because it has to deal with just what Paramount is asking for compared to Disney. Disney’s bid was similar to Netflix’s – thinking solely of content. Paramount Skydance’s primary goal is scale. The idea would be that everywhere you turn, you would see Paramount Skydance attached to a familiar face like Bugs Bunny or Superman. While Disney’s merger significantly reduced competition in Hollywood thanks to owning a 100% stake in Hulu after buying out Comcast’s share, owning National Geographic, and much more, Paramount Skydance adding Warner Bros. ‘ crown jewels to their treasure chest would build a significant contender to the house of Mouse.

​

THE CREATOR OWNED LANDSCAPE

​Media is constantly evolving. As studios embrace new technologies daily and new content engines like K-Pop Demon Hunters for Netflix or The Backrooms for a rising indie studio like A24, the relationship between studios is consolidating while a trend returns – the opinion of the audience.

​

The rise of social media and individual content creation has led to fans being able to speak directly to creatives of the properties that they love. This isn’t a new paradigm for Hollywood; in the 1920s, creators like Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton were able to speak directly to fans. A long shot doesn’t erase the role of the studio, but creators have once again become the public face of their creations to fans like the early days of Hollywood.

​

This is a large part of what helped delay the Paramount / Warner Brothers merger. Actors and creatives were able to directly appeal to the fans of the work that they created. This generated interest, and fans became aware of a clash of business titans that would reshape the Hollywood landscape once again, with fans able to advocate alongside artists.

​

The studio system is very much a part of content creation; it becomes dangerous when studios become monopolies. Antitrust laws prevent that. Antitrust laws are defined as regulations designed to promote free and open competition in the marketplace by preventing monopolies and anti-competitive business practices. Corporations are built to make money and be business titans. In an ironic twist worthy of a Hollywood movie, the Paramount/Warner Brothers merger has revealed that the way to end the epic clash might be the ordinary protagonist – the audience member – observing from afar and having a say.

​

What do you think about the merger? Let us know below!

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SDCC: Oni Press & Archie Comics Announce 3 New Series

Kat
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SDCC: Oni Press & Archie Comics Announce 3 New Series

Oni Press & Archie Comics have made 3 huge announcements at SDCC. 

MORE FROM NI’S COMICS BULLPEN HERE 

Archie In Hell #1 Cover A By Tyler Crook (Credit: Oni Press & Archie Comics)

Now, the first announcement is a new series titled Archie In Hell. It is coming from Eisner-nominated Writer Patrick Horvath and Russ Manning Award-Winning Artist Tyler Crook. This new series’ description reads: 

“They say that every small town has a secret. Well, in the case of Riverdale, it’s one heck of a humdinger: An ancient order of cultists has infiltrated its townspeople, bent on using human sacrifice to usher a demon lord into our mortal plane. And they’ve finally identified the final target they need to bring a century’s worth of planning to fruition: hometown football champion and all-around good guy Archie Andrews. But this secret cabal never dreamed that actual witches walk Riverdale’s streets . . . and when cult and coven clash in the final stages of Archie’s secret ritual sacrifice, the consequences will be cosmic . . . and young Archie Andrews will find himself damned to something far worse than Hell’s inner circle. 

Unstuck from time and space. Bound to a terrible curse. Late for school. Things are about to go from bad to downright diabolical as Horvath and Crook unleash ARCHIE IN HELL #1, the most malevolent and merciless Archie Comics tale ever told . . . and, truly, you’ll never ever expect what happens next!” 

Writer Patrick Horvath had this to say about the new series: 

“Getting the opportunity to work on this book has been a series of pleasant surprises. When Hunter Gorinson and Sierra Hahn from Oni mentioned the possibility to me, it happened to line up pretty perfectly with my schedule. I just found myself thinking that if I was ever going to do something like this, now was the time. I had also been looking for an opportunity to write a project for another artist. Tyler has been an art hero of mine for a while now and getting to work with him on this has been supremely inspiring.” 

Meanwhile, Artist Tyler Crook added: 

“I have always wanted to work on an Archie comic, and I was super stoked when Patrick and Sierra presented me with a story that combined Archie with horror and history. As an artist who loves period pieces, it gives me something meaty to bite into and provides us a wonderful, interesting and terrifying way to explore these classic characters.” 

Archie In Hell #1 releases November 4th. The second book that was announced is an all-new mainline Archie series. Eisner-Nominated Writer Ben H. Winters & Multi Eisner Award Winning Artist Fábio Moon are working on the series. The book’s full description reads: 

“For his entire life, 17-year-old Archie Andrews has had it all: adoring friends, football glory, and a natural charm that always seems to make him the center of attention. Now, through his eyes, experience the warmth and wonder of Riverdale and its near-infinite roster of residents—the popular kids, the endearing oddballs, and everyone in between—as Archie embarks on a whirlwind, all-star adventure through his town’s past, present, and future . . . beginning with a local film festival that’s about to turn everything upside down! And, at the center of it all, lies an enigmatic paradox that only Archie’s pal Jughead Jones can possibly unravel . . . Plus: Puzzles! Pin-ups! And a veritable sweet shop of surprises that all link to the same inextricable mystery . . . Finally, your antidote for postmodern malaise has arrived.” 

This new series will also have a bunch of variant covers from artists, including: 

  • Fabio Moon 
  • Kark Kerschl 
  • Khary Randolph 
  • Stuart Immonen 
  • Kano 
  • Dan Parent 
  • Elsa Charretier 
  • Mahmud Asrar 
  • Travis Charest 

Archie #1 releases September 2nd. Finally, there is the new Sabrina The Teenage Witch series. This new series is coming from Hugo Award-Nominated Writer Corinna Bechko & Eisner-Nominated Artist Kano. The book’s description reads: 

“Who’d ever want to be ordinary when you could be a teenage witch instead? Still reeling from the surprise revelation of her secret birthright and with Halloween just around the corner, high schooler Sabrina Spellman is honing her craft one hex at a time and figuring out how to balance her magical new life with the crushing responsibilities of being 16 years old. But when her feline familiar Salem drops a mythical trickster on Sabrina’s literal doorstep, she might not be able to keep her two worlds from smashing together like two busted pumpkins on All Hallow’s Eve. No time for fate. No time for destiny. No time for homework. Being a teenager is far from magical . . . even when you’re a witch!” 

Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1 will have variant covers, and the artists include: 

  • Marguerite Sauvage 
  • Naomi Franq 
  • Caroline Cash 
  • Kano 
  • Dan Parent 
  • Erica Henderson 
  • Mamhud Asrar 

Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1 releases October 2026.

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SDCC: Amazon Luna Announces Batman: Caped Crusader- Chronicles

Kat
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SDCC: Amazon Luna Announces Batman: Caped Crusader- Chronicles

Batman: Caped Crusader is at SDCC, and they have made an announcement with Amazon Luna. 

MORE FROM NI’S GAMING TEAM HERE 

Batman: Caped Crusader- Chronicles is releasing on Amazon Luna next week on the 31st. Now this will drop along with the second season of the animated series. Within the game you will be able to drop into Gotham City, and find secrets hidden all over. Amazon Luna’s description for the game reads: 

“By playing alongside Detective Montoya as part of Batman’s inner circle and GCPD taskforce, players will decode evidence, chase leads, and confront iconic DC Super-Villains across 11 gripping episodes. Along the way, each episode serves up new sleuthing minigames that will put your detective skills to the test. Investigate, interrogate and deduce your way through the tangled crime webs woven by Gotham City’s most devious criminals, including Scarecrow, Babyface, Tweedledee & Tweedledum, Dollmaker, Lynx, Music Meister, and of course, the maniacal The Joker.”  

Amazon Games Studios’ Director, J.C. Connors, had this to say about the game: 

“We are excited to unveil the Batman: Caped Crusader – Chronicles game for Amazon Luna, launching in tandem with Season two of the hit Prime Video series, Batman: Caped Crusader. And now with Luna’s newly expanded availability through Prime Video, players with a Fire TV will be able to jump straight into the game seconds after watching the show, all within one unified entertainment experience.” 

Now, Luna will also be launching inside of the Prime Video app next week when the game and Season 2 launch. The game will be available in multiple countries, including: 

  • US
  • UK
  • Canada 
  • Germany 
  • France 
  • Italy 
  • Spain 
  • Austria 
  • The Netherlands 
  • Poland 
  • Sweden 
  • Portugal 
  • Belgium 
  • Luxembourg

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I Watched Elf in 90 Degree Heat, For the Love of Christmas in July

AlexisCardoza
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I Watched Elf in 90 Degree Heat, For the Love of Christmas in July

Yes, it is hotter than all hell outside. The kind of heat where you open the fridge just to stand in front of the door to get some extra cold air on your face. If this is you, then great, lets talk about why you SHOULD be watching a Christmas movie right now.

Christmas in July isn’t just some sales gimmick a marketing guy dreamed up to move ornament inventory in the off season. I mean, it kind of is that too, just look at how stores are already starting to stock up shelves in the back of the store with subtle christmas decor. But underneath the gimmick there’s something real going on, something that hits harder once you’re staring down at 44. Yes im old, and you start noticing how much of your comfort in this world is deeper than just a shot of nostalgia in your heart.

Where Christmas in July Actually Came From

This whole concept goes as far back as 1933, at Keystone Camp, which was an all girls summer camp tucked into the Blue ridge Mountains in North Carolina. The camps co-founder decided to throw a full blown holiday celebration in the middle of summer. I mean, who wouldn’t want to have their christmas tree up all the time? It just makes the ambiance of any room feel so much more alive and full of spirit.

The phrase itself got a big push into pop culture from a 1940 Preston Sturges comedy literally called “Christmas in July.” Funny enough, the movie isn’t even about the holiday, it’s about a guy who thinks he won a contest and goes on a spending spree. American servicemen overseas, especially the ones stationed in the Southern Hemisphere where July is actual winter, would throw mock Christmas gatherings to give the guys a little taste of home during a brutal stretch.

Why It Hits So Hard for Millennials Specifically

Personal tangent for a second. I’m 44. I grew up in the era of physical media, back when getting a movie meant actually driving somewhere and walking down an aisle. I spent years behind the counter at both Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, which means I got a front row seat to watching an entire generation fall in love with movies one rental at a time.

For millennials, that feeling is tangled up in a very particular kind of media memory that younger generations don’t really have access to. We grew up on VHS tapes worn thin from rewatching, on the same handful of holiday movies playing on a loop every December because that was genuinely all that was available. We didn’t have fifteen streaming services and infinite choice. We had the tapes we owned, whatever was airing on the one channel running a marathon, and whatever was left on the shelf at the video store.

Now we’re grown. Some of us have our own kids. Some of us are just trying to survive a heatwave and a bad news cycle. And basically all of us are one Spotify holiday playlist away from getting weirdly emotional about being nine years old again. Christmas in July taps straight into that.

It’s about wanting five minutes of that old specific safety, the kind you only really feel as a kid at Christmas, when nothing bad seemed possible yet. Nostalgia doesn’t run on a calendar, it runs on emotional shorthand, and for our generation, Christmas movies are some of the strongest shorthand we’ve got. Watching one in July is basically letting yourself feel something good on a random weekday.

Top 3 Christmas Movies to Watch During Christmas in July

1. Die Hard (1988)

Yes, it’s a Christmas movie. We’re not doing that debate again, I don’t have the energy. Here’s the actual reason it’s my number one pick for a July watch, and it’s not just to start a comment section fight. Die Hard works in the heat because it doesn’t need a cozy winter atmosphere to land.

The Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza mostly exists to explain why Bruce Willis’s John McClane ends up barefoot and alone in a skyscraper full of armed guys led by Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber. You don’t need to feel a winter chill to enjoy a guy crawling through air ducts trading one liners with terrorists.

That’s exactly why it’s a great July watch. You get the holiday flavor, the party, the lights, “Let It Snow” playing over gunfire, without it demanding you actually feel like it’s December to enjoy it. There’s also something a little rebellious about watching the loudest action movie of the 80s wearing a Christmas costume while the AC is cranked and everyone outside is complaining about the heat wave that’s hitting this hard.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

2. Home Alone (1990)

Different reason here, and it’s the one that hits hardest on pure nostalgia. If you’re a millennial, there’s a good chance this movie is welded into your childhood whether you liked it or not, it was on a loop every December and rented out of video stores so fast we could barely keep a copy on the shelf. I promise you I am not exaggerating that.

Home Alone was never really about the holiday decorations either, even though it’s dripping in them. It’s about that specific kid fantasy of being capable and unsupervised, which is a feeling that has nothing to do with snow on the ground. Watch it in July and you lose none of that, the paint cans and the blowtorch and Joe Pesci getting his comeuppance are just as funny with sweat on your neck as they are with a fire going. If anything it plays better in summer, because you’re not distracted by your own holiday stress, you’re just watching a nine year old outsmart two grown men, which is timeless in a way December never gets credit for.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and its poignant discussion of homelessness - Hanna Flint
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

3. Elf (2003)

My pick for pure warmth, and probably the one that best explains why millennials gravitate toward this whole Christmas in July thing. A human raised by Santa’s elves who heads to New York to track down his real father. Elf came out right as a lot of us were teenagers or just barely adults, which means it landed in our brains at the exact moment we were figuring out our own sense of humor. Buddy’s unfiltered joy over literally everything, cotton candy, singing, “the world’s best cup of coffee,” isn’t ironic. It’s just pure, and I think a lot of us are quietly starving for that kind of sincerity in the middle of an overheated, exhausting July news cycle.

11 Fun Facts About 'Elf' You Probably Didn't Know
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery

Its whole message isn’t really about winter at all. It’s about holding onto childlike wonder even when everything around you is telling you to grow up and knock it off. That message lands just hard, maybe harder, in the middle of summer, because in July you don’t have decorations and music doing the emotional work for you. You have to bring the wonder yourself this time.

Final Thoughts

Look, Christmas in July is not about trying to feel the cold, bitter, piercing wind on your face that comes around in the northern states during winter. This is all about borrowing the emotional memory of a holiday built on comfort, family, nostalgia, and honestly letting yourself feel whatever it is you actually need.

Who the heck cares what the calendar says! I grew up in an inner city, transplanted literally across the street from NYC from Puerto Rico. In the island Christmas is everything and starts in september half the time. The family events, the food, the parties, the presents of course, all of it left me with a period in time that no longer exists for me, and I know I am not the only one who feels this.

If you want to pop on your favorite Christmas flick this weekend and celebrate the start of the holiday season early, do it, no one should have anything to say that would deter you from that. Let yourself feel twelve years old again for two hours.

You’ve earned it.

What are your favorite Christmas movies? Let us know in the comments.

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SDCC: Marvel Comics Reveals Updates For Avengers: Armageddon, Iron Man & Captain America

Kat
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SDCC: Marvel Comics Reveals Updates For Avengers: Armageddon, Iron Man & Captain America

At San Diego Comic Con Marvel Comics has of revealed some updates for a few of their series. 

MORE FROM NI’S COMICS BULLPEN HERE 

We start off with Issue #5 of Avengers: Armageddon. The last issue drops in October, and the issue’s description says: 

“The point of no return! After the cataclysmic events of AVENGERS: ARMAGEDDON #4, the world is torn asunder. Humanity turns against super heroes. And for David Colton, what is the price of all that great power? See where the pieces fall in preparation for Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s AVENGERS #1!” 

At the same time, October also sees the release of Captain America #16, and the book’s description reads: 

“As the battle for Hell’s throne reaches its dramatic climax, Steve Rogers realizes he may have chosen the wrong side. The effects of the war spill out into the living world, bringing the Marvel Universe to the edge of ARMAGEDDON!” 

Iron Man #10 also releases in October, and that issue’s description reads: 

“The new Citizen V has been stalking Tony Stark. Is he friend of foe? Can Citizen V protect Iron Man from Whiplash’s final attack? And why has he taken on Baron Zemo’s old Thunderbolts name? Finally, this issue: Learn all his secrets and history with Iron Man!” 

Iron Man #11 releases in November, with Issues #12 & #13 both dropping in December.

  • Avengers: Armageddon #5 Cover By Dike Ruan (Credit: Marvel Comics)
  • Captain America #16 Cover By Valerio Schiti (Credit: Marvel Comics)
  • Iron Man #10 Cover By Ryan Stegman (Credit: Marvel Comics)
  • Iron Man #11 Cover By Ryan Stegman (Credit: Marvel Comics)
  • Iron Man #12 Cover By Ryan Stegman (Credit: Marvel Comics)
  • Iron Man #13 Cover By Ryan Stegman (Credit: Marvel Comics)
  • Iron Man #12 & #13 Connecting Cover By Gleb Melnikov & Nolan Woodward (Credit: Marvel Comics)

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SDCC: Marvel Comics Announces New X-Men Series

Kat
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SDCC: Marvel Comics Announces New X-Men Series

Marvel Comics is at SDCC, and they have announced a new X-Men series.

MORE FROM NI’S COMICS BULLPEN HERE 

Maximum X-Men #1 Cover By Tony S. Daniel (Credit: Marvel Comics)

Writer Christopher Yost & Artist Tony S. Daniel are teaming up for Maximum X-Men. The book’s team will include: 

  • Storm 
  • Wolverine 
  • Colossus 
  • Bishop 
  • Iceman 
  • Psylocke 
  • Firestar 
  • Justice

The book’s full description reads: 

“In the wake of the events of Avengers: Armageddon, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are no more! So who will stand in defense of the Earth? The X-Men will! Storm gathers an elite team for just that task, including Wolverine, Colossus, Bishop, Iceman, Psylocke, Firestar and Justice! Mutants by birth, heroes by choice! And their first challenge is a full-on invasion from the Negative Zone! Is this Annihilus again—or something far, far worse?” 

Writer Christopher Yost had this to say about the new series: 

“I’ve worked on my fair share of X-Books over the years, but MAXIMUM X-MEN is everything I love about comics rolled into one— it’s underdog heroes saving the world from the biggest Avengers-level threats imaginable, it’s mind-breaking action and drama and everything people expect from X-Men, all with a classic Claremont vibe. Rolling MAXIMUM X-MEN out as part of the new world post-Armageddon only lets us spotlight the need for a story like this… and to top it all off, I get to work with legendary artist Tony Daniel. As a life-long X-Men fan, it doesn’t get any better!” 

Meanwhile, Artist Tony S. Daniel added: 

“The X-Men have long been my favorite characters since discovering Giant Size X-Men #1 in the fourth grade. I’ve always dreamed of working on my favorite characters so it’s an incredible honor to launch Maxmium X-Men with Chris. I’ve been a fan of Chris’s writing for a long time, but this is our first time joining forces. I’m already in love with the story in the first issue. Its vibe and energy reminds me so much of the kind of X-Men stories I loved as a child and I can’t wait for the audience to see what we have in store.” 

Maximum X-Men #1 releases December 12th.

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Stephanie Williams Shatters Another Ceiling!

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Stephanie Williams Shatters Another Ceiling!

DC Comics, together with Stephanie Williams, announced that Williams will take the helm of an ongoing DC Series starring Vixen.

Panel at San Diego Comic-Con with Stephanie Williams and Cody Ziglar seated at a table on stage, microphones in front, backdrop filled with Comic-Con logos.
Stephanie Williams and Cody Zigler at DC’s All-In Panel SDCC 2026

A Record Breaking Year

The announcement from San Diego Comic Con 2026 marks the latest in a record-breaking year for the Eisner-nominated and Zelda Award-winning writer. Earlier this year, when Eisner nominees were announced, Williams joined her inspiration Dwayne McDuffie as only the second Black writer nominated for the Eisner’s Top Writer Award. In doing so, Williams also became the first Black Female nominated for the prestigious award. Earlier in the year, Williams racked up a slew of awards at the first-ever Zelda Awards, honoring the work of female creators in comics. In addition to the top writer nomination, Williams, along with Asiah Fulmore, and DJ Chavis, saw their series Temporal nominated for Best New Series at this year’s Eisners.

Check out Nerd Initiative’s Review of Temporal!

In addition to her success in Eisner Nominations, Williams also saw a massive appreciation for her creator-owned comic Roots of Madness, published by Ignition Press. The psychological thriller story bucked established comic book trends when Issue #5 of the series saw a 10% increase in orders over Issue #4. In the event you’re unfamiliar with the comic book industry, it’s almost unheard of for any comic four issues in, much less a creator-owned comic like Roots of Madness, to experience a jump in sales late in the run.

This is a testament to Williams’ writing prowess that comic fans as well as the comic industry are now taking distinct notice of. The Vixen announcement bookends a season of exciting announcements from Williams about upcoming projects. Among other projects announced by Williams and various companies include Any Given Smile! Williams’ football-themed entry into the Smile comic universe from IDW Dark, Vengeance Unchained: The Legend of Black Caesar from Archie Comics, Warriors, and a Tween Wonder from DC. Williams also teased another collaboration with Legendary Comics to be revealed at SDCC.

The lineup provides a good example of why I have called Williams “the hardest working woman in comics” several times before. Williams was kind enough to sit down with Megan and myself for an interview earlier this year that you can view below.

Two panelists at a San Diego Comic‑Con panel, a smiling woman on the left and a man wearing a cap on the right, with a logo-filled backdrop behind them.
Stephanie Williams and Cody Zigler at DC’s All-In Panel SDCC 2026.

Stephanie Williams Helms DC’s Vixen!

While at the DC All-In panel Friday, there were two empty seats left on the stage, which I am sure nobody gave any thought to. However, if you have been following Stephanie, you know she also had a “secret panel” scheduled for the same time. And it was at this panel that her Vixen run was announced! It may have been the worst-kept secret in comics, but it is a massive announcement nonetheless, and it will be Vixen’s first ongoing! In addition to her announcement, it has been announced that Cody Zigler will be writing Static!

Williams has spoken previously about her love for the character Vixen and her desire to get the character a proper treatment and story. You’ll be able to check out her interview with Comics are Dope to get an idea of what we may see from Williams’ run on the character. Created by the legendary Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner, Vixen is a DC superheroine who first appeared in Action Comics #521 in July 1981. Mari Jiwe (Mari McCabe after coming to America) hails from the fictional African nation of Zambesi. Her introduction in 1981 means she is one of the earliest created Black superheroes in comics. Conway has previously stated, prior to his passing, that the DC Implosion of 1978 shelved Vixen’s planned solo series, leading to her appearance in Action Comics three years later.

Vixen wields the Tantu Totem, a totem passed down through generations of her family that allows her to take on the attributes of animals. Her history has seen her as a descendant of the warrior Tantu while also being linked to Anansi, the African trickster god who served as a patron for her family. On top of her superhero duties, Conway created her inspired by the growing business-savvy supermodels of the 1970s, having Mari serve as a model herself in addition to being a stellar businesswoman and animal rights activist.

The creation of Vixen meant DC was adding not just another “girl” to the superhero table, but a fully formed adult female heroine, a gap that Conway noticed presented an opportunity. Vixen’s planned debut story was eventually released in the Cancelled Comic Cavalcade. On top of the powerful totem she possesses, the character is shown to lean towards stealth despite being a significant threat in a hand-to-hand battle. 2008 saw the character get a five-issue limited series from DC titled: Vixen: Return of the Lion, helmed by Williams’ fellow Best New Series nominee G. Willow Wilson. Vixen’s return to prominence under Williams will mark not only the first DC ongoing led by a Black character since Ridley’s I Am Batman that concluded in 2023, but will realize the late Gerry Conway’s vision for Vixen getting her own solo ongoing series.

Are you excited about Vixen? Let me know in the comments.

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