For 38 weeks in a row now I have been running a tournament of sorts on my TikTok account. The goal of this tournament is simple, to settle the debate on who is the greatest comic book character of all time. Based on popular vote, rather than who would win in a fight. Here is the breakdown.
The tournament spans over 8 decades worth of comic book characters from the 1930s to the 2000s. The tournament is broken down by decade, with the top 16 characters who debuted that decade starting off the bracket.
128 characters in total, 16 per decade, 8 decades. The winning character of each bracket moves on to a final tournament to decide the all time greatest.
So far there have been 2 decades completed in the tournament. The 1930s came down to a battle between two titans of comics, Batman vs. Superman. Superman came out on top in the end and the caped crusader was sent home packing.
Next came the 1940s, and that had some upset rounds. Such as Wonder Woman being defeated by Doctor Fate, or Catwoman losing out to Plastic Man. The finals came down to Dick Grayson vs. Plastic Man, and the original Robin took home the win.
We are now about halfway through the quarter finals for the 1950s bracket. The characters are widdling down to the more well known, fan favorite characters. Which likely means every vote will count that much more as we get closer to the start of the 1960s bracket!
Check out the video above, and either leave a comment on the video with your vote, or you can vote using the poll sticker embedded into the video itself.
YOU could have a direct say in who earns the title, of Greatest Comic Book Character of All Time!
‘Star Trek: Resurgence‘ is set to be a single player, 3rd person, narrative driven adventure game. Your choices will affect the outcome of the story, similar to Detroit: Become Human or the Telltale Games style of dialogue driven storytelling.
Other reported game mechanics include shuttle piloting, phaser combat, stealth and more. Relationship building amongst your crew of characters will reportedly be an important aspect of gameplay. Also giving long time fans the “drama” that the series is also known for.
Beyond the game itself, there is also a comic book series currently in print. The comic book run is said to be a direct prelude to the story players will experience in the game!
Resurgence will take place in the year 2380, which is just after the era of Star Trek: The Next Generation films. The player will be in control of 2 main protagonists, both having an effect on the same story. Meaning you will switch between the 2 characters throughout the game, with each character’s choices potentially affecting the other along the way.
The story features an all new cast of characters and a brand new Federation vessel to its place among names like The Enterprise and The Defiant. It has been teased that the player wil have the opportunity to interact with other known characters from the television series, but none have been confirmed by name as of yet.
Official Reveal Trailer For Star Trek: Resurgence *Release Date Has Been Pushed*
The Team Behind The Center Chair
The game has been developed by a team of around 20 Telltale Games developers, writers and other production staff. So you can expect a similar style of gameplay to other Telltale titles such as The Walking Dead or Batman, however, with the added gameplay mechanics mentioned above, the developers are boasting a fresh and updated feel to the gameplay style. This is also being developed and published independently with Epic Games, under a license agreement with ViacomCBS (Now under the Paramount umbrella.
The development team are also saying that the game will be complete upon release. Meaning no microtransactions, no DLC to buy later, and no NFT sales. Which many gamers say they are getting tired of.
As of now there is no firm release date set for Star Trek: Resurgence. The game was originally slated for a Spring 2022 release, however, along with many other games set to come out around that time, it was pushed into mid to late 2023.
It’s been announced that the game will release on PS4/PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. As for a firm release date, the best bet for gamers is to keep their eyes peeled on the Epic Games store and the games official website, https://www.startrek-resurgence.com/ for future updates.
Final Thoughts
I think I can safely speak for myself and other long time fans of the franchise when I say a new game with a strong and compelling story is long overdue.
How will your story play out? Will you decide that “Today Is A Good Day To Die”? Or will you embrace the side of reason and logic, choosing to “Live Long And Prosper”?
Either way, Star Trek: Resurgence is set to have players “Go Boldly Where No One Has Gone Before”.
Author, editor, & historian Danny Fingeroth joins Nerd Initiative member Sean Winningham to talk about Will Eisner Week. They discuss who Will Eisner is, what happens during Will Eisner Week, how people can participate in it, and the upcoming books that Danny is currently working on.
Danny Fingeroth is a popular-culture critic and historian. His most recent book is 2019’s A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee, published by St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan, a well-reviewed biography of the controversial, pioneering Lee, the Jewish co-creator of Marvel’s most famous characters. The book—the first biography of Lee to appear after his death— was a Times of London and SyFy Book of the Year.
A longtime executive editor and writer at Marvel Comics, where he ran the company’s Spider-Man line, Fingeroth is the author of other books including Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society and Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews Comics and the Creation of the Superhero. All three books are available as audiobooks read by the author.
Fingeroth has spoken on comics-related topics at Columbia University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum, the San Diego Comic-Con, and many other venues.
He is working on books about iconic 20th Century figures Bob Dylan and Jack Ruby. The Ruby book will be published in the fall of 2023 by Chicago Review Press.
Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay points, the comic book review blog for the ODPH podcast stopping by the Nerd Initiative!
For this entry, we’re checking out a brand new title from Image Comics that has been making a tremendous buzz around comic fans. After seeing who’s creating this story, there’s no question on why the buzz is as big as it is! MONARCH #1 by Rodney Barnes (KILLADELPHIA, BLACULA, HBO’s “Winning Time”), Alex Lins (NEW MUTANTS), and Luis Nct (SLEEPERS FABLE) presents a very captivating sci-fi story that challenges a young boy to face insurmountable odds head on. Let’s not delay and jump right into a deeper dive of this debut issue, shall we?
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
MONARCH #1 (Credit: Image Comics)
Creative: Rodney Barnes, Alex Lins, and Luis Nct
This issue opens up with a narrator explaining this scene from ten hours prior. The narrator here is a young girl named Daysha. who’s running through what looks like a warzone, but it’s actually a schoolyard. With energy blasts being fired around her, Daysha is waved into shelter by a teacher until he is hit in the face with an energy blast and dies instantly. Daysha goes thru the hallway where more people are standing. She shifts her eyes to Todd, a young boy on the staircase. When she reaches for him, it appears a beam has hit the building, eluding to the worst. Readers see an energy force heading to Earth. The scene shifts to the City of Compton as a pink cloud looms overhead with the residents watching and waiting to see what happens next.
The story shifts to a young boy named Travon waking up for school. He looks out the window to see the pink cloud looking overhead. As he gets ready for school, he talks with his god-sister, Marli and his foster mother Miss Wilamae, who gives a concerned warning to watch out for danger in the form of Zion. Readers soon learn of that danger as Travon has to escape Zion’s anger on the way to school. With an assist from Daysha, Travon eludes Zion, but not without a promise to get him by day’s end.
After meeting with Todd, Daysha and Travon have a conversation on the school roof. At this point, readers find out why Zion hates Travon so much and with this looming, Travon is optimistic with his time with Daysha. However that moment is short lived as Zion jumps Travon later in the day. While Zion is punching away, the cloud in the sky makes its’ secret revealed. Their fighting stops but another battle begins as readers see what (or who) caused the opening moments of the book.
The story then jumps to three weeks later. Who survived what happened on that fateful day? With a future this bleak, Travon’s options are limited. What actions does he take now? Travon’s bravery in these times has shined but is it enough? The final moments of the book will throw readers for a curve and ends the book on a very unique moment, guaranteeing to bring people back for more.
Incredible first issue. Barnes sets the tone early with the opening scene. Showing Daysha running thru the schoolyard while energy blasts gave great foreshadowing for the danger coming without playing its’ full hand. Having the story shift to Travon’s normal life made connecting with him as a character to root for very easy. The conflict with him and Zion grounds this story as well. The time jumps didn’t take away anything from the overall story. The final act really ramps up the drama with a huge surprise that is only adding to the mystery of this book.
Another thing to note is the letter monologue colors. Seeing the events unfold thru Daysha (Red), Travon (Green) and Zion (Blue)’s eyes was an excellent add. There’s a lot to enjoy from the storytelling here.
Lins and Nct make every panel count as they balance out both stories here. The first one is the sci-fi element. In its’ introduction, the damage is huge and nothing is held back showing the effect its’ having on the people inside the school. The other story is Travon’s normal life. Showing the emotions and reactions of the first time readers see Travon with Marti and Miss Miss Wilamae made for a bigger reaction when Zion makes his appearance. Once the initial attack starts, the art makes a big factor in showing how dangerous the cloud’s reveal truly is. Excellent final arc demonstrating the high emotion tension and shocking close to this chapter.
FINAL POINT: Monarch #1 is a fantastic tale mixing in the worlds of science-fiction and grounded reality drama that you simply can’t miss out on. Barnes, Lins and Nct invite readers in with exceptional writing and artwork to see how a young boy steps up to face challenges beyond anyone’s understanding. If this book isn’t in your hands on New Comic Book Day, fix it quick.
Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know what you thought of Monarch #1. Also, if you want to see more Parlay Points reviews on the Nerd Initiative, make it known! Thanks to the team at the Nerd Initiative for allowing the post & thank YOU for reading!
Welcome to a special edition of Parlay Points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast hitting the land of the Nerd Initiative!
For this entry, we have a special interview with a creator whose latest project is currently in the midst of another monster campaign on Kickstarter! Based out of the Philippines, BRIAN BALONDO has been the visual architect to the Top Hat Studios team since its’ debut issue of Pocus Hocus in 2021.
Since that point, Brian and the rest of the team has gained more fan buzz and followers thru their DIY approach to comics. With a huge hit on their hands with Pocus, Balondo teamed up again with Allen Dunford, Will Radford, Jasen Smith, & Dave Lentz for 2022’s GRANDMA CHAINSAW. With his busy schedule, Brian managed to sneak in some time with the ODPH to talk about his life in comics. Here we go!
ODPH Ken: Hey Brian, thanks for taking the time out to chat and congrats on the new campaign
BRIAN : Thank you and yeah, the team and I are very excited about the latest Pocus Hocus Chapter.
ODPH Ken: Definitely an exciting time, but let’s go back to the beginning and just how did you get started into comics
BRIAN : The very first comics project I did was from an independent group here in the Philippines. It was only released in a Comic Con here. After that, I get to do another independent book titled Starburn and it all started from there.
ODPH Ken: What artists would you say have influenced you the most and why?
BRIAN : Hmm… probably Olivier Coipel and Dike Ruan are my biggest influences in art style. They’re incredible. However, Junji Ito is my main influence when it comes to everything horror.
ODPH Ken: And after that start, how did you connect with the Top Hat Studios team?
BRIAN : Allen Dunford was the one who contacted me and asked if I was willing to work on Pocus. I wasn’t able to accept at first as I was currently working on a project but I was really glad that they have waited for me. It has been a blast since I’ve started working on every Top Hat project.
ODPH Ken: What are the biggest challenges of communication with the team since you live worlds away?
BRIAN : Actually, there’s no challenge at all. I can easily talk to them through messenger and email. Sending files is a no hassle either. You would think there would be some kind of issue, but we’ve made it work (looking for something to knock on).
ODPH Ken: Over the past few years, Kickstarter is become such a huge movement in the land of comics. What is your feelings towards the entire process and now with another book heading that way?
BRIAN : I’m always excited and scared on every Kickstarter project we have. That feeling of being not knowing on the outcome of every project, but it’s good motivation to make the best book possible.
ODPH Ken: Pocus Hocus is such a unique book. What was your first reaction to reading its’ pitch to join?
BRIAN : Actually, I was amazed and curious at the same time. I was excited to know what could happen next as the scenes plays in my mind.
ODPH Ken: Pocus Hocus was a huge success, what was the feeling of going into Grandma Chainsaw?
BRIAN : I think excitement first comes to mind. I’ve always wanted to do a project like Grandma Chainsaw. Just everything horror with mystery always keeps me intrigued.
ODPH Ken: Now doing two back-to-back horror books, what do you think the biggest difference between the books?
BRIAN : Hmmm… the biggest difference maybe is the theme. In Grandma Chainsaw, we see a lot of horror and gore while in Pocus Hocus we have a really fun adventure with a touch of horror. So, yeah… I’d say the themes really separate the two, but I enjoy doing both of them.
ODPH Ken: With all the buzz around these characters, is there any other characters you’d really want to work on if given the opportunity?
BRIAN : This is a no-brainer for me. My dream projects are Batman and Hellboy.
ODPH Ken: Before we let you go, can you say any future plans for you and the team?
BRIAN : Well, we are currently working on new issues of Pocus Hocus and Grandma Chainsaw. After that, We also have some plans for future projects but I really can’t speak about those today. All in good time though.
ODPH Ken: Brian, thanks for chatting with us and all the best with the future projects.
Brian : Thanks Ken! This has been a blast!
Pocus Hocus Kickstarter is now live until February 16th, 2023. Also, if you want to see more Parlay Points reviews on the NI site, make it known! Thanks to the team at the Nerd Initiative for allowing the post & thank YOU for reading!
It’s not just a game I decided to play with for my followers on TikTok. As a comic book content creator online it’s a question I get asked a lot.
Can You Guess The Comic Book Character?
Since this is basically a “re-boot” of sorts for this series, we give YOU the chance to guess the character before giving you the reveal video. When we have a winning guess, that person will get a shout out in the next video and article for the series!
So always take a good long look at the silhouette provided, because they can get very tricky. Again, since this is a fresh start for this particular series, I should tell everyone the rules.
Check comment sections to ensure your guess has not already been taken by another player. Only the FIRST person with the right answer on each platform will get the shoutout
Be specific with your guess! For example: If you guess “Green Lantern” you need to specify WHICH Green Lantern you mean. Hal Jordan? Alan Scott? John Stewart? Be Specific
The Reveal
This time around we did not have any winners. The correct answer, was Psycho-Pirate from All-Star/ DC Comics!
Psycho-Pirate was created by Writer Gardner Fox and artist Joe Gallagher. He made his first comic book appearance in All-Star Comics #23 in 1944
There have been 2 people to hold the mantle of Psycho-Pirate. Today we are covering the original, Charles Halstead. A disgruntled newspaper employee who became so frustrated by his lack of advancement at work, that he snapped and turned to crime, taking the name Psycho-Pirate.
His crimes were based on various emotions such as hate, greed etc. As he gained success as a criminal, he became more brash and egotistical with his crimes. Eventually even sending a letter to the Daily Courier, openly challenging the Justice Society of America to stop various crimes based on their own emotions.
If you are looking for more Harley and Ivy content then you’re in luck! On February 9th, HBO Max is releasing ‘Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special’ just in time for that special holiday.
Harley is on an obsessive quest to make her first Valentine’s Day with Ivy perfect. After a history of toxic relationships, Harley is bound and determined to make this one work. Meanwhile, Bane is making attempts at a dating life, and Clayface is indulges in some much need self-love.
The special is a direct spin off from the ‘Harley Quinn’ adult animated series, that has already been a HUGE hit with fans. With season 2 leaving many fans wanting more from the duo, this Valentine’s Day special is sure to give you that Harley and Ivy fix.
The regular voice cast for the Harley Quinn animated series are all accounted for in this one-shot holiday special. Including Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Matt Oberg, James Wolk , Natalie Morales, Chris Diamantopoulos, James Adomian, Jim Rash, Vanessa Marshall , Janet Varney, Rachel Dratch, Leila Birch, Tyler James Williams, Josh Helman, Casey Wilson, Michael Ironside, and others.
Enjoy The Special With Us
The day after the premiere, in collaboration with StreamLounge, @CaptionedLife and @friendlynbhdbi are hosting a watch party so you can chat and watch along. All are welcome to hang out and enjoy the show!
Stop by with your special someone, or by yourself and make some new friends in the chat. Either way it’s bound to be a great time! You can watch along at the link here this Friday!
Your weekly reminder that Tony Stark is an unrivaled genius, a futurist, and sometimes a cartoonish mad scientist who is willing to waste his fortune on outlandish upgrades to his armor!
9 year old New Yorker, Lunella Lafayette, got he nickname ‘Moon Girl’ from classmates. This was not intended as a term of endearment, rather it was meant to tease Lunella for always daydreaming and having a so called, “head in the clouds demeanor”.
Lunella had an obsession with the Kree species and technology. To the point she invented a device that could track Kree tech, which led her to find an Omni-Wave Projector. (Did we mention Lunella is the second smartest person in the world? It’s said only Reed Richards has a higher IQ.) Her teacher accidentally activated the device, which brings Devil Dinosaur (a 20-ft tall red T-Rex like dinosaur) to her time, and the two become fast friends.
Soon after this, Moon Girl learns that she is a Inhuman/ Human hybrid known as a NuHuman. After undergoing a process knows as “Terrigenesis” (the NuHuman equivalent to a Mutant’s powers manifesting), she gains the ability to switch minds with her 20ft tall friend at will.
Upcoming Disney+ Series
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur will follow the antics and adventures of Lunella and her giant red buddy. Taking down the bad guys and helping keep the Lower East Side of New York safe for it’s citizens.
The show is currently confirmed for 16 full length episodes, the first of which will air on Disney Channel on Feb.10th. The series will come to Disney+ on the 15th, with the first 6 episodes availble the day of premiering on the platform.
The voice cast for this series is absolutely stacked to the ceiling with amazing talent. Diamond White, will be playing the voice of Moon Girl with Fred Tatasciore, providing the voice of Devil Dinosaur. You can see the full list of confirmed voice actors below.
Regular Voice Cast
Diamond White (Lunella/Moon Girl)
Fred Tatasciore (Devil Dinosaur)
Libe Barer (Casey)
Alfre Woodard (Mimi)
Sasheer Zamata (Adria)
Jermaine Fowler (James Jr.)
Gary Anthony Williams (Pops)
Recurring Voice Cast
Laurence Fishburne
Omid Abtahi
Utkarsh Ambudkar
Michael Cimino
Indya Moore
Craig Robinson
My Thoughts?
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur are, in my opinion, highly underrated and under utilized characters. With Lunella’s power and intellect combined with Devil’s size and strength, there is not much the pair can not accomplish.
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur will be a great series to enjoy with the whole family.
When James Gunn announced the first chapter of the DCU, he revealed that the first project to release was an animated series called, “The Creature Commandos.” Legendary comic book writer J.M. DeMatteis, the co-creator of the “Creature Commandos,” went online to share his excitement.
Post by @jm.dematteis on Instagram
DeMatteis co-created the Creature Commandos with artist Pat Broderick in November of 1980. The Creature Commandos are a team of monsters in the DC universe that fought in World War II.
“It’s amazing that, after all these years…Decades! These obscure characters from so early in my career are having a comeback.” said DeMatteis, “I look forward to seeing what [James] Gunn & Company have planned.”
When James Gunn wrote and directed “The Suicide Squad” and its spin-off show “Peacemaker,” he made it a point to reference the creators of the stories he was adapting. In “The Suicide Squad,” writer John Ostrander made a cameo as Dr. Fitzgibbon. In “Peacemaker,” Gunn refenced comic book artist Alan Kupperburg, who passed away in 2015. His brother Paul Kupperburg wrote the entire “Peacemaker” run and part of the “Vigilante” run.
DC Studios / Warner Bros. Discovery
J.M. DeMatteis was asked on twitter, “How excited are you for the Creature Commandos project, and would you do a voice cameo if you were asked?” DeMatteis replied by saying, “Very and yes!”
“Creature Commandos” will be an animated series on HBO Max with DC Studios CO-CEO James Gunn as the show’s writer. The show will include Rick Flag, Sr., Nina Mazursky, Doctor Phosphorus, Eric Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, G.I. Robot and Weasel as the main team.
