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.
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!
Welcome to an all-new edition of Parlay Points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH podcast (making its’ way to the land of the Nerd Initiative for this special occasion)!
For this entry: One of the most anticipated books of 2023 is finally set to land in the comic shops on January 25! Ever since making her Image Comics debut in the pages of 2022’s SUPERMASSIVE one-shot event which kicked off the genesis of comics’ most exciting universe: The Massive-Verse (with its’ flagship book RADIANT BLACK), fans have been eagerly waiting for the solo adventures of Cássia Costa to begin.
Rogue Sun and The Dead Lucky were the first books following this epic event but one character has been long awaited to follow in those footsteps outside of its’ Kickstarter campaign.
INFERNO GIRL RED: BOOK #1 by MAT GROOM (Power Rangers, Ultraman), ERICA D’URSO (The Mighty Valkyries), IGOR MONTI & BECCA CAREY kicks off the story of Cássia and her emergence as a beacon of hope when her home of Apex City is in its’ darkest hour. If you have heard the reaction from fans who signed up for the Kickstarter, you know the buzz for this book has been tremendous. Fans, get ready for something special with this one! Let us not wait another second and see what the hype is all about, shall we?
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The story kicks off with Cássia Costa heading to the Helix Campus, a prestigious high school in Apex City with her mother. Driving along, Cássia questions her mother’s story about being on a monorail. She mentions how she was there meeting a source for a story about museum artifacts. Suddenly, they were attacked by a frightening creature. Luckily, a figure bursts through the train car for the save. That figure is…. INFERNO GIRL RED! readers get treated to a great action sequence with foreshadowing into a greater threat looming.
During the car ride, Cassia’s mother gets a phone call about a reporting job but is turned down due to her IGR stories being considered untrue. This worries Cassia as she arrives at the campus. her mother reassures her she will be fine and to take full advantage of this opportunity. That said, Cassia makes her way into a class, where she meets her future roommate Harriette and Doctor Janine Caro, a famous engineer, physicist and owner of the campus. With a brief class discussion and syllabus of expectations, Cassia settles in to school life with a trip to the library.
Along this trip, an unexpected event happens: Apex City is removed from its’ foundation?! A cloaked figure stands in amusement watching the move unfold as it appears the staff wielded is the catalyst. Cassia watches from inside the library as a red object meteors into her path and attaches an armband to her. From this moment on, her life will never be the same.
What direction does Cassia’s life go now? What is the grave situation unfolding? While catching up with her mother, Cassia knows what she is going to have to do. The question now becomes: Is she ready for her destiny? Readers sit ringside as a new hero rises to the challenge while questioning this new direction with a perfect final panel to close events off with.
Groom plays heavy into the themes of hope versus hopeless with this debut. Cassia comes across as a character still trying to find her way while picking up a responsibility she doesn’t think or want to handle. Yet, readers witness how she rises to the challenge at hand because of the confidence instilled in her by her mother. Their dynamic is the backbone of this series as Cassia tries improving their situation by the opportunity given at the school. Her mother puts her setbacks aside to build Cassia up which instantly connects with readers about how important their bond is.
The pacing works well to allow the major players of this story to establish themselves early. Dr. Caro and Harriette provide a solid balance for Cassia from the heroic world she’s about to embark in. The action sequences move fast but don’t overtake Cassia’s trail by fire in her new persona. Seeing the original IGR in action gave readers enough to form an idea of what to expect with the powers that there was not a huge need to have Cassia re-tell it through her eyes. This issue had action, drama and intrigue, a winning formula to hook readers in for the long haul.
D’urso’s art meshes up perfectly with the writing of the story. The world of Apex City feels vibrant and full of possibilities right from the two page panel when Cassia and her mom are driving into the city. The campus had a distinct vibe going on as well. It never felt like “just another school”. The bonding moments between Cassia and her mom also jump off the panels as seeing how supportive they are of each other is such a driving plot point. With all the world building going on, nothing takes away from the moment readers see Cassia in full IGR costume.
There is no way the full-page panel isn’t made into a poster as it drops a clear exclamation point that a hero has arrived! The action panels move swiftly and readers can sense the tension unfolding as both IGR’s showcase their powers in various manners. Excellent final image to close this chapter out of, leaving much possibilities for where the story goes from here.
FINAL POINT: Th hype is real! The latest edition into the Massive-verse (officially) plants their foundation for a must-have story of hope versus darkness. Groom, D’Urso and the team deliver excellent writing and eye-catching art to solidify the next big hero in comics is ready to light up the local comic shops for NCBD!
Let me know what you thought of Inferno Girl Red: Book One #1 on ODPH podcast social media. 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!
Thanks for reading!
All photos credit: Image Comics
INFERNO GIRL RED: BOOK ONE #1 Creative: MAT GROOM, ERICA D’URSO, IGOR MONTI & BECCA CAREY
The recent run of DC Comic’s Superman: Son of Kal-El is a fantastic story about the son of Kal-El/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Jon Kent, taking on the helm of Superman while his father is away saving another planet. During this time, Jon learns what it means to be both a superhero and human as he tackles villainous plots by President Bendix of the island nation Gamorra, determining when situations need physical violence or practical solutions, balancing a life of heroism with his love life, and relying on support from the ones he loves to make the best decision for himself, and for Earth.
I recently read the entire run from start to finish (including a couple of special tie-in issues) and I have to say that this is probably one of my favorite runs of all time for a number of reasons. There are a few major themes in this run that are worth discussing as to why this was a fantastic story from my perspective, as well as a few criticisms I have about the story. So below is a breakdown review of the series. Also, I did a deep dive analysis of Superman: Son of Kal-El with fellow Comic Watcher and author, Bethany W. Pope, for the podcast. Check out the episode and where you can watch/listen to it on your podcast player of choice here.
Overview, Synopsis, and Details
Superman: Son of Kal-El is an 18-issue series from DC Comics that ran from 2021-2022. The creative team consists of:
Writer Tom Taylor
Artists John Timms, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Cian Tormey, Raul Fernandez, Bruno Redondo, Wade Von Grawbadger, Matt Herms, Scott Hanna, Ruairi Coleman, Clayton Henry, Scott Hanna
Colorists Gabe Eltaeb, Hi-Fi, Adriano Lucas, Federico Blee, Marcelo Maiolo, Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterers Dave Sharpe, Wes Abbott
Here is the official synopsis of the series as written by DC Comics:
A new Man of Steel for a new era! Jonathan Kent dons his father’s cape as the 21st century Superman, from the bestselling writer of DCeased and Injustice!
Jonathan Kent has experienced a lot in his young life. He’s fought evil with Robin, traveled across galaxies with his Kryptonian grandfather, and lived in the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes, who were intent on training him for the day his father could no longer be Superman.
There is a hole in the Legion’s history that prevents Jon from knowing exactly when that will happen, but all signs point to it being very soon. It’s time for the son to wear his father’s cape and continue the never-ending battle as a symbol of hope for his home planet.
But can Jon be Superman and still have a normal life? The son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane will learn the hard way as he heads to college and combats the dangers of the modern world.
In this story, there are many themes that one can pick from. For this review, I’ll only focus on a few that really stood out to me personally.
The Humanity Of Jon Kent
Whenever we think of Superman, we automatically go to the things he does that are superior to normal human abilities: Super strength, flight, x-ray vision, heat vision, etc. Although the comics have explored the humanity of Kal-El in the past, what I love about this series is that not only does it highlight Jon’s humanity more than what we’ve seen in the past, but he’s also inspirational in showing how every day people can make as much as a difference in the world as he can by showing how that can be done without using his superpowers. For example, he shows how he is against Metropolis police arresting refugees by insisting that if they are going to arrest them, they will need to arrest him, too, as a sign of solidarity with them (and even promises not to break out of the cuffs or jail, even though he easily could).
This is a powerful way to show how instead of using his superpowers to demonstrate what he believes should be done, he takes the more peaceful, human approach of joining the oppressed to bring attention to the situation. To add on to this and to give credit where credit is due, the owner of my local comic shop (LCS), Circle City Comics, shared with me how he listened to an interview with Tom Taylor and pointed out that in the whole run, Jon only threw one punch. In all of the other conflicts he faced, he either used his super strength for protection or tried to find more practical, human ways to resolve conflicts. The fact that Jon is always thinking about how to set an example in using violence as an absolute last resort is such an amazing way to remind us how we can make a change in our own world – how we can be our own Superhuman.
Another aspect of Jon’s humanity is how much we see him relying on others for advice and affirmation on if he’s doing the right thing. His friendship with Damian Wayne is heartwarming and fun; his relationship with Jay pushes him to be the best version of himself; and his interactions with the Revolutionaries are tense but provides growth for both groups. But my favorite relationship he has is with Dick “Nightwing” Grayson.
We find out through Nightwing #89 and issue #9 of this series what happened to Jon Kent early on. He went missing (this detail is unclear to me why he went missing since I didn’t read the stories prior to this run) but Batman and Nightwing were the ones that found him in a cave, scared. Since then, Jon sees Nightwing as an older brother type, someone to look up to as his own personal hero. Their connection is magnetic for the reader, and through those two issues, you see how Dick takes Jon under his wing and tries to guide him on his journey while his father is away. I love this dynamic and more importantly how someone who is considered the most powerful being on Earth is looking up to a nonpowered human for guidance, comfort, and on one occasion, safety. It shows simultaneously the vulnerability of one, and the inspiration of another.
LGBTQ Representation
One of the more prominent themes (if not the most) in this run is LGBTQ representation with Jon Kent coming out as bisexual. In fact, this series was nominated by GLAAD for Outstanding Comic Series Of The Year. It’s also been a source of controversy for those who have come to see the major comics publishing industry as being “woke”, albeit some who did not read the comics thought that this reveal was referring to Clark Kent, not realizing this was a story about his son.
As someone who is not a member of the community, however, I do want to say that I appreciate seeing some of these critical moments of an LGBTQ person’s life not only as a moment or panel in the story but as highlighted with a dedicated splash page. We know that representation matters, and seeing these moments as a critical part of the story and character goes beyond the pages and should be a part of normalizing this in our own world today.
Jon’s Relationship With His Father
My personal favorite theme in the story, however, is Jon’s relationship with his father. Being a father myself, I found myself identifying with Kal-El in new ways that I haven’t before since I was a kid. In a world where we are still battling toxic masculinity and what some perceive as “what it means to be a man” means never showing vulnerability or “weak” emotions, Taylor shows how the world’s most masculine man demonstrates what it truly means to be a man and parent. Kal-El doesn’t shy away from his feelings of vulnerability. He was upset with himself when he didn’t understand why Jon hasn’t told him about his sexuality. When he returns to Earth he gives his son a loving embrace to show much he loves him.
When he finally finds his son again after being lost and possibly kidnapped, he used his superspeed to quickly hug him and try to show in his actions how much he loves him and that he’s sorry for harm coming to him. In all of these moments, we always see Jon as looking up to his father, as the person who will always love him and support him, and this is the aspirational relationship we should be seeing between fathers and sons. I know that no matter how old my son gets, I will always hug him the same way Superman hugs his own son. Personally, I plan to get the artwork of Superman rushing to hug his little boy signed by the creators (Taylor, Redondo, and Lucas) one day to hang it up on the wall of my house to remind me that this is what a man looks like: loving, protective, vulnerable, all rolled into one. This story has made me teared up multiple times because I never help but think of my own son when I see these images and read this story, and think about how I would react the same way as Kal-El.
I also love how aspirational the relationship is when it comes to Jon’s sexuality. Here in this story, we see how Lois has always known and she was supportive from the start. Kal-El waited for Jon to tell him, not forcing him to come out, and even apologizes to Jon because he felt that he didn’t make it safe enough for Jon to tell him. Unfortunately, this is not a common experience for most LGBTQ people when it comes to their parents. As a father, if my child were to ever come out to me, I hope that he feels safe enough with me to do so as I want him to know that this is the same kind of love and support he would get from me.
Criticisms Of The Story
As a comics reviewer, I do believe in no matter how much you love the story, you should be able to objectively find something to critique as much as possible. It may not always happen, but I believe it can be done, and this run is no exception. I’ll be focusing more on the criticisms I have about the story than the art or colors since this ran for 18 issues and there were so many artists and colorists on the run that I don’t think it would be fair to critique it as a whole.
First, I am still a little underwhelmed with the motivation of President Bendix. I understand that he was creating a super-powered team of humans as a way to get rid of Superman and others like him, but I was still left confused as to why that was. It seemed like he was so hell-bent on doing this that I never really felt like there was a good rationale for the backstory of why he became the way he did. It is also possible that they mentioned this and I completely forgot about it so if this is the case, reach out to me and let me know and I’ll be more than happy to fix this. But at this time, I’m still wanting to know more about why Bendix was trying to accomplish this.
The mother of Jon’s boyfriend, Jay Nakamura, used to be the president of Gamorra until Henry Bendix took over. Jay didn’t know what happened to her but we find out that she was detained and eventually experimented on, turning into a monstrous creature (still human though) with powers. However, she is only mentioned and appears only a few times in the run, both of which were just odd. From my point of view, her character didn’t propel the story forward. In fact, if you took her out, the story wouldn’t really have changed much at all. I think Taylor was trying to show another instance of affirmation for Jay and Jon’s relationship, but if that was the case, it fell flat for me. I would have liked to see more of her and her relationship with Jay more in this story.
At one point in the story, Batman took Jon and Lois away to a safe house but explicitly leaves Jay behind. We find out from Batman that Jay is considered dangerous because of his association with the Revolutionaries. Batman is an already distrustful person, but this was hard on Jon. But after this whole moment, we don’t see any resolution from Batman’s distrust of Jay. Sure, we see that Jay’s background was not as black and white as Batman made it to be, but to date, it seems like that hasn’t been resolved for Batman or the wedge he drove between himself and Jon.
Final Thoughts
I honestly believe that this is a great series for anyone to check out. This has such a great and powerful story with so many themes for someone to connect with and is so well-written. It takes a step back from the “super” part of Superman and instead focuses more on the “man” part of Superman. I appreciate all that this story represents for so many people, and as a father, this will always have a special place in my heart.
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.
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!
Marvel Snap, released last October from developer Second Dinner, is the first mobile game to completely take over my life.
At its core Marvel Snap is a free-to-play 1:1 card game, and a really competent one at that. You might be familiar with some of its mechanics if you’ve played Hearthstone or games like it.
The rules of Marvel Snap are simple – Players create decks of twelve cards and battle for control of three location tiles. After 6 rounds, the highest established power at two of the three locations wins. Games are quick, averaging around three minutes.
The complexity comes from the three locations changing every match, leveling the playing field while also forcing both players to adapt on the fly. These locations are all iconic locations from around the Marvel Universe, and their attributes can be used to give your cards a boost, debuff your cards, or just simply add chaos to the game. Some examples include:
Baxter Building (Whoever is winning this location gets +3 Power at the other)
Weirdworld (Both players draw from their opponent’s decks)
Savage Land (Add two Raptors on each side of this location)
This only scratches the surface, as there are 50+ locations. The possibilities for each match truly become endless when you take into account the 200+ Marvel Character cards, each with their own cost/power and abilities. These cards can fall into different types like “ongoing” or “on reveal.” Oftentimes a cards’ ability ties back to the character’s comic book abilities, a greatly appreciated attention to detail from the developers. Examples of this include cards like:
Taskmaster, a 5-cost 0-power, but having the ability to “On Reveal: set this card’s Power equal to the Power of the last card you played.”
Quicksilver, a 1-cost 2-power with the ability that reads “Starts in your opening hand.”
Mister Fantastic, a 3-cost 2-power card with the match lasting ability, “Ongoing: Adjacent locations have +2 power.”
After a short time, players will start to recognize and master card synergies, evolving their decks as more cards are unlocked.
But battling random players in Marvel Snap is only half of the fun, because the game also has really impressive collecting mechanics as well. At the end of each game, one of your deck’s cards will receive boosters. With enough boosters and credits (the free in-game currency), you can upgrade your cards to have cool effects like shiny borders, shiny card names, 3D effects, or card animations. Similar to comics, Marvel Snap cards also have variants featuring character artwork in a variety of styles or from different well-known artists like Alex Ross, Peach Momoko or Artgerm. These make each players’ collection truly unique.
Besides the collecting and battling aspects being standout, developers Second Dinner also make a lot of smart smaller design choices that really elevate the game. This free game’s monetary system is totally reasonable. Players aren’t required to spend any money to access any of the game’s parts. Money spent, on things like the rotating card shop or the seasonal battle pass, will only net players cosmetics in the form of card boosters or variants. The game also has a very satisfying daily and weekly challenge loop, as completed challenges mean faster card upgrades and battle pass progression. Daily challenges can typically be completed in something like 30 mins of play.
Another smart feature is the option to “bet” on yourself to win any given game, gaining (or losing) up to eight infinity cubes, the game’s form of a ranked system. Losses never sting hard enough to make me want to quit playing, because in less than three minutes, I’ll already be in another match.
Marvel Snap is a really really great collectible card game, with really smart and polished game design. The game itself is quick to learn and fun to master. Upgrading and unlocking new cards is super satisfying. Meanwhile, developer updates are frequent and feature rich. Finally, comic book fans will enjoy all of the game’s attention to detail and callbacks to the greater Marvel universe. All of these factors make Marvel Snap a mainstay for me, and I definitely think it is worth giving a shot!
Star Trek: Short Treks is a series that started in 2018 which features stand alone short films pertaining to existing characters as well as creating a few new ones. It has the ability to plug a lot of holes or fill in gaps across the Star Trek franchise.
Over the last 57 years, the Star Trek Universe has been built. All we have to do is travel and explore the subject matter that has primarily been left to the imagination. With Short Treks, it is possible to dedicate one or a few episodes to some incomplete storylines that deserve a proper end. Before the creation of the Short Treks series, if information or character growth couldn’t or didn’t take place within a series it was lost to the ether. Now we have the capability to fill in the blanks.
Citing Short Treks Season 1:Ep 3 “The Brightest Star” where we get to see Captain Saru’s origin story. How he became apart of Starfleet has been discussed briefly in a few episodes. We don’t see or hear much about his home world, Kaminar, until the middle of Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery(DISCO). This 15 minute episode serves to explain how Saru came to be rescued from Kaminar by Captain Georgiou, played by Golden Globe Award Winner Michelle Yeoh.
The explanation of how Saru left Kaminar shows why he was both so reverent and remorseful when discussing his home and his sister Siranna in previous episodes. DISCO is a fast paced and action oriented show. The inclusion of this backstory may have taken away or slowed down an episode, and thus not carried the impact it should have. I may be in the minority but I feel like these small glimpses into a specific character fit perfectly in the Short Treks series. If they had been built into the current Trek Franchise serialized storytelling format it might have felt like more of a deviation or distraction to the overall storyline.
Another example of how well Short Treks can fill in the blanks is Season 1:Ep1 “Runaway” where we first meet the character “Me Hani Ika Hali Ka Po” or Princess (Queen to be) Po, heir to the throne of the planet Xahea. She has a frantic and unexpected encounter with Ensign Sylvia Tilly as she stows away aboard the starship Discovery. Encountering Princess Po in this way gives us a lower stakes introduction and allows us to meet her before all the non resequenced protein hits the fan. In DISCO, we meet Po again in S2:Ep13 when she boards Discovery to help them come up with a plan to defeat the big bad of the season and save the universe.
Po is a brilliant engineer, who is able to calculate, in her head, how much energy they will need to create to power the time crystal that will fly Michael and The Discovery to the future. She is also the only person in the know universe with the proprietary technology and know-how to recrystallize dilithium; making what was a non-renewable resource, renewable. In both of these examples, they serve as necessary icing on the cake. It is possible to consume the show without this information, but these tidbits of extra detail make the overall episode(s) feel a little bit more complete.
With the successful continuation of the Mirror Universe featured in DISCO S1, one thing myself and many fans have been hoping to get closure on is what happened to Prime Lorca when he crossed over to the Terran Universe.
Captain Lorca, played by career villain Jason Isaacs, was a smash hit. His performance was so compelling. He kept us all asking ourselves why we hated him. It was off putting that he didn’t fit the mold of a Starfleet Captain as we have come to know them as being upstanding and righteous. A couple of episodes showing us the potentially perilous last moments of Prime Lorca’s days as he attempts to navigate and hopefully stay undiscovered in the Terran universe would be amazing, entertaining and satisfying as we would no longer have to wonder, what happened.
There’s more ideas where that came from Paramount. Have your people call my people.
With the start of 2023, there’s so much to look forward to when it comes to comic book movies. DC Studios will be ushering in a new cinematic universe under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran; MCU Phase 5 will kick off, and so much more. So I put together a list of my top 5 anticipated movies to watch this year.
#5 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
If you know me, I’m a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan. I may not be caught up on all of the recent animated shows or movies, but that’s not because of a lack of interest. This has been a property that I’ve grown up with (quite literally since it was created in the same decade I was born), and I’ve always loved anything associated with the heroes-in-a-half-shell. There’s been a lot of buzz about the movie as well as a lot of hype as many people have high expectations for the film, even though not much has been revealed about it to date.
My only hesitation about the movie is that it is being produced by Seth Rogen. I know there are a lot of Seth Rogen fans out there. I was in high school and college when Seth Rogen became a popular actor, so I watched a lot of his properties. I’m just not a fan of his work. Don’t get me wrong – he seems like a genuinely nice guy and I don’t have any ill-feelings towards him as a person. I just haven’t enjoyed a lot of what he’s been involved with (and before you come at me, yes, I know he created/produced properties such as Sausage Party and The Boys. Guess what? I am barely able to sit through those, so my opinion hasn’t changed on that).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is expected to release August 4th, 2023.
#4 – Blue Beetle
Although Warner Bros Discovery has axed a lot of DC Comics movie that were in production or green lit, such as Batgirl and the unnamed Batman movie that was more than likely supposed to be a Batman Beyond film, Blue Beetle has still made the cut and will be released this year.
I’m excited for this movie for a number of reasons. This will be one of the first latino superheroes from DC Comics that will be starring in his own film. But I think what makes me most excited is that this one of the characters I know very little about. When that happens, it’s nice to be able to go in without any preconceived expectations of the film or character.
Blue Beetle is expected to be released August 18, 2023.
#3 – Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom poster is not available at this time.
So here’s the deal – Aquaman wasn’t my favorite movie. It was average with some great and not-so-great moments as a film. Overall I liked it, though. And I think Jason Momoa has done an amazing job changing the traditional outlook that comic and casual fans have of the character by making him appear to be a more formidable and kick-ass hero that doesn’t come across as a joke.
So why did this movie make my #3 spot? Because although the first movie was average at best, this will more than likely be the last time that Jason Momoa will play Arthur Curry in the cinematic version of the DC character. This will also be the last movie of the DC Entertainment Universe (DCEU) and any movie after Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom will be part of the new DC Studios cinematic universe (whatever it will be called) under Gunn and Safran. Whether you enjoyed the DCEU or not, this will definitely be an end of an era that will be momentous for so many people.
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is expected to release December 25th, 2023.
#2 Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Arguably one of the best animated movies in the 21st-century so far, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was received with high praise for its animation and storytelling, and found huge financial success earning $384.3 million worldwide. With the sequel coming out 5 years after the release of the first movie due to a number of factors, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is probably one of the most anticipated movies of the year.
Given that Sony doesn’t seem to be able to do well with their Spider-Man properties in general (I’m looking at you, Venom and Morbius), this movie series has been a pleasant surprise with having a new Spider-Man story to tell that we haven’t seen on the big screen before, a star-studded cast, and a bigger Spider-hero world for us to dive into with the endless possibilities of who could show up in this movie.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
#1 – Antman & The Wasp: Quantumania
I think this is at the top of almost any comic book movie fan’s list of anticipated movies for the year. This is the film that will be kicking off Phase 5 for the MCU, and we see the return of some of our most beloved characters such as Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne, and He Who Remains from the Loki series, who will be officially introduced as Kang the Conqueror.
As much as I love Paul Rudd as Scott Lang in the MCU, I’ll admit that the Ant-Man movies have been more of a “lot of fun to watch” movie than it is a “I gotta watch it”. But I absolutely love how they are using this team of Ant-Man heroes to not only kick off the next phase of the MCU but to introduce the next Thanos-level villain in the movies. I love the idea that the hero that is undoubtedly one of the smallest in comparison in the MCU (pun intended) is going to be the biggest event in the next phase, which is how the director, Peyton Reed, wanted it to be. This gives the impression that even the most overlooked hero can make a huge difference in the most popular movie series of the 21st century.
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania is expected to release February 17th, 2023.
As writers and comic book content creators, we are asked to review products all the time.
Most agree and give a review without a second thought. What happens when you read something that, along with not being that great over all, you find offensive and problematic?
And what if you are a content creator who prides themselves on leaving out the stuff you don’t enjoy in order to maintain a positive atmosphere?
Do you do the review and potentially draw negative attention to a company as well as bringing a negative piece of content to your followers?
Followers who are used to nothing but positivity and support from you? Or do you just not do the review and avoid that company in the future? Or am I overthinking the whole thing?
What Do Other Creators Think?
Reaching out to your peers is often the best way to gain broader perspective on a subject such as this. One creator I spoke with had a lot to say and seems to see both sides of the situation.
Getting offered a free book in exchange for a review is always kind of exciting. It can make you feel seen as a creator, but it’s also a double-edged sword. It can create an obligation in your head to be kind or give a good review even if that was never discussed with the publisher. That’s why I’ve turned down every free book I’ve been offered (granted there haven’t been many offers). Each time I’ve been offered a free digital book I’ve asked if I can buy a physical copy instead. I’m always willing to give indie creators a chance and new books a chance. I’d rather spend my own money and then only post a review if I want to versus feeling obligated to create something I either didn’t want to make or don’t feel authentic about.
I definitely do see the benefits of these reviews from both the side of the content creator and the publisher. As a creator you’re getting something to make content about and a free book. From the publisher’s end, you’re getting nearly free or free publicity for your book. I think an honest conversation needs to happen in regards to these offers though. It’s easy to say “here’s a book in exchange for a review” but I think what more publishers and creators need to make clear is that any review should be an honest one. And an honest review might not be positive.
Whenever I’ve been sent offers for free books my thoughts always go to “what if I hate this?” Taste is subjective and I might not mesh with the writing or art. And worse than that, what if the book has racist or sexist aspects? I wouldn’t feel comfortable promoting something I knew went against my values even if I got the book for free.
I think critical and negative reviews can be valuable but not everyone wants to be the type of creator who focuses on that, and that’s fine. It’s not toxic positivity to not want to post something you don’t enjoy making.
That’s where an honest conversation needs to happen before any content is posted or any books are sent (I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable even featuring a book sent to me for free by a publisher in a haul). Is this publisher aware any review posted will be honest and honesty isn’t always positive? If the publisher isn’t ok with that but still wants to send the book then they need to be prepared for NOTHING to be posted by that creator if they’re not comfortable posting a review.
Jessica Ponte – @saucers_and_sorcery
As a content creator it is indeed exciting when a brand or company reaches out. It can feel like an obligation as well. The fear of burning a bridge or never getting another offer can pressure creators to talk about or do things they just may not be comfortable with.
The fear of failure or rejection is a powerful motivational tool. Many companies know this and some take advantage of it.
I personally feel like before agreeing to give a review you clearly state that you will give an honest opinion, even if it’s a negative one.
Tony Abdullah – @mrmarvelite
This is normally your insurance policy as a content creator reviewing products. If both parties agree to the fact that the creator is going to give an honest opinion, no matter how good or bad.
That being said, some may not have the confidence to make this assertion. When just starting out, or if it’s the first time a brand reaches out, the pressure to give a good review is there.
You want these brands and companies to continue to reach out in the future. A negative review might deter that company from wanting to pursue further business arrangements.
Don’t think I’ve ever given someone a bad review – but I’ve definitely had people complain about how their story was portrayed and how what “they” wanted in the story wasn’t featured as prominently as they would have liked – but in the end they don’t get to approve the content you create – the creator has to have a creative license to create what they feel is right and say what they feel is right, as long as it’s constructive and truthful. Otherwise, you fall into the pay for play mentality and can quickly lose credibility among your followers.
Michael Rothman – @superherotok
Thought To Leave With
There are a lot of moving parts to deal with as a content creator dealing with brands. Including numerous things to think about when deciding to do a review. Is this going to be good for MY brand? Can this company open doors and opportunities? Are those opportunities worth potentially turning off some of your following? Do you even do the review at all if you find the project problematic?
These are all things we as creators have to decide for ourselves on a case by case basis. My personal opinion is if you’re a person thinking of doing a review, just make sure it’s something you would actually feel comfortable giving a platform to. If you find a short film or a book or something problematic or offensive, it’s okay not to do the review.
As I attempt to watch as many movies that I can that are possible contenders for the Oscars race, I rushed to watch A24’s Aftersun. This coming of age film centers around a 30-year- old father, Calum, who goes on a trip to Turkey with his 11- year-old daughter, Sophie. While it’s clear from the start that they have a close relationship, the distance between them and Calum’s personal struggles begin to unravel. What is marked as a fun holiday soon becomes a message about change and growth.
(L-R) Frankie Corio as Sophie Paterson and Paul Mescal as Calum Paterson in A24’s “Aftersun”. All Rights Reserved by A24.
I went into this movie knowing nothing other than the fact that it is about the relationship between a father and his daughter, a subject that has always been a bit touchy for me. Most of the movie just seems to feel very basic in plot, and on the surface level, it’s just a fun summer vacation with some bizarre moments. But as you watch the film, there are flashes of moments of what appears to be an older Sophie trying to find and reach out to her father. It’s never quite clear what these moments signify until the very end.
Much of the story’s thematic elements center around the relationships we have with our parents, and the parts of them they try their best to keep secret from us. But oftentimes, these secrets become a driving force in the distance we feel with them as we grow older and begin to realize they’re not always who we thought they were. At the same time, as children and as teenagers, we don’t realize that we’re also beginning to change and we’re not who our parents thought we’d be.
Paul Mescal as Calum Paterson in A24’s “Aftersun”. All Rights Reserved by A24.
I appreciate the underlying theme of the film and I respect the direction it takes to tell its story. It doesn’t want to hold your hand and only gives you glimpses of the reality of the relationship between our two main characters. Again, the story itself is extremely quiet and simplistic unless you’re actively looking for the meaning within it. But at times, I felt myself fading in and out of the movie, and I didn’t really feel anything pulling me in completely until the last half hour. In the end, I was shocked to find that the film didn’t affect me as much as I thought it would. The performances were subtle and carried most of the movie but otherwise, I didn’t feel that the film was anything spectacular or groundbreaking.
But I think that says more about myself than it does about the movie. I have my own experience with it that will differ greatly from the next person. Ultimately, I think it boils down to the things you’ve come to terms with, and what you’ve faced head-on and accepted in your life, especially when it comes to relationships with any of your parents. For me, the movie didn’t impact me the way I thought it would but it made me realize how much work I’ve done to accept what is and what I’ll never get the chance to do. For someone else, it could be an eye-opener or a motivator, or it could be something another person can’t relate to.
I can’t see myself watching Aftersun again, not because it was necessarily bad, but because it wasn’t really made for me. I don’t think it’s really a movie that I personally enjoyed simply because of the journey and self-reflections. But there are aspects of the film I was able to relate to, and I was able to appreciate what it set out to do as well as the message it wanted to relay to the audience, one that I know many may need to hear. Aftersun is a piece of art that can be watched by anyone, and have a different impact from person to person, but only if you can keep an open mind.
Samosa Rating:
Aftersun receives 3.5 out of 5 Samosas.
Aftersun is now available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime. Runtime: 1h 36m
LGBTQ Representation
