In a galaxy far far away, at MEGACON Orlando, a few Star Wars voice actors threw a hilarious, informative, and entertaining panel.
This, Clone Wars panel kicked off 4 epic days of MEGACON Orlando for us. It featured, Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi & Plo Koon, Rako Hardeen, and others), Catherine Taber (Padme), and Nika Futterman (Asaj Ventress). Nika arrived shortly after the other three, and was met with applause and James Arnold Taylor saying (in an Obi-Wan voice), “I sense a disturbance in the force.”
Image by The Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm Ltd.
This panel was all fun and literal games
The panel description mentioned that games would be played. Well, most of the audience (myself included), and the Clone Wars’ stars missed the memo. So questions were taken, and then games were played. Many fun facts spun out of audience questions. We learned Nika’s favorite Asaj line is, “Do you think you’ll still be able to call on the Force even after I’ve separated your head from your body?” Ashley’s is, “In my life, when you find people who need your help, you help them, no matter what.” James then joked his is, “No Anakin, she’s not my girlfriend.” While, Catherine claimed her favorite line is “It’s heavier than I thought.” while referring to a lightsaber.
While Obi-Wan and Padme’s stories have wrapped, Ahsoka and Asaj’s have not. They both expressed a desire to keep telling these characters’ stories, and both would love having more scenes together again. As we’ve recently seen another side of Asaj, Nika showed interest in wanting to explore that more. I couldn’t agree more with all of that!
One audience member asked if they could tell us anything about the upcoming Disney+ series, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, to which James replied, “I should have aimed higher.”
A Mickey Obi-Wan Kenobi at MEGACON Orlando
The Clone Wars voices, are more than just co-stars
As we wrapped with a goofy and impromptu version of Star Wars charades the comments made earlier about this cast being more than co-workers were very clear. These guys are friends, and when friends work together they make magic. While Ashley orchestrated the game, James entertained the audience and filled every moment with his various voices. From Hiccup, to Obi-Wan, Marty McFly, Christopher Walken, and many more.
This was an absolute blast of a panel (no pun intended). If this crew ever strolls up to a con you’re at, definitely don’t skip their panel. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!
When it comes to a mystery. this takes the cake. Elizabeth Moss who plays Mary, Kerry Washington who plays Eleanor, and Kate Mara as Nancy. These two episodes explores the relationship that the women have with each other. Eleanor, working with a non-profit organization and trying to sustain the program. Mary, a stay at home mom who is married and tending to her two kids. As well as Nancy, a home-maker who is married to a very rich guy. When they meet up, they are catching each other up on everything. As these episodes progress, the more that the secrets are unraveling.
Credit: Kerry Washington as ‘Mary’ in Imperfect Women provided by Apple +
The pilot episode is the most important, because the question throughout the series is a ‘who done it’ type series. Who ends up dead, and who did it? When it comes to the spouses, both Nancy and Mary’s husbands seem very supportive. Eleanor is kind of living the “carefree” life. The story overall is intriguing and it establishes a base line to where everything is leading.
By the time the second episode arrives, it becomes apparent that the mystery will be slowly revealed. As the audience, there are a lot more questions than there are answers at this moment. Hopefully by the third episode, we will see where it’s going.
You can watch Imperfect Women on Apple +, streaming now.
Nano is a brand-new series, and the book has a stacked creative team, including:
Writers: Alexandra Grant & Matt Kindt(Knight City, Who Are The Power Pals?, Mind MGMT)
Artist: Bustos(Moon Girl, Miles Morales: Spider-Man)
Letterer: Sophia Hilmes
Nano #1 Cover By Natacha Bustos (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
The book’s official description reads:
“Sana is a badass operative of the underground organization The Order. She and her longtime comrade, Lukas, have been assigned to Nano, a mega-city run on prison labor and roiling from blackouts. While Lukas is tasked with infiltrating Nanocorp’s secretive research facility, Sana’s mission is something she’s never trained for: playing the doting wife of Lukas’s cover. In her guise as a middle-school PE teacher, she’s forced to cool her jets and teach eighth graders stretching while Lukas puts himself in danger. But when the signs are unmistakable and Lukas’s mission is clearly going sideways, Sana can no longer sit on the bench.”
Writer Alexandra Grant had this to say about the series:
“Nano is a story that I’ve been daydreaming about for over twenty years—of two worlds clashing together—that of science and technology and that of magic and nature. I can’t thank Matt [Kindt] enough for helping me tell the story, and for Natacha [Bustos] and her vivid drawing and color work in bringing Sana and the whole of Nano to life. It feels like a particularly poignant time for Sana to join the world—a heroine whose name means healing in Spanish—to lead a group of women, girls, and animals, to question and kick ass against a complicated tech world that keeps all people, especially men, imprisoned and very, very small.”
Writer Matt Kindt also added that:
“This started as literal fever dream that Alexandra had and was sharing with me. It was so vivid and intricate I was desperate to see it come to life. It has such big and wild ideas that it seemed perfectly suited to comics and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Travis Baldree is bringing his novel Legends & Lattes to Ten Speed Graphic for a full graphic novel adaptation. This was an amazing novel, and now it’s going to get full-color art alongside all of the great writing. The book’s creative team includes:
Writer: Travis Baldree
Artists: Shanti Rittgers & Sarah Webb
Adapter: Samuel Sattin
The book’s full description:
Legend & Lattes: The Graphic Novel Deluxe Edition Cover (Credit: Ten Speed Graphic)
“After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword. The battle-weary orc aims to start afresh, opening the city of Thune’s first-ever coffee shop. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success, not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her dreams a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. After all, the true rewards of an uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether they are drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup―Viv may find something deeper here than she ever imagined…
This full-color graphic novel adaptation brings the high fantasy and low stakes of this beloved story to vibrant life as it’s never been seen before.”
This sounds like it will be amazing for fans of the original book, and new fans will also enjoy it as well. Legend & Lattes: The Graphic Novel is out on October 6th.
Some films are best enjoyed in a theater. The collective rushes of adrenaline and emotion. The singular moments and lines that continue to echo through time like a beacon.
“On your left.”
One line from a movie from years ago and we’re transported back to the first time we heard it. Those films are moments, not movies. A time when we know exactly where we were when we heard it.
‘Project Hail Mary’ is THAT movie.
Everything you’ve heard is true. See it on the biggest screen possible.
Teachers are charged with saving the world figuratively everyday. Ryland Grace is a teacher who gets to do it literally. Grace is quickly elevated to the on board science officer on a mission to save the world from extinction known as Project Hail Mary. ‘Project Hail Mary’ is a cavalcade of light and sound, bliss and sadness. The film controls the narrative masterfully, bouncing from present to past seemlessly relying on the charm and charisma of lead, Ryan Gosling, who, in turn, gives the performance of his career. ‘Project Hail Mary’ is an absolute masterpiece. Watching this film on your TV screen will not be enough.
Ryan Gosling in ‘Project Hail Mary.’ Courtesy of Amazon MGM.
Why We Go To The Movies
‘Project Hail Mary’ is why movie theaters exist.
The film is the blurs the line between art and entertainment, indeed preseting entertainment AS art in a way that can reach even the most cynical of moviegoers. Without using ANY green screens being used, directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, were able to create some of the most beautiful visuals put on film in the past decade. Truly, I could watch this film in the silent vaccum of space and still have get as much joy out of it. The “fishing” scene is some of the most stunning visual work I’ve ever seen. Locking up the Academy Award for Visual Effects in March is wild work, but is arguably likely in the case of ‘Project Hail Mary.’
Adaptating a beloved book that has the advantage of, well, being a book and playing with a narrative that bounces from present to past frequently is a large task that is often attempted, but rarely achieved. ‘Project Hail Mary’ does so with Grace. Dual meanings aside ‘Project Hail Mary’ is able to do what many films can’t when it comes to telling a story in two time periods. There is zero confusion as to what is happening even when the science borders on the far too advanced. Moviegoers are still able to be drawn in, some may even go do outside science research.
Ryan Gosling and James Ortiz in ‘Project Hail Mary.’ Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
A Lesson In Chemistry
There are few charming enough to handle monopolizing three fourth’s of the screen time in a film. Ryan Gosling is. ‘Project Hail Mary’ calls for an immense amount of heavy lifting from Gosling due to how much solo screen time he has. At this task, he is no liability. Gosling is charming and captivating, heartbreaking, yet funny. It is a complete performance that is arguably his best in a resume of iconic performances. I found myself watching ‘La La Land’ just for a hit of that sweet sweet Gosling charisma because I couldn’t get back into a theater quick enough. It’s that type of performance.
Where ‘Project Hail Mary’ and Gosling truly shine is in it’s chemistry. Rocky and Grace are an iconic duo that will become pop culture main stays. James Ortiz and Ryan Gosling work so seemlessly together in creating the relationship that audiences found themselves worred about the well being of a puppet on more than one occassion. The relationship is just so pure and genuine. Two seemingly small beings charged with a gargantuan task that’s brought them together in the vast reaches of space. The simplicity is endearing in it’s magnitude.
Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
Final Thought:
Movies like ‘Project Hail Mary’ come along once every few decades. A film so special that it moves populations of people that can’t miss out on the hype. This movie is special. It is what people are saying it is. ‘Project Hail Mary’ is a masterpiece. Plain and simple. Amaze. Amaze. Amaze.
The Beast Of Borikén #1 Cover A By Daniel Irizarri (Credit: Dark Horse Comics/Tiny Onion)
The Beast Of Borikén is the latest series joining the True Weird lineup, and it will be a thrilling new series featuring el Chupacabra. The book’s creative team includes:
Writer: Julio Anta(Home, Frontera, This Land is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story)
Artist: Daniel Irizarri(Xino, Cemetery Kids Don’t Die)
Colorist: Patricio Delpeche(TexArcanum, Minor Arcana)
“In contemporary Puerto Rico, Loli Flores is a fierce activist fighting the overdevelopment of the island by outside investors. When a groundbreaking ceremony is violently interrupted by a supernatural force, Loli discovers that the stories of el Chupacabra are not just echoes from the past, but true tales of a brutal protector of generations extending back to the indigenous people of the island. As Loli uncovers the horrors firsthand, el Chupacabra follows a parallel path, leaving elemental destruction in his wake.”
The Beast Of Borikén #1 Cover B By Max Fiumara (Credit: Dark Horse Comics/Tiny Onion)
Writer Julio Anta had this to say about the new series:
“Beast of Borikén is a tropical horror story inspired by all the creature features I grew up devouring. It’s both an epic tale encompassing over 500 years of colonialism and resistance and a gory character drama starring Latin America’s most terrifying cryptid, the Chupacabra. I can’t wait for readers to sink their teeth into this book, beautifully illustrated by Daniel Irizarri… no one’s ever seen a Chupacabra this horrifyingly human!”
Artist Daniel Irizarri added that:
The Beast Of Borikén #1 Cover C By Naomi Franq (Credit: Dark Horse Comics/Tiny Onion)
“Beast of Borikén has been a home-coming to draw my island and its people as I’ve witnessed them in all their shapes and sizes, their joy and their rage. It was bold and refreshing of Tiny Onion to take a chance on a different direction for the next chapter of their True Weird series. Julio’s story is a sharp portrayal of Puerto Rican resistance that made me feel seen, while also giving us the space to create a modern, snarling interpretation of the Chupacabra as well as our violent history and myths. I’m excited to bring my artistic sensibilities to this pulp-horror story of protester grit and ancient spirits of vengeance.”
“Welcome to Baraboo, a small Midwestern town nestled in the mountains of Wisconsin, home of the Ringling Brothers Circus headquarters and friendly neighbors that all know and trust each other . . . until it’s revealed that the town has been the dumping ground for every murderer, con-man, and crook in the Witness Protection program for the past forty years. “Witness Point” as Baraboo was nicknamed by the previous marshal, has now become a hotbed of conspiracy as every resident of this formerly sleepy town eyes their neighbor with new suspicion, wondering who among them could secretly be the worst kind of criminal.
It doesn’t help when the new marshal, sent to help beleaguered sheriff “Kite” Calhoon clean up the mess, is found with his head and hands cut off, his body dumped in town square with the Annual Harvest Festival just around the corner. Thankfully they’ve sent another marshal to help. Unfortunately, she tells them she’s the ONLY marshal sent to help. And the identity of the dismembered man becomes another piece of the puzzle as the town descends into chaos.”
Witness Point #1 Cover B By Shawn Martinbrough (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
Now, Nathan Fillion had this to say about the new series:
“Heath pulled me into his world with Witness Point, and I immediately knew this was a story that would lend itself to a comic series. I’m excited to be collaborating with the incredibly talented and celebrated artist Soo Lee, whose recent work on ThunderCats: Cheetara, The Wizard of Oz, and Disney Villains: Maleficent is nothing short of extraordinary. Working with Soo, alongside my partners at Collision33 — Michelle Chapman and Josh Levy — and the team at Dark Horse Entertainment to bring this engaging story to life has been a thrill. I love this project and can’t wait for readers to experience it.”
Heath Corson also added that:
“Nathan is an intuitive storyteller who imbues every medium he works in with his quick wit, iconic characters, and bottomless humanity. I feel like we’ve managed to siphon a decent amount of it into Witness Point.”
Soo Lee also said:
“Witness Point isn’t your typical crime story that you think it is, so I wanted it to reflect that in the art as well. The setting is unusual with unusual suspects and characters, in all sense of the word so I wanted the colors and visuals to match that.”
DC Comics Editor Andrea Shea had this to say about this year’s Pride books:
“The DC Pride priorities have always been to spotlight queer characters, serve as a launchpad for new, year-round DC storytelling, and celebrate our roster of incredible talent. And in so many ways, 2026 is the culmination of the last five years—what we’ve always been building toward: a series of stories that take place in the heart of DC continuity and serve as the next chapters for some of our most beloved characters.”
This year’s anchoring books feature Galaxy and Dreamer, and their journeys will be told across 3 interconnected releases that are bridging both storytelling in DC comics and graphic novels, which will culminate in a major narrative moment for Pride Month and beyond.
New Justice League Story
Justice League Intergalactic Special #1 Variant Cover By Dan Mora (Credit: DC Comics)
Everything kicks off with Justice League Intergalactic Special #1. This will have both Galaxy and Dreamer teaming up for the first time ever. The special’s creative team includes:
Writers: Jadzia Axelrod & Nicole Maines
Artist: Travis Moore
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
This is picking up after the events of both Absolute Power and Sinister Six, and will be picking up on Galaxy’s adventures in heroism following her recurring role in Hawkgirl. She is also now a card-carrying member of the Justice League, and with her joining, the YA and mainline universes are now bridged together. The book’s full description reads:
“The planet Naltor and the Green Lanterns that protect it fall under the spell of the wretched Witch Queen, who harnesses the planet’s dream energy in hopes of taking over all that lies beyond. But have no fear, Star Sapphire’s assembled team of Justice Leaguers will no doubt liberate them all! Except, well, Green Arrow sure does hate space. And Adam Strange’s ship comes under attack before it even enters Naltorian orbit. And Galaxy invited her best friend and one of the League’s most wanted, Dreamer, along on the mission without telling anybody. And Dreamer’s visions seem to spell doom from the very start. Just when Star Sapphire thought she was getting the hang of her powers and the whole team-leader thing… Will this team of disparate dynamos figure out how to come together to win the day? Or will they, too, succumb to the Witch Queen’s all consuming hive mind?”
Jadzia Axelrod had this to say about the special:
“The beauty of this team-up is that Dreamer’s and Galaxy’s lives have gone in such different directions. Galaxy is a respected member of the Justice League, but her JL teammates see Dreamer as a war criminal. Can their friendship survive their increasingly divergent perspectives? You’d have to be really good friends to weather that. You’d have to be the best friends in the universe.”
Justice League Intergalactic Special #1 releases April 29th.
Galaxy Is Back
From there, Galaxy’s story continues in her new graphic novel. Galaxy: As The World Turns is the highly anticipated sequel to Galaxy: The Prettiest Star. The book’s creative team includes:
Writer: Jadzia Axelrod
Artist/Colorist: Rye Hickman
Letterer: Jodie Troutman
Galaxy: As the World Falls Down Cover By Rye Hickman (Credit: DC Comics)
The graphic novel’s full description reads:
“AFTER THIS SUMMER, METROPOLIS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
Taylor Barzelay is finally living as her authentic self, a purple alien space princess with blue hair and superpowers. With a loving girlfriend, Kat, and an adorable talking corgi that doubles as a bodyguard, Taylor should feel more at home on Earth than ever. So why doesn’t she? As Kat plans for life after high school by visiting colleges in Metropolis, Taylor tags along aimlessly. Between honing her powers, getting her GED, and protecting Nia Nal from her evil aunt, Taylor’s been super busy, but she still isn’t sure she can claim her identity as the superhero Galaxy.
When the Vane, an alien race that destroyed her home planet, finally arrive on Earth in search of Taylor, her biggest fear becomes reality. If even Superman can’t handle this threat, what chance does she have to save the love of her life, her best friend, and the entire world?! Will she cast aside her doubts in time to become the hero she was always destined to be? The writer of Galaxy: The Prettiest Star and the artist of Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story team up on a sequel with more romance, more action, and more queer joy!”
Jadzia Axelrod had this to say about the new graphic novel:
“Galaxy: As the World Falls Down is about what comes next after coming out. It’s about being a teenage superhero while also being trans and queer, feeling anxiety about life after high school while making sure the world doesn’t end, and what to do when a powerful empire wants you dead.”
Galaxy: As The World Turns is out May 5th.
DC Pride Collection
DC Pride: The Heart Wants Cover By Kris Anka (Credit: DC Comics)
We then get DC Pride: The Heart Wants later on in May. This is collecting last year’s DC Pride One-Shot and additional stories spotlighting DC’s LGBTQIA+ characters. The collection’s creative team includes:
Writers: Tim Sheridan, Vita Ayala, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Maya Houston, Sam Maggs, Josh Trujillo, Jenny Blake & More
Artists: Emilio Pilliu, Skylar Patridge, A.L. Kaplan, Max Sarin, Sara Soler Ester, Vincent Cecil, Alex Moore & Others
This is going to continue DC’s tradition of releasing the Pride stories into one collection. DC Pride: The Heart Wants is out May 26th.
The Dream Girls Are Here
Finally, Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event is launching in June. This is an all-new All In miniseries, and the book’s creative team includes:
Writers: Nicole Maines & Jadzia Axelrod
Artists: Nicola Scott, J. Bone, Brandt&Stein, Stephen Sadowski, Vincent Cecil, Mikel Janín, Rosi Kämpe & Others
Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event #1 Cover A By Brandt&Stein (Credit: DC Comics)
This is going to pick up after the events of Justice League Intergalactic Special. The series full description reads:
“The story begins in the aftermath of Justice League Intergalactic Special, when Dreamer and Galaxy suddenly awaken on Themyscira, living out an idyllic fantasy as princess and champion of the Amazons. Their confusion deepens when a mysterious stranger washes ashore insisting that Dreamer must leave the paradise she’s always dreamed of to save the world, and the dreamlike landscape around them begins to shift in ways that feel both familiar and deeply wrong.”
This series is also going to have bonus stories in each issue, including:
Greg Rucka and Claire Roe showcase Batwoman in a new story in Dream Girls #1
Morgan Hampton and Steven Underwood team with Alitha Martinez for a Green Lantern Corps story in Dream Girls #2
G. Willow Wilson and Maria Llovet spotlight Poison Ivy in Dream Girls #3
A personal story by Klaus Janson will appear in Dream Girls #4
Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event launches on June 3rd.
Additional Pride Variant Covers
There is also going to be a lot of Pride Variant Cover, including:
Batwoman #4 (Betsy Cola)
Emperor Aquaman #18 (Bruka Jones)
Justice League Unlimited #20 (Jessica Fong)
Wonder Woman #34 (Fatima Wajid)
New Titans #36 (Rachael Stott)
Poison Ivy #45 (Don Aguillo)
Harley Quinn #63 (Stephen Byrne)
Detective Comics #1110 (Angel Solorzano)
All of this makes me very excited for what’s coming with DC Pride for 2026.
On the heels of last summer’s Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1, a new swimsuit special is dropping. Marvel Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day #1 will have all-new stories with some of your favorite characters. The book’s creative team includes:
Artists: Pasqual Ferry (The Mortal Thor), Valerio Schiti (Captain America), Javier Garron (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), Carmen Carnero (Iron Man) & More
Marvel Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day #1 Main Wraparound Cover By J. Scott Campbell (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Now the book’s description reads:
“Get YOUR SUPER HERO BEACH BODS READY!
You asked for it, so you’ve got it – Marvel Swimsuit Special is back again! And this time, we’re holding nothing back!”
Marvel Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day #1 Variant Cover By John Romita Jr. (Credit: Marvel Comics)
The 4 stories included in the issue are:
No one skips the gym here! Hulk, She-Hulk, Doc Samson and new hero Powerlift break a sweat in a story by Cody Ziglar (Miles Morales: Spider-Man)
This is how you throw a party in Atlantis! Namor hosts the most epic beach party you’ve ever seen in a story by Daniel Kibblesmith (Loki)
No one brings the heat like the X-Men! See mutants—of all shapes and sizes—hit the beach in Rainbow Rowell’s story that proves how nothing looks better than self-confidence
And the adrenaline really gets pumping in a beach slasher tale starring Spider-Man by Anthony Oliveria (Avengers Academy)
Marvel Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day #1 releases July 1st.
Amazing Spider-Man #30 Cover By Mark Bagley (Credit: Marvel Comics)
While the 1,000th issue isn’t out until September, we have 2 pivotal issues coming up this summer. Issues #30 and #31 are going to have some big implications for what happens in the 1,000th issue. Now Issue #30’s description reads:
“SPIDEY VS. SPORE!
SPORE is spreading, and it’s all SPIDER-MAN’s fault! But should Peter even BE fighting in a tragedy of his own making?! And DON’T MISS the answers to an earth-shattering riddle from the battle with Torment in ASM/VENOM “Death Spiral”!”
Joe Kelly had this to say on the introduction of Spore:
“From the beginning of my run, Nick [Lowe] and I talked about a new villain that harkened back to early Amazing Spider-Man classics. Someone with science based powers, caused by a lab accident, etc. But rather than give this villain an excuse to hate Spider-Man, they would be decided anti-Peter Parker. Enter Brian Nehring, who not only has a complex childhood past with Peter, but also blames him for the accident that transforms him into Spore! Pete Woods did an amazing job on his design- creepy and modern. He’s a sick puppy… Brian, not Pete… maybe Pete.”
Amazing Spider-Man #31 Cover By Patrick Gleason (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Meanwhile #31’s description reads:
“THE TALK…
Peter Parker’s world will never be the same. Don’t miss one of the most pivotal issues in Spider-Man history!”
Joe Kelly also had this to say about what fans can expect from #31:
“There is so much to say about this issue… it’s heartbreaking, for one. Some of the most honest and emotional stuff we’ve done. Pat Gleason delivers a powerhouse performance and captures everything I’d hoped for. It’s also one of those times where you can honestly say ‘this changes everything.’ A family secret comes to light that rocks Peter and May to foundation of their relationship. It’s huge and has ramifications well past issue #1000. I try not to oversell these sort of moments… but this is the big one.”
Amazing Spider-Man #30 is out June 3rd, and #31 releases June 17th.
