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The Walking Dead: DEAD CITY – Season 3 Episode 3 “Emigrants”

Lauren The Hoppy Geek
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The Walking Dead: DEAD CITY – Season 3 Episode 3 “Emigrants”

‘The Walking Dead: DEAD CITY’ on AMC & AMC+, EPISODE 3 just dropped. If you’re caught up, then it’s safe to proceed. Otherwise check out the spoiler free review for the season HERE.

***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***

Last Seen on The Walking Dead: DEAD CITY

The Dama chose life, only to have Negan take it away and make it look like a suicide. Negan bonded with his new BFF, Dillard. We then wrapped last week with Renata and Maggie lighting up Lady Liberty welcoming any and all survivors to the greatest city in the world.

Check out a full recap and review of last week’s episode: “HAVEN”

The Story for “Emigrants”

After turning the ‘OPEN’ sign on for New York City, plans for a life there begin. We see Maggie and Dillard bond over farming, as we’re brought back to when we first met Maggie, as the farmer’s daughter. Quickly things shift, as lighting up Lady Liberty proves to be a very effective means of advertising during a zombie apocalypse. Boats of people arrive. They are tired, poor, and injured. Luis, our new doctor snaps into action. You would think being a doctor in an apocalypse would make you untouchable, however, The Walking Dead tends to off them, so good luck Luis!

Aimee Garcia as Renata & Lauren Cohen as Maggie in 'The Walking Dead: Dead City' Season 3. Image courtesy of Robert Clark/AMC.
Aimee Garcia as Renata & Lauren Cohen as Maggie. Image courtesy of Robert Clark/AMC.

Despite not wanting to be helpful himself, Negan tells Maggie she needs to step up! Or none of this is going to work. He has more faith in her than she does in herself. As the boats of newly injured folks are being triaged, another group shows up. It’s absolute chaos. These two groups did this to each other. Everyone is a victim in their own story, and no one seems to be backing down. A scalpel is held to Dr. Luis’ neck (eh oh!), as the fighting gets intense at the hospital. No one can seem to get out of their own way.

As Maggie and Renata prove how good they are together, they manage the situation, and Negan steps up. He’s knows both sides are wrong, and no one is a victim. He’s good at smelling out the BS. Especially with Lucille 2.0 by his side. After some OG Hershel flashbacks, and young Hershel continuing his zombie medical residency, we see one side help the other. The people rarely seem to represent their leaders. Human compassion steps up and saves the day. Well, for some people. A lot of people still died.

Farm or Kill Each Other

The older you get the more you realize some people just never grow up. Once there isn’t a parent or teacher there to force them to share or take turns, it isn’t going to happen. A planet full of the walking dead seems to amplify that. So Renata tells all the survivors who aren’t in the hospital, to farm or kill each other. They farm. Except for the leaders. The trash took itself out. It seemed like a 90s parenting style, and it worked.

This Episode got Intense

This episode of Dead City had me on the edge of my seat at times! The hospital scenes had me jumping and holding my breath. For a zombie show that has been going for over a decade these intense moments don’t seem to come as often as they used to, but when they do… damn they’re good.

We wrap with some Undead Humor

Jimmi Simpson as Dillard & Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in 'The Walking Dead: Dead City' Season 3. Image courtesy of Robert Clark/AMC.
Jimmi Simpson as Dillard & Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan. Image courtesy of Robert Clark/AMC.

There are some fantastic relationships in The Walking Dead universe. Both romantic and platonic. Dillard and Negan are quickly moving to the top of my ‘favorite couples’ of The Walking Dead. We wrapped this episode with an amazing quote from Dillard as he walks in on Negan distilling: “Holy Meth Lab Crack-Man.” This is a fantastic line alone, but knowing Jeffrey Dean Morgan also played Thomas Wayne in ‘Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ made me feel like the joke had layers. It was also a movie where Lauren Cohen played…. “MARTHA!!!” Then we see Dillard go to his room where a walker is waiting for him. But not just any walker. Dillard tells this one he loves her.

Final Thoughts

This felt like the first real season 3 episode. The overarching plots from previous seasons seem to finally have come to a close. Of course, nothing stays dead forever (except Uncle Ben), so who knows what the future will bring. Nevertheless, we have new faces, new drama, and we’re ready for some new stories. “Emigrants” did a fantastic job of bringing us the zombie horror every Walking Dead fan loves, while still moving the story forward and continuing to show the Negan and Maggie relationship evolve. I also loved the memories of OG Hershel from the early seasons of ‘The Walking Dead’ sprinkled throughout. It’s always nice to be reminded where it all started.

Image courtesy of Robert Clark/AMC.

Head back every Sunday for the next few weeks for my spoiler filled reviews after the show! They’ll drop after 10 p.m. EDT.

Check out more reviews from Lauren

In addition to Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, season three also stars Jimmi Simpson, Raúl Castillo, Aimee Garcia, Logan Kim and Michael Emery. The Walking Dead: Dead City is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe, showrunner Seth Hoffman, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Brian Bockrath and Colin Walsh.

Did you watch Season 3 Episode 3 of DEAD CITY? What are your thoughts?

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White House Unveils New ICE Propaganda Featuring Spider-Man

Madison Killian
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White House Unveils New ICE Propaganda Featuring Spider-Man
Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures

New ICE Propaganda featuring Spider-Man draws the ire of Marvel fans.

Spider-Man has vanquished many foes, been to space many times, and he’s even got his own Rolodex in the multiverse, the Spider-Verse. Whether it’s saving cats from trees in NYC or webbing up aliens in different dimensions, there is one thing Peter Parker, or any Spider-Man, has never done: chase undocumented immigrants. In fact, there’s a comic where he does the exact opposite. More on that in a bit. 

August 6th, on the heels of the new Tom Holland flick having a historical opening weekend, Spider-Man, known defender of the underdog, has been splashed across the White House’s social media in what is apparent propaganda for ICE. A move that quickly infuriated Marvel fans and utterly confused anybody familiar with the character. When asked to comment, a White House spokesperson seemed to grasp at straws and stuck to the usual halfhearted bastardization of the truth we’ve grown so used to.

“Like Spider-Man, our law enforcement officers keeping our homeland safe are all heroes. Leftists triggered by the use of a fictional character to generate viral conversation with the American people need to look in the mirror and ask themselves if Spider-Man would endorse the crimes committed by these dangerous criminal illegal aliens that the Trump administration is working to remove from our communities,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.

Assuming this is a direct quote from the email, the lazy disrespect to one of the most beloved heroes of all time is apparent. Not bothering to look up the correct punctuation or capitalize “Spider-Man,” as well as the clear use of AI in the image and lack of human artistry that comic books are celebrated for, it seems like media literacy might be dead, and we killed it. 

Stan Lee’s Legacy and “Stan’s Soapbox”

Stan Lee, the legendary writer who created Spider-Man along with many other beloved characters, used to have a monthly column called “Stan’s Soapbox,” and it was included in every Marvel Comic from 1967 -1980. One such column from 1968 seems rather topical. 

“Racism and bigotry are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed supervillains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them — to reveal the insidious evil they really are.” In another installment, he plainly states, “It’s totally irrational and patently insane to condemn an entire race — to despise an entire nation — to vilify an entire religion.” 

I think it’s safe to assume Stan Lee would not take his character being used in this hate campaign lightly, and my hope is that Marvel, Disney, and Sony care to protect his legacy.

While we all know Spidey works closely with law enforcement, he also holds nuance and empathy. Spider-Man knows that not all crime is created equally and there are lots of desperate people just trying to make it. In the recent television adaptation, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, we even get a scene of a hungry New Yorker stealing food, and Spidey stops her- but he also argues on her behalf to prevent the restaurant owner from calling the police. This is a subtle nod to the fact that Peter Parker isn’t a douche bag. 

There are NO stories in comics or films where Spider-Man arrests or pursues immigrants. In fact, there’s even a story from 1988 of Spidey protecting undocumented community members, standing against law enforcement, a rarity in Spider-Man stories. According to CBR writer Brian Cronin, in Spectacular Spider-Man #137, by Gerry Conway, we follow Elvira, a friend of Mary Jane and a migrant from South America. 

Spectacular Spider-Man #137 (1988)

She and other amnesty seekers are pursued by the villain Tarantula. After successfully defeating the villain, his victim is still arrested and deported. Peter argues with the police but is rebuffed, and the comic ends with the 1883 Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus” that Peter is reading from the inscription on the Statue of Liberty: 

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Spectacular Spider-Man #137 (1988)

Obviously, the imagery of the hero webbing up members of the community is in stark contrast to the source material. Spidey is going to help get your purse back, he’s going to reunite a lost kid with their parents, and get cats out of trees. I think White House spokesperson Lauren Bis might want to take her own advice, take a look in the mirror, and ask herself if Spider-Man would endorse the crimes committed by the government against its own citizens.

However hairbrained and tone- deaf a move like this may seem, this administration is no stranger to using beloved pop culture icons for hateful propaganda. In the summer of 2025, just as Superman was released in theaters, the White House posted an AI image of Donald Trump as Superman. They’ve been hit with countless lawsuits and cease and desists from musicians and artists alike. But, I suppose if they can convince enough people that anybody with a backbone would be in support of ICE, it’s worth it. What are tax dollars for anyway?

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

I do not think Peter Parker would drag frightened people out of their homes, cars, jobs, schools, and churches while their children scream and cry after them. I doubt the great power he has would ever convince him that it is his responsibility to terrorize people simply because they weren’t born here. He certainly wouldn’t support harassing and profiling citizens of this country because of their skin color or accent, regardless of any proof of wrongdoing. 

Might I remind you that it is a civil offense to be an undocumented immigrant. It is not a felony; it’s not even something local police are allowed to arrest people for. In my professional and scientific opinion, Peter Parker would see ICE agents murdering brave community members and call in Frank Castle immediately. 

Whether Sony or Marvel decides to pursue legal action against the Trump Administration remains to be seen.

Check out Nerd Initiative’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day review!

Read more of my stuff!

Resources:

The National Immigration Law Center

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Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition

GenCon 2026 Wrapup – Dragon Luaus, Rage Quitting, and TTRPGs

ShawnFoles
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GenCon 2026 Wrapup – Dragon Luaus, Rage Quitting, and TTRPGs

GenCon 2026 is in the books. Let’s wrap up by taking a look at some of the highlights of this year’s GenCon as we look ahead to next year’s Diamond Anniversary, celebrating 60 years of GenCon. If you’d like a shorter recap, you can checkout the video recap embedded below

This recap is brought to you by Shawn! Click the link to check out more from me.

What is GenCon?

For almost 60 years, GenCon has been the undisputed top of tabletop gaming in North America, serving as North America’s largest tabletop convention and the second largest in the world behind Essen Spiel in Germany. What started 59 years ago as a modest collection of wargamers in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (Hence the name Geneva Convention), has evolved into a massive four-day pilgrimage. After moving as the convention grew, GenCon has called Indianapolis, Indiana, home for the last 23 years. Dubbed by organizers as “The Best Four Days In Gaming”, the event transforms downtown Indy hotels, the Indiana Convention Center, and Lucas Oil Stadium into the epicenter of cards, dice, miniatures, and cosplay.

What’s at GenCon?

You’ll find any game you want. If you’re looking for board games, tabletop roleplaying games, miniature war games, or even cosplay, GenCon has it. Over 70,000 unique visitors descend on Indy over the four days. There are dedicated areas for learning new games, a vendor hall with over 800 vendors, and a variety of charity options.

Highlights of GenCon 2026

Now, a short disclaimer before I get started. I’ve tried to highlight things that were generally just discussed by large groups around GenCon, but I’ve also included some personal highlights and things I really enjoyed. You could read 15 other GenCon articles, and they may highlight different things they enjoyed at GenCon. With 70k people, there’s going to be something for everyone and different highlights for each person.

TTRPG Renaissance

One of the highlights of GenCon 2026 has to be the renaissance of TTRPG publishers that were in attendance this year. Major players like Wizards of the Coast and Paizo always have a big presence at GenCon in terms of the number of sessions offered, but both ramped up their presence at GenCon even more over the past few years, with this year being the icing on the cake. Wizards of the Coast, on top of events offered at the GenCon facilities proper, took over the entire Indiana Repertory Theater, turning it into the D&D Tower, complete with events, merchandise, live plays, and even a full-scale carnival. Paizo supplemented their already packed ballrooms full of Pathfinder and Starfinder players and GMs by rolling out a preview of their new horror-based RPG, 13 Omens. I was able to catch a look at 13 Omens, and I can see why the new RPG has made several sites’ “Best of GenCon” lists.

It wasn’t just the traditional heavy hitters that had an amazing GenCon. Darrington Press, Monte Cook Games, Renegade Game Studios, and Marvel all saw their RPG rooms packed from open to close each day. Darrington Press rolled out their new Daggerheart expansion, Hope and Fear. In addition, at their GenCon address, Darrington Press outlined upcoming plans for Daggerheart, including the fact that they have content tentatively planned out to 2030. Monte Cook Games saw ridiculously busy tables and sold-out events for their various RPGs. The Cypher system remains popular with the new kid on the block; Old Gods of Appalachia events sold out each day.

Renegade Game Studios perhaps had the best GenCon of any of the smaller RPG publishers, capitalizing on the upcoming release of their Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG and Unstoppable game. The excitement led to their games being sold out from the day tickets went on sale for events through the entire weekend. Author Matt Dinniman and Voice Actor Jeff Hays were on hand for all four days of GenCon. Marvel kept their room packed with the Marvel Multiverse RPG, having another strong year at GenCon. For the third straight year, Marvel rolled out a new expansion at GenCon. This year, they teamed up with FanRoll to produce a Con Exclusive cover for the new Secret Wars expansion, as well as the Dice of Doom, a set featuring three resin and three metal dice themed to God Emperor Doom from Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 Secret Wars event. Marvel also announced upcoming solo rules that will be available in PDF form this fall to help players further develop their adventures either without a group or between group play sessions. Free League Publishing got in on the big year for TTRPGs with the release of the Invincible Roleplaying Game based on the wildly popular TV show and comic.

Games, Games, Games

GenCon 2026 wasn’t just all TTRPGs. Plenty of board games found new homes. GenCon always serves as a premier opportunity for new board games, promotions, or exclusive content for existing games, and a chance to find other people to play your favorite games with. When it came to board games at GenCon 2026, two trends really seemed to carry the day: short play time and portability. Some of the most popular board games at this year’s events were games that kept their play time in that sweet 30-45 minute play range. In addition, games that were compact and relatively portable, like Containers, Wingspan Pocket, and Dnup hit all of these checkmarks.

While each attendee will have their own “favorite list”, games like Containers, Drillers, Hell of a Deal, and DC: Brave and Bold were consistently the talk of this year’s GenCon. These games stayed sold out throughout the weekend, with new restocks coming almost every day to sell out again almost as soon as the vendor hall reopened. Two games that really stood out to me that some folks may have missed were String Theory and Rubber Ducky Rampage. I actually discovered String Theory while waiting in line to pick up my copy of DC: Brave and Bold and upon seeing that all demos of the event were sold out through the whole weekend, I stood and watched. String Theory sees you as a conspiracy theory podcaster, literally connecting the strings to prove you have the best theories. After about 15 minutes of play, I logged into the QR code provided by Tessellation Games and put my deposit down. Rubber Ducky Rampage, I got a little taste of at DieCon in Illinois, but it was great to see this battler game getting some looks and plays at GenCon.

Cosplay

I was able to get a full video of the cosplay parade for this year. Check it out for yourself and see some of the creativity.

Charities and Food

By the time the weekend was done, GenCon attendees had raised or donated about $50,000 to charity. Through events such as the charity auction or the auction for the first throw to knock down Cardhalla, GenCon raises funds for a variety of partners. This doesn’t include vendors who may give away badge ribbons or other trinkets for a small charitable donation, like the Circle City Ghostbusters organization. Cardhalla alone raised almost 12,000 dollars. In addition to monetary donations, the Red Cross has a presence yearly at GenCon where attendees can use some of their time to donate blood and help refill the Indy blood banks.

In addition, the block party, complete with food trucks, was hopping again this year. Despite shutting early one day due to the tornado warning for the area, a variety of food trucks were available. Hotbox Pizza came in with what is the best GenCon pizza I’ve had in all my years of going to GenCon. This year’s official pizza of GenCon was Dragon Luau, featuring spicy pepperoni, bacon, spicy red sauce, hot honey, pineapple, and mozzarella. Sun King also dropped one of the best GenCon beers in years with Rage Quit selling out almost every day. Whether you were looking for wok-fried noodles, soul food, empanadas, or lobster rolls, GenCon had a little something for everyone when it came to food.

Vendors, Vendors, Vendors

This year’s GenCon saw almost 800 vendors selling their wares. In addition to board game publishers, there were authors, artists, and artisans selling their creations. Artist alley always features some beautiful work, and this year I was happy to see Tran Nguyen return. I was able to get her to sign my Captain Marvel: Dark Past variant cover she designed. When it comes to non-board game vendors, a highlight for me is always picking up a new nerdy mug from Pawley Studios. I was able to pick up a Royal Court of Princess Donut mug this year, along with a Muggle mug for my wife. As I roamed the floors, I saw beautiful dice and some of the most magnificent leatherworking I’ve ever seen. It truly is great to not only hit the part of the vendor floors that deal with board games, but to take time to see the craftsmanship that some fellow nerds possess.

The Not So Good

While GenCon was an amazing experience, you can’t talk about GenCon 2026 without mentioning the tornado warning. While the GenCon and ICC staff were incredibly helpful, the deluge of water overwhelmed drainpipes, leaving water bubbling out of manhole covers on the streets, and vendors trying to protect their supplies, and the roofs of both the ICC and Lucas Oil Stadium had leaks. As always, a few bad apples reminded everyone to be aware of their surroundings with various promo cards, and even Artist’s Proof cards from some of the Magic: The Gathering Artists present in artist’s alley grew legs and walked away. The scam artists on the sidewalks surrounding the ICC were a continual problem, with various individuals trying to get people to tap their cards to “donate” to various charities and then abusing the card numbers. Despite these few things, GenCon was an overwhelming success. I can’t wait to bring you coverage of next year’s 60th anniversary right here on Nerd Initiative.

What did you think of this year’s GenCon?

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Disney+ & Disney Channel Announce New Descendants Movie

Kat
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Disney+ & Disney Channel Announce New Descendants Movie

Disney Channel & Disney+  have announced a new Descendants film. 

MORE FROM NI’S STREAM TEAM HERE 

The new film, Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story, is going to be very different from the rest of the Descendants films we have gotten. This time, we are following the sidekicks, and the film’s description gives us a little bit of insight into what to expect with this new story: 

“Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes. When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together — without heroes, without parents — using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.” 

The cast also got announced, and it is a powerhouse group for this film: 

  • Dior Goodjohn (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Poser) as Jennie, the daughter of Genie from Aladdin 
  • Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club) as Zara, the daughter of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove 
  • Jacob Rodriguez (Tell Me Lies) as Kronk Jr., the son of Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove 
  • Eva Fossaceca Smedley (Welcome to Flatch) as Meri, the daughter of Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty
  • Harry Jones (Bury Your Nephew) as Lou, the son of Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast 
  • Rhys Dawkins (Clickbait), Connor Wong (Cruel Summer) & Kyra Wong (Elle) as the Potts Siblings from Beauty and the Beast 

Disney Kids & Family President, Ayo Davis, had this to say about the new project: 

“One of the things that has always made Descendants so special is the way it invites audiences to experience familiar Disney stories through an entirely new perspective. With Hidden Heroes, we’re finally putting the sidekicks center stage, because they’ve always been an essential part of Disney’s greatest adventures. It’s a fun, surprising new chapter that expands the ‘Descendants’ universe with all the music, dance and heart fans love and expect from the franchise.” 

The film is set for release sometime in 2027 on both Disney Channel & Disney+.

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TED LASSO RETURNS TO THE PITCH IN SEASON 4 OF THE HIT APPLE TV SERIES.

Matthew Roth
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TED LASSO RETURNS TO THE PITCH IN SEASON 4 OF THE HIT APPLE TV SERIES.
Three athletes in matching blue jackets with patches stand at a sports field, gazing to the left.
Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis and Tanya Reynolds in “Ted Lasso,” premiering August 5, 2026 on Apple TV

Jason Sudeikis returns as Ted Lasso this time to coach their newly founded Women’s Second Division team. It’s been 3 years since we said goodbye to Richmond and the beloved Men’s team of Richmond, and I got to see the first four episodes of season 4 thanks to press screeners from Apple TV.

Season 4 sees Ted return to coach the women’s team bringing back beloved favorites such as Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt), and Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) Jason Sudeikis and Bill Lawrence team up to write and the series welcomes a whole cast of new stars.

Same series, Same Routine?

I was both hesitant and excited hearing that the show would be returning for a fourth season as the previous wrapped up beautifully however, it is one of my favorite shows of all time. However, all of my fears were quickly laid to rest as the season kicked off. It’s as though we never left Ted at all, he still has that quick witted humor front loaded with various references only few get. His interactions and chemistry with Rebecca Keeley, Beard, and everyone still hit like the father you never had coming in to save the day with his wise words of advice.

Two women in a bright fashion boutique smile at each other, with racks of colorful dresses behind them and glittery shoes on display.
Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple in “Ted Lasso,” premiering August 5, 2026 on Apple TV.

Minor Spoilers Ahead

When we left Ted he had moved home to be closer to his family and that is where the season picks up 3 years later. We can tell he isn’t happy with his life but, he does it all to be closer to Will. The first episode is a hilarious look into Ted’s life in Kansas City and we even see some of the cast looking like fish out of water as they see what makes him the Ted we all know. The focus being how Ted has an even tougher task of turning the women’s club into something truly successful is loaded with real world struggles. Getting the general public to buy in, a press who couldn’t care less about a women’s team, being told it won’t be financially successful are all things Women’s professional sports face every day in the real world.

What this season has done beautifully so far is get the audience to buy in to this new cast. The team is full of various personalities all bringing something familiar and yet something different to the table at the same time. The familiarity will suck you in before quickly realizing this isn’t the same rehash of a story as before. In fact, it may even be building to something more emotional than before. The first four episodes of Ted Lasso season 4 are packed with emotions, humor, and heart like never before. This season captures the core of what makes this show so beautiful and builds upon it by bringing in new and fresh beats to the plot. The biggest surprise standout for me is the inclusion of Alice (Tanya Reynolds) as she brings something extra to the team in a very unique way.

Tanya Reynolds and Jason Sudeikis in “Ted Lasso,” premiering August 5, 2026 on Apple TV.

Ted Lasso Season 4, at least the first 4 episodes are a hit that will leave you crying, laughing, and feeling right at home as though we never left Richmond. How will Ted navigate the challenges of coaching AFC Richmond’s newest Women’s team? Tune in to APPLE TV to find out and trust me it has been worth the wait. Welcome home Coach Lasso, we’ve missed you.

Season 4 premiers August 5th with subscribers being able to stream the first episode early on August 4th at 9pm EST with new episodes released weekly! Let us know if you’ll be tuning in and make sure to check out more by Matt!

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Marc Spector: Moon Knight #7 – It’s Nice To Be Popular

ShawnFoles
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Marc Spector: Moon Knight #7 – It’s Nice To Be Popular

The Mansion Ravenous has devoured his closest allies. Marc Spector: Moon Knight is at a loss. He swallows his pride and does the only thing he can think of and summons the Midnight Sons. Having been betrayed by the soul-stealing sword Ginnarr, Marc seeks the help of Clea. Now with Ghost Rider, Blade, Daredevil, and Clea in the fold, a reborn group of Midnight Sons takes on the challenge, even if Moon Knight and Clea have other plans for everyone.

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Dev Pramanik
Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Paulo Siqueira
Cover Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg

Writing

Megan: This has to be my favorite issue of Marc Spector: Moon Knight so far! From the writing to the art, absolutely fantastic work all around. Jed MacKay continues to do great things with this run, but this issue felt like a full course dinner and the story isn’t even finished yet. In Marc spector: Moon Knight #7, we see the new Midnight Sons putting their plan to work and working together brilliantly. All is going exceedingly well until the rug is pulled out from under their feet.

I have to say that I absolutely love this team together. There’s an excellent chemistry throughout the team’s dynamics, and each member has the chance to really shine. They work together so well with each team member bringing their own style to the plan.

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #7 starts the energy high right out the gate and never lets up. All gas, no breaks. This issue will keep you on your toes throughout the read, so buckle up!

Shawn: I need a minute to catch my breath. Right out of the gate MacKay puts us into the action and it’s just full gas no breaks from that point. I could not in a hundred years imagine how this issue would end. Jed MacKay has proven time and time again that even if you’ve been writing a character for a while, it’s possible to breathe new life into the story. MacKay has consistently done that with Moon Knight but in Marc Spector: Moon Knight #7 gives us the same experience with this iteration of the Midnight Sons.

This version of the Midnight Sons is a group that just works well together. Each player brings their own strengths to the game as they try and battle the Mansion Ravenous to save the members of the Midnight Mission. It’s such a treat from MacKay to give us this combination of characters together. Not only does it make for a good story, but it’s a gift to the art team to branch out and do amazing work with characters they wouldn’t normally see in Moon Knight.

Art

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #7 cover by Paulo Siqueira and Rachelle Rosenberg. Image from Marvel Comics

Megan: There’s no doubt about it, this is Dev Pramanik and Rachelle Rosenberg’s best work. Every page is an absolute masterpiece and gives every character their own time to shine in a gorgeous way. Pramanik comes in with drawings that are a mixture of excellent details and pieces of abstract art that really captures the mystic goodness of the story. Rosenberg brings so much heat ot the pages with her work on the colors, you’ll find yourself having a hard time looking away from the pages. These artists deserve a 10 out of 10 all on their own.

Shawn: As much as I loved the story, Dev Pramanik and Rachelle Rosenberg took the lead on this issue with the artwork. There’s not enough superlatives in the world to describe the work that Dev does on this issue. Pramanik moves through the issue like a man possessed with distinct styles and weights on his lines for each one of the Midnight Sons. Ghost Rider doesn’t look like it’s drawn by the same artist that drew Daredevil for the issue and that’s a testament to Pramanik as he continues to push boundaries and his own skills.

Rachelle Rosenberg simply doesn’t miss when it comes to coloring supernatural or mystical characters. It makes perfect sense then that she absolutely crushes issue 7 of Marc Spector: Moon Knight when Jed MacKay hands her a story featuring some of the heavy hitters of those realms. Rosenberg’s colors bring life to Pramanik’s lines and MacKay’s words. Cory Petit rounds out the art team through thoughtfully placed word bubbles that make it easy to follow the story while getting the chance to properly appreciate the art.

Final Thoughts

Megan: 10/10. When I say this was a flawless issue, I mean that with every sense of the word. Every person on the creative team brought their best talents to the pages and the readers will benefit heavily from it.

Shawn: 10/10. One of the best series in comics right now. The art is wild, creative, adventurous, and stunning. The story keeps drawing you back in issue after issue.

Overall Grade: 10/10

Did you like seeing the Midnight Sons back together? Did it hit the spot? Let us know in the comments

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Royals #5 – Father Park, Eastertide, and the Bad Bunny

ShawnFoles
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Royals #5 – Father Park, Eastertide, and the Bad Bunny

The Wahng brothers are telepathic twins. They’re living the posh life in Royals, using their telepathy to win poker tournaments. One day, they manage to win a tournament against Daeshim Kang, the leader of the Bloody Cocks, Seoul’s most ruthless crime syndicate. Forced to pull off a heist for Kang, they discover the heist is actually a dream planted in their head by Minah, a friend of Paul. Like Paul and Castor, Minah is a superpowered twin. She’s secretly working with Father Park, a priest who believes his mission from God is to destroy superpowered twins. As Castor finds out more about Minah and her motivations, a terrifying chase begins.

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Derek Kirk Kim
Artist: Jacob Perez
Cover Artist: Jacob Perez

Writing

Derek Kirk Kim does it again. Every single issue of this series has been packed with both revelations and new questions, and Royals #5 is no different. Just when I think I’ve learned all there is to know about Father Park, Kim reveals even more that shocks me. The story continues to take turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat like a thriller at the local movie theater. The dynamic between not only the Wahng brothers but Castor and Minah continues to develop each issue in a satisfying way.

There was a lot of backstory in this issue. Despite that being the case, Kim ensured that it never felt like it was bogging you down or keeping you from enjoying the story. Kim structured the revelations and lore in a way that they made natural sense as part of the story. Royals #5 shows that this series really has become a case of “how deep does the rabbit hole go”. Every issue takes my breath away both narratively and visually.

Art

Doomquest #3 cover by Alex Ross. Image from Marvel Comics

Jacob Perez continues to show out in each issue of Royals. The action packed into this issue really gave Perez a chance to shine when it came to SFX in a way that we haven’t seen in other issues. Through his careful use of colors and shading, Perez makes each character feel both unique and emotive.

I really appreciated the dynamic panel sizing that Perez employed in this issue. Anytime I see a series where there’s variety in the sizing or shapes of panels, it lets me know that a level of trust exists between the writer and artists where the story is truly a collaborative effort. I enjoyed the variety of panel shading Perez utilized in this issue as well. The use of the dull green to help you realize the panel is playing out as if you are looking at a security camera screen was brilliant.

Final Thoughts

Royals continues to be one of my favorite series out from any publisher right now. I genuinely look forward to it coming up for review each issue. Kim and Perez are doing something unique with this series. Telepathy while not a new concept in comics has never quite been used like this. It’s clear that a high level of trust exists between Kim and Perez where they are jointly creating this story and playing off each other’s ideas.

Overall Grade: 10 / 10

What did you think of Royals #5? Let me know in the comments

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Lost Fantasy #11 – Returning

TravisComicHaven
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Lost Fantasy #11 – Returning

The Hunter Families in Lost Fantasy are under attack. Leaving their survival on the shoulders of their children. Except there is one monumental problem… Some of the heirs of the Families are done with the family business. Will this be the end of the Hunter Families…?

Creative Team

Curt Pires / Franklin Jonas (Writers), Luca Casalanguida (Artist), Mark Dale (Colorist),
Micah Myers (Letterer)

Publisher: Image Comics

Returning

Issue eleven comes to readers after a stunning conclusion of issue ten! This new issue brings to life a seemingly recurring theme in this Lost Fantasy world, “Brotherly Love.” Fans of this series will remember the relationship between Henry and his “step-brother.” Still to this day, it is very much toxic. Well, that theme continues in this new issue, just within a different Hunter Family.

Fantasy
Lost Fantasy #11, Credit Image Comics. Cover by Luca Casalanguida.


The Hunter Family that takes center stage within this issue is the Kitsune House. The rightful heir of this house is Miyamoto. He tries to be everything and more for his father. Does his best with his training and his studies. But it never becomes enough. I truly believe that this subject will hit home to more than a few readers of this series. The feeling of wanting to be the child your parents are proud of but never breaking through their ceilings of expectations.

Just like Henry, Miyamoto has a “step-brother” who is brought into the Kitsune house at a young age. This newly explained character is Jin. He instantly becomes the apple of Mr. Kitsune’s eye! There is nothing that Jin can do that would disappoint him. There is an old saying or parenting rule that you should not pick a favorite child. Well, Mr. Kitsune completely ignored that memo! This causes so much animosity and hate toward Jin.

This is when the plot takes a straight dive into the depths of Miyamoto’s foolish decision-making. Because of his sour feelings towards Jin, events take place that mold the present day of Lost Fantasy. Including the creation of a cyborg whose sole mission is now to bring an end to Miyamoto. Readers are not going to believe the story behind this new cyborg!

I do want to talk a bit more about trying to live up to our parent’s standards. If you’re reading this and you are currently in a battle for your parents gratification but feel like you just can’t, know this. You, doing the very best of your ability to get good grades, gain that promotion at work, or even just get through the day; you are enough! You could be looking for gratification from the wrong individuals. There are people in your life that appreciate you, and are blessed to have you in their lives!

The Writing

Curt Pires and Franklin Jonas continue to produce phenomenal issues of this series! This issue is full of so much family and “organization” drama that grips the readers attention. The family dynamic that is posturized through this series makes the Hunter Families similar while they are supposed to be different. The plot is stellar and the dialogue is meaty when it needs to be. Giving plenty of background information where it’s needed during flashback sequences. This issue is very entertaining!

The Artwork

Luca Casalanguida and Mark Dale continue to bring the Lost Fantasy art lore to these issues. Rough and rigid pencilwork combined with bright and simplistic coloration. The fighting within this issue is beautifully captured by the work of this team. The splash pages are completely stunning which made me stop to fully take in the story portrayal. Looking forward to seeing what this art team may have hidden up their sleeves for future issues.

Variant Covers

  • Lost Fantasy
    Luca Casalanguida
  • Lost Fantasy
    Patrick Mulholland
  • Lost Fantasy
    Luca Casalanguida Virgin Variant 1:15
  • Lost Fantasy
    Luca Casalanguida Virgin Variant 1:25

Final Thoughts

Lost Fantasy continues to rank in my top five comics of this year. The storytelling within this series continues to grow in ways that you generally wouldn’t consider it going. Which adds to the entertainment and curiosity of what is to come. The way the Hunter Families are separate but somewhat similar in their family struggles is very interesting to see. Building on the notion that we may have different life styles, but have the same struggles behind closed doors. Astonishing issue, make sure you snag this at your local comic book shop!

Overall Grade: 10/10

Links

Comic Book Reviews & Entertainment News: Nerd Initiative
Previous Lost Fantasy Review: Lost Fantasy #10 – Pain Prism
Travis’ NI Portfolio: TravisComicHaven – Nerd Initiative
Travis’ Personal Content: Travis’ Comic Haven

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW!

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Money Shot: The F*** Offs #1 Review

anthony cooley
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Money Shot: The F*** Offs #1 Review

Overview

Writer: Tim Seeley & Patton Oswalt

Artist: Garth Graham

Colorist: Maksim Strelkov

Letterer: Crank!

Cover Artist: Garth Graham

WARNING!

The following is a review of a very naughty comic book written by two wildly naught individuals named Tim Seeley and Patton Oswalt. It is a comic book that is meant for mature readers. If it were a movie, you would only find it on Cinemax after midnight starring Shannon Tweed, Shannon Whirry and Julie Strain (iykyk). The comic book is written using adult language and scenes depicting imagery of strong sexual content. If you are offended by nudity, swearing, dirty talk and impossibly wild sexual encounters, please turn back now. This is not the book for you and this warning should be all the review you need. Anthony Cooley did not write the comic. Anthony Cooley only read the comic and is giving his opinion. Any attempt to cancel Anthony Cooley for reading a naughty comic will result in maniacal laughter because child, please! Nobody cancels Anthony Cooley! (For real though, it wasn’t me!)

Okay, now that that's out of the way, I need to preface this review with a statement: I honestly had no idea what this was before I opened it. The cover depicts 5 people in red and white jumpsuits running from a dinosaur in the jungle. Sure, the title should’ve been a dead giveaway, but, you know, people name their comics all kinds of stuff that ends up being metaphoric or whatever. I was unprepared. Apparently, Money Shot is a series of stories by creators Tim Seeley and Patton Oswalt and there are about 5 other chapters that came before The Fuck Offs. Again… I had no idea. Now, on to the review!

The title is not a metaphor. The group of protagonists on the cover are a team of scientists-turned-intergalactic-porn-stars named the XXX-Plorers. They have exploratory sex with aliens in the name of science and fund their experimentation by filming and live streaming their exploits. In this story, they are participating in an intergalactic sex competition called, you guessed it, The Fuck Offs! I’m not going to sugar coat it. It really is as depraved as it sounds. It’s kind of like One Piece if all the different pirate groups just wanted to, like, get freaky with each other all the time. The Fuck Offs is like a televised sex tournament to determine who will claim the title of the ultimate fuckers (I made that title up since they never really say what the winners get. Ultimate Fucker feels like a good guess)

When the death of a rival, uh… Sex Athlete? Sure… When the death of a rival Sex Athlete is pinned on one of the XXX-Plorer’s members, the team must work to find out what really happened and clear her name.

Writing

Tim Seeley is a guy that’s never let me down. When I see his name attached to a comic as the writer or the artist (or both), I usually pick it up. One of my favorites was his GI Joe: Cold Slither one shot which was written like a This Is Spinal Tap type rockumentary. He’s got a great sense of humor and you can tell he loves every minute of the work he puts in breathing life into the characters he writes. Check out Revival as well, you’ll be glad you did! Here he partners with frequent collaborator and friend, the always entertaining Patton Oswalt! Yes, that Patton Oswalt! These guys are obviously having a blast writing Money Shot. The pacing is quick enough that I never struggled to maintain focus on the story but not so quick that the ending felt premature. The magic of Money Shot is that Seeley and Oswalt manage to tell the story of the XXX-Plorers in a way that doesn’t make the reader feel like a perv. Yes this book has a lot of nudity and sex, but it’s the most absurdly gratuitous nudity and sex with the ultimate goal of making the reader laugh. But it really isn’t that simple. It’s a silly and hilarious story but it’s also a tactful setup for an intriguing mystery. I started off thinking “What the hell am I reading here?” and by the last page I was looking forward to the next issue.

Art

Garth Graham’s art on this book is really impressive. I’m not sure how many people truly understand how difficult it is to consistently draw so many characters (probably about 30?) and give them all a unique look and keep them recognizable. I have to think that Seeley and Oswalt feel liberated knowing that whatever they throw in the script, no matter how ridiculous, Graham is going to kill it! He has a very cartoony style that works well with the tongue in cheek writing style. Nice crisp line work. High energy. Great visual storytelling. Colors by Maksim Strelkov compliment Grahams art perfectly. Very bright, saturated colors with a mix of hard and soft shadows and highlights. The art reminds me a bit of Invincible. If I have to give one criticism it would be that there weren’t many panels that had backgrounds. This could just be because of the environment they were in, though, so I’m going to wait and see on that.

Money Shot: The F*** Offs #1 Review
Garth Graham, Vault Comics

Final Thoughts

If you are mature enough to see human comic book characters having sex with aliens and still catch the punchlines and get caught in the mystery, then I say you should give Money Shot a shot. It’s a lot of fun and It’s not what you think. Even after you find out it wasn’t what you thought, it’s STILL not what you think!

The Score:

9/10

DC x SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: METAL LEGION #4

Megan Nichole
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DC x SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: METAL LEGION #4

Creative Team – Ian Flynn, Adam Bryce Thomas, Matt Herms, Pablo M. Collar

Published by DC Comics

Catch up with DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #3!

The Story

Dr. Eggman and his Metal Legion show what they’re made of in DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #4 and I have to say, they are a much bigger problem than I assumed. Seeing the Sonic characters from their own universe team up with the Justice League, I thought surely they would have this battle in the bag. However, Dr. Eggman has more than a few tricks up his sleeves, ones even Lex couldn’t think of himself. Dr. Eggman seizes the opportunity to show just how thoroughly he’s thought through his plans, but little does he know, the Justice League and the Sonic team has a few tricks up their own sleeves.

Cover art by Pablo M. Collar. Published by DC Comics

If you haven’t dived into this run yet, there’s no time like the present. It’s the best of both worlds, the DC World and the Sonic the Hedgehog world with all the iconic characters to go with it. The next issue is the last issue and I cannot tell you how disappointed I am to see it finish, but I think that speaks to what an incredible job the creative team has done so far.

The Art

Adam Bryce Thomas and Matt Herms continue to impress with their ability to mash up these wildly different characters and make them blend together harmoniously. The detailing work in every character is flawless, highlighting what makes them stand out on their own. The colors are beautifully vibrant with excellent uses of contrasting colors. This issue also has fantastic lettering work that captures the personalities of each character that practically makes you hear their voices in your head. All in all, the artists showed up and showed out in this issue.

Final Thoughts

This is what I love about comics. The excitement, the team ups that you’d never think you’d see, and the fun of it all. The creative team really captures those elements and has the most fun with it and it’s clear to see.

Overall Grade – 9/10

Let me know in the comments what you thought of DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #4!

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This review was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast! If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #4, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!

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