The Batman was one of the most buzzed-about superhero adaptations in recent years, and it's pretty safe to say that fans are excited to see the film's sequel. The Batman Part II is awaiting production and currently scheduled to debut in October 2025, and it sounds like one of the film's cast members has a particular arc in mind. In a recent interview with Discussing Film, Jeffrey Wright advocated for exploring the personal life of his character, James Gordon, in The Batman Part II, arguing that his character has a similar sort of dual role within the community as Batman.

"Well, it's probably not a good idea to get too far ahead of Matt [Reeves]," Wright argued. "One of the things that I've spoken about with him a little bit is, in playing the role, I wondered about his private life and I wonder about people who have the level of responsibility that he has, having that public face of rectitude and goodness. I wonder what lies underneath Commissioner Gordon because the Batman wears his cowl but, in some ways, Gordon wears a mask too. Gordon represents justice in a way through his type of righteousness, not sanctimony, and I wonder what might lie behind that mask with the sacrifices that he may have to consider because he gives so much to this public persona and his civic duty. What's the bearing of all that on him, underneath his mask? Those are questions that might be interesting to pursue, but we'll see. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to read and dive back into it, but I know as much as you know about it at the moment. We'll get there!"

What Is The Batman Sequel About?

Plot details regarding The Batman Part II are currently a mystery, although it is expected to feature the return of Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, and more of the original film's cast.

"I mean, I can't give an update on that in terms of specifics, except to tell you that we are hard at work on the script," Reeves told ComicBook.com in an interview last year. "My partner and I are deep in it and I'm excited about what we're going to do."

Is The Batman Part II in the New DCU?

It has already been confirmed that The Batman Part II will be operating as a DC Elseworlds project, separate from James Gunn and Peter Safran's upcoming DC Universe of movies and Max-exclusive television shows.

"Matt is working on [The] Batman 2, which he thinks of it as a Batman crime saga, which also includes The Penguin TV series," Gunn previously said when asked about the project. "And it is its own thing, and he's hard at work on that. He came in and pitched us some amazing, really cool stuff the other day. Our plan is for that to continue."

Are you excited for The Batman Part II? What do you think of Jeffrey Wright's new comments? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

The Batman Part II is currently scheduled to debut in theaters on October 3, 2025.

Harvey Guill?n, the actor best known for playing Guillermo de la Cruz in What We Do in the Shadows, had a very busy 2023. The actor appeared in multiple shows and movies, including different projects for DC. Guill?n played Dr. Sanchez in Blue Beetle and returned to voice Nightwing in Harley Quinn. Blue Beetle was released within about a week of Nightwing's death on Harley Quinn, and it ended up featuring Guill?n's character dying yet again... or did it? ComicBook.com recently had the chance to chat with Guill?n in honor of the digital release of Disney's Wish, and we brought up the fact that he died twice in DC last year. While Nightwing is expected to be revived on Harley Quinn, Guill?n also believes Dr. Sanchez could return...

"That's true. But I do want to point out that in Blue Beetle and Harley Quinn, you do see them, and here's the thing," Guill?n began. "In both scenarios ... I mean, a little bit more in the other one, but in Blue Beetle you never see my body ... You only see what you want to see when something splatters on a window, on a glass window on a door, but you never see the actual outcome of what you thought you saw. Right?"

"I mean, I'm saying anything's possible," he added when we asked if that meant we could be seeing Dr. Sanchez again.

We also asked if Guill?n has started work on the fifth season of Harley Quinn, to which he simply replied, "No."

When Will Blue Beetle Return to the DCU?

During an appearance on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast last year, DC Studios head James Gunn referred to Jaime Reyes as the "first hero" in the new DC Universe, teasing that Xolo Maridue?a will reprise his role in future projects.

"I mean the first DCU character for sure is Blue Beetle and the first DCU movie is Superman," Gunn said at the time.

While chatting with ComicBook.com, director Angel Manuel Soto addressed the confirmation that Maridue?a will return as Blue Beetle.

"It was very reassuring to know that it's not just the character of Blue Beetle, it's Xolo being Blue Beetle," Soto explained. "Which means that what we have learned up to this point about his background and his family are part of Jaime Reyes' character. And that is a beautiful thing to see because it's a vote of confidence that what we did, the impact that it did and how it was shown, Whatever they end up doing in the bigger scheme of the DCU, you can always go back to Blue Beetle to know what are the foundations of Jaime Reyes."

Wish is available now at Digital retailers, and will be available on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD on March 12th.

The difference between Outer Range, which he said confused him, and Jonah Hex, which he genuinely seems to hate, is night and day. And in a moment he had to know would be the headline in nerd circles, Brolin said he would "never stop s--tting" on Hex.

"I won't ever stop shitting on Jonah Hex," Brolin told GQ, "because it was a s---ty f---ing movie!"

Still, he said, he has stopped attacking director Jimmy Hayward personally. In the past, Brolin has criticized the filmmaker for being in over his head and not up to the task. In the time since his last public comments on Hayward, the two have reconnected -- only for Brolin to learn that Hayward has been dealing with an incredibly painful battle with bone cancer.

"It reminded me [that] you can't just keep s---ting on somebody," Brolin told the magazine. "I don't know what the f--k's going on in his life. I mean, total facial reconstruction, the whole thing."

To be fair, Hayward also apologized for his role in the film's failure -- and in some more recent remarks, Brolin admitted that it was both himself and Warner Bros. who brought Hayward on board because they needed a director right away.

"It was not successful creatively or monetarily," Brolin said last year. "I mean, everybody knows how I feel about Jonah Hex. But the biggest thing with Jonah Hex is rushing into hiring somebody. I remember Jeff Robinov, who I'm still close with, who was running Warner Brothers at the time and he was like, 'Look, you've got to get a director in the next two weeks, otherwise we've got to can this thing. And then you meet somebody who has a lot of knowledge, [director] Jimmy Hayward, and I remember it didn't feel right. I loved that he was excited, but he just didn't have the experience and he didn't treat it like I would imagine somebody would want to treat it -- to run back to their house at the end of their every day and watch tonal inspirations and [Martin] Scorsese movies or this or that. He would be out partying instead."

He added, "And not that I had a ton of pull then, but I brought in Megan [Fox,] who I thought was perfect for that role. Maybe not the best actress at that moment, but for that type of parody, forget it. Her, at that moment? You couldn't do better than that. And [Michael] Fassbender? One of our best actors, who had done Shame and Hunger, are you kidding me? Malkovich, who had just been ripped off by Bernie Madoff, and we're asking him to do it for a third of his price. He said yes. I mean, f-ck, I still owe these people. Michael Shannon was in it, he was cut out. We just asked Michael to do George and Tammy because I pulled out of it, and he took my place and was amazing in it. So the intention was there, I just think we made a big mistake with the director -- not to blame it all at him, because that was my choice, that was my bad choice."

Last May, The CW's The Flash ended its nine season run, but series star Grant Gustin is open to donning the speedster's iconic scarlet suit again -- under one condition. Gustin recently revealed that he would be open to coming back as The Flash again if DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn asked him to for the new DCU.

Gustin, who stars in the Broadway musical Water for Elephants which is currently in previews, was recently asked by a fan on TikTok (via TVLine) if he'd be open to playing The Flash again if Gunn asked him. Gustin confirmed that he would because he trusts Gunn.

"Yeah, if James Gunn asked me to play The Flash, I would do it again," he said. "I trust James Gunn."

Currently, it is unknown what plans Gunn has for Barry Allen/The Flash in the new DCU. Most recently, Ezra Miller played the character in last year's The Flash movie, but that was a film that predated Gunn's time at DC Studios and that film is not part of the new DCU.

Gustin Has Previously Said He's Open to Playing The Flash Again

Last year, Gustin said he was open to playing The Flash again at some point and that the character would always be close to his heart.

"I can't wrap my head around it right now, obviously," Gustin said. "But if someone called me today or tomorrow and was like, 'Hey, we have this amazing Flash idea,' obviously it's like, I'm gonna take that phone call and listen to that idea. And I think this is a character that I'm going to -- no matter if I play it again [or not] -- I'll probably be associated with this character more than anything else in my career, for the rest of my life. So, I'll always listen to any Flash pitch."

He added, "I mean, it's very, very close to my heart. I think it always will be."

More Announcements About the DCU Could be Coming Soon.

Warner Bros. boss David Zaslav recently teased impending announcements regarding the DCU, though he didn't set a clear timetable.

"I've had a glimpse into what James and Peter are doing, and it really does serve as an exciting indicator of where the new DC is headed under their leadership," Zaslav said in the company's latest earnings call. "There'll be more you'll hear from them in the months ahead...We'll have James and Peter take you through in the next few months a full spectrum of what they see over the next 10 years."

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

"It's not an origin story," DC Studios co-head Peter Safran told reporters last year. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

Over the years, DC's canon has ebbed in flowed in some fascinating ways, bringing to life a wide array of superhero stories. This week, one of the most debated-about DC stories in recent memory made an unexpected return -- and it just so happened to help set up this summer's Absolute Power comic event. Spoilers for Green Arrow #9 from Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Troy Peteri below! Only look if you want to know!

The issue finally brings Oliver Queen / Green Arrow face-to-face with Amanda Waller once again, as they confront each other amid her takeover of the Hall of Justice. Oliver tries to get an answer for why Waller has spent so long tearing his family apart, and why she has brainwashed Roy Harper / Arsenal as part of her latest initiative. Waller agrees to provide answers if Oliver does a job for her -- stealing the logs from Sanctuary.

What Is DC's Sanctuary?

The concept of Sanctuary was introduced in Tom King's Batman run before becoming a key fixture of 2018's Heroes in Crisis, as a mental health facility hidden away on a farm in Nebraska. There, heroes could work on (and record private testimonials about) their various traumas. This premise led to the events of Heroes in Crisis, in which a massacre inexplicably killed nearly all of its superhero patients, with Wally West being dubbed the culprit.

While the DC canon has largely moved on from the events of Heroes in Crisis, the existence of the backlogs of Sanctuary's testimonials does pose a unique threat -- especially with Waller expected to target all metahumans' weaknesses in Absolute Power.

What Is Absolute Power About?

Absolute Power shows how Waller will use the strategic and military might of Failsafe and the otherworldly technology of the Brainiac Queen to steal all metahuman abilities from every super hero and super-villain around the globe, a threat so dire it will take the combined efforts of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Super Heroes of the DC Universe to defeat it.

Absolute Power has been teased across the Dawn of DC initiative for several months, teasing a "Trinity of Evil" that will make a profound impact on the DC Universe. As we now know, this "Trinity" will consist of Waller, Batman's recent foe Failsafe, the recent Action Comics adversary Brainiac Queen. Absolute Power will kick off with DC's Free Comic Book Day book, which will be available in participating comic shops on Saturday, May 4th. 2024 Absolute Power Free Comic Book Day Special Edition will be a 32-page comic featuring an original 12-page story by Waid with art by Mikel Jan?n, as well as a preview of Absolute Power's first issue. It will be followed by Absolute Power: Ground Zero, an official prelude that will debut in June and bridge the shocking conclusion of the Superman story "House of Brainiac" with Amanda Waller's machinations.

What do you think of DC bringing back Sanctuary from Heroes in Crisis? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

DC Universe announcements could be coming soon in a variety of formats. Taking a break from pre-production on Superman: Legacy, DC Studios boss James Gunn has spent some time Tuesday responding to fan questions on Threads. In one of the inquiries, a fan asked if more DCU announcements would take place either at San Diego Comic-Con or during a livestream.

"Those are our only two choices?" Gunn responded, hinting announcements could surface through means other than a Hall H panel or social media video.

Post by @jamesgunn

View on Threads

The fan question comes just days after Warner Bros. boss David Zaslav teased impending announcements regarding the franchise, though he didn't set a clear timetable on more announcements.

"I've had a glimpse into what James and Peter are doing, and it really does serve as an exciting indicator of where the new DC is headed under their leadership," Zaslav said in the company's latest earnings call. "There'll be more you'll hear from them in the months ahead...We'll have James and Peter take you through in the next few months a full spectrum of what they see over the next 10 years."

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

"It's not an origin story," DC Studios co-head Peter Safran told reporters last year. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

The DC Universe officially kicks off with Creature Commandos, which has yet to set a release date, and Superman: Legacy, which enters theaters July 11, 2025.

What part of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters excites you most? Let us know your thoughts either in the comments section or by hitting our writer @AdamBarnhardt up on Twitter!

Halle Berry is letting social media "rediscover" one of her most epic moments in the movie business: the speech she gave at the Razzie Awards after winning the "Worst Actress" award for Catwoman at the 25th Razzie Awards in 2004.

Berry had just won the Oscar for "Best Actress" in 2002 for her performance in Marc Forster's Monster's Ball, before taking on the role of (wait for it) "Patience Phillips," the version of Catwoman created for director Pitof's 2004 superhero movie - which had nothing to do with Batman, Selina Kyle, or any DC lore outside of an Easter egg photo of Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman from Batman Returns. Instead of becoming a major superhero franchise star, Halle Berry saw her career stumble out of its 2000s heyday of X-Men, Bond girl franchise stardom and Oscars glory; she would give solid performances in hit-or-miss projects for years thereafter. At the very least, Berry got a whopping $12.5 million payday for doing Catwoman - and despite it stlll being regarded as one of the worst comic book movies ever made, Catwoman has aged into being appreciated as ironic cringe, and comes with the now-standard Film Twitter apologists.

More than anything: no one can argue at this point that Halle Berry's Catwoman was one of the hottest superhero characters we've seen onscreen - or that the actress didn't handle the "infamy" around the film like a total champ. Case in point:

WATCH: Halle Berry's Epic Razzie Awards Speech for Catwoman

"I never in my life thought that I would be up here, winning a Razzie! It's not like I ever aspired to be here, but thank you," Berry says at the start of the speech, mockingly recreating her emotional winning speech at the Oscars. "When I was a kid, my mother told me that if you could not be a good loser, then there's no way you could be a good winner."

"I've got so many people to thank because you don't win a Razzie without a lot of help from a lot of people." Berry continued, in clear winking sarcasm. "First of all, I want to thank Warner Brothers, for putting me in a piece-of-sh*t, godawful movie. It was just what my career needed! I was at the top, and then Catwoman just plummeted me to the bottom. Love it! It's hard being on top. It's much better being on the bottom."

While Halley Berry cut the clip of her speech of there in the Twitter X post, the actual speech went to a much sharper place. Berry actually called out her manager at the time, Vincent Cirrincione, as the reason she had to do Catwoman:

"I want to thank my manager Vincent Cirrincione. This guy loves me. He loves me so much that he convinces me to do projects even when he knows they're sh*t! That's how much he really loves me. My only advice to you is next time I do a movie, if I get a chance to do another movie, maybe you should read the script. Just counting the zeros behind the one really isn't enough. You really have to read the script. I love you, man. Love you."

Cirrincione closed his agency in 2018 after receiving multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against several women. Halle Berry soon after revealed in a public statement that tshe had broken off her 25-year working relationship with Cirrincione years prior due to hearing allegations from other women in the industry about his conduct.

Given all the circumstances surrounding it, it's even more comforting to see that Halle Berry can now look at Catwoman and laugh with so many of us about it.

Catwoman (2004) is currently streaming on Max and Amazon Prime Video.

James Gunn and Peter Safran are confirmed to be resetting the DC Universe, debuting a string of movies and Max-exclusive television shows in the next few years. The first cinematic venture for the new DCU will be Superman: Legacy, which is written and directed by Gunn and is set to begin production in the very near future. In a recent post on Threads, Gunn set the record straight on one new reported aspect of Superman: Legacy -- its potential filming budget. A report from BizJournals.com suggested that the film's production budget is $364 million, which would be the second-most-expensive superhero movie of all time after only Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Gunn confirmed that the report does not accurately reflect Superman: Legacy's budget at all, writing "Absolutely not. ? How in the world do they think they know what our budget is?"

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

"We got James Gunn and Peter (Safran) working very hard on DC, which is going to be a very big growth driver for this company," Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav explained last year. "We are very bullish on DC. The Superman script first draft is done. Gunn is on a mission from god. It is a really good moment to prove out on DC what we got and how strong it is globally for long-term sustainable growth."

Who Will Star in Superman: Legacy?

Superman: Legacy will star David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Terence Rosemore as Otis, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho.

"We've been having a lot of great conversations, David and I, with James Gunn, the director," Brosnahan revealed in a recent interview. "We've been talking a lot about where this project fits into the canon of the Supermans that we know. So hopefully, this'll be... we'll be putting our own stamp on things."

When Will Superman: Legacy Be Released?

Superman: Legacy is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025, with Gunn previously confirming that the film will not be delayed due to last year's Hollywood strikes.

"It may seem far away to many of you, but it's close to me!" Gunn previously wrote of the release date on social media. "We have a lot to do between now and then. But I haven't been more excited about a project in forever... and this cast, slowly coming together... holy cow..."

Are you excited for Superman: Legacy to begin production? What do you think of James Gunn's new comments about the film's budget? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

It's now been over a year since James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled the first few projects that'd make up the new DC Universe. From Superman: Legacy to a Booster Gold series, Swamp Thing film, and everything in between, it's been said the first unveil is only a segment of DC Universe Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. Now, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav says fans can expect to find out more details about the franchise much sooner than initially thought.

"I've had a glimpse into what James and Peter are doing, and it really does serve as an exciting indicator of where the new DC is headed under their leadership," Zaslav said in the company's latest earnings call. "There'll be more you'll hear from them in the months ahead...We'll have James and Peter take you through in the next few months a full spectrum of what they see over the next 10 years."

According to Gunn and Safran, they expect the first two chapters of the DCU to last between eight to 10 years. Judging by Zaslav's comments, that means fans could theoretically find out the remaining shows and movies part of Chapter 1 and the entirety of Chapter 2 yet this year.

"A lot of people think it's going to be Marvel 2.0, and definitely I learned a lot of stuff at Marvel. I think that we have a lot of differences," Gunn explained at a press event last January. "We are telling a big, huge, central story that is like Marvel, except for, I think that we're a lot more planned out than Marvel from the beginning because we've gotten a group of writers together to work that story out completely. But we're also creating a universe that is like Star Wars, where there's different times, different places, different things, or Game of Thrones, where characters are a little bit more morally complex."

The DC Universe officially kicks off with Creature Commandos, which has yet to set a release date, and Superman: Legacy, which enters theaters July 11, 2025.

What part of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters excites you most? Let us know your thoughts either in the comments section or by hitting our writer @AdamBarnhardt up on Twitter!

James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe is on the horizon, with 2025's Superman: Legacy expected to reignite the modern DC franchise. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the DCU has cast another of its flagship heroes, with House of the Dragon star Millie Alcock set to play Kara Zor-El / Supergirl. Alcock's Supergirl will star in her own live-action solo film, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which reportedly begins filming later this year. During Warner Bros. Discovery's recent quarterly earnings call, CEO David Zaslav very briefly commented on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and teased that other characters are being cast for the project.

"As I've said, we've really targeted DC," Zaslav explained. "We have Superman [and] Supergirl -- great script has been written and that's being cast."

Who Is DC's Supergirl?

Created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino in 1959's Action Comics #252, Kara Zor-El is the cousin of Clark Kent / Superman, who is also sent to Earth from their dying home planet, Krypton. Shortly after her debut, Supergirl appeared in a backup strip in Action Comics, and became a public-facing superhero beginning in 1962. She made an array of comic appearances -- including a 23-issue solo series -- leading up to 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, in which she was killed off in an effort to streamline continuity. The mantle of Supergirl was held by multiple women in the years to follow, including Linda Danvers, Cir-El, and eventually Kara herself when she was brought back to life in 2004.

Supergirl has been portrayed onscreen a number of times over the years, across film, television, and animated projects. In live-action, she has been played by Helen Slater in the 1984 film Supergirl, Laura Vandervoort in later seasons of Smallville, Melissa Benoist on the Arrowverse's Supergirl television series, and Sasha Calle in last year's The Flash movie.

Who Is Writing Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow?

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow does not have a release date or a director attached, but it has been confirmed that Ana Nogueira is writing the film's script. Nogueira was actually previously attached to write an earlier incarnation of a Supergirl movie, which would have starred Calle and spun directly out of the events of this year's The Flash movie. According to the reports, even though Nogueira's previous version of the movie was scrapped, Gunn and Safran liked her work and gave her an overall DC writing deal.

"A hearty public welcome to Ana Nogueira to the DC Studios family," Gunn stated on social media last year. "Ana is an amazing writer whose screenplay adaptation of Woman of Tomorrow is above and beyond anything I hoped it would be. We're excited to be moving forward on this unique take on Supergirl in this beautiful, star-spanning tale."

Are you excited for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow? What do you think of David Zaslav's new comments? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Ramona Fradon, comics artist best known for co-creating Metamorpho with writer Bob Haney as well as her long-running work on Aquaman, has died. She was 97 years old. Fradon's death was announced by comic book art dealer Catskill Comics -- which had also announced Fradon's retirement last month -- on Facebook.

"It comes with great sadness to announce that Ramona Fradon has passed away a few moments ago," the post reads. "Ramona was 97 and had a long career in the comic book industry and was still drawing just a few days ago. She was a remarkable person in so many ways. I will miss the great conversations and laughs we had. I am blessed that I was able to work with her on a professional level, but also able to call her my friend. If anyone who wishes to send a card to the family, please feel free to send them to Catskill Comics and I'll be happy to pass them along."

Fradon was born October 2, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in New York City where she graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1950 and, in 1951, was hired by DC Comics. She began her work on Aquaman that year, going on to co-create both Aqualad and Metamorpho, the latter of which is set to make their live action debut in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy. Fradon briefly left comics in 1965 to raise her daughter but returned to DC in 1972.

In addition to her work with DC, Fradon drew an issue of Fantastic Four for Marvel and in 1980 took over as lead artist on the comic strip "Brenda Starr, Reporter" where she worked until 1995 when she retired. However, even in retirement Fradon continued working, shifting to commissioned art, which she continued doing until she announced her retirement from that in January of this year.

"After an extremely long run in the comic industry, at 97 Ramona has decided it's time for her to retire," Catskill Comics shared in January about Fradon's retirement. "She will no longer be doing commissions. She apologizes to all the fans who have been waiting patiently on her wait list to get one. She did say though from time to time she'll do a drawing or two to put up for sale on the website."

Our thoughts are with Fradon's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been out for a few weeks now, and while it might be a bit early to judge the game's performance, it seems things aren't off to a great start. On Warner Bros. Discovery's fourth quarter earnings call, company CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels discussed the gaming side of the business. Wiedenfels noted the strong performance of Hogwarts Legacy, and how that resulted in a positive first quarter for the current fiscal year. By comparison, Suicide Squad sales are off to a slow start, and that could make it very hard for Q1 2024.

"We are lapping the release of Hogwarts Legacy in February last year, which saw the largest portion of its very positive financial impact in the first quarter," said Wiedenfels. "This year, Suicide Squad, one of our key video game releases in 2024, has fallen short of our expectations since its release earlier in the quarter, setting our games business up for a tough year-over-year comp in Q1."

Steam Problems

While the struggles of Suicide Squad are disappointing to see, they aren't all that surprising. The game's concurrent player numbers on Steam have been dismal. According to SteamDB, Kill the Justice League's launch day concurrent player numbers hit a high of 12,667, which is less than half the players Marvel's Avengers attracted on its opening day in 2020. The numbers got a little better for Suicide Squad that weekend, hitting a high of 13,459. Unfortunately, that number has been dropping like a stone since; the game's current high for this weekend is just 968 players.

All of this bodes pretty poorly for Suicide Squad's future, and fans are already fearing the worst. Marvel's Avengers proved to be a huge commercial failure for publisher Square Enix, and likely played a role in the selling of developer Crystal Dynamics. It's impossible to predict what will happen with Rocksteady if Suicide Squad continues on this path, but fans can hardly be blamed for worrying.

Why is Suicide Squad Struggling?

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was developed by a fan favorite studio, it takes place in the beloved Arkham universe, and features one of the last performances of Batman actor Kevin Conroy. All of these factors should have helped generate interest, but the game simply isn't what fans were hoping to see. The previous Arkham games were single-player action/adventure games with strong narratives. Suicide Squad dropped those elements in favor of an online, team-based game with live-service elements. It's a formula that simply didn't work for games like Marvel's Avengers, and it's not surprising it isn't working here either. It's still early, and it's possible things could eventually turn around, but things aren't looking good right now.

How do you feel about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? Do you think the game is dying a quick death? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Video Games Chronicle]

2024 is proving to be a big year for DC's Dreamer. Last year, the eagerly anticipated graphic novel, Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story was given a release date and then, soon after that, DC announced that the character would be taking up a major role on an even large stage with the arrival of a new Suicide Squad ongoing series, Suicide Squad: Dream Team, which will see Dreamer/Nia Nal front and center of a new Task Force X. But it's not just a big year for Dreamer; both Bad Dream and Suicide Squad: Dream Team are written by Nicole Maines, who brought Nia Nal to life on The CW's Supergirl, blazing a trail as the first transgender superhero on television before bringing the character to the pages of DC.

Ahead of the arrival of Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 on March 12th and Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story on April 2nd, ComicBook.com spoke with Maines about the next chapter in Dreamer's journey as well as her own in taking the character from screen to page.

ComicBook.com: The last time we spoke it was for Nia's Lazarus Planet experience and now she's tangled up with the Suicide Squad. This feels like a huge evolution for the character. Where is Nia as we walk into this much bigger stage?

Nicole Maines: This whole things sort of kicked off during the Beast World event when she and Jon Kent teamed up to evacuate the alien district of Metropolis and she helped bring them all back to Parthas, her hometown which is a secret alien refugee site where they would be safe and we have the Blue Earth movement going around with all their anti-alien crap, so she was like, let's give them a safe place to evacuate to. And during the course of those events, Amanda Waller became privy to Dreamer and to Parthas and is now using that as a bargaining chip. So, as we open on the Suicide Squad, we find Dreamer, who has been running missions for Amanda and growing tired of the lesser of two evils narrative that Amanda Waller subscribes to.

There's a moment in the issue that jumps out to me as cementing the idea that we're at a turning point for Dreamer -- it's the line 'do you really think your time as a hero is best spent playing Whack a Mole". What's kind of going on in Dreamer's head at this point because this really does feel like it is do or die.

It's difficult for her because, and you put it perfectly, on this much bigger stage. She is still this inexperienced 18-year-old girl who never thought she was going to have these powers, who doesn't really know how to use these powers, and she's doing her best to live up to the legacy set by her dearly departed mother. But she doesn't know how and so she's doing the best that she can and given the information that she has and what she sees in her visions, she's trying to use her best judgment and she's trying to do the right thing and protect the most people. It's a turning point for the character because that is sort of Dreamer's whole mission and seeing the future, it's, you know, go after the big target, don't, like, little hero of the week or whatever. If you see what's coming down the pipe you have a responsibility to stop it. It's very see something, say something but yeah. Amanda Waller.

You're getting to take on some truly iconic DC characters in this, Waller, Harley Quinn.

A lot of people I've seen online have been like, 'oh, it's gonna be a Harley Quinn story' or they're like, 'oh, it's a backdoor Dreamer story' and I'm like, wrong. Amanda Waller is the main character here, make no mistake. I'm having a blast writing Amanda. She's awesome.

How do you prepare for that? Amanda Waller is a really layered character when you really dig into her. How do you even approach this?

I think the most important part for me was making sure especially as we're moving into this new territory with her where she's really becoming this major villain within the DC Universe, I wanted to make sure that we allotted some amount of time to not reestablishing or reaffirming, but I think reminding people that she's just a human woman who has had a life. She's loved and she's lost. Everything she does comes from a place of hurt and a place of fear and desperate desire for control. I think the thing that interested me the most about her when I first started thinking about this were the similarities between her and Dreamer. They're both women who, through Amanda's position and through Dreamer's powers, have both seen the world come very close to ending a lot of times. And while Dreamer is in a position where she's like apologizing for her power, and she's trying not to abuse it, Amanda has no problem being like 'yeah, I have put myself in a position where I have a tremendous amount of power. I would be stupid not to abuse it.'

In the issue you actually talk about that. Waller calls out how similar they are and Dreamer is like 'no, we're not". I thought that was interesting. We're getting to see two sides of very much the same coin.

Accurate. One hundred percent they are. And that was intentional to make these two women feel like two sides of the same coin because a whole arc for Dreamer over this series is going to be 'do I subscribe to Amanda Waller's line of thinking to defeat this person to save the future or do I have to adopt this sort of greater good, break a few eggs to make an omelet mentality. She's kind of been stumbling around in this kind of idealistic young way and I think the nature of her powers and the situation she finds herself in is kind of demanding, like 'hey girl, you need to reevaluate some stuff and you need to decide what you want to do. Is your definition of being a hero going to save the day or does that need to change?' And that's true for everybody on the Squad.

It's going to be a wild ride.

I'm excited about this series because it really is looking at what is a hero. How do you act as a hero within the confines of something like the Suicide Squad? We're seeing that with Harley, we're seeing that with Deadeye, we're seeing that with Dreamer, Bizarro, less with Clock King. And Black Alice has reached a point post Lazarus Planet that is complete nihilism so it's sort of we have the full range of how do you be a hero. Do you even want to be a hero? Is there even a point and you know, sort of weighing the consequences of going against an oppressive force.

This is juxtaposed, for me, against Bad Dream. You've promised that we would get more of Dreamer's backstory, even when you were on Supergirl and brought her to life. Now we get that more. What's it been like for you to finally get here?

I started the process of the graphic novel in 2020. This was my pandemic baby. Bad Dream is so special because that was the passion project that was so much like blood, sweat and tears went into that and the writing.

I started, I went in with a plan and somewhere around Act Two, the entire thing fell apart and it just became a situation of I'm just going to write the thing as it comes. Dreamer, especially on the show, we didn't really get to dig into her backstory and now with the comics not being tied to the Arrowverse, I was free to kind of go in whatever direction I wanted. I think the thing that I was most excited about was getting to decide first of all what Parthas looked like, what that felt like and also Naltor. What rules do they have? What was that like for the people who defended it? With her mother, giving her a little bit more of a backstory and a history aside from oh yes, she very wise. She's been through things. She's broken some rules and it is not without consequence that she's here on Earth. It was just really fun to kind of get to flesh out what Dreamer's world looks like.

These stories are kind of leaning heavily on each other. Not a spoiler because her mother's death happened on Supergirl. But she has these flashbacks to all the failures in her life that are her fault and that's the thing about Bad Dream. We can say oh poor baby, sweetie, oh this wasn't your fault. It 100 percent was. We get why she did the things that she did, but it is her fault her mother is dead. And that's just something she has to live with and something she has to try to atone for so now, finding herself on Suicide Squad is the worst-case scenario.

What I love about Bad Dream is that we're not getting like on Supergirl where we meet her and she gets these powers as an adult. It's a completely different type of character arc to develop these powers as a teenager and experience a trauma and then still be a teenager trying to apply these powers and healing.

She has the training wheels on, she's like trying to do a triathlon on a training bike and everyone's faster and she's like 'I'm just afraid". And I think that's the thing people have to remember as the stories are unfolding. She's doing her best to put on the hero front and trying to remain in control of the situation. This is scary stuff for anybody, especially a teenager. And she so desperately wants to do the right thing and is right away confronted with oh no, I messed up and I enabled something terrible and it just gets worse. She just kind of hits every single thing on the way down. But it transforms her into what Paul Kaminski and I were talking about when we first started talking about this. He was like, 'I really want to see Dreamer as this Sarah Connor character.' And that's kind of what she becomes here.

You've had this very unique experience where you have gotten to take Dreamer and shepherd this character through two versions and really create her whole cloth. What is this like for you? If you went back to talk to the Nicole who was just cast as Dreamer, what would you say to her?

First of all, I'd be like 'girl, you have no idea how big a part of your life this character becomes.' When I got cast, I was 20 and came at a point in my life when there was so much, like, I was in such a transition period that I sort of came of age along with this character. And I think she and I kind of became entwined in a way that is very profound and hard for me to describe.

This character just means a lot to a lot of people. I just want to see her do cool stuff. And I'm excited to see her in the comics. It just keeps getting better and better and it's just like something that I never would have imagined and she has grown into this character that is so much bigger than I thought likely. I'm just really grateful that I've had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people who have said yes.

What do you hope people take away from both Bad Dream and Suicide Squad: Dream Team?

I want people to come away with either a new love for Dreamer or a reinvigorated love for Dreamer. I just want people to come away with more of a demand for this character. I want people to be like, 'yes, we love this. We love her, we love what she does. We love what she can do. We want to see her go more places.' I want to see what happens next in the story of Dreamer. It's interesting that Bad Dream and Suicide Squad are coming out at the same time because Bad Dream is like her start of everything and her origin and Suicide Squad is where we are now and in stark contrast.

Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 arrives on March 12th. Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story arrives April 2nd.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Invincible creator Robert Kirkman has weighed in on the debate on who would win in a fight between Omni-Man and Superman! Fans have been debating Omni-Man's strength and power levels within the Invincible world alone for a long time, but these debates have only picked up steam thanks to the success of the animated series. With Invincible Season 2 returning for its final episodes later this Spring, Invincible fans have started to wonder once more which powerful heroes Omni-Man could defeat in a fight. This usually leads to a debate that wonders whether Omni-Man could take down Superman in a one on one fight.

Invincible creator Robert Kirkman was asked about this debate and his thoughts on Omni-Man vs. Superman during IGN Fan Fest 2024, and cheekily noted that he was trying avoid stirring the pot with fans while noting that Omni-Man "would easily" defeat Superman, "That discussion usually ends with people on the internet mad at me because I say that Superman is lame and that Omni-Man would easily beat Superman. So I didn't want to say that again and get people mad at me all over again. Even though it's true!"

Invincible Season 2 Episode 5 Release Date

During the same conversation, Kirkman also dashed hopes of a potential Spider-Man cameo during Invincible Season 2 much like their crossover in the comics, "Would that we could pull the powers of Amazon and Disney and Marvel and everybody together!" Kirkman joked. "Wouldn't that be an amazing thing? But I wouldn't count on it. And that's not a tease." Thankfully it won't be too much longer until we get to see more of the season as Invincible Season 2 returns with Episode 5 on March 14th with new episodes releasing weekly after.

Prime Video teases what to expect from Invincible Season 2 as a whole as such, "Based on the groundbreaking comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, the story revolves around 18-year-old Mark Grayson, who's just like every other guy his age--except his father is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Still reeling from Nolan's betrayal in Season One, Mark struggles to rebuild his life as he faces a host of new threats, all while battling his greatest fear - that he might become his father without even knowing it. "

Who do you think wins the fight between Omni-Man and Superman? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

HT - IGN

The Justice League might be headed back to the movies -- but with a catch. A new report from The InSneider suggests that DC Studios is developing The Jurassic League, the 2022 DC comic miniseries from Daniel Warren Johnson and Juan Gedeon, as an animated movie. As the title suggests, The Jurassic League is an Elseworlds title outside of the main DC continuity, in which the universe's heroes and villains are dinosaurs.

According to the report, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn will executive produce Jurassic League, with Minions and Secret Life of Pets writer Brian Lynch writing the script. Gunn and DC Studios have not officially confirmed or denied the report.

Who Are DC's Jurassic League?

2022's Jurassic League reimagined the heroes and villains of the DC universe as anthropomorphic dinosaurs. In the series, the Trinity, alongside a league of other super-powered dinosaurs, join forces to save a prehistoric Earth from the sinister machinations of Darkseid. Wait ... what? Okay, maybe you don't know the story. So join us and bear witness to a brand-new - yet older than time - adventure and experience the Justice League as you have never seen them before! The events of the series have since been officially canonized in the DC Multiverse as Earth-27. This report comes as the Jurassic League are set to cross over with Booster Gold (another character confirmed for Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU) in May's Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13.

"Jurassic League is all I want to draw: dinos and epic fights," Gedeon revealed when the series was first announced. "My own version of a 90s cartoon or videogame. Expect a story about survival, unity and hope where the strong protect the weak in a world where danger lurks in every corner."

"It's been an absolute pleasure to join Juan Gideon in creating a new world for DC, complete with dinos, cavemen, and extinction level events," Johnson echoed. "Batsuar suplexes a Joker dilophosaurus, you're welcome!"

What Is on the DC Universe Slate?

It has already been confirmed that the initial DC Studios slate for "Gods and Monsters" will include movies for Superman: Legacy, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Swamp Thing, and The Authority. It will include the HBO Max television shows Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and an animated Creature Commandos series.

"If you look at the MCU, there are very few traditional superheroes," Gunn previously said of the DCU's approach. "There was never a guy with a secret identity until Spider-Man in the MCU. Their Cap was turned into a soldier even though he wears a mask. Iron Man outed himself at the end of the first Iron Man because they don't want to deal with the whole secret identity stuff. But there is a bit more of a fantasy element to DCU, because there are these larger-than-life superheroes and for me, there's Superman and Clark Kent. They're two different characters, and you have to find a way to deal with them that's as grounded as possible within this world of DC. One of the things that I love about DC, that excites me about DC, is that in a way it's another alternate history. It is Gotham City and Metropolis and Star City and Bludhaven, and all these different places in this other reality, and it makes it a little bit like Westeros in some ways. I love it in that way. I love that we get to create true worldbuilding in DC, it isn't just 'we're throwing some superheroes on Earth.' I think right now, that's one of the key differences."

What do you think of DC Studios reportedly developing a Jurassic League animated movie? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Over the years, Catwoman has taken on many different roles in the DC Universe, operating as a villain, a hero, and everything in between. The recent Catwoman ongoing series has continued to add to Selina Kyle's lore in some unexpected ways -- and in the series' latest issue, that involved giving her a set of superpowers commonly associated with a completely different corner of DC canon. Spoilers for Catwoman #62 from Tini Howard, Carmine di Giandomenico, Veronica Gandini, and Lucas Gattoni below! Only look if you want to know!

The issue largely follows Selina in a brief stint joining the Suicide Squad, utilizing one of her extra lives to help make good on a debt she has owed to Amanda Waller. Catwoman her teammates are tasked with stealing an artifact from Black Adam in Khandaq -- which gets complicated when she finds her way towards a locked vault. In it, Selina is greeted by Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats, who promises to guide her on her future journeys. Bastet is flanked by a group of cats named Sobek, Hut, Ankh, Zoser, Aten, and Mau, which just so happens to spell out Shazam!. Later in the issue, when Selina is being accosted by Waller, she calls out the word Shazam! and gets the power to escape. While it's unclear exactly how long Selina will have these Shazam! powers going forward, they definitely add a new layer to her current globe-trotting quest.

What Are Catwoman's New Superpowers?

In addition to the power of Shazam!, the "Nine Lives" arc has explored Selina getting extra lives from Bastet, in the aftermath of last year's Gotham War crossover event.

"Comics thrive on team-ups. Whether it's a team of creators or a heroic partnership, all of my favorite stories are about two strong personalities and the space between them," Howard previously said of that event. "On the page, we've got one of comics' greatest love stories: the world's greatest detective and the world's greatest criminal. And they both love Gotham City. But the course of true love never did run smooth."

Who Is Writing Shazam!?

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that writer Josie Campbell and artist Emanuela Lupacchino will be taking over the main Shazam! title, with its current creative team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora shifting focus to the upcoming Absolute Power summer event. Campbell and Lupacchino's Shazam! run will begin with April's Shazam! #10.

"Moving Day!" the synopsis for Shazam! #10 reads. "After destroying the family home during an epic battle with Black Adam, Billy has hired the gods who grant him his powers to rebuild it. What surprises await the Shazam Family as they enter their new abode?"

What do you think of Catwoman getting her own version of Shazam!'s superpowers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Catwoman #62 is now available wherever comics are sold.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League got its second big update this week which introduced a number of bugfixes and tweaked the rewards that players got from certain missions and actions, but it seems the update also introduced another problem that's blocking players from loading into Metropolis. The issue appears to be tied to a certain type of mission as explained by Rocksteady which means there's some progress there regarding fixing the issue, but the devs don't yet know what's causing it, and therefore, and update to resolve the problem has not yet been released.

Rocksteady acknowledged the issue on socials that deals with Incursion missions and loading into Metropolis. No ETA was provided regarding when the update will be fixed, and now that we're moving into the weekend, it's unlikely it'll get resolved until next week if it's not fixed by tonight, but Rocksteady said it'll have more to share with players when that info is available.

"This week we dropped our second patch for the game with the intention of squashing an initial set of bugs. While we managed to do that, we have received reports of a new issue that blocks progress while loading the Metropolis map after an Incursion mission. We are currently investigating the cause of this issue and we will provide you with an update as soon as we can."

The update in question was released on February 21st with the acknowledgment of the issue shared on February 23rd, so some players were quick to point out that they've been experiencing the problem since the update dropped. In a post accompanying this tweet, Rocksteady said that it started looking into the reports of the issue as soon as they started coming in.

Hi Task Force X,
This week we dropped our second patch for the game with the intention of squashing an initial set of bugs. While we managed to do that, we have received reports of a new issue that blocks progress while loading the Metropolis map after an Incursion mission. We...

-- Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (@suicidesquadRS) February 23, 2024

Some have also alleged that the same update made the game perform worse overall, so for some Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League players, this is just one of several problems.

"It didn't manage to squash the bugs it set out to fix at all. What are they talking about??" one player said. "All they did is make the game worse."

However, if you still plan on dong Incursion missions regardless of there being an issue with them, there may be a temporary workaround that'll let you keep playing those. A Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League player on Reddit said that they'd disabled the game's crossplay feature when playing on Xbox, and that doing so had apparently made Incursion missions run just fine without getting blocked off from Metropolis afterwards.

The post from Rocksteady mentioned previously also addressed some of the other issues the devs are looking into. You can read up more on those here.

James Gunn and DC Studios will start filming Superman: Legacy next week (February 26th - March 1st), according to the latest trade reports.

It certainly seemed like Superman: Legacy was ready to roll into production after Gunn posted a behind-the-scenes photo of the principal cast gathered together on the studio lot. That photo included the actors playing Lex Luthor's assistant Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), DC hero Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Superman/Clark (David Corenswet), Luthor henchman Otis (Terence Rosemore), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), producer Peter Safran, the new Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), DC hero Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), director James Gunn, Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and The Authority member The Engineer (Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a). Even though we didn't see him in the photo, James Gunn's brother Sean Gunn will be playing DC villain Maxwell Lord.

Superman: Legacy needs to be getting underway; the film is due out in theaters next summer, and given the obvious demand for extensive visual effects work, principal photography needs to be in the within six months, just to leave time for any necessary additional filming or reshoots, and post-production work.

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, "Superman: Legacy will tell the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned. Superman: Legacy will be written and directed by Gunn, and will serve as the first film installment of his and Peter Safran's DC Universe reboot."

"It's not an origin story," Safran previously stated. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

Behind the scenes, Gunn has tapped a crew of people he's worked with before, including cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

Superman: Legacy is expected in theaters on July 11, 2025.

While he didn't make his way into yesterday's cast photo, we have high hopes for Sean Gunn to redeem the character of Maxwell Lord in Superman: Legacy. The character's previous screen appearance was in Wonder Woman 1984, where he was played by Pedro Pacal and served as the central antagonist of the movie. In Legacy, it doesn't seem like he will have a huge role -- and that's probably good for the character himself. It's possible -- and we're hopeful -- Max won't be a villain at all, in fact...or at least not the straightforward kind of villain he played in both Wonder Woman 1984 and TV's Supergirl.

Originally created by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, Max Lord first appeared in 1987's Justice League #1, at the start of what we now know as the Giffen/DeMatteis (or "bwa-ha-hah") era of the title. In it, he was kind of a slimy '80s businessman, and yes there were a few stories where he leaned more evil than others...but his central role was as the complicated and jerky spokesperson for a version of the Justice League that was subject to human oversight and therefore had a lot more politics to worry about than it had in the past.

In the years since, DeMatteis has often talked about the fact that he's a little bummed Lord has become a mustache-twirling villain, and a Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire miniseries back in the mid-2000s even made fun of the decision to turn him evil.

(This isn't about Pascal, or even Wonder Woman 1984. It's about the fact that the character deserves to be more interesting than that.)

It was Geoff Johns's Countdown to Infinite Crisis and its many follow-ups that took Max from being kind of slimy to a murderer hated by the audience. In it, he not only murdered Blue Beetle Ted Kord, but also revealed that he had been working as a sleeper agent all along to keep the Justice League dumb and ineffective. It's that megalomaniacal version of Max that has dominated both comics and screen since...and it's a disservice to the character and to the great Giffen/DeMatteis years.

On the other hand, it's easy to imagine Sean Gunn doing something nuanced and interesting with Max. Look at what Gunn did in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, where his fairly one-dimensional comic relief character evolved into one of the most complex and likable characters in the MCU over the course of the films.

The fact that Legacy is shooting partially in Cincinnati -- and therefore fans are hoping we might see Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, and company at the Hall of Justice -- could theoretically give us a moment where we find out Max exists in the new DC Universe...in that original role, as the guy essentially holding the door and trying to con Superman into joining the team. And God, that would be an upgrade.

On top of all that, it could tie seamlessly into a popular fan theory that the JLI (Justice League International) could play a role in James Gunn's new DC Universe. So...let's go?

Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as the title character, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Reports emerged soon after the SAG-AFTRA strike wrapped up, suggesting that the movie is likely to start production in the spring, giving it about a year and a half from the first day of filming until its theatrical release. That's roughly in line with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, which started production in November of 2021 and was released in April of this year.

Little is known about the story of Superman: Legacy, other than that it will involve a version of Superman who is settled into his role as the world's protector, but who also has a network of allies to fall back on. Gotham's Anthony Carrigan is set to appear in the movie as Metamorpho, and other superheroes in the film include Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Superman's origin story, already shown in a number of prior film adaptations, won't take up a significant amount of real estate in Legacy, according to prior statements from Gunn.

Gunn is lining up some familiar talent on the project, with cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

Marvel and DC have shaped the landscape of superhero media in some massive ways, and some of their greatest collaborations yet are about to head back into print. Earlier this month, DC and Marvel announced plans to print two new omnibuses of their previous crossovers: DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. Both DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will be available at participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

Now, as part of DC's presentation at the ComicsPRO Comic Industry Conference, some of the collections' covers have been revealed. This includes art by George Perez for the Mass Market versions of DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, as well as the pencilled version of the Direct Market version of DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus from Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair.

What Is DC Versus Marvel Omnibus About?

Who would win: Superman versus Spider-Man? Batman versus Captain America? The X-Men meeting the Teen Titans? DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects crossovers between the core DC and Marvel characters, from 1976's Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000's Batman/Daredevil. Included are stories from some of comics' most revered talents, namely Dennis O'Neil, George P?rez, Dan Jurgens, Chris Claremont, Walter Simonson, J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Bagley, Gerry Conway, John Romita Jr., and more. DC and Marvel fans alike can't miss these thrilling pieces of unearthed comic book history!

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #1, Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1, Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1, Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #28, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Spider-Man and Batman #1, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, and Superman/Fantastic Four #1.

What Is DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus About?

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus features stories, first told in 1996, of the two superhero universes fused together into a new Amalgam Universe, combining DC's and Marvel's heroes, villains, and mythologies. The result was a series of unforgettable one-shot comic books starring the likes of Dark Claw (Batman and Wolverine), Super Soldier (Superman and Captain America), Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern), and many more! These stories, from creators such as Peter David, Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, Dave Gibbons, Ron Marz, Jos? Luis Garc?a-L?pez, Gary Frank, Bill Sienkiewicz, Claudio Castellini, and more, represent one of the most fun and unlikely periods in comic book history, and now are available in one omnibus. Included in this volume are the historic DC Versus Marvel miniseries and its sequels, perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel!

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus collects DC Versus Marvel #1-4, DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4, Unlimited Access #1-4, Bat-Thing #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, Iron Lantern #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1, Super Soldier #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, X-Patrol #1, and more, plus a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.

What do you think of these new DC and Marvel omnibus covers? Which one will you be picking up? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

As mentioned above, DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will both be released in participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

Production on Superman: Legacy is about to get underway, kicking off a whole new era of DC movies led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The live-action film has already been confirmed to feature a pretty surprising ensemble cast, encompassing both Superman supporting characters and deeper DC cuts. Gunn, who is directing and writing Superman: Legacy, recently took to social media to share a photo of the film's cast after their first official table read -- and in the process, he seems to have revealed another character. Gunn's photo includes Outer Banks and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 star Terence Rosemore, with his caption mentioning "Otis" as one of the film's characters.

Otis first appeared in Richard Donner's 1978 Superman film, as a henchman who works directly with Lex Luthor on his evil schemes. The character of Otis was subsequently folded into the main DC canon, appearing in the Superman Returns prequel comic and events like Forever Evil. Various versions of Otis have appeared elsewhere in projects like Smallville, Young Justice, Supergirl, and Superman & Lois. Otis is the second Superman: Legacy character to have previously debuted in the first Superman movie, after Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio).

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Who Will Star in Superman: Legacy?

Superman: Legacy will also star David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho.

"We've been having a lot of great conversations, David and I, with James Gunn, the director," Brosnahan revealed in a recent interview. "We've been talking a lot about where this project fits into the canon of the Supermans that we know. So hopefully, this'll be... we'll be putting our own stamp on things."

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

'It couldn't be more of an honor," production designer Beth Mickle explained in an interview last year. "I'm very happy. We're all very excited to be a part of the team. We're very lucky that he comes with a crystal clear vision of what he wants his movies to be. And that's not often the case. A lot of times you're really finding it, or a lot of times a production designer and the costume designer find it for the director. But he comes always with a brilliant first draft of the script, which is also very rare, and a really clear idea of how the movie's going to be shot, what he wants it to feel like," she continued. "He has strong references. He has fantastical musical references, and he's really articulate about it. He really lays out this wonderful roadmap for my team and me and the other creative departments to follow.

Are you excited for Superman: Legacy? How do you feel about Otis appearing in the movie? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Superman: Legacy is scheduled to be released exclusively in theaters on July 11, 2025.

2022's The Batman was easily one of the most buzzed-about DC films in recent memory, offering a surprising standalone take on the Dark Knight's iconic mythos. A sequel to the saga, titled The Batman Part II, has been greenlit and confirmed for a fall 2025 release date, and fans are eagerly awaiting any sort of hint at what the film will bring. In a recent interview with Variety's Award Circuit Podcast, Jim Gordon actor Jeffrey Wright joked that although the world might want a breakdown of The Batman Part II's plot, he is actually still waiting on a script from director and co-writer Matt Reeves.

"Here's the beginning, middle, and end laid out for you," Wright joked, before revealing, "I have not read the script. I have not received the script. I'm waiting patiently. But I'll tell you what? As soon as I get it, I'll call you. I'll send a copy right over to you. On the off chance that Matt Reeves hears this, the hairs on the back of his neck are going to stand up."

What Is The Batman Sequel About?

Plot details regarding The Batman Part II are currently a mystery, although it is expected to feature the return of Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, and more of the original film's cast.

"I mean, I can't give an update on that in terms of specifics, except to tell you that we are hard at work on the script," Reeves told ComicBook.com in an interview last year. "My partner and I are deep in it and I'm excited about what we're going to do."

Is The Batman Part II in the New DCU?

It has already been confirmed that The Batman Part II will be operating as a DC Elseworlds project, separate from James Gunn and Peter Safran's upcoming DC Universe of movies and Max-exclusive television shows.

"Matt is working on [The] Batman 2, which he thinks of it as a Batman crime saga, which also includes The Penguin TV series," Gunn previously said when asked about the project. "And it is its own thing, and he's hard at work on that. He came in and pitched us some amazing, really cool stuff the other day. Our plan is for that to continue."

Is The Batman Getting a Spinoff?

In addition to the proper sequel, the saga of The Batman is set to be expanded upon with The Penguin, a Max-exclusive series centered around Colin Farrell's The Penguin. The series is confirmed to be making its debut on the streaming platform at some point in 2024, with an ensemble cast that also includes Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone, Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni, as well as Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Deirdre O'Connell.

"I don't know that it's necessarily tentpole fatigue as much as it is a sameness of storytelling," HBO executive Casey Bloys explained in a recent appearance. "I think the key, even within DC, is trying to tell different stories in different styles, to not try to do the same show over and over and over again. I would say Peacemaker is a very different show tonally than The Penguin. So, there's not a uniformity to the storytelling and I think that helps. Unfortunately, Marvel, as good as their shows are, there's probably been a lot of them. That's one of the advantages we have at Warner Bros. is it's not just one set of stories. There's a lot of stories you can go to."

Are you excited for The Batman Part II? What do you think of Jeffrey Wright's new comments? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

The Batman Part II is currently scheduled to debut in theaters on October 3, 2025.

DC is about to shake up the comic book industry once again. On Thursday, as part of their presentation at the ComicsPRO Comic Industry Conference, DC announced plans to move back to a Wednesday release schedule for their new weekly comics. This move will take effect on Wednesday, July 3rd, and will only affect single issues. New collected editions and graphic novels from DC will still be released on Tuesdays.

DC initially pivoted to Tuesday from the industry standard of Wednesday in 2020, amid supply chain disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. That initial decision also came amid the company's distribution move from Diamond Comics to Lunar Distribution and Penguin Random House, with other publishers like Marvel and IDW soon following suit.

What Is DC's Summer 2024 Event?

Also announced at ComicsPRO, this summer will bring the launch of Absolute Power, a new event miniseries shepherded by writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora, who have partnered on DC series such as Batman / Superman: World's Finest and Shazam!.

Absolute Power shows how Amanda Waller will use the strategic and military might of Failsafe and the otherworldly technology of the Brainiac Queen to steal all metahuman abilities from every super hero and super-villain around the globe, a threat so dire it will take the combined efforts of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Super Heroes of the DC Universe to defeat it.

Absolute Power will kick off with DC's Free Comic Book Day book, which will be available in participating comic shops on Saturday, May 4th. 2024 Absolute Power Free Comic Book Day Special Edition will be a 32-page comic featuring an original 12-page story by Waid with art by Mikel Jan?n, as well as a preview of Absolute Power's first issue. It will be followed by Absolute Power: Ground Zero, an official prelude that will debut in June and bridge the shocking conclusion of the Superman story "House of Brainiac" with Amanda Waller's machinations.

Is DC Reprinting the Amalgam Universe?

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that DC and Marvel will be joining forces to print two new omnibuses of their previous crossovers: DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. Both DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will be available at participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

As the title suggests, DC Versus Marvel Omnibus will reprint a number of iconic issues originally co-published by both DC and Marvel, which have united some of their characters and teams over the years. DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, meanwhile, will reprint portions of the fan-favorite Amalgam Universe, which fused DC and Marvel's characters into some surprising combinations. Many of these stories have been out of print and hard to find for decades. This is the second time in recent years that DC and Marvel have joined forces to reprint a beloved crossover, after a limited run of JLA/Avengers with the help of Hero Initiative, to celebrate legendary creator George Perez.

What do you think of DC moving its New Comic Book Day back to Wednesdays? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

James Gunn's Superman: Legacy has plans to film in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, according to the Ohio Department of Development. Those two particular cities have history with the Man of Steel, and already have fans wondering whether certain buildings might show up in the movie. Why? Well, for starters, Superman was actually created in Cleveland, where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster lived growing up. A trip to the Siegel house could be a great, emotional moment for hardcore fans, even if that's less likely than the Cleveland skyline just standing in for Metropolis. The city's big skyscrapers but somewhat generic look have allowed it to stand in for plenty of other cities onscreen, including New York in parts of Marvel's The Avengers.

The production, codenamed "Genesis," will take advantage of tax credits offered in the state, as reported by several sources including The Superman Homepage. And, of course, it isn't just Cleveland that has fans intrigued.

The Cincinnati Union Terminal building is an architectural gem -- and served as the visual inspiration for the Hall of Justice in Super Friends. An edited version of the building was used in the Arrowverse for exterior shots of its own Hall of Justice in the "Invasion!" and "Crisis on Infinite Earths" events.

Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as the title character, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Reports emerged soon after the SAG-AFTRA strike wrapped up, suggesting that the movie is likely to start production in the spring, giving it about a year and a half from the first day of filming until its theatrical release. That's roughly in line with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, which started production in November of 2021 and was released in April of this year.

Little is known about the story of Superman: Legacy, other than that it will involve a version of Superman who is settled into his role as the world's protector, but who also has a network of allies to fall back on. Gotham's Anthony Carrigan is set to appear in the movie as Metamorpho, and other superheroes in the film include Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Superman's origin story, already shown in a number of prior film adaptations, won't take up a significant amount of real estate in Legacy, according to prior statements from Gunn.

Gunn is lining up some familiar talent on the project, with cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

Superman: Legacy's Lex Luthor has been revealed by James Gunn. On Threads, the DC boss shared a look at Nicholas Hoult and he looks a little different in the new pictures. For one, the Lex Luthor actor is bald and it looks like that happened fairly recently. Gunn has been joking about shaving Hoult's head this week. A fan asked if the DC Comics president would be the one to do the deed. He replied that he didn't want the actor to be known as "the bloody-headed Lex" so he declined. The script read through has picked up quite a bit of traction on social media.

Another big revelation that fans think they've gleaned from Instagram images is Gunn's take on the Superman crest. In the comics, Kingdom Come's version of the hero used a version that's a bit similar to the one placed on the actor's placards for the read through. However, a similar design was also employed when Superman and the Authority was releasing. So, nothing completely definitive on that front. And Gunn probably won't want to give too much away so far from Superman: Legacy's release date. For now, these small discoveries are going to have to tide fans over.

Nicholas Hoult Becomes Lex In Superman: Legacy

With Superman: Legacy's Lex Luthor already cast, fans are already daydreaming about the possibilities in James Gunn's new DCU. When the news of Hoult joining the project became public, the creator confirmed his involvement in Superman: Legacy. 2025 is looking pretty stacked with The Fantastic Four, The Batman Part II and this DC project all on the docket. Gunn also shared that he and Hoult had already begun breaking down what this new version of Lex will be.

"Yes, finally I can answer, @nicholashoult is Lex Luthor in #SupermanLegacy and I couldn't be happier," Gunn wrote on social media. "We went out to dinner last night to celebrate and discuss how we can create a Lex that will be different from anything you've seen before and will never forget. "But, James, we heard this weeks ago, why didn't you tell us it was true?" Because, although we were discussing it, it wasn't final until a couple days ago and I don't want to tell you all something that isn't certain. Anyway, here's to Lex (and Nicholas!), one of my very favorite characters in the DCU."

James Gunn's Inspiration For Superman: Legacy

James Gunn is the man behind the camera for Superman: Legacy. From the moment he was signed as the DC Studios president, fans expected him to direct at least one of the movies. Well, Superman is the first one up. Despite some detractors questioning the decision, Gunn laid out his case on social media.

"I lost my Dad almost three years ago. He was my best friend. He didn't understand me as a kid, but he supported my love of comics and my love of film and I wouldn't be making this movie now without him," Gunn typed. "It has been a long road to this point. I was offered Superman years ago - I initially said no because I didn't have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved."

"Then a bit less than a year ago I saw a way in, in many ways centering around Superman's heritage - how both his aristocratic Kryptonian parents and his Kansas farmer parents inform who he is and the choices he makes," he continued. "So I chose to finally take on writing the script. But I was hesitant to direct, despite the constant pestering by Peter Safran and others to commit (sorry, Peter). Just because I write something doesn't mean I feel it in my bones, visually and emotionally, enough to spend over two years directing it, especially not something of this magnitude. But, the long and the short of it is, I love this script, and I'm incredibly excited as we begin this journey. #UpUpandAway"

Do you like how Hoult is preparing? Let us know down in the comments!

Following today's table read of the Superman: Legacy script, James Gunn took to social media to share an image of the assembled cast (along with himself and executive producer/DC co-chief Peter Safran). There are one or two actors who aren't in the shot (including Gunn's brother Sean, who is set to play Maxwell Lord), but it's the most complete look at the cast fans are likely to see between now and when the movie wraps principal photography, if Gunn's track record is anything to go by. It's also the first semi-official look at an in-production film for Gunn and Safran's embryonic DC Universe.

The image has some treats, including a new character -- Otis! -- and a fully-bald Nicholas Hoult/Lex Luthor. The characters represented are Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Superman/Clark (David Corenswet), Otis (Terence Rosemore), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), producer Peter Safran, Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Gunn, Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and The Engineer (Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a).

You can see it below.

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"I've really enjoyed the collaboration with James Gunn so far," Brosnahan said during a recent appearance at the Critics Choice Awards. "Every single person involved with this production is such a perfect nerd for Superman. We all grew up watching the movies, some of us grew up reading the comics. I feel like it's being made with so much love, and I think this Superman will have a sense of humor. I'm rolling through my brain all the things I'm not allowed to say. But we're excited to both put our spin on things, and also honor this material that we all love so much."

Superman: Legacy stars David Corenswet as the title character, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. The movie is very close to starting production in earnest, giving it about a year and a half from the first day of filming until its theatrical release. That's roughly in line with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, which started production in November of 2021 and was released in April of last year.

Little is known about the story of Superman: Legacy, other than that it will involve a version of Superman who is settled into his role as the world's protector, but who also has a network of allies to fall back on. Gotham's Anthony Carrigan is set to appear in the movie as Metamorpho, and other superheroes in the film include Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Superman's origin story, already shown in a number of prior film adaptations, won't take up a significant amount of real estate in Legacy, according to prior statements from Gunn.

Gunn is lining up some familiar talent on the project, with cinematographer Henry Braham (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); production designer Beth Mickle (The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3); costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Avengers: Endgame); and art director David Scott (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Casting is by Yellowstone and Oppenheimer's John Papsidera.

Superman: Legacy is expected in theaters on July 11, 2025.

A behind-the-scenes image may have revealed what Superman's new logo will look like in Superman: Legacy. The upcoming film from James Gunn will officially kick off the new DC Universe, as DC Studios co-CEOs Gunn and Peter Safran reboot DC's shared universe on the big and small screen. David Corenswet is portraying the Man of Steel in Superman: Legacy, and the topic of Supe's costume is always one up for debate amongst fans. We've seen versions of the Superman costume with and without tights, and logos that slightly vary depending on the project. However, an image from one of the Superman: Legacy actors reveals how the Man of Steel's logo possibly comes from a fan-favorite Superman story.

Isabela Merced plays Hawkgirl in Superman: Legacy, which held a table read earlier this week. She took a photo of her casting chair with "Hawkgirl" on it and shared it on Instagram, and the chair also contains the iconic Superman "S" symbol. Eagle-eyed Superman fans immediately recognized that the House of El symbol is very similar to the one worn by Superman in Mark Waid and Alex Ross's Kingdom Come from 1996.

The 'SUPERMAN: LEGACY' logo shown at the table read is very similar to the one from 'Kingdom Come'

(via: @isabelamerced | IG) pic.twitter.com/Ovarbuu77H

-- Agents of Fandom (@AgentsFandom) February 22, 2024

CW boss blames Superman: Legacy for Superman & Lois cancellation

The fourth season of Superman & Lois will be its last, with CW announcing the series cancellation last year. For fans of the series, the cancellation felt like a little bit of a surprise given that Superman & Lois was a popular series for the network. Recently, network president Brad Schwartz revealed the real reason the series is coming to an end: James Gunn's upcoming film Superman: Legacy.

According to Schwartz, the decision to end Superman & Lois came down from Warner Bros. because they didn't want a competing Superman product -- and with the upcoming Superman: Legacy, there would be.

"They don't want a competing Superman product in the marketplace," Schwartz said (via The Wrap).

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had previously indicated back in early 2023 when Superman: Legacy was first announced that Superman & Lois was likely to continue for a bit, even with changes happening at The CW as well as the initial development slate for DC Studios.

"It's a show everybody likes, so it's going to keep going for a little bit," Gunn said.

James Gunn confirms two Peacemaker actors aren't in Superman: Legacy

James Gunn recently shared a photo of himself with Peacemaker stars Jennifer Holland and Freddie Stroma, after he was "showing them around" the sets of Superman: Legacy. Gunn confirmed within his post that neither Holland nor Stroma will be making an appearance in Superman: Legacy, either as their Peacemaker characters of Emilia Harcourt and Vigilante, or as anyone new. In a subsequent comment on Threads, Gunn joked he "wouldn't rule out" putting either actor in a random crowd shot of the film.

James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe reboot is on the horizon, kicking off a whole new world of superhero movies and television shows. The first film set to join the DCU slate is Superman: Legacy, which will be written and directed by Gunn for a summer 2025 release date. Speculation around Superman: Legacy has hit a fever pitch, especially as fans have wondered which DC characters may or may not appear in the film -- and it looks like Gunn himself has debunked two more. On Wednesday, Gunn posted a photo of himself with Peacemaker stars Jennifer Holland and Freddie Stroma, after he was "showing them around" the sets of Superman: Legacy.

Gunn confirmed within his post that neither Holland or Stroma will be making an appearance in Superman: Legacy, either as their Peacemaker characters of Emilia Harcourt and Vigilante, or as anyone new. In a subsequent comment on Threads, Gunn joked he "wouldn't rule out" putting either actor in a random crowd shot of the film.

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What Will Peacemaker Season 2 Be About?

Details are currently under wraps about Peacemaker's second season, which was greenlit back in 2022 and will be folded into the new DCU. As Holland told ComicBook.com shortly after the Season 1 finale, there's a lot of potential for where the ensemble's character dynamic goes next.

"I love her character arc through the whole season," Holland said of her character, Emilia Harcourt. "I think it's really, really nuanced and it doesn't rush itself. I really love the way that it was written into the whole series. I think, for me, I didn't want to hold back. I wanted Harcourt to be as cold and closed off as she could be in the earlier episodes, because I wanted her to really have that full character arc throughout the season."

"I think the interesting thing is that we don't know where she goes from here. She's not exactly an open book now. She still has a lot of demons and a lot of stuff to deal with. Emotionally, she's still very closed off. But she -- at this point, I think -- has finally accepted that it's okay to have a team, and it's okay to have a family. Whereas when we saw her at the beginning of the series, she was such a lone wolf. She felt like she was just carrying everyone else, and everyone else was just a liability to her. She thought she would be better off alone. I think she has accepted that there is value in having a team and having a family."

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

Per DC Studios, Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

The cast of Superman: Legacy will include David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica / The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho.

Are you excited for Superman: Legacy? What do you think of Gunn's newest behind-the-scenes update? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Superman: Legacy will be released exclusively in theaters on July 11, 2025. Season 2 of Peacemaker will debut exclusively on Max at a later date.

The Ultimate Universe is still reigning supreme! Black Panther and Spider-Man return with their cover A variants. They also bring in a BossLogic variant and a second printing cover. Also, the Ultimate Universe book that started it all returns to the top ten. The villains are also returning, as The Joker and Cassandra Nova appear in this week's list due to the new Deadpool trailer. The Deadpool & Wolverine trailer also drove attention to a comic book that was featured in a quick scene. The significance of this book is still unknown. Marvel also made a huge announcement about the casting of the Fantastic Four. Ironically, the family portrait created a ton of interest in a character that has yet to be officially cast. Read on below to find out which FF character is getting their own little spotlight!

Want to know what comic books are trending each week and why? COVRPRICE.COM uses live sales analytics to identify and compile the most robust market price guide, highlighting the weekly top trending comics. No opinions. Just data. Each week, they present a newly updated list of the TOP 10 COMICS trending in the aftermarket. These trends are due to rumors, fan-favorite covers, story-driven content, and content-related news.

#10: BATMAN #142 - GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI - FOIL | DC | 2024: In the large ocean of Joker covers, a few immediately catch the collectors' interest. Fans of the Joker immediately wanted to collect the foil cover by Camuncoli. The sudden interest caused this book to surge in value and sales. The aftermarket is still chasing this cover, potentially making it another iconic cover of the Clown Prince of Crime. We tracked it at a high sale of $35 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $22.

#9: ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #1 - BOSSLOGIC - ULTIMATE SPECIAL | MARVEL | 2024: BossLogic has an enormous following, totaling over 2 million followers on Instagram. A huge following collected his artwork once he started producing official comic covers. This book was already trending because of the appearance of the new Ultimate Black Panther. Given that Cover A's are hard to find, collectors are opting for other variants, and who better to collect than BossLogic? We tracked it at a high sale of $50 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.

#8: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - MARCO CHECCHETTO - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: This Spider-Man book is ceasing to slow down! While it is no longer in the number one spot, it is still selling enough to remain in our top ten. Marvel released the second print this past week, proving to be just as popular. This cover A still remains one of the highest-valued covers out of the set. Its value is nearing that of the 1:100 cover at a current FMV of $73 for a raw NM copy! We tracked it at a high sale of $203 for a CGC 9.8 copy.

#7: NEW X-MEN #114 - DIRECT EDITION | MARVEL | 2001: Now that the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer has been out for a week, fans have dissected it, analyzing every scene, and many fans noticed an ominous figure that may be the teased villain, Cassandra Nova. Emma Corrin is the rumored actress who will be portraying the role of the villain. Even with the new trailer, we still do not have official confirmation that this rumor is true. Even so, fans are still banking on her appearance and are picking up copies of her first appearance! We tracked it at a high sale of $190 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a raw NM FMV of $16.

#6: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - R. B. SILVA - 2ND PRINT | MARVEL | 2024: The 2nd print of this book has opened to a fast market. It immediately moved to the aftermarket, and fans could not get enough of Ultimate Spider-Man! The other ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 variants have fallen off the top ten, making room for this newcomer. This book will likely reappear next week as well. However, it is important to note that a 3rd print is on the way and will arrive on March 6th. The pre-sales for the virgin incentive cover have already started increasing in value! We'll see if the 2nd print will remain in the top ten once the next printing drops! We tracked it at a high sale of $24 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $12.

#5: ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 | MARVEL | 2023: As everyone is collecting the Ultimate Universe, an early book returns to the top ten. This book is starting to get notoriety due to being the first cameo appearance of Maystorm and the new Ultimate Black Panther. This book may have been overlooked when it was first released. However, since the popularity of the two characters has surged, this book deserves a second look! We tracked it at a high sale of $48 for a CGC 9.6 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.

#4: FANTASTIC FOUR #209 - NEWSSTAND | MARVEL | 1979: This past Valentine's Day, Marvel took to social media to casually announce the cast for Fantastic Four. Fans entered a frenzy with the project's first official news. One detail that fans noticed was the inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E. in the family portrait. While the first appearance of the Fantastic Four is a grail that the majority cannot afford, the first appearance of H.E.R.B.I.E is well within most collector's reach. The newsstand copy is currently selling fewer copies than the direct edition, which may be due to the difficulty of finding a newsstand copy over a direct edition. We tracked it at a high sale of $63 for a CGC 9.2 copy and a current raw VF FMV of $10.

#3: ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #1 - STEFANO CASELLI - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: The new Ultimate Black Panther has been generating tons of heat. The book itself was already a hot cover before its release, thanks to the massive success of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1. There was also a rumor that a publisher had lost thousands of copies of this first issue. This rumor hasn't been verified or corroborated, but it was enough to keep the aftermarket buzzing. We tracked it at a high sale of $148 for a CGC 9.8 presale copy and a current raw NM FMV of $57.

#2: FANTASTIC FOUR #209 - DIRECT | MARVEL | 1979: H.E.R.B.I.E is here! While casting for the first family's robot was not announced, the family portrait included H.E.R.B.I.E. This led many fans to believe that the casting announcement also announced the inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E in any future Fantastic Four productions. Although there isn't any official announcement for the ever-loving robot, fans are still banking on his appearance by picking up copies of this issue. The direct edition seems easier to obtain, as it sold nearly twice as much as the newsstand edition. We tracked it at a high sale of $350 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw FN FMV of $16.

#1: SECRET WARS #5 - ALEX ROSS - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2015: This book has a small key appearance of Night Machine, an alternate version of Nikola Tesla. However, this isn't the reason the book is trending. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted this cover in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer. There hasn't been any official information about this easter egg, so purchase it with caution! We have no idea if this book was there to reference a specific storyline or simply a nod to the title "Secret Wars." Until we get official clues as to the purpose of this book, buying it at the current prices is a gamble! We tracked it at a high sale of $249 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $28.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 2/19/24! Want to know what your comic books are worth? COVRPRICE.COM offers the ULTIMATE price guide with LIVE ungraded (raw) and graded sales for today's market trends. Manage your collection and track your portfolio's overall value with our robust tracking systems. With a free 10-day trial and several affordable price tiers, discover the value of your comics and sign up today! CHECK OUT THE TOP 10 ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!

Superman: Legacy is scheduled to hit theaters next year, and the film will mark the first entry to the newly rebooted DCU. James Gunn is helming the film with a cast led by David Corenswet as Superman. The film will also see X-Men: First Class and Mad Max: Fury Road star Nicholas Hoult taking on the role of Lex Luthor. The DC villain is typically portrayed as bald, but Gunn has no intention of shaving Hoult's head himself. The director had a hilarious reaction when asked about Hoult's look on Threads.

"Are you going to shave Nicholas Hoult's head personally?" one fan asked. "No because we don't want him to be know as 'the bloody-headed Lex,'" Gunn joked.

Jesse Eisenberg Gives Nicholas Hoult Lex Luthor Advice:

Lex Luthor has been played by many actors over the years ranging from Gene Hackman to Jesse Eisenberg. Recently, Eisenberg shared some advice for Hoult. During an interview with Variety, Eisenberg said Hoult should not "watch me" in order to form his own take on the iconic character.

"Whenever you play a role you feel connected to it," Eisenberg explained. "There's no way around it. Any time you do anything, even if it's a movie that's a Hollywood kind of thing, you connect."

James Gunn Confirms Nicholas Hoult's Casting:

"Yes, finally I can answer, @nicholashoult is Lex Luthor in #SupermanLegacy and I couldn't be happier," Gunn wrote on social media back in December. "We went out to dinner last night to celebrate and discuss how we can create a Lex that will be different from anything you've seen before and will never forget. "But, James, we heard this weeks ago, why didn't you tell us it was true?" Because, although we were discussing it, it wasn't final until a couple days ago and I don't want to tell you all something that isn't certain. Anyway, here's to Lex (and Nicholas!), one of my very favorite characters in the DCU. ????"

What Is Superman: Legacy About?

DC Studios describes Superman: Legacy as the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

In addition to the previously mentioned stars, Superman: Legacy will star Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Mar?a Gabriela de Far?a as Angela Spica/The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, and Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher.

"It's not an origin story," Peter Safran previously explained to reporters when asked about the film. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He has kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

Gunn previously confirmed Superman: Legacy would be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.

A new month is upon is, which means more roster changes are coming to Netflix. The streaming service sees new arrivals and departures on a regular basis, and March is no exception to that rule. There are a ton of great movies and TV shows coming to Netflix next month, but there are also some big titles scheduled to exit as well.

Among those films and series that are leaving are several live-action DC movies, which made a highly publicized arrival on Netflix late last year, as Warner Bros. Discovery started sending many of its properties to other streamers. It appears the window for some of those films on Netflix is closing.

On March 31st, quite a few DC movies are leaving Netflix. Those exiting films include Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Birds of Prey, Black Adam, Justice League, Man of Steel, Shazam!, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Wonder Woman 1984.

Everything Leaving Netflix in March

The DC movies are only a handful of the titles set to exit Netflix in March. Here's the full list of movies and TV shows set to depart Netflix next month:

Leaving 3/1/24
Bee Movie
This Is Where I Leave You
Leaving 3/2/24
Lady Bird
Leaving 3/12/24
Miracle in Cell No. 7
Leaving 3/14/24
The Giver
Leaving 3/15/24
Get on Up
Savages
Leaving 3/17/24
The Cursed
Leaving 3/19/24
Carol
Leaving 3/29/24
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
Leaving 3/30/24
Jackie Brown
John Wick
John Wick: Chapter 2
John Wick: Chapter 3
Leaving 3/31/24
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
Black Adam
Community: Seasons 1-6
Hoarders: Season 12
It's Complicated
Justice League
Little Fockers
Man Like Mobeen: Seasons 1-3
Man of Steel
Meet the Fockers
Meet the Parents
My Best Friend's Wedding
Seven Souls in the Skull Castle: Season Bird
Seven Souls in the Skull Castle: Season Flower
Seven Souls in the Skull Castle: Season Wind
Shazam!
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman 1984

Which of these titles are you most disappointed to see departing Netflix next month? Let us know in the comments!

Is Marvel's Thunderbolts movie stealing the plot from The Suicide Squad? That's the topic of discussion for a new feature looking at how Marvel Studios is undergoing a creative retooling that isn't considered to be a reboot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One of the many projects that has seen changes behind the scenes is Thunderbolts, which just had its release date swapped with The Fantastic Four. The Thunderbolts roster includes heroes such as Yelena Belova, the Winter Soldier, U.S. Agent, and Red Guardians, as well as villains like Ghost and Taskmaster. It's reminiscent of DC's Task Force X from The Suicide Squad, and that may be an adequate comparison.

During The Hollywood Reporter's look at the creative retooling taking place at Marvel Studios, the focus shifted to Thunderbolts. Joanna Calo (The Bear) is reportedly working on the Thunderbolts script, with sources stating previous scripts had the Thunderbolts crew going on a mission that was supposed to lead to their deaths. DC's Suicide Squad films features a similar plot, with Amanda Waller implanting bombs in their neck to help control them. If they fall out of line, the bombs would detonate and kill them. Whether or not the Thunderbolts script will continue to include that plot device remains unknown at this time.

What is Thunderbolts about?

Thunderbolts will bring together Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier, Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell's U.S. Agent, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Valentina Allegra de Fontaine among others to form this anti-hero squadron named after Harrison Ford's Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, who will be President of the United States by the time the events of this film roll around. Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick) will also make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in this feature, portraying Sentry, taking the place of Steven Yeun, who had to pull out of Thunderbolts due to scheduling conflicts following the writers' and actors' strikes.

"I think for me, time passing and things shifting kind of pulled me out of it," Yeun explained to Variety earlier this year. "But [director] Jake [Schreier], I know, is going to do an incredible job."

"I think it's too early to say that," Yeun added, when asked what other Marvel project he would like to join. "I probably pissed off too many people leaving, so I'm just gonna say, 'Thank you for having me.' I have some ideas. But I heard if you put it out there, you'll never get it, so I'll keep it close to my chest."

The events of Thunderbolts will directly follow up Captain America: Brave New World, which is slated for a February 2025 release. That project is centered around Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson and will feature his star-spangled hero embarking on his first solo adventure since officially assuming the Cap mantle in 2021's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Thunderbolts hits theaters on May 2nd, 2025.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has revealed the release dates and home video information for Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two. Based on one of the most famous and best-selling superhero crossovers of all time, the movie is the second installment in a three-part animated film trilogy that aims to adapt the epic story by Marv Wolfman and George P?rez. A trailer dropped yesterday. In the story, a malevolent, godlike being called The Anti-Monitor is trying to destroy the multiverse using waves of antimatter. The heroes of all DC's disparate worlds are forced to work together with The Monitor, the Anti-Monitor's opposite half, to save all of existence.

The first movie, which was released back in January, centered primarily on The Flash, who was one of the big superhero deaths that shook the DC Universe in the original comics series. The story's other big death, Supergirl, will seemingly be the central focus of the second installment.

"It was obvious because of what was central to what was important in the original Crisis comics, which characters were the obvious ones that we had to build around," executive producer Butch Lukic told ComicBook.com. "So it's obviously Flash, it's obviously Supergirl, and a couple of others. It was more structured toward, because we're limited as far as how much storytelling time we had, that we have to hit those marks."

In the first part of the trilogy, it was revealed that Supergirl had been hiding in plain sight the whole time, acting as Harbinger and doing The Monitor's bidding. Similarly, John Constantine had been recruited by the Anti-Monitor to act as Pariah, a being doomed to be moved from universe to universe to watch them die.

The Crisis on Infinite Earths trilogy marks "the beginning of the end to the Tomorrowverse story arc," according to Warners. that arc, which started with Superman: Man of Tomorrow, is the relatively short-lived animated continuity that was spawned following the cataclysmic ending of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two will be available to purchase on digital and on 4K UHD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-ray on April 23. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One is available now on Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray. The final part of the trilogy will be available later in 2024.

Here's how Warner Bros. describes the movie and its home video features:

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two features returning popular voice cast members: Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, The Boys, The Winchesters) as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Emmy winner Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Glee) as Superman & Earth-2 Superman, Meg Donnelly (Legion of Super-Heroes, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,) as Supergirl & Harbinger, and Stana Katic (Castle, Absentia) as Wonder Woman & Superwoman.

Aside from the returning voice cast, the star-studded ensemble voice cast includes Jonathan Adams as Monitor, Gideon Adlon as Batgirl, Geoffrey Arend as Psycho Pirate/Charles Halstead & Hawkman, Troy Baker as Joker, Zach Callison as Robin, Darin De Paul as Solovar, Ato Essandoh as Mr. Terrific & Anti-Monitor, Keith Ferguson as Dr. Fate & Atomic Knight, Will Friedle as Batman Beyond & Kamandi, Jennifer Hale as Alura & Hippolyta, Aldis Hodge as John Stewart, Jamie Gray Hyder as Hawkgirl, Erika Ishii as Doctor Light/Dr. Hoshi & Huntress, David Kaye as The Question & Satellite, Matt Lanter as Blue Beetle, Liam McIntyre as Aquaman, Lou Diamond Phillips as Spectre, Matt Ryan as Constantine, Keesha Sharp as Vixen, Harry Shum Jr. as Brainiac 5, and Jimmi Simpson as Green Arrow.

Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two is produced by Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau and executive produced by Butch Lukic, Sam Register, and Michael Uslan. The film is directed by Jeff Wamester from a script by Jim Krieg. Casting and voice direction is by Wes Gleason. The film is based on characters from DC and the graphic novel "Crisis on Infinite Earths" by Marv Wolfman and George P?rez

Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two will be available on April 3 9 to purchase digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. On April 30 23 the film will be available to purchase on 4K Ultra HD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-Ray Discs online and in-store at major retailers.

SYNOPSIS:

An endless army of SHADOW DEMONS bent on the destruction of all reality swarms over our world and all parallel Earths! The only thing opposing them is the mightiest team of metahumans ever assembled. But not even the combined power of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and all their fellow superheroes can slow down the onslaught of this invincible horde. What mysterious force is driving them? And how do the long-buried secrets of the Monitor and Supergirl threaten to crush our last defense?

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

Physical and Digital

• Voices in Crisis
• The Bat-Family of the Multiverse
• Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three Sneak Peek

PRICING AND FILM INFORMATION

PRODUCT SRP

Digital purchase $19.99

4K Ultra HD Steelbook + Digital Version* $47.99 USA

4K Ultra HD Steelbook $54.99 Canada

Blu-ray + Digital Version* $29.98 USA

Blu-ray $39.99 Canada

4K/Blu-ray Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

Blu-ray Subtitles: English, Spanish, Dutch, French

Running Time: 95 min

Rated PG-13 for violence, some disturbing images and thematic elements.

*Digital version not available in Canada

It has taken a long time to get there, but it appears Joe Managaniello is finally ready to say goodbye to Deathstroke the Terminator. Speaking with ComicBook.com about the upcoming Deal or No Deal Island, the beloved actor and personality said that while he is friends with James Gunn, that connection has pushed him more toward stepping away from Deathstroke than fighting to keep the part. After appearing briefly in Justice League, the actor was set to play the primary antagonist in Ben Affleck's The Batman, until that movie fell apart. Then, Manganiello wrote his own Deathstroke screenplay that apparently had some fans at Warner Bros. before the studio decided to reboot DC's shared universe of movies.

After almost a decade, Manganiello told us that Gunn convinced him to let it go. That's not before DC made one last overture, though -- one that could signal to fans that the comics side is open to revisiting the "dead" universes that lit up screens prior to 2024.

"James [Gunn] is my buddy, and James and I had a conversation about it because Jim lee over at DC Comics wanted me to create a graphic novel series based on the screenplay that I wrote for the Deathstroke origin film that, when they were dismantling the DCEU, that went to the wayside as well," Manganiello said. "Jim read it, and wanted it to be a graphic novel series, but no one could assure me that, if it garnered the attention of directors and producers, that I couldn't be attached. So I had to let it go. James Gunn was just like, 'Let it go.'"

Starting with recasting Superman for the upcoming film Superman: Legacy, nearly every character featured in the "DC Extended Universe" -- an unofficial name for Zack Snyder's shared superhero space which eventually became at least semi-official -- has since been abandoned or recast. The only actors returning for James Gunn's DC Universe so far are the cast of Peacemaker and Xolo Maridue?a's Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle.

Deal or No Deal Island's supersized premiere airs February 26th at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC before moving to its regular timeslot at 10 p.m. ET/PT on March 4th. All episodes will be available next day on Peacock.

The thing is, Taylor uses Batman to help tell Nightwing's story. Though it isn't necessarily a full origin, we see Dick's roots for the umpteenth time. That angle is far from necessary, yet it works. Not only that, it works exceptionally well as the story tugs at your heartstrings. Perhaps it's use of simultaneous timelines, mirroring Dick's upbringing and that of Iko Wahid. It's one gut punch after the next, and leaves you feeling for the young protagonist.

Then there's the work of the art team. Though they've each spent some time on Nightwing, the art of the issue really stands out. Between Batman and the setting shifting to Gotham, there's something about the grime and grit of Basri's lineart to pushes the story to an entirely different level. Hundreds of artists have drawn the Caped Crusader for DC Comics and frankly, this team should be among the best of the best to do it.

Most importantly, Nightwing #111 taps into exactly what made Taylor and Redondo's work on the series so great from the start. It's a hyperexamination of what it means to be a superhero, allowing readers to follow along as Dick Grayson's internal struggles are often bigger threats than the physical fights Nightwing finds himself in from issue to issue. Although Batman might not necessarily be the best one to offer therapeutic advice, there's something charming in Dick turning to his mentor to help the hero over a massive roadblock in his crime-fighting life. If this is the type of stories Taylor tells between now and the end of his story, Nightwing is going down as one of the best superhero stories ever told.

Published by DC Comics

On February 20, 2024

Written by Tom Taylor

Art by Sami Basri

Inks by Vicent Cifuentes

Colors by Adriano Lucas

Letters by Wes Abbott

Cover by Bruno Redondo

Madame Web arrived in theaters last week, and the conversation surrounding the Sony film definitely has not slowed down. The film, which is the latest entry into Sony's Spider-Man Universe, has been met with some baffled reactions, including a record-breaking performance at the box office and on Rotten Tomatoes.

Amid the discourse, many have argued that Madame Web embodies a lot of tropes of the superhero movies of the mid-2000s, evoking titles such as Daredevil, Catwoman, and Elektra. But to an extent, a better encapsulation of Madame Web's energy -- down to a handful of parallels within the film itself -- is The WB's short-lived Birds of Prey TV show. Spoilers for Madame Web lurk below! Only look if you want to know!

What Was the Birds of Prey TV Show About?

Premiering in the fall of 2002, Birds of Prey had a distinct place in DC's burgeoning superhero canon. It initially aimed to be a spinoff to the network's Superman-focused Smallville series, which had premiered the previous year to great fanfare. It also, through its marketing and opening sequence, tried to establish connections to the Michael Keaton-starring Batman and Batman Returns, insinuating that Helena Kyle / Huntress (Ashley Scott) was the daughter of those films' Batman and Catwoman. Together, with wheelchair-bound computer hacker Barbara Gordon / Oracle (Dina Mayer) and teenage runaway Dinah Redmond (Rachel Skarsten), Helena works to combat crime in the dire world of New Gotham.

Despite breaking records upon its premiere, Birds of Prey was very quickly canceled, only airing a total of thirteen episodes across its run. The series followed Dinah, Helena, and Barbara across an array of superhero-adjacent scenarios, including a fight against a revenge-filled Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn (Mia Sara).

How Is Madame Web Like the Birds of Prey TV Show?

While Madame Web and Birds of Prey play off of two wildly different superhero canons, their approaches prove to be surprisingly similar. At the time of Birds of Prey being greenlit, the comic had only run for a handful of years with just Dinah and Barbara at the center, as Huntress would not be added to the book until months after the show's cancellation by Gail Simone. Madame Web, meanwhile, involves Cassandra "Cassie" Webb (Dakota Johnson), Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced), and Mattie Franklin (Celeste O'Connor) -- various Spider-Man-adjacent heroines who have (outside of Cassie and Julia) rarely crossed paths in the comics. Madame Web, herself, has only had a limited role in the comics since her 1980 comic debut, a fact that created a meme of sorts once the film first started getting off of the ground. While countless superhero projects have showcased the potential of throwing disparate characters into the same story, it can be argued that both Madame Web and Birds of Prey showed what it's like when some of that potential is left untapped. Despite boasting an ensemble of intriguing female characters, Madame Web still roots itself (for better or for worse) in Cassie's origin story -- similarly to how Birds of Prey regularly treated Huntress like its main protagonist.

The similarities between Madame Web and Birds of Prey extend beyond that, though. The broad archetypes of teenage runaways and/or orphans led by a wheelchair-bound mentor with the ability to view more than most can describe both projects to a tee, especially once the film reaches its final moments and Cassie is blinded and partially paralyzed. There are even some smaller parallels, like precognitive visions (Dinah's in Birds of Prey, and Cassie's in Madame Web) inexplicably changing one of the heroines' comic-accurate last names (Dinah in Birds of Prey and Julia in Madame Web), a deranged villain who inexplicably wants them dead (Harley in Birds of Prey, and Tahar Rahim's Ezekiel Sims in Madame Web), and a subplot revolving around a baby (a fast-growing metahuman orphan in Birds of Prey, and Peter Parker in Madame Web). As some have already pointed out on social media in the time since Madame Web's release, even the base of operations that Cassie and the girls work out of during the film's finale has a spiderweb-shaped window that looks awfully similar to Birds of Prey's clocktower. The very last moments of the film, which show all four women suited up as superheroes in the future and looking out at the city below, is a narrative beat that nearly all of Birds of Prey's episodes ended on.

Sure, these parallels certainly don't absolve Madame Web of some of its faults and flaws -- but they at least contextualize the type of superhero story it ended up telling. Whether by design or by accident, Madame Web might be the closest thing we've gotten to the Birds of Prey TV show in a while.

Madame Web is now playing exclusively in theaters.

Batman: Year One from writer Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential Batman stories of all-time. It reimagines Bruce Wayne's first year on the job as Batman in Gotham, depicting a man that is far from the iconic crime-fighter that he would eventually become. It's a story that every comic book fan should read, and one that is certainly worthy of a super fancy deluxe edition that Batman fans can cherish for years to come.

David Mazzucchelli's Batman Year One Artist's Edition is a hardcover edition collects Batman #404-407 (1986) and presents them in the same 14 x 21 inch size as most of the pages were originally drawn. It also features a new introduction by Mazzucchelli along with the complete collection of layouts, giving readers "true insight into a master storytellers process from initial spark to completed page".

Of course, a super fancy deluxe edition such as this will have a price tag to match. At the time of writing, Batman Year One Artist's Edition is available to pre-order right here on Amazon for $135, which is 10% off the $150 list price. It will arrive on your doorstep on July 16th, and if the price goes down further between now and then, pre-order customers will automatically get the biggest discount. Additional Artist Edition pre-orders include:

• Jim Lee DC Legends Artist's Edition ($150) - See on Amazon
• Neal Adams Classic DC Artists Edition ($150) - See on Amazon
• Neal Adams Classic DC Artists Edition B ($150) - See on Amazon
• Chris Samnee's Black Widow Artist's Edition ($150 - See on Amazon

Official description of Batman: Year One: "Before Batman became synonymous with striking fear into the hearts of cowardly and superstitious criminals, there was just Bruce Wayne, an orphaned millionaire who was Gotham City's prodigal son by day and an angry vigilante by night. Despite his best efforts, Bruce knows that his nightly patrols have very little effect in making a difference in a city that has forgotten what justice is. In order to inspire real change, he will need to become something more than a man...he will need to become a symbol.

"Bruce isn't the only crusader trying to clean up the streets. Lieutenant James Gordon is a good cop who's tired of the corruption that has infiltrated every aspect of Gotham, including the GCPD. Together, these two might stand a chance of restoring some sense of order in Gotham City--if the mob or dirty cops don't take them out first!"

Note that Batman: Year One is available in a paperback graphic novel on Amazon for only $10. DC adapted "Batman: Year One" into a standalone, direct-to-video animated film released in 2011, with Ben McKenzie voicing Bruce Wayne / Batman and Bryan Cranston voicing Jim Gordon. You can order the 4K edition here on Amazon for $19.98.

The Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two full trailer has been released by DC and Warner Bros. Animation - and you can check it out below!

The full trailer for Crisis on Infinite Earth - Part Two shows the DC Trinity (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) under attack by the Antimatter Universe. Supergirl becomes the key to saving the day, but new revelations about Kara Zor-El's origin, and the nature of the DC Multiverse, threaten to everything is, ever way, or might be. A multiversal war erupts, and there's a hint that it could result in some very big casualties.

Indeed, one of the most striking images in this Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two trailer is the teaser of Kara holding the smoldering corpse of some friend or ally, with tears streaming down her face. As older DC Comics fans know, the original Crisis on Infinite Earths comic series had a big twist in issue #7 where Kara saved Superman from the deadly machines trying to merge the Earths - at the cost of her own life. Superman standing in anguish, holding up Supergirl's lifeless body in his arms, has become one of the most iconic pieces of imagery in the DC Universe.

But from the look of things, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two could put a new twist on the story. If it ends up being Superman who gets killed, it would be an interesting new twist on the story and its implications.

What Is Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths About?

Death is coming. Worse than death: oblivion. Not just for our Earth, but for everyone, everywhere, in every universe! Against this ultimate destruction, the mysterious Monitor has gathered the greatest team of Super Heroes ever assembled. But what can the combined might of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern and hundreds of Super Heroes from multiple Earths even do to save all of reality from an unstoppable antimatter Armageddon?!

Based on DC's iconic comic book limited series 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' by Marv Wolfman and George P?rez, join DC Super Heroes from across the multiverse in the first of three parts of DC's new animated film Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One, which marks the beginning of the end to the Tomorrowverse story arc.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the all-new, action-packed DC animated film features some of DC's most famous Super Heroes from multiple universes including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, who come together to stop an impending threat of doom and destruction.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two will be available on digital on April 23rd.

Writer/Director Patrick Harpin (My Dad the Bounty Hunter) and production designer/producer Yuhki Demers (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse) have apparently teamed up to pitch an animated Batman Beyond movie to Warner Bros., and in a sign of either confidence or desperation, they have released a number of still images from the production on social media. In the shots, Terry McGinnis explores Neo-Gotham and faces off with Inque, one of his most dangerous enemies from the original show (who also played a key role in the later comic book adaptations).

According to Demers, the pair have been pitching various folks at Warner Bros. for almost six months, but have not yet spoken to James Gunn. In spite of that seemingly promising progress through the ranks, the animator admits that the very first thing they were told was that they weren't going to get a "yes" on Batman Beyond.

"Before we pitched, they warned us 'there is absolutely no way we can do a Beyond movie,' but they loved our enthusiasm. We pitched the outline for the entire film, and what started as a 'never' turned into a 'maybe'," Demers explained. "In the time since, we've been pitching our way up the company hoping to get to James Gunn. But for now, here's a taste of what we've been cooking."

You can see the images below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yuhki Demers (@ninjayuhki)

Batman Beyond ran from 1999 until 2001, weighing in at 3 seasons and 52 episodes -- plus a direct-to-video feature film. It also span off The Zeta Project, which ran for two seasons in 2001 and 2002.

In the teaser for part two of Warner Home Entertainment's three part Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation, Terry McGinnis arrives, marking the character's first featured animation role in years. In the time since the original show wrapped up, there has been near-constant talk about doing a live-action adaptation, or a sequel movie, or a reboot. Things have, to this point, never gotten off the ground, perhaps because the show was so beloved that any follow-up would almost be guaranteed to suffer by comparison.

The character has had continued adventures in DC comics, where a 25th anniversary anthology is coming soon. He even (kinda/sorta) joined the main line DC continuity for a while, teaming up with Booster Gold and throwing down with the Bruce Wayne version of Batman.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is coming to Max in just one week. Not long after arriving on VOD platforms, the Aquaman sequel will be available to stream for free with a Max subscription beginning on February 27, giving a new audience of fans a chance to see it. Some of DC's poorer-performing recent movies, including Black Adam and The Flash, went on to perform well on Max, so it would not be a surprise for Aquaman to dominate streaming charts when it releases, which comes two weeks before its March 12 home video release date, when it will be available to buy on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom arrived in theaters on December 22, and earned $433 million against a reported budget of between $200 and $215 million. A month later, the film arrived on Digital to buy and rent beginning on January 23, and a month on from that, it's now coming to Max.

Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa--along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman--return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father's death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman's family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.

All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman's half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother's reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis' Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father's death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman is Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.

Directed by Wan, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is produced by Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan. The executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada. The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.

One of the weirdest comic teams in the modern age is about to make a comeback. Last week, DC unveiled their solicitations for their upcoming May 2024 comics, which include the first details surrounding Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13. As the synopsis for Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13 reveals, the dinosaur-themed Jurassic League will be returning in one of the issue's backup stories, which will involve an unexpected crossover with Booster Gold. The fan-favorite Jurassic League were introduced in their own titular series in 2022, written by Daniel Warren Johnson with art by Juan Gedeon.

BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #13

• Written by TIM SEELEY, MARK RUSSELL, DELILAH S. DAWSON, JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV, JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER, RODNEY BARNES
• Art by KELLEY JONES, JON MIKEL, SERG ACU?A, LISANDRO ESTHERREN, JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER
• Cover by SIMONE DI MEO
• Variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
• Variant cover by JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER
• $7.99 US | 64 pages | Prestige | (all covers are card stock)
• ON SALE 5/28/24
• Brave and the Bold enters its second year with five tremendous tales! Nightwing and Deadman face the ghosts of the circus, as presented in spectacularly horrific detail by Kelley Jones! Booster Gold (allegedly) causes a disaster that must be fixed by...the JURASSIC LEAGUE?! Artemis's quest comes to its stunning conclusion! Batman and Guy Gardner face high strangeness when a UFO crashes in Gotham! And finally, Jason Shawn Alexander brings his legendary talents to Batman Black and White!

Who Are DC's Jurassic League?

2022's Jurassic League reimagined the heroes and villains of the DC universe are anthropomorphic dinosaurs. In the series, the Trinity, alongside a league of other super-powered dinosaurs, join forces to save a prehistoric Earth from the sinister machinations of Darkseid. Wait ... what? Okay, maybe you don't know the story. So join us and bear witness to a brand-new - yet older than time - adventure and experience the Justice League as you have never seen them before! The events of the series have since been officially canonized in the DC Multiverse as Earth-27.

"Jurassic League is all I want to draw: dinos and epic fights," Gedeon revealed when the series was first announced. "My own version of a 90s cartoon or videogame. Expect a story about survival, unity and hope where the strong protect the weak in a world where danger lurks in every corner."

"It's been an absolute pleasure to join Juan Gideon in creating a new world for DC, complete with dinos, cavemen, and extinction level events," Johnson echoed. "Batsuar suplexes a Joker dilophosaurus, you're welcome!"

What do you think of DC's Jurassic League returning in Batman: Brave and the Bold #13? Will you be picking up the issue when it arrives in May of this year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Batman: Brave and the Bold #13 will be released on Tuesday, May 28th wherever comics are sold.