Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1802

This Giant Robotic PENNYWISE Is Scarier Than the Movie

To quote Dan Aykroyd in The Twilight Zone movie: “You wanna see something really scary?”

Full confession time: when I first laid eyes on the Pennywise design for the new movie version of It, I laughed. I made jokes that It looked like Beavis. Then I saw the movie, and Bill Skarsgard‘s transformative performance that really felt like an alien adopting a human suit won me over. I was cheering, rather than laughing. Then, encountering Pennywise in the VR game, I jumped. Several times.

But now there’s this…

Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope. Can’t sleep. Clown’ll eat me.

This evil cackling, screaming animatronic of Pennywise waving around a dismembered Georgie comes from the Transworld Halloween and Attraction Show in St Louis, an industry trade show for Halloween-related and haunted attractions, from escape rooms to corn mazes. Who knows which one this will show up in, but it might just be a first look at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights (that’s speculation on our part, but there is talk of an It maze).

Alternately, it could be from a PSA about not talking to clowns that you just happen to encounter in a sewer. That’ll learn ’em whippersnappers!

It’s weird logic the It creature has, that somehow it needs to morph into specific fears, when a giant alien eldritch with spider legs coming out from its many rows of teeth is pretty much going to hit everyone’s fear centers. But sure, be a clown in a sewer.

What version of Pennywise scares you most? Let us know in comments.

Images: Warner Bros.

Pennywise is always clowning around here…

Here’s a VR experience with the evil clown.
Toddler Pennywise is cute and terrifying.
Pennywise vs. Batman.

Ketchup Slices are the Strangest New Development in the World of Condiments

Ketchup is pretty good. It’s killer with french fries, you can use it to make other condiments like BBQ and cocktail sauces, and kids seem to like it so that’s cool for parents who struggle to get their picky children to eat. But has anyone ever loved ketchup so much they thought, “You know what, I also want it in slice form, like some strange red cheese?” Yes actually, apparently someone has, because a new Kickstarter wants to bring the unusual-looking convenience of sliced ketchup to a grocery store near you.

Bo’s Original Slice of Sauce has already quickly hit its funding goal of $15,000 to bring to the masses  their “all-natural, no-mess ‘Slice’ of Ketchup,” which it describes as a “flavor-packed condiment offering a clean label, portable experience with 8 slices per pack.” Creator and company co-founder Emily Williams says her ketchup slice ideas was a happy accident, and it is “non-GMO, gluten-free, all-natural with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup.” It also doesn’t need to be refrigerated and can easily travel with you, which means you will never, ever again be caught off guard without a…..slice….of….ketchup.

That looks like a Fruit Roll-up. I don’t mean that as a criticism either, because it at least resembles a food item people enjoy eating already. And this does seem a lot neater than normal ketchup, which is a nice bonus.

So sure, despite never wanting or asking for ketchup slices, I’ll give it a shot. Ketchup is pretty good; maybe it will be even better like this.

Will you try a ketchup slice? Slice up our comments section with your reason why.

Featured Image: Bo’s Original Slice of Sauce

Stranger food for thought:

A prototype food replicator?
The spaghetti burrito is a starch bomb.
Playing with your food: the video game.

Can Frank Miller Transition From Controversial Creator to YA Storyteller?

Frank Miller has long been one of the most celebrated creators in comics, but over his 30+ year career he’s also been one of the most controversial. This is a man best known to classic comic book fans for creating the seminal Batman miniseries The Dark Knight Returns, as well as his gritty black-and-white pulp noir Sin City. But in later years it’s been Miller’s aggressively confrontational, Islamophobic comments–and comics–that’ve defined him to many younger fans. Also, when we critically look back on his most famous works, a lot of them are problematic at best in their representation and treatment of women.

So it was with much surprise that we learned on Friday (via EW) that Frank Miller will turn his hand to YA graphic novels, illustrating a book called Cursed, a new Arthurian legend focused on Nimune, the first person to wield Excalibur who would later become the Lady in the Lake. And shortly afterwards it was also announced that Miller would be writing a new Carrie Kelley YA original graphic novel at DC, marking an apparent transition in the controversial creator’s career.

Miller has been on something of a redemption tour over the last few years since the announcement and subsequent release of the questionably titled The Dark Knight III: The Master Race. These announcements seem like a strange route for him to go; they’ve got a lot of fans questioning just how Miller will handle titles that focus on the interior lives and adventures of young women, and just as importantly, how he’ll handle stories that are aimed at a younger audience. The rise of YA novels and graphic novels has been nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, and it’s unsurprising that DC and other book publishers are attempting to cash in on the trend. After all, cartoonist Raina Telgemeier is one of the best selling authors in the world with her gorgeous OGNs like Smile, Sisters, and Ghosts. But can a man whose most famous work turns Catwoman into an abused, beaten stereotype of a sex worker create relevant work to appeal to young girls?

Miller, who’s best known for his mature stories, will have to make some huge changes in his stylistic and storytelling choices to create solid, enjoyable, and appropriate YA stories. Cursed will see Miller do something he hasn’t done for almost 30 years–illustrating someone else’s writing. Writer Thomas Wheeler will be collaborating with Miller to craft a female-led young adult reimagining of Arthurian legend, which has the potential to be really exiting, but also has a lot of scope to go wrong. Medieval-set stories are often used as a way to tell a tale that’s homogeneously white, and often very violent *cough Game of Thrones cough*. But Miller and Wheeler have the chance to embrace the fantastical elements of Arthurian lore and learn from other brilliant YA fantasy series that have garnered so much success, establishing a diverse reinvention that will need to stay away from some of Miller’s standard “Strong Woman” tropes that usually center on assault and hyper-sexuality.

I’m a huge fan of Carrie Kelley, who Miller introduced in the seminal The Dark Knight Returns. The first female Robin, Kelley was an immediate fan favorite, and her dynamic character design and tough-as-nails attitude saw her make a compelling compliment to Miller’s grizzled Batman. Miller already attempted to reinvent Kelley during the first issue of The Dark Knight III: Master Race when he–in a radical move–put Kelley in the cowl! Sadly, she never truly took on the Batman mantle, but it showcased Miller’s desire to center a young woman. Hopefully his Kelley OGN will expand on that, and though in the comics Kelley is as violent as her mentor and the city they protect, it would be fantastic to see a vulnerable and kinder Kelley. As for the look of the book, artist Ben Caldwell has a track record of creating fantastic young female protagonists like Hotdog Girl from DC’s prescient near-future Prez, so we can’t wait to see his vision of Carrie.

How do you feel about the potential of Frank Miller becoming a name in YA? Are you a huge Miller fan and think I’m being harsh? Or are you weary of the old guard of comics? Let us know below!

Images: DC Comics/WB/Dark Horse

Is it Miller time again?

A Sin City TV show, maybe?
Talking Dark Knight III.
8-bit Sin City!

THE LAST JEDI’s Kelly Marie Tran Sorts STAR WARS Characters Into Hogwarts Houses

Like so many of us, Kelly Marie Tran is a geek. When she was in studio for an appearance on Fangirling (which you can watch on Alpha), we decided to ask her very serious questions about Star Wars and Harry Potter. Like you do. We gave her a difficult, nearly impossible task, but she didn’t blink an eye. We asked her to sort various Star Wars characters into Hogwarts houses. Tran rose to the challenge like Harry facing Voldemort and sorted Finn, Kylo Ren, porgs, BB-8, Rey, and more into the school houses.

I don’t know about you, but now I’m picturing BB-8 wrapped up in a Ravenclaw scarf. It might not be practical for a droid to wear a scarf, but just imagine how cute he would look.

Tran landed on a decision for everyone with ease, except for Finn. She thinks he’s a Gryffindor or a Slytherin. I’d say the former. He didn’t really leave the First Order because of an ambition to climb ranks elsewhere, but he was resourceful in using Poe and Poe’s piloting skills to get away. That’s a Slytherin move. On the other hand, Finn displays bravery (of a kind) when he plans to leave the Resistance to find Rey and keep her safe. Because of Harry’s actions, I equate breaking the rules with being a Gryffindor, and Finn definitely does that. He’s hard to pin down; no wonder Tran has trouble making up her mind.

How would you sort Rey, Finn, Rose, and Poe? Share which houses you think they would be part of and your reasoning in the comments.

Featured Image: Lucasfilm

More sorting into houses!

An animal shelter that sorted its dogs into houses.
Harry Potter bath bombs that will sort you.
Daniel Radcliffe sorts celebrities.

Put Kylo Ren’s Shirtless Body on Your Body This Summer

Star Wars: The Last Jedi may no longer be in theaters, but in a way, it will always be with us. Literally, on Blu-ray and DVD, and figuratively in our hearts and souls as we collectively grapple with our feelings on everything from porgs to green milk. But perhaps nothing is seared into our eye holes quite like the reveal that was Kylo Ren without a shirt. A moment which, at its zeitgeist zenith, was a meme of epic proportions. But surely that moment has passed? THINK AGAIN. None can contain the might that is Kylo Ren’s slicked-up torso.

Now with summer right around the corner, you know what that means. It is time for hilarious novelty shirts that give you the Perfect Body. But why settle for boring abs when you could instead be everyone’s favorite human Pop-Tart, Kylo Ren? That’s right. For the low, low price of $23.08+ tax, you too can make all the Jedi girls extremely uncomfortable during your Space-Skype calls. Enjoy the sensation of knowing everyone is judging you for your fashion-forward sense of style when it comes to wearing your pants way too high. Marvel at the freedom of experiencing sultry oiled-up abs without the mess of actually dipping your body into vat of lubricant. Behold this shirt in all its glory, then head over to Cool Shirtz to get your own. Or don’t. I’m a writer, not a Space Cop.

Now if only Star Wars would set part of Episode IX on a beach planet that isn’t being destroyed in a war between an overpowered Empire and plucky yet desperate Rebellion, the cast could show us what swimwear looked like in a galaxy far, far away. For, um, science. Yeah. Science.

Are you going to don this Driver on your chest? Let us know in comments.

Images: Lucasfilm/CoolShirtz

Kylo, Kylo, Kylo…

ReyLo fight to the tunes of popular songs.
Kylo Ren reviews Rogue One.
Adam Savage as Adam Driver.

Montage of Animated Food Will Leave You Craving All Sorts of Cuisine

One of the most appealing aspects of animation is the unlimited possibilities of the medium. There are no constraints on who or what you can draw, or where you can go or what you can do there. Anything you can imagine can come to life. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also perfectly capture the most basic of life’s necessities, food, as this three-minute montage that will have you running to your refrigerator proves.

We came across this culinary collection of cartoon cuisine at Kotaku, and it was put together by the YouTube channel The Royal Ocean Film Society. It features tons of gorgeous, mouth-watering shots from Studio Ghibli movies like Spirited Away, Ponyo, and Castle in the Sky, just to name a few. In fact, there are so many this entire video could have just been dedicated to their best delectable moments. But there are also plenty of scenes from stop-motion films like Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anomalisa, Coraline, and Kubo and the Two Strings, as well as Disney and Pixar films like The Lion King, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles.



I am definitely going to need some ramen now. And also tomorrow.

Beyond showing us how good cartoon food can look, this video provided a very important lesson. You know how they say never go food shopping when you’re hungry? Well we can probably add to that “and never see a Studio Ghibli movie on an empty stomach.” Who can enjoy animation when you wish you could eat the screen?

What is the best looking food or meal you have ever seen in any animated film or TV series? Take a big ole bite out of our comments section below with your tastiest answer.

Featured Image: Studio Ghibli

More good eats for your mouth:

Rick and Morty apple pie is mercifully not Szechuan flavored.
A cheeseburger made entirely of cheese.
The 50 best cereals.

Millie Bobby Brown Cheers up Young STRANGER THINGS Super Fan on His Birthday

Most of us know what it’s like to feel like the least popular kid in school, because at one time or another, we have all been that kid. Because of this, most of us can relate to the story of young Stranger Things super-fan Aaron Alambat, which we learned about thanks the folks over at Bored Panda.

Aaron had a kick ass Stranger Things themed birthday party set up, complete with Demogorgon blood punch and “Upside Down” themed decorations,  but none of Aaron’s 8 invited schoolmates showed up for the festivities. Aaron’s sister Ayen went on Twitter and shared her disappointment, while showing off all the hard work Aaron’s family had put into making his Stranger Things birthday party worthy of the Hawkins’ Middle School AV Club.

my brother invited 8 of his classmates for his stranger things themed bday party & none of their punk selves showed up pic.twitter.com/Rw8wC5uNjo

— ayen (@ayenalambat) March 18, 2018

As it turns out, thousands of people read that message too, many of whom sympathized with Aaron’s plight.  One of those fans was none other than Stranger Things’  Eleven herself, actress Millie Bobby Brown, who then replied back via Twitter with the following message:

“What!!!!  Oh Well You can let them all know that everyone on behalf on Stranger things would’ve come! I think you’re awesome and next year I would like an invite… Please?”

What!!!! Oh Well You can let them all know that everyone on behalf on Stranger things would’ve come! I think your awesome and next year I would like an invite… Please?

Scott Snyder Explodes the DCU With New Justice League Comics

The first ever livestreamed DC publishers panel hit WonderCon this weekend, and we were there! Whilst most of the panel focused on the company’s new imprints–DC Zoom, Ink, Black Label, and Sandman Universe–Jim Lee and Dan DiDio didn’t disappoint fans when they pulled Scott “Spoiler Alert” Snyder on stage to spill the beans about a new line of Justice League books, which look to be out of this world… LITERALLY.

The new direction of the DCU will start officially on May 2nd, the Wednesday before Free Comic Book Day, with DC Nation #0. It’s a 25¢ comic book sampler showcasing “the next evolution of the DCU.” Brian Michael Bendis and José Luis García-López will have a short story that leads into Bendis’ upcoming “Man of Steel” series. The writer revealed that the upcoming Action Comics #1000 will “introduce a new villain who’s a real force of nature, a real threat to Superman. He’s Superman’s equal, if not better.” Also in DC Nation #0, Scott Snyder and Jorge Jiménez will introduce the threads of Justice League: No Justice, followed by Tom King and Clay Mann, who’ll focus on the Joker’s reaction to Selina and Bruce’s upcoming nuptials! Via video feed, Tom King teased that “when you have Batman and Catwoman about to get married and the Joker steps in the way, the whole world blows up.”

Snyder took the time to thank fans for their response and support to the recent era of DC books. “We were really nervous doing Metal. I was scared and Greg was scared, but we loved it and you guys showed up,” Snyder shared before beginning his fantastically spoiler-filled sermon about his new Justice League line. “There are things that we haven’t even seen yet that defy all kinds of rules about comic book storytelling,” Snyder smiled.

The main Justice League title spinning out of the No Justice miniseries will be written by Snyder, with art by Jim Cheung and Jorge Jiménez. It’ll see the Justice League back in the Hall of Justice, which will have portals to transport the JL around the newly expanded DC Universe. “I want this to be my superhero soap opera that showcases everything I’ve learned at DC,” Snyder told us. It’s not just the Hall of Justice that’s making its return though, because Snyder revealed that “if we’re using the biggest heroes in the universe, it only makes sense that we use the biggest villains in the DC Universe. I’m bringing back the Legion of Doom. It’s a double helix of awesome!” Snyder announced to cheers from the packed hall.

Snyder’s biggest reveal, though, was that that there’ll be two brand new ongoing Justice League books post No Justice. Justice League Dark, written by James Tynion IV with art by Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, and Brad Anderson, sees the cult classic team return, but this time led by none other than Wonder Woman! She’ll be joined by Swamp Thing, Zatanna, Detective Chimp, and Man-Bat in one of the wackiest and most fun lineups we’ve seen for a long time. “Justice League Dark is the biggest craziest magic book you can imagine. It’s the biggest magical war thrown into one place,” Snyder enthused.

The second new title is Justice League Odyssey, written by Joshua Williamson and drawn by Stjepan Šejić. It’s literally the Justice League in space, which is incredibly exciting, and the book looks to be totally different from anything else in the current DCU. “The Justice League realizes it has to be bigger and bolder,” Snyder told us. Led by Cyborg, Odyssey will also feature Jessica Cruz, Azrael, and Starfire as they team up with Darkseid, whom Snyder described as the “Hannibal Lecter” of the team. Color us intrigued!

Which Justice League books are you most excited about? Can’t wait to get to know more about Detective Chimp? Upset that Swamp Thing’s character design is obviously based on Alan Moore? Let us know below!

Images: DC Comics

In other comics news…

The rest of the DC WonderCon news.
A primer on the New Gods
Check out Catwoman’s wedding dress.

Spider-Gwen Takes on Venom in This Animated Funko Short

Funko Pop Vinyl figures are popular to collect and display, but the company is not opposed to people playing with them too. In fact, they even want to show you how it’s done, in collaboration with Marvel. We’ve seen a few of these shorts before, but earlier today at WonderCon, the latest one entitled “Rooftop Rock,” made its debut. It features a confrontation between two of the most popular characters in the spider-verse not named “Peter” or “Miles”: Spider-Gwen and Venom.

Because this is Funko and Funko is cute, things never get too violent between the hip hoodie-wearer and the soul-sucking symbiote. But that doesn’t mean tempers don’t flare.



Now you know. Venom hates MP3 players. And knowing Funko, a company which embodies the notion of infinite variants in infinite combinations more than any Vulcan could even manage, we might end up seeing a “rankled Venom” variant that looks like the one here when he’s under attack by soundwaves. Expect seven other 90-second animated shorts to follow this season, featuring the likes of Thor, Loki, Hulk, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, Captain America, Red Skull, Ant-Man, Hulkbuster, and Ultron.

What we’d really be curious to see would be Funko animated shorts based on some of their more adult properties. What would happen in a Funko Game of Thrones adventure, for example? And would Stanley Kubrick literally rise from the grave in a hellfire-infused rage if the Clockwork Orange Funko figures had some adorably animated adventures?

And how about you, our readers? What adventures have you taken your Funkos on? Please share, in comments.

Let’s get funky with Funko.

Jeff Goldblum fondles his Funko Pops.
The Shape of Water Funkos get poppy.
The latest Last Jedi Funkos.

 

DC Reveals All-Star Plans for Batman, Sandman, and New Comics Aimed at Kids

DC Comics has big plans for 2018, and at 10am on a chilly Saturday morning they shared them with those of us brave enough to battle the con traffic and get a seat for the inaugural DC Publishers Panel Live Stream at WonderCon. Chaired by Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, the panel hosted a selection of star talent and focused heavily on the newly announced creator curated imprints: DC Zoom, DC Ink, Black Label, and Sandman Universe.

Introducing DC Ink and Zoom’s EIC Bobby Chase, DiDio stated that the young readers and middle grade imprints are “our way to reach out to a different, younger audience who’re reading different books, manga, and graphic novels!” Bobbie Chase has been working on Zoom and Ink since 2012, and is clearly incredibly passionate about the new lines, adding “it’s fantastic, and it’s been a long time coming.” The massive success of DC Super Hero Girls has been a big part of why DC moved forward with Zoom and Ink, and Chase has gotten a who’s who of kids fiction for the new releases. “We’re working with some authors who’re at the top of their game and so well known in the middle grade book market. We’ve just got some really exciting people coming in,” Chase exclaimed.

DC Zoom is the middle grade line, which is aimed at readers ages 8-12, and Chase told us they’d be focused on “coming of age stories with a safety net, stories focused on kids learning about their world” and will include creators like Meg Cabot, Franco, Art Balthazar, Shea Fontana, Minh Le, and Dustin Nguyen. DC Ink is aimed at the young adult audience and the fantastic Mariko Tamaki was on hand to talk about the book she’s writing, with art from Steve Pugh, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. The story will see Harley as she finds her feet in Gotham, moving in with a crowd of drag queens as she deals with the encroaching gentrification of Gotham. “It’s been really amazing to have this freedom to write something this big at DC,” Tamaki said, smiling. “It’s really fun to have that space, to be grounded in the character. It’s about really staying true to the character whilst finding new ways to interpret her.”

After an exciting opening which promised a fresh, new, and necessary direction for DC, all eyes turned to Jim Lee as he opened up about his passion project, DC Black Label. The imprint will see DC attempt to harness the power and popularity of some of their cult classic comics like The Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke. The pair were joined on stage by Mark Doyle, who’s Executive Editor of both Vertigo and Black Label, to talk us through a video about the upcoming titles. Numerous creators appeared including Scott Snyder, waxing lyrical about his new Batman book at the imprint. “What black label means to me is freedom,” Snyder explained. “The story that we’re telling is a cumulation of all the storytelling that Greg and I have done on Batman, it’s how our Batman story ends.”

Finally it was on to Sandman Universe, which looks to be a massive expansion of the beloved comic. “Neil is just an incredible treasure trove of stories, and he created all of these incredible characters,” Doyle espoused before screening a video of Gaiman himself, who stated that “the four writers dreaming this dream with me are the best in the universe.” One of those writers, Nalo Hopkinson, joined Doyle on stage to talk about her new Sandman book that’ll introduce a new house to The Dreaming–The House of Whispers. On a recent trip to New Orleans, Gaiman told her that “I want you to take the toys I’ve created and tell your own stories,” which, for Hopkinson, was a dream. “I get to take the bits of Sandman that resonated with me and bring them back out,” she shared.

Which of the DC Imprints are you most excited about? Can’t wait to read a new Sandman book? Just wanna see some great YA DC comics? Let us know below!

Images: DC Comics

More DC Comics!

What you need to know about Krypton‘s Brainiac.
Rick Baker made a terrifying Joker bust.
How the New Gods  could reset the DC cinematic universe.