Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 371

JOKER: FOLIE à DEUX Shares New Looks at Joker and Harley Quinn for Valentine’s Day

The unexpected comic book movie blockbuster of 2019 was Todd Phillips’ Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role of Batman’s #1 nemesis. The movie earned a billion dollars at the box office and won Phoenix an Academy Award for his role as Arthur Fleck. No one saw all that coming for the relatively smaller budget and very adult-skewing R-rated film. But when you make that much money, a sequel is inevitable.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Todd Phillips shared two new looks at the movie and its central pairing. We’re not sure if we hope our day is full of love quite like this, but we are excited to see more of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.

Here’s everything we know about the Joker sequel.

Title

Isn’t it beautiful?

Todd Phillips reminding us to rewatch Joker and get ready for #JokerFolieADeux pic.twitter.com/loJjviyiLI

— DC (@DCOfficial) October 3, 2023

The official title for Todd Phillips’ sequel to his 2019 blockbuster hit is officially Joker: Folie à Deux. Which means, in French, “Joker: Shared Madness.”

Joker: Folie à Deux‘s PlotWarner Bros.

Right now, we know little of the plot for the Joker follow-up. Other than the fact that it will feature the Joker and Harley Quinn together. Considering how loosely the first film played with DC Comics’ mythos, don’t expect this one to be any different. They explored the origin of the Joker/Harley relationship in the classic Batman: The Animated Series episode “Mad Love,” and then translated (more or less faithfully) in the first Suicide Squad movie. We expect something a little more out of the box this time for Joker and Harley.

Warner Bros.

For those concerned, Peter Safran and James Gunn have assured fans the movie will remain in the DC Universe, though it will carry an Elseworlds project tag. That means it will live on, but it won’t work into the main timeline of the DC Universe.

Joker: Folie à Deux‘s CastWarner Bros.

Aside from the returning Joaquin Phoenix as Joker/Arthur Fleck, and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, only a handful of other actors have been confirmed thus far. Brendan Gleeson has also joined the cast, as has Catherine Keener in a “major” but still unknown role. Jacob Lofland has also joined up, as someone associated with Arkham Asylum.Also officially joining the cast is Industry‘s Harry Lawtey.

Behind the ScenesWarner Bros.

Director Todd Phillips is reuniting with his original Joker co-writer Scott Silver for this new continuation.

Joker: Folie à Deux‘s Release Date

The Joker sequel is set to premiere on October 4, 2024.

Originally published on December 12, 2022.

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Taco Bell Will Release MTN DEW Baja Blast Gelato Nationwide

If there’s one thing Taco Bell fans can count on (besides $20 dollars getting you enough food to feed a small village) it’s that the fast food chain remains dedicated to serving you MTN DEW Baja Blast anyway it can. From hot sauces to adult-beverages, that signature flavor profile can kick up any foodstuff. It also turns them into an unusual yellowish-green treat unlike any other treat, something that really stands out. That’s certainly true of the latest Taco Bell offering that’s soon to hit Taco Bell stores nationwide. Adventurous customers will be able to order up a dish of MTN DEW Baja Blast gelato.

Taco Bell

Oh madone! We first heard about MTN DEW Baja Blast gelato. when Taco Bell announced it teamed up with its long-time collaborator MTN DEW to test a first-of-its-kind option for the restaurant in August of 2023. The MTN DEW Baja Blast gelato was, at that point, available exclusively available at the Taco Bell in Irvine, CA (4101 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612). And it was only around “for two weeks or while supplies last.”

At the time, we bet it wouldn’t last for two weeks. How could it? Because while this isn’t the first frozen Baja Blast treat, it is the strangest. The regular menu Baja Blast Freeze seems pretty normal in comparison. There’s something very different about drinking a strange-colored liquid versus eating it. Especially gelato of all things. We needed to try it for ourselves, and now we’ll finally be able to. Taco Bell is bringing the Baja Blast gelato to restaurants nationwide.

the baja blast gelato is better as a gelato than as a soda imo

thanks @AlexManSD for inspiring me to get taco bell for lunch so i can try this pic.twitter.com/q63gvcAw46

— sumi 🌙.✦ (@sumichu) August 31, 2023

An official release shares, “Taco Bell fans asked, and now the brand is delivering! First tested in 2023, the delectable gelato will be making its nationwide debut, giving fans more ways to celebrate the Baja Blast 20th year anniversary. The creamy and delicious treat is infused with the iconic BAJA BLAST Tropical Lime flavor and is a perfect complementary addition to any cheesy, spicy, saucy order on the Taco Bell menu.”

We’re excited to try this MTN Dew Baja Blast gelato. But we’re even more excited for the next wild thing MTN DEW will put its favorite drink in. If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that we can always count on Taco Bell to serve MTN DEW Baja Blast in any way it can.

Originally published on September 1, 2023.

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Who Is the Fantastic Four’s Robot Sidekick, H.E.R.B.I.E.?

In the official casting announcement from Marvel Studios for the long-awaited Fantastic Four, we saw all of the members of Marvel’s First Family. That includes a cute little robot handing the Thing a cup of coffee. That would be our first official confirmation of H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot, a character from Marvel’s Fantastic Four comics. He’s been both loved and hated by the Marvel Comics fanbase because he once replaced a prominent member of the team. Here’s everything you need to know about the Fantastic Four’s robot sidekick H.E.R.B.I.E. and his Marvel history.

Marvel StudiosWho Is the Fantastic Four’s Robot, H.E.R.B.I.E.?Marvel

Similar to iconic characters like Harley Quinn and Jimmy Olsen, Marvel created H.E.R.B.I.E. for outside media before incorporating him into the comics. H.E.R.B.I.E., which stands for “Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics,” first appeared in the 1978 New Fantastic Four Saturday morning cartoon. He effectively replaced Johnny Storm/the Human Torch on the team. Despite rumors for years that H.E.R.B.I.E. was created so impressionable young kids would not light themselves on fire emulating the hero, that was not the true reason. The rights to a Human Torch film were at another studio, so the producers of Fantastic Four simply couldn’t use him. This was why they created Firestar for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends two years later.

Marvel

The animation studio behind New Fantastic Four, DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, knew they needed a replacement for Johnny Storm. After all, this wasn’t the Fantastic Three. Although never specifically stated, a cute little robot sidekick debuting a year after Star Wars‘ R2-D2 captured everyone’s hearts is likely not a coincidence. Stan Lee created H.E.R.B.I.E. specifically for the cartoon, and Jack Kirby, who was designing characters for the new show, came up with the design. H.E.R.B.I.E. was Lee and Kirby’s last collaboration on a Marvel character together. Voice acting legend Frank Welker, the man behind Scooby-Doo, Megatron in Transformers, Garfield, and dozens more, was the voice of H.E.R.B.I.E. The series only lasted one season, consisting of 13 episodes.

How Did H.E.R.B.I.E. Join the Fantastic Four? Marvel

In 1979, a year after his TV debut, writer Marv Wolfman and artist John Byrne introduced H.E.R.B.I.E. into the comics. His first canonical appearance was in Fantastic Four #209, in August 1979. His comic book origin is that Mister Fantastic and Master Xar of the planet Xandar created him. They intended that this little robot could help them find Galactus. They were hoping for help from the Devourer of Worlds to stop the villain called the Sphinx. In a fun bit of meta-commentary, Wolfman said that Reed designed H.E.R.B.I.E. to look like the robot used as part of the in-universe Fantastic Four cartoon show. Supposedly, Johnny did not sign his likeness rights to the animation studio, as he was out of town, so they had to create a replacement for him. Reed Richards then designed the real H.E.R.B.I.E. to look like his animated counterpart.

MarvelThe Death and Rebirth of the Fantastic Four’s H.E.R.B.I.E.

This is where things get complicated and even more meta. The villain Doctor Sun, an enemy of Master Xar, had his consciousness trapped within Xandarian computers. He transferred his mind from those computers into H.E.R.B.I.E.’s system. The new robot mascot was effectively Doctor Sun’s sleeper agent to take out the team. Eventually, he was exposed, and Dr. Sun abandoned H.E.R.B.I.E.’s body, entering one of the computers in the Baxter Building, the Fantastic Four’s headquarters. Now himself again, H.E.R.B.I.E. sacrificed himself to stop Dr. Sun.

Marvel

The entire storyline was writer Marv Wolfman playing with the fans’ dislike of H.E.R.B.I.E. by making him an engine of destruction for the team. When the true H.E.R.B.I.E. sacrifices himself to save them, he knew readers would end up liking the character they once hated. Reed rebuilt H.E.R.B.I.E., but after a year or so, he disappeared from the comics. In more recent years, H.E.R.B.I.E. only made sporadic appearances. He usually appeared as a high-tech babysitter for Reed and Sue’s children, Franklin and Valeria Richards. Eventually, Reed Richards invented a more advanced version of H.E.R.B.I.E. This robot was H.U.B.E.R.T., short for Hyper-Ultronic Brain Employing Randomized Tracings. A H.E.R.B.I.E. Easter egg appears in the extended cut of the 2005 Fantastic Four. He’s also popped up in some modern animated shows.

H.E.R.B.I.E. in the MCU Fantastic FourMarvel

Since we know so little about the MCU Fantastic Four, it’s hard to say what role H.E.R.B.I.E. will play. The image Marvel released has a version of H.E.R.B.I.E. that seems to roll around on the ground, and not fly. Having said that, we didn’t know R2-D2 could fly until one day he just did. It could be that Marvel Studios and Disney want their own cute little robot, a version of BB-8 who talks. Even if H.E.R.B.I.E. plays a minor role in the film, we imagine Marvel will get a well-known actor to voice him. Possibly Frank Welker will come back? After all, he’s still working. That would be the ultimate Easter egg. We imagine that with movie exposure, H.E.R.B.I.E. will make a comic book comeback as well. Maybe this time, the fans will be nicer.

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DUNE 2 Cast Interviews Get Spicy | Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler & More

Dune: Part 2 stars Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), Rebecca Ferguson (Jessica), Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Harkonnen), Dave Bautista (Beast Rabba), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), and director Denis Villeneuve sit down with Nerdist’s Maude Garrett ( @maudesworld ) to talk sequels, popcorn buckets, and more!

1:34 – Dune’s Spectacle and Action
5:44 – The Women of Dune
13:01 – The Villains of Dune
20:24 – Fun Stories from the Set
22:54 – Dune Part 3?
24:47 – The Boys Scare Josh Brolin

Editor’s note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks

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STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Sets Release Date for Final Season

The intergalactic journey of U.S.S. Discovery is coming to an end. Paramount+ has revealed that it is ending Star Trek: Discovery with the upcoming fifth season of the show. The fifth and final season of series will officially release on April 4, 2024. At the fan convention CCXP, we saw a clip from the upcoming final season—a season that will see Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Discovery‘s fifth season wasn’t necessarily meant to be the end. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, additional filming was set to help craft a conclusion for the series. Discovery was historic for many reasons. Debuting in 2017, it was the first streaming series in the franchise’s history. It was also the first Trek series since the cancellation of Enterprise some 12 years earlier.

Discovery launched a whole world of Trek in the streaming world, first on CBS All Access, then on its successor, Paramount+. This lead to Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and most recently, Strange New Worlds. Of course, it was also the first Star Trek series with an African-American woman in the lead, and the Trek series with its first regular trans character.

Paramount+

Discovery was unique in Trek canon for several reasons. It began as a prequel to the original series, set some ten years before the time of Kirk on the Enterprise. But at the end of season two, they propelled the starship Discovery over 900 years into the future. This allowed the show to explore a completely different era in the Star Trek timeline. It was also unique in that the lead character was not a Captain or Commander. But she eventually evolved into taking command of the ship by the end of the third season. It will be interesting to see if Star Trek remains in this time period for future series, or returns to the past.

When Will Star Trek: Discovery‘s Fifth and Final Season Release?

As mentioned, the final season of Star Trek: Discovery has set its Paramount+ release date for April 4, 2024.

Originally published on March 2, 2023.

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A Big Threat Emerges in Latest GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Trailer

Know what will never get old? Watching giant monsters fight. We’ll also never tire of watching giant monsters team up to fight other giant monsters. That’s exactly what we’re going to get in the next chapter of Legendary Picture’s Monsterverse. But the latest trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire promises to give us more than just action. It will go deep into the history and lore behind these two icons, in a battle that will see them come together to save both themselves and everyone on Earth from a terrifying enemy.

Anything that can make King Kong and Godzilla afraid is something we want to see. What nightmares lurk deep below the waves? The film’s official synopsis provides insight into how this next installment in the franchise will provide answers to some very big questions. It will also introduce the biggest threat to humanity yet. From Warner Bros. and Legendary:

The epic battle continues!  Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new adventure that pits the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence—and our own. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire delves further into the histories of these Titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

Warner Bros./Legendary

The film reunites the Godzilla vs. Kong team of director Adam Wingard and writer Terry Rossio. The movie also boasts a fantastic cast with some big names of its own. Godzilla vs. Kong stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle are back for more monster mayhem. Joining them this time are Dan Stevens (Legion), Alex Ferns (The Batman), and Fala Chen (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire smashes into theaters March 29, 2024. On that day we’ll once again learn why we never get tired of watching giant monsters fight other giant monsters. So long as the right giant monsters win.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Ian McDiarmid Confirms Palpatine Had ‘Sith Sex,’ But Doesn’t Want to Think About It.

The final chapter in Star Wars’ Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker, was controversial, to say the least. Perhaps most controversial was the choice to bring back Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine, a.k.a. Darth Sidious. It was so controversial, that Poe Dameron’s line “Somehow, Palpatine returned” has become a meme that won’t die. (Appropriately). Now, in an interview with Empire Magazine, celebrating 25 years of The Phantom Menace, McDiarmid doesn’t see his return as anything but proof that the disfigured Sith Lord always had a contingency plan. Also, he chimes in on if Palpatine had sex. After all, Rey is his granddaughter, right? Here’s what he had to say:

I felt that Palpatine always had a plan B – probably a plan C, D, E, and F as well. And he was an expert in cloning, so…

Lucasfilm

They also asked McDiarmid about just how Rey, a granddaughter, came about. Does this mean Palpatine, you know… does the deed? McDiarmid seemed to not want to discuss Sith sex too much, saying, “Please don’t pursue that line too vigorously. But yes, he does [have sex]. It’s a horrible idea to think of Palpatine having sex in any shape or form. But then, of course, perhaps he didn’t.”

In The Rise of Skywalker novelization, we learn that Rey’s father Dathan was a failed clone of the Emperor. These were also called “strand casts.” He did not naturally conceive a son. (This might have been relevant information for the film). McDiarmid must have some vague ideas about this, because he added “Maybe it’s all to do with midi-chlorians – and don’t ask me what those are.”

Lucasfilm

One thing is for sure. A lot of current Star Wars is bending over backward to logically explain how Palpatine was always planning for his eventual return as a clone. Both The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch have touched on this recently. We think it’s to show that Palpatine was always prepared in case Darth Vader turned on him, as Sith apprentices naturally do. He knew he’d need a new body to house his evil essence. They drew inspiration for this from the classic ’90s comic Dark Empire, where Palpatine used cloning to return to life after Return of the Jedi. We expect season three of The Bad Batch to explore this even more. As long as it’s in flashbacks, we’re always game for more McDiarmid as the Emperor—as long as we don’t have to see him smooch anyone.

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Who Is Feyd-Rautha From DUNE? Everything You Need to Know

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune sequel is on the horizon, and with it comes one notable character left out of Part One: Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Fans of David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation will remember Sting in this memorable, villainous role. Who could forget that spiky orange hair, tire-like underwear, and energetic flamboyance? 

In Villeneuve’s version, it’s Austin Butler’s turn to go bad—very bad. The recent Oscar-lnominee looks to provide a whole different spin on the character. Gone is the camp and color. This Feyd-Rautha is all black-and-white venom. And, like his fellow cinematic Harkonnens, his clean head and harsh features make for a menacing sight. If nothing else, Villeneuve knows how to cut a striking figure.  

Warner Bros./Legendary

If you’re familiar with Frank Herbert’s novel, then you already know Feyd-Rautha is one of the most deplorably evil characters in the Dune universe. Which is saying a lot, given his exceedingly evil family, some of whom we met in Part One. 

But if you haven’t read the book or watched Lynch’s movie, you might be wondering: who is Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and how does he fit into the story of Paul Atreides? Here’s everything you need to know about the character ahead of Dune: Part Two. 

Feyd-Rautha’s Origins in the Dune Universe, Explained

Feyd-Rautha was born with the surname Rabban but is in fact part of the Harkonnen family. He’s the son of Abulurd Rabban, brother of Glossu Rabban (Dave Bautista), and nephew and heir of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), the primary antagonist of Dune: Part One. The Baron saw great potential in Feyd from a young age, preferring him to his older brother—which resulted in an understandably complicated family dynamic. He brought the boy from his home on Lankiveil to Giedi Prime, intending to groom him as the worthy successor of the Harkonnen dynasty. 

But his worthiness isn’t by accident. Like Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), Feyd is the product of the breeding program established by the Bene Gesserit, the mystical sisterhood that secretly controls much of the Dune universe. The Bene Gesserit intended for Feyd to marry the daughter of Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) and produce an heir: the Kwisatz Haderach. The Kwisatz Haderach was meant to be a male Bene Gesserit with the memory of all of his male and female ancestors, and with the power to bridge space and time. The union of Harkonnen and Atreidies would also resolve the long and bitter conflict between the two houses. 

Feyd-Rautha Is a Disturbance of FateWarner Bros./Legendary

This plan was thrown into disarray when Lady Jessica betrayed Bene Gesserit orders and birthed a son, Paul, instead of a daughter. (Jessica, a Bene Gesserit herself, has the power to control the sex of her children.) Because of this choice, Feyd-Rautha and Paul instead become fated rivals, locked in a duel of politics and prophecy. 

While the two share many attributes—thanks to their noble upbringings, education, and combat training—they are by nature quite opposite. Where Paul is kind, loyal, and empathetic, Feyd is ruthlessly cruel, brutal, and self-serving. He’s even willing to kill his own family if it means rising to the top. In many ways, Feyd-Rautha is like Paul’s dark-sided doppelgänger. Two halves of a Bene Gesserit breeding-program made whole.  

We see evidence of how Dune: Part Two will portray this side of Feyd in the trailers. Butler—strikingly hairless and brooding, rendered in monochrome—emits a feral scream as he fights in a massive gladiatorial arena. He looks as chilling as his reputation, a porcelain snake ready to strike his prey. And Feyd-Rautha is indeed a worthy enemy to the boyish and gentle Paul. 

How Feyd-Rautha Fits Into Dune: Part Two

Though Feyd was absent from Dune: Part One, he’ll play a large role in the sequel. His Bene Gesserit genes mean that he’s of great importance to the order—and therefore the plot. We know that Léa Seydoux will play Margot Fenring in Part Two. She’s a Bene Gesserit envoy with a key role in Feyd-Rautha’s story. Margot was sent by the sisterhood to help preserve Feyd’s genetic material through seduction. And she also uses the Voice to encode in him a fail-safe word that can, upon hearing, cause paralysis. We see their interactions in the trailer for Dune: Part Two, so this storyline will likely play out just like it does in the book. 

But Margot is one small part of Feyd-Rautha’s story. In Herbert’s novel, Feyd also rivals Paul for a place in the Imperium. Originally, the Baron wanted to create a marital alliance between Feyd and Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), eldest daughter of Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), to set the table for political interference. He planned to seat Feyd-Rautha on Arrakis, overtaking his brother Glossu (who invades the planet and takes control in Part One, under the Baron’s guidance), and elevating Feyd’s savior status.

Warner Bros./Legendary

This, the Baron believed, would allow the Harkonnens not only access to the throne and the ability to influence it, but would secure the house’s overall dominance in the Known Universe. Of course, this is an epic science-fiction story with many moving pieces. Therefore, not all goes according to plan. The Emperor grows suspicious, alliances are tested, and Feyd hatches his own plan for Harkonnen dominance. 

A Dance with Destiny Between Paul and Feyd

Paul, on an empirical infiltration mission of his own (along with a host of other important, messiah-esque things), eventually comes to a head with his rival Feyd. We see glimpses of this moment in the trailers, too. Feyd pointing his blade at Paul’s chest. Paul in opposition, crysknife in hand. Eyes locked, bodies mounting—the two of them entwined in a twisted dance of fate. 

We won’t spoil how things end up for Paul and Feyd-Rautha. But we can’t wait to see how Butler handles it. The promising young actor, fresh out of the Elvis suit that made him famous, has a lot to live up to. Feyd-Rautha is a frightening, sadistic character with a bloodlust that rivals his Baron uncle. How can he stack up to Stellan Skarsgård’s massiveness, in terms of intimidation? And how will he play against the more delicate Chalamet? Can he beat out Sting as the Feyd-Rautha we remember forever? 

We’ll all find out together when Dune: Part Two arrives in theaters on March 1, 2024.

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DC and Marvel to Reprint Their Legendary Crossover Event Comics

For decades, the two titans of comic book publishing, DC and Marvel, would occasionally cross over for special event comics. But we haven’t had one of these in over 20 years. The previous crossover comics have remained out of print, available only via the back issue bins at your comic shop. Now, Marvel and DC are reprinting these beloved comics at last, in two massive hardcover omnibuses collecting almost every single crossover, including the ’90s DC Versus Marvel event, and its fallout, the fused-together Marvel/DC Amalgam universe. Both omnibuses will be coming out this summer. Here’s what we know so far about the DC and Marvel crossover comics reprint.

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus DC Comics/Marvel Comics

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 starting from 1976’s Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000’s Batman/Daredevil. The collection includes stories from some of comics’ most revered talents. Names like Dennis O’Neil, George Pérez, 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 Comics/Marvel Comics

Specific issues include are Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27 (Batman vs. the Hulk), 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 (Superman and Spider-Man), 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.

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus DC Comics/Marvel Comics

This collection 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. Among the creators are Peter David, Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, Dave Gibbons, Ron Marz, José Luis García-López, Gary Frank, Bill Sienkiewicz, Claudio Castellini, and more. This represents one of the most fun and unlikely periods in comic book history.

DC Comics/Marvel Comics

This omnibus collects the 1996 DC Versus Marvel series, issues #1-4, and the subsequent follow-up one-shots. Included is 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. We imagine that the rest of the Amalgam issues like Amazon (Wonder Woman and Storm) and JLX (Justice League and X-Men) are also included. There will also be “a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.”

No JLA/Avengers…Yet.DC Comics/Marvel Comics

Now, arguably the most famous of the Marvel and DC Crossovers is not included here. We’re talking about JLA/Avengers. That 2004 event comic was the biggest and last of the crossover events. It was written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by the legendary George Pérez. When Pérez announced his terminal diagnosis in 2021 the two publishers rushed a very limited-run reprint for charity. But it sold out almost instantly. We can only hope that the legendary title receives its own new deluxe edition. That’s one book that should never go out of print.

The DC Versus Marvel and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age omnibuses both hit on August 6, 2024.

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SUITS Spinoff, SUITS LA, Will Star Stephen Amell

Suits seems to be the topic of many recent conversations, even though it has been off the air for quite some time. That fact hasn’t stopped the USA show from dominating streaming charts, though. Suits has landed at number one on the Nielsen Streaming Top 10 more than any other series. So, it’s no surprise that networks have taken note. And now, NBC has greenlighted a pilot for the Suits spinoff series Suits: LA. Arrow star Stephen Amell will serve as the lead in this spinoff. We’ll see if lightning can strike twice.

USA

Here’s what Variety had to share about the Suits spinoff series. It notes that Suits: LA will follow Ted Black “a former federal prosecutor from New York, who has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles.” And further adds that the spinoff logline reveals. “His [Ted Black’s] firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a stellar group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while events from years ago slowly unravel that led Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved.”

Deadline reports that Stephen Amell has been cast as the lead in Suits LA and will play the aforementioned Ted Black. The publication further adds that “Ted Black is described as a charismatic force of nature who puts his own needs above others. Fifteen years ago, the former New York prosecutor joined forces with his old buddy, Stuart Lane, to build an L.A. law firm that specializes in criminal and entertainment law.”

The CW

As of now, there is no further cast information available. Could Meghan Markle return in this Suits offshoot? That would really be something. We’d also love to see more from Gina Torres. We’ll have to wait and see. What we do know is that this spinoff is in good hands, with Suits’ original creator returning to write and executive produce.

It’s an interesting time for the once-dominant USA set. Monk got a revival movie in late 2023, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. And now, Suits will return to the courtroom in this spinoff. Personally, we have to vote for a White Collar renaissance next. The time has come to let Neal, Peter, and Elizabeth live happily ever after together. In the meanwhile, we’ll keep our eye peeled for more from Suits: LA.

Originally published on February 2, 2024.

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