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DOCTOR WHO Star Ncuti Gatwa on His First Christmas Special and Fifteen’s Stylish Wardrobe

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After meeting Ncuti Gatwa’s delightful (and beautiful and flirtatious) Fifteenth in the Doctor Who anniversary special “The Giggle,” fans were beyond ready for his first full on-screen adventure. (It’s me, I’m fans.) Thankfully, we got our wish on Christmas Day 2023 with “The Church on Ruby Road,” a holiday adventure with baby-eating and singing goblins, a companion with a mysterious past, and Fifteen hitting the club in a kilt. What more could any of us want? We caught up with Ncuti Gatwa to talk about this Doctor Who holiday special, the Fifteenth Doctor’s style, his chemistry with Millie Gibson, working with Russell T Davies, and that very fun musical number.

Nerdist: “The Church on Ruby Road” gave us more insight into who the Fifteenth Doctor is in terms of his personality, style, and how he approaches problems. How much input did you have when it came to formulating your Doctor’s unique identity and aesthetic?

Ncuti Gatwa: It’s tricky. I find that question hard to answer because it was an ongoing process that I would figure out throughout season one. When I initially was approaching crafting Fifteen, I had this idea that I was going to watch every single Doctor and take a little something from each single one. And by the time that I’ve done that, I’ll have an idea of the extra thing that I want to add on, and then I’ll be the “super Doctor.” 

But I then was like, “Oh, they all seem to encapsulate everything. They’re all completely different from one another. Completely unique, but all instantly identifiable as the Doctor.” So I guess what they’ve done is just be themselves. And so that is what I have to do. I have to let the script guide me. It’s all there in [showrunner Russell T Davies’] amazing scripts. And I have to let that guide me and just try my best to stand on the shoulders of each one of my predecessors and the foundation that they’ve built for the character. I can only be my beautiful Black self. That’s all I can do. 

In terms of his style, I found a line that Ralph Lauren did with Morehouse College. They did this collaboration with HBCUs and I loved it. I was like, “That’s going to be perfect for my Doctor. It’s heritage, it’s Black, it’s everything that I want for this character.” And the production team were like, “We can do that, but we can also do a lot more. We can do something different for each episode, and we’ve cast you for a reason. You will just take all your fashion loving-ness and put it into the character.” And so I work with Pam Downe, who is the costume designer, and she is an incredible visionary and she shows me her sketches and we pick which one we want.

James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

I love that! Now, in this episode, the Doctor and Ruby Sunday got their own musical moment. It was such a delight. What was it like to prepare for and film that scene? 

Gatwa: There was no preparation. [laughs] Any production that I’ve done before, if you’re doing a song, you go to a recording studio, record it there, and then mime over what you did on the day [of filming]. And in anticipation of that scene coming up, I kept being like, “Oh, tomorrow will be the day that I go to the recording studio, or it’ll be tomorrow.” And then we kept getting closer to the day, and I was like, “Millie, we’ve not gone to the recording studio yet. When are we going to do that?” On the day of, they were like, “Here’s your mics, off you go.” 

Oh nooooo!

Gatwa: I was like, “Oh my God. You don’t even know if I can sing. What if I can’t?!”  But I guess they had trust and faith in us. What I love about working with Millie [Gibson] is how quick her mind is and that we’re able to bounce off each other. We’re both from the north of the UK and so we’ve got a similar banter and rapport with one another. And so we just instantly had to think on our feet and be like, “How do we make this…” The aim of the game is the Doctor and Ruby have landed in a situation that they don’t know and you need to think quickly on their feet to get themselves out of it. So it was a perfect inception moment.

Lara Cornell/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

It was brilliant. Your Doctor has this new lease of freedom and optimism about traveling, but he’s still kind of dealing with some residual pain from the past. How do you think that his newfound friendship with Ruby Sunday will help him heal and move forward?

Gatwa: Great question! I think that Ruby does what all the companions do—allow the Doctor to not be afraid of their feelings. They’re also like the vessel in which the Doctor replenishes themselves in a way… Because the Doctor has seen all of time and space and has been around forever, it’s a long, lonely road. And I think [the Doctors] keep themselves alive and fresh and curious about the universe and wanting to help and wanting to involve themselves through the eyes of this companion, through someone who’s never seen any of what he’s seen before. And within that he’s able to relive his youth in a way. Ruby is so instrumental in the Doctor’s journey this season in helping him step out of his comfort zone of being like a lone wanderer or wolf.

That’s amazing. I could be wrong, but I’d imagine that playing the Doctor would open the door for improvisation. Did you get a chance to do that, or even want to, during the holiday special? 

Gatwa: No, which was cool. I’m an actor who loves to improvise and that was my specialty at drama school. That was the class that I excelled in. Loved it. But that’s not the way that Russell works. It’s allowed for, and if it works, it works. But Russell is such a great writer and he sits with these scripts for months and months, maybe years. Some of these concepts that have come into his head have maybe been in there for years and have been stewing and cooking before they come out into the perfect puff pastry that they are. And so he’s got a really clear idea of how things should sound and how it should flow.

Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

I’ve said it before, but working with Russell is a little bit like whenever I did Shakespeare when I was doing theater back in the day. There’s such a specificity to the flow of it. It is almost like there’s an iambic pentameter within his monologues and within his speeches. There’s a rhythm to it, and it just works. And that was quite interesting for me being like, “Oh, I’m going to try and improv this.” And he’d be like, “Really?” And I’d be like, “Yeah, I’m going to try…” And then I’ll be like, “It doesn’t quite work.” It has to be what is on the page. The words are there for a reason, and it’s a real joy to honor them. Specificity as well as fun is the name of the game, I think, when tackling his script.

That is awesome. And you did a beautiful job. “The Church on Ruby Road” is a fun ride and I am grateful that the Doctor is you and looks like you. Your Doctor already means so much to so many fans.

Gatwa: Thank you. It’s an honor to hear that. Honor to chat with you.

The post DOCTOR WHO Star Ncuti Gatwa on His First Christmas Special and Fifteen’s Stylish Wardrobe appeared first on Nerdist.

Being a Stormtrooper Is Sweet with This Wearable Chocolate Helmet

Amaury Guichon is a Swiss-French pastry chef and chocolatier with years of history making world-class sweets. He also has millions of followers on social media, where he showcases his skills. Earlier in 2023 he applied his experience and knowledge to the world of Star Wars. Guichon used tempered chocolate and edible finishes to make a wearable chocolate stormtrooper helmet. Yes, the very detailed stormtrooper helmet in the thumbnail below is edible.

Constructing the chocolate stormtrooper helmet seems to be an exercise in patience. Guichon built up the design with layers of chocolate. He then sculpted and carved them into the perfect shapes. The above video shows the process. Construction involved chocolate in about every form. Tempered sheets of chocolate made up the base. Soft, almost clay-like chocolate helped form the curves. Molded chocolates gave the circular pieces on the sides of the helmet dimension. Guichon also used melted chocolate as a glue of sorts to attach elements to the helmet. We can only assume he was working in a room with frigid temperatures to stop the chocolate from softening and collapsing.

Amaury Guichon

We’re in awe of Guichon’s attention to detail. The stormtrooper helmet has a polished finish that would fit right into the Empire’s ranks. Though we shouldn’t feel surprised. One glance over Guichon’s offerings on YouTube reveals a bevy of creative and highly detailed chocolate designs. Next we hope he makes a wearable Mandalorian helmet.

The post Being a Stormtrooper Is Sweet with This Wearable Chocolate Helmet appeared first on Nerdist.

Everything We Know About Marvel Studios’ FANTASTIC FOUR Movie

When Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, lo those many years ago, that immediately meant all the X-Men characters could appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also meant Fox’s other (and let’s face it, far less successful) Marvel property, the Fantastic Four, was joining the fray. However, aside from a Reed Richards cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the FF have been MIA. But, hope is on the horizon! Marvel Studios has a feature film on the books as part of its mythical (and ever-changing) Phase Six roster, and here’s everything we know!

Marvel StudiosTitle

Right now, all branding and listing from Marvel indicates the movie’s title will be Fantastic Four. The logo is just the numeral “4,” so it’s certainly possible it will just have the title 4. However, that seems like pretty bad branding if you ask us.

Of the three previous Fantastic Four movies, two of them were just called Fantastic Four—despite the ill-fated 2015 movie’s logo making people call it “Fant-4-stic.” Do we think Marvel Studios wants to completely distance itself from the previous movies? It wouldn’t hurt, but for now, this’ll be movie three called Fantastic Four.

Fantastic Four‘s Plot

Zero idea currently what the plot of the movie will be. Not a sausage. Bugger-all.

Marvel ComicsBehind the Scenes

Fantastic Four is possibly the most in-flux title in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe slate. Marvel Studios president and primary producer Kevin Feige announced the movie at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. Marvel then named Jon Watts, who directed the three Tom Holland Spider-Man films for Sony and Marvel, in December 2020. Watts then stepped away from the project in April 2022, stating he was taking a break from superhero movies.

Then in August 2022, Marvel named Matt Shakman—who had directed WandaVision for Disney+—as Watts’ successor. Feige confirmed this at the D23 Expo in September that same year.

Later in September, Marvel said Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer were writing the script for Fantastic Four. By March 2023, Terminator franchise and Avatar: The Way of Water screenwriter Josh Friedman was at work rewriting the script. In October 2023, Cameron Squires’ name was added as co-writer.

The movie has a scheduled start of production for early 2024.

Marvel Comics/MaxFantastic Four‘s Cast

No cast for the movie has yet been officially announced. While John Krasinski played a Reed Richards from a separate universe in Multiverse of Madness, every indication is that he will not reprise the role in the FF movie.

Shakman said he would announce casting following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike. The industrial action ended on November 9, 2023. By November 15, rumors swirled that redhot actor Pedro Pascal, of The Last of Us and The Mandalorian, would play Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. However, by December 2023, no one had confirmed that.

Rumors have continued around the other members of Marvel’s first family. These include the likes of Vanessa Kirby and Jodie Comer as Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Woman. Stranger Things breakout Joseph Quinn was reportedly the frontrunner to play Johnny “The Human Torch” Storm, while The Bear‘s Eban Moss-Bachrach was rumored for Ben Grimm, the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing.

None of these rumors have been confirmed, however with the movie’s scheduled start date approaching, we expect it some time soon.

Marvel ComicsFantastic Four‘s Release Date

Fantastic Four currently has a drop date of May 2, 2025.

The post Everything We Know About Marvel Studios’ FANTASTIC FOUR Movie appeared first on Nerdist.

15 Fictional Pop Culture Foods We Wish We Could Eat

Stories have the power to transport us anywhere at anytime. However, even the best, most immersive ones come with a major downside: they can’t actually fill our bellies. No matter how much we crave dishes we see in shows, movies, books, and video games, we’ll never get to eat them because they’re not actually real. If we could, which ones would we want to eat? To find out we ranked the 15 fictional foods we want served to us.

Note: We only considered dishes that either use a) fictional items or b) never provide a formal recipe/description so we can recreate ourselves. That’s why you won’t see any of Studio Ghibli‘s amazing meals or items like 30 Rock‘s Cheesy Blasters and Homer Simpson’s Moon Waffle.

15. The Broodwich (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)Adult Swim

If Master Shakes says this is “the best d*mn sandwich” he’s ever had, you know it’s good. If only we could get The Broodwich with bacon without being sentenced to an eternity of suffering in the Broodwich Dimension when we finish it. (Seriously, just skip both the sun-dried tomatoes and the free brain surgery and you’ll be fine.)

14. Churron (Broad City)Comedy Central

Considering cronuts lived up to the hype, the thought of a churro crossed with a macaron is enough to have us lining up before dawn on a Saturday. If only we could really do that for Broad City‘s churron, a colorful fictional take on a hip-new pastry fad.

13. Lickety Splits (Angry Beavers)Nickelodeon

I do not know what that delectable tree goo inside a log of Lickety Splits is, but I do not care. All I know is no beaver was ever angry slurping up that sloppy mixture. Meanwhile not being able to try this myself will forever make me furious.

12. Reptar Bars (Rugrats)Nickelodeon

“Chocolate, and nuts, and caramel, and green stuff?” Yeah, green stuff. What could that stuff that turns your tongue green actually be? I know what the real-world versions used, but those very different, non-canonical candies don’t count. All that counts is the mystery ingredient Rugrats teased us with. That’s the “stuff” I need, because I am green with envy I never will.

11. Meiloorun Fruit (Star Wars)Lucasfilm

There are lots of fictional foods in the galaxy far, far away we’d love to nosh on, but none more so than Meiloorun fruit. That melon-like treat, a delectable on many worlds, was delicious enough Ezra Bridger risked the Empire’s wrath by stealing it from Imperial shipments. You must be one tasty fruit if the threat of treason isn’t enough to stop people from wanting you.

10. Brontosaurus Ribs (The Flintstones)Hanna-Barbera Productions

No living creature has dined on brontosaurus ribs for at least 145 million years. Yet there was Fred Flinstone enjoying them during his show’s theme song, mocking us with his gigantic order. I’d willingly tip my own car over just to try a few morsels of the best prehistoric barbecue ever put to screen.

9. Yovo Fruit (Avatar)20th Century Studios

The amount of juice that shoots out of a Yovo fruit in Avatar is enough to make us travel across the universe. But it’s the noise Sully makes when eating one that really puts this over the top. His reaction to biting into a Yovo is guttural, as though he’s chewing on a piece of literal nirvana. Forget unobtanium, the whole movie should have been about humans trying to steal Pandora’s Yovo supply.

8. Roast Beast (How the Grinch Stole Christmas!)CBS

Fictional meat good enough to serve in Whoville on Christmas is a fictional meat good enough to make our list. I’d swear off roast beef if I could sit down to a single roast beast meal. I wouldn’t even care if the Grinch did the carving. (Though that would be cool.)

7. Fruit From a Narnia Toffee Tree (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Normal toffee can be sublime. So how good do you think fruit from a toffee tree growing in a magical land created by a lion god tastes? Exactly. Exactly. And this is why Aslan is the best and Jadis the White Witch was the worst. Aslan provided toffee fruit. Jadis manipulated children with Turkish delight, a merely “okay” candy.

6. The “Grey Stuff” (Beauty and the Beast)Disney

Has there ever been a better pitch for any food than a singing French candelabra describing a mystery foodstuff as “delicious” via a fully choreographed song and dance number performed by magical household items? No. There has not.

5. 1-Up Mushrooms (Super Mario Bros.)Nintendo

Why so high? It’s a giant mushroom that grants you an extra life. Literally, if you eat one and then die you instantly come back as though nothing ever happened. This could be the worst-tasting fictional food in all of pop culture history and it wouldn’t matter. We could have so much fun(gi) if we could dine on a constant source of immortality.

4. Lembas Bread (The Lord of the Rings)New Line Cinema

How did the elves of Middle-earth stay so fit and eternal? Was it because they’re magical beings closer to the light of Eru Ilúvatar than any dwarf, human, or hobbit? Maybe, but it might also have been the lembas bread. I don’t even care how good it tasted. Imagine the freedom of feeling full after just a few nibbles of anything.

3. Everlasting Gobstopper (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)Paramount Pictures

There are so many amazing desserts in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, it’s almost impossible to choose just one. We say “almost” because a delicious candy made by the world’s greatest confectioner that both lasts forever and is the course of international intrigue is too good to pass up. Every kid who has ever seen this movie wanted nothing more than than they wanted an everlasting gobstopper.

2. Krabby Patties (SpongeBob Squarepants)Nickelodeon

How good are Krabby Patties? The vegetarian sea burger’s secret recipe has literally ruined Plankton’s entire life. Can you imagine how tasty something has to be to do that? Something so tasty that it drives someone to madness? It must taste like pure hope combined with raw spite on a bun.

1. Scooby Snacks (Scooby Doo)Warner Bros.

Remember what it was like as a kid when you learned Santa Claus isn’t real? If someone ever definitively told me what goes into a Scooby Snack I’d feel the exact same way, only infinitely worse. Not knowing why Shaggy and everyone else loves Scooby Snacks, even though they look like dog treats, is a big reason they’re among the most iconic fictional foods ever.

The post 15 Fictional Pop Culture Foods We Wish We Could Eat appeared first on Nerdist.

The 10 Greatest Superman Comic Book Runs, Ranked

He may not be your favorite superhero, but if he’s not, your favorite superhero exists because of him. When Superman debuted in Action Comics #1 in 1938, it changed the comic book industry forever, starting a wave of superhero media continuing to this day. And while many other characters have overshadowed him recently, with Superman: Legacy on the way, don’t ever count out the big guy’s pop culture staying power. But with 85 years of comic book runs from incredible creators, which ones are the very best? Here is our ranking of the best comic book eras in the Man of Steel’s long career.

DC Comics10. Mark Millarwith Dave Johnson, Andrew Robinson, Walden Wong, and Killian PlunkettDC Comics

Writer Mark Millar, known today for edgy fare like The Authority, actually started his American comic book career writing several wholesome Superman stories. These were contained in the pages of Superman Adventures, based on the ‘90s cartoon. As fun as these were, his next most famous Superman story became his most revered, 2003’s Superman: Red Son. Although a non-continuity Elseworlds story, this series explored a world where Kal-El landed in the Soviet Union, not Smallville. In Russia, cape wears you he grew up as a tool of the state.

What’s fascinating about this story over other Elseworlds is how Kal-El’s innate sense of fairness and goodness shines through. No matter where they raised him. It helped that the art by Dave Johnson, Andrew Robinson, Walden Wong, and Killian Plunkett was consistently top-notch too. Most writers on this list have far more Superman stories under their belt than Millar. So it says a lot that mostly because of just three issues, he left his mark on the Man of Steel.

Issues in Mark Millar’s Superman Run

Superman: Red Son #1-3 (2003) Superman Adventures #19, 25-27, 30, 31, 36, 52 (1998-2000)

9. Kurt Busiek with Stuart Immonen, Carlos Pacheco, Jesus Merino, Pete WoodsDC Comics

Writer Kurt Busiek was already a comics legend for his runs on Avengers and Marvels before going to DC and taking on Superman. But when he finally did, his stories were among the best ever in the modern era. His first Superman story was an Elseworlds tale, Secret Identity. This four-part series was set in our world, centering on a guy whose parents, unfortunately, gave him the name Clark Kent. But when Clark actually starts developing powers like the fictional man he’s based on, everything changes. This mini-series follows Clark throughout his life as he struggles to live up to the fictional legend of Superman, and what his legacy means. Artist Stuart Immonen does some career-best work here, and it’s a truly fantastic read.

After that incredible run about the “fake” Superman, Busiek took on the real deal in both Action Comics and Superman. His “Up, Up, and Away” arc (co-written with Geoff Johns) focuses on what it would be like for Clark Kent to still be heroic after a year with no powers, emphasizing what made him “super” wasn’t his Kryptonian genetics alone. It also explored what it would be like to take up the cape after a year as an ordinary man. Busiek’s later “Camelot Falls” storyline really explored Kal-El’s biggest weakness outside Kryptonite: magic. The late artist Carlos Pacheco brought an unparalleled sweeping grandeur to Superman during this run. Busiek’s era is one that definitely deserves more attention.

Issues in Kurt Busiek’s Superman Run

Superman: Secret Identity #1-4 (2004) Action Comics #837–843, 850, 852–854 (2006–2007), Superman #650–675, 712, Annual #13 (2006–2011)

8. Mark Waid with Leinil Francis YuDC Comics

Mark Waid has written some of the best Flash and Justice League stories for DC, and many argue his Kingdom Come mini-series is one of the best Superman stories ever. And while it is, since it focuses on the DC Universe as a whole, we’re not counting it as just a Superman tale. And yet, Mark Waid still makes the cut, despite mostly writing random Superman issues here and there until 2003. In that year, he and Leinil Francis Yu created the 12-part mini-series Superman: Birthright, which retold Superman’s origin story for the 2000s.

Waid made Superman more a citizen of the world than just America in Birthright, and introduced the concept that the “S” shield as the Kryptonian symbol for hope. Waid writes about Superman’s innate goodness in a way that’s not goofy or unbelievable, but truly endearing. Yes, it’s yet another Superman origin story. And not even our favorite on this ranking! But Superman’s origin story is retold and reinterpreted so many times because frankly, it’s that great. It’s practically Biblical. And Birthright is one of the best versions of this story told in the comic book medium.

Issues in Mark Waid’s Superman Run

Superman: Birthright #1-12 (2003-2004)

7. Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleasonwith Doug MahnkeDC Comics

2011’s “New 52” reboot of the DC Universe elevated some characters, but others got the shaft. While Grant Morrison’s New 52 Action Comics was a brilliant reimagining, it strayed too far in some ways. Taking away his marriage to Lois Lane after 20 years, pairing him romantically with Wonder Woman, and wearing armor to boot, didn’t work long term. So in 2016, DC began their “Rebirth” era, and no one benefitted from this more than Superman. Writer Peter Tomasi, who was an editor at DC before writing monthly comics, brought back the classic nature of Kal-El, and actually improved him, together with co-writer and series artist Patrick Gleason.

During Tomasi’s run, mostly illustrated by co-author Patrick Gleason and Doug Mahnke, Clark Kent was married to Lois Lane again, and she and Clark had a young son, Jonathan Kent. Lois and Clark were raising young Jon in Smallville, foreshadowing TV’s Superman and Lois. Peter Tomasi focused his stories on the Kents as the coolest parents on Earth, alongside all the big world-ending battles. For years, Superman has been the avuncular “dad” of comics, and Tomasi and Gleason brilliantly made that literal with his Clark, who became the father everyone wished they had. Superman fans were lucky to have this era last a good four years.

Issues in Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason’s Superman Run

Superman Vol. 4 #1–25, 27-28, 33-39, 42-45, Annual #1, Special #1 (co-written with Patrick Gleason, August 2016 to July 2018)

6. Jeph Loebwith Tim Sale, Ed McGuinnessDC Comics

Writer Jeph Loeb has written some of the most defining tales for both Batman and Spider-Man, but also for the Man of Steel as well. This run began in the 1998 four-part mini-series Superman For All Seasons, which leaned heavily into the cozy, Americana aspects of Clark Kent’s story. Tim Sale, Loeb’s frequent collaborator on series like Batman: The Long Halloween, drew every page like it was sunrise over a Kansas cornfield. Each of the four issues featured narration by someone close to Superman, showing us how they saw him. Loeb and Sale portrayed the vastly different ways Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Lana Lang, and Pa Kent viewed Superman, and his role in the world.

Not to be overshadowed by his past work, Loeb wrote a long run on the main Superman title, with artist Ed McGuinness. Loeb complemented McGuinness’ broad cartoony art with stories that suited it. These included a return to Krypton, and Joker getting the powers of Mister Mxyzptlk. Most memorable though? When Lex Luthor harnessed the prejudices of the American people in an effort to become President of the United States. (You know, stuff that only happens in comics). Loeb would eventually write some stellar Batman/Superman stories in a subsequent team-up book. But his solo Man of Steel adventures remain all-timers.

Issues in Jeph Loeb’s Superman Run

Superman For All Seasons #1-4 (1998), Superman vol. 2 #151-182 (1999-2002)

5. Geoff Johnswith Gary Frank, Adam Kubert, Pete WoodsDC Comics

Almost no one is better at DC Comics in rescuing lost elements of past continuity and giving it modern relevance than writer Geoff Johns. After tackling Green Lantern, JSA, and Teen Titans, in 2006 he turned his attention to Superman. Somehow, he found his way to incorporate all of Superman’s lost eras into a cohesive whole. At first, he had help from his professional mentor Richard Donner, who co-wrote his first Superman arc with him. Donner just so happened to direct Superman: The Movie, don’t ya know?

Working with amazing artistic collaborators like Gary Frank, Johns gave Clark and Lois an adopted Kryptonian son, restored Kal-El’s connection to the Legion of Super-Heroes, and combined every version of Brainiac into the ultimate iteration of the classic villain. He even made Bizarro fun instead of annoying again. The best chapter in Geoff Johns’ run was the six-part Secret Origin. A new retelling of Clark’s oft-told backstory, it found a way to unite everything. There were elements of John Byrne’s ’80s take on Clark Kent, to the 1978 film, to Smallville, and more. All combined into the best version of Superman’s origin story yet. The Geoff Johns run was relatively brief in the grand scheme of things, but it made an incredible impact.

Issues in Geoff Johns’ Superman Run

Action Comics #837–840, 844–846, 850–851, 855–873 (2006–2009), Superman: Secret Origin #1-6 (2009-2010)

4. Grant Morrison with Frank Quitely, Rags Morales DC Comics

Grant Morrison is one of the greatest voices in comics, and has written definitive runs on most of the famous superheroes at this point. And many feel their All-Star Superman is the most definitive take on the character yet. And we’re inclined to agree that, as its title suggests, it’s absolutely stellar. Produced with frequent collaborator Frank Quitely, Morrison told a 12-part story about Superman facing his own impending death, after his cells absorb too much solar radiation on a rescue mission.

All-Star is a celebration of everything we love about Superman, further solidifying him as a man who does good just without tragic motivation. Morrison knows how to embrace the wacky Silver Age side of Superman with earnestness, and somehow, things like Krypto the super dog don’t seem so silly anymore. Almost no part of Superman’s extensive mythology isn’t celebrated in some way in All-Star. This is a comic about the world’s oldest superhero that just might make you cry at the end.

And then, there’s the polar opposite of All-Star, Morrison’s 2011-2012 “New 52” reinvention of the character for Action Comics with artist Rags Morales. Morrison went back to 1938 for their take on Clark’s early years, making him a “hero of the people.” He’d stop the corrupt and abusive, only with godlike-level powers. Eventually, the “New 52” Superman went hard sci-fi, explaining how Superman got into a costume that was an alien suit of armor. That part of the book strays a bit far from what we want from Superman on the regular, but as an Elseworlds tale, it rocks. They are easily the Man of Steel’s most important 21st-century creative voice.

Issues in Grant Morrison’s Superman run

All-Star Superman #1-12, (2005-2008) Action Comics Vol. 2, #0-18, (2011-2013), Superman and the Authority #1-4 (2018)

3. John Byrnewith Jerry Ordway, Marv WolfmanDC Comics

Despite massive success on the big screen, by the early ‘80s, comic book Superman was seen as a relic of a bygone era. He was too squeaky clean, too powerful to write stories around. Everything about him felt stale. After DC Comics cleaned house continuity-wise with Crisis on Infinite Earths, they gave Superman a major overhaul, going “back to basics” with one of Marvel’s most famous creators at the helm, John Byrne, who was partially responsible for the success of the X-Men.

Byrne revamped Superman’s origins and mythos in his 1986 Man of Steel mini-series, stripping away much of the goofier Silver Age aspects of his character (no Superboy career, so super pets, etc.) There weren’t thousands of other Kryptonians anymore. He truly was the Last Son of Krypton. Following Man of Steel, he wrote and drew a relaunched Superman and Action Comics, where he revamped both Superman’s supporting cast and villains for the modern era. He even un-killed Ma and Pa Kent, giving Clark a world in Smallville to go home to.

DC Comics

Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway worked in tandem with Byrne on Adventures of Superman at the same time. No one character got a better upgrade in the Byrne era than Lex Luthor, who went from cackling mad scientist to megalomaniacal CEO and one of the most powerful men on Earth. Much of the ‘90s Superman: The Animated Series was based on Byrne’s run. Although his run only lasted two years and roughly 50 issues, it remains a high watermark in Kal-El’s career. And it put Superman comics back on the map.

Issues in John Byrne’s, Jerry Ordway’s, and Marv Wolfman’s Superman Run

The Man of Steel #1-6 (1986), Superman Vol. 2 #1-22, Action Comics #584-600, Adventures of Superman #424

2. Mort Weisinger’s Silver Age Erawith Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel, Al Plastino, Curt SwanDC Comics

Most of the names on this list are modern, adhering to what we think of as a creative team “run” on a specific title. This practice mostly didn’t start until Marvel in the ‘60s. Before then, different writers and artists tackled superhero characters, thinking readers didn’t care who was writing or drawing them. But in Superman’s case, the main creative force behind his stories for 15 years was a man named Mort Weisinger. Under Weisinger’s tenure, the Superman mythology expanded greatly, more so than in any other time.

Technically, Weisinger started on the Superman books in 1954, introducing spin-offs for Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane. But in 1958, his genius really started to flourish, when Weisinger hired Otto Binder, who wrote the bulk of Captain Marvel stories for Fawcett Comics. He was mostly paired with artist Al Plastino, whose happy whimsical style was the perfect complement to Binder’s take on Superman. Most of the covers for the Binder/Plastino Superman issues were by Curt Swan, arguably the definitive Superman artist of all time. Jerry Siegal, Superman’s co-creator, came back to DC in 1959 as well, and wrote much better stories for the character in the Weisinger era.

DC Comics

From 1958 to 1969, Weisinger introduced elements like Supergirl, Krypto the Super Dog, the Legion of Super-Heroes, many shades of Kryptonite, and Kal-El’s powers coming from Earth’s sun. Then there are the villains, like Brainiac, Bizarro, and Parasite. Also, the Phantom Zone and its criminals, including General Zod. And although he didn’t create it, Otto Binder (under Weisinger’s guidance) greatly expanded the importance of the Fortress of Solitude. Under his watch, Krypton went from a footnote in Superman’s history to a full fleshed-out culture. Eventually, all those additions accumulated into too much (hence the post-Crisis Byrne reboot.) But almost no one contributed to Superman lore more. And silly as they are, these stories are just fun. And all foundational to what we think of today as Superman.

Issues in the Mort Weisinger Superman Era

Action Comics #241- 392, Superman Vol. 1 #120-231, Adventure Comics #247-396 (1958-1970)

1. Mike Carlin’s “Triangle Era”with Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Karl KeselDC Comics

Our number one slot of Superman eras is a weird one, because it doesn’t belong to one creative team. It belongs to several, all working in concert over several years under one editorial voice. That of Mike Carlin. After John Byrne left the Superman books in 1988, sales dipped, and Clark Kent was back to where he was in terms of fan apathy. With three Superman titles still being published a month, group editor Mike Carlin suggested a format that would tie all these separate titles into one grand narrative. Carlin instituted a small triangle on the cover of each issue, saying where each issue of Superman, Adventures of Superman, and Action Comics fell in each respective year’s timeline. And it worked.

Writer/artist Dan Jurgens, industry vets Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway, Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Karl Kesel, and a few more largely forged this “triangle era” in its early days. With the addition of Superman: Man of Steel, the saga was now a weekly soap opera, something even X-Men and Spider-Man at Marvel weren’t at the time. And it flourished because each title’s individual teams talked to each other and truly coordinated under Carlin’s direction. This was something unprecedented in mainstream superhero comics.

DC Comics

The first year of the “triangle era,” 1991, didn’t see a big bump sales-wise. Despite the huge change to the mythos of having Lois Lane finally learn Superman’s true identity, as she and Clark become a true power couple at last. At a frustrated editorial meeting early in 1992, Mike Carlin jokingly said “What if we just kill him?” And then, they did. “The Death and Return of Superman” created a massive event in comics, rarely seen before or since. Sales soared, and the Superman titles became an addictive weekly fix and top DC seller for years following. The “triangle era” technically lasted until 2002, but really ran out of steam around 1997. This was when Superman got electric powers, a gimmick story best forgotten. But for those first five years, it was as good as the Last Son of Krypton’s stories ever were. Or may ever be again.

Issues in the Superman “Triangle Era”

Superman Vol. 2 #51-176, Action Comics #661-785, Adventures of Superman #474-598, Superman: The Man of Steel #1-119 (1991-2002)

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Before Van Gogh, POKÉMON Released an Edvard Munch Collection Featuring ‘The Scream’

Pokémon fans will surely have followed the saga of this year’s Pokémon collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The collectible “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” card mimicking Van Gogh’s style sent fans and collectors into quite a frenzy. It was almost too much for anyone involved. But this actually wasn’t Pokémon‘s first collaboration with fine art. No, in 2016, Pokémon teamed up with the Tokyo Art Museum to celebrate Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” Let’s take a look back at the collection.

Pokémon‘s Collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum Celebrated “The Scream”The Pokémon Company

In 2018, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum was home to an exhibit titled “Munch Exhibition – The Scream of the Resonant Soul.” Fittingly, this exhibit began on October 27, 2018—so it arrived just in time to celebrate Halloween. The Tokyo Art Museum decided to collaborate with Pokémon on promotional cards and merchandise. While at the outset, Pokémon and Edvard Munch don’t seem to have an obvious connection, the truth is Pokémon is FULL of existential dread. If you take a closer look at many of its Pokémon they have morbid origins, histories, and behaviors. Just look at Cubone, which literally wears its mother’s skull on its head. Another fine example is Phantump, whose official description notes, “After a lost child perished in the forest, their spirit possessed a tree stump, causing the spirit’s rebirth as this Pokémon.” Who could better understand Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” than these Pokémon?

In any case, the exhibit marked the first time Munch’s “The Scream” was displayed in Japan and so it was fitting to greet it with some Pokémon love. The Tokyo Art Museum collaborated with Pokémon to create five cards as well as other merchandise in celebration of the exhibit. It’s hard to say if this Munch collaboration created as big a frenzy as the Van Gogh collaboration did, but it seems the cards did not become available online in 2018.

Pokémon‘s Edvard Munch “The Scream” Pikachu, Eevee, and Other Cards Click To View Gallery The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company

Pokémon ultimately released five cards emulating Munch’s piece. These “The Scream” cards depicted Pikachu, Mimikyu, Psyduck, Eevee, and Rowlet. The Pikachu “The Scream” card was released to visitors of the exhibit at specific times. Meanwhile, the Mimikyu Scream card came with a mini card file that depicted the Munch versions of Pikachu and Eevee. Psyduck, Eevee, and Rowlet’s “The Scream” Pokémon cards were all available as gifts with expansion pack purchases Pokémon Center/Pokémon Store locations.

sakura japan tokyo shop

In addition to these “The Scream”-inspired cards, merchandise such as keychains, phone cases, handkerchiefs and charms were also sold. And, of course, our favorite piece—the Edvard Munch “The Scream” Pikachu plush. We NEED him.

sakura japan tokyo shopAre Pokémon‘s “The Scream” Cards Still Available?

Alas, this collaboration happened in 2018, so the Munch Pokémon cards are long gone from official channels. However, you can still find them on the secondary market… But we suspect the price of them will make you scream.

Here’s to Pokémon’s next fine art collaboration; may it be even more gorgeous than the last.

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Here Are Our First Photos of Live-Action Jet, June the Bounty Hunter, and More From Netflix’s AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Series

If you’re an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, you probably know that everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. But when it comes to this franchise, everything really changed when Netflix announced it would be making a live-action series adaptation of the beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. A live-action version of Avatar was attempted once before, but it did not go too well. Hopefully, though, this time around, we’ll all see better results. We’re crossing our fingers that this live-action outing will go well for Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and the rest of the Gaang. It’s what the characters and the fans deserve.

Netflix

To celebrate the winter solstice, Netflix has released some new images of characters from the live-action series. These include live-action Jet, the rash rebel antihero, June the bounty hunter and just a hint of Nyla, her shirshu, the earth bender Mechanist, Sokka and Katana’s Gran Gran, and new character Yukari alongside her daughter Suki. This hints at an exciting expansion of Suki’s role in the live-action Avatar series, and we can’t wait. We also get another look at Aang.

Click To View Gallery Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix

Here’s everything we know about Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Title

Like the original animated series, Netflix’s adaptation will also be called Avatar: The Last Airbender.

NerdistAvatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Series’ Plot

It seems likely, given casting choices and other teases, that the plot of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s first season will follow the animated series’ Book One: Water, otherwise known as its first season. That means we’ll see Katara and Sokka discover Aang frozen in ice and follow their journey together as Aang learns water-bending and everyone learns about friendship. Prince Zuko will, of course, be grumpily chasing the trio down. The season will most likely culminate with an epic battle at the North Pole.

Officially, the synopsis for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender only shares the broad strokes of what we’d expect from this live-action adaptation. It reads:

The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope.

But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.

NetflixBehind the Scenes

Albert Kim acts as showrunner, executive producer, and writer on Avatar: The Last Airbender. Jabbar Raisani and Jet Wilkinson are set to direct.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Series’ Cast

Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation is slated to have quite the cast. Leading the series are, of course, our heroes (and anti-hero) Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko. Gordon Cormier will play the Avatar, Aang. Kiawentiio will take on the occasionally bossy, though always kind, Katara. Ian Ousley will play the goofy yet good-hearted and heroic Sokka. And Dallas Liu will star as Prince Zuko, the exiled prince of the Fire Nation who has an obsession with honor and also a lot to learn.

Click To View Gallery Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix

Joining the core four are Daniel Dae Kim as the villain of our tale, Fire Lord Ozai, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as the wise Uncle Iroh, and Elizabeth Yu as the devlish Princess Azula.

Click To View Gallery Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netlix

Of course, many other castings have been announced because the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is brimming with incredibly cool characters. Learn about them all by checking out our article on the full Avatar: The Last Airbender cast.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Series’ Release Date

Netflix has not yet shared the exact release date for its Avatar: The Last Airbender series. However, we know this adaptation will arrive in 2024. In the meantime, you can get ready for this new adventure by rewatching the original version of the series on Netflix.

Originally published on October 24, 2023.

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AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Caps a Cinematic Universe in Shruggable Fashion

After all the reshooting, rebooting, and release date rejiggering, right as 2023 comes to a close, James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is finally out. The behind-the-scenes story of the movie has been full of intrigue. Stuff had to be reshot to put Ben Affleck in it, then reshot to take him out. The high-profile Amber Heard trial means she probably had several scenes cut. The movie moved from release date to release date. In the midst of all this, a company-wide relaunch means Aquaman 2 is the unplanned ending to the entire DCEU. With all of that, you’d hope the movie was a trainwreck, or better yet, a triumph. It’s neither.

Warner Bros.

It’s a very odd place in which I find myself when it comes to this review. As with most films I review, I try to approach the movie on its own merits first and foremost. Then, if applicable, I think about the greater place in its respective franchise or cinematic universe. With Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, I can’t help but think about it in terms of the strange, uneven, and ultimately failed endeavor that was the DC Extended Universe. For every unexpected success—Wonder Woman and the first Aquaman—we had a bevy of bloated, po-faced attempts to ape the Marvel model. It was a cinematic universe without a clear vision, ethos, tone, or level of quality.

Aquaman made an ungodly amount of money in 2018, which surprised literally everyone. Jason Momoa’s charisma, the vibrant Atlantean vistas, and James Wan’s innovative and frenetic action sequences all worked in its favor. I will say this for both that movie and its sequel: they remain gleefully unrelated to the other DCEU movies. Sure, Arthur Curry appears in other DCEU products, but none of that infiltrates his story.

Warner Bros.

This movie finds Arthur and Mera (Heard) married and with a newborn baby. He’s finding the business of ruling Atlantis not everything it’s cracked up to be. He spends most (or all) of his evenings drinking beer at his dad (Temuera Morrison)’s lighthouse. Unfortunately, David Kane, a.k.a. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) still wants revenge from what happened in the first movie. To that end, he has found a mystical black trident which gives him terrible powers. It also affords him knowledge of where to find a long-buried fuel source. That ore causes the Earth to overheat, ruining the surface environment and poisoning the underwater inhabitants. If he succeeds, it’ll free a dormant army of the dead. It’s bad, is what I’m saying.

In order to fight Manta, Arthur will need the help of his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), who has been imprisoned since the events of the first movie. Can the unlikely family put aside their differences for the good of the planet? Oh, also Randall Park is here as a scientist under Manta’s employ who very quickly decides he doesn’t want to be involved but can’t leave. Park’s Dr. Shin gets a whole lot of screentime, more even than Black Manta, and certainly more than either Mera or Nicole Kidman’s Atlanna.

Warner Bros.

The biggest issue with the movie is you can see all the fingers in the pot. Arthur has a baby, but the baby only matters for the plot. Most of the theming of the first movie—family, duty, romance—take a backseat to lofty environmental messaging, which itself feels pretty tacked on. Mera as a character only exists to get Arthur out of trouble at the last second. The Orm-Arthur relationship is the most fleshed out in the movie, but it isn’t set up at all in the early part of the movie. And Manta is a half-note villain who doesn’t even get to be his own person because a ghost monster has him in a thrall.

Who knows how much the actual plot changed during the many years of production and post-production? As with way too many of these movies, even if you hadn’t heard of all the studio issues, you’d be able to tell something was off. I didn’t love the first Aquaman movie but at least it felt of a piece with itself. All of Momoa’s frat-dude charm here feels oddly out of step with the rest of the movie, but the movie doesn’t even comment on it. He doesn’t succeed or fail because of that, he doesn’t grow or change. And because nothing really resonates, the humor doesn’t feel earned.

Ultimately, who cares? I don’t want to keep kicking this movie, or this franchise, when it’s down. Wan, Momoa, and the rest of the crew have been put in a truly unenviable position. Most of us know this is the end of the franchise, there will be no more Momoa as Aquaman. (Caveat: unless this movie somehow makes bank the way the first one did.) This isn’t the worst movie in the franchise by a longshot. It’s not even the worst DCEU movie to come out this calendar year. It’s simply the last one.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the most rare of movies: a franchise entry released with no hope of furthering a franchise. DC movies need a clean break, and it just stinks for everyone involved they announced the clean break with four more movies on the horizon. It’s enjoyable enough, it has a few decent action sequences. If you want more Aquaman, go see it. At least it has a CGI seahorse.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ⭐ (2.5 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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LORD OF THE RINGS LEGO Rivendell Set Comes to Life in Epic Stop-Motion Video

Earlier in the year, Nerdist went on its own epic journey and built LEGO’s Rivendell set. As expected, the results were astounding. The build features all the hallmarks of The Lord of the Rings movies’ elven sanctuary, including the bridge and gazebo where Arwen and Aragorn share a moonlit moment and the Council Ring where our favorite fellowship forms. Not to mention, it comes with 15 Minifigures. In short, it gives you everything you need to recreate sequences from the beloved franchise in LEGO form. And in a gorgeous stop motion video, shared by Warner Bros. itself, DigitalWizardsStudios did exactly that. Watch as LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings Rivendell set transforms into a stop-motion animation masterpiece that reimagines all our favorite cinematic scenes.

DigitalWizardsStudios notes, “Join the Fellowship of the Ring for a building adventure of a lifetime as you relive all of your favorite Rivendell scenes thanks to LEGO 10316’s Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set. This stunning 6,167-piece set comes to life in beautiful LEGO stop-motion animation like you’ve never seen before!”

DigitalWizardsStudios

And we have to agree. Is this not exactly the sort of imaginative creation this The Lord of the Rings LEGO set was begging for? The stop-motion video really brings to life the beauty of the Rivendell LEGO build… And of the movies. After all, not just any dialogue can remain effortlessly elegant in LEGO form. And we must say, watching the LEGO One Ring drive a bunch of Minifigures to argument is a singular experience. In short, we’re ready for the LEGO The Lord of the Rings Movie to release any day now. Can you imagine LEGO Frodo interacting with LEGO Batman?

DigitalWizardsStudios

For those who want to know more about how this epic LEGO Rivendell stop-motion video was created, DigitalWizardsStudios has just the videos for you. In addition to the end result, they’ve shared two other fun LEGO recordings. First, you can experience a speed build of the LEGO Rivendell set, noted for ASMR purposes. We do enjoy the clicking of the blocks and the satisfying way they come together. And second, the creators have shared a “Making of” behind-the-scenes video so you can check out exactly what went into making the seemingly effortless animation.

Now we just need someone to yell, “And my LEGOs!” as Frodo heads off to Mordor.

Feature Image: DigitalWizardsStudios

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Batman Villains We Want in the DCU Arkham Asylum Series

Apart from the upcoming series about Colin Farrell’s Penguin, Matt Reeves is bringing another extension of the Batman world to Max. But as James Gunn recently revealed, this new series won’t take place in the Gotham City of The Batman. It will take place in the new DCU. It will focus on the inmates of Arkham Asylum, Gotham City’s home for the criminally insane. Most notably, the Dark Knight’s very long list of rogues. Naturally, the show’s setting brings to mind one important question. Which Batman villains will we soon see roaming the halls of this Arkham Asylum series? We have some ideas on who should make the cut.

What We Know So Far About the Arkham Asylum SeriesDC Comics

In an interview, Reeves had the following to say to Games Radar about the upcoming Arkham series. Note: Reeves said this when the Arkham show was still a spinoff of The Batman, although we feel much still applies.

We’ve actually now [moved] more into the realm of exactly what would happen in the world of Arkham as it relates coming off of our movie and some of the characters and their origins…almost leaning into the idea of, it’s like a horror movie or a haunted house that is Arkham. Again the way that Gotham is a character in the movie, I really want Arkham to exist as a character. You go into this environment and encounter these characters in a way that feels really fresh.

DC Comics

While this is a very early description of the show, we have some ideas on how we think it should play out. An Arkham Asylum series would be perfect as an anthology, with each episode dedicated to a different villain. The episodes would reveal how the villains came to be and how they wound up in Arkham. This idea perfectly sets up the Bat-villains for the DCU’s eventual Batman-centric The Brave and the Bold movie. In a haunted house, there are many rooms to visit. And one by one, you meet new scares along the way.

In this imagining, the new DCU Batman would play a small part in the show, as it would be from the villain’s perspective. You wouldn’t necessarily even need that same actor under the mask as on the big screen. This could work similarly to how Pedro Pascal appears on The Mandalorian. You could get name actors for each Arkham Asylum villain, and then later use the spinoff characters in The Brave and the Bold. Let the series do the heavy lifting for the villain intros.

Use Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth as InspirationDC Comics

As for which Batman villains we think will appear in the Arkham spinoff? Well, we’re going to explain why we didn’t choose some big ones. Harvey Dent/Two-Face as a person is too intimately tied to Bruce Wayne, so DC should reserve his story for a movie. Established and overused villains in live-action like the Joker should act as more peripheral characters. Ra’s al Ghul and Bane are international terrorists and not Arkham material. But so many other classic bad guys are all long overdue for a live-action appearance. We feel a little inspiration from Grant Morrison’s graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth is in order. That darker, psychological take on Arkham influenced all its portrayals going forward. With that in mind, here’s who we think should get the spotlight in a future Arkham Asylum series.

Which Batman Villains Will Appear in the Arkham Series?

Here are the villains we most hope to see in this new DCU series.

Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane)DC Comics

Professor Jonathan Crane, who first appeared in 1941, is one of the many Batman villains who holds up a twisted mirror to the Dark Knight. Like Batman, he has an obsession with fear. But he uses fear as a weapon of control over the weak, not to scare the wicked, as Batman does. Despite his status as a college professor, one fired for his unethical experiments, the Scarecrow lost his grasp on reality. Mainly because of exposure to his own fear toxin. A whole episode based on his origins, and how Batman locked him up at Arkham, seems like an easy decision to us.

Man-Bat (Kirk Langstrom)DC Comics

The Man-Bat is far more than just Batman’s name in reverse. First appearing in Detective Comics’ 400th issue, along with Ra’s al Ghul, he ushered in a new age of Batman villains for the Bronze Age of comics. Although, he was more of a tragic figure than a straight-up villain. Kirk Langstrom was a scientist who tried to give humanity the sonar sense of bats. But his experiments on himself led him to become a hybrid human/bat creature. He acts as a combination of Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde with a dash of werewolf. He’s not technically insane, but the experiments on his body have left him with no control of his mental faculties, leading him to be locked away in Arkham. Far too sci-fi for the Matt Reeves The Batman universe, Man-Bat is a perfect fit for the DCU.

The Mad Hatter (Jervis Techt)DC Comics

Since his original appearance in 1948’s Batman #49, Jervis Tetch has been a classic villain who disguises himself in the garb of innocent childhood iconography. He’s a genius scientific inventor who develops mind control tech that’s extremely advanced. Alas, he does not wish to use his genius for good. His obsession with all things Alice in Wonderland and his true belief that he’s the Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll’s story make him one of Batman’s most unhinged foes—and most dangerous.

Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley)DC Comics

Pamela Isley has been a legendary Batman villain, ever since 1967. Some perceive her as an antihero, because her targets are anyone who contributes to deforestation and climate change. Having said that, Ivy murders anyone who gets in her way. So, good cause or not, she’s not really a hero. If this were set in The Batman world, Matt Reeves would likely go in a grounded direction for her. But in the DCU, she could absolutely be someone who controls giant Venus flytraps and such. A whole episode focusing on Ivy’s rise and fall, and eventual Arkham lock-up, would be perfect for this series. Not to mention, we could see her meet a certain psychiatrist named Harleen Quinzell. Those two have quite the history all their own.

Professor Hugo StrangeDC Comics

This is another must-have Batman villain if you’re doing a show based on Arkham Asylum. Because as a psychiatrist, Professor Hugo Strange was actually on staff at Arkham for years. Before being committed to being a patient there, that is. It probably had something to do with his penchant for making “monster men” out of corpses. An action like that will result in the label “criminally insane.” He is one of only a handful of villains to have deduced Batman’s secret identity as Bruce Wayne. Because of this, and the fact that Strange once treated the other Arkham inmates as his own patients, it makes him an ideal candidate for any Arkham Asylum series.

Mr. Freeze (Victor Fries)DC Comics

As Matt Reeves has indicated in recent interviews, there is probably a good way to tell the story of Victor Fries in a more compelling way in live-action. The tale of a scientist who loses all emotion except rage when he loses his wife Nora in a terrible accident. He’s one of the great tragic villains in Batman history, and an entire episode from his point of view would be incredible. In fact, we’d root for Paul Dini, father of the modern version of Freeze in Batman: The Animated Series, to write the episode. No one understands Victor better than he does. Just please, skip any ice-related puns.

Professor Pyg (Lazlo Valentin)DC Comics

Here’s a villain that is a somewhat recent creation. Lazlo Valentin is as dark as Bat villains get. Wearing a creepy pig mask straight out of a horror movie, he has a criminal fixation with the myth of Pygmalion—especially its twisted ideas about physical perfection. His obsession leads him to kidnap people and perform surgery on them, transforming them into living drones. It’s really twisted stuff, but perfect for the “haunted house” vibes of an Arkham Asylum series. Professor Pyg appeared in live-action before, butwe think this is the chance to do Pyg right and not pull any punches.

Clayface (Matt Hagen)DC Comics

Many Batman villains have been named Clayface, going back to the 1940s. But for an Arkham Asylum series, we think we’d go with the most popular version of the character, Matt Hagen. His popularity is a result of his longevity in the role of Clayface, but also the fact that he was the version introduced in Batman: The Animated Series. In animation, he was an actor disfigured in an accident, who uses an experimental drug to make his appearance look normal, but also to shapeshift into looking like anyone. But the side effects of the drug turn him into a creature of literal sentient mud, raging against the world. Hagen winds up in Arkham, although others use his name while incarcerated. Too sci-fi for The Batman world, he’s perfect for a DCU that has metahumans in it.

Together, these Batman villains could work perfectly for the anthology characters for this Arkham Asylum series. Once fully introduced, we could see them meld into the world of James Gunn’s new DCU, perhaps led by Joker and Riddler. It sounds like an exciting journey and potentially chilling journey to us.

Originally published on March 11, 2022.

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