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03/17/16 @ 8:59 pm EST
A Writer’s Commentary: Corinna Bechko talks Lords of the Jungle #1 (of 6), on sale now from Dynamite. Cover is by Alex Ross. Interiors by Roberto Castro.  Page 1 Since we’re dealing with a different Sheena than many people might be used to seeing, it’s important to get her origins established right off the bat. And so we start in her jungle, in South America instead of Africa, and make it clear that this is happening now, in 2016. This will be an important contrast for later in the story. Page 2 And here she is! And she’s not alone. We’re introduced to the fact that she’s got a great rapport with animals here, and see that she’s a woman of action. Page 3 We also see that she cares deeply about one thing: her home. Forests around the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. Luckily for this stretch of fictional jungle, Sheena’s willing to fight to make sure it stays pristine. She can’t be everywhere at once, though… Page 4 Now that’s an explosion! Roberto Castro does such a great job conveying big action. I’m very lucky to be working with him on this project. Page 5 More Sheena action as we meet another of her animal friends. Parrots are very smart animals, and we’ll be seeing more of this one soon. Meanwhile, something very strange is happening…  Page 6 Sheena might live in the modern world now, but she’s still a pulp character. Here we get to have some fun with that, as the ruins something strange lurking beneath them… Page 7 Sheena’s determined, though. Nothing is going to stop her from seeing this fight through… But noticing that tattoo certainly gives her pause. Hopefully we’re setting up a couple of different mysteries here, things that will resonate later on. Page 8 Oh, hubris! When has it not gotten people like this guy into trouble? It’s the one thing that Sheena didn’t quite count on… Page 9 A vortex! Well, Sheen’s got to more across time and space somehow… And we’ll be learning much more about exactly how as the story progresses. We’ll also be learning why, but for now, I just want to point out that last panel, with the guy cut in half. I just love what Roberto did there. Page 10 & 11 Nothing like being set adrift in time and space to make you focus on your past regrets. Happily, it also makes for a compact way to bring the reader a little more up to speed on what Sheena’s like since we’ve only seen her in action up to now. Page 12 What’s this? More ruins, and more jungle. But not Sheena’s jungle! She’s attuned to this, and will notice right away. Most of us would probably have a harder time picking up on the clues, especially after such a disorientating trip. However, we might recognize that tree house fairly quickly…  Page 13 Okay, so at this point Sheena still doesn’t understand the time component of her trip, or exactly how much trouble she’s in. Happily, she’s about to meet someone who can help her out… As long as she’s willing to offer some aid in return. Page 14 It’s true, the natural world is under threat just about everywhere, and has been for the entire last century. What these people are doing here is mirroring what’s happening back in her own time, which will turn out to be the opposite of a coincident… Page 15 Sheena’s not at all what these workers were expecting, especially dressed in her iconic costume that is a bit worse for wear after all she’s been through. The subtext here is that they don’t trust what they’re seeing, because they associate this area with an entirely different jungle protector. Page 16 What? More people dressed rather like Sheena attacking the workers? Sheena doesn’t know them, but she recognizes something about them (and the reader will perhaps remember a certain tattoo from earlier in the story)… Page 17 These men obviously want this area left alone, but they aren’t prepared for what they’re up against. And they don’t know that Sheena isn’t with the workers.  Page 18 & 19 It’s a slaughter. The workers are prepared, and they’re not taking any chances. Hopefully the sympathy of the reader here will be with the attackers since they are trying to defend their home, just as Sheena was doing at the start of the issue, but are not equipped with guns as the workers are. Page 20 A classic cliffhanger for Sheena, something I’m a fan of doing for characters that have their roots deep in the pulps. Page 21 So, we’ve seen Tarzan’s home, and his friend Cheetah, but where is the Lord of the Jungle himself? Page 22 London! Something pretty important must be going on for Tarzan to leave his home unprotected like this, and we’ve already seen the consequences. We’ll be learning much more next issue, but for now we leave Tarzan on a cliffhanger too, but one that functions in a different way from Sheena’s. It can be tough to serve both characters during a crossover, and this first issue was heavy on Sheena’s story. That’s because we’re meeting her in such a different time and place than we expect, and we’re seeing a lot of the mystery through her eyes. Future issues will focus more on Tarzan, as his fight becomes Sheena’s fight, and vice versa. But for now building the mystery is of primary importance. 05/01/24 @ 9:08 pm EST
The long gestating, live-action Masters of the Universe film is finally getting a release date. Amazon MGM has dated the Mattel film for a June 5, 2026 worldwide theatrical release.The film will follow, according to its synopsis, “10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword—the only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe!”Travis Knight is directing from a script by Chris Butler. Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner, and Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing. (via The Hollywood Reporter) 05/01/24 @ 8:54 pm EST
Chris Stuckmann and Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures have added genre specialists Mike Flanagan, Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka of Intrepid Pictures as executive producers on their record-breaking Kickstarter-backed horror film Shelby Oaks, which is in post-production.The 2022 Kickstarter campaign for the movie raised $1.39M in under a month, more than doubling the previous record for the most-funded horror film on Kickstarter. A combination of documentary, found footage and traditional film styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Mia’s (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley (Sarah Durn), who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her investigative series Paranormal Paranoids. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood might have been real. The cast also includes Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett and Keith David. There’s no word yet on a release plan. (via Deadline)
05/01/24 @ 8:54 pm EST
BOOM! Studios, together with leading toy and game company Hasbro, revealed a first look at MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE RETURN #4, the FINAL issue of the new POWER RANGERS series written by the original Pink Ranger herself, Amy Jo Johnson along with co-writer Matt Hotson and artist Nico Leon (Ms. Marvel), colorist Dono Sanchez-Almara, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. Available in comic shops in May 2024! With the Green Dragon Power Coin in the hands of someone’s identity that will shock the rest of the Power Rangers, a fateful battle on the moon commences! But as climactic events unfold, who will remain to carry on the legacy of the Mighty Morphin Powers Rangers? Will the world still need them? MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE RETURN #4 features a main cover by POWER RANGERS fan favorite artist Goñi Montes (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and variant covers by David Nakayama (Firefly) and Miguel Mercado (Seven Secrets). MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE RETURN is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; and Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine. MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE RETURN #4 will be available now at your local comic shop on May 29, 2024. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #4 A Main: MAR240066 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #4 B Variant: MAR240067 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #4 C 1:10 INCV: MAR240068 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #4 D 1:25 INCV: MAR240069 Fans and readers can purchase copies of MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE RETURN SC, collecting the entire four-issue series, in comic shops on December 4, 2024 and in bookstores everywhere December 10, 2024.        
... 05/01/24 @ 2:47 pm EST
The critically acclaimed Giant Generator series The Sacrificers—by The New York Times bestselling writer Rick Remender (Napalm Lullaby, Deadly Class, LOW) and artist Max Fiumara (Amazing Spider-Man, Four Eyes, Lucifer), Shuster award winning colorist Dave McCaig (The Walking Dead Deluxe), and published by Image Comics—will welcome a guest artist André Lima Araújo (A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance) to the team. Araújo will be on deck for the series interiors of issues #10-12, the first of which will kick off a new story arc in July. Early uncolored, unlettered inks from the upcoming The Sacrificers #10 hint at what's to come when Remender and Araújo join forces to tell the tale of Princess Soluna’s fall from grace. After a reversal of fortune tests her resilience, she's brought face-to-face with unimaginable horrors in a search for refuge in a seemingly godforsaken world. "André is one of the greatest talents in comics today and one of those rare people who is not only an incredibly talented and exciting illustrator, but a wonderful storyteller, and a machine that never misses a schedule," said Remender. "On top of that, he's a sweet guy and a lot of fun to work with. We're really lucky to have him come join us on this and become part of this strange little family we've been building." The Sacrificers #10 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 10: Cover A by McCaig - Lunar Code 0524IM347 Cover B (1:10 copy incentive) by McCaig - Lunar Code 0524IM348 The Sacrificers is available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.        
... 05/01/24 @ 2:48 pm EST
Following her breakout role as Shin Hati in the hit Star Wars series Ahsoka, Ivanna Sakhno has found her next big role. Deadline is reporting that she has landed a major part in M3GAN 2.0, a sequel to the hit film from Atomic Monster and Blumhouse in association with Divide/Conquer. She joins a cast that includes Allison Williams and Violet McGraw. Plot details on M3GAN 2.0 are unknown, but the original film revolves around a life-like AI doll that is programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Williams), M3GAN can listen, watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. That film would go on to make $180 million worldwide on a $12 million budget, with a sequel quickly going into development. 04/30/24 @ 11:05 pm EST
Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products' blockbuster ThunderCats comic book series explodes to new heights this July in a brand new story arc reuniting writer Declan Shalvey with ongoing artist Drew Moss that brings an exciting first appearance for the series and more!
Following June's issue #5 with guest artist Stephen Mooney (Half Past Danger, The Rocketeer) and a focus on Cheetara's training of Lion-O, the unstoppable tag team of Shalvey and Moss realign for this exciting next step in the epic journey. With the ThunderCats now more settled on their new home planet of Third Earth, it's time for them to make it their home.
Fans will get to see Drew's new artistic vision of the team's base. Even more exciting will be the debut of the Thundertank into the series! Though Lion-O remains the central figure of the series, this arc will shift a bit from each core character issue to issue, showing their relationship with the young upstart heroic leader. Panthro powers up their iconic vehicle to kick off this new arc with a bang. While on a quest to track down sources of Thundrainium, the warrior recalls back to the days of Thundara before its destruction, Lion-O's time as a cub, but he can't reminisce too much. He'll find himself attacked by Mu'Tants and along the way learn more of the history of Third Earth, its penal colony past and the irony of now using it as a sanctuary.
Beyond Panthro and the Thundertank, another big star of ThunderCats #6 is special guest cover artist Rahzzah! The superstar creator is known for his jaw-dropping work on titles like Ghost Rider, Weapon X, Hulk, Darth Vader, and more. Collectors will not want to miss his stunning cover, an open incentive variant.
Rahzzah is joined by the continuing regular cover contributors of David Nakayama, Lucio Parrillo, Shalvey, Jae Lee, Ivan Tao, and an action figure variant. Nakayama's lead cover shows off the Thundertank in all its glory!
With an approachable largely standalone issue #5, a thrilling new arc in the following #6, and an early release for the first collection with more details coming, it's the perfect time to jump into ThunderCats fandom!
    THUNDERCATS #6 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more! ... 04/30/24 @ 3:44 pm EST
Amazon Prime Video‘s upcoming series based on James Patterson’s Alex Cross novels is being renewed for Season 2, Variety reports. The show, which stars Aldis Hodge as Cross, has yet to debut its first season or even set a premiere date. But according to sources, Amazon was impressed enough with what they have seen from the first season to greenlight the second and begin casting. Jeanine Mason (“Roswell, New Mexico,” “Upload”) has reportedly already been cast in Season 2. Reps for Amazon declined to comment. “Cross” is described as a thriller series, while Cross himself is said to be “brilliant, flawed, and full of contradictions. A doting father and family man, Cross is single-minded to the point of obsession when he hunts killers. He is desperate for love, but his wife’s murder has left him too damaged to receive it.” 04/30/24 @ 3:19 pm EST
Dynamite Entertainment is excited to announce a new licensing partnership with Full Moon Features, to produce collectibles and other projects featuring their legendary Puppet Master series of films, in celebration of the franchise's 35th anniversary. With plans to unleash an exciting set of trading cards celebrating the franchise's history across its dozen-plus film entries, fans can stay tuned for further information on this project and the possibility of others in this collaboration. " Puppet Master is one of the most unique and classic franchises in horror," said Nick Barruccci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher. "We're excited to connect with the diehard fans of the films and deliver something truly special for their collections." "The Puppet Master series might just be the most important franchise in our vast Full Moon film universe," said Charles Band, CEO and Founder of Full Moon. "So, it is extremely important to us that our brand be forever in good hands. The Dynamite team have surpassed all of our expectations, creating a collection of cards that exemplify the magic, mystery and visual grandeur of Puppet Master and the iconic characters within. We couldn't be more pleased with this partnership." The Puppet Master series kicked off in 1989 with its eponymous first entry. Anthropomorphic puppets animated by an ancient Egyptian spell wreak havoc, equipped with dangerous devices and weapons and out to threaten people, or even to fight against other puppets. The film is considered one of the key cult hits of the home video and rental era of horror. Its massive success and following led to 10 sequels, a reboot, spinoffs, and crossovers. More details on the first project in this team-up between two purveyors of classic horror stories will come soon! SIGN UP HERE FOR UPDATES ON THE COLLABORATION! ... 04/30/24 @ 12:09 pm EST
The wait is over! Fans will be able to get caught up on the juggernaut new ThunderCats comic this July and add the initial instant classic story arc to their shelf, as Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announce the first collected edition of the hit series. The first issue of the new ThunderCats title shattered records for Dynamite and dominated the comics industry and community upon its release. With a second printing and third printing selling out, new waves of readers continue to discover the title through great reviews, and especially word of mouth on this viral story. This summer it's all ramping up even more.
ThunderCats #5 is set to feature a special spotlight story on Cheetara with guest artist Stephen Mooney (Half Past Danger, The Rocketeer) joining writer Declan Shalvey. Then the next month Cheetara pounces into her own essential companion series with the release of ThunderCats Cheetara #1 by creator Soo Lee (Disney Villains: Maleficent). That same month, ThunderCats #6 reunites ongoing artist Drew Moss on the book and kicks off a new story arc in the flagship series.
With this exciting whirlwind of developments in the comic series, Dynamite wants fans to be able to jump right in even if they've missed the earlier launch and releases. The ultimate cherry on top and gateway to the mythos releases July 17 as a special trade paperback edition of ThunderCats: Omens will be available exclusively in comic book stores. This Direct Market Special Edition reprints issues #1-5 of the hit series and will be limited to a single printing. Later editions planned as both paperback and hardcover available both in comics stores and other retailers will feature different covers.
Critics have lauded the series to date, as each issue builds on the last.
"Nostalgic and daring, ThunderCats is a thrilling remix of a beloved '80s classic." - AIPT
"Has set the foundation for a promising adventure, and it should only get better from here." - ComicBook.com
"I continue to enjoy the world being created in this series and how it delivers on everything that I loved about the original series and the lore behind it." - The Super Powered Fancast
"A gripping narrative with layers of drama, character conflicts, and mysterious connections. The introduction of Calica [issue #3] injects freshness into the storyline, keeping readers on their toes." - Comical Opinions
THUNDERCATS VOL 1: OMENS DIRECT MARKET SPECIAL EDITION TPB will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. ... 04/30/24 @ 12:15 pm EST
Netflix has dropped the official trailer for Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, the animated follow-up sequel series to Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, and there’s one name that is conspicuously missing. Jenna Ortega, who voiced Brooklynn in Camp Creatceous, is not listed in the voice cast for Chaos Theory, or seen in the trailer. Deadline reports it has confirmed she will not be returning for the new series. Chaos Theory picks up with Brooklynn seemingly killed by a dinosaur attack. According to Ben (Sean Giambrone), she was targeted, and the other members of the Nublar Six are now in danger. Jurassic World: Chaos Theory is slated to debut on Netflix May 24. Trailer: https://youtu.be/bLgUKAAKyQw |
