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11/03/16 @ 9:33 pm EST
Fabrice Sapolsky talks to Byron Brewer about INTERTWINED #4, on sale in January from Dynamite. Cover by Gerald Parel.  BYRON BREWER: Juan Jin has become the Spirit of the Earth! … Yet here on the earthly plane, he is still wanted as a POI for a murder by the authorities and is being pursued by the Triads. What exactly does being the new “Spirit of the Earth” mean? To Juan Jin? To the rest of us?FABRICE SAPOLSKY: That’s a very good question! At first glance, getting these powers makes Juan’s life more complicated. But it’s a process. He has to go through hell to figure out himself what he wants to do with his life. Again, becoming a Spirit of WuXing isn’t something that happens to everyone. He was chosen. And through exceptional circumstances. For the world, Juan becomes this being who masters everything organic. Everything that comes from the land. He communicates with the Earth, he’s very powerful. BB: Fabrice, if you would, tell us a little more about the “Spirits,” whose pantheon (for lack of a better term) Juan Jin has just joined, and whom he mistrusts at this point.FS: In our story, the Spirits of WuXing have been around forever. First in Asia, then the world. They’re the ones who keep the universe balanced through its five elements (Metal, Water, Earth, Wood, Fire). For generations, one Spirit would die (in battle or of natural causes) and would be replaced by a younger one. Challenges have been many. But for the first time, in this generation, a Spirit is murdered by another Spirit (as chronicled in the very rare issue #0). And we’ll finally learn why. The reason will shock you! And it’ll also propel the series into a very different place. From an action/adventure series to a more social/diversity conscious one. BB: What is the Golden Dragon the Triads seek? Why is it of such import to them?FS: The Golden Dragon is one of the 5 artifacts the Spirits possess. It’s like a Green Lantern battery, to make it simple. Except you don’t recharge your power here. The essence of your power, your spirit is there. The Spirits can function without them. But if they’re all gathered in one hand, they can be used to control the universe. The Spirit of the Earth, who died prior to our story, gave the Golden Dragon to Lady Xia. Because he trusted her. He would always leave it to her when he was spending time in the United States. That explains why she has it in issue #1. And she gives it to Juan because she picked him up as the new Spirit of the Earth. Lady Xia is behind everything (or almost everything). I have to add that the Golden Dragon, or the Black Tortoise or Vermillion Bird didn’t come out of my imagination. I borrowed them to have them fit in our story. In Chinese tradition, the Golden Dragon or Yellow Dragon is tied to the Element of Earth. BB: The Spirits are certainly being overly helpful, or at least trying to be, to our hero. Is there some unknown motivation behind their offers of assistance of which readers are unaware?FS: The remaining Spirits, led by Lady Xia aka the Spirit of Water, have an agenda. I think it’s clear by issue #4 that their intention has always been to restore balance in WuXing since Nei Chang, the Spirit of Metal, has crushed it. One problem at a time. They first decided to pick themselves the new Spirit of the Earth, then to deal with the Spirit of Metal. But when you play with the elements, there’s always a price to pay… BB: Thus far, Intertwined has certainly been a character-driven book. When you plan issues, do you concentrate on character first and then where that takes the plot?FS: It really is a character-driven book. There’s a McGuffin in the story. A revelation that justifies the entire story to even exist. And this revelation (and its consequences) happen in issue #4 and #5! What came first was the reason why I made this book. And I’ll talk more about it next month when people have read issue #4 because it’ll become clear that there were some issues I wanted to talk about. Without giving too much away, let’s say that since I came to live in the United States, I discovered how much communities can live in the same streets, in the same buildings without knowing each other. That melting pot doesn’t really exist. That rejection is easy. And when you get here, you have to identify as something and try to hang with “your people”. That’s not how I was raised nor how I want to live. I strongly believe mixing people from everywhere enriches us. Intertwined is a kind of Trojan horse. A Kung Fu fiction that conveys a vision where lines are blurred and we only see people. I’ll take a moment to talk about Bruce Lee who has been an incredible inspiration for Fred and myself. His philosophy. The way he saw the world. Bruce was born in the U.S. but had hard time blending in in the 1950s and ‘60s in that America. He was also very much Chinese, as reported by the people who knew him and his family. But he saw people behind colors. He believed in humankind. I see so many people talking about ethnicities here. I’m not ignoring the challenges nor negating anything. And I strongly support those who fight for inclusion and equality in rights. Bruce Lee was ahead of his time. He understood that wherever you come from, whatever you looked like, you’re a human being first. A talent. A brother. A sister. A son. A daughter. A mother or a father. We set the action in 1971 because the world was very different obviously, but also more optimistic, despite so many terrible things happening. We’ve lost a lot of that optimism. But I don’t think we have to give up on it. On the contrary, we have to work harder to give a much more open minded world to our kids. Writers… creators… we are dreamers. But we’re also deeply rooted in reality. Fiction proved centuries ago that it could plant seeds of ambition in people’s minds. We went to the moon. We did great things. Humbly, Intertwined brings a little something to the table. Something of our own experiences in life. BB: With issue #4, on sale in January, we are approaching the penultimate issue of this series. Looking back, has the story unfolded pretty much as you intended. (All writers know how characters and stories sometimes take over, lol.)FS: I’ve been pretty much following my initial plan here. There have been some differences, some scenes originally taking place in an issue and moved to other ones. But it’s pretty much the same structure from day one. BB: How awesome has Fred Pham Chuong been with the art on this book? Do you guys work closely together?FS: You said it: awesome. Fred is just an incredible storyteller. We speak nearly every day. We sometimes change the script together. He makes me a stronger creator. We lift each other up. And I want to also mention our color artist, Veronica Lopez. She’s been with us from the beginning and we feel blessed she lends her talent to the series. BB: Fabrice, can you tell us a little of what readers can expect in Intertwinedgoing forward?FS: Revelations! More Kung Fu! And the dramatic return of Juan’s Haitian friends.And GREAT covers by incredible French artists! Gerald Parel drew the cover to issue #4, Roland Boschi is doing #5 and the mighty Olivier Coipel is closing the first story arc’s cover with #6. To my knowledge, it’s the first non-DC, non-Marvel cover Olivier has done in a very, very long time. Not to be missed!
05/14/24 @ 10:46 pm EST
There’s a new slate of Marvel shows coming to Disney+ soon. During Disney’s Upfront presentation, Marvel Studios revealed that Agatha All Along will be flying onto the streamer on September 18. Two episodes will be available at launch, with episodes becoming available weekly thereafter. Meanwhile, audiences can expect Daredevil: Born Again in March 2025. Ironheart is also coming in 2025, though the studio didn’t say when, exactly, to expect that series. (via Deadline) 05/14/24 @ 10:39 pm EST
Yesterday, fans learned an X-Man would be joining the ranks of Marvel’s premier super hero team this summer, and today, it’s revealed to be none other than the goddess herself— STORM IS EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT! Storm will join the cast of Jed MacKay’s current run starting in August’s AVENGERS #17. The issue will also mark the debut of new series artist Valerio Schiti! Fresh off his bold work on G.O.D.S., the acclaimed artist known for his breathtaking action and dynamic character work takes the helm just in time for this exciting new era. Krakoa’s tragic fall has made the Avengers realize how vital a mutant voice on the team is, and they’ll settle for nothing less than the most prominent and beloved mutant super hero on the planet! A pop culture icon, Storm has assembled with the Avengers before—in both comics as well as other forms of media—but never like this! Not only will the Avengers need her Omega-level power for the battles ahead, but they’ll need to rely on her unique expertise and leadership skills as MacKay’s overarching plots involving Kang, the Twilight Court, and more kick into high gear. This only marks the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a monumental period for Storm as she’ll also headline an all-new solo ongoing series launching later this year! In the aftermath of Blood Hunt and Fall of the House of X, the Avengers are licking their wounds and reassessing their goals. One member takes the initiative by approaching Storm, hoping to add her strength and perspective to the team’s upcoming missions! And the roster won’t be the only thing shaken up when a deadly threat sets its vengeful sights on Earth! On the decision to add Storm to the lineup, MacKay said, "When we were putting together thoughts for X-Men, one problem kept coming up—Storm needed to have a presence in a book befitting her status, but it would be weird for her to be on an X-Men team if she wasn't the leader. The solution was simple—she needed to be on the global stage, among equals, and what better place for that than the Avengers? We're excited to bring Storm back to the Avengers and show what adventures she'll get up to as part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes!" On being the new AVENGERS artist, Schiti said, "As a reader, I am a great fan of Jed's run, and I really love the way he writes the team: not just as fellow soldiers, but as a group of friends with a shared past. At the same time he doesn't hold back on action and fight scenes! The balance between these two moods is exactly what excites me the most when I have to start a new gig!" "I have a soft spot for the mutants, so you can imagine my happiness when I knew that Storm was joining the team,” Schiti continued. “It's always fun to draw her powers, her body language, and her outfits. There's just one challenge: you always have to remember that she's not just a mutant, she's a goddess!" Check out Joshua Cassara’s electrifying AVENGERS #17 cover now. Stay tuned later this week for the full announcement of Storm’s new solo ongoing series and reveal of her new costume! 
... 05/14/24 @ 12:00 pm EST
The Tomb Raider TV series is moving forward at Amazon. A year and change after The Hollywood Reporter revealed Emmy winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge was writing and producing an adaptation of the popular video game turned action movie Tomb Raider, the retail giant/streamer has handed out a series order for the live-action series. A worldwide casting search will begin soon for an actress to play Lara Croft in the series from Legendary Television. The surprise announcement was made Tuesday during Amazon’s first trip to woo Madison Avenue ad buyers at TV’s Upfront week in New York, with the news arriving after another video game adaptation, Fallout, has become a breakout hit for the service. The Tomb Raider TV series is the first project to stem from a massive rights deal with Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment. A feature film and at least one video game in the Lara Croft franchise are also in the works as Amazon plots a Marvel-like franchise with all of the projects connected. 05/14/24 @ 11:50 am EST
Bestselling creator Maria Llovet (Crave, Luna, Porcelain) returns with this sexy one-shot compilation of her three-part story—previously published in the Image 30th Anniversary Anthology—titled, All the Things We Didn’t Do Last Night. This complete, criminals-to-lovers tale is set to hit shelves in July from Image Comics. In All the Things We Didn’t Do Last Night, Mamen is a young art historian who has become a jewelry thief because of a trauma from her past. Damon is a hitman tired of his bosses. Oblivious to their secret lives, they meet cute and promise to go on a date. But fate unites them before they planned, as both witness each other’s crime. "This one-shot was initially created as an 'origin story' of a bigger project of mine, so in this edition I’ve decided to include a lot of extra material and info where the readers will know more about these characters that I love and their future adventures," said Llovet. All the Things We Didn’t Do Last Night one-shot will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 3: Cover A by Llovet - Lunar Code 0524IM238 Cover B by Llovet - Lunar Code 0524IM239 Cover C by Jesús Orellana - Lunar Code 0524IM240 Cover D (1:10 copy incentive virgin variant) by Orellana - Lunar Code 0524IM241 Cover E (1:15 copy incentive) by Llovet - Lunar Code 0524IM242 Cover F (1:20 copy incentive virgin variant) by Llovet - Lunar Code 0524IM243 All the Things We Didn’t Do Last Night one-shot will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.            
... 05/14/24 @ 11:36 am EST
Amazon continues to have faith in The Boys. The series has been renewed for Season 5, the company announced during Tuesday’s Upfront presentation. The news comes about a month before the fourth installment is set to hit Prime Video. The eight-episode Season 4 premieres on June 13 with three episodes, followed by a new episode each week, ending with the season finale on July 18. In Season 4, the world is on the brink. Victoria Neuman is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under the muscly thumb of Homelander, who is consolidating his power. Butcher, with only months to live, has lost Becca’s son and his job as The Boys’ leader. The rest of the team are fed up with his lies. With the stakes higher than ever, they have to find a way to work together and save the world before it’s too late. The Boys is based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, who also serve as executive producers. Eric Kripke developed the series for TV and serves as showrunner and executive producer. (via Deadline) 05/13/24 @ 10:50 pm EST
The Barbarella feature starring Sydney Sweeney is getting more oxygen. Edgar Wright is in talks to direct the film for Sony Pictures, with Jane Goldman and Honey Ross in talks to write the script, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The project is still in early development and is planned as a new take on the character that originated in a French comic series from Jean-Claude Forest. Barbarella, a mercenary who travels the universe, was portrayed by Jane Fonda in a 1968 movie version that has become a cult favorite. Sweeney’s involvement in the new film was announced in 2022. Wright is known for helming films including Last Night in Soho, Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. His next project is set to be a new adaptation of The Running Man for Paramount Pictures that will star Glen Powell. 05/13/24 @ 10:29 pm EST
Fan-favorite Cliff Rathburn (The Walking Dead, Brit) will launch an all-new, four-issue science-fiction miniseries titled, Remote Space. This tale will kick off in June from Image Comics. Remote Space is set in the year 2450 and Earth is dying. The human species has gone down two different evolutionary paths. One used cybernetic augmentation to adapt to space travel. The humans left behind used genetic manipulation to adapt to earth's worsening climate. For earth to survive, civilizations need to collide. "I am proud of what I've done with Remote Space and I think anyone who buys a copy will be happy with their purchase," said Rathburn. Remote Space #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, June 12: Cover A (wraparound) by Rathburn - Lunar Code 0424IM209 Cover B (1:10 copy incentive) by Ryan Ottley - Lunar Code 0424IM210 Remote Space #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.     
05/13/24 @ 12:20 pm EST
Jason Statham (Fast & Furious) has been set to lead a new action-thriller from director Baltasar Kormákur (Everest), which Black Bear is launching this week for the Cannes market. In the currently untitled film, Statham will play Mason who lives in isolation in a remote Scottish island. When he rescues a young girl from the ocean in a terrible storm, he sets a chain of events in motion that brings a violent attack to his hideaway, forcing him back into the world to confront the ghosts of his past. Principal photography is scheduled to commence in November in the UK and Iceland with production services and filming to take place at Kormákur’s RVK Studios facility in Reykjavik. The script comes from Ward Parry. (via Deadline) 05/13/24 @ 12:15 pm EST
These apes are going to need a bigger boat for their cash! 20th Century Studios‘ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has come in over expectations with a $58.5M opening. Sunday came in at $16.5M, down 19%, a strong attributable to Mother’s Day. Who knew moms were fans of the Planet of the Apes movies? Typical Mother’s Day Saturday to Sunday drops are around the -28% range. That’s now the third highest opening for an Apes movie after Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ($72.6M) and Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes ($68.5M). Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes only cost $160M, which is cheaper than Matt Reeves’ War for the Planet of the Apes which cost $190M before P&A. As Deadline reported yesterday, there’s hope for summer in a movie that can beat its tracking projections. Not everything is destined to become flat footed. 05/12/24 @ 2:40 pm EST
Susan Backlinie, the actress seen in one of the most terrifying cinematic moments in history, has passed away at the age of 77. Backlinie played the skinny-dipping swimmer attacked by the shark in the opening scene of the 1975 horror classic Jaws. She would later re-team with director Steven Spielberg to parody that same scene in his film 1941. From their her career moved more into stunt work for films and television including work on The Great Muppet Caper, Day of the Animals and The Fall Guy television series. No cause of death has been released. She is survived by her husband, Harvey. 
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