Category Archives: Robin

The New DC TV and Movie Universe is Here and It Looks Great!

Today was the big day for DC Comics, Warner Bros and the new co-CEOs, James Gunn and Peter Safran. There has been so much swirling around since the pair were announced for a new, slate-clearing take on the DC Universe, all leading up to today: the announcement of the first 10 projects in the new cinematic universe.

Well those projects are here and they look great! I am fully on board with everything announced and look forward to watching all of it in the years ahead! You can check out the official DC on their website, and read my rundown of the projects below. Apparently, all of these movies and shows will have the chance to intermingle actors and characters, which is neat, obviously. They’re also going to be separate from existing projects, like Joker 2, The Batman 2, the Harley Quinn cartoon and those various Teen Titans cartoons.

More power to James Gunn, Peter Safran, DC, Warner Bros. and all of them!


Superman: Legacy – Movie


This is the big ticket item that everything is going to depend on, I bet. The next big Superman movie, focused squarely on Superman. That’s the right way to go, in my opinion. Gunn has indicated that he’s using All-Star Superman as inspiration, and that’s a great idea. That’s the greatest Superman story of all time, in my opinion, and it gets Superman exactly right. So that is the right way to go.

Superman: Legacy will focus on “Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.”

Gunn is writing the script, will hopefully direct, and it’s already scheduled to come out on July 11, 2025.


Creature Commandos – Show


I’m in. This one looks weird and special, and I am totally in. A cartoon series on HBO Max about a bunch of funky creatures going on military operations? Like Frankenstein and Bridge of Frankenstein and Weasel from Gunn’s Suicide Squad? Count me in without a moment’s hesitation!

Creature Commandos is already fully written by Gunn — awesome — and is already in production for seven episodes.


Waller – Show


Viola Davis is going to return as Amanda Waller to do her own series in between seasons of Peacemaker. So obviously Peacemaker, and perhaps even Gunn’s Suicide Squad, will be part of the new DCU. That’s fine by me. I loved both of those projects and would hate to lose them in this shakeup. And if Gunn needs time to come back for Peacemaker season 2, having the characters spin-off into an HBO Max show about Amanda Waller sounds fine by me.


Lanterns – Show


A big, live action Green Lantern show has been in the works for years with very little to show for it. So Gunn and co. probably took the reins on that and have turned it into Lanterns, a True Detective-style mystery procedural starring Hal Jordan and John Stewart as space cops.

I love the world of the Green Lanterns, and I would love a gritty, live action TV show about them doing cop stuff. So bring it on!


The Authority – Movie


This one should be really interesting. I’ve never read any of the original Authority comics, so I have no real connection to the characters or the team. But they’re a pretty bold choice for another big DC movie in this era. Will audiences be able to just get on board? Will it be too much too soon? Obviously I’m confident they’ll pull this off, but i think this one is their biggest swing in this slate.


Paradise Lost – Show


This is the one I’m least sure about. They’re promising a Game of Thrones-esque show about the birth of Themyscira and the world before Wonder Woman. What were their politics like? How was the society of Amazons formed? These are interesting ideas, but I’m not entirely sure they’ll be able to pull it off. It’s just such a nebulous concept without any real established story behind it.

Remember when DC did the show Krypton? About the politics of Krypton during the time of Superman’s grandfather? Yeah, I don’t either. No word on whether or not Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman is still part of this new slate of projects.


The Brave and the Bold – Movie


I love Robin, you all know that. But I dislike Damian Wayne as Robin, even if he’s apparently James Gunn’s favorite Robin. So this is a mixed bag for me. Obviously, I’ll take any live acton Robin I can get, especially if this is the start of a really Bat-family heavy movie Batman continuity. We’re still going to get The Batman – Part II starring Robert Pattinson; that’s going to be in its own continuity. But The Brave and the Bold will be Batman’s big debut in the new DCU, with a focus on Damian Wayne. Does this mean we’ll get a Dick Grayson as Nightwing cameo? Maybe, who knows.

But yeah, I’m on board. I will gladly watch a movie focused on Damian if it also means we’re getting a movie focused on Robin.


Booster Gold – Show


Yeah, baby! This is one to get really excited about! Booster Gold is going to get a live action TV show on HBO Max and that’s brilliant. It’s going to focus on a “superhero’s imposter syndrome” and that’s a great focus for a show. Booster Gold is such a fun and easy concept to understand. He’s a hapless schmuck from the 30th century who steals a bunch of future tech and travels back in time to the 20th century, where he can use that tech to seem like he has super-powers. Booster Gold should have gotten his own project a long time ago, but in the hands of James Gunn, it should be better than ever possibly anticipated.


Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – Movie


Jumping right into a live action Supergirl movie is an interesting choice, though I suppose it’s not that big of a deal, considering we’re jumping right into a Superman movie. They should work well together, especially in establishing shared continuity. Give the new Superman actor an immediate place to show up again before his sequel.

This is going to be based on the recent comic by writer Tom King. I read and enjoyed the first few issues, and then picked up the whole thing in graphic novel form. It’s next on my list for bedtime reading, so I best get to that right away.


Swamp Thing – Movie


Last, but not least, is a new Swamp Thing movie. I don’t have any real connection to the character, so I’m not particularly interested or concerned. There has been a ton of great Swamp Thing content over the years — so I’ve heard — so I’m sure they can come up with a really great story.


Whew! And that is the whole list of shows and movies. They all look pretty great, they all look very diverse is style and superheroes. I’m definitely excited. It’s going to be called “Gods and Monsters,” which is a pretty simplistic title, if you ask me. And it’s also subject to change, if need be.

Whatever happens, I’m on board for all of it!

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 1/21/23

The weekend is upon us again and that means more comics and more reviews! I’ve got a 3-day weekend, so I’m gonna relax, play video games and hope the world doesn’t end. At least I’ve got the likes of Invincible Iron Man, the Wasp and Power Rangers to keep me company.

Comic book of the Week goes to Nightwing #100 because I’m a suck for emotional scenes between Batman and his Robins. Just tug at my damn heartstrings, why don’tcha?

By all means…

Meanwhile, I’m spending this weekend finally beating Pokemon Violet. I’ve been dragging my feet with this game for no particular reason and I swear to see it through to the end. Then perhaps I’ll pick up Marvel: Midnight Suns. Also, shame to hear about the lay-offs at Comixology. I’m gonna have to juggle where I get my comics from it seems, as I’m sure many will. I hope those employees cruelly cut from Amazon land on their feet.

Comic Reviews: Invincible Iron Man #2, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104, Nightwing #100 and The Wasp #1.

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 1/7/23

First week of comics of the year and we’ve got a banger of a start! I really enjoyed all the comics I read this week from the Big Two, so I hope this means we’ve got a good year ahead of us. New issues of Batman and Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty always makes for a good week. Remember when they fought in Marvel vs. DC in the 90s?!

Comic Book of the Week goes to Scarlet Witch #1 for a really fun, really solid first issue to her new solo series. It’s always nice when a new series puts their best foot forward.

Scarlet Witch can do whatever she wants

Meanwhile, I finally got my Playstation 5! Is that a big accomplishment anymore? I found one for retail price and used some Christmas money to take the plunge on the console. I won’t be playing anything yet, though, because I’m still working my way through Pokemon Violet. I’m not sure why that game is taking me so long…Anyway, I also splurged on the collected edition of Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross, which has been a real treat to revisit.

Comic Reviews: Batman #131, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8, Fantastic Four #3 and Scarlet Witch #1.

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 12/10/22

I was pretty busy this week with day job stuff, but I managed to get some comics read and get this review list together. Is it my best ever? No. Whatever is? We’ve got new Batman, new Fantastic Four and even new Jessica Jones.

Comic Book of the Week goes to Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7 for an all-around really good issue of character building. Though to be honest, this week was a real toss up.

It’s OK, Cap, you’ll be OK

Meanwhile, I had a pretty sad realization about comics. This week saw the release of, like, half a dozen different ongoing X-Men comics…but I’m not reading any of them. Judgement Day tuned me out of the titles I was reading, and I don’t know if I have the time, energy or inclination to get back on board. I still enjoy the idea of the Krakoa Era, just don’t really care about most of the individual comics. Oh well.

Comic Reviews: Batman #130, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7, Fantastic Four #2 and The Variants #5.

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 11/26/22

Happy American Thanksgiving, everyone! I’m thankful that I can still enjoy new comics that come out, and still have the energy to keep this review column going. I’m thankful people are still reading. I’m thankful for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Tim Drake: Robin, among other things.

Comic Book of the Week goes to X-Men #17 for a really nice story about Caliban making friends.

Nobody ever marvels at my hubris

Meanwhile, I’m very much enjoying Pokemon Violet. The open world aspect is more than making up for its graphical problems. So that’s nice. I had a really enjoyable Thanksgiving with the family, and caught up on various pop culture shows, games and movies with my brother. Always a hoot. And then last night, I very much enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special! So awesome! Oh! And tune in on Wednesday for my review of the first season of Andor. Good stuff there.

Comic Reviews: Dark Spaces: Wildfire #5, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #102, Tim Drake: Robin #3 and X-Men #17.

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