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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 – 10/16/21

Welcome to DC Fandome Day! Before the end of today, we’ll have a new trailer for The Batman movie, along with who knows what else! I cannot wait to see some of the new video game trailers, maybe even get a release date for Gotham Knights. I’ll post the trailers tomorrow! Until then, how about some comics?

Comic Book of the Week goes to Superman and the Authority #4, a really fun issue that wraps up a sadly very short little comic. It’s a damn shame Grant Morrison couldn’t make this their next ongoing.

Always smash white supremacists

Meanwhile, have I recommended Squid Game yet? I gave that show a try this past week and loved it…right up until the ending. Squid Game sells itself on being this wild and gruesome show, but I did not expect such rich character drama. Highly recommended. This week also saw the season 2 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks, which was another banger! I want a million seasons of this show.

Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #76, Power Rangers #12, Superman and the Authority #4 and X-Men #4.

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 8/21/21

We’re two weeks away from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Feels good to be super excited about another Marvel movie! Good thing we have plenty of interesting comics to get us through this, like Power Rangers, Nightwing and the start of the Trial of Magneto!

Comic Book of the Week goes to a truly epic Way of X #5. I already loved this book for the philosophy, and then this issue goes and delivers some truly out-of-this-world action!

It has been said

Meanwhile, I had a pretty busy week and wasn’t able to get around to all of my normal comic reviews. After two weeks of nearly bare pull lists, this week had a ton of comics! I had to skip out on Marauders, Iron Man and Supergirl this week, but I hope to get caught up and review their next issues.

Comic Reviews: Nightwing #83, Power Rangers #10, Superman and the Authority #2, Way of X #5, X-Corp #4 and X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #1.

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 7/24/21

We’re in that weird down period again where there are no Marvel projects coming out. We’ve got a week or so still until What If…and that Loki behind-the-scenes episode was good, but it won’t sustain us. What will we do? Read comics, of course! Like Marauders and Nightwing and Power Rangers! This is actually a very DC heavy week!

Comic Book of the Week goes to Superman and The Authority #1 for a very well-polished launch to what will hopefully be a fun little mini-series.

A shiny Fortress of Solitude on a hill

Meanwhile, I’m about finished with Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I’ve very much enjoyed the game, and I’m tracking down every last shrine, but I have nothing else after it’s gone. Any good games coming out soon? Other than that, I’ve been watching and enjoying Wellington Paranormal, not caring for Tigtone and I binged and enjoyed the new Masters of the Universe: Revelation last night.

Comic Reviews: Marauders #22, Nightwing #82, Power Rangers #9, Superman and The Authority #1 and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2.

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The 6 Best Premiere Superhero Teams (That Aren’t the Avengers or the Justice League)

The Avengers and the Justice League represent the best of the best of their superhero universes. They are the heroes on the front lines of the fight against evil, drawing together their champion heroes and spear-heading their entire caped communities. So, of course, they’ve become shorthand for superhero teams from other universes as well.

Only one shall stand

Marvel and DC are not the only publishers in the superhero business. But just like we’ve got both Green Arrow and Hawkeye and both Superman and the Sentry, sometimes ideas and characters get copied across publishers. The same is true for superhero teams. Marvel has the Avengers, DC has the Justice League…but who does everybody else have?

Just for the fun of it, and because I love comics, I decided to look around and pick out the best Avengers/JLA analogues!

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