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Keanu Reeves as John Constantine (Photo Credit – Wikimedia)

February 2025 is the 20th anniversary of Constantine, a supernatural action film starring Keanu Reeves and directed by Francis Lawrence. The story follows the professional exorcist John Constantine, who’s capable of discovering half-angels and half-demons that walk the Earth impersonating ordinary people. The film was originally released on February 18, 2005, and Keanu and Francis have openly reminisced about their experiences on the film, and their plans for a sequel.

The Constantine movie is an adaptation of the DC Comics character, also named John Constantine. Created by Alan Moore and Stephen R. Bisette, the chain-smoking exorcist first appeared as a supporting character in Alan and Stephen’s Swamp Thing, before starring in his own series known as Hellblazer. Read on to learn more.

John Constantine was originally a DC Comics character

John Constantine was conceived at a pivotal time for DC Comics. The publisher...

"Mad Cave Studios Unveils Supernatural Historical Horror Series that Explores the Darkest Corners of Human Nature Amid the Plague."

Thanks to Mad Cave Studios, we're excited to give Daily Dead readers an exclusive first look at the "hauntingly complex ride" that is The Pale Knight, a new six-issue comic book mini-series "that plunges readers deep into the deadly world of the Black Death, where the lines between life, death, and morality blur in the most chilling way!" I love a good historical horror story, and, after checking out the first covers and preview pages (which you can see below), it looks like we're in for something really special with this new series.

Written by Peter Milligan, The Pale Knight features illustrations by Val Rodrigues, colors by Cristiane Peter, and letters from Dave Sharpe, with Cover A by Nick Marinkovich and Cover B by Guiseppe Camuncoli.

“The Pale Knight has a particular,...

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Who's your favorite Batman villain? Most will say the Joker, some might say Catwoman or Bane, but there's options galore. Did you know, though, that within Batman's expansive rogues gallery also lies the original Bat-man? Yes, Count Dracula has appeared in three Batman movies — but you can only watch one of them.

This isn't as out-there a pairing as it looks. Batman mostly fights other freaks in costumes -- from clowns to cats, to scarecrows, to rejected quiz show hosts -- but some of the Dark Knight's nemeses are downright supernatural. Take Ra's al Ghul, the Demon's Head, who has stayed young and fit for 700 years with the help of the magical Lazarus Pit, a functional Fountain of Youth.

A handful of Batman comics — Peter Milligan's "Dark Knight, Dark City," Grant Morrison's "Batman" epic, and...

The Boys - both the TV show and the original comic - is famous for its less-than-flattering portrayal of superheroes. The entire franchise is a commentary on the commercialization and cultural obsession of superheroes, both in those superheroes’ fictional worlds and in the real-world. However, The Boys wasn’t the first franchise to do this, as Marvel used a nearly identical method to parody superheroes long before The Boys - and Marvel did it with a team most fans have never even heard of: X-Statix.

2002’s X-Statix #1 by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred introduces readers to the all-new team of mutants in X-Men canon, though these ‘heroes’ are decidedly different from anything Marvel Comics fans have seen before. The X-Statix weren’t real heroes, they were essentially actors. Their powers were real - as in, they were actually mutants - but they certainly didn’t use those powers for good.

In every Venom movie, there is a new symbiote who shows up to fight the odd anti-hero duo of Venom and Eddie Brock. However, as the final part of Sonys Venom trilogy, Venom: The Last Dance boasts several symbiote characters who appear throughout the film.

Many of these symbiotes have acted as background cameos in 2018s Venom as part of the Life Foundation, yet it appears they may now be the central threat. But who are these symbiotes, and where have they shown up before? While there isn't an official in-movie answer for the former, Marvel Comics has depicted most of these symbiotes in comics, giving fans the knowledge needed to identify the new symbiotes.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on November 13, 2024: With Venom: The Last Dance now in theaters, fans officially know all of the symbiotes in the movie. Although many die immediately, it is interesting to note precisely...

One of Spider-Mans most defining character traits is the need for his secret identity. While his closest friends, family, and enemies know his true identity, Peter Parker has taken great lengths to ensure that nobody can truly figure out who he is. However, one unlikely Spider-man villain was able to easily deduce who he was with nothing but a quick and educated guess.

The Flowers for Rhino story arc introduced in Spider-Mans Tangled Web #5-6 - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo - follows the tragic life of one of Spider-Mans most comedic villains, the Rhino. Rhino doesnt choose to dress like a rhino, hes a man trapped inside many hundred pounds of rhino hide.

While he knows he will never be free of his skin, he can be free of his mind. Returning to the same lab that gifted him his incredible strength, Rhino underwent a procedure to vastly increase his intelligence.

DC Comics' de facto flagship superhero, Batman, has dominated the company's sales for decades, especially when he clashes with his arch-nemesis, the Joker. For many readers, there's some debate about whether the villain is even the best choice for the Caped Crusader's true match, with characters like Bane and Ra's al Ghul challenging him more directly. All the hero's best adversaries have their own gimmicks, and these only serve to enrich the comic book history of Bruce Wayne.

With the Joker stealing the limelight from other villains so often, even in their own stories, it's worth highlighting some tales where the Clown Prince of Crime doesn't appear at all. Ranging from the epic introductions of new villains to character-defining stories of established rogues, some of Batman's greatest adventures simply don't feature his arch-nemesis. For all the classic Dark Knight stories that showcase the killer clown, other villains deserve some attention...

The artistic stylings of Michael Allred as they've been applied to Marvel are ready to be collected in one big love letter to the artist. Michael Allred is a legendary artist with 35 years of experience, with 30 of those years dedicated to Marvel. Titles like X-Statix, Marvel's most unusual X-Men team, have Allred's name attached and he's rightfully been celebrated for his contributions.

Through a new Kickstarter campaign, Michael Allred's contributions will be celebrated in a whole new way for The Marvel Art of Michael Allred. Cover art for the collection can be found directly below.

Filled with highlights from his Marvel career and laced with perks like never before seen work, The Marvel Art of Michael Allred is set to be the perfect homage to one of the comic book community's best artists. For anyone who ever felt enamored in their stunning art covers and in-panel sequences, this should be a must-read.

If you were waiting for The Crow film series reboot, then the wait is finally over. Directed by Rupert Sanders from a screenplay co-written by Zach Baylin and William Schneider, The Crow is based on a superhero comic book series created by James O’Barr, the gothic superhero film follows the story of Soulmates Eric Draven and Shelly Webster, and both are brutally murdered. Draven returns from the dead to seek revenge. The Crow stars Bill Skarsgård and FKA twigs in the lead roles with Danny Huston, Isabella Wei, Laura Birn, Jordan Bolger, Dukagjin Podrimaj, and Sami Bouajila starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the brutal action, intense characters, and gothic vibes of The Crow, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Crow Credit – Dimension Films

The Crow is a gothic action horror superhero film directed by Alex Proyas from a screenplay co-written by David J. Schow and John Shirley.

X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97 partially owe their success to their ability to streamline the knotty and wild world of Marvel’s mutants. While lots of characters show up for cameos and arcs, both series focus on a team of 8-10 members. But for X-Men ’97‘s second season, executive producer Brad Winderbaum plans on going a bit bigger.

“There’s many teams, in Marvel, that have the letter ‘X’ that are followed by a hyphen,” Winderbaum said during a Q&a with Comic Book (via Collider). “I would put it to you like this… there’s two other X-teams in season two.”

Who are those two other teams? Winderbaum doesn’t say, but we can take a few educated guesses about who could show up in X-Men ’97 season two and how they would change the dynamic of the show.

X-Factor

X-Factor is one of the two...

The latest trailer for Kraven the Hunter features a long-awaited character from the Spider-Man mythos. No, not Spider-Man. Of course it’s not Spider-Man. Kraven is the latest in latest in Sony‘s attempts to build a cinematic universe based on Spider-Man characters, but without using Spider-Man.

No, the newest character is Aleksei Sytsevich, better known as the Rhino. We’ve seen clips of Aleksei in his civilian form, played by Alessandro Nivola. But this latest trailer is the first time he’s appeared in his Rhino form and it is… different.

The trailer shows Aleksei transforming into a type of human/rhino hybrid, a beast who smashes cars much like every other giant muscleman in superhero movies. That’s a real change from the comic book version of the Rhino, and even those seen in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and the Spider-Man video games. Usually, Aleksei becomes the Rhino...

This X-Men ’97 article contains spoilers.

X-Men ’97 ended with more than a few spinning plates. Sure, Bastion was defeated, but the events sent some of the X-Men to the far future and others into the past. And yet a few others were zapped to parts unknown, such as Wolverine, who remains in critical condition after Magneto ripped out his adamantium skeleton. Back in the present, Forge and Bishop make plans to find their friends. Then there’s the matter of Professor X and Magneto’s mental states, which seems to be pointing toward the coming of the terrible Onslaught.

As that last point reminds us, as wonderful as X-Men ’97 is, a lot of its power comes from the Marvel comics that it adapts. The first season of X-Men ’97 ran quickly through some important storylines from the comics, including Inferno, Mutant Massacre, Lifedeath, and Operation: Zero Tolerance.

Spoilers for "X-Men '97" follow.

Rejoice, my X-Fans, for your theories have prevailed.

The "X-Men '97" season 1 finale, the three-part epic "Tolerance is Extinction," ended in shocking fashion. The big bad Bastion sent Asteroid M on a collision course with Earth, deciding to force humanity into extinction rather than evolution. Professor X, unable to not see the good in Magneto, even after his frenemy's torturous attack on Wolverine, pulls Erik back to the light with a telepathic therapy session. The X-Men, once more including Magneto, save the world. But then they vanish, pulled through time to the past, future (Cyclops and Jean), and parts unrevealed. The past X-Men, stranded in Egypt, circa 3000 BC, meet a grey-skinned mutant that fans will certainly recognize.

As is Marvel tradition, there's also post-credits scene revealing that, while the X-Men are scattered across time, an old foe is rearing his head. In the present, En Sabah Nur's future self,...

Peter Milligan and John Paul Leon's 1996 miniseries The Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix is the "Rosetta Stone" for understanding Mr. Sinister in the Krakoan Era, according to writer Kieron Gillen. Gillen has shaped Mr. Sinister's current incarnation in the X-Men universe significantly over the last several years, making it worthwhile for readers to revisit the classic 1990s tale of Sinister's origins, as recommended by the outgoing X-author. The Krakoan Era has made Mr. Sinister the "Big Bad" he was always meant to be, building on classic X-Men stories like Further Adventures while taking the character to the logical extreme of his concept.

X-Men writer Kieron Gillen called one classic story arc, 1996's The Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, the "Rosetta Stone" to understanding the portrayal of Mr. Sinister during the Krakoan Era. The classic story, written by Peter Milligan and illustrated by John Paul Leon, definitely established...

DC Finest introduces new readers to essential stories of iconic characters with paperback collections. The collections are character and genre-focused, spotlighting a range of issues from historical moments. Priced from $34.99, DC Finest features characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and more with legendary creators.

DC Comics has revealed plans for DC Finest, a new line of paperback collections starring some of the most well-known characters in pop culture. With DC Finest, the publisher aims to introduce new readers to a range of essential stories for characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and more, all while satisfying long-time fans itching for hard-to-find reprints of classic issues.

DC announced its plans for the DC Finest collection line at 2024's ComicsPRO Industry Conference, where the publisher also revealed plans for its 2024 summer event series and the upcoming Elseworlds relaunch. Unlike comic book collections that focus on specific stories or runs by creative teams,...

This article is part of Collector’s Digest, an editorial series powered by:

The holidays are here, and there’s no better time to shower your loved ones with nerdy gifts. Reading materials are objectively the best thing to get anyone over four as presents, and holiday comics are a chance to help your friends get outside their comfort zones and try something new, while at the same time adding a dash of collectability to their lives. We’ve picked out a nice mix of old and new, seasonal and evergreen, comics for you to choose from.

Black Panther by Christopher Priest

Christopher Priest has been on fire lately, writing back to back to back gems at DC—Deathstroke, followed by Black Adam, followed by (currently running) Superman Lost is one of the greatest three-series stretches in the last 30 years of comics. But while Priest’s career stretches back to the ‘70s,...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) needs to combat superhero fatigue and evolve with the genre by producing more adult-oriented films. X-Statix represents untapped potential for the MCU, with its violent, comical, and absurd storytelling offering a fresh and mature approach. An X-Statix film or Disney+ show following the structure of The Boys would be a perfect companion to Deadpool 3 and establish a more risqué branch of the MCU.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still wildly popular among comic book movie fans, it's clear that the franchise has taken a dip in general audience approval in the past few years. Many movie-goers are citing superhero fatigue as a primary reason for this -- claiming the studio is only producing "more of the same" with each new outing. With projects like The Boys, Gen V and Invincible tackling superhero storytelling with a more visceral approach, there is a definite shift...

Superman's near turn to evil in Adventures of Superman #12 reveals his struggle to be taken seriously and his desire to explore his dark side as the Demolisher persona. The citizens overwhelmingly reject the Demolisher in favor of Superman's methods, but he becomes addicted to the freedom that the Demolisher provides. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Superman attacks Metropolis for selfish reasons, highlighting the danger of his internal conflict and the potential for him to lose himself.

Superman is nearly universally beloved, with really only the villains of Earth disliking him. But early in his career Superman could've taken a different path, and instead of becoming a beloved superhero, he was almost Metropolis' biggest supervillain: the Demolisher.

Superman is one of DC's biggest symbols of hope; no matter what problem someone is facing, Superman will be there to help. Be it putting out a fire or saving a cat from a tree,...

Few heroes in the DC Universe are known for their kindness more than Superman. No matter what someone has done, Superman will almost always lend an ear and try to help someone, no matter what they're going through. But early in his career, Superman had considered another path; at one point, it appeared possible that instead of offering redemption, Superman would only offer brutal retribution to the criminals of Metropolis.

Superman's darker turn in his vigilante career was first seen in Adventures of Superman #34 by Peter Milligan, Agustin Padilla, Nick Filardi, and Wes Abbott.

The story arc saw a brutal new hero, the Demolisher, going after the villains of Metropolis – only for it to be revealed that under the mask was, in fact, Clark Kent.

Related: 1 Classic Superman Power Has a Deadly Upper Limit He Refuses to Use

Superman Became The Demolisher To Explore His Darker Side

There's no denying...

A stunning Enchantress cosplay captures the character's eerie and pagan design from Marvel 1602, showcasing her antlers and fur shawl. The Enchantress' 1602 redesign was part of an iconic reinvention of Marvel's main titles that brought in acclaimed writers and artists. The cosplay perfectly captures the menacing and alluring nature of the Enchantress, staying true to her witch-like role and incorporating Norse elements.

An epic Enchantress cosplay brings back a perfect Asgardian design from Marvel. One of Thor’s oldest villains, the Enchantress received a stunning makeover in 2003’s Marvel 1602, one rooted in paganism. It remains one of the most memorable 1602 character designs. Now, photographer patloikaphotoworks has shared a new Enchantress cosplay by joy.the.carrion.bird — and it's as if the Enchantress leaped off the page.

Patloikaphotoworks shared the shoot on Instagram. The photo of joy.the.carrion.bird was snapped at a previous year’s Dragon-Con. The costume is faithful to the Enchantress’ 1602 redesign.

Warning! This article contains spoilers for The X-Cellent #5 & X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 At a time when nearly every mutant in the Marvel Universe is mind-controlled into walking into a meat grinder, one has actually been resurrected from the grave after nineteen years of being dead within X-Men continuity. Not only has this mutant-in-question made a comeback, but her return confirms just how underrated she’s always been, as she proved strong enough to take down a literal god. Her name is Venus Dee Milo.

Venus Dee Milo is a mutant with the power of teleportation, though that’s a vast oversimplification of her true abilities. Given her mutation, Venus doesn’t actually have a physical form - not a stable one, anyway. When she first met Charles Xavier, he helped her design a suit that could contain her essence, and through which Venus could channel her powers. Those powers do include teleportation,...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for The X-Cellent #4 One of the most forgettable mutant heroes ever to be brought to live action just became perhaps the most powerful character in Marvel Comics, as Deadpool 2’s X-Force member Zeitgeist is now a literal mutant god.

In Deadpool 2, Deadpool holds auditions for mutants and other super powered individuals to join his new strike team, X-Force. Among those he auditions, Deadpool meets Shatterstar, Domino, and Peter, though one of the standouts is easily Zeitgeist, as his mutant power to spit acidic vomit is enough to make even the Merc with a Mouth squirm. Unfortunately, Zeitgeist–along with most of the other members of Deadpool’s X-Force–doesn’t make it very long, as he is gruesomely killed by a wood chipper mere minutes into the start of X-Force’s first mission. While Zeitgeist suffered a grisly fate in the landscape of Marvel’s live-action sandbox,...

The rivalry between the Carnage symbiote and its child, Toxin, is one of Marvel’s fiercest, and this rivalry has now been perfectly captured in a stunning cosplay. With parent and child battling it out in the rain, there’s never been a better version of this classic matchup.

Hitman R. (@hitman_cosplay) has created a spectacular cosplay tableau, with Carnage and Toxin facing off to see who’s truly the superior red symbiote. Battling in the rain, both are terrifying, with the costumes capturing the spindly inhumanity of the Symbiotes perfectly. Toxin’s original costume is reminiscent of Spider-Man, while Carnage’s couldn’t be mistaken for anything human with its rows of razor-sharp teeth. Both costumes are created by Hitman, while Mr.Highnoob (@mchighnoob) and Ingwar Wrysmile (@ingar.wrysmile) have been recruited to play Carnage and Toxin respectively. Hitman also credits @miphetis for the photography, and @unlimited_spider...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The X-Cellent #2Marvel's quirkiest heroes, X-Statix, have been reunited, and a scheme to tarnish their representation just called out future MCU star Wonder Man in the process. In The X-Cellent #2 by Peter Milligan, Michael Allred, and Laura Allred, the mutant heroes known as X-Statix are in a feud with their former leader Zeitgeist for the public's affection. In a ploy to steal the spotlight from X-Statix, Zeitgeist and the X-Cellent blackmail X-Statix into attending a party with Marvel's more B-List heroes, and not even an upcoming Dinsey+ show can save Wonder Man from being called out as a hero past his prime.

In The X-Cellent, original team creators Milligan, M. Allred, and L. Allred, are returning to X-Statix after the popularity of their cult-classic original series. Known for its dry sense of humor, relevant social commentary, and distinct visual style, The X-Cellent follows many of...

Contains spoilers for Detective Comics Annual 2022 #1!Batman is no stranger to time travel, or mystic destiny, and a new comic has revealed that Bruce Wayne’s meddling in the distant past in fact led to his very creation in the present. Destiny is a funny thing, and Bruce’s time paradox is proof apparent of that fact.

In recent issues of Detective Comics, the new villains the Orghams arrive in Gotham, revealing their secret past with the city. In 1776 the Orghams brought a "reality engine" to the nascent Gotham, then known as Gathome, intent on controlling the city’s very future. This device ensures that Gotham’s future follows a repeating pattern, based on an Orgham-planned attack on the city. By creating a pattern where the city will always be in constant fear, it will mean that people will always have need of the industries and institutions controlled by the Orghams.

Marvel’s most unusual X-Men team, X-Statix, returns in a brand-new miniseries debuting next March. The book, called The X-Cellent, will see writer Peter Milligan reunite with artists Michael Allred and Laura Allred to bring readers a sequel to this year’s X-Cellent, which marked the seminal group’s return to the Marvel Universe. The first issue of the five issue miniseries goes on sale in print and digital March 15th.

Marvel Comics revealed more about the forthcoming miniseries in a post on their website. Billed as a sequel to X-Cellent, the new book will feature X-Statix stalwarts such as U-Go-Girl, Zeitgeist and the fan-favorite Doop. The press release revealed that Zeitgeist is still trying to achieve “social media godhood” and will go to any lengths to do so–even if it means killing someone. Matters are complicated further when the next generation of X-Statix members show up on the scene.

With the sequel and various spinoffs regarding Matt Reeves' The Batman in the works, it's safe to say that the Caped Crusader's stories have a place in the mainstream, and the comics, in particular, have provided some of the character's darkest tales. Batman has always been known as one of the more gritty superheroes, often tackling street-level crime-noir adventures and cases.

Decades' worth of DC comic book history has bolstered that fact, with many blending various genres and themes to tell uniquely grim stories. Fans on Reddit have discussed what they thought were some of the most tonally noteworthy in this regard, ranging from classics like The Killing Joke to lesser-known favorites like Dark Knight, Dark City.

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious House

Grant Morrison is regarded by the DC fan base as one of the greatest modern comic book writers, with Batman being one of the characters...

Gotham City has always had a dark past, especially for Batman, and the most recent Detective Comics run is refocusing on the city’s oft-forgotten demonic secrets. Gotham’s a city literally built on blood, and with that spilt blood came something else.

In this latest run, Batman is haunted by the familiar specter of the demon Barbatos, who goads Bruce when he’s near unconsciousness. This Bat-God has been a fixture of modern Batman comics, both as traditional demon and multiversal entity. Most notably, Barbatos was the central antagonist of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Dark Knights: Metal, where they threatened the Dark and Light Multiverses. Now, in Detective Comics, Barbatos has seemingly returned in a more traditional demonic form, likely tying into the Orghams, a demon-controlling family intent on reclaiming Gotham, which they see as their city.

Related: Damian Wayne's Rejection of Batman's Biggest Rules Makes Him...

Fun fact: James Gunn is actually in this picture—he’s the tiny guy on Thomas Haden Church’s shoulder. Left: The Specials (Screenshot: YouTube), Right: Super (Screenshot: YouTube) Fair to say that this past week has been the biggest one of James Gunn’s career: Eight years after making...

Welcome to the latest installment of our 100 Word Hits column, in association with comics retailer The Unreality Store, in which Matthew De Monti brings us short, sharp reviews of the latest books to hit comic stores over the past month or so!

Alien Vol.2 #1 Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson | Art by Julius Ohta

The second volume of Kennedy Johnson’s Alien epic begins in typically brutal fashion with the aliens ripping through the population of Tobler-9, a showcase planet belonging to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Yes, those guys again! Cut to Europa-5 and there’s a group of androids living out an idyllic existence that’s about to be shattered by the United System army. Turns out the U.S needs their help to get something off Tobler-9. Some kind of alien egg…

A great opener setting up this new story arc and what a beauty of a cover by Bjorn Barends!

Welcome to the latest installment of our new column 100 Word Hits, in association with comics retailer The Unreality Store, in which Matthew De Monti brings us short, sharp reviews of the latest books to hit comic stores over the past month or so!

Han Solo & Chewbacca #4 Written by Marc Guggenheim | Art by David Messina

This issue begins with a Wookie fight as Black Krrsantan takes on Chewie. Krrsantan takes off with Han as his captive but not before Chewie puts a tracker on his ship. Chewie and, the still to be verified Han’s father, pursue Han to the Mollo Tanka Planetoid where Augustus Graves has Han captive. Graves wants information on his urn which Han was trying to steal on behalf of Jabba.

The issue flew by faster than the Millennium Falcon on the Kessel run – there’s another Wookie fight and a final page double cross that everyone...

There’s all kinds of ways to build a creative program, but the two big ones are to follow a specific editorial plan or to work with a curated group of popular creators and let them do their thing.

The first is most common; you tend to see the second in more highbrow media areas, like prestige publishing imprints and classical music…and, maybe, that means they’re already in a sub-genre, but just don’t like to think of themselves that way.

In the ’90s, DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint was undergoing a slow-motion transformation. It formed out of a cluster of very popular comics that were mostly Type One (superhero comics taken seriously!) but were often presented to the public as Type Two (all British writers! all the time!). But the core superhero universe was on its own path to take itself seriously, in a very different and much more tedious way (pouches!

Welcome to the first in our new column 100 Word Hits, in association with comics retailer The Unreality Store, in which Matthew De Monti brings us short, sharp reviews of the latest books to hit comic stores over the past month or so!

Past The Last Mountain #1 Written by Paul Allor | Art by Louie Joyce

Neil Cutter works at Westfield Penal Preserve in Montana and he’s dealing with a prison break. Westfield this isn’t your normal penitentiary, the preserve is designed to house magical creatures since the ending of their war with humanity. Willa the dragon, Kate the faun and Simon the juvenile troll have escaped and are heading to a mythical refuge for magical creatures and hot on their heels are Cutter’s men.

There are definitely shades of WE3 in the story, the art is nice and there’s a series of short stories to enhance the sense of world-building.

There will probably be spoilers. If you worry about such things on a thirty-year-old obscure Vertigo comic, well, I wonder how you manage to live in the modern world, but go off and read something else on the Internet instead.

I don’t think I read this the first time out. I think I’d remember it. But it also is very much the kind of thing I was reading in 1993: I followed nearly all of Vertigo, and was a fan of Peter Milligan’s writing. So I both don’t know how I missed it and can’t figure out how I could have read it and utterly forgotten it.

I’m talking about Enimga: The Definitive Edition , a spiffy new-ish edition of an eight-issue comics series from those heady early Vertigo days, when it was “superhero comics with adult themes” and not “HBO-style shows in comics form.

Titan Comics' "Dan Dare" is based on the popular Brit comic book title and developing live-action TV series, originally created by Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson. The Titan series is written by Peter Milligan and illustrated by Alberto Fouche, with covers by Christian Ward, Alberto Fouche and Chris Weston:

“...in 'Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future', Dan struggles to figure out what to do with himself as the 'Sol System' enjoys peace for the first time in human history.

"However, when an unknown alien vessel arrives in the solar system...

"...and obliterates a moon of Saturn in a show of strength...

"...Dare finds himself thrust back into a new adventure that threatens the Earth..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Titan Comics' "Dan Dare" #1 is based on the popular Brit comic book title created by Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson, with the Titan series written by Peter Milligan and illustrated by Alberto Fouche, with covers by Christian Ward, Alberto Fouche and Chris Weston:

“...in 'Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future', Dan struggles to figure out what to do with himself as the 'Sol System' enjoys peace for the first time in human history.

"However, when an unknown alien vessel arrives in the solar system...

"...and obliterates a moon of Saturn in a show of strength...

"...Dare finds himself thrust back into a new adventure that threatens the Earth..."

Click the images to enlarge...

The Irishman star Stephen Graham's role in Sony's comic book sequel Let There Be Carnage had been a big mystery until yesterday, when a Venom 2 trailer for the movie was finally released, revealing that Graham will play a detective named Mulligan. Now, Spoilers to follow for those who are unaware of the character's origins, but the arrival of Mulligan is likely a hint towards the arrival of another villainous symbiote.

While it is not shown in the trailer, the red and blue (sometimes black) symbiote is known as Toxin and, in the pages of Marvel comics, bonds with a police officer named Pat Mulligan. Created by Peter Milligan and Clayton Crain, Toxin is feared to be the strongest and most dangerous of the symbiote race. Toxin even has links to Carnage, having been spawned by him in some versions of his backstory.

So, putting these obvious puzzle pieces together,...

Folks, we live in interesting times. We just received a trailer for Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the sequel to the surprise 2018 hit Venom, starring Tom Hardy, Tom Hardy, and a whole lot of people who weren’t trying nearly as hard as Tom Hardy. This sequel brings in Woody Harrelson as Broadway star Carnage about 30 years after his comic book debut.

Seriously, though. Carnage appeared in a Broadway musical ten years before he got to be in the movies. I’ll never get over that.

If you haven’t watched the crazy trailer yet, press pause on your Green Jelly CD and check this out.

What can we gather from this trailer?

The Return Of The Bromance

The Venom symbiote has become more acclimated to life on Earth, going so far as learning at least a little Chinese and getting into cooking. If that’s what you call it.

This one is long overdue as I bring my Creator in Focus segment back to the pages of eBuying Comics – last seen in Week 38 where I looked at the key issues of Todd McFarlane’s career. I have decided to make a tweak to the segment, previously I looked at current values of those key issues. Where as now the main focus will be on finding good bargains on eBay for the key issues of your favourite creators. Also I think it would be fun and more beneficial to talk about the collected versions available of creators works, which makes it easier for readers to seek out. Especially with the early career stuff. Its useful to know what volumes certain issues are in, whether its paperback or hardback is good knowledge to share with the comics community, new or old readers alike.

Grant Morrison is a writer who has a...

In a week where the political future of the United States is likely to be decided — at least for the next few years — indie publisher Ahoy Comics offers a glimpse of a world where almost everyone is wearing a smile … because the alternative may be too painful. Ahead of its Wednesday release, The Hollywood Reporter has a sneak peek at Happy Hour.

The social satire, written by Peter Milligan (Shade the Changing Man, Enigma, The Prisoner) with art from Michael Montenat (Hellraiser Annual), is set in an America where it’s literally a crime to be sad — leading to the creation ...

In a week where the political future of the United States is likely to be decided — at least for the next few years — indie publisher Ahoy Comics offers a glimpse of a world where almost everyone is wearing a smile… because the alternative may be too painful. Ahead of its Wednesday release, The Hollywood Reporter has a sneak peek at Happy Hour.

The social satire, written by Peter Milligan (Shade the Changing Man, Enigma, The Prisoner) with art from Michael Montenat (Hellraiser Annual), is set in an America where it’s literally a crime to be sad — leading to the creation of ...

HBO Max has greenlighted three drama series from J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath’s Bad Robot Prods. — Overlook, inspired by Stephen King’s The Shining; Duster, conceived by Abrams; and a DC Justice League Dark show.

These are Bad Robot’s first projects for HBO Max under the mega film and TV deal Abrams signed with WarnerMedia last fall. Like with the other uber producers on Warner Bros. Television Group’s roster, Greg Berlanti, HBO Max is ordering a whole slate of series from Abrams. (Both Abrams and Berlanti behind new DC series for WarnerMedia’s streaming platform.)

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Horror-thriller Overlook, inspired by and featuring iconic characters from King’s The Shining, explores the untold,...

Jim Dandy Feb 6, 2020

One of the execs behind Valiant's resurrection is starting a new publisher with a different plan. Meet Bad Idea.

Dinesh Shamdasani, one of the people who helped make Valiant Comics' rebirth in 2011 such a success, is back at it with a new comic company. For fans of his tenure with the Bloodshot publisher, this new venture is going to look familiar.

Shamdasani and his team announced Bad Idea Comics, a new publisher with a curious business model. The company plans on only releasing one or two titles a month, only as physical media, without collections or variant covers, to only 20 comic shops around the United States at launch (with plans to expand into more as certain criteria are met).

The creators on board include some outstanding names.

Joshua Dysart, writer of Imperium and The Life and Death of Toyo Harada. Jody Houser, the definitive writer behind Faith.

Exclusive: I hear that Bad Robot, through its new deal at Warner Media, is exclusively developing both film and TV ideas based on DC’s Justice League Dark universe at Warner Bros.

This deal is all very nascent and at this point in time there aren’t any specific projects or characters that are being specifically developed out of the franchise. I understand that Bad Robot’s Head of Motion Pictures Hannah Minghella and Head of Television Ben Stephenson will soon be taking meetings with talent reps and their writing clients on which characters will get their own projects.

Justice League Dark (or Jld team) first appeared in the September 2011 issue of Justice League Dark #1 featuring such superheros, mostly occult and offbeat, as John Constantine, mystic and fortune teller Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Shade, the Changing Man, and Zatanna. The roster is much larger, and members joined later on, with Swamp Thing...

Jim Dandy Sep 11, 2019

Does Year of the Villain mean a big change for Batman’s puzzling nemesis?

Event comics usually come with a passel of one-off tie ins. Sometimes they’re very good. Sometimes they’re a way of giving someone a try out. Sometimes they’re a way of getting somebody work. These are all good things! But very rarely are they ever impactful on a character or the direction of a line. That may change this week, as Mark Russell and Scott Godlewski bring the Riddler into Year of the Villain with one of the most introspective superhero comics in a while, one that potentially foreshadows a big status quo change for one of Batman’s oldest villains.

The premise of the entire Year of the Villain arc has Apex Lex, a powered-up Lex Luthor, gone full evil again after years spent straddling the line of “dick” and...

John Saavedra Jun 21, 2019

Legendary adult-oriented DC imprint, Vertigo Comics, will close down by January 2020.

The iconic comics imprint that brought readers The Sandman, Preacher, Hellblazer, Fables, Y: The Last Man, and others will close its doors in 2020. According to THR, DC Comics plans to shutter Vertigo Comics, as well as young adult imprints DC Zoom and DC Ink, starting in January.

Replacing them will be three, age-specific imprints: DC Kids for ages 8-12, DC for 13 and up, and the adult-oriented DC Black Label for readers 17 and older. Series currently running under DC Zoom, Ink, and Vertigo will be integrated into these new imprints. This means that series like Sandman Universe, which expands the world of the Vertigo's most famous character, may live on under Black Label. Additionally, projects previously announced for Black Label before the restructure will still be published by the imprint.

THR reports that DC's pop-up labels,...

Written by Neil Gaiman, Simon Spurrier | Art by Bilquis Evely | Published by DC Vertigo | Format: Paperback, 200pp

Ah, Vertigo, the house that Neil built. Gaiman that is. Without Neil Gaiman there would probably be no Vertigo, or at least not the successful imprint it became. Being fair, it’s also right to say without Editor Karen Berger there would definitely be no Vertigo as not only did she recruit Neil Gaiman to work at DC, she also brought in Grant Morrison, Jamie Delano and Peter Milligan among others and brought a new sensibility to DC. If there’s one thing Americans like, its British cynicism. As a side note, Neil Gaiman wrote one of my favourite books ever, Death: The High Cost of Living, which as a dedicated superhero fan is saying something. Death, of course, was one of The Endless, and The Endless featured prominently in The Sandman and,...

Later this month, Ahoy Comics will be releasing issue #5 in their Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror series. Today, we’re here to give you an exclusive preview of the comic, which sees writer Peter Milligan and artist Richard Case reinvent Poe’s classic tale The Fall of the House of Usher and adapting it to […] The post Exclusive Edgar Allan Poe`S Snifter Of Terror #5 Preview Takes on The President appeared first on Dread Central.

This fall, Ahoy Comics will celebrate the spooky season with the first issue of Edgar Allan Poe's Snifter of Terror. Packed with potent prose and full-color panels, the new comic book magazine doesn't come out until Halloween, but to celebrate International Cat Day, we've been provided with exclusive preview pages from Hunt Emerson’s comedic twist on "The Black Cat," featuring Poe and the eponymous character in a Road Runner/Wild E. Coyote-type showdown.

You can read our exclusive preview from Edgar Allan Poe's Snifter of Terror below, and be sure to visit Ahoy Comics' official website for more information on all of their current series and upcoming comic book magazines.

"Edgar Allan Poe’S Snifter Of Terror 6 issue Mature Readers mini series

Edgar Allan Poe mangles classic tales and brand new stories in this cross between Drunk History and Tales from the Crypt! First, meet Ahoy’s own...

Written by Peter Milligan | Art by Colin Lorimer | Published by Titan Comics

What’s the sign of a good book? Really making you look forward to that next issue. What’s the sign of a Great book? One that makes you check the schedules each week to see when it’s going to appear. For me, this is a great book. Milligan is writing it on several levels, you can choose to just enjoy it on the one level you so choose, or you can look for all the hidden winks and nods, the sly digs at authority and the political classes, the microscope held up to society. Most importantly for me, it continues to bottle the essence of what made The Prisoner great, while making strides forward with new characters and new interpretations.

Final issue time, and I’ll say up front I’m expecting a nice little tidy resolution.