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We have already covered the greatest DC Comics ever, as well as various countdowns of the best of the best from Marvel, but let's be real for a second: the indie market has its fair share of seminal comic books too. For many readers, that's where the real magic happens, as creatives play outside of the assigned sandboxes and free from corporate oversight and meddling. The only limit here is where their imagination takes them.

But how do you pick the best comic books outside of Marvel and DC? It isn't an easy task and requires a few considerations. Ultimately, it comes down to being a mix of universally popular series and personal preference, but also analyzing the books' wider influence on pop culture. Did they lead to on-screen adaptations or video games? Did they force the industry to up its game? Those types of questions. In addition to this,...

Sean Connery starred in a superhero movie unlike any other back in 2003. Now, 22 years later, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is heading to streaming.

Beginning July 1, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will be available to stream on Hulu. Distributed by 20th Century Fox in 2003, the steampunk superhero movie is based on the first volume of the eponymous comic book series by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, which is set in a universe where all the characters and events from Victorian literature coexist, with Connery starring as Allan Quatermain, the protagonist of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was directed by Stephen Norrington, who is perhaps best known for helming the first Blade movie starring Wesley Snipes.

Joining Connery's Allan Quatermain as part of the titular team are Bram Stoker's vampiress Mina Harker, H. G. Wells' the Invisible Man, Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr.

Metal Hurlant, the French comic book anthology from the 1970s and 80s credited with reshaping the contemporary sci-fi aesthetic and inspiring films such as “Alien,” “Tron,” “Blade Runner,” “Akira” and “The Fifth Element,” is returning on its 50th anniversary.

A new English-language quarterly edition of Metal Hurlant — first announced last year — is hitting shelves this week from publishers Humanoids, which launched the original in France in 1975. Variety can exclusively reveal several excerpts of new stories from the anthology alongside support from one of the biggest filmmakers working today.

Excerpt from ‘Respect’ by Matthew Allison

Metal Hurlant was first created by comic artists Jean Giraud (better known as Mœbius) and Philippe Druillet, together with journalist-writer Jean-Pierre Dionnet and finance director Bernand Farkas. Collectively, the four were known as “Les Humanoïdes Associés (United Humanoids), which became the name of their publishing house, first launched in Paris but now based in Los Angeles.

Decades ago, Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins didn’t just reboot the Caped Crusader, but it also changed how people viewed superhero cinema. It was released on June 15, 2005, which marks its 20th anniversary, and it still remains one of the best iterations, according to many.

The movie was dark, had psychological depth, and grit because Nolan made Gotham feel terrifyingly real, and the trilogy introduced us to Heath Ledger’s Joker, a portrayal that was immortalized by the late actor’s timeless performance. But James Gunn, who is the new architect of Dcu, has previously dismissed Nolan’s vision, so let’s look at his past critique and how The Dark Knight Trilogy might shape his own take on Batman.

James Gunn’s blunt take on Christopher Nolan’s Batman James Gunn | Credits: @InsideOfYou / Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum / YouTube

Before leading DC Studios, James Gunn was just another filmmaker with strong opinions,...

Alan Moore’s epic Watchmen series is often cited as the best superhero comic book of all time, but according to horror author Joe Hill, another one of Moore’s classic graphic novels deserves to be lauded as the author’s masterpiece: From Hell, the surreal Jack the Ripper story that truly pushes the limit of the comic medium.

Men’s Health recently collected comic recommendations from nearly fifty authors and artists, and naturally Alan Moore’s work comes up multiple times on the list, but Hill’s declaration that From Hell is Moore’s best work stands out from the rest.

“If the graphic novel form has a Ulysses, this is it,” Hill wrote, drawing a comparison between Moore’s sprawling exploration of the Jack the Ripper mystery and the James Joyce novel which is often ranked at the top of lists of the best novels of the 20th century.

Spider-Man celebrates 616 Day by saving Marvel's Earth-616 from destruction, learning from Reddwyn why his universe is so special and how it got its iconic number. Spider-Man is eager to fight his traditional enemies as Earth-616 goes through a rare period of normalcy, but multiversal stability has other plans for Marvel's prime universe. Fortunately, the wall-crawler is there to save his reality.

In 2025's Giant-Size Spider-Man #1, the sorcerer Reddwyn recruits Spider-Man to prevent a rip in reality caused by an Eternivore, which attacks Earth-616 during a multiversal eclipse where Marvel's prime universe falls in the middle of the countless timelines. Peter Parker has been overwhelmed by the number "616" all day, and his questions about its significance are answered by Wyn and his fight against the Eternivore.

The importance of Earth-616 is taken as a given, as it acts as the heart of the Marvel multiverse. However, universal numeration is rarely acknowledged...

Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's 1988 graphic novel "Batman: The Killing Joke" is a legendary entry in the Batman canon that has influenced countless interpretations of the Dark Knight. Not only did it add major elements to Batman lore, including the shooting of Barbara Gordon and what is now widely accepted as the Joker's origin, it influenced even more popular depictions of the Batman mythos. Director Tim Burton cited "The Killing Joke" as a big inspiration for 1989's "Batman," even going so far as to claim Moore's graphic novel was the first comic book he ever really loved. Later, Christopher Nolan borrowed major elements from the story for "The Dark Knight," most notably Joker's hazy past and unreliable narration whereby we never truly know if the villain is recounting his origin story accurately or not.

This is to say nothing of the way in which "The Killing Joke," alongside seminal...

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The release of James Gunn's "Superman" is approaching faster than the speeding bullet, with mere weeks left before superhero fans across the globe witness the dawn of a new DC Universe at the cinemas. A critical project for the future of both Warner Bros. and Gunn's fledgling DC Studios, fans are expecting a version of the Man of Steel that avoids the pitfalls of, well, "Man of Steel" -- and the rest of Zack Snyder's DC Extended Universe, for that matter.

The key differences between Snyder and Gunn's universes will most likely come largely as a result of the comics they drew their inspiration from. Synder famously loved gritty Elseworld stories like Alan Moore's "Watchmen" and Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns," and their influence was felt throughout his work in the Dceu. Meanwhile, Gunn...

A Lesser-Known Zack Snyder Superhero Film Is Now Streaming On Ott! ( Photo Credit – Prime Video )

Hollywood filmmaker Zack Snyder is well-known for directing the immensely popular superhero movies Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League (2017). A few years before going behind the camera for these high-profile DC films, Snyder had already explored the superhero genre with a lesser-known and more unconventional film. Can you guess which one?

That film was Watchmen (2009), a dark, morally complex, and visually opulent adaptation of the iconic graphic novel that flew under the radar after its release. Read on to know more about the film, where it is streaming on Ott, and whether it’s worth your time now.

Watchmen: Plot & Cast

The film is set in an alternate version of 1985, where superheroes exist but have been outlawed, all against the tense backdrop of the Cold War. The plot...

Wonder Woman’s Comic History Needs Respect as Dceu Falls Short Compared to MCU’s Potential ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Right off the bat, I have to say: that Wonder Woman’s presence on screen was huge, but how she’s been treated in comics and fandom has been all over the place for way too long. Unlike Superman and Batman, her history hasn’t gotten consistent respect. That gap was glaring to me. DC’s two biggest heroes had iconic, reprinted stories from every decade. Wonder Woman, not so much. This isn’t just a rant; it’s my frustration over how DC, creators, and fans have handled one of their Trinity’s brightest stars. She deserves so much more.

When I look at Superman and Batman, I see creators like Siegel and Shuster, Alan Moore, John Byrne, Frank Miller – names attached to their decades-long legacies. They created must-read runs that keep getting celebrated.

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Superhero movies have become infatuated with the multiverse. A lot of that must go back to Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's 1986 "Crisis on Infinite Earths," where all the heroes from DC Comics' vast multiverse band together against an omnicidal threat. But can the multiverse be used for greater storytelling than as a vehicle to throw blockbuster IP together? The new comic book "Assorted Crisis Events" says "Yes."

Since the first issue of "Assorted Crisis Events" (which I covered here), the series has been sold as "'Crisis On Infinite Earths' if it was happening to normal people." Written by Deniz Camp, penciled by Eric Zawadzki, and colored by Jordie Bellaire, "Assorted Crisis Events" is an anthology. The main character is the crisis itself. Reality is falling apart due to different time periods coming together and leaving people caught in its wake.

You could make a case that Stephen Norrington's "Blade" was ground zero for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's unprecedented blockbuster run. Though it hit theaters in 1998, 11 years before the release of "Iron Man," if you grew up reading comic books, you could sense a kindred charge from your fellow moviegoers the second Snipes got on with his vampire-killing business. This wasn't Tim Burton's "Batman," which used Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" as window dressing; Norrington's "Blade" possessed the swagger and lethality of the character created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan.

Norrington immediately became a fan-favorite filmmaker (his reputation bolstered by "Blade" becoming one of the first must-own DVDs as the medium caught fire), which led a significant contingent of geeks to lobby for him to direct everything from "X-Men" to "Spider-Man." When he finally alit on "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," an adaptation of Alan Moore...

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Due to the many, many times we've seen Bruce Wayne's parents die in "Batman" movies and TV, there are quite a few different Thomas and Martha Wayne actors out there... even if most of them didn't last long enough to leave an impression!

The most recognizable actors to have played the late Waynes are probably Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan in Zack Snyder's 2016 film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." (Morgan and Cohan are both well-known for playing Negan and Maggie on "The Walking Dead," respectively, and are currently starring together in the spin-off "Dead City.")

Snyder opens his movie by cutting between the Waynes being shot in an alley and young Bruce (Brandon Spink) running away from their funeral, only to fall into a cave of bats (and his future). Both scenes are fastidiously recreated from Frank Miller's seminal Batman comic,...

Publisher. Underground Cartoonist. Activist. Historian. Quirky Collector. Troublemaker. Denis Kitchen has been taking on the establishment for decades. Now an all-new documentary, Oddly Compelling, highlights Kitchen’s long, strange trip — from his early days as a hippie cartoonist, to his thirty years as one of the most important independent comic book publishers, and his work as a fierce advocate for the First Amendment. Oddly Compelling is now on Kickstarter.

Filmmaker Soren Christiansen and Ted Intorcio have captured hours of in-depth, candid conversations with Denis Kitchen, as well as fellow cartoonists and colleagues including Alison Bechdel, Warren Bernard, Eddie Campbell, Paul Gravett, and Karen Green. The film also features rare archival footage of comic book legends Robert Crumb, Will Eisner, and Harvey Kurtzman, along with new animation of Kitchen’s iconic cartooning. The film charts Kitchen’s career as an indie cartoonist, a provocateur and publisher, and founder of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

You know what sounds like a hard sell to a Hollywood studio? A chain smoking antihero with a bad attitude and terminal lung cancer whom God himself doesn’t like. Dipping in and out of actual Hell. Where, by the way, Satan can’t wait to torture him for eternity. Oh, and it’s a large-ish budget superhero movie based on a DC/Vertigo comic. It’s a road that would include lawsuits, a music video director, a comic book creator who would rather leave free money on the table than be involved, and the MPAA gumming up the works. But where there’s a Keanu Reeves….there’s a way. This is what happened to Constantine.

The origins of Constantine began in June of 1986 when famed comic creator Alan Moore introduced him in The Saga of Swamp Thing #37. The occult investigator from England was on the hunt for information...

Don't just say, "Make mine Marvel," because DC Comics -- also known as DC -- boasts some of the greatest comic book storylines of all time. But do you know how tough it is to select the best of the best here? It's near impossible! From Batman to Superman, each character could fill their own list of all-time hits -- and speaking of which, do check out the 20 best Batman comics you need to read.

We love a good challenge at /Film, though -- that, or we enjoy the merciless bullying that will follow if we miss out on one of your favorites -- so we picked 15 of the best DC Comics ever, based on a meaningful mix of overall quality, lasting influence on the genre, and personal preference. These are the stories that left a mark and made us even bigger fans of comic books in general. With that said,...

Estimating the wealth of a fictional character is both interesting and very difficult to do, seeing how a lot of the estimates are based on imprecise numbers and speculation. Rarely do works of fiction present us with precise data, and even when they do, the data is only partial as it never encompasses all characters. On top of that, the data constantly changes, and different sources often list different data.

In this list, we are going to bring you a list of the 10 richest characters from the fictional universe created by DC Comics, as you are going to find out who the richest comic book characters from DC’s banner are.

Disclaimer: The data in this list is not always precise, and it is subject to constant change, so take it as estimates (where data is available) rather than exact facts.

10. Ra’s al Ghul

Ra’s al Ghul is...

While the comic book movie genre is all the rage now thanks to the MCU and DC, there was a time when they were more grounded, gritty and edgy. Before the big studio franchises came and gave a CGI-filled direction to the genre movies like Blade, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, X-Menmovies kept the audience on the periphery of realism and fantasy. One among them, Sean Connery-led The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, finds some love on streaming.

As per FlixPatrol, the 2003 movie is steadily climbing the Tubi charts where it's streaming for free. The movie is at #7 on the list, standing behind titles like The Fast & The Furious, Friday the 13th, Next Friday, and more. While the steampunk superhero film is loosely based on the comic book series of the same name by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill got mixed reactions from the audience upon its debut it was a commercial hit,...

One of the most recognizable and beloved villains in the history of entertainment, the Joker has dominated the criminal underworld of DC Comics since he first appeared during the industry's Golden Age. Whether he's portrayed cartoonishly, as a maniacal mastermind of malice and mischief, or as a disturbingly plausible psychological terrorist, his appearances in "Batman" stories are consistently memorable.

What makes him so distinct is his peculiar way of carrying out his creatively heinous crimes, always with a flair for the dramatic, a smile, and a grim joke. We've gone through his history in comics, film, and television to find the most horrible things various versions of the clown prince have ever done. While we'll be avoiding some severe tonal outliers, our top 15 choices showcase the Joker at his absolute best - which is to say, his very, very worst.

Read more: 5 Reasons Why Joker 2 Flopped At The Box Office...

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There's something about young adult fiction that seems well-suited for dystopian stories, as exemplified by the "Divergent" novels by Veronica Roth. Adapted into a film series starting in 2014, the science fiction story had protagonist Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) rise from humble origins in the face of an authoritarian government. Tris joins and inspires a resistance movement to topple the regime, using her unique gifts to rally her supporters. And while the "Divergent" movies may have ended prematurely, without concluding its story, there are plenty of similar films that do present a complete story.

Many of the movies on this are dystopian science fiction, with the main characters often freedom fighters defying various tyrannies. These often involve a cataclysmic incident that facilitated a dark rise to power, with younger generations saving the day from older despots. On numerous occasions, these films are adaptations of beloved books,...

As part of its BBC Maestro series, mystery thriller novelist Agatha Christie provides a writing masterclass. She died in 1976.

The dead speak! Thanks to the modern miracle of AI, Agatha Christie, who died in 1976, has returned from the great beyond to help budding novelists the world over.

It’s all part of the BBC Maestro series of online video lessons, in which big-name experts provide masterclasses in their fields of expertise. Previous BBC Maestro classes have brought in Brian Cox, who provides a five-hour acting course, novelist Harlen Coben, and veteran storyteller Alan Moore. One thing these people all have in common, you may have noticed, is that they’re alive.

Christie, the creator of Inspector Hercule Poirot and the writer of some 66 novels, has been brought back to life through a mixture of technologies. Digital deepfakery has been applied to the actor Vivien Keene to re-create the late novelist...

Les Binks, who spent two years drumming with Judas Priest during the late Seventies, has died. He was 73.

Judas Priest confirmed Binks’ death in a statement shared on Instagram. A cause was not revealed, though a funeral notice said Binks died “peacefully at hospital in London.”

“We are deeply saddened about the passing of Les and send our love to his family, friends, and fans,” Judas Priest wrote. “The acclaimed drumming he provided was first class — demonstrating his unique techniques, flair, style and precision. Thank you Les — your acclaim will live on.

Weird fiction may not be quite as popular as more traditional genres like fantasy or even gothic horror, but you’d be surprised with how much of modern media is inspired or at least influenced by the works of authors like Clark Ashton Smith and even August Derleth. Of course, if one man is responsible for codifying Weird Fiction as we know it today, it has to be the father of the Cthulhu Mythos himself, Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

In the century or so since the author first published his stories about fish cults and elder gods, countless other creators have repurposed his particular brand of cosmic horror for everything from satirical splatter films to even sanity mechanics in gaming (like those in the Call of Cthulhu tabletop RPG). And with such a vast web of influence, it should come as no surprise that many artists have attempted to pay homage...

The days of waiting are now over, as My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has finally been released this week. With its first episode being such a breath of fresh air, the series is already getting plenty of warm responses.

But what really caught my attention, and I think is a huge part of its success, is how it clearly sets aside the differences between villains and heroes. We all know how the original My Hero Academia series became a bit of a mess in its later seasons for questioning the heroes’ worth. They aren’t the beacons of justice anymore.

Vigilantes offers a fresh perspective on the hero system | Credits: Studio Bones

But Vigilantes has set things right again and brought the originally beloved world of Mha to life. And I think it’s a brilliant approach because it showcases a fundamentally creative difference between the world of Mha and some other shows,...

Recently, Rob Liefeld cut ties with Marvel, citing mistreatment by Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios. He felt snubbed at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere in July 2024, where he and his family were excluded from the afterparty, professional photos of him were deleted, and he received no red carpet acknowledgment.

His issues with Marvel date back to 2023 when the company credited Roy Thomas as a co-creator of Wolverine, upsetting Liefeld, who was close to Len Wein’s widow. In 2024, he requested more prominent credit for Deadpool & Wolverine, but Marvel reportedly reacted negatively, leading to further fallout.

Despite his long history with Marvel, which included significant contributions to Deadpool and Cable, Liefeld ultimately decided to sever ties due to ongoing tensions and perceived disrespect.

Related: Rob Liefeld Praises ‘House of X’ and ‘Powers of X,’ Criticizes Marvel Once Again

Now Liefeld seemingly took another shot at Marvel, the creator recently criticized...

The quintessential theme that reverberates through every modern superhero deconstruction narrative is the question of accountability of superpowered individuals in a democratic (or not) landscape. The recurrent question, “Who Watches the Watchmen?” is an unavoidable issue when the dysfunctional power dynamics of the real world come into play. Ever since legend Alan Moore put forth this question in mainstream comics through Watchmen, relentless discussions have raged on about this topic, and movies like Captain America: Civil War, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Superman: Red Son addressed this on varying degrees.

In that sense, Director Marcus Alqueres’ recent release, Warden, which revolves around a what-if scenario involving the existence of a so-called real-life superpowered hero, doesn’t break new ground. But the uniqueness of approaching the issue through a faux-documentary, highlighting the contrasting perspectives of the media and judicial and authoritative bodies to provide an idea about the reception...

Sean Connery walked away from acting after a career spanning five decades. His most popular role was obviously 007 as he is still considered one of the best James Bond actors ever. He also had some noteworthy roles in films like Murder on the Orient Express, Highlander, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Hunt for Red October, and The Rock.

His final on-screen role was playing Allan Quatermain, a character that originated in King Solomon’s Mines, in the comic-based film, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Interestingly, the movie had a big role in the actor embracing his retirement life as he had major issues while working on the film.

Sean Connery as James Bond in Dr. No | Credits: Eon Productions

He has won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in the 1987 film The Untouchables. His health may have also factored in the actor’s decision to give up acting altogether.

Quick LinksSean Connery Missed Out On Two Massive Franchises in the Early 2000sThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Was Sean Connery’s Final Film

Sir Ian McKellen was the perfect Gandalf in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. He was equally adept at portraying the Wizard as an eccentric old man, a sage mentor, and a divine spirit of near-limitless power, which was a difficult balance to achieve. McKellen was Jackson's first choice to play Gandalf, but he was not the only option considered. Jackson needed to accommodate actors' schedules, the trilogy's budget, and requests from higher-ups at New Line Cinema, so many names were discussed for every major character. One of the front-runners in the discussion was Sean Connery, best known for playing James Bond from 1962 to 1967.

The Lord of the Rings' executive producer, Mark Ordesky, confirmed that an offer was made to Connery, who declined.

Sometimes, celebrities end up being more famous for whom they are dating than the work they have done. Lately, it is Natalie Portman who has been trending for her love life. Portman, an Academy Award-winning actress renowned for her roles in movies like Black Swan and V for Vendetta, has long captivated audiences with her versatile performances and dedication to her craft.

Credits: Natalie Portman in May December | Credit: Gloria Sanchez Productions

But beyond her illustrious career, the actress’s personal life has also been the subject of media attention, particularly her relationships and recent love life developments. The actress garnered attention recently when, in early 2025, reports surfaced that she had been going out with the French musician Tanguy Destable. Known in the music industry as Tepr, Portman’s new boyfriend is reportedly her first relationship after splitting up with her ex-husband Benjamin Millepied after a decade of marriage.

Although...

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Writer Deniz Camp has been reinventing the Marvel Comics universe, piece by piece, in his "Ultimates" series. Camp's Marvelous heroes reflect today's problems but remain true to their original spirit: a She-Hulk created through careless atomic testing near indigenous people, a Native-American Hawkeye fighting against environmental racism, a Luke Cage who organizes mass rebellion against mass incarceration, etc.

As "Ultimates" soldiers on, Camp is also launching a creator-owned science-fiction comic over at Image: "Assorted Crisis Events," penciled by Eric Zawadzki, colored by Jordie Bellaire and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Even more exciting is that it's an ongoing series.

In "Assorted Crisis Events," the world is out of whack in a way it can only be in a comic book. It's all due to a favorite plot device of superhero comics, the multiverse; time, past, present, and every possible future are collapsing in on themselves.

Academy Award winner Natalie Portman has recently embarked on a new romantic journey after the finalization of her divorce with French choreographer Benjamin Millepied in February 2024. The 43-year-old actress is reportedly dating French musician and music producer Tanguy Destable, known as Tepr in the music world. The romantic relationship came to light one year after the end of an 11-year marriage with Millepied, following the reports of Millepied’s extramarital affairs.

Natalie Portman in Black Swan | Credit: Fox Searchlight

Portman and Millepied started dating on the set of her renowned 2010 movie Black Swan, where Millepied was a choreographer. They started dating in 2010 and got married in August, 2012. They have two children, son Aleph, now 13, and daughter Amalia, 8. After multiple attempts of reconciliation, the couple finalized their divorce in February 2024, maintaining an amicable co-parenting for their children.

Who is Tanguy Destable? Natalie Portman in Jackie | Credit: Fox Searchlight

Tanguy Destable, professionally known as Tepr,...

It is highly likely that the trailer for the scrapped live-action adaptation ofPowerpuff Girls, called Powerpuff, has reached your desk. While technically not an official trailer ever intended to be released to the public, the existing footage from the planned series was stitched together into a trailer that showcased what might have been...and it was something. The idea of a live-action Powerpuff Girls series following the trio as they've grown up and reunited in their early 30s sounds like a joke premise, and the footage shown off features green screen compositing that looks straight out of a Funny or Die sketch.

Initially announced in 2020, Powerpuff's strange premise and the news that Academy Award winner Diablo Cody would write it certainly raised a few eyebrows but led to some curiosity about what might have been the most high-profile pilot that season. Despite an impressive cast that included Chloe Bennett (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Blossom,...

Imagine being so talented that voicing gaming’s gruffest super-soldier is just your side gig. That’s David Hayter for you—the man who’s been living rent-free in gamers’ heads as Solid Snake while secretly moonlighting as Hollywood’s superhero whisperer.

Gaming’s gruffest voice, Hollywood’s secret weapon. | Image Credit: Konami

But while you were busy sneaking around Shadow Moses Island, Hayter was quietly penning what some consider the greatest superhero movie ever made. And no, we’re not talking about some obscure indie flick that only “true cinema” snobs pretend to understand. We’re talking about a bona fide blockbuster that hit screens a full decade before Avengers: Endgame had us all ugly crying in theaters.

The man, the myth, the Snake charmer The voice and brains behind legends. | Image Credit: Gage Skidmore / Cc By-sa 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

David Hayter isn’t just the voice of Solid Snake...

Throughout the legacy of sci-fi feature films, several iconic antagonists have come along and made an impression on viewers with a sheer menacing personality. Challenging the protagonist at multiple levels of conflict, these characters leave an impact on their respective narratives while revealing high amounts of strength, skill and wit to let audiences know just how intimidating and complex these villains are compared to other sci-fi antagonists.

Whether displayed in one outing or fleshed out within a larger franchise of films, many of these sci-fi villains exude the necessary charm to delight fans while also maintaining an overall presence that threatens the good guys winning the day, which keeps viewers on edge at all times and reflects the best aspects of storytelling by blending entertainment with legitimate stakes at play.

Ozymandias Is an Evil Mastermind of Manipulation Watchmen Uniquely Toys With the Superhero Genre

Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons,...

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...

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is the under-rated and more cynical version of Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia. The spinoff series explores everything that a lighthearted Shonen like Mha could never. It dares to go into the depths of the hero society that the original series can’t.

This is why Vigilantes has a dedicated fanbase, who recognize that the manga is more realistic and enjoy its grave sense of foreboding. It does not have a perfect goody-two-shoes hero, but that is the exact charm that attracts readers.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes explores what Kohei Horikoshi’s Mha can’t Mha: Vigilantes explores the dark side of heroism | Credits: Bones

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes came into being due to the enthusiasm of Tetsuya Sato, the editor of Mha. He conceived the idea and convinced Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court to create the spinoff manga. In the Naples Comicon 2019, the trio was interviewed by MangaForever,...

People who keep tabs on various DC movie adaptations have probably seen that viral photo of James Gunn and Zack Snyder, aka the current architect of the new DC Universe and the old DC Extended Universe mastermind, respectively. It's easy to start wondering why this meeting happened. Was Gunn picking Snyder's brain for some intel on his visions for the Dceu (R.I.P.) and what, exactly, he feels went wrong? Did the two simply want to talk about the industry in more general terms? Or merely reminisce about "Dawn of the Dead" (2004), which Snyder directed and Gunn penned? Gunn's post on X, previously known as Twitter, certainly kept things vague enough to warrant speculation:

Always a pleasure catching up with my friend @ZackSnyder, consummate filmmaker (and a doubly consummate storyteller!) pic.twitter.com/kkl1qZtNup

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 20, 2025

In reality, this was simply the two filmmakers trolling fans a little.

Alan Moore is considered to be one of the best comic writers of all time, with most of his work being among some of the greatest comics to have ever been written. His most acclaimed work is easily the 12-issue series Watchmen, with artist Dave Gibbons, which has been adapted numerous times on film and television and is considered one of the greatest pieces of literature, not just comics.

That's all well and good, but what if I were to tell you that there's a portion of Watchmen that bears striking similarities to one of his earlier works in regard to his character of Doctor Manhattan? Buckle in folks, as we explore the story that could've inspired Dr. Manhattan's solo origin issue from the original Watchmen run.

Swamp Thing's My Blue Heaven explained

The story of "My Blue Heaven" takes place near the end of Alan Moore's seminal run...

“Watchmen – Chapter II” (2024) continues from the first installment, adapting issues 7 to 12 of the original graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. The animated movie having Dave Gibbons as an executive producer does help it have some amount of fidelity.

Watchmen: Chapter II (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis: How does Dan Drieberg get his mojo back?

The seventh chapter of the graphic novel does get major short shrift in this adaptation, with the entire section dealing with Drieberg recounting his origin story as Nite Owl to Laurie while exploring the basement utterly excised, streamlined with choice dialogues utilized later. What remains intact is Drieberg’s admitting that most of these superhero costumes essentially seem like dress-ups for grown individuals to live out their fantasies.

What he doesn’t voice out, but the film and graphic novel essentially overlay, is that Drieberg is unable to get himself excited, even...

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has finally reached its penultimate episode. Will Spider-Man be able to rise to the occasion and finally stop the Scorpion? Will Peter be able to repair his friendship with Nico? And what exactly is Norman Osborn really up to? Let’s dive into our full spoiler discussion (Final warning for anyone who hasn’t seen the episode yet) and see if we can answer those questions.

What happens in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Episode 9?

As the episode opens, Otto Octavius is in his prison cell, absolutely aghast by the amount of typos, punctuation errors, and overall poor wording in the Sokovia Accords, when he’s escorted to talk to a visitor: none other than Norman Osborn. Norman proceeds to gloat about all the advances made at Oscorp since Otto left and how all of Otto’s tech now belongs to him before Otto is dragged back to his cell,...

Alan Moore’s infamous dislike toward any and all adaptations of his works has been a very well-known and hotly debated topic in this industry. The author of such fundamentally revolutionary works as Watchmen and V for Vendetta has always kept himself at arm’s length from Hollywood, although the same cannot be said with the cases reversed.

V for Vendetta (2005) [Credit: Warner Bros.]

One of the more controversial of his literary works is V for Vendetta whose anti-fascist commentary mixed with the morally and ethically corrupt protagonist of the story made it a difficult subject to convert into live-action. However, Hollywood did not shy away from the challenge, resulting in a fairly successful box-office movie that left Moore embittered to his core.

Alan Moore’s difficult relationship with Hollywood Hugo Weaving in V for Vendetta (2005) [Credit: Warner Bros.]

Alan Moore‘s literary worlds are painted in broad brushstrokes of a darkly anarchic and...

Alan Moore has been the genius behind some of the greatest works of fiction: Doctor Who, Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Batman: The Killing Joke, Swamp Thing, Constantine, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to name a few. His essential grasp over the grimdark, dysfunctional reality of this world has allowed him to craft some of the most exceptional and exquisite pieces of literature.

V for Vendetta (2005) [Credit: Warner Bros.]

However, as is the case with most works of genius, such novels and comics have either been deemed completely unadaptable, too dense and difficult to convert into live-action, or condensed and edited for the audience’s clarity. When it comes to the latter, the original source text is often disregarded and changed in certain parts to meet the film’s vision – which, in turn, defeats the purpose of the original story.

V for Vendetta also suffered through a somewhat similar circumstance when...

Marvel and DC are world-renowned for their endless stream of superhero characters, but if we're being honest, the more supernatural and horror sides of both comic book companies aren't as well-loved or even well-known by mainstream audiences, which just shouldn't be!

Two characters in particular should be counted among some of the best characters within each of their respective companies, and they are the macabre Man-Thing from Marvel and the muck-encrusted mockery of a man, Swamp Thing from DC! Both characters are alike in their own way, but they also have their own traits that make them uniquely formidable. Their similarities mean that DC and Marvel fans have compared them over the years, wondering which of the two entities would win.

Let's veg out together to see who between these two guardians of the swamp would come out on top!

Man-Thing and Swamp Thing's origins, explained

Before they were supernatural entities,...

Robert Eggers’ chilling vampire tale ‘Nosferatu’ contributes to a busy week of new streaming premieres.

I hope you’re all enjoying a relaxing President’s Day! A short week is once again upon us, though I’m forced to sit back and consider why the NFL doesn’t wait an extra week for the Super Bowl so it can let fans have a day off the Monday after the Big Game.

Regardless of whether you’ve got a day off or not for President’s Day, I’ve assembled my usual list of new TV shows and movie premieres coming to streaming each and every day of the week. There are some pretty interesting choices available, so keep reading and see what you can watch on your favorite services!

Monday, Feb. 17 “Watchmen Chapter 2” streaming premiere | Max

Former heroes have seemingly become targets. The Comedian has been murdered, the all-powerful Dr. Manhattan...

Watchmen is widely regarded as one of the biggest, groundbreaking projects in comic history, for a multitude of reasons. Created by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore, the series effectively introduced the ‘anti-superhero’ troupe which has become so popular with series such as Invincible and The Boys coming out in recent years.

A still from Watchmen. | Warner Bros.

However, another Dave Gibbons project, one he collaborated on with Frank Miller, and led to one of the more iconic comic characters in recent times, also deserves its flowers. Give Me Liberty centered around the resilient and formidable Martha Washington, and arguably has all the hallmarks of a Zack Snyder cinematic adaptation.

Who is Martha Washington? Martha Washington is a Frank Miller character. | Dark Horse

First introduced in Give Me Liberty (1990) by Dark Horse Comics, Martha Washington is a revolutionary figure in comic book history. Born in the dystopian Cabrini-Green housing project in...

When it comes to iconic Batman stories involving The Joker, few are as popular as Batman: The Killing Joke. The 1988 one-shot by comic legend Alan Moore took a deep dive into the Clown Prince of Crimes origin story while telling one of the darkest stories involving characters like Batgirl. Almost 40 years later, many of its major plotlines found their way into DC’s main continuity. Now, McFarlane Toys is celebrating The Killing Joke with a new chilling action figure.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man kicks off the second half of the season with the spectacular sixth episode. Will the Peter/Harry/Nico friendship trio work out in the long run? Will Otto Octavius bring himself into the spotlight? And will Lonnie go full supervillain now that he’s taken on the Tombstone name? We’ll explore all these questions and more in our full spoiler discussion (Final warning for anyone who hasn’t seen the episode yet).

What happens in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Episode 6?

We open on Peter and Nico in history class, with Peter trying and failing to get Nico’s attention; much to their teacher’s frustration. But she lets him off with a warning because he’s doing well in class and she doesn’t want to see another student on probation after….. well, after Lonnie was cut from the football team due to his frequent...

Quick LinksDavid Howard Thornton Becomes the Joker AgainDavid Howard Thornton's Joker Sadistically Murders Jason Todd

The following contains spoilers for Jokers Wild, now streaming on YouTube.

Among DC Comics' more iconic storylines, "A Death in the Family" is one of the most memorable. The 1980s event was mired in controversy, but it helped shape the Bat-family for years to come. That story saw the Joker kidnap Jason Todd (aka Robin) in Ethiopia and beat him with a crowbar.

The Clown Prince of Crime used Jason's mother, Sheila, to bait the Boy Wonder in, proving he could adapt on the fly. It led to Robin being killed due to a bomb after fans called a hotline and voted for him to die. In 2025, a horror movie superstar has placed his own spin on the iconic Batman story, complete with gore and terror.

David Howard Thornton Becomes the Joker Again Thornton's...

The Joker is one of comics’ most popular villains, appearing in countless Batman pieces of media across mediums. Gotham's Clown Prince of Crime has been blessed with diverse and riveting portrayals by talented actors in both film and television, but he also has a long and storied history in animation.

Many animated portrayals of Batman's greatest nemesis have been just as iconic as their film counterparts, if not more so. Unfortunately, not every animated Joker has lived up to the same standard. Sometimes an animated Joker is only as good or bad as the Batman show he is in. Other times, a cartoon Joker stands out as the best, or worst, member of his cast.

Update: 2025/02/08 19:20 Est By Brian Cronin

I have updated this fun look at the best takes on the Joker in Batman animated shows and featured to add five more notable Joker animated appearances.

RelatedEvery Batman Cartoon,...

Is there anyone as disappointed in their adaptations as master of horror Clive Barker? Okay, part time Wizard and full-time curmudgeon Alan Moore is probably the most upset at his work being adapted but Clive is a close second. The sad part is that while he has had fewer of his novels or short stories adapted than someone like Stephen King, he has played a part in more of them and been let down more often than not. He also didn’t have a great beginning with film as his first screenplay Transmutations or Underworld he ended up hating. He first adapted his own work with Rawhead Rex in 1986 and hated the end product there too. Other than 1987’s Hellraiser which he wrote and directed, there hasn’t been something that he was disappointed in or was butchered by the studio and he has become a bit jaded. His films...