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This week on The Anime Effect: LeAlec and Leah chat with husband and wife Harley Quinn comic duo Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti about their '60s to '80s anime roots, what Margot Robbie is really like, and more! In our audio-exclusive episode, we fill you in on the latest news in the anime world, including  Gachiakuta  coming to Crunchyroll, a  Konosuba  sequel announcement, and more! Episode 56 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 56 Summary In this week's news episode, Leah, Nick and LeAlec discuss the  All You Need Is Kill  light novel getting an anime adaptation and Tokyo Ghoul collaborating with Dead by Deadlight , among other updates. Plus, we talk to comic...

Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) may be a newcomer relative to the rest of the Chicago Fire cast, but he is front and center in the current season 13 storyline. He's had to contend with the death of his wife, Monica (KaDee Strickland), and suffice to say, he's not doing a great job.

The promo for the March 26 episode confirms that Pascal is letting grief get the best of him, and its compromising his ability to lead Firehouse 51. We have even seen characters like Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) voice concern for the longevity of his time at 51. This dilemma reminded us of another 51 character who came and went: Brett Dalton.

Pascal may be facing a transfer like Dalton Chicago Fire -- "Birds of Prey" Episode 1306 -- Pictured: Dermot Mulroney as Chief Dom Pascal

Dalton, played by Jason Pelham, was brought in to replace Matt Casey...

For some reason, female characters in any comic book universe always get slighted. It could be that stories aren't as developed in the public eye or aren't given the same amount of time and effort to marinate and grow as their male counterparts. Whatever the case, many comic labels have some mighty female characters, regardless of whether the greater public has heard of them or not.

In celebration of Women's History Month, Bam Smack Pow grabbed the brightest light bulb we could find to shine a light on the amazing women of the DC Universe and give these amazing women their flowers.

Here are the Top 15 most powerful female characters on page from DC Comics.

15. Catwoman

While traipsing through Gotham's dangerous streets with no superpowers, there is no denying the strength Selina Kyle possesses in the DC Universe.

Since 1940, she has been a fixture in Batman's world and has grown...

What a world we live in.

Who would have thought that Guy Fieri, a TV personality and professional chef notorious for his frosted tips, would join superheroes like Batman and Superman on the front of DC comics? Does the comic have anything to do with Guy Fieri? Nope, but it’s still awesome.

The synopsis for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest reads:

“The Waves Crash! Superman and Batman have a code against killing… but does a king of Atlantis? As the Floronic Man makes his final play for dominion over the seas, Aquaman is forced to react as a warrior, not a superhero — and the consequences will surprise you!”

On the front cover of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #37, you can see Guy Fieri himself riding inside his legendary 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS with Batman sipping a drink and Superman munching on a burger. In the background, you can see Guy...

Shangri-La Frontier has been giving us high octane action for two seasons now, following the journey of “Trash Game Hunter” Hizutome Rakuro, better known as Sunraku, into the best game in the world. But Slf is not the only game featured in the show, as we have also seen our main character taking small detours into other games, both of the trashy kind he favors and good ones. But do you remember all the games he has played in the anime? Lets go over all of them right now! Shangri-la Frontier Games Shangri-La Frontier Faeria Chronicle Online ~The Prayer of the Fairy Princess~ Berserk Online Passion Unite Rounds Nephilim Hollow Galaxia Heroes: Chaos Shangri-La Frontier The titular game of the show is considered the best game in the world, with a dedicated player base of over 30 million people. It’s a full-dive Vrmmorpg with top-of-the-line technology that allows the players...

When you've been an integral part of a sitcom phenomenon that's been popular for over a decade, it can be easy for people to just see an actor in the confines of their character. It may seem impossible to look at Jim Parsons and not think of Sheldon Cooper, but his work in "Hidden Figures" and "The Boys in the Band" shows an actor that's able to break free beyond the "bazinga" stigma. Simon Helberg has certainly had one of the most interesting careers of the "Big Bang Theory" bunch, having directed his own feature ("We'll Never Have Paris") in addition to starring in films directed by Leos Carax ("Annette") and the Coen Brothers ("A Serious Man").

But since the show's finale, it's Kaley Cuoco who has remained the most prevalent in the spotlight. Although she made waves in 2020 with the critically acclaimed Max original series "The Flight Attendant," she's...

The "Bat-embargo." If you're a fan of the classic DC Animated Universe (Dcau), the words probably feel like a chill in the night. If you're not, then let me explain.

See, DC Comics can be fickle about which of its characters can appear on television, and where. During the 2000s, this mostly impacted Batman and his supporting cast. Kevin Conroy's Batman was a regular on "Justice League Unlimited," which aired alongside the unconnected cartoon "The Batman," and Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" marked the return of the Dark Knight after his 1990s silver screen fall.

Reportedly, then-dc Comics President Paul Levitz was worried that kids would be confused about all of these Batmen. How would they be able to tell multiple versions of the same characters apart when they were all appearing at the same time? Hence, the Bat-embargo came into effect around 2004 (when "The Batman" debuted and "Justice League...

Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Mouch (Christian Stolte) are two of the most beloved characters on Chicago Fire. They are the wiley veterans, the guys who can always be relied on to do their work and dispense helpful advice to the younger team.

Well, drama is waiting around the corner for these two in season 13. The best friends are going to be put in a situation where one of them may be forced out of Firehouse 51 in an effort to further one of their careers. Neither wants to go, which will invariably lead to some heated conversations.

Herrmann and Mouch are being considered for transfer Chicago Fire -- "Too Close" Episode 13015 -- Pictured: David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann -- (Photo by: Peter Gordon/NBC)

Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman confirmed this revelation during a recent chat with TV Insider. She noted that Herrmann and Mouch are both at a point where...

The Batman villain Harley Quinn made her debut on the "Batman: The Animated Series" episodes "Joker's Favor", where she was voiced by actress Arleen Sorkin. The character was envisioned as a clown-like moll for the Joker, and was given a ditzy personality and a broad Noo Yawk accent. She proved to be so popular that she was eventually incorporated into Batman comic books, and soon grew to have titles of her own. Over the years, Harley Quinn has appeared in multiple TV shows and movies, most recently played in live-action by Lady Gaga in "Joker: Folie à Deux." 

Fun trivia: Harley Quinn was actually preceded by a very, very similar character called Prank (Corinne Bohrer), a clown-like moll to a very Joker-like villain named the Trickster (Mark Hamill) on a 1991 episode of "The Flash." Whether or not the makers of "Batman: The Animated Series" were aware of Prank is a matter of speculation.

We don't want to see anybody perish. There have been tons of shocking Chicago Fire deaths that have occurred over the years. We just put out a list compiling all of them. It's been a couple seasons since we've had to sit and process the idea that a mainstay of Firehouse 51 would be no more, and it looks like time has run out... for someone.

The promo for "Too Close" makes it disturbingly clear that somebody loses their life. We see characters in utter shock, at a hospital, so we thought we'd take stock of where Chicago Fire characters are at and point to a few of the most likely culprits when it comes to getting killed.

Here's who we came up with, from least likely to most:

Jack Damon Chicago Fire -- "Ride the Blade" Episode 13002 -- Pictured: (l-r) Michael Bradway as Damon, Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide --...

Conventional wisdom suggests that studios should not open their newest movies or tentpoles on Oscars weekend. Wouldn’t you rather wait until the weekend after the industry has finished celebrating the year’s best movies before promoting a new one?

But historically, that hasn’t necessarily been the case, especially when compared to something like Super Bowl weekend. So, with studios largely avoiding major new releases, this weekend had the unfortunate effect of being the lowest weekend at the overall domestic box office during the Oscars in at least 15 years.

Seems like the real winners were onstage on Sunday. The widest release from a major distributor this week was “Last Breath,” the deep-sea diver thriller starring Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu. It opened on over 3,000 theaters and pulled in $7.8 million, finishing No. 2 in the domestic top 10 behind “Captain America: Brave New World” in its third week of release. It made...

When it debuted in 2008, "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" reintroduced a more lighthearted tone to the Dark Knight's animated escapades. Ever since "Batman: The Animated Series" attained legendary status with its mature storylines and alluringly dark aesthetic, Batman cartoons had tried somewhat to emulate that approach. But "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" diverged, using a more comedic tone to appeal to younger audiences and discarding the brooding, noirish elements that had made "B:tas" such a hit.

Based on "The Brave and the Bold" comic series which ran from 1955 to 1983, the show saw Batman teaming up with various and mostly lesser-known DC heroes, with each episode telling a standalone story involving the Dark Knight and his chosen teammate of the week. Zanier characters such as Detective Chimp would show up in this more outlandish show, which also featured more obscure villains including Starro, the main villain in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad.

There's a lot of Chicago Fire characters to keep track of. There's the current 51 roster, plus all the other characters who have come and gone over the years. You'd be forgiven for forgetting about some of them, the same way writers should be forgiven for not giving each of them a juicy arc to engage with each episode. There's simply not enough time.

That said, season 13 has done a good job of spreading the wealth. Multiple characters have had standout seasons, be it through their personal or professional achievements within the show. We decided to recognize these characters, these MVPs, while also highlighting those who could get some more love moving forward.

Mvp: Stella Kidd Chicago Fire -- "Smash Therapy" Episode 903 -- Pictured: Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd -- (Photo by: Adrian S. Burrows Sr./NBC)

Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) had a slow start in season 13. We covered,...

"Barbie" star Margot Robbie, is the ‘face’ of France’s Chanel No. 5 perfume, photographed by Karim Sadli:

After working in commercials and small indie films, Robbie got her first break on the TV series "Neighbours" (2008–2011), followed by "Pan Am" (2011–2012).Her breakthrough role came in 2013 with Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street".

She achieved wider recognition with starring roles as 'Jane Porter' in "The Legend of Tarzan" (2016) and as 'Harley Quinn' in the DC superhero films "Suicide Squad" (2016), "Birds of Prey" (2020) and "The Suicide Squad" (2021).

She also received an Academy Award 'Best Actress' nomination for her portrayal of figure skater 'Tonya Harding' in the biopic "I, Tonya" (2017). This was followed by roles in the period drama "Mary Queen of Scots" (2018) and "Bombshell" (2019).

Robbie and husband Tom Ackerley are co-founders of LuckyChap Entertainment, producing "Promising Young Woman' (2020), TV series "Dollface" (2019–2022), TV miniseries "Maid...

Though they are now most associated with massive blockbusters, superheroes were politically-minded creations from the start, and the early heroes were more subversive than we give them credit for. Wonder Woman was created by psychologist William Moulton Marston, who lived together with two women some think were also romantically involved with each other. He explicitly created Wonder Woman to teach girls and boys about the importance of feminism and was inspired by first-wave activists and artists.

On the cover of the first issue of "Captain America Comics," the titular hero is shown punching Hitler in the face. Creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created the character as an anti-Nazi figure, as Simon strongly opposed non-interventionism during World War II and wanted the hero to reflect these views. That continues today, as many have also read Marvel's "Civil War" series as a direct commentary on the Patriot Act.

Indeed, superheroes began...

When "The Office" star Mindy Kaling created her own show, "The Mindy Project," she set out to redefine the kinds of roles women were allowed to play in sitcoms. "I really fell in love with the format where the main character was very flawed," she told Variety years later. "It was something you had seen countless times on sitcoms with men, but you hadn't seen with women. And I was so excited to play that part in a bigger capacity than I had."

To accomplish that goal, she invented Dr. Mindy Lahiri — a woman who desperately wants to be in love, at the expense of just about every other facet of her life. Still, she's a great doctor, a good coworker, and eventually, a great mom. Mindy's adventures won the show legions of fans -- even as it moved from network television to Hulu -- and viewers fell in love with the show's quirky,...

Stars: Eric Johnson, Martin Kove, Chuck Liddell, Michael Bisping, Ken Shamrock, Matthew Willig, Jim Belushi, Paul Braunstein, Christina Ochoa | Written by James Mark, Matthew Nayman | Directed by James Mark

It’s 1989 and Ryan Taylor is a tough cop with a reality TV show, In the Name of Justice. It’s something like Cops, if it was shot live and starred Harry Callahan. That backfires when the subject of the current episode sees him on TV and is waiting for him with a shotgun. The blast doesn’t seem to kill him however, and he’s transported to 2067 where he can continue his showbiz career, this time as a contestant on Fight Another Day, a real-life version of The Deadliest Warrior, pitting him against fighters from all through history.

It’s sponsored by sponsored by Chronocom Pharmaceuticals, the same company that sponsored In the Name of Justice. The company’s CEO,...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

"I pitched the idea of an R-rated girl gang film including Harley, because I was like, 'Harley needs friends.'" That's what Margot Robbie said in May 2018, explaining how Harley Quinn's eventual 2020 spin-off film "Birds of Prey" came to be. "I wasn't seeing enough girl gangs on screen, especially in the action space."

Warner Bros. was in a weird spot around this time. Marvel was running laps around DC in the cinematic universe space, with "Avengers: Infinity War" shattering records in 2018 and the MCU collectively generating billions upon billions of dollars globally. DC, meanwhile, was reeling from the commercial disaster that was "Justice League," while trying to build on the success of "Wonder Woman." As part of that plan, they leaned...

No matter how hard you try, you can’t break up with your past.

This Valentine’s Day, Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan rockets into his first major leading man role as an unlikely hero, a seemingly mild-mannered realtor with a dark secret that he is desperate to leave behind. Spoiler alert: He won’t.

From 87North—producers of the groundbreaking action films Nobody, Violent Night, Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde and The Fall Guy—comes a visceral, high-octane story of wrath and revenge.

Quan stars as Marvin Gable, a realtor working the Milwaukee suburbs, where ‘For Sale’ signs bloom. Gable receives a crimson envelope from Rose, a former partner-in-crime that he had left for dead. She’s not happy.

Now, Marvin is thrust back into a world of ruthless hitmen, filled with double-crosses and open houses turned into deadly warzones. With his brother Knuckles, a volatile crime lord, hunting him,...

https://youtu.be/4VZfmgLLXgY?si=aQZyZzVS9FukNpHH Directed & Written By Pablo Absento Starring Ben McKenzie, Bojana Novakovic, Malcolm Fuller, Sawyer Jones, Kane Kosugi Synopsis From a producer of Searching and Unfriended, Ben McKenzie (“Gotham”) and Bojana Novakovic (Birds of Prey) star in this chilling tale of horror and suspense. After a near-death drowning accident, a young …

The post Bloat starring Ben McKenzie, Bojana Novakovic, Malcolm Fuller, Sawyer Jones, Kane Kosugi – In Theaters, On Demand and On Digital March 7, 2025 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

No matter how hard you try, you can’t break up with your past.

This Valentine’s Day, Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan rockets into his first major leading man role as an unlikely hero, a seemingly mild-mannered realtor with a dark secret that he is desperate to leave behind. Spoiler alert: He won’t.

From 87North—producers of the groundbreaking action films Nobody, Violent Night, Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde and The Fall Guy—comes a visceral, high-octane story of wrath and revenge.

Love Hurts opens in theaters on February 7.

The St. Louis screening is 7Pm on Wednesday, February 5th at Galleria 6 Cinema (6Pm Suggested Arrival)

Pass Link: http://gofobo.com/eMBhd00636

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

Rated R.

L to R: Ke Huy Quan is Marvin Gable and Ariana DeBose is Rose Carlisle in Love Hurts, directed by Jonathan Eusebio

Quan stars as Marvin Gable, a realtor working the Milwaukee suburbs,...

Though some of you may not even be aware of this, Warner Bros. aired a Birds of Prey TV series back in 2002, which ran for 13 episodes before being abruptly cancelled despite relatively strong ratings.

The show was set in an alternate DC Comics reality, taking place years after Batman abandoned Gotham City (now known as New Gotham) and focusing on a trio of heroes joining forces as the city's new protectors in the Dark Knight's absence.

The team was made up of Bruce Wayne and Selena Kyle's daughter Helene Kyle/Huntress (Ashley Scott), Barbara Gordon/Oracle (Dina Meyer), and Dinah Redmond/Black Canary (Rachel Skarsten), with Doctor Harleen Quinzel (Mia Sara) as their main adversary.

Birds of Prey is not exactly well-regarded (and wasn't at the time), but it has since gained something of a cult following, with most of the episodes available to watch on YouTube.

Now,...

When Zack Snyder made Man of Steel with Henry Cavill, there were no plans of building a Dceu. However, DC executives were eager to catch up with Marvel, who were thriving with their superhero franchise. In their misguided vision for a DC franchise, the studio tried many things unsuccessfully before opting for a complete restructuring under James Gunn.

James Gunn with Dcu actors David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan | Credits: @jamesgunn/Instagram

The Dceu already underwent several course corrections before the restructuring, resulting in a bunch of canceled or abandoned projects. After the new regime took over control, all planned films in the former Dceu were effectively canceled.

10. Hourman Cameron Gellman as Hourman in DC’s Stargirl | Credits: The CW

The Hourman film was announced by Wbd in March 2021 about a superhero who can use his power only one hour at a time. Gavin James and Neil Widener were attached as the writers.

Pop superstar Charli Xcx will be starring in another film, this one based on her own original idea, Variety reports. The project, titled The Moment, will be produced by Charli as the first film under her new production company, Studio365. A24 will distribute the picture, which is to be the feature directorial debut of photographer turned filmmaker Aidan Zamiri, who helmed two music videos for Charli, "360" and "Guess" featuring Billie Eilish. Zamiri co-wrote the script with Bertie Brandes. Plot details are under wraps, but producer and longtime collaborator A.G. Cook, who produced Charli's award-winning sixth album Brat, will provide the soundtrack.

The Moment is appropriately titled, given that Charli herself is certainly having her moment. She has been in the throes of a pop culture moment since the Brat summer phenomenon of 2024, a slew of accolades for the album, including seven Grammy nods, a stint hosting and performing on Saturday Night Live,...

DC Comics' Absolute line has been a massive success, and author Kelly Thompson's Absolute Wonder Woman has been a huge part of that. Thompson has an impressive resume, as a long-time writer in the comic book industry, and fans discovering her for the first time through Absolute Wonder Woman have a number of great books from her worth checking out.

Thompson has a rich history working in the superhero genre, having written hit series for both Marvel and DC Comics. For Marvel, she has helped take several of the publisher's characters and elevated them to the next level, while prior to Absolute Wonder Woman here main contribution to DC was Birds of Prey.

Thompson also has stepped outside the world of superheroes, taking on some familiar faces while also writing her own original comics. Here are eight comics written by Kelly Thompson to read once caught up on Absolute Wonder Woman,...

DC's cinematic legacy took a significant blow with the release of Joker: Folie à Deux, but its dismal performance at the global box office makes one DC movie look even worse by comparison. Despite starting incredibly strong with a billion-dollar debut, Joaquin Phoenix's Joker suffered a huge loss with his sequel. The divisive second installment picked up with Arthur Fleck incarcerated at Arkham Asylum four years after his murder spree and the televised shooting of Robert De Niro's Murray Franklin, which sparked citywide riots in Gotham courtesy of a newfound legion of advocates rallying against Gotham's elites.

Joker: Folie à Deux is neither DC's lowest-grossing movie nor its worst-rated, earning around the same as the Dceu's Birds of Prey and more than The Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman 1984. It's a different story, however, when looking at Joker: Folie à Deux's performance compared to Batman movies specifically. Batman...

Mark Hamill’s contributions to DC Comics in film and television span over three decades, during which he’s portrayed a wide array of characters, ranging from the fleeting to the iconic. From his first live-action DC role in the early 1990s to his legendary tenure as the Joker, Hamill has demonstrated his incredible range and adaptability throughout the DC timeline. Over time, his performances have redefined iconic villains and breathed life into lesser-known characters.

Mark Hamill began his DC journey in 1991 playing the Trickster on CBS’s The Flash. The role foreshadowed his defining work as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, a performance that would become a cornerstone of his career. Over the years, the famed Star Wars star has portrayed a mix of heroes and villains, bringing his distinctive voice to animated series, live-action television, blockbuster films, and video games. Mark Hamill retired from playing the Joker after “his” Batman,...

Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) may not be an original Chicago Fire cast member, but she has risen dramatically in importance since making her debut in season 4. She is one of the most professional firefighters on the entire show, and she makes up one half of Fire's most important romance.

Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman recently unveiled plans to delve further into Kidd's past, which made us realize just how little we know about the character and her upbringing. In the interest of getting fans up to speed, though, we've whipped up this family tree guide, so that you can know as much as possible heading into this important season 13 arc.

What happened to Stella Kidd's parents? Chicago Fire -- "Birds of Prey" Episode 1306 -- Pictured: Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd

Stella Kidd's parents have never appeared on Chicago Fire, nor have they been named. We have never even...

With James Bond 26 yet to cast its new 007 or Bond Girl, new art suggests two DC Extended Universe alums as the ideal picks for the respective roles. A fanmade poster for the upcoming sequel features acclaimed actors Henry Cavill and Margot Robbie in the lead roles.

Via Instagram, German digital artist @diamonddead crafted visuals showing Cavill suited up as Bond and Robbie as his trusted Bond girl, both holding guns and looking locked in for battle. The artist's caption stated that there's "nobody quite as perfect of a next James Bond than Henry Cavill. He has the perfect looks, physique, action experience, acting range and charisma to pull off the role." The artist also claimed that the Oscar-nominated Robbie was an "obvious choice" to portray the next Bond girl.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by diamonddead (@diamonddead)

Related James Bond Producers Reportedly at Odds About New 007, Bond Villain...

One Chicago has big plans for 2025. The franchise absolutely dominated NBC ratings in 2024, and the return of the franchise crossover at the end of the month proves that Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago Pd are thriving as a shared television universe.

Part of the appeal of One Chicago, of course, is the wide array of characters in its cast. It's an ensemble franchise at the end of the day, and as such, people are going to have their personal favorites. Consider this a new year's wish list. These are the characters we hope get more screen time in 2025, and a brief explainer as to why.

Stella Kidd - Chicago Fire Chicago Fire -- "Funny What Things Remind Us" Episode 904 -- Pictured: (l-r) Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd -- (Photo by: Adrian S. Burrows Sr./NBC)

Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) is an interesting case. She's been part of...

Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) has not had a ton to do in Chicago Fire season 13. The character has been present, as always, but her personal life has taken a backseat to the drama and the turmoil of her peers. This is going to change, however, when the show returns for the season's second half.

Andrea Newman was asked about Kidd's role in Chicago Fire moving forward, and the showrunner assured fans that she will be front-and-center. Furthermore, Newman told TV Line that crucial info about Kidd's family will be explored for the first time.

A member of Kidd's family will re-enter her life Chicago Fire -- "Birds of Prey" Episode 1306 -- Pictured: Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd

"Soon into the second half of the season," the showrunner asserted. "Someone from Kidd’s family shows up in Chicago." The dynamic between this family member and the firefighter will bring forth new information,...

After multiple issues, controversies, personnel changes, and mergers, the Dceu is finally done and dusted, with James Gunn taking over the reins as co-chief of DC Studios along with Peter Safran. The franchise, which was supposed to be a competitor to the MCU, crashed and burned but it was not without some genuinely good films.

The SnyderVerse is never happening. It is a miracle that fans even got the Snyder Cut. However, like how Gunn took the disastrous Suicide Squad and gave it a good direction with The Suicide Squad, there are a few more films from the Dceu that deserved better. Here are four films that need a second chance in the Dcu.

1. The Flash Ezra Miller in The Flash | Credits: Warner Bros.

This one had every obstacle thrown at it and while it is admirable that The Flash finally did release, the underwhelming quality of the film ultimately...

Warning: Spoilers for Birds of Prey #17

Superman is typically hailed as the Justice League's most durable hero due to his Kryptonian constitution, but he isn't the only one on the team whose body can withstand attacks. An overlooked Justice League icon has revealed the full extent of her own durability with a surprising power feat. Superman's Kryptonian invulnerability might just pale in comparison to the invulnerability of the Justice League's resident New God.

Birds of Prey #17 by Kelly Thompson, Sam Basri, Vicente Ficuentes, Adriano Lucas, and Clayton Cowles opens with the titular team attacking the Ninth Day cult to save Batgirl, who has been turned into a hulking brute. Big Barda attempts to talk sense into Batgirl, only for her former ally to inject her with the super-soldier serum that transformed her.

Big Barda appears to be compromised, but in a shocking turn, she isn't affected by Batgirl's needle injection.

Smallville originally planned to include a female-led Justice League episode in the series' final season. One of the writers even breaks down who would have made up the team. Smallville debuted in October 2001 on The WB and reimagined the Superman mythology for the 21st century. The series ran for ten seasons, transitioning from The WB to The CW, and featured many other DC characters, including Green Arrow, Aquaman, Cyborg, and many more. Season 6 introduced the show's version of The Justice League, and it appeared the series planned to feature an all-female version of the super team in its final season.

Speaking on the Super House of El podcast via Cbr, Smallville writer Bryan Q. Miller revealed they initially intended to do a female Justice League episode for the tenth season. The episode would have featured Lois Lane (Erica Durance) teaming up with previous guest stars Kara Kent/Supergirl (Laura Vandervoort...

After Creature Commandos, one allegation was raised against DC co-ceo James Gunn. Some fans accused the filmmaker, sharing that he cannot write layered women characters in his films. However, it is an unfair allegation to make, considering the several great female characters brought to the screen by the filmmaker.

James Gunn in Inside of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum | Credits: @InsideOfYouPodcast/YouTube

Gunn nailed the depiction of Gamora and Nebula in his Marvel trilogy, Guardians of the Galaxy. The characters were depicted as close to the comic books as possible. He also gave Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn a revamp after the earlier Dceu films did not do her proper justice.

The allegation against James Gunn and his female characters is just not true Zoe Saldaña as Gamora in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy | Credits: Marvel Studios

As a filmmaker, it is hard to satisfy all the fans...

Fan-favorite writer Gail Simone has left her mark on dozens of characters, but she's eager to see what she can do with Godzilla. Simone revealed the King of the Monsters is still on her list of characters to write, and thankfully, Marvel Comics has a project that could make her dream come true.

Gail Simone recently participated in an 'Ask Me Anything' thread on Reddit's /r/Fantasy subreddit. She was there to promote her new book, Red Sonja: Consumed, and answered several queries regarding one of her favorite fictional characters. However, the writer also answered a few questions about her non-Red Sonja work, including her projects with Marvel and DC.

Um. Godzilla, Spider-Man, the Marvel Family, the Shadow, the Avenger, Modesty Blaze, there's a lot!

One user asked Simone which pre-existing characters she hasn't worked with yet that she would most like to write. Simone gave a long list of characters,...

Quick Links Superman Can Become the Face of DC’s New Era DC Might Need To Take a Break From Elseworlds Stories The Dcu Can Launch New Franchises Instead of Relying on Old Ones

The last decade has seen the DC franchise go in all sorts of different directions. Zack Snyder began to tell his own saga leading to the formation of the Justice League, but then Warner Bros. decided to change course. The result led to more films set in the DC Extended Universe with ranging tones from filmmakers. Good films came out of the new approach from DC Films president Walter Hamada with Shazam!, The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey stand out. DC Films would also begin to explore films outside the Dceu continuity with Joker and The Batman. However, despite some better-quality films, a series of box office flops made it clear DC needed a reboot.

Chicago Fire has undergone lots of changes in the past year. We've seen characters come and go, we've seen established relationships get challenged, and we've seen those struggle to acclimate to these changes.

2024 has seen the second half of Chicago Fire season 12 and the first half of season 13, and as such, we thought it would be a good idea to cherry pick the moments we thought stood out most... for the right reasons that is.

Chief Boden leaves Firehouse 51 (season 12 episode 13) Chicago Fire -- "Trapped" Episode 12003 -- Pictured: (l-r) Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz, Eamonn Walker as Chief Wallace Boden-- (Photo by: Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC)

It may sound weird to list the exit of a beloved character as being a highlight, but we're here to commend the way that Chicago Fire executed. Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) has been part of the show since day one, so it was...

Many famous characters got their start from Spider-Man from Miles Morales and Venom. However, not every side character from Spider-Man has managed to be successful. Try as Marvel might, they just can't seem to figure out what to do with Madame Web, and after a disastrous move, some fans are beginning to question if Madame Web is a character even worth trying to salvage at all.

First appearing way back in Amazing Spider-Man #210 by Dennis O'Neil and John Romita Jr, Madame Web was a medium working in New York City and one that Spider-Man didn't really put any stock in. He considered her nothing more than a fraud, but after a crime left him with no clues, he figured there wasn't any harm in at least asking for her help. To his genuine surprise, Madame Web's powers turned out to be very real, and she easily helped him locate the criminals he was after.

2023 saw the very first edition of the Bam Smack Pow Comic Book Awards, where we celebrated some of the very best comic books. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest won best ongoing series, Saga won the Most Promising Comic Book, and Comic Book Couple of the Year was Deadpool and Valentine Vuong. For one reason or another, none of them won this time around.

2024 was an incredible year for comic book fans. No matter what you’re into, there’s something for you to read. And you don’t have to stay within Marvel and DC Comics either. Plenty of independent comic book companies cater to various people so everyone can find something they love. That's why the list of awards here isn't just Marvel and DC.

With that said, let's get to the best of the year in various categories and a wide range of comic book companies.

Comic Book...

Image Source: Warner Bros Before she was Barbie, Margot Robbie had spent quite a bit of time playing a slightly less wholesome and slightly more dangerous character: Harley Quinn. She played the role three times, in 2016’s Suicide Squad, 2020’s Birds of Prey, and 2021’s The Suicide Squad. Released during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Suicide Squad underperformed in theaters, grossing less than $60 million in American theaters and, even counting international numbers, failed to earn back its production budget. Lately, though, it seems to have found its audience through home video and streaming, bringing a new appreciation to a film that had won critical acclaim upon its release. As for Robbie, she was just happy to get a chance to play Harley Quinn again, and in The Suicide Squad, she really loved the look the character was given. (Click on the media bar below to hear Margot Robbie.) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.

Imagine this: You’ve been documenting your favorite albums throughout the year and you are ready to write your Top 10 list, but then that artist who never makes bad music decides to bless us with a surprise release in the fourth quarter.

In 2022 it was Sza and Sos, and it only took a few listens of that marvelous album to rise to No. 2 on my list, necessitating a rewrite. This year it’s Kendrick Lamar and Gnx — a last-minute drop that easily made it to this year’s list, along with several other stunning projects that have been in heavy rotation in my AirPods and appeared all over my Spotify Wrapped.

1. Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter

At 27 tracks, Cowboy Carter is more than an album. It’s supreme art that also serves as a history lesson. Reclaiming a genre created by Black people, Beyoncé tackles country music in her own way, with stunning results.

On Monday, October 14, the Tamron Hall show will feature an exclusive interview with legendary actress and musician Vanessa Williams and her daughter Jillian Hervey, part of the R&b duo Lion Babe. The mother-daughter duo will also perform their song “Bop” on the show. Singer and songwriter Lalah Hathaway will join for an exclusive interview […]

Tamron Hall: Vanessa Williams & Jillian Hervey, Lalah Hathaway...

Pretty much living in the spotlight since his appearance in the Harry Potter films, Robert Pattinson has garnered worldwide appreciation and a very specific fanbase, for his obviously handsome looks. However, despite his charm and envious filmography stretching from the Twilight Saga to Batman movies, Pattinson admitted feeling enchanted and intimidated by one female co-star.

Robert Pattinson in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Warner Bros.

Prior to his tabloid-laden relationship with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson had admitted peacocking around his Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire co-star Emma Watson. Confessing his deep admiration for the actress and her quick wit, Pattinson claimed to be enamored by Watson, despite not sharing a single scene together.

Robert Pattinson was Enchanted and Intimidated by Emma Watson

Recalling his work and experience from the set of Harry Potter that catapulted him to fame, Robert Pattinson shared a not-so-surprising anecdote with fans.

Gina Carano, a former star of The Mandalorian, has offered some praise to the creator of the Star Wars franchise, George Lucas. She also suggested that new comments made by Lucas are bringing her back "full circle" to her Star Wars franchise dismissal.

Per Variety, Lucas was present at the Cannes Film Festival to be honored with the Palme d'Or. While speaking about Star Wars at the event, the filmmaker rejected criticism that his Star Wars movies didn't have diverse enough characters. He suggested that the only discrimination that was in those films was against the robots like C3P0 and R2-D2. Sharing an article about Lucas' comments on X, Carano joked about how this reminded her of the controversial social media behavior that led to her exit from the franchise.

Beep, Bop, Boop comes full circle.. Im batting 1000 now. In all seriousness, respect to George Lucas, hes a...

Shabazz Palaces’s aptly titled Exotic Birds of Prey opens with a guarantee to spin “the latest in eclectic music.” Depending on your appetite for adventure, that will come off as a promise or a threat. Like last year’s Robed in Rareness, the album feels at times designed to weed out casual listeners, with Shabazz Palaces mastermind Ishmael Butler making no effort to sweeten his brash experimentalism with memorable hooks or conventional song structures.

Exotic Birds of Prey maintains an unsettling vibe as it wanders through hip-hop subgenres and warps them into abstractions of themselves. “Exotic Bop,” for one, feels chaotic and claustrophobic, with cavernous synths blurring the edges around guest Purple Tape Nate’s monotonously simple vocal melody. The glitched-out “Goat Me” similarly features reverb-drenched interjections from Cobra Coli buried beneath a spacious cloud-rap beat.

While Stas Thee Boss and Irene Barber offer a little more of substance on “Angela,...

This is the recap of the anime series Shangri-La Frontier Episode 4!

Shangri-La Frontier Episode 4 begins where the Episode 3 has ended. At Rock Roll Game Shop, Rei searches for Sunraku, but Mana informs her that he's likely engrossed in playing Shangri-La Frontier. Despite Rei's efforts, she hasn't been able to find him. Mana, chuckling, remarks that it's typical for a player like Sunraku to skip the first town, labeling him a "trash game player." She encourages Rei to keep looking for him and express her feelings. This suggestion makes Rei blush.

Shangri-La Frontier Episode 4 Anime RecapMeanwhile, Sunraku is exploring unique scenarios for new players in the game. He discovers a quest called "Tour to Rabituza," where players need to defeat a higher-level monster with Vorpal weapons equipped. This summons a Vorpal Bunny in town, leading players to Rabituza. Upon defeating the Ravenous Snake there, players learn the "Enchant Vorpal" spell. However,...

Opening credits never really went away (think of the slow-mo demolition of “The Good Fight”), but they are definitely having a moment.

“I really love title sequences,” “Chucky” showrunner Don Mancini told IndieWire. “ I lament the loss of titles. I just love the ritualistic value of them.”

When correctly deployed, opening credit sequences can do some heavy lifting for TV shows. The best title credit sequences set the tone for the show, hint at what’s to come, and, depending on when they’re used, underscore what just happened in the cold open. But in the wake of streaming upheavals and changes to how we consume content, they’ve been missing more and more. Or skipped more and more, depending on the options of a given platform.

But there are gifts to the sequences that compensate for shaving a minute or two off your watch time. For Prime Video’s...

It’s been almost three decades since “Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)” — a novelty dance track featuring rapid, part-rapped, part-scatted and mostly nonsensical rhymes — shot to the top of music charts around the world, especially in Europe. Now, the man behind the song is getting the biopic treatment.

John Larkin — better known by his stage name Scatman John — passed away from cancer in 1999 at the age of 57 — just five years after his most famous track was first released. But international production banner Trick Candle Productions has acquired the rights to his life story and is developing Scatman, set to chronicle the musician’s “wild life and positive influence.”

Written by Stephen Basilone (Community, The Goldbergs) and Annie Mebane (The Goldbergs, Shrinking), the film — which will include unparalleled access to the entire Scatman music library, as well as private home videos — will detail Larkin’s struggles with being a lifelong stutterer, bullying, abuse at home,...

Taylor Swift: the Innovator. On Monday, Swift was awarded the Innovator award by her good friend Phoebe Bridgers during the iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This is the first time the award has been given since 2019.

Wearing a sparkling black bodysuit with a hood, Swift took the stage to hug Bridgers and celebrate the win.

“I do want to say that the thing with these exciting nights and moments and specifically this award that I’m so lucky to have gotten is that they...