SPOILER Magazine June 2022 by SPOILER Magazine

Almost Dead is a postapocalyptic horrordrama adventure about triumph, growth, and the resiliency of the human spirit. With their cinematic comic book series which depicts vicious and visceral events in a raw yet beautiful way, Galaxy and Brehm have redefined the genre and nearly

invented one of their own. Infusing the perilous and unexpectedly exciting journey with absolute horror and an attention to detail that’s rooted in and dedicated to realism, the creator and writers have established a nexus point between exhilaration and terror.

Meet your new sidekick gita is a first-of-its-kind hands-free robot that follows you and totes your gear.

OUR TEAM Editor-in-Chief Galaxy Print Editor Art Director Sara Hope Kent Klarks Design and illustration Supervisor Ronald Garcia Design Manager Zerologhy Copy Editor Ethan Brehm

Staff Writers The Greatest Writing Team in Our Universe Ethan Brehm Tom Tormey Bjoern Kommerell Zayn Bates Matthew Mclachlan Vanessa Bellew Robert Napolitano David Grand Phuong Pham Natalie Reade Moses the “Gamer” Joshua Amber Social Media Manager Thor the all mighty Advertising Ads@SpoilerMagazine.com Sponsorship Sponsorship@SpoilerMagazine.com Press Please send all press releases to: Press@SpoilerMagazine.com Please send all review material to: Review@SpoilerMagazine.com Subscriptions For all subscription enquiries please contact: Sub@SpoilerMagazine.com Check out our website for details on how to get our DIGITAL EDITION Circulation Do you want this magazine at your local book store, comic book hangout, toy shop, or anywhere else for that matter? Let us know, we can make it happen. circulation@SpoilerMagazine.com SPOILER Magazine is published by Spoiler Media Magazine Publishing. Nothing in this magazine can be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure all information in the magazine is correct, details maybe subject to change. All photographic material is copyright to the relevant owner and appears with their kind permission. Visuals are used in a review context and no copyright infringement is intended. All rights reserved. SPOILER Magazine is printed in the USA SPOILER Magazine 7095 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, California 90028 “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening” - Galaxy

INSIDE OUR y UNIVERSE x a l a by G Welcome to another amazing issue of SPO!LER!

This month, we take a look at the iconic movie that soared into the hearts of millions back in 1986, along with the Maverick himself, Tom Cruise. We are so excited for the long-awaited sequel to Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, which has been thriving at the box office this past month. As the last of the movie stars, Cruise proves that he’s still a dominant force in this industry and that he truly doesn’t age. The new film stars Cruise once again in his iconic role of Maverick, who’s now much older and wiser. If you loved the original 1986 classic, you’re in for a treat with this follow-up! We’re thrilled that it’s kicking off an amazing summer lineup of movies, such as Jurassic World: Dominion and Thor: Love and Thunder. We also highlight some amazing TV shows that have just debuted their new seasons, such as Stranger Things season 4 and The Boys season 3, and discuss what we would like to see. For our “In Focus” feature, photographer Bjoern Kommerell discusses his time working with actress Nina Bergman. Then, in “How It’s Made,” we’ve shined a light on some recent sci-fi projects and how different cultures, both past and present, have informed the costume choices. The 25th anniversary of the iconic Austin Powers: The International Man of Mystery also gets celebrated with a retrospective look at the comedy masterpiece. As always, we’ve brought you a handful of celebrity interviews, including that of Danny Sapani from Halo, as well as the NFT expert and producer on the first-ever live-action NFT project, GenZeroes, Neil Stevenson Moore. Outside of the magazine, we’re still readying for the production of our upcoming short film, which serves as a standalone prequel to our upcoming apocalyptic comic book series Almost Dead. Redefining both cross-platform media and the zombie genre as a whole, our film and the comics that it preludes follow a girl who must do everything possible to ensure the survival of herself and her family during her trek through the east coast. Stay tuned for everything we’re rolling out with in the upcoming months, and plug into both SPO!LER and Comic Con Radio across social media, tell your friends about our magazine, and share your favorite articles with them! We can’t wait for you to dig into the pages of this issue. We’re constantly trying to curate content for all you amazing fans out there, hitting at all the things you love about this universe! So, stick with us. Exciting things are on the horizon.

Thank you once again for all your undying love and support. We couldn’t do this without you! Love You All…

Galaxy Galaxy EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @ComicConRadio june 2022|

table of contents

FEATURES

12 Stranger Things Season 4 Netflix’s Long-Awaited Penultimate Season!

SPOILER MAGAZINE TABLE OF CONTENTS

54 Top GUN: Maverick 18 25th Anniversary Austin Powers

International Man of Mystery

The Return of Tom Cruise!

the watch

130 Neil Stevenson Moore 30 Danny SAPANI

40 fantastic BEASTS: the secrets of dumbledore The Last Hope of a Franchise

66 the boys season 3

Everything the Fans Want to See!

72 the walking dead season 11 Everything We Want to See!

24 Binge Please

The Top 10 Shows to Binge in 2022

the base

78 IN FOCUS: nina bergman

62 at the con

46 From Top Gun to Maverick:

Surviving The Danger Zone

98 How to Love and Enjoy Comics For People Who Are Afraid To Love And Enjoy Comics

104 The Strange History Of The Weapon Plus Program

110 Top 10 Summer Movies Of All-Time 116 Retro Summer Camp Movies That Should Be On Your Watchlist (If They’re Not Already)

124 How It’s Made

86 Comic Book Review

138 Let Superheroes be Super and Heroes

www.spoilermagazine.com | Follow us on Instagram: @SpoilerMedia

March 2020 |

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BY ZAYN BATES

This series is so popular, that it’s singlehandedly boosted the sales of Netflix subscriptions tenfold upon its release. Each new season has only had an increasing effect of that rate, and has constantly provided Netflix with more reasons to keep it going. However, the showrunners believe that it’s time to end the series, and that season 4 will put everything in play for the final season 5. And we’re here for it more than anything else. This dark fantasy series is set in the ‘80s and focuses on the lives of a couple of school children named Mike, Dustin, Will, and Lucas. These four meet up with a girl named Eleven, who is basically a science experiment by some very dodgy government people. That makes her super unique, because she has a particular set of powers

Stranger Things:Netflix

STRANGER THINGS IS NETFLIX’S MOST PRIZED POSSESSION.

that nobody else in the world possesses. She can manipulate objects with her mind, read minds, and communicate without speaking, through her psychic connection with the world and its energy. The series then expands into many different territories, such as showcasing a nightmarish land that is called the Upside Down, diving into Soviet conspiracies, developing characters who are going through their own moral conflicts, and displaying a ton of graphic horror and high school romance. Now that the series is close to its end, we’re here to give you a recap of what has transpired so far, as well as talk about what we’re going to see next. Of course, we don’t know everything about what’s going to happen, but that doesn’t stop us from heavily speculating!

THE STORY SO FAR The story begins with the four kids as they find Eleven and realize she has superpowers that she can use on command, although using them

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drains a lot of her physical energy. With the help of their new friend, the boys manage to save Will from the Upside Down, and also stave off the Demogorgon threat to their town. The second season focuses on Eleven as she begins living with her surrogate father, Sheriff Hopper. The two characters are a great match but the young girl’s affection for Mike isn’t something Hopper approves of, even though they’ve liked one another for a while. Dustin is back from his summer away and has a mysterious girlfriend. Meanwhile, Lucas is interested in a new girl named Max, whose brother Billy has

been hitting it off with Mike’s mother. Nancy, Mike’s sister, has been in an on-off relationship with Jonathan, Will’s brother. While her former fling Steve has been trying his best to keep everyone in check. This second season sees many different monsters coming into the fold, and Joyce Byers once again hitting it off with Hopper as they both try to keep calm amidst the terrors happening around them. The third season is where things

get out of control. A larger threat than ever before appears during their Winterfest dance and everything goes haywire. It’s one of the biggest showdowns of the series so far and ends with the death of Billy, who’d been in possession of the “mind flayer.” Thankfully though, the group manages to ward off the threat, even if it costs Sheriff Hopper his life—at least that’s what everyone thinks. The third season ends with our heroes departing, everybody going their separate ways and Hawkins being left in a recovery phase. Audiences thought this might be the end, with the Mind Flayer arc wrapping up and all the characters giving their final farewells. But after watching the new trailer for the upcoming season 4, this new chapter seems to be the most bombastic one yet.

STRANGER THINGS SEASON 4 TRAILER BREAKDOWN The new trailer gives us answers to many questions, but it also raises a bunch of questions that we didn’t realize we were going to have. This upcoming season seems to have the highest stakes ever, and that’s exactly what we have come to expect from this series. The new trailer starts with the ending of season 3, reminding us how the series had concluded back in 2019. It showcases the underground lab where Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers destroyed the machine that would portal people to the Upside Down. Hopper was of course sucked into the machine, and ended up in Siberia. Now he is imprisoned by the Soviets, hoping to find a way out and get back to his adopted daughter Eleven. The trailer then takes some time to pay tribute to Billy Hargrove, a dude who started out as a heel, becoming the biggest baddie in the series yet, and then redeeming himself near the end of season 3 when he sacrifices

himself to the Mind Flayer in order to save his sister Max and their friends. Billy dies in a horrifying way too, just after letting out a mild “I’m sorry” to his sister. The trailer shows Max sitting at his grave, still grieving the loss of her brother. Let’s be honest, the show wasn’t going to focus on middle schoolers forever. The actors are rapidly maturing, and that results in characters subsequently becoming high schoolers with evolved identities outside of any child archetypes. Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Max are all still living in Hawkins, going to Hawkins High School. Meanwhile, Jane, aka Eleven, is living in a new city with Will and the Byers family as they try to get a fresh start for themselves after all they’ve endured in Hawkins. Although, I’m

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sure it won’t take too long before everybody is back in Hawkins again. The trailer then dives into uncharted territory, showcasing a place known as the Creel House, which is considered one of the major haunted sites in Hawkins. We also see Jane having a conversation with Dr. Owens, where he tells her that everyone in town is in danger, and that she’s the only one who can help them. The Demogorgon makes a comeback as well, being used to entertain Soviet prisoners, including a bald Jim Hopper who’s fighting it with a burning spear. In an extremely unexpected frame, we then see Max floating in the air while Dustin, Lucas, and Steve are all looking at her shocked. We get shots of the Creel House in the Upside Down, after which a huge montage begins of some of the wildest sequences in the show’s lineage. There is a hair metal guitarist playing hard rock inside a bar in the Upside Down. We see a shot of Victor Creel himself, a man with no eyes and a mean face. We see a plane flying around in the alternate dimension, and the squad having their bikes there as well. It looks as though this season will have the

most action in the Upside Down of any season thus far. The trailer then ends by showcasing us the big bad of this new season. We don’t know their name but they seem to be horrifying: a mutilated, tentacled, sentient villain that we haven’t had in this series until now. This is an exciting change of pace, with the new monster increasing the stakes of this upcoming season.

WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE IN SEASON 4 The first thing that we’d like to see is more of the Upside Down. The ominous, mysterious, and genuinely terrifying landscape has often remained a huge part of the series, but mainly in passing. You get glimpses

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into the Upside Down, and most of the action inside of the alternate dimension happens during the finales. However, with this penultimate season being grander than ever before, we hope that we get way more Upside Down action than we have in the previous seasons of the show. We need more horror in Stranger Things season 4. Horror was something that made the first season so affective. The second and third seasons dived a bit deeper into the action and adventure, leaving the horror behind for a while. This upcoming chapter seems like it will be doing the same, yet there are some aspects of it that

make sure that horror will be an important part of it. For example, the Creel House plays a bigger role, while the villain showcased at the end of the trailer also indicates some genuinely disturbing imagery. We need to see a bit more character development in the upcoming season, especially because there has been a decent time

Stranger Things:Netflix

gap between the events of season 3 and season 4. Characters and their personalities do not need to be stagnated, and they should be developed into different sorts of people when we meet up with them next, ensuring that continuity remains the same while also keeping them from being by-thenumbers. Not to mention, they all went through some terrifying and life-changing events last season. Also, it might seem small, but we need to see more of Steve and Nancy interacting. From the very first season until the end of the third, Nancy’s communication has mainly remained with Jonathan. However, Steve has grown into one of the best, and easily the most beloved, characters in the series. We need to see this new mature version of Steve interacting with Nancy, someone who he liked a lot back in the beginning of the first season. Hopefully we get that interaction, and hopefully it’s something that doesn’t rely too much on fan service.

It looks like there is so much more content coming up in Stranger Things’ fourth season. It is gearing up to be full of some defining horror moments, some amazing action and adventure set pieces, as well as a ton of character-oriented drama that we can’t wait to dive into. Perhaps the most important season in this series yet, season 4 will be the story that changes these characters forever and brings about the beginning of the end of their arcs. Watch Stranger Things season 4 on Netflix starting May 27.

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BY ETHAN BREHM

had died down and before summer blockbuster records were broken by Men In Black, when Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery was the biggest comedy movie in the world (no, Batman & Robin doesn’t count). Dominating the pop culture sphere nearly 8 months prior to Titanic doing just that (’97 was a heck of a year for cinema), Austin Powers occupied a different space in our zeitgeist. Now, two sequels and rumored fourth film later, we look back 25 years to the debut of the first film, able to assess what made it all work so well and what’s helped Austin Powers hold up all these years later. In 1967, after his archnemesis Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) cryogenically freezes himself, our titular English, cravat-wearing, ladies’-man spy (also Mike Myers) volunteers to be

cryogenically frozen as well, only for both of them to get thawed out thirty years later in 1997. Now, the British psychedelic-era mod hipster clashes cultures with modern-day America—more specifically, Las Vegas—as he tries to thwart Evil’s plans to set off a doomsday device that would erupt all the volcanoes in the world simultaneously. Dr. Evil demands $1 million from the United Nations, which increases to $100 billion after the villain discovers inflation. The espionage-themed A-plot becomes comically,

Austin Powers:New Line Cinema/Mike Myers:Jordan Strauss/Invision;AP;REX;Shutterstock/Wayne’s World:Paramount/So I Married An Axe Murderer:TriStar/54:Miramax/Shrek:Dreamworks/Inglourious Basterds:The Weinstein Company/Bohemian Rhapsody:20th Century Studios;Disney

THERE WAS A BRIEF MOMENT IN 1997, AFTER ENTHUSIASM FOR LIAR LIAR

and intentionally, convoluted as Powers galivants around Vegas with his partner Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley), who continuously and coyly turns down his sexual advances. Elsewhere, Evil goes to family counseling with his IVF son, Scott (Seth Green), whom he just met.

MYERS’ CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Wayne’s World (1992)

So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)

Wayne’s World 2 (1993)

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

54 (1998)

As we used and abused the plethora of one-liners and corny jokes from this movie, only to discover that they didn’t work as well in everyday applications as we had hoped, Austin Powers became a phenomenon. Everyone knew the lingo, everyone knew the cadence—whether you watched the movie or not. No one had seen (or heard) anything like it by that point. For all intents and purposes,

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

Shrek (2001)

nothing about it should have worked. Myers’ improv is usually apropos of nothing and the narrative has trouble balancing its incongruent subplots, but this all goes along with the randomness of the film itself. As much as the fish-out-of-water premise is the main hook (pardon the pun), the highlight of the plot is the first act, containing the stylish Ferris Bueller-esque opening dance number set in the middle of a busy street in 1967 London, followed by a Hollywood New Wave-inspired nightclub sequence where Powers almost gets assassinated. Playing out and inventing the James Bond-meets-Pee-wee Herman celebutante, Myers is absolutely incredible here. By 1997, we had seen the actor as Wayne Campbell in Wayne’s World, but Austin Powers features the comedian in total control, both physically and creatively. While

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

Shrek 2 (2004)

directed by Jay Roach in his debut, Myers is the screenwriter and appears to have a complete grip on the film’s bizarre tone as he exercises his love of ‘60s British culture and corny dad jokes long before they were trendy by anyone except actual dads. Though Myers would later estimate that anywhere from 30 to 40% of the movie is improvised, what winds up on screen is impressive for how inspired and succinct the comedic run-ons and wackiness actually is. This school of elongated takes ended up overused not even a decade later, ruining the momentum of many a good comedy film. But here, everything is well thought-out, either beforehand or in the editing room. Austin Powers is the epitome of that ‘90s, Adam Sandler-style approach, where there’s a heavy reflection of the auteur behind the project; where it’s not enough to just have zany characters and ridiculous circumstances, but a distinct comedic voice. Always

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

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Austin Powers:New Line Cinema

sticking to the very specific rules of his created universe, Myers ensures that there’s adequate attention to every little detail, even the ones we’re not supposed to be paying attention to. And despite the farce, the humor never insults our intelligence. This isn’t a Naked Gun or Scary Movie brand of spoof film, where the aim is to lambaste a certain genre. Sure, those elements are still present, but Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is simply a comedy-first spy film that works because it doesn’t stress the parody angle so much. That’s not to say it’s much of a spy flick either, with perfunctory details about Dr. Evil’s mission prior to finally getting there in the finale. Likewise, a lot of time is spent on characters simply goofing around inside of rooms. But whether it’s Powers trying to make a U-turn with a golf cart in a narrow hallway or trying to play a CD on a record player, or Dr. Evil telling his life story in a therapy session, the jokes just so happen to be hysterical, brimming with details both small and large, highlighting both physical comedy and witty banter.

The overall bit is that Powers’ in-world appeal to women is inexplicable, and that he’s supposed to be repulsive to the viewers at home with his unabashedly yellowed teeth and unrealistically hairy torso. But the joke works even better for the audience because Powers is, in fact, somewhat appealing— whether due to Myers’ inherent charms or the suavity and charisma of his title character. If this had been Deuce Bigalow, there would be too distinct a consensus regarding the hero’s lack of appeal and the joke would either be unsettling or fall flat. Of course, Austin Powers would

go on to have two more massively successful movies, in 1999 and 2002—a rarity in the comedy world, especially back then—but neither would match the inspired originality of the original. And it was here that the mythology was born. The first installment would only gross $67 million worldwide (compared to some $300 million for each of the sequels), but Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and its low-stakes sendup of the Swinging Sixties was the one that first captivated us with its shagadelic verbiage that pervaded our lexicon and the assertive humor that never apologized for being completely ridiculous.

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BY AIREN LODGE

ARE YOU, LIKE MANY OTHERS, STUCK AT HOME TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME? Stranger Things:Netflix/The Walking Dead:AMC/The Boys:Amazon/Tokyo Vice:HBO Max/(cover):Halo:Paramount

Ugh, same! I can hardly wait until I make my grand entrance back into the world. But until then, filling my needs to rectify my boredom comes first. Naturally, I have tried everything from gardening to painting, and even tried doing some DIY crafts. But alas, nothing has seemed to keep me fixated, be it my mind or my physical self, in one place. That is, until I came across a simple list. Now, now, I know you’re thinking, “A list? What could possibly be so great about a list?” But it wasn’t just A list; it was THE list. A beautiful, stupendous, and marvelous list that finally gave me something I could pour all my time and energy into. Since my discovery, I have since become fixated. This list changed me for the better. And so, I wanted to give back to you all in return. Even if I can affect just one person, my hope is to unstick someone from the mundane cycle of the day as someone once did for me. So for better or worse, I present to you MY list...

THE TOP 10 SHOWS TO BINGE IN 2022 Stranger Things Season 4 Stranger Things took the world by storm with its first season back in 2016, so it’s only natural that season 4 would be the most talked about season of 2022. Featuring a story that’s always been shrouded in mystery, drama, and fantasy, Stranger Things is on track to debut the first “volume” of its nine-episode season on Netflix on May 27th, with the second portion coming out July

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1st. While most of us felt good about where the show left off at the end of season 3, there were definitely some questions still left unanswered. But what more could happen to Mike, Eleven, and the other? Guess you’ll have to wait and find out!

The Boys Season 3 & 4

The Walking Dead Season 11 I’m not alone when I say that I’ve sort of been boycotting The Walking Dead ever since they killed Glenn in season 7. Although, back in 2010, when the series first debuted, I was transfixed. The surprise hit for AMC brought the (un)dying zombie genre back to life for most people and also played a part in helping reconfigure the television landscape as we once knew it. The season 10 finale happened to remind a lot of disenchanted fans why they used to love this show to begin with. It left viewers captivated and on edge. Season 11 launched in 2021 before taking a four-month mid-season break that ended in February. The 24-episode season is expected to ultimately cap off this series for good (not counting spin-offs) later this year.

Why two seasons? Well, season 3 of The Boys will air June 3rd of this year and, like many of you, I seriously cannot wait. However, talks of a season 4 for 2023 are already taking place, which means that head writer and showrunner Eric Kripke already has more in store past this upcoming season. Who doesn’t love a good vigilante story? Especially one filled with action, crime, and drama, and never seems to even think about pulling its punches.

Fear the Walking Dead Season 7 Like season 11 of its flagship parent series, Fear the Walking Dead season 7 comes in two parts. The first half ran from October to December 2021, with the second half starting back up this past April. The finale of season 6 gave us so much anxiety as our heroes are not only forced to survive a zombie onslaught, but nuclear fallout as well. Never leaving us wanting for more gut-wrenching, stressinducing scenarios, this series keeps us guessing for the remainder of this season. And we can’t wait to find out what’s next!

Tokyo Vice Season 1 First off, any show or movie that stars Ansel Elgort is an automatic must-watch. Not to mention, his new series, Tokyo Vice, revolves around his character’s profession as a journalist. This crime-filled show, loosely based on the memoir of the same name by Jake Adelstein, debuted last month and has quickly caught on in popularity. Elgort portrays Jake, a reporter who dares the streets of Tokyo all the while trying to navigate the unfamiliar territory. The show is riveting and comes highly recommended by yours truly. june 2022|

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Euphoria Season 2 Season 1 of HBO’s Euphoria is nothing if not a masterpiece. It revolves around Zendaya’s character Rue, a recovering drug addict, trying to get her life back on track after returning from rehab. Reluctant to watch the show at first, I ended up upset with myself for waiting so long. Filled with intense drama and turbulent emotions, the series will leave you ugly-crying in some scenes and still craving for more in the next. While I was excited for season 2 upon its debut back in January after a twoyear hiatus from the pandemic, I can’t help but feel like it could have been better. And yet, there’s enjoyment to be had amidst its scatterbrained narratives. Season 2 was still as popular than ever, with season 3 already confirmed and expected to arrive sometime in 2023.

Severance Season 1 Directors Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle seriously pulled out all the stops for Severance. There is a bone-chilling feel to this dystopian horror that follows the lives of a select few people who agree to undergo the “Severance” program, which separates their work memories from their non-work memories. It left me feeling unnerved, although I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off of this show, which stars Adam Scott in the lead. I can’t wait for season 2, which will hopefully answer questions such as, what do the MDR workers actually do for work? And where do all those hallways lead?

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Halo Season 1 As someone who’s been playing Halo the video game for years, I was divided when the new Paramount+ show aired back in March. I was excited due to my soft spot for a game that I’ve been a fan of since it first debuted over 20 years ago. But there was also a nagging feeling in my mind that it would be terrible, thus marring my affection for the game I love. Boy, could I not have been more surprised. Rubert Wyatt masterfully directed the episodes, and Kyle Killen and Steven Kane did an equally great job as showrunners, blending new and old so well that it nearly brought me to

tears. Master Chief and Cortana are depicted in a beautiful light, keeping them on point with the original characters from the game. Ignore any flak on this show and give it a shot if you love the source material.

Station Eleven Season 1

Severance:Apple/Halo:Paramount/Euphoria:HBO/Station Eleven:HBO/The Girl from Plainville:Hulu

Although season 1 of HBO Max’s Station Eleven debuted in December 2021, it ran into 2022. With a two-year pandemic under our belts, a series like this is perfect for kicking off our reentry back into the world. Centered on a group of people attempting to rebuild following a flu that ravaged the world, Station Eleven may start slow, but picks up to the point of addiction after a few episodes. If nothing else, it’s refreshing to see evidence of the importance and impact of art during times when people need it the most.

The Girl from Plainville Season 1 At first I wasn’t sure if I had the stomach to watch The Girl From Plainville, based on a very true story of a young girl named Michelle Carter (Elle Fanning) who’s arrested and charged with the murder of her 18-year-old boyfriend, Conrad Ray III, who she encouraged to commit suicide via text. Truthfully, I could barely handle reading about it in the news. Perhaps not something to watch a second time, the Hulu miniseries was nevertheless both haunting and intriguing, made even more so on both accounts because of its real-life connection.

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INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

WHETHER YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW HALO SERIES or not, the reality is, it’s pretty darn good! The Steven Spielberg-produced Paramount+ series was a long time coming for fans of the Xbox game, which first launched over two decades ago. The show, which debuted back in March, is set in the 26th century as a genetically engineered super soldier, Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber), helps to combat an alien threat known as the Covenant. The show also stars Danny Sapani as UNSC Captain Jacob Keyes, a heel of sorts for Master Chief. Throughout the first season, Keyes’ character gets expanded upon a bit, but fans can only assume that his development will continue to grow during season 2, which has already been given the go-ahead. Keyes has been a favorite of fans of the games, debuting right alongside the first installment back in 2001. Sapani sits down to chat with Galaxy about his new series, how he got into acting, and his time in the Star Wars universe. He also waxes poetic on Doctor Who and its longevity, let alone within the cultural zeitgeist.

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erview erview SPOILER: Every time I see you on the screen, I get super excited because ever since Harlots, I’ve been a fan. I hope to see more and more of you as Halo progresses. DANNY SAPANI: Thank you! I mean, it’s definitely a slow build for me in this season, and that’s often the case. I think it’s just the way that these things work sometimes, but I think second season we’re gonna be hitting the ground running. As it comes to the close of the first season, you’re gonna see a lot more of Jacob Keyes as the story progresses.

Danny Sapani:CBS;Cox

SPOILER: What an exciting thing, already getting the green light for season 2! DANNY SAPANI: Yeah, that’s incredible. I mean, they’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink in this one, and you can see that on the screen. When you watch some of the effects and the work that’s gone into creating this 26th century world, it is quite incredible. It’s completely immersive. I find watching it on a screen, as I did with the first two episodes, I’m just completely in that world. And that’s what you wanna recreate. You don’t have too many kinds of obvious sorts of glitches or anything that

D A N N Y

can take you out that. And I think that’s to do with how well the team has worked together collectively to bring that to life. SPOILER: There’s nothing Earth-like on that show. And the design, this is like a big budget film, but on a weekly basis. DANNY SAPANI: Absolutely. And what a treat. Very few people are going into the cinema at the moment. And so we need something with this kind of scale that is still gonna be better to watch on a bigger screen. Most of us are getting bigger screens and fewer people are going to the cinema, which is a shame. And I hope that we can find a balance with that, but to watch this on a really big screen, and with the sound turned up, is just a complete treat. It takes me back to my youth watching big movies, like Star Wars, just that sense of wonder and imagination put in front of you. It’s awesome. SPOILER: You can’t compare this to anything currently out there. I get excited every week now. What do you think about streaming shows now going back to weekly releases? I get impatient when I have to wait.

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DANNY SAPANI: Some people are gonna binge-watch it once it’s all come out and enjoy it in that way. I’m somewhere in between the two. I’m pretty impatient. I often want to binge things. As much as I love a cliffhanger, I hate that kind of feeling when you have to wait to find out what’s gonna happen next. Then, if it doesn’t necessarily satisfy, I feel cheated. It’s very emotional. So, I’m probably a lot like you. It does feel like a bummer when you have to wait a whole week for the next episode. But I hope that you stick with the show. That’s the most important thing. SPOILER: They will. They’re gonna stick with it. The show was so hush-hush before its release. There wasn’t much convention coverage. Do you feel that you guys missed out on that, and do you think you guys are gonna be able go to conventions coming up to promote season 2? DANNY SAPANI: I think the conventions will come. I think as people become more at ease with being in large groups and being together again, I think that all of that will open up. The premiere, for example, was just fantastic, to see everybody in their costumes and also educating us about some of the characters, because, as you know, the Halo lore, there’s just so many iterations and stories and characters, so it was great to see them out in full force. I’m really looking forward to spending time with the fans and really immersing myself in this world. There’s a lot of love and it’s a lot of fun. SPOILER: How did it feel standing next to Kate Kennedy or Natascha McElhone or Pablo Schreiber? They’re all so tall. How did that feel? DANNY SAPANI: Well, you should try training with those guys. I mean, it does make you feel somewhat less-than, shall we say.

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But no, they’re great, and they carry themselves really well. When they put the costumes on, they become more than human in a way; it’s that meeting of machine and human. And so, as a person, you don’t feel intimidated by that because they’re a weapon. And I get to play the human side of the UNSC. Jacob Keyes is a very compassionate and sympathetic character in a lot of ways. So it feels like I get a different role to play alongside them. But in real life, those guys are beautiful, giant people, with big hearts. And we are like a family. I’m happy to stand alongside them and soak up some of their adulation. SPOILER: Pablo carries that lead role so well. DANNY SAPANI: So well! They’re all very, very versatile actors. They can pull off the vulnerability and the nuance of characters. So it really is quite a feat to be looking down on everybody most of the time, but still able to connect. I think it must be tough, particularly for women who are very tall, to find roles. And so, this is a great opportunity for both Natasha and Kate, and all the other tall, young women out there who don’t feel that they necessarily have a place in the world. This is great for them. It’s kind of saying, “Look, there are roles for you. There is a story to be told.” I think that’s really, really important to put out there. SPOILER: Absolutely. Back in the day, actors used to hide their height. Now they don’t have to. DANNY SAPANI: It’s very, very cool. You know this is another example of diversity. And that’s something we wanna make accessible to as many people as possible. Everybody should see themselves, to some extent, in the stories that are told. Sometimes it’s great to see yourself and sometimes you have to identify in other ways. But it’s all good. SPOILER: What got you into acting? DANNY SAPANI: I started out from a very young age. I think maybe I was a troubled kind of six-year-old, seven-year-old. It’s not unusual to

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Danny Sapani:CBS;Cox/Penny Dreadful:Showtime

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not be fully understood at that age. And then I think somebody said, “Well, why don’t you put him in the drama class?” hoping that would probably get me out of the way. And it just lit a fire. And from about the age of seven, I was like, “I’m gonna be an actor.” And people were like, “Yeah, sure you will. You’re not in the right school. You’re not in the right space. You’re the wrong color. You’re the wrong size,” all sorts of things to put in your way. Even I had a teacher, my English teacher, who said, “Maybe you should think about teaching instead.” But I’d already decided. And being the slightly stubborn and, I wouldn’t necessarily say driven—I’m like most people, I like to take things very chill. But when you find something that you are absolutely passionate about, and for me, it’s telling stories and connecting people through stories, eventually you are gonna hit your stream and you’re gonna find your place and do your thing. And that’s pretty much what it was for me. You know, I went to drama school, I did a lot of theater before I did a lot of screen stuff. And I had fantasies of being a director and a writer, which I

still have. I still think there’s so much more to learn about what it means to fully immerse yourself in a role. So, it still sustains me financially and spiritually and mentally, so yeah, I’m gonna keep at it. SPOILER: Do you prefer theater or being on screen? DANNY SAPANI: They are such different beasts. I’m very good friends with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and she’s somebody who, whether you see her on screen or you see her on stage, she doesn’t really change the style or shape of her performance. And she’s brilliant every single time. And you know, it used to be that you’d go to the theater to watch things kind of being done in a sort of big or avant-garde way. And that seems to become less now. I think we’re finding a middle ground. Not that you can’t have extremes of both on either side, but somehow we are so attuned to watching things close up that that has affected the way things are performed as well. So when I left drama school, certainly there was a range of things that you wouldn’t wanna do on screen because the

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camera picks up so much. And that’s something that one had to learn how to adjust to. But I love the collaborative nature of all storytelling really. And you get that both on screen and on stage. That’s what really fires me up. There’s an amazing thing that happens when you are shooting a scene. If the focus is out or the camera’s not moving in the right speed or the lighting is slightly off, you step out of your light—there’s so many things that can go “wrong.” But when everything is in flow and everything is right, it’s the most incredible feeling. And everybody is working towards the same goal, to get that shot, to get that scene— that’s an incredible feeling. I love that, but I also love being in front of an audience and having that immediate sort of feedback. And every night is different. Repeating a show, repeating the story, it’s like a second life. So yeah, I just love acting. I love storytelling. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I prefer one or the other. I love them both, but for different reasons. SPOILER: I know you’re a big Star Wars fan. How did it feel to have a role in The Last Jedi? DANNY SAPANI: Mine was a post shot. If you look carefully at the screen, you can see that it’s got a different quality from the rest of the film, but I’m splitting hairs there. It was incredible to be involved in such an iconic movie in any way. I used to see great actors, actors that I admired as I was coming up through theater and through training, who played walk-on parts on Star Wars. And they were fulfilling a dream as

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well. I was no different, and it wasn’t until I actually had a piece of tech in my hands that I actually went, “Oh my God, this is my moment. This is me as a 10-year-old boy in 1980, 1977, a 7-yearold boy holding this tech and living the dream.” It really was incredible. I can’t say enough about how amazing it was just to be part of that universe. SPOILER: Another one that stands out is Black Panther. And coming up, the sequel [Black Panther: Wakanda Forever] is in post-production, yeah? DANNY SAPANI: Yeah, that’s right. I think they’re planning to open this November. There’s a lot of secrets, but how do you follow the first film, which was such a groundbreaking movie on so many fronts? And continue that sense of legacy without Chadwick [Boseman]? It’s a huge undertaking, but I think that Ryan [Coogler] and his team have done an amazing job to honor him, but also continue to tell the story. And that’s no mean feat. The first time around, it didn’t matter whether we were playing small parts, big parts, walk-ons—everybody who was in that movie felt like they were part of a family and that’s why we’ve all come back. And I just know that’s gonna translate to the camera and people are gonna also feel that they are part of that too. SPOILER: Being from the U.K., was it wild having a spot on Doctor Who? DANNY SAPANI: Yeah, it’s really strange because I think that was probably the first sci-fi thing that I did. But it’s such a staple of British drama. I remember watching Doctor Who back in the day and it was wobbly sets. But that’s part of the whole charm of it, you know? It’s still got a very youthful audience. Even the way it’s put out, there’s no profanity or anything. The themes are scary, they’re challenging on that level for kids. Like the weeping angels, for example, it’s the concepts that really would give children nightmares. I mean, the Daleks used

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to give me nightmares. Now I look at them and I think, “Come on, really?” It’s an institution. Growing up, it was our route into science fiction and the possibilities of the mind and space and the universe and the concept of time travel, all of these amazing, brilliant, challenging themes. And so, that was another dream come true. I’m literally living my dreams all the time, just getting to be in these great shows, but that was my first foray into it. I did a show called Misfits before that, which had a kinda sci-fi element to it I guess, but there was something about being in Doctor Who. I know how important that show is to the fans, and that was a very special moment. I still get a lot of love from people for my role. SPOILER: Definitely. Well, the show reinvents itself, it just keeps coming back out. A new Doctor. DANNY SAPANI: That’s right. It’s such a brilliant concept. It just says so much about who we are. You have the same thing with James Bond and some other characters, but the fact that you can have a time-traveling doctor with two hearts who can basically reform in a different body every single time, I just think that’s such a brilliant idea. I don’t think we’ve come up with anything as close to brilliant as that, and I think that’s probably why it’s lasted so long. I wish I’d thought of it. SPOILER: A lot of great shows come from the UK and then they get remade in the United States. DANNY SAPANI: Yeah. It’s interesting that they haven’t made an American Doctor Who, don’t you think? SPOILER: I don’t think they will. I think the British citizens would be very upset about that. DANNY SAPANI: [laughs] But if they made something similar. I think the Bourne Identity is a kind of James Bond mirror. So, I’m just surprised that they haven’t had any sort of major timetraveling characters.

Penny Dreadful:Showtime

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SPOILER: We had Quantum Leap I guess. But not like Doctor Who. He would jump into people’s bodies and save their world, and then right before the end, when he would get used to those people, he would get flashed out and he didn’t like it. DANNY SAPANI: So a little bit more Back to the Future and less hard sci-fi. SPOILER: Exactly. DANNY SAPANI: But then you also made Back to the Future, that’s nothing to be sniffed at. I grew up on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.—great shows!

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doesn’t always just come down to money, but it does help in terms of being able to get it out there and promote it. I love the fact that I was part of Harlots, but it will be one of those kinds of classics that people come back to and wish it had done more. And who knows? Maybe there’ll be some sort of revival, although I don’t have enough confidence in those. It’s hard though. A lot of shows don’t get past three seasons anyway. The other one was Penny Dreadful, which I just thought could have run and run. We had such a great time making that. But again, if some element of the balance isn’t right, then these shows don’t tend to go on, even though they may have more to say. But then, you can also be in a show that runs too long and that you’re dying to get off. Sometimes it’s a blessing, because you get to go off and do something new. SPOILER: What’s next for you besides Halo? DANNY SAPANI: I’m still trying to bring to life stories of characters and people from different times. I’m particularly interested in the 1700s. I’m particularly interested in Nile Valley cultures, not just Egypt, but the Kushites, the Maronites, all the different people from East

Africa who went toe-to-toe with the Romans and the Greeks and Assyrians. It’s just really interesting stories that a lot of people don’t know anything about. It shines a different light on our history and who we are and how we’ve got to where we are now. So, I’m trying to find ways to tell those stories and to produce those kinds of stories myself. But also, I’m continuing to be employed to tell stories as an actor. And I’m about to tell a story of a guy whose son is murdered. It starts off that he thought he got drunk and died, but it turns out he was murdered. It’s a show called The Diplomat, which is set in Spain. The last great play I did was written by Lorraine Hansberry—the last play that she ever wrote. In fact, she didn’t finish it because she died when she was 35. It’s called Les Blancs. We had the very fortunate pleasure to put that on stage about five years ago. That was an incredible piece to be involved with. So, I try and do a play every now and then. And then I did a play called Him as well, playing opposite Adrian Lester, which was written by his wife Lolita Chakrabarti. I try to mix it up. I do stuff on the radio. And just wherever there’s an opportunity to tell a story,

Danny Sapani:CBS;Cox/Halo:Paramount

SPOILER: I was so sad when Harlots got discontinued. Why’d that happen? DANNY SAPANI: It was a very strange thing because when we first shot it, it was supposed to go out on a new channel in the UK and then for some reason that didn’t happen. So it took a long time to actually get the respect and love that it would’ve gotten if it had reached more people earlier. We were quite happy to be making this brilliantly written show. I mean, writers Moira Buffini and Alison Newman are just fantastic writers and it was great to be involved in something that just had that kind of quality to it. To see the lives of these people, because poor people and people of color didn’t get written about in those times, because if you didn’t have money or if you were the wrong color, then your lives weren’t interesting. So, it was really lovely for us to tell the story of the 1700s and the 1800s from that perspective. You know when you’re in something that matters. By the time we’d made the second season, that got a lot of interest in the States and Hulu was very keen to do a third, but it just didn’t get enough energy soon enough for us to feel supported. I think perhaps if that had come sooner, maybe we would’ve made four or five. There were still more stories to be told in that world. But now we have Bridgerton, which is doing a similar job I suppose. And that will run and run because of the nature of it and the support behind it, and money behind it. I mean, it

I’m there if they’ll have me.

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BY ZAYN BATES

IT IS HARD TO TALK ABOUT FANTASTIC BEASTS AS A FRANCHISE

without talking about the world of Harry Potter itself. As a prequel/spin-off of J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series, Fantastic Beasts does not follow Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but instead showcases Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a former Hogwarts alumnus years before Harry was even born. Newt got expelled from the wizarding school for his impractical love and admiration for all fantastical creatures. As a Hufflepuff, Newt is a natural empath and a character who definitely deserves a story of his own. His tale shows the rise of the Death Eaters and Gellert Grindelwald’s terrorist attacks on the world of Muggles. Based on

the 2001 companion guide book, the first installment back in 2016 found success, even though the 2018 and 2022 sequels have gotten below-par reception from both fans and critics alike. Compared to the eight canonical Harry Potter films which were each based on a respective novel (with the seventh book being split into two separate movies), Fantastic Beasts deviates from the book for the second and third installments. They lack the same magical essence of the Harry Potter stories and the plots have often felt a bit too sprawling. The latest entry, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, might be a disappointment, yet it could also very well be the hope of the franchise.

Where the first film is set in America in the 1940s, the follow-up takes the conflict to Europe. The latest entry, however, is mostly set in Hogwarts, showcasing the conflict between Dumbledore (Jude Law) and Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen), all from the perspective of Newt, a magizoologist whose main purpose in life is to make people aware of the fantastical creatures he takes care of. The film takes many different forms as it highlights the political and civil unrest caused by Grindelwald, forcing the magical authorities to deal with the threat. Unfortunately, Newt’s character gets sidetracked and his purpose becomes buried. What was once a secondary premise has now taken over and put on a grander scale. Newt’s individual anthology stories—his travels around the

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world, encountering new animals, rehabilitating them to better habitats or protecting them from those who want to harm them— are no longer the focus of this series. In Harry Potter, the title character’s personal struggles coincide with the larger stakes at play, and they increase together. However, in Fantastic Beasts, there’s no symbiosis to be had. And as we fail to remain invested in Newt’s

Fantastic Beasts:Universal

STORY

character (they could have at least sprinkled in some back story), it’s the general audiences who wander astray first. And we can’t blame them.

1.5/5

most intelligent person. However, his empathy and his love for all things human make him such a fantastic character. Likewise, Redmayne’s performance allows Newt to be lovable. Just like Newt, Jacob and Queenie are underutilized here as well. And Tina is barely in the movie. There’s hardly anything redeemable about the characters, and that’s heartbreaking.

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CHARACTERS From Dumbledore to Grindelwald to Newt to Queenie to Tina to everybody’s favorite muggle, Jacob Kowalski, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore features brand new characters as well as mainstays in the Wizarding World. Past films utilized these characters brilliantly to make the world richer and create a fun experience for the audience getting to know them. But in this third installment, they’re hardly utilized at all, with significantly more focus on setting up the plot for this big showdown for which character development

becomes a casualty. It’s almost like director David Yates forgot that each of these characters has stories to tell—stories that could have been fascinating in their own rights. The most egregious tragedy is the disservice to our apparent protagonist, Newt, who seems to get out-shined by other characters who the filmmakers think the fans want to see. Dumbledore doesn’t need to be in this movie, and yet he is aggressively shoehorned into this narrative (as well as the movie’s title), thus wasting the essence of Newt by undermining his nature to be ordinary, especially compared to Harry Potter. What makes Newt so likable is that he isn’t a prophetic savior; he’s as ordinary as any of us. He isn’t the strongest wizard, nor is he the

VISUALS Visually speaking, the film is striking. Yates, with the help of DP George Richmond, compose several shots we haven’t yet seen in pictures such as this. However, the main driving force of the visual language are the special effects. It’s been said that CGI is the backbone of any modern blockbuster, and that cannot be truer than in the case of the latest Fantastic Beasts, a movie that heavily relies on visual effects, leaning on computer generated imagery for all the magical elements. The Harry Potter movies also have a ton of CGI, though they use a good deal of practical effects to make the world feel more believable. Here, on june 2022|

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MUSIC Harry Potter films have always had great music. And this trend doesn’t break with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Composer James Newton Howard makes a comeback here and it’s honestly quite glorious. The soundtrack in this latest movie is one of his best works to date. From the very first scene, it helps set the tone of the narrative and makes us invested in the world, even when the rest of the film isn’t doing its job in that department. The soundtrack comprises of different tunes, mixing in Alexander Desplat’s popular motifs from the original Harry Potter installments with brand new themes created for this spin-off franchise. The result is a mesmerizing audial experience all around, curated to be magnetic to the ears. The music is so infectious that

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you’re remembering it on the car ride home, and perhaps even days later. Even the best soundtracks still make an impact when the rest of the film isn’t doing its job well.

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Fantastic Beasts:Universal

the other hand, the preponderance of green screen leads to bland lighting in certain scenes, which has a detrimental impact on the film’s verisimilitude, especially when we’re outside of Hogwarts. The sequences inside Hogwarts, however, see a dramatic shift for the better. Perhaps because the filmmakers all had Harry Potter as reference, but the school for magic looks just as good here as we remember it, despite a more Gothic production design than we’re used to due to the change in time period. During the action sequences, the visual effects are fantastic as well— that is, until that dreaded green screen comes back.

GLARING ISSUES

Initially, the film seemed to be just another reskin of the Fantastic Beasts franchise in a new coat of paint. Although after the recent controversies with Johnny Depp, they had to recast Grindelwald with a different actor. Well, this wouldn’t have been that big of an issue, especially since actors are recast quite a lot in the industry. It is, however, a big issue here because of who they While I am a huge fan of Mads Mikkelsen, and I will advocate for every single film he does, the role of Grindelwald was simply not made for him. He was cast in the film due to his immense star power, yet he doesn’t fit the role because we have come to expect Grindelwald to be a brash, impulsive, and honestly evil character. Mikkelsen on the other hand portrays him as a quiet, smart character that is always planning internally. This is one of the rare

cases where an actor just simply doesn’t match with the character. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only issue with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The film suffers from horrible pacing, both from an editing and a writing side of things. Events are either happening too fast or nothing is happening at all, thus stagnating the overall storyboard. Scenes are copped up and moments are cut when they should be held. Yates does a decent job behind the camera, but the script by Rowling and Steve Kloves is atrocious, riddled with corny dialogue, which only adds to the already-boring movie.

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IF THERE’S ONE BIG-BUDGET PROJECT THAT’S BEEN DELAYED THE MOST BY THE PANDEMIC, it’s Top Gun: Maverick. But that’s only the half of it. With development starting as far back as 2010, the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster was originally going to have Tom Cruise’s now-titular character in a smaller role. Tony Scott had been asked to return as director and Jerry Bruckheimer as producer. Even more, Christopher McQuarrie, known mostly by that point for writing The Usual Suspects and the Cruise-led Valkyrie, was given an offer to pen the script. McQuarrie would since then go on to write for such successful films as Jack Reacher, Edge of Tomorrow, and the last

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Top Gun:Paramount

BY ETHAN BREHM

two (arguably the best) Mission: Impossible installments—all starring Tom Cruise. But Scott’s unexpected death in 2012 put a hold on the project indefinitely. Fans of the original were devastated. Scott left behind a legacy that included the likes of Beverly Hills Cop II, Days of Thunder, True Romance, Enemy of the State, Déjà Vu, and Unstoppable, among many others. But nothing topped the commercial or crowd-pleasing success of his breakout movie, Top Gun. As with every 357-milliondollar film, Top Gun began as an article published in California magazine in 1983 entitled “Top Guns,” written by Ehud Yonay. The article, which featured aerial photography and detailed the lives of fighter pilots out of Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, also known as Fightertown USA, inspired producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson to go after a plethora of Hollywood

writers, all of whom turned the project down. Eventually they landed on two relatively unknowns, Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. Cash was a film history teacher at Michigan State University when he met Epps, who was his student. The two began a partnership in the 1970s that lasted all the way until Cash’s death in 2000, and included films such as Turner & Hooch, Dick Tracy, and Anaconda. To prepare for the Top Gun script, Cash

The Defenders/Marvel/Netflix (Previous Spread)

and Epps attended several classes at Miramar and went into the air in an F-14 jet, an experience that informed perhaps the strongest part of the film: its accurate patois. With the writers locked in, the producers focused on getting a stylish director. They approached Tony Scott, who at that point had only directed the 1983 cult horror film The Hunger, starring David Bowie. However, the producers were a fan of the commercial work he had done years before, in particular the campaign he did for Saab, where a 900 turbo was shown racing a Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet. Matthew Modine, who eventually found some fame starring in the 1985 high school wrestling film Vision Quest, was approached to star as Maverick, but turned down the role. Then the producers considered another actor entirely. Tom Cruise, who had one heck of a year in 1983 (The Outsiders, Risky Business, All the Right Moves), was still sort of an up-and-comer, but had yet to do a big-budget film like this one. And as fate would have it, after some convincing and a tubular flight with the Blue Angels, Cruise was pleased to accept the role, thus sending him down a path to becoming arguably the most bankable star of all time. Val Kilmer, who was forced to audition due to having the same agent as Cruise, later revealed that he didn’t want to be in action films at the time and intentionally

be overstated. However, the actress didn’t think that a movie about fighter pilots would be successful, and so she passed on the role, later admitting to have regretted the decision ever since. As for McGillis, this was only her third film role following Reuben, Reuben and Witness. For rewrites, Top Gun producers got a ton of input from the US Navy, which led to the opening dogfight sequence being changed and McGillis’ character getting shifted from an enlisted member of the military to a civilian contractor. The Navy also made several F-14s available for use during shooting. Scott Altman, who would go on to be an astronaut for NASA, piloted the planes for a lot of the stunt sequences, including Maverick’s infamous tower buzzes. The flights over ground were filmed mostly in Fallon, Nevada, while most of the character scenes were shot in San Diego. Released on May 18, 1986, Top Gun would reach the numberone spot at the box office on

bombed the audition—or so he thought. Apparently, the indifferent line readings he delivered were fitting for Maverick’s heel, Iceman. Anthony Edwards, who had appeared in films such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Sure Thing, and Revenge of the Nerds, was cast as Maverick’s best friend, Goose. For Maverick’s love interest, Charlie Blackwood, everyone from Jodie Foster to Daryl Hannah to Brooke Shields to Carrie Fisher to Sarah Jessica Parker has been rumored members of the short list. But prior to finally casting Kelly McGillis, producers were eyeing Ally Sheedy for the part. Fresh of WarGames, The Breakfast Club, and St. Elmo’s Fire, Sheedy’s status in the mid-’80s couldn’t june 2022|

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to an audience who was ready to eat it up. Over 35 years and a gazillion RayBans later, audiences are still ready. One would even say...they haven’t lost that lovin’ feelin’ (sorry). A few years following Scott’s death, Cruise and co-star Val Kilmer made it known that they were still interested in returning for a second outing. And in 2017, the new film’s title was announced. Signed up to direct was Joseph Kosinski, whose credits include Tron: Legacy and Oblivion (again, starring Tom Cruise), with McQuarrie still writing the script. The following year, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, and Jennifer Connelly joined the cast. Teller portrays the son of the Goose, Maverick’s fallen compatriot from the first movie. McGillis won’t be returning. Instead, Connelly plays Cruise’s new love interest, with Hamm serving as Vice Admiral Cyclone. And in May of 2018, both Cruise and Kilmer, along with their new batch of co-stars, returned to San Diego for the first time in over 30 years for principal photography, which, due to all the complex in-air flight sequences, ran all the way until mid-2019 (although the plan was to finish much sooner). Trailers were being premiered, toys were being made, model F-14s were being sold, and, most importantly, Loggins’ “Danger Zone” was getting ready to rhythmically thump its drum machines once again. Even Hans Zimmer was confirmed to be composing the new score (later it was announced that Lady Gaga would also be performing a brand new theme song). Everything seemed ready to fly. However, after already defaulting on the original summer of 2019

Top Gun:Paramount

its opening weekend, less than one month after Cruise’s previous film Legend did the same. Repeating the feat two more times, nonconsecutively, including a 14-week gap, Top Gun eventually became the highest-grossing film in North America that year. It’s hard to say what made Top Gun so popular, even today. Perhaps it was how cool the film made it look to fly planes—Navy recruits went up 500% after the movie’s debut—or maybe it was the incessant golden glow of the seemingly unending sunset during which the movie ostensibly takes place. Or maybe it’s the quintuple reprise of Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” or Berlin’s Oscar-winning “Take My Breath Away” (the soundtrack would also get certified 9x Platinum). Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the overall package, where, in 1986, you could literally see the nostalgia budding before your very eyes in the middle of these light-refracting, smoke-filled rooms. Even at its worst, Top Gun is still commendable in how staunchly it commits to its mood, let alone its amber sheen (“More sunset, please!”). It’s cool, it’s fun, and it’s even silly, especially looking back after so many years. Whatever it is, Top Gun and the people who made it sure knew how to sell this product

premiere date because of the inflated shooting schedule, the release was pushed to June 2020. Then in March of 2020, as you’re well aware, the whole world shut down. The film was pushed back, once again, to December. But with COVID-19 not seeming to go away, it was pushed back again to July 2021. After all this production had gone through by this point, you better believe it was gonna come out during one of the peak moviegoing seasons. But theaters still weren’t opening, and so this proverbial carrot on a stick kept chasing the release date further and further, until finally landing on May 27, 2022. And that’s where our story ends, for now. Who knows what the future will have in store for Maverick and Iceman? In this day and age, it seems mighty impossible for any bigbudget franchise to keep us waiting 35 years between installments anymore. And so, if the sun does eventually start setting on Top Gun, we can at least rest assured that it will stay there…for a while.

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IT HAS BEEN EXACTLY FOUR YEARS SINCE WE LAST SAW TOM CRUISE ON THE BIG SCREEN. Although part of that gap can be attributed to a global pandemic, we’ve felt the void that the actor has left for some absolutely amazing stunt work, action choreography, and some of the most intense set pieces in cinema history. However, fortunately for fans all over the world, the man, the myth, the legend, Tom Cruise himself is coming back in Top Gun Maverick. Cruise was last seen on screen going up against Henry Cavill in Mission: Impossible — Fallout as the stealthy Ethan Hunt. However, he’s now returning to play another beloved character, and one that helped popularize the name “Tom Cruise” in 1986, sending his fame into the

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stratosphere. That’s right, Pete Mitchell, also known as Maverick, is making a dramatic return to form in the upcoming sequel. Considered one of the best action heroes of the past 40 years, Maverick has garnered a legacy that’s undeniable. With a (mostly) new cast and crew behind Cruise on this new entry (out May 27th), expectations are high and fans are clamoring for what Maverick has been up to over the past 36 years. And so, we’ve decided to look back at the original Top Gun to talk about the highlights and lowlights of a film that’s forever part of the ‘80s zeitgeist, as well as discuss what we’d like to see in the sequel.

TOP GUN: A CAREER-CHANGING FILM FOR TOM CRUISE Top Gun was one of the most successful films released in the ‘80s, becoming an absolute classic along the way. The story can be summarized perfectly by its IMDb description: As students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom. Tony Scott’s Top Gun became a smash hit back in 1986 for doing the impossible: combining multiple different genres of film into one and making it work. Top Gun isn’t just a story about a United States Navy Weapons Top Pilot, but it’s also a coming-of-age story about a young gun learning the ways of the world that he lives in. Maverick is one of the most impulsive protagonists in the world, and, throughout the film he learned a lot of different things from a civilian instructor, Charlie (played wonderfully by Kelly McGillis), including how to become more mature, calmer, and less impulsive to his instincts. Top Gun became a smash hit not

PROBLEMS WITH TOP GUN (1986)

Top Gun:Paramount

THAT TOP GUN: MAVERICK SHOULD IMPROVE UPON:

just for its amazing characterization, but also for its acting. Tom Cruise doesn’t just play a character here; he becomes it. He is the living embodiment of Pete Mitchell, and he is the living embodiment of Maverick. The movie dives head first into Pete Mitchell’s trauma, showcasing how the death of, not only his father as a child, but his closest friend changes him forever as a person. Maverick also learns to trust people once again, as he initially struggles to work well with others as part of a team. Tony Scott’s direction here is flawless as well., inspired and fluid, making sure all the plot threads and characters get the justice they deserve. Another aspect that popularized this film was the action sequences.

Fluid, well-choreographed, and spectacular overall, the action is composed in such a way that it’s visually pleasing, yet also intense and jam-packed with moments that will make you jump out of your seat. However, not everything about Top Gun is great. There are some flaws in the design of this film that particularly stick out as we watch it today in 2022. The film is old, yet it has aged well for the most part, aside from some filmmaking choices that have drastically damaged it for the modern audience. Let’s talk about some of the things that hold Top Gun back as a film, and some of the things that they could improve upon in the sequel to ensure that it will stand the test of time—or at least another 36 years.

fly (pun not intended) in today’s cinematic landscape. Individually, one or two of these foibles could be forgiven, but they just so happen to be slightly distracting when added up over the course of a full-length feature. Simply put, filmmaking expectations are higher than they’ve ever been due to digitalized technology and modern solutions to former problems, which is definitely a plus of modern filmmaking, but can also make reaching those lofty marks a bit tricky at times.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

The biggest problem with Top Gun, even back in 1986, is the weak cinematography. The film does not look particularly amazing, isn’t visually detailed, and is missing a huge amount of storytelling through its visuals.

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SOUNDTRACK: A lot of critics consistently emphasize how a film is nothing without its score, implying that the music somehow adds something to the overall narrative. The composition is supposed to heighten the emotions of a scene, increase tension perhaps, and, in the case of the actual soundtrack, contribute to the overall vibe of the movie. Top Gun was the perfect candidate to have a score that would elevate the experience beyond the perceived scope. However, composer Harold Faltermeyer never capitalizes on the moments he’s supposed to with his saccharine motifs. In fact, even the pop music underlying the film (excluding Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone”) adds nothing of value, simply

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there to supplant the actual emotions that the should be evoked through the movie itself. Hopefully the addition of Hans Zimmer as composer on the sequel, as well as a theme song by Lady Gaga, can address these issue.

THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SEE IN TOP GUN: MAVERICK Presumably, a lot has happened in Maverick’s life since 1986, and this is the perfect opportunity to show how much more he’s grown in that time. We should see different sides of Pete Mitchell’s personality as they’ve emerged over the years. While a loose cannon in his younger days, his character will probably be more mature now. With the original film being almost 40 years old, the filmmakers have a lot of ground to cover in the sequel.

Top Gun:Paramount

Mainly relying on dialogue-oriented character development, the movie misses out on some fantastic camera work that could have elevated it to a higher level. The visual fidelity is just not up to part with what constitutes great cinematography. In face, Top Gun is one of the plainest looking films of the ‘80s, an era full of color, style, and personality. While the action is well-shot, the rest of the film is boring to look at, monotone in comparison to its contemporaries. Hopefully this gets redeemed in the sequel and is something director Joseph Kosinski and DP Claudio Miranda can focus on more.

A DIVE INTO MAVERICK’S PSYCHE

In the 1986 film, we get to understand Maverick as a person, but we never get the chance to dive much into his psyche. Although we witness his rambunctious tendencies, we’re never given the opportunity to fully grasp his motivations and what makes him tick below the surface. The sequel should open up the character and showcase a new side of him that we haven’t yet seen. The new story revolves around Maverick as an instructor rather than a student, or a fighter pilot that he had once hoped to be.

MORE AIR FORCE ACTION

If there’s anything that the fans want to see more than in-air action, it’s Tom Cruise getting back on that motorcycle. As one of the most iconic sights in the history of cinema, Pete Mitchell riding his bike adds depth and flavor to his character and is one of the defining images of Cruise’s career. According to the trailer, the motorcycle is back in action, so we’ll just have to wait and see how big of a role it will play.

MORE OF MAVERICK’S WORLD CLASS MOTORCYCLE RIDING!

BETTER LIGHTING AND FX

Visual effects and CGI can be an extremely powerful tool when used correctly. However, a lot of pandemic filmmaking has showed us just how bad it can still

be, even today, yielding lackluster imagery and rendering even the best scenes unwatchable. Often filming your practical shots and then adding effects in post-production can be the best choice, resulting in some of the most fantasticlooking sequences in your film. Hopefully the sequel understands this as well. The cinematography, on the other hand, needs a complete overhaul here. While the first movie apparently took place entirely at sunset, the new installment needs to have a more appropriate atmosphere. Characters should be illuminated to look like actual people and given a nice backdrop behind them. An update to the mundane shots from the original movie is also key, and with fewer closeups. Claudio Miranda should take notes from Sully for the flight sequences, or The Dark Knight for motorcycle riding. I know it’s a stretch, but even an art house design would be appreciated instead of the tacky camera work of the first film.

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whether you are looking to shop all things

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If you’re looking for something a bit more competitive, the MegaCon Orlando Cosplay Craftsmanship Cup is the ticket, with six different awards to win and a grand prize of $500 and a VIP pass. Here at SPO!LER, art is a big deal, so naturally we love to check in at Artist’s Alley, where pro and amateur creators spotlight their creations. Other than the main stage, this area is the most sought-after at any convention and the go-to spot for fan art, graphic novels, comics, and more!

Although we’re often busy with interviews at conventions, and there is so much to do at MegaCon Orlando, we still found time last year to check out the board game, card game, and roleplaying game tournaments. We also dropped by the horror events at Phantasmagoria’s Dark Carnival, where they held live special effects and makeup demonstrations, horror panels, and the Halloween Horror Picture Show. Be sure to always check out MegaCon’s website for up-to-date information on meet-and-greets with celebrities so you don’t miss out on who’s attending the convention. The guest list at MegaCon never disappoints. This year’s MegaCon Orlando celebrates the 20th anniversary of MegaCon Orlando/FanExpoHQ

comics or hoping to meet your favorite television star, MegaCon Orlando has it all, but you could probably have guessed that by its name. The southeast’s biggest pop culture event of the year is a celebration of comics, sci-fi, anime, games, and more. Started in 1993 and currently run by Fan Expo HQ, MegaCon Orlando hosts over 100,000 guests each year and takes place over the span of four days in the Orange County Convention Center. Each year you can expect an extensive variety of panels and guests, with past years that have included Jeff Golblum (Jurassic Park, The Fly), John Cena (Peacemaker), and Jason Momoa (Aquaman). While MegaCon’s main attractions are the celebrity photo ops and autograph sessions, cosplay contests, card tournaments, and entire walk-through experiences are other highlights for fans each year. If you’re looking to show off your costuming skills, the Cosplay Red Carpet event is your runway to strut upon. No registration is necessary; just show up and walk the red carpet in front of your biggest fans while the convention’s official photographer snaps away. If that doesn’t give you attention you seek, strike a pose at the cosplay photo park where you can take pictures against various backgrounds.

The Lord of the Rings film series, which was scheduled for last year’s event, but got canceled. It will feature meet-and-greets with Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan. If sitcoms are more your style, you can pop over and meet the cast of the American version of The Office, featuring the likes of Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, David Koechner, and Oscar Nuñez. Other celebrities in attendance this year are Adam Savage (MythBusters), Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), George Takei and William Shatner (Star Trek), and countless more! Meeting actors is a lot of fun, but sometimes it can be even more rewarding to shake hands with the people from behind the scenes, such as comic book creators. This

year will host the final appearance of George Pérez (The Avengers), and will also feature an incredible list that includes Greg Capullo (Dark Nights: Death Metal), Donny Cates (Venom, Guardians of the Galaxy), Jason Fabok (Batman: Three Jokers), Tom King (Batman/Catwoman, Supergirl), Ryan Ottley (Invincible, Amazing Spider-Man), and Scott Snyder (Dark Nights: Death Metal, Nocterra). And as a public service announcement from us to you: Please be sure to read through the ticketing website for the fine print, return policy, and disclaimers before purchasing your tickets. It can save you a whole lot of headache and maybe even a whole lot of cash.

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BY ZAYN BATES

of television. This was the biggest turning point that we had ever seen in a superhero series by far, and came way too close to perfection. This series has always had a penchant for doing things its own way, from having an R-rated design and some of the most despicable superheroes you will ever see. However, it seems that season 3 is where they bring in more comic-related content than ever before, and it looks like a gift that will keep on giving. In this article, we will look at everything we know so far about The Boys season 3. We’ll also talk about the few things that every Boys fan wants to see in the upcoming third season of the Amazon Prime show. 68 I

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SEASON 2 RECAP While The Boys is a series known to kill off its characters in the most grotesque and abhorrent ways, fortunately for us, our core of civilian vigilantes has once again managed to stave off the slaughter at the hands of Homelander and everyone’s favorite fascist, newcomer Stormfront. Billy Butcher, Hughie, Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, and Kimiko are all safe and (somewhat) sound, and they have interior conflicts of their own more than ever. The last time we saw our squad was when they were butting heads with Homelander and Stormfront in order to

save Billy’s wife Becca and her son (by Homelander) named Ryan. Unfortunately, during the ruckus, Becca manages to incidentally catch a laser to the throat and dies out quite slowly and painfully at the hands of Ryan. The poor kid was just trying to save his mother, but that’s not how the world works in The Boys. However, Billy Butcher sees this as the kid being corrupted by Homelander and Vought, and his hatred of them shall only increase and lead him down an even darker path than ever before. He does take the kid with him to help him hone his powers and become a better person, but we don’t know if that’s really his motive. The kid isn’t his after all, and he did kill the love of his life, aka the reason for Billy’s

The Boys:Amazon

THE BOYS’ SECOND SEASON ENDED ON ONE OF THE HIGHEST NOTES IN THE HISTORY

vendetta in the first place. The Seven on the other hand are going through their own weird horde of complications. Stormfront is practically ruined as a superhero, her relations with the Nazi ideology have been revealed to the world and she is wounded beyond repair. The other members of the Seven seem to be up and at it though, other than Black Noir of course, who’s still down for the count after his encounter with Almond Joy. Starlight, A-Train, Queen Maeve, and Homelander will once again be caught up in a constant Hollywood-style drama amongst themselves as the corporate enterprise of Vought tries to control them. The only corporate character whose fate is still up in the air is Victoria Neuman. We know that she’s not the kind-hearted patriot that she let on to the Boys. We know that her motives might be a bit more malicious than we had realized, but it’s still unclear what she will actually do once the third season arrives.

WHAT WE WILL SEE IN THE THIRD SEASON If the teaser is anything to go off of, then we know a few things for sure: Billy Butcher is about go down one of the darkest routes in the character’s history. We have known him to hate Supes for as long as we’ve seen him on screen, and his hatred for them has reached such a high mark that he’s chosen to become one himself. And with Becca’s death, he has nothing left to lose. Butcher’s arc in this season will most likely be revolved around revenge, just like it always has been. However, this time around, we’re going to see the odds evened out a bit with his brandnew laser-eye powers. No one knows what Homelander will be doing in the upcoming season, nor do we know what most other members of the Seven will be up to other than being pawns in the corporate game by Vought. Ashley is still stuck working at the company though, and is constantly treated like crap by every single one of the people she is working with and for. If nothing else, we just wish justice for Ashley because she really feels like she’s not the kind of character that belongs in the Boys’ circle. Speaking of corporate politics, we know that Homelander and A-Train both know of Starlight’s association

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with the Boys, which is sure to bring a whole lot of blackmail, drama, and probably a future full of violence for the characters. The one thing the trailer highlights most is that there will be more violence than ever before. The exploding heads, the blown-up cars, guts, vomit, blood, and bones, everything is about to be amplified. Not to mention, there was also a confirmation by showrunner Steve Kripke that this upcoming season of The Boys will be adapting the fantastic comic book run known as “Herogasm.” For the uninitiated ones, we know that there are going to be way more secrets coming out now than ever before. Vought has always been a company built on secrets, and this time around they will be pushing the barrier between what’s true and what isn’t. “Herogasm” is an arc that showcases the various Supes from Vought going to an island and engaging in a veritable number of extremely illegal activities. The comics also push into some darker territories, showcasing the Seven’s and, by extension, Vought’s involvement in causing the 9/11 attacks. Most likely this particular aspect will be quite different in the Amazon Prime series, as 9/11 is one of the few events in history that should not be used as satire by any means whatsoever. The “Herogasm” arc also results in one of the biggest PR moves in Vought’s catalogue, where they bring out a bunch of super threats for their superheroes to go up against. This ensures that the world thinks that Vought and the Seven are necessary for humanity’s survival,

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5 THINGS WE WANT TO SEE IN SEASON 3

and on the other hand it makes sure that Vought can keep capitalizing off of Compound V. Unfortunately for them though, their involvement in the creation of Compound V was exposed by the Boys with the help of Victoria Neuman. But now that we know her intentions aren’t the kindest, we have no idea where this rollercoaster ride might take us. This is all just a few episodes’ worth of content though, and we know that there is definitely going to be more in store for these characters who we’ve come to love, hate, and relate to. The upcoming season of The Boys, is about to be jam-packed with stuff to digest. So let’s get right into the nitty gritty of what we’d like to see in the upcoming season of the show!

The first and most obvious request is that we get to explore a bit more of Victoria Neuman’s character. From what we’ve seen in season 2, Victoria seems like one of the most multifaceted characters in the series. Her goals and intentions are much more devious than she had previously led on. Not to mention, knowing now that she has the headexploding superpower makes her even more interesting. It would be great do dive into her backstory and take a deeper look into her power, and obviously understand her motives.

The Boys:Amazon

It would also be great to see more of the Deep in season 3. At first glance, the former Seven member seemed like nothing more than the resident douchebag, but he’s garnered more sympathy from the audience since then. And with all the wrong that Vought and the Seven have done to him, fans would love for him to assemble his own super team to compete with his former employer. He, Eagle the Archer, and the other Church of the Collective’s hero members could provide plenty of comedy and a solid rivalry for the ostensibly altruistic Seven. We know that things between

the Boys and the Seven are getting heated to an unprecedented degree. Of course, in the comic books, the Boys actually inject themselves with Compound V so that they could be on equal footing with the evil superheroes of the Seven. This particular aspect might not be an inspiring message for the viewers, but it would lead to one of the most exciting arcs in the entirety of the show. Not only would this arc be filled with an abundance of action and narrative drama, but would provide more than enough gruesome violence to satiate the thirst for gore from the show’s main audience. We know for sure that Billy Butcher is getting his superpower, but who knows, maybe Frenchie, Hughie, and Mother’s Milk will be close behind. It would be great to see more heroes join the Seven, as well as some additions to the roster of our vigilante heroes. The addition of Jensen Ackles to the cast is indicative that the show might

be headed in this direction, even though it remains unclear what the Supernatural alum’s character’s significance will be to the plot. Will he have as big of a role as Stormfront did in season 2? We also wouldn’t complain if another member of the Seven joined the Boys as another inside man (Maeve perhaps?). And hopefully Starlight continues to help our vigilantes so the romance between her and Hughie can be rekindled. Kimiko should also take up more of a leading role this time around like she’s been destined to do. Last but not least, Homelander is becoming more and more unhinged as the show progresses, so it would be great to see an actual meltdown from him — like, something really big — especially as his character becomes less and less in touch with his humanity. This would no doubt be something that would shake the series to its very core and change the world of The Boys entirely.

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THE WALKING DEAD HAS REMAINED A MAINSTAY IN TELEVISION FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS, and has been one of the most popular television series of all time. The series has constantly managed to keep audiences hooked onto the screen, famously for killing off main characters and not being afraid of showing copious amounts of gore. The zombie series is based on the popular comic book, following the story of Rick Grimes, a former police officer who wakes up from a coma in a post-apocalyptic world. In this world, every single person who dies turns into a flesh-eating zombie. Now, with the help of fellow survivors that he runs into on his travels, Rick Grimes must make his way into building a better future for his son, and for the survivors that he has accumulated. Though the story is less simple than it sounds, The Walking Dead enjoys killing off its characters and it does so brutally. The series is famous for breaking your heart twice or thrice every season, killing off beloved characters and reminding you that nobody is safe in this world. Now that the final season is on the brink of release, out later this year, we want to make sure that you’re up to speed on everything Walking Dead.

EVERYTHING THAT HAS TRANSPIRED SO FAR Summarizing the entirety of the 11-and-a-half seasons that The Walking Dead has been on air for is an impossible task, and it should remain that way due to the show’s design. However, this last season has been full of ups and downs, and moments of pure intensity and fear that we just can’t help but remind you of how terrifying it is to be a Walking Dead fan. The final season was divided into three splits, eight episodes each, and each of them having one of the most intense arcs

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of the entire series. This final Part 3 will pick up exactly where Part 2 left off. Not just Alexandria, but also the Hilltop and the Oceanside settlements are now under the control of Deputy Governor Lance Hornsby, and things are not looking good for our heroes. While the Part

unseated; Connie has lodged her own investigation into the Miltons, which could result in the Governor being unseated as well if the secrets are revealed. Connie’s plan is to turn the Commonwealth against the governor, and have the backbone of his power broken. The rest of the cast and characters will also be involved in some of these plans and escapades, however we’re not sure how at the moment. The series is known to take a lot of creative liberties when it comes to its source material, and that’s one of the few things that people love about it. Hopefully, some of our favorite heroes survive, and if not, we hope that they go out in the most Walking Dead fashion possible.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PART 3 While we don’t know the exact plot of the upcoming season, we know a few of the arcs that are about to transpire. The one detail that most people aren’t aware of is that no new characters are going to be added into the new season. In fact, there are no new announcements for cast members, so the series will be focusing mainly on the characters that are currently in the show. However, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any wildcards still there; anything can happen, That’s the beauty of The Walking Dead. We know that two things are going to happen for sure, the first of which is the Commonwealth arc coming to a conclusion. This storyline has been going on since season 10, which is far too long to not conclude in the final season. The other sure thing, which is even more important than the series ending, is that they will set up The Walking Dead universe for future installations. People absolutely adore the show, so watching it come to a conclusion will be heartbreaking, yet it will be the beginning of new arcs, characters, and stories. The one thing that differentiates this Commonwealth arc from the comic books is the absence of Rick Grimes, though that could very well change in the Part 3. For now though, there have been no announcements,leaks, or any sort of indications that Rick Grimes might be a part of the final season. Though fans can definitely hope for the best,

The Walking Dead:AMC

2 finale didn’t result in too many deaths for our main characters, Leah ended up falling at the hands of Daryl Dixon, who she had a huge crush on, by the way. The people living in the Oceanside settlements are now at the mercy of the Governor, as their fates will be decided at the flip of his coin. It is quite a gruesome way to go, if his coin lands on the worse side of things. However, fans are expecting that it’s just an empty cliffhanger and that the characters will actually survive. Meanwhile, on the good guy side of things, Maggie and Negan have managed to form an alliance so that they can prepare for a last stand against the Deputy Governor. However, those two aren’t the only people working to get the Governor

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because Rick has been one of the pillars of this series for so long that his absence is genuinely felt. Now that we know what we could be expecting from the upcoming season of The Walking Dead, we need to highlight where the series could be going after this particular season ends. After 11 seasons, its absence will definitely leave a void. However, fortunately for everyone, AMC has announced several spin-off series that are already in production, which will see some of the mainstay characters returning in their own series. And some of these new shows could very well result in fantastic stories of their own.

1 . DARYL DIXON IN EUROPE

2 . ISLE OF THE DEAD Isle of the Dead focuses on the duo of Maggie and Negan, as the two leave the countryside behind and head up to New York. This story is going to be much more complicated than the Daryl spin-off especially because Maggie and Negan have quite a complicated relationship. Negan was responsible for the death of Maggie’s husband Glenn, who was also the father of her child. However, Negan is a character who is going through a redemption arc of sorts and beginning to become a better person.

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3. THE WALKING DEAD MOVIE STARRING RICK GRIMES AMC has managed to keep everybody in the dark about the upcoming Walking Dead movie, featuring former series protagonist Rick Grimes. You see, Rick was abducted by the elusive helicopter that plagued his vision. He didn’t really die at the end of his story; he’s very much alive. However, where the story is headed is unclear as of now. Developing a new and original story from the ground up, the studio has kept us in the dark about this film, which has been in production hell for some time now. Series creator Robert Kirkman is working with the channel to create a respectable and honorable conclusion to Rick’s storyline and give fans what they have been yearning for.

4. TALES FROM THE WALKING DEAD This is perhaps the most outlandish project of them all, bringing six different anthology stories set in The Walking Dead universe. While fans don’t know much about this series, which is currently in development, we know that it will likely be more horror-based than the others, with lots of variety.

The Walking Dead:AMC

This untitled spin-off will see Norman Reedus’ fan-favorite Daryl Dixon walking around the wastelands and finding survivors, teaming up with them and creating stories of his own in Europe. While we’re not sure where in Europe it will be set, the show is expected to shoot on location. This particular series was supposed to have Carol as his accomplice, however, Melissa McBride will not be joining Reedus for undisclosed reasons. Nevertheless, this is the series fans are most looking forward to.

5. FEAR THE WALKING DEAD If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, then Fear the Walking Dead is by far the series for you. It’s a show set in the same universe, with characters such as Morgan making cameos in the story as well. However, while Walking Dead is set in a countryside locale, Fear takes place in urban locations, showcasing the world as the destruction happened all those years ago. Set prior to Rick Grimes waking up from his coma, this prequel series shows the perspective of those currently going through a zombie apocalypse and their journey and struggle to survive.

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A TRUE POLYMATH, NINA BERGMAN HAS SURROUNDED HERSELF WITH THE ARTS FROM A YOUNG AGE.

Photographer Bjoern Kommerell fills us in on his time spent with the actress, detailing her immense talent and creative determination.

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Nina Bergman:Bjoern Kommerell

Getting a musical theater scholarship in London at 14 years old, later attending the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the RussianDanish actress finally moved to New York in the ‘00s, where she found early success as a host on E! News and SoapTalk, while also being featured on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno showcasing her comedic chops. Early on, she appeared in several music videos for artists like Trey Songz and Gnarls Barkley, and has since been involved in various projects such as Hell Hath No Fury, Doom: Annihilation, The Car, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Assassin X, which earned her an Honorable Mention Award at the Action On Film International Film Festival. While still frequenting theater productions, Nina has also spent some time as an amateur boxer and racecar driver. An accomplished musician, she’s had soundtrack compositions in films such as Sharknado 3, Black Limousine, and Assassin X, and spent time as the lead singer of the hard rock band Letters from the Fire.

To describe Nina in just a few words is simply impossible. She is a total powerhouse of a woman with an incredible amount of talent and skill. Working with Nina is the best thing that can happen to a photographer. She gets it on every level.

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Her camera presence and creative intuition, combined with such focused dedication, is just mind-blowing.

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Nina Bergman:Bjoern Kommerell

What I love about her is that she is always authentic in such a fearless and confident way. And if you look at her track record, it all makes sense. Half Russian, half Danish, she came to the US to study at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.

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She’s had a major career as a model with over 50 advertising campaigns so far. As a singer, she worked with icons such as Hans Zimmer on film soundtracks, had major success as the lead singer of several metal bands, and wrote hundreds of songs as a solo artist, which have been used in many films and TV shows. june 2022|

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Watch out for the release of The Crew, a new racing game in which you’ll get to see her as Kikki.

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Nina Bergman:Bjoern Kommerell

There are a few things that most people don’t know about her. She’s also a badass racecar driver and loves riding motorcycles.

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She also dedicates a lot of her time to animal activism and has eaten strictly vegan for many years. She is also a welltrained boxer, which inspired me to do a photo shoot of her training. It’s a mystery to me how brilliantly she manages to pursue all of these things simultaneously, even producing movies now on top of it. And she still always has time for her friends.

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Writer: Cullen Bunn | Artist: Freddie Williams II | Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse

the good

what’s is about?

From IDW Publishing and Boom! Studios, two titanic powers collide in a cross-company collaboration event you never expected... but makes complete sense! When Rita Repulsa uses an ancient artifact to transport herself to a universe without Power Rangers, she finds herself on a world with aliens, kaiju, and... Godzilla! Hoping to annihilate this new foe, Rita hurls her own terrible creatures into battle. But she never expects that the Rangers have followed her to this alternate reality! Now, the Dinozords themselves are going head-to-head with the King of the Monsters! Written by superstar scribe Cullen Bunn (Godzilla: Cataclysm) and illustrated by artist extraordinaire Freddie Williams II (Batman, TMNT)! (from IDW Publishing & Boom! Studios)

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The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers have stood toe-to-toe with the Justice League, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and now with the King of All Monsters, Godzilla! This is the showdown my inner child was screaming for. Collen Bunn’s superbly written story throws us right into the action and never relents while Freddie Williams II’s art keeps us drawn in with his wild and kinetic style. Godzilla comics always interest me, from his romp through the Marvel Universe in the late ‘70s to his journey through Hell in the 2000s. Although I enjoyed Power Rangers television as a teenager and then later incarnations with my sons as an adult, I’m a novice when it comes to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comic books. If this is what I’ve been missing I need to go back now and read all their amazing tales. This is a fun book from start to finish and a treat for Big G fans and Power Ranger fans alike. This is one of those great crossovers that would fall flat outside of a comic book; a live-action interpretation could not match the energy of this book nor its pacing.

the bad

Godzilla vs. Power Rangers:IDW;Boom! Studios/Superman-Batman:DC Comics

GODZILLA VS. MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #1

This book has one downside in that it presumes you know a substantial amount of the lore of both of its titular characters, which, if we’re being honest, is a fair assumption if you’re the kind of person picking up a title like this. Even if your knowledge of Godzilla and the Power Rangers is limited to basic awareness of their existence, this book is still for you. It has an interdimensional, superpowered, brightly-colored sextet of teenage heroes going against a radioactive giant kaiju. What else do you need? The only negative for me is the onomatopoeia used throughout the book, which looks like it was made on Microsoft Word, shadows and all—which, on a second read, I found distracting. It’s a seemingly insignificant, easily overlooked grievance in a top-notch book. I can’t wait to see Godzilla take on the Rangers united in the next issue! SCORE

9.5/10

COMIC BOOK REVIEW |

SUPERMAN/BATMAN WORLD’S FINEST #1 Writer: Mark Waid | Artist: Dan Mora | Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain

what’s is about?

The Dark Knight. The Man of Steel. They are the two finest superheroes that the world has ever known, and they’re together again in an epic new series from the legendary talents of Mark Waid and Dan Mora! In the not-too-distant past, Superman’s powers are super-charged from a devastating chemical attack by the villain Metallo, and the only ally that the ultra-powerful Man of Tomorrow can turn to in this turbulent hour is Gotham’s own dark vengeance: the Batman. A nearly fatal burst of power drives Bruce Wayne to his own extreme measures to help his friend, enlisting none other than the Doom Patrol for aid. It’s the world’s greatest superheroes from the world’s greatest comic book talent in an epic comic book experience that kicks off the next big events in the DCU. Get ready, it’s time to soar. (from DC Comics)

the good

Mark Waid is giving us the kind of Superman-Batman book we’ve longed to see! The two heroes are often depicted as polar opposites, but at their core they care about the

people of the world and would do anything to keep them safe. This book showcases the bond these globally recognized crime fighters share, and we get to see so many characters from the DC Universe represented in their most iconic and traditional forms (with the exception of present-day Robin), including some of Batman and Superman’s biggest rogues and supporting characters, along with the Doom Patrol. This issue feels like a love song to the Silver Age of Superman and Batman and that is something I can absolutely get behind.

the bad

I have no idea where the modern fascination with turning Superman

evil came from or the relative ease with which supervillains are able to turn him, but I do believe it has run its course. Luckily for readers, the Red Kryptonite-induced evil Big Blue Boy Scout only lasts for a few pages and panels. This book is a fun read from start to finish but is far from the seminal work for any creator involved. Dan Mora’s work on the Once & Future series is amazing, yet doesn’t quite pack the same punch in this one. Mark Waid is certainly a device writer, but here it seems like he just used every trope imaginable for both the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. If you’re looking for a legendary and timeless piece of work, skip this book. If you’re looking for a fun book, this is for you. SCORE

8.5/10

Writer: Ryan Parrott | Artist: Abel | Colorist: Chris O’Halloran

what’s it about?

With an old foe of Marcus’ on his trail, Dylan will have to find a way to become a superhero—and fast. Can Dylan learn to control his new powers? Or is this already the end for the new Rogue Sun? (from Image Comics)

the good

There’s so much to enjoy about this series so far! The legacy of the Rogue Sun is inherited by the last person you’d imagine being a selfless protector of your city: your high school bully. The family dynamic between Dylan and his mother, his original-Rogue-Sun father, and his newly discovered half brother and sister, who are respectively jealous of and helpful to our fledgling titular hero, is extremely well written by Ryan Parrott. Likewise, the art from Abel pops off the page. Rogue Sun and Radiant Black—from another amazing Image book— are connected in what is being referred to as the Massive-verse. I’m excited to see where this series is going.

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the bad

The aspect that makes this book so interesting also makes it hard to enjoy: The main character and some of the supporting characters are genuinely unlikable. I can only imagine this is done in the name of character development, since some of them will turn to the light and embrace their inner heroism while others will lean into the darkness and emerge as potential antagonists for the Rogue Sun. It’s clear where some of these story elements are heading and Parrott is crafting an excellent arc for our main antihero, but many readers may feel like tapping out before they get to the main event. SCORE

9.5/10

Rogue Sun:Image Comics/Hulk:Marvel Comics

ROGUE SUN #2

COMIC BOOK REVIEW |

HULK: GRAND DESIGN #1 Writer: Jim Rugg | Artist: Jim Rugg | Colorist: Jim Rugg

what’s it about?

The acclaimed Grand Design franchise continues! Writer/artist Jim Rugg follows in the tradition of Ed Piskor and Tom Scioli by unfurling the full saga of The Incredible Hulk, from the very beginning to the present! Witness the biggest moments in the Hulk’s history through the eyes of a single visionary storyteller. (from Marvel Comics)

the good

Marvel’s Grand Design series is pure genius! Beginning in 2017 with

X-Men: Grand Design, each series gives a team of creators a chance to tell their version of decades’ worth of character history in their own unique way. Hulk: Grand Design continues that tradition and definitely doesn’t disappoint. Rugg’s art is perfect and his writing is succinct and insightful. Each and every page would make for an excellent poster in someone’s bedroom or in a museum right alongside Andy Warhol. Rugg is truly able to capture each decade and milestone of the Green Goliath with accuracy and intensity. I’m always drawn to “history of” books and the Grand Design series is perfect. It’s a great lesson in what makes the Hulk such an iconic character. Beyond the raging and smashing, there is a complex and compelling character that Rugg is able to showcase like no other writer or artist has.

the bad

The writing has a tendency to be a bit confusing (characters die on one page only to reappear on another). Rugg’s style takes a few pages to warm up, largely because there isn’t a clear, coherent arc throughout the issue, making it difficult to stay

connected to the characters as we progress across time and events. The real star of this book is Rugg’s art, which by and large overshadows his pen. I mentioned earlier that it’s reminiscent of Warhol. But while it’s the art that shines throughout the book, the history of the Hulk is often minimized to splash pages and pop art rather than expounding on the character himself. I found myself marveling at the art and neglecting the writing at times. SCORE

9.0/10

Nightwing:DC Comics/Star Trek:Discovery - Adventures in the 32nd Century:IDW

NIGHTWING #90 Writer: Tom Taylor | Artist: Gerardo Borges | Colorist Adriano Lucas

good thing for our female characters. Fortunately, Babs is A-okay but the joke itself is kind of tasteless. “Fridging” is the practice of killing off or hurting a minor character in order to motivate or torture a main character. It’s a tired trope that I’m sure Taylor was using in jest, but regardless is not exactly a high point for any comic writer regardless of talent and use. Other than that, the issue is damn near flawless. We even get Dick wearing an ‘80s-era DC bullet logo t-shirt.

what’s it about?

When it’s easier to go buy bagels as Nightwing than as Dick Grayson because everyone is either trying to get him for his money or kill him for the price on his head, Nightwing realizes he’ll need to enlist the help of his Teen Titan friends as his bodyguards, and the first to volunteer is of course his best friend: Wally West, aka the Flash! (from DC Comics)

the good

Wally and Dick together again! Their relationship is pure joy to read. When Wally hugs Dick upon realizing he had survived (yet another) attempt on his life, it perfectly captures everything that makes their relationship great. Nightwing has become one of my favorite books in the last few years under Tom Taylor’s guidance. This issue most definitely does not disappoint. Gerardo Borges’ art is captivating. The panel designs and execution are beyond imaginative, truly redefining how comics are presented. My son gasped at the panel where Nightwing is hit in the back of the head with a wayward

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rock. He thought Taylor was pulling a page from Injustice. Luckily, it was probably Taylor and Borges just having some laughs at our expense. This is really about assassinations and hitmen, with action and excitement, yet at its core it’s really about two friends. Definitely a win for Nightwing!

the bad

They “fridged” Barbara! Okay, you’ll have to read the full issue to get that reference, but if you’re familiar with the term “fridging,” coined by writer Gail Simone, you know it’s never a

SCORE

9.5/10

COMIC BOOK REVIEW |

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY - ADVENTURES IN THE 32ND CENTURY #1 Writer: Mike Johnson | Artist: Angel Hernandez | Colorist: JD Mettler

what’s it about?

Travel to the far future of Star Trek in this all-new miniseries spotlighting the cast of the hit television series! Up first is the secret history of the queen herself: Grudge the cat! Discover how she met Book and claimed her place as the greatest feline spacefarer of all! (from IDW Publishing)

the good

Star Trek: Discovery continues the adventures of the Star Trek universe on Paramount Plus and has been a big hit for the fledgling streaming service. The show awes longtime fans with its irreverent take on

Star Trek and movie-like special effects. Due to its success, there are now no less than five ongoing regular series set in the Star Trek universe. Currently in season 4, Star Trek: Discovery took a while to find its footing like any show, and most would agree that it started getting its own identity in season 3 with the time jump to the future. IDW is now presenting comics based on characters from the show, with the first two issues focusing on characters that might not be fully featured in the TV series. Without a doubt one of the breakout stars of the show is Grudge, the interstellar cat that belongs to Book.

the bad

The first issue of IDW‘s Star Trek: Discovery – Adventures in the 32nd Century tells us a story from the perspective of Grudge the cat—a surprisingly quirky point of view with which to start off the first issue. But it works! This book is written by Mike Johnson and drawn by Angel Hernandez. The art is what really helps sell this story as Hernandez accurately captures the nuances of the real-life actors and their

facial expressions, which is really important when adapting licensed properties. Hernandez, who is doing double duty on pencils and inks, equips all the characters’ likenesses with a softness and a relaxed brush. The story, set in the current season, is a lighthearted one; a breezy read that doesn’t demand too much from the reader, just that you enjoy the ride. I definitely recommend this series, which adds a layer of lore that the television show does not have time to focus on. Unlike most adaptations, it does justice to the source material. SCORE

8.5/10

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Writer: Cody Ziglar | Artist: Justin Mason | Colorist: Jim Charalampidis

what’s is about?

Hobie Brown is the anarchic SpiderPunk, set to protect Earth 138 with his ax in hand and his chaotic band of punk rockin’ heroes backing him! Norman Osborn is dead, but will the chaos he’s created be too much for Spider-Punk and gang to handle? Feel the vibes as Cody Ziglar (Amazing Spider-Man) and Justin Mason bring you the jams when “banned in DC” begins here! (from Marvel)

the good

Since 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, we have seen a plethora of Spider-Man clones. Spider-Punk is one of those

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clones: the Earth 138 version of Spider-Man, Hobart Brown, a teenager transformed into SpiderPunk. Previous adventures of SpiderPunk involve the demise of bad-guy President Norman Osborn. This new series aims to flesh out this universe and takes place shortly after that key moment. Going into this issue I had preconceived notions about reading another take on Spider-Man. As a longtime Spider-Man fan, I can safely say I’ve read every type of Spider-Man tale. What won me over here wasn’t necessarily the story written by Cody Ziglar and penciled and inked by Justin Mason, but that, besides Spider-Punk, it also focuses on his cohorts Captain Anarchy and Iron Heart. Together they form the Spider-Band and take on the bad guys. This issue is written in a punkrockers, it’s-us-against-the-worldtype of attitude mixed with SpiderMan featuring his usual quips.

the bad

We identify with Spider-Punk, not because we are familiar with Hobart, but only because we’ve met variations of this character many, many times before and we

are instantly at home with him. Most of the issue is spent battling the villain, Kraven, who might just be working for an even bigger villain who is revealed at the end. The story isn’t overly exciting. There’s a constant effort to beat us over the head with punk music references; the main bad guy has a super-powered guitar. I guess the forcefully injected trademarks are the only way to distinguish Hobart from Peter Parker, because their attitudes and quips in battle are very much the same. The art from Mason is incredible, with a visual style that blends Mike Allred, anime, Zip-A-Tone coloring from the 1980s, and an indie comic-style, small-case lettering. It really pops in the action scenes and, combined with the coloring, really makes the visuals jump from the page. At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss the artwork as being too cartoony, but it vibes with the overall tone and punk-ness that Spider-Punk is trying to achieve. I’m really eager to see where Ziglar and Mason take us next. SCORE

8.0/10

Spider-Punk:Marvel/Saturday Morning Adventures:IDW

SPIDER-PUNK #1

COMIC BOOK REVIEW |

SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES: G.I. JOE #1 Writer: Eric Burnham | Artist: Dan Schoening | Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

the good

what’s is about?

G.I. Joe is the code name for America‘s daring, highly trained, special mission force. Its purpose: to defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world... well, you know the story! But now, Cobra might have found their most versatile weapon yet! Can even G.I. Joe stop the Aladdin Initiative? Find out in this special Saturdaymorning send-up, based on the classic 1980s cartoon and brought to you by the superstar creative team of Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening, and Luis Antonio Delgado (Ghostbusters, Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors)! (from IDW Publishing)

I am unequivocally a child of the ‘80s! This issue is pure nostalgia. I was able to read each and every one of the characters in their 1984 television voices. The art by Dan Schoening is simple yet effectively evokes the feeling of sitting in front of the television on a Saturday morning. The action is fun, overthe-top, and sanitized—exactly what you’d expect from a comic titled “Saturday Morning Adventures.” The inclusion of a public service announcement in the style befitting the Real American Heroes is a perfect way to end the book.

the bad

As I mentioned earlier, this issue is pure nostalgia. It neither adds to nor takes away from the amazing

work that went into this issue or the legacy of work IDW has created with the G.I. Joe license, which I believe lapses at the end of the year. The biggest drawback of this book is that it’s made for a very specific audience: people like me! As much as I’d love to sing the praises of this book and tell you to pick it up, not much of what transpires within its pages will hold any weight for you unless you were born in the early ‘80s. A fun book for sure, but less than memorable. Reading this made me want to watch an episode of the show rather than wait for issue 2 of the series. SCORE

7.5/10

The Rocketeer-The Great Race:IDW/The Joneses:AWA Studios

THE ROCKETEER: THE GREAT RACE #1 Writer: Stephen Mooney | Artist: Stephen Mooney | Colorist: Len O’Grady

what’s is about?

Ace stunt pilot Cliff Secord has returned from his New York Adventure to a West Coast steeped in paranoia over the looming war in Europe. Having finally had enough of his near-death scrapes as the highflying Rocketeer, the only thing in Cliff’s crosshairs is the Great Race: a prestigious, winner-take-all air race that runs from California to France! Maybe it’s finally time to smarten up and fly straight, by taking his best girl Betty to Paris! But other parties want to win the race for their own nefarious ends, and Cliff will need to decide which prize is truly the most valuable of all. (from IDW Publishing)

the good

If you’ve been around comics for a while, you know exactly what to expect when you dive into a Rocketeer book. You want highflying adventure, Betty (Page) pin-up panels, beautiful artwork, and the good guys winning in the end? This issue finds our jet-packed hero, stunt pilot Cliff Secord, aka the Rocketeer, attempting to get out of the Nazifighting business to settle down with Betty, his girlfriend of many years.

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Yet, he can’t seem to avoid trouble or the call of daring, dangerous adventure. In this case, a Howard Hughes type tries to lure him into an airplane race. The thrill of racing and the prize money make it one that our hero finds difficult to resist. Betty is written here in a thoughtful way where she sticks up for herself and is not a one-dimensional bombshell pin-up girl. The story and art in this issue is by Stephen Mooney who admirably fills the shoes of creator Dave Stevens. The art is detailed and smooth. The story moves at a very brisk pace and doesn’t give into the temptation of revamping the character for modern times. Rather, it eschews the dark, grim outlook of today’s comics by taking us back to a simpler “aw, shucks” era. Just as the adventure is poised to start, this issue ends. Each book will have, as an extra bonus, a Dave Stevens retrospective by various comic book veterans, including Mark Evanier. I’m very much looking forward to the second issue and beyond.

the bad

Mooney’s artwork, while impressive and eye-catching, only serves as a

bitter reminder that Dave Stevens is no longer with us. Everything about this book works on many levels, from the art to the storytelling to the classic feel of it all. The best part of this comic is the retrospective that appears on the final pages which presents us with an amazing oral history of the Rocketeer, reminding us why Stevens was so amazing and how the Rocketeer has lasted so long. Considering Cliff Secord’s close personal tie to his creator, I’m skeptical of the character’s potential longevity. When Disney announced a reimagining of The Rocketeer for their Disney Junior programming, I cringed. When I saw it, I cringed harder. I’m happy to say that, although we will miss him dearly, Stevens’ legacy is in good hands with Mooney and The Great Race #1. SCORE

8.5/10

COMIC BOOK REVIEW |

THE JONESES #1 Writer: Michael Moreci | Artist: Alessandro Vitti | Colorist: Ive Svorcina

what’s is about?

Spinning out of the pages of The Resistance, The Joneses focuses on a suburban family with a big secret: In the global pandemic known as the “Great Death,” mother, father, sister, and brother were all transformed into something superhuman. While the world embraces fascism born of fear, the Joneses realize they face grave consequences if they are exposed as “Reborns.” Do they keep a low profile and hide in plain sight, or use their powers for good and risk exposure? (from AWA Studios)

the good

If I were going to recommend a non-superhero comic book to

anyone, I would direct them to studios like AWA, Aftershock, and Image, especially their output in recent years. That’s all changed with the reintroduction of superhero titles like The Joneses. If you enjoy characters like the Fantastic Four and the Incredibles, you’re in for a treat with this series. Like both sets of superhero families, the Jones family struggles to come to terms with their newfound superpowers while their suburban community and larger world is divided. The outbreak of a disease that ravaged the world and decimated its population, referred to as the “Great Death,” occurred almost simultaneously with the emergence of superpowered people known as “Reborns.” Many of the Joneses’ neighbors feel that these new supers are responsible for the pandemic and, as a result, our titular family is both feared and ostracized. It was only a matter of time before the COVID pandemic made its way into movies, music, and literature. Writer Michael Moreci handles the themes of this book, complex as they are, with style and class. This is a superhero title, but it’s also so much more.

the bad

For many readers, comics are a form of escapism and often bemoan the presence of real-world issues within their pages. For those readers, The Joneses may be a turn off. At times the dialogue can come across heavy-handed and preachy. For me, as someone who celebrates comics when they reflect the world that its creators occupy, I welcome books like this that serve as a mirror to our society. The way this it tackles topics like prejudice and the pandemic are handled brilliantly. The art is also beautiful, especially in the action sequences.

SCORE

9.0/10

SPOILER MAGAZINE

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HERE’S SOMETHING YOU ALREADY KNOW:

Superheroes and other comic book characters are everywhere these days, so it’s kind of surprising to me that very few people have actually ever read a comic book in their lives. I started asking fans of comic book movies and television why they don’t read comics as well, and have received all sorts of answers. Most were valid, some were dumb, but basically every answer involved things that could easily be alleviated by a few basic tips and explanations. So, why hasn’t anyone ever done that? I mean, you’ve got plenty of people who are interested, so why hasn’t someone educated people on how to get into comics? It’s gotta be someone within The Geekdom smart enough, funny enough, and knowledgeable enough to explain how comics work in an understandable, interesting, and hilarious way to the un-Geek masses! But who could it be?! Well, my Geeklings, I think I might know the perfect guy. *Does finger guns for an alarmingly long time* It’s me. I’m talking about me, I’ll do it. First thing’s first, I am baffled, baffled I say, at the amount of people who do not know the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel. Some of you reading this right now are saying, “Hey, Matt! I didn’t even know there was a difference between comics and graphic novels!” And to you I say, buckle up, ya sonuva b--ch, ‘cause we gon’ educate ya! The difference is very simple: Comic

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The Rocketeer-The Great Race:IDW/The Joneses:AWA Studios

BY MATTHEW McLACHLAN

books are ongoing while graphic novels are a contained story. Think of it this way: A comic book is basically a TV show in book form. They’re released in what we in the biz call “issues”; a monthly booklet of 20-ish pages worth of story, not unlike an episode of your favorite television show. Confused? Don’t be. One issue = one TV episode. And much like TV shows, comic books can go on for as long as they want. 30 issues, 300 issues, doesn’t really matter. However long the creators think it will take to tell the story. The thing that trips people up is when they hear how some superhero comics have been around for generations and are currently on issue #400+ and still going. Don’t be alarmed. Think of comics from places such

as Marvel and DC like soap operas. They can go on for years and years with many different (and sometimes ridiculous) storylines that keep the characters fresh and always on new adventures. So, if we are to keep the television metaphor going, graphic novels are like a limited series. It’s one contained story. It is literally a novel with pictures. Hence, GRAPHIC NOVEL. See? You get it. Another qualm people seem to have with comics isn’t so much the how, as it is the what. Oftentimes, I’ll get this line, “Eh. I’ve thought about getting into comics, but superheroes just really aren’t my thing.” And that’s okay! Wanna know why? Because comics can be about anything and usually are! The superhero genre is just one chunk of the comics world that just so happens to be the most popular! Imagine if you asked someone if they listened to podcasts and they said, “Eh. I’ve thought

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about it, but I don’t really like Joe Rogan.” What a shame it would be if people who loved podcasts let you go on thinking that all podcasts involved a meathead talking about MMA and aliens while stoned with Mike Tyson. I promise you, there are so many different types of comics out there, no matter what you fancy, and they’re all begging to be read! “But Maaaaatt!” I hear you shouting at the physical or digital pages of this magazine, “If I don’t know where to start and I think all comics are based on superheroes, how will I know what to read?!” Okay, first of all, stop yelling. Second, I gotchoo, my Geeklings. What I’ve done, because I’m great, is I’ve compiled a list of my favorite comic book series and graphic novels (of which you now know the difference) that have nothing to do with superheroes and that are all easy stories to pick up. You’re welcome. Here’s the list:

BY CRAIG THOMPSON (GRAPHIC NOVEL)

This graphic novel is usually the first thing I tell people to read if they are unsure about comic books because it is so beautiful, entertaining, and human. No superheroes and machismo here, folks, just a beautiful slice-of-life story that punches your heart in the stomach in the best way possible. An autobiographical tale of a young Craig Thompson’s journey through faith, family, his first love, and finding his passion for art, this graphic novel gives you all the feels while being absolutely stunning visually. It’s hard for me to sugarcoat it when talking about this book, so I’ll be completely honest with you: This is one of the most beautiful pieces of media I’ve ever experienced. I make people from all ages and walks of life read this and I am happy to say that it has also impacted them in the deepest of ways. Even a teenager I used to

babysit said that even though he knew he was too young to relate to the actual events, he looked forward to when he could reread this and connect with it on a personal level. A TEENAGER SAID THIS! This story is as beautiful as it gets with each panel feeling like its own art piece, so it’s no wonder why most people who have this as their introduction to comics develop a brand-new outlook on what the genre can be. Pick this title up and get ready for the feels.

“SEX CRIMINALS”

BY MATT FRACTION & CHIP ZDARSKY (COMIC SERIES)

This one is pretty ridiculous, but a whole lotta fun. After Suzie, a librarian, and Jon, an actor, meet at a party and sleep together, they discover that they share the ability to freeze time when they orgasm. Yup. As their relationship develops and their sexual histories are explored, they decide to rob the bank where Jon works in order to save Suzie’s endangered library. Now, I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that when you saw a list of comic recommendations, you didn’t expect there to be orgasming, timefreezing bank robbers, now did you? Or maybe you did, I don’t know your life. As bonkers as this concept is, it’s surprisingly heart-warming, human, hilarious, and the art is beautiful. june 2022|

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“MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS” BY EMIL FERRIS (GRAPHIC NOVEL)

“Y: THE LAST MAN”

BY VAUGHAN AND PIA GUERRA (COMIC SERIES)

Set in a world where every living mammal with a Y chromosome (humans, animals, even embryos and sperm) dies simultaneously except for an amateur escape artist named Yorick Brown and his pet capuchin monkey named Ampersand, this title is one of my absolute favorites. It takes the concept of “what if there were only one man on a planet full of women” and spins it into a hyper real, hilarious, heart-punching, and incredibly personal high-speed chase. And if you’re worried that the story is just women from all over the planet fawning over this guy, fear not, most of them think he’s an idiot. It’s great. With nothing but badass female lead characters, great writing, strong LGBTQ

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characters/storylines, and shining a light on the government’s views (or lack thereof) on gender equality, it’s kinda baffling that this title wasn’t one of the first comic adaptations made into a TV show. You’ve got HBO greenlighting Stephen King novels into limited series before he even finishes the damn things, why not pick something ripe for the times? (FX eventually did release a 10-episode series that was subsequently canceled.) Concluding back in 2008, this title is a quick read of only 60 issues (though sold in a set of 5 books). It’s one of the few titles you will want to own, as I find myself needing to re-read it every year or so—it’s just that good. Now go see what happens to Yorick Brown and his monkey!

This graphic novel is the perfect amount of weird, dark, and beautiful, with tons of heart throughout. Definitely one of the more serious titles on this list, the story and art are some of the best you’ll find within any graphic novel. What also makes this piece special is the personal journey the writer endured leading up to writing this. Emil Harris, who was already a working illustrator and toy designer, contracted West Nile virus at the

Y: The Last Man:Vertigo/My Favorite Thing Is Monsters:Fantagraphics/Saga:Image Comics

Heh. Sure, this title isn’t exactly the easiest one to explain to friends and family when questioned about your recent interest in comics, but that’s just something you’ll have to get used to. Some of the best nonsuperhero comics/graphic novels are totally bonkers, out there, and push the limit of what storytelling can be. Which is a perfect segue into the next titles.

age of 40 which paralyzed her from the waist down and made her lose the use of her right hand, preventing her from drawing. After going back to school for her M.F.A. in creative writing, Emil started My Favorite Thing is Monsters as a way to help her recover physically and emotionally. The graphic novel took her six years to complete, averaging a page every two days, using only a BIC ballpoint pen for the pictures and a Paper Mate felt-tip pen for the text. And on that note, I want to say to our editor, Galaxy, that I promise to never complain about anything ever again. The story itself is set in 1960s Chicago and is the fictional spiralbound diary of 10-year-old, horrorloving Karen, who draws herself as a werewolf-like monster as she attempts to solve the mysterious death of her upstairs neighbor, Anka, a holocaust survivor. As heavy and weird as this sounds, this story does something to your heart and imagination that few graphic novels and comic books are able to duplicate. This is a must for all up-and-coming Geeks in the comic world and definitely a step into the world of weird, but does so with so much heart.

“SAGA”

BY BRIAN K. VAUGHAN & FIONA STAPLES (COMIC SERIES)

The only reason this whole article isn’t just me yelling at you to read Saga is because I get paid not to. But the other reason is because as amazing as this comic is, it is weird. Like, even for comic fans it’s weird, though surprisingly easy to get into. Somehow mixing two very different genres seamlessly, Saga is what would happen if Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings had a baby but with a lot more naked bodies, murder, and people not complaining about the prequels. The comic tells the tale of husband and wife, Alana and Marko, both from longwarring extraterrestrial races who flee authorities from both sides of a galactic war as they struggle to care for their daughter, Hazel, who occasionally narrates the series as an unseen adult. Currently on hiatus, the two creators recently told fans that the hiatus indicates that they are halfway done with their story and are gathering their energy to finish the story right. So, jump on this kooky little bandwagon now, future-Geeks, and join the rest of us in seeing where this award-winning and crowd favorite ends! Now, if none of these titles tickle your fancy, then have no fear, as this brings me to my final point for getting into comics…don’t be afraid of your local comic shop, Geeks! If you don’t know what to read next or just want a recommendation, your local comic shop employee will gladly help guide you on your newly

found path through the Geekdom. A lot of people feel intimidated when approaching these lovely pillars of Geek-knowledge, but don’t be! What every Geek loves more than Geeky things is talking about Geeky things with others. Pick their brain, ask them questions, and be completely honest that you might not have any clue where to start! You can mention to them all of the suggestions I listed above, and they may completely agree or steer you towards titles more suited to your individual needs! Point is, they’re there to help. If your worst fears come to fruition and you find your local Geekspert being rude or looking down on you for not knowing comic books or graphic novels, fear not! Those types of Geeks are what we in the biz call, “assholes.” They occur in every field of employment and do not reflect the Geekdom as a whole! Just recognize that they’re an asshole and go find someone else more friendly! And there you have it! You’ve taken your first baby steps into the Geekdom! Now, please take all of this newfound knowledge, apply it at your leisure, and know that we here at SPO!LER magazine welcome you into the Geekdom with open arms. We’re here to help you grow into the most beautiful Geek you could possibly be and look forward to hearing about your journey and the exciting comics you’ve discovered along the way! Now get out there and get reading, you beautiful Geeklings! june 2022|

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SPOILER MAGAZINE

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BY TOM TORMEY

WOLVERINE GOES BY SO MANY NAMES. HIS FRIENDS CALL HIM LOGAN. His wealthy Canadian birth family called him James Howlett. To some, Wolverine is referred to as Weapon X. If you deduced that the existence of Wolverine as the tenth weapon implies that there were others before and potentially after him, you’d be correct! Wolverine is part of the Weapon Plus Program. It began in 1945 in an attempt to create an army of super-soldiers based on Project: Rebirth, giving birth to the world’s most famous super-soldier, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America. You may know a great deal about Captain America (Weapon I) and Wolverine (Weapon X), but how much do you know about the other members of the Weapon Plus Program? Let’s explore the weird, twisted, and often forgotten members!

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WEAPON I Captain America was the first successful result of the Weapon Plus Program. Unfortunately, after Dr. Abraham Erskine was murdered, attempts to replicate the success of Steve Rogers resulted in the failed and deadly secret experimentation on hundreds of African American soldiers. Only a handful survived, including Isaiah Bradley. Want to Know More? Check out 2003’s Truth: Red, White & Black by Robert Morales

WEAPON III The Program continued into the Cold War, shifting its focus to a mutant with the ability to stretch his skin: Harry Pizer. His mutant powers were greatly enhanced by the Program, but on his first mission he was sabotaged by someone in the Weapon Program and left for dead. He was later revived, skinned, and had his skin turned into sentient bullets that never missed their target. The Skinless Man was one of the weirder mutant members of the Weapon Plus Program.

WEAPON V During the Vietnam War, Nick Fury headed up the fifth Weapon Program, aka Project Venom, after a frozen alien dragon was found in a glacier. After several years and a multitude of failed symbiote supersoldiers, Weapon V came to an end when it and its soldiers came across the mass-murdering Carnage. Of course, it’ll take a lot more than one deranged symbiote to shut down a clandestine super-soldier program. Want to Know More? Check out 2019’s Absolute Carnage: Weapon Plus #1

Marvel Comics

Want to Know More? Check out 2010’s Uncanny X-Force to see Pizer return as the Skinless Man!

WEAPON II

WEAPON IV

WEAPON VI

The Weapon Plus Program continued, but shifted focus to animals resulted in the creation of some of Marvel’s most odd and obscure characters, such as Brute Force, cybernetically enhanced animal soldiers, and Wolverteeny, a squirrel with the powers of Wolverine (claws and all) and the intelligence of a human.

The Weapon Plus Program continued its experimentation with a new formula: Project Sulfur. Sulfur was designed to allow soldiers to survive even the most extreme biochemical warfare. Jackson Strode was the subject of the Project’s experimentation and resulted in Jackson becoming Man-Thing. I’m taking the high road and not making a “Giant Sized Man-Thing” joke!

Sweet Christmas! The fifth entry in the Weapon Plus Program, codenamed Project Power, is responsible for giving us the one-andonly Luke Cage. Cage’s connection to the Weapon Plus Program was, like many of the entries on this list, a retcon that only became apparent in 2019, although it was already known that Weapon VI did experiment with incarcerated minorities.

Want to Know More? Check out 2015’s Howard the Duck #1 for more Wolverteeny!

Want to Know More? Check out 2020’s Weapon Plus: World War IV #1

Want to Know More? Check out Wolverine & Captain America: Weapon Plus #1

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WEAPON IX Project Psyche, aka Weapon IX, remains, like Weapon VIII, largely mysterious. The only known member of Project Psyche is the villainous Typhoid Mary.

WEAPON VII

Want to Know More? Check out Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #525 - 529

At some point during the Vietnam War, Frank Simpson, aka Nuke, became involved with Project Homegrown, part of the Weapon Plus Program. The Weapon VII program installed cybernetic parts into Nuke and, in an effort to curb his violent tendencies, introduced and addicted him to “adrenaline pills.”

WEAPON X

Marvel Comics

The focus of the tenth entry in the Weapon Plus Program was to enhance the mutant abilities of some and force mutant transformation in others with the intention of turning them into supersoldiers. Unlike the previous Weapon Programs, Weapon X consisted of teams of Weapons rather than individual members and resulted in the creation of Hulk, Sabretooth, Deadpool, Garrison Kane, Wolverine, Maverick, and Mesmero. Want to know more? Check out 2009’s Wolverine: Weapon X which collects Marvel Comics Presents #72 – 84

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WEAPON H The newest Weapon is Clay Cortez, a soldier who was forcibly experimented on by the Weapon X program and genetically enhanced with the DNA of Wolverine and the Hulk. Weapon H appeared in his own series for a brief run before its cancellation. Want to know more? Check out 2018’s Weapon H: AWOL which collects Weapon H #1 - 6 The Weapon Plus Program churned out more Weapons as part of The World, a high-tech research facility. They are responsible for Weapons XII through XVI. Weapon XII: Huntsman. Weapon XIII: Fantomex. Weapon XIV: Stepford Cuckoos. Weapon XV: Ultimaton. And Weapon XVI: Allgod.

The exact details of the eighth entry in the Weapon Plus Program is still largely a mystery, although we do know it consists of supersoldier sleeper agents controlled by hypnosis and drugs. Want to Know More? Check out 2001’s New X-Men #145

Daken, aka Akihiro, the son of Wolverine and his Japanese wife, Itsu, is the subject of the eleventh Weapon Plus Program. Despite the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film identifying Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, as Weapon XI, the comics, which were more mysterious about the existence of the eleventh Program, identified Daken as Weapon XI during the “Dark Reign” storyline in 2009. Want to Know More? Check out 2009’s Wolverine: Origins Vol. 1 #33

Want to Know More? Check out 2002’s Wolverine: Origin (Trade Paperback)

WEAPON VIII

WEAPON XI

EVEN MORE WEAPONS

Want to know more? Check out New X-Men #130

SPOILER MAGAZINE

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BY ROBERT NAPOLITANO

If you’re ever in the mood to watch a slightly cheesy horror classic, look no further than 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer. In the late ‘90s, there was a resurgence in the slasher genre thanks to Wes Craven’s Scream (written by Kevin Williamson prior to going off to create Dawson’s Creek), but IKWYDLS (also written by Williamson) definitely helped carry the torch. It’s the type of film that delivers the jump-scares, yet gives you a few good laughs along the way. With heartthrobs like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Ryan Phillippe rounding out the cast, it’s sure to drudge up some dangerous levels of nostalgia in the process.

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I Know What You Did Last Summer/Columbia Pictures/ Scream/Miramax/Everybody Wants Some!!

10. I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (1997)

9. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (2016) Everybody Wants Some!!, which director Richard Linklater has called his “spiritual successor” to 1993’s Dazed and Confused, is a low-budget sports comedy that not nearly enough people have seen. Loaded with light-hearted college humor and classic rock cuts, the ‘80s-set nostalgia piece boasts an amazing cast whose chemistry is so good you’d think the actors themselves lived together in a dormitory. Linklater’s beautiful approach to the filmmaking allows for all these little payoffs along the way. This is a summer movie that hits all the summer trademarks: baseball, sunshine, partying, and chasing girls.

6. THE WAY, WAY BACK (2013) This is the kind of feel-good movie that makes you smile the whole way through. Liam James plays a shy and awkward teen desperate for a fatherly figure during a critical time in his youth. The contrast between his two options—Steve Carell’s overbearing stepdad and Sam Rockwell’s wisecracking boss at a water park—is what makes this film something special. Being a kid is hard. Feelings of confusion and not yet knowing who you are suck. Add to that a dad who doesn’t want you and a mom with terrible taste in men and you’re bound to be miserable. Lucky for our protagonist (and the audience), summer can be a magical time for a 14-year-old, and this film is an excellent reminder of that.

8. HOT SUMMER NIGHTS (2017)

7. JAWS (1975) A classic monster movie if there ever was one. With one of the all-time greatest taglines, “You’ll never go in the water again,” director Steven Spielberg and company struck fear in audiences before the opening credits even rolled. There hasn’t been a Jaws movie released in over 30 years (thank goodness!), but even the kids of today have heard of the 1975 classic that invented the summer blockbuster. Jaws isn’t a shark movie, it’s THE shark movie. Even on land, when we hear that two-note motif by composer John Williams, we get chills down our spines Paramount Pictures/Hot Summer Nights/A24/DirecTV/American Pie/ Jaws/Universal Studios/The Way, Way Back/20th Century Studios

Set in Cape Cod during the summer of 1991, Hot Summer Nights has a retro vibe with a 2017 freshness, which allows it to connect with today’s youth every bit as much as it does with those who experienced the ‘90s firsthand. It’s a coming-ofage film based on he-said/she-said rumors, covering the good, the bad, and the ugly of our youth, utilizing a summertime backdrop to remind us how special that time in our lives was. This is a little-seen gem that deserves more recognition.

5. AMERICAN PIE 2 (2001) Typically remembered as “the movie where that guy had sex with a pie” or “the movie that coined the term ‘milf,’” 1999’s American Pie changed the modern comedy landscape, showing that it’s okay to depict a heartfelt bond between friends while also being a raunchy, R-rated joke machine. The 2001 sequel shows how that bond evolves as we get older. It depicts the same group of friends during their summer back home after their first year of college and is garnished with an unbelievable soundtrack that still holds up. june 2022|

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4. THE SANDLOT (1993)

3. ADVENTURELAND (2009)

If you grew up in the northeastern United States or anywhere else that had a local amusement park that served as a inevitable summer hangout, then Adventureland is sure to resonate. If not, then you owe it to yourself to watch this movie. It captures the ethos of those few years after high school, but before you’re really a full-grown adult, and how what seemed to suck back then actually helped create some of your best memories. Of course, for Jesse Eisenberg’s character, James, he doesn’t have the benefit of hindsight. Featuring a great cast that also includes Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, and Bill Hader, Adventureland soars on finding a broad appeal through its specificity.

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2. STAND BY ME (1986)

“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12.” Perhaps the paradigm of coming-ofage films, Stand By Me focuses on a point in our adolescence where, for the first time, adulthood suddenly feels within reach. You think you’ve got it figured out, you’re ready to grow up and move on to high school. But then, like in the case of the four boys in this movie, something as serious as death changes your perspective on everything. Stand By Me strikes more of a unique emotional chord than your typical nostalgia trip, but considering it’s based on a Stephen King book, you shouldn’t expect anything less.

1. DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993)

Featuring the likes of Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, and Jason London, among others, Dazed and Confused has easily one of the most amazing before-they-were-famous young casts ever assembled. Taking place during the last day of school in 1976, this Richard Linklater classic appeals to all generations and individuals. Whether you’re the jock, the nerd, the mean girl, the burnout, or any other stereotype that was once assigned to you, there’s a character to relate to. Throw in one of the best soundtracks of all time and you get one iconic summer movie.

The Sandlot/20th Century Studios/Adventureland/Miramax/Dazed and Confused/Gramercy/Stand By Me/Columbia Pictures

Remember being a kid in the summer, and the first thing you wanted to do when you woke up was go out and be with your friends? Whether it’s playing sports, going to the beach, or just doing nothing whatsoever, when you’re 12 years old, you live for those understated experiences. That’s what The Sandlot is all about. It doesn’t matter if you were a kid in the ‘60s (when the movie takes place), the ‘90s (when it came out), or now, this film is relatable on all levels. It’s about way more than baseball, but the birth of memories. And it hits home faster than Benny the Jet.

Meet your new sidekick gita is a first-of-its-kind hands-free robot that follows you and totes your gear.

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By: Ethan Brehm

Many of us went to summer camp as a kid.

For some, it was the highlight of your childhood, but for others, it was more of a question about why our parents wanted us out of the house so badly. Camp has been wellrepresented in cinema for decades, but really started to take off in the late ‘70s, popularized by the 1979 Bill Murray vehicle Meatballs (emphasizing the highlights of camp), and in the horror genre with Friday the 13th the very next year (emphasizing perhaps some people’s disdain for camp), branding the nostalgic setting as either a comedy or a slasher, with very little deviation, other than a few exceptions. And we honestly don’t mind, because good camp movies aren’t necessarily about cinematic quality, rather how well they exude the ethos of a formative time in our lives. There have been some great (and not so great) summer camp movies over the years, but here we’ll pick out some of our favorites.

Meatballs (1979)

It definitely didn’t invent the summer camp sub-genre, but Meatballs sure helped form the blueprint. Responsible for the summer camp craze of the 1980s, the film seems to be all-subplot, with most of the focus on showcasing life at camp while relying on Murray’s ad-lib in the process. If he weren’t cast in the lead role, we probably wouldn’t be talking much about this movie today. Early Bill Murray performances didn’t see the SNL alum grounded in reality often. Yet somehow his first significant role as head counselor Tripper saw him at his most down-to-earth for years to come. What sets this Canadian film apart from the countless that followed in

its footsteps is how it values sentiment, not only regarding the nostalgia that camp and the awkwardness of childhood will undoubtedly evoke years ahead, but in the way it approaches fond memories in general. Tripper’s Camp North Star doesn’t have the money of their cross-lake rival, Camp Mohawk, but the memories are just the same, if not more valuable. Especially at a young age, winning and losing doesn’t matter as much as personal and moral victories, which is what Meatballs is really all about.

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Sleepaway Camp (1983) Friday the 13th (1980)

Meatballs/Paramount Pictures/Friday the 13th/Warner Bros./Sleepaway Camp/United Film Distribution Company/Meatballs Part II/TriStar Pictures

The horror movie/franchise that’s become synonymous with the slasher genre, Friday the 13th tells tales about a boy, Jason, who drowned in Camp Crystal Lake years ago after going unsupervised by sexcrazed counselors. The first in the series is a little raw compared to later installments, but features one heck of an ending—and Kevin Bacon. Also, there’s a live snake killed on camera. If you’re new to the series, the quality of the movies mostly ranges from pretty bad to just about average, but the films have definitely earned their cult status due to their gratuitous schlock that came to define the slasher sub-genre in the ‘80s, as well as the vast differences within the story lines between each installment. Perhaps the most notable film in the canon is Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, which focuses the most on the camp aspect, itself, and actually features campers for once, rather than revolving only on the counselors off-season. If you’re not as crazy about the later chapters of this series, trust me, you should at least stick it out until number six.

If Friday the 13th popularized the summer camp setting for slashers, Sleepaway Camp upended the whole ordeal. While carrying out the kills in basically the same manner as its contemporaries— albeit with more dead space and a dip in suspense—this film has one of the best WTF horror twists of all time, which, along with its wicked sense of humor, helps set it apart from the pack. It feels like the entire movie was written around a great idea for an ending and built backwards from there. Nonetheless, if you’re a fan of slashers, you have to check out Sleepaway Camp for the finale alone.

Meatballs Part II (1984)

The sequel to the groundbreaking 1979 film is worth a mention just because it’s so different than its predecessor. Meatballs Part II doesn’t simply copy-and-paste what worked so well from the first film—mostly because it knows it can’t. There’s no Bill Murray, so the talent is spread throughout the whole cast rather than relying on just one guy. This movie gets a bad rap because it’s nothing like the original, but honestly that’s what makes it so good. The summer camp welcomes newcomer counselor, Flash (John Mengatti), a felon who’s required to fulfill community service hours. There’s a side plot with an alien Muppet character who has to disguise himself as a real kid for the entire summer and it’s totally uncalled-for and amazing. A pre-PeeWee’s Big Adventure Paul Reubens and a pre-Night Court John Larroquette are featured in ancillary roles. Neither actor can replace Murray, but are just as important to the comedic success of the movie—one that utilizes more subtle humor over broad slapstick. Don’t believe the negative press on this one and just go watch it for yourself.

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Poison Ivy (1985)

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Summer Camp Nightmare (1987) It sounds like it’s a horror film, but Summer Camp Nightmare is a political thriller with a summer camp backdrop, featuring some of the most realistic depictions of camp in regards to playful hijinks. However, in one moment the campers and counselors are engaged in harmless antics, when the next they’re dealing with some pretty heavy issues. The film takes the Lord of the Flies foundation and applies it to a group of kids who don’t like the philosophies of their counselors, so they decide to revolt and take over camp themselves. Led by a militant teenager, Franklin

(Charlie Stratton), the junior counselors and campers rise up against Mr. Warren (Chuck Conners), a holy roller director who enforces certain rules at the all-boys camp to keep everything appropriate, with the youngsters feeling like he’s robbing them of the “true camp experience.” As Franklin takes over, we see that an uprising isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, as he begins utilizing some of the same strategies Mr. Warren once wielded, but with different philosophies at their core. This forces him to ask himself, “Was it Mr. Warren’s tactics I had a problem with or the beliefs behind them?” There’s corruption, manipulation, and hunger for control on both sides; both maintaining strong individual philosophies. For one side, those philosophies are grounded in ethics, and for the other, they’re grounded in freedoms and pleasures. Director Bert L. Dragin leaves it up to us to decide who’s right and wrong in this allegory, recognizing that the answer may not be that obvious.

Poison Ivy/Camp Cucamonga/N BCUniversal/ Summer Camp Nightmare/New Concorde

Most of the movies on this list have some sort of gimmick, but what makes Poison Ivy so enjoyable is how well it works without one. Focusing more on the bonds we form at summer camp, NBC’s made-for-TV production features two of its own ‘80s stars: Nancy McKeon from The Facts of Life and Michael J. Fox from Family Ties. Fox would soon go on to star in Back to the Future and Teen Wolf later that year, but first TV audiences got to see the two beloved characters lock lips prior to the latter’s fame launching into the stratosphere. Fox plays a counselor/ladies man who falls for McKeon, who plays the camp’s nurse. She’s engaged, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to win her heart. The story also follows a group of 11-year-old bunkmates who begin the summer at odds, each struggling with his own personal insecurities, but growing to care about one another with the guidance of Fox, who changes over the course of the movie as well. Sounds sappy, but for anyone who grew up at camp, these are the sentiments we’ve held on to all these years later and the reasons why we love summer camp movies. Poison Ivy achieves the simplicity of the formula better than most of its peers, doing so with an organic development.

Most of the movies on this list have some sort of gimmick, but what makes Poison Ivy so enjoyable is how well it works without one.

Camp Cucamonga (1990)

There aren’t enough summer camp movies about the actual campers themselves, perhaps due to the lack of selection of good kid actors. This one fixes that issue by collecting already-proven talent. If you’re a fan of late ‘80s/’90s shameless nostalgia, look no further than Camp Cucamonga. Literally everybody who was attached to any TV show from that era (and others) is in this movie—at least it sure feels like it. Featuring the talents of Jaleel White (Family Matters), Candice Cameron (Full House), Danica McKellar and Josh Saviano (The Wonder Years), Sherman Hemsley (The Jeffersons), John Ratzenberger (Cheers), Brian Robbins (Head of the Class), Jennifer Aniston (Friends and literally everything), and a few others, this film feels like a fever dream (and that’s regardless of the Young MC knock-off music video randomly thrown in), but then you also wonder

how you’ve never even heard of it before. The made-for-TV movie revolves around the social hierarchy of camp. Just like high school, there’s a class system here as well. Camp Cucamonga smartly shows all different sides of summer camp, because camp is more than just the kids and more than just the counselors—it’s the whole community. The film is a little dated, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.

[G]ood camp movies aren't necessarily about cinematic quality, but how well they exude the ethos of a formative time in our lives.

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Addams Family Values (1993)

The longer you watch Addams Family Values, the more it begins to feel like a masterclass in subversive humor and well-placed campiness.

Addams Family Values/Paramount Pictures/ Camp Nowhere/Heavyweights/Disney

A sequel to the 1991 comedy, Addams Family Values is superior in almost every way. Summer camp doesn’t take up the whole plot, but over the years, the outdoorsy setting has seemed to overshadow everything else that goes on in this movie. And for good reason. When their parents have a new baby, Wednesday and Pugsley are sent to a sleepaway camp full of rich blonde kids. Instantly outcast as weirdos, the drab Addams children decide to sabotage everything this establishment holds dear. Juxtaposing the Addams’ macabre and anarchic lifestyle with the perky upper-middle class being satirized here, the film doesn’t play its themes close to the vest. The comedy is carried by a deluge of clever puns, the franchise’s trademarked sardonic tone, and a cast, which, from top to bottom, is up there with some of the best in comedy history, stepping up their game from the previous installment with the inclusion of Joan Cusack as the black widow antagonist and David Krumholtz as Wednesday’s love interest. The longer you watch Addams Family Values, the more it begins to feel like a masterclass in subversive humor and well-placed campiness.

Heavyweights (1995)

Camp Nowhere (1994)

How much more ‘90s can you get than a movie about a summer camp run by kids? Being forced to attend camp by his parents, a boy named Mud invents his own realisticlooking camp with the help of his friends. Christopher Lloyd plays the town weirdo who acts as the camp’s director, assisting the kids in making the con look more believable. This is probably one of the only times where 14-year-olds are actually played by 14-year-olds, rather than twenty-somethings, but still, Camp Nowhere might have some trouble finding its audience, being caught between PG and PG-13 land. Similar to Home Alone, the movie presents unrealistic scenarios in a realistic way, tapping into that pie-in-the-sky outlook we, too, had as kids—kids who could watch a movie like this and, for 90 minutes, dream about how great this situation might actually be. And watching Camp Nowhere as an adult who misses his ‘90s childhood makes me wistful about having that very same mindset at that point in my life. It’s a nice place to escape to.

And watching Camp Nowhere as an adult who misses his '90s childhood makes me wistful about having that very same mindset at that point in my life. It's a nice place to escape to.

Ten years before his screenwriting (and directorial) debut in 2005 with The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Judd Apatow wrote the script for a children’s summer camp movie called Heavyweights. Working exclusively in television at the time, Apatow was new to the feature film world, showing some raw skills, but the potential was definitely there. Ben Stiller plays the owner of a fat camp where he spends every waking moment verbally abusing and starving the kids. Stiller acts strangely similar to his role as White Goodman in Dodgeball nearly a decade later, but this is where the actor first started showcasing his highly-idiosyncratic character skills. Heavyweights really speaks to those who feel like they’re looked down on in society because of their weight, especially kids—an intent that cannot be overstated. The relatable theme about finding your confidence in a world that doesn’t want you to win should be at the core of more tween movies, and given the satisfying conclusion that Apatow and company honor it with here.

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Dune:Warner Bros., HBO Max/Bridgerton:Netflix

BY JOSHUA AMBAR

WHETHER IT’S 10,000 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE OR BACK TO THE 1800s, all it takes is a little bit of culture to bring characters to life through the outfits they flaunt and the costumes they go to war in. Designers have to be creative to ensure that their sartorial work fits the style of the project they’re working on and the direction they’re provided with from the writers and directors. And so, what better source of inspiration than our very own ancient history and the vibrant cultures that surround us? Jacqueline West, costume designer for last year’s Dune, told Vanity Fair that she chose to encode the outfits for the affluent characters with a byzantine look for Denis Villeneuve’s epic. By mixing both sci-fi and ancient elements, West helped create the sense of otherworldliness that took audiences out of the theater and into the

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movie itself. Several plotlines were based on actual history, such as the Spacing Guild Navigators that were inspired by the Avignon Papacy from the 1200s, giving West the idea to follow a more primitive motif for her costumes. “I would go to the medieval world and imagine what it would look like in the future. Dune is about a world starting over,” explained West. “I thought, what better than to pull from the distant past for 10,000 years in the future? Denis [who directed and co-wrote the script] loved that concept.” She used historical and artistic expressions such as Giotto, Goya, and Caravaggio to help guide her futuristic medieval vision. She even drew inspiration from David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia to understand desert clothing and how entire

lifestyles were based around desert survival. On the world of Caladan, House Atreides is led by Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) who leaves for the spice planet of Arrakis. This is the end of the House’s empire in the movie, so West decided to base their costumes on the real-life Romanovs who were the last Russian royals prior to abstaining their throne to the communist revolution led by Vladimir Lenin. Likewise, the family from the film had everything taken away from them as well. “They had a simplicity about them that was regal, but simple,” said West. For Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), West based her costume around a Bedouin (a nomadic Arab tribe) since the setting of Arrakis is very Middle Eastern in its landscape. She decided to use this angle to

make the character very mysterious, while also giving her some power. This desert theme continued in multiple outfits for Lady Jessica, such as a white dress with a deep V that took influence from Moroccan and North African ethos. Sophie Canale, costumer designer for the Netflix hit Bridgerton, shared with the A.V. Club that she was excited to show off the fashion sense of the Sharma family who arrived in Regency-era London from Bombay, India. “It was nice to be able to push the Sharmas forward,” Canale revealed. “We had lots of discussions about how their gowns—the embroidery, patterns, embellishments—need to be an amalgamation of Indian heritage with them now being part of the ton.” When it came to dressmaking, Canale and her team created keyhole cuts in tulip sleeve dresses, which connect both the Indian and British heritages of the family. When they had the chance, the designers would move the Regency-era slits in the skirts to the side to give it a sari-like design. To really ensure the Indian look was nailed down, Canale received help from Poonam Thanki who was part of the jewelry team. Thanki constantly brought new ideas to the design room and, together with Canale, wanted to make sure that the jewelry had Indian notes as well. All the flowers, hairpins, and

decorations matched the Sharmas’ dresses. These accessories also found themselves to be adorned with sparkly motifs, sequins, and floral designs. The women from the Bridgerton family wear shades of white or pastels, as each house as its own look, but Canale wanted to make sure that the Sharmas had their own aesthetic. A lot of Kate Sharma’s gowns are blues and purples, which stand out during the ball scenes, but also because South Asian women usually dress in drabber colors. The designer explored UK-based Indian communities for reference and shopped for fabrics in Southall, where a large South Asian population resides in London. “I’ve traveled to India,” Canale adds, “as has my assistant designer. I think it was important to have the experience of visiting the textile mills.”

A great costume can take you to a specific time and place, but only if the right inspiration strikes.

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INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

the news and social media. However, those who understand these newfangled virtual gizmos seem to be few and far between. Everyone else is either curious, if not apprehensive, or inexplicably averse to their existence. We, of course, have been big advocates for the non-fungible token for some time now, and can’t wait for the rest of the world to unlock their potential. Then there are people such as Neil Stevenson Moore, someone who wants to help you unlock that potential. His company House of Kibaa is a 3D and NFT design studio—a production company of sorts—partnering with creators and artists to make amazing assets for selling on the virtual marketplace. Neil and his team have just launched the very first live-action NFT project, GenZeroes, a series of micro-shorts that follows a group of postapocalyptic survivors 200 years into the future. The talented creatives behind this endeavor hope to find success in this burgeoning industry and show people that NFTs are not only extremely beneficial to everyone, but the inevitable way of the future.

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Neil Stevenson Moore:Natalia Anja

OVER THE PAST YEAR, NFTs HAVE BEEN EVERYWHERE, DOMINATING

interview interview

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SPOILER: Neil, what is an NFT? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: So instead of going into the big conversation about what fungibility is and whatnot, an NFT is the future of IP protection for artists. That’s what it is. It is the future. For digital artists, musicians, filmmakers, anyone that produces something in a digital format, this is the future for their IP protection. The second thing, it’s a way for communities to get involved in several different ways, such as collectibles, like you see it with NBA Top Shot and trading cards or unique pieces. And then it’s really the future that’s gonna bring people into the metaverse that Mr. Zuckerberg keeps talking about. But essentially, it’s about IP protection for artists and a way for them to connect with their communities. SPOILER: So you’re creating a project through your brand House of Kibaa that’s basically the first ever live-action NFT series called GenZeroes. What is GenZeroes? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: GenZeroes is the evolution of a project that did make some money called GenX. And it is, as you said, the first live-action series. There’s a community in the NFT world that is passionate about technology. They’re passionate about pushing the envelope and they supported us as we rolled out the GenXs. The GenXs—and if you want, you can go check them out on our website at GenZeroes.com—were 10,000 artist renditions of robots. And these robots were imagined by artists that work at Marvel and Star Wars, on things like The Mandalorian, and each of these 10,000 stemmed from these 10 factions, these 10 factions that were splintered to create those 10,000 pieces. So what GenZeroes is, it’s a story of these 10 factions told by live-action with some incredible actors attached to it. I can’t share everyone yet. There’s more coming. Our first actor was Aleks Paunovic, who people probably recently saw in Marvel’s Hawkeye as one of the lead villains and he’s been on Netflix’s Snowpiercer. [We saw that] the NFT community was super passionate about our project there, and there’s a lot of ways to make money with it. But we wanted to bring in an adjacent

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community. When we looked at another set of people that are really into pushing the boundaries, getting passionate about projects, we saw the sci-fi community. And a lot of people may or may not know that House of Kibaa is based in Vancouver. And Vancouver is a massive hotbed for the sci-fi world. X-Files is from here, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, Continuum. So there’s a ton of sci-fi actors here that are joining our project to make it something pretty special. SPOILER: The traditional way to raise funds online are these crowdfunding sites. But with NFTs, it’s a similar model, but more futuristic. Do you think those two sections will be in competition? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: I think it’s gonna be the evolution of the crowdfunding sites. I think that with these crowdfunding sites, one of the problems is, okay, I give you a hundred bucks for your movie, but that’s all I get. You know, I get maybe a t-shirt, right? But what the NFTs allow us to do is whenever somebody buys one of the GenZeroes NFTs, they get value, and that value can depend on which NFT they get. So, for example, when we release the episodes, if you buy an episode NFT, you actually get fractional ownership in the entire series. So, our roadmap for this is we’re already talking with the three big distributors. If this gets picked up, you actually not only benefit and get behind the scenes looks and special wearables for the metaverse, but you can also get a cut of whatever we do in licensing or sales for the project. So it’s a way for the community to support projects that they really believe in, and not just do it in a way where they throw a bit of money and say, “Hey, I hope you do well,” but it’s a way for the community to make some money out of it as well. SPOILER: What is the storyline of GenZeroes? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: The world gets attacked by aliens. And these aliens, when they come, they’re like Vikings, they haven’t come to eliminate us. They haven’t come with technology that is so much stronger they wipe us out. They’re Vikings that come, they steal our stuff, they take

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our resources, and then they leave. The world is left in ash. We’ve lost a significant amount of our population and we need to rebuild. So humans do what humans do well in times of trouble: We come together, we work together, we start using some of the technology that we took from the aliens that we killed and we reverse engineer it. And we’re working together as a world to rebuild, and be ready if the aliens ever come back. The problem is, 100, 150 years go by and the aliens haven’t returned. So here we find ourselves 200 years on from when they attacked us, and humans have done what humans do at our worst: We’ve splintered into 10 factions. We all have different beliefs. It’s kind of like thinking of Game of Thrones, just set 200 years in the future. So, the series will introduce one faction in each episode, and the faction leaders will take you kind of into their ideology and talk about what they believe. And of course, there’s the palace intrigue between the different factions on who’s working together and who’s kind of undercutting each other. So, it’s really about the political battle between these 10 factions. SPOILER: How can people watch it? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: One thing I should make clear as well, the first four episodes, they’re only about four to eight minutes each. It’s really just that first taste of the story. The next six will be a little bit longer. They can come to our website and watch the first four. You do have to have an NFT to watch them, but you don’t necessarily have to buy one. What I mean by that is we’re working on giveaways. People should go to our website, put their email in, and when they get these giveaways, they may just get one of our common NFTs, or they may get one of the rare ones, which will have not only monetary value, but extra value, like being able to get real-world props or signed photographs, or a trip to Comic Con when we air the final. But the vision for this project is once the community has participated and

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Dan Payne:David Tenniswood

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been part of it from the start, the goal is that we will license this to one of the major producers and they’ll be able to watch it on whoever picks it up. So one of the big guys. The exciting part for the fans of some of the incredible writers we’re working with, the artists, the actors, is that they kind of get to be on the side of investor, producer that they would never otherwise get the chance to do. There are so many projects out there that studios put money behind and they have to test them and see what happens, and it’s never really fan-driven. And what ours allows the community to do is, yeah, come see these first four episodes, participate in the NFT project, get some value, but if it takes off, the rarity is going to push that up. Our vision is that this will become a full series with hour long episodes that really is similar to a

Game of Thrones but just set in the future. SPOILER: So it starts in 2022 initially and then jumps to 2222. NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: Yeah. We couldn’t really resist the 2222. We know two things. One, that the NFT community hates when Hollywood or celebrities try to come in and just make money off of them. As you said off the top, the NFT community is in the cultural conversation right now, it’s hot, there’s a lot of money to be made, but the NFT community hates if a celebrity just pumps out a project to try to grab cash. So we knew we couldn’t do that. And on the other side, the sci-fi community, as I said, we have a ton of respect for. So, we couldn’t just try to say we’re gonna do this NFT project and shove it down sci-fi’s throat. We had to make sure that we did both

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Neil Stevenson Moore:Natalia Anja

and the story that’s coming out of it, I think are really gonna show that.

sides in an authentic way. We’re not gonna be using NFTs just to kind of nickel and dime and try to make money. It’s all about actually providing great utility. So the NFT community is already getting behind us there. And then more importantly, we knew we had to make a great, great show. And that’s why we went out and hired the writers from Van Helsing, Matt [Venables] and Jeremy [Smith]. I mean, they just sold a script for seven figures to another department. Like, these guys are incredible writers, and the story itself, people are gonna be blown away by. Some of the actors who read the script got so excited by the script that they jumped on. These are people that we never thought we would get, people that are taking pay cuts to be part of the project because they see an exciting story and a longevity to it. So those will all be kinda getting announced in the next couple weeks as we finalize their contracts. But the project is moving quickly. And it’s a chance for people to get on a train that’s going fast.

sold technology companies, but the biggest thing I’ve learned about all these pieces is you need to have the right people in the right seats. So, the first thing we did was we made sure we hired the right people to do it. After Matt and Jeremy came Aleks. I mean, you can’t get a better person to be involved. And not only that, but he’s also built a reputation in the industry of being an honest actor. Someone that people wanna work with, he’s humble, he comes to set every day and puts in a huge effort. He’s prepared. So when he reached out to people in this executive producer role, it really spoke volumes. And my job is just to make sure to get outta the way and let these guys make a great show. Make sure they have all the tools they need, that we’re setting things up to complement each other. And with the team that we put around it

SPOILER: Where do you see this going next? Do you see a lot of people following in your footsteps? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: I do. I mean, we’ve already got another six projects that people have brought to us that are pretty incredible, from big name comic book IPs. As I said, NFTs are about protecting and celebrating artists, and the comic book artists often get overlooked, but to be able to release things on NFTs and bring it out in the right way and celebrate them with projects that are interactive and let the community get involved, is huge. So I see this being the first, I see many coming after. We’ve had phone calls from some really exciting funding opportunities as well. There’s no shortage of excitement around it. And we just need to make sure that we spearhead the community with an exciting, great project. The sci-fi community is loyal. I’m a huge sci-fi fan myself. That’s why we leaned into this. There’s a reason we’re gonna be bringing this to Comic Con this year in July. And we’re hoping that they’ll grant us a panel. We’ve been conversing with them, but nothing is sorted out yet. We’re so excited and we couldn’t be happier than to be the standard-bearer for the NFT sci-fi community. SPOILER: How long did it take you to create the GenZeroes universe? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: The GenXs that we dropped in October, we already have a really passionate

SPOILER: Is this your first NFT project, at least in entertainment? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: I’ll be the first to admit this is my first foray into Hollywood and television. My background is technology, I’ve been in the startup world. I’ve built and

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community there that got excited about it, but then immediately we went to work. We got Matt and Jeremy involved. It took us three months to really develop the story. It’s such an exciting story to tell. The world that has just been ravaged by, essentially, a virus. I think people could understand what that’s like. And we drew a lot of things from reality. So that came together quickly. We were in the boardroom talking about who we would like to get. And there was one actor that we’re like, “Oh my God, he’d be incredible.” Aleks literally got on the phone and he goes, “Oh, I think I’ve got a connection to him.” He texts him, and we’re like, “Let’s just see what happens. Maybe we’ll hear back from him the next couple days.” We get a phone call from that guy, and 30 minutes later, he’s on the call. We pitched him the story. He jumped on board, and I was blown away. We’ll be announcing that in like two weeks after we finalize the contract. So that happened. I was blown away by Aleks. And then we’re sitting there two days later working on some of the other cast and crew that we want to go after. And then the actor calls, all of a sudden, we look at the phone and my heart kind

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of sank. I thought he [changed his mind]. But no, he literally had read the script and he wanted to know more about the backstory and his character, and he had ideas, he was so excited by the quality of the story that he just wanted to comment and get ready for it. And it just gave me so much confidence that every one of the actors we’ve gone to has said yes. And we’re picking from some incredible sci-fi names that your fans are all gonna recognize. And they’re favorites at Comic Con. So, it’s pretty exciting. And the excitement’s growing. I mean, after we announced the live series, people can buy the NFTs on opensea.com. And the price just started growing, because people know that when people like Alex, Jeremy, and Matt get involved, that it’s a real project. We’re not just trying to blow smoke here. It’s pretty exciting to see the community get behind it. SPOILER: There’s also something called The Art of Future Living. What’s that about? NEIL STEVENSON MOORE: House of Kibaa kind of has three prongs. We partnered with, for example, the Bored Apes. We’ve just announced a huge collaboration with Hapebeast,

who is one of the leaders in the community. And the reason that we’re able to track so many people is Jason, our founder, has built integrity and authenticity around House of Kibaa by sharing his vision for what we want to be, how we want to be creator and artist driven. So The Art of Future Living, we’re actually rolling out our own metaverse. We kind of see ourselves as the Rebel Alliance. As people like Facebook and some of these other guys that have a lot of money are building these big metaverses, we’ve been working with people at the Bored Ape Yacht Club and other groups that are well funded, but coming together to build a new metaverse that is built in what’s called Unreal Engine 5, which is hyper realistic and is gonna allow people to have their own place in the metaverse that isn’t boxy or cartoony. It’s gonna be really, really special. We’re working with real-world artists that are coming into the metaverse in unique ways that are super engaging. And even the projects that we’re doing around sci-fi. Imagine watching an episode and then someone is killed in a room, and you’re able to walk into that room in the metaverse and explore it for clues and just completely engage with it differently. Some of the projects are gonna give fans a whole new level of entertainment. That’s really, really exciting. We believe in community, we believe in partnerships. So getting the right people there is exciting. Yeah, the galleries did really well. We dropped them to our community and they were selling for thousands of dollars. Later that afternoon, one guy sent us a thank you, because it paid off his rent for the last three months. The metaverse that we’re building, it’s gotta code name: Project Origin. That won’t be the name it’s released under, but some of the talent we have joining us is just exciting. I’ve been blown away every day.

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By Matthew McLachlan

THERE ARE AN ENDLESS NUMBER OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE LOVE SUPERHEROES.

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is, how there’s nothing wrong with showing these incredible heroes at their peak, and why limiting them for conflict’s sake is a bad idea. Sure, heroes lose their powers, struggle to keep them, or fight inner demons about using said powers all the time, and overcoming those hurdles can be an interesting story arc. However, more often than not, I find heroes in their own TV shows being put into crazy situations, ripe for power-using, only to have them just not use their powers for some reason. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched one of these series and said, out loud,

The Flash/Supergirl/Legends of Tomorrow/Batwoman/Arrow/Teen Titans/DC/The CW/Warner Bros./The Umbrella Academy

Two of the most obvious are the fact that they are super and/or heroes. So, when creating great super-hero content, having those two aspects be an essential part tends to be a no-brainer. However, in the superhero genre of film and television these days, there seems to be a growing trend in which the main conflict of the story involves our beloved hero/ heroes not being super or heroes. Instead, writers tend to focus more on other aspects of the story that rank much lower on the list of what we as fans find exciting about these characters. So, this is my rant about why that

“Just use your powers!” A similar aspect appears in superhero team-ups, in which, what usually transpires is bickering amongst the group for 90% or more of the show with the team only fighting together once or twice over 8 to 10 episodes. The Defenders on Netflix had six and a half hours of show and they fought together twice. The Umbrella Academy had two seasons and they only fought together once per season, and the second one was a “gotcha” moment where it didn’t technically happen. Now, I get that writers want to grow their characters, introduce other characters, and develop the plot all to have our heroes get their big show-stopping moment at the very end, but when a superpowered individual waits to use his or her super-powers, it often goes against the logic of the very character people are tuning in to watch. Sure, lying on your bed in the cold with nothing covering you to eventually have your blanket thrown on top feels really

The Defenders/Marvel/Netflix (Previous Spread)

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warm after having been freezing cold for a bit, but you know what feels even better? Having the warm blanket on top and feeling comfortable and cozy the entire time. You see what my sloppy metaphor is trying to get at here? We can enjoy what makes our heroes great without taking away the greatness in the first place. We just need the right set of circumstances to allow what already makes them great work even better. With all that being said, my intention here is not to be a Negative Neckbeard and just spout what’s wrong, I’ve got some suggestions that may help—ya know, to all the showrunners and head writers who, for some reason, don’t automatically hate me and randomly decide to heed my advice that they definitely didn’t ask for. Instead of taking away from our heroes or holding them back in some way in order to create conflict, why not add on? How badass would it be for our hero/heroes to be at their full

conflict after conflict, with most everyone at their full potential, which I believe is a major aspect as to why this film is the best in the franchise—the four-thousand heroes fighting together at the end being another one. See, working together! And look, I know that putting together a TV show or film, especially one in the superhero genre, is incredibly difficult. I’m not trying to crap on anyone in particular, I just know that a lot of fans would love to see their favorite heroes at their full potential and being the characters they know and love with their powers amped up to 11. We watch these heroes because we love what they do and how they do it. So, instead of them always being knocked down a peg, being morally conflicted, or just not using their powers for no reason at all, let’s have our heroes encounter conflict and succeed despite being at their full potential, showing everyone why they’re called super-heroes.

potential, using their powers, being at full superhero, and that still not be enough? That’s one of the main reasons Batman is so great. He is almost always at his peak, being the best that he can be in every way, yet he faces foes that challenge him, making him adapt his methods, think differently, and work in completely new ways in order to defeat said foe. And isn’t watching a hero struggle at their full potential infinitely more interesting than watching them kinda be a hero and barely get by? Look at the first Avengers movie versus Endgame. The first one had them bickering up until the last act. Most people I know skip to the last 20 minutes to watch them fight together. Now, Endgame has them working together throughout, facing june 2022|

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