The Dungeon of Black Company, a relatively new manga series is getting its own anime adaptation. The manga will end with five compiled volumes released. Still, fans of this story have some excitement ahead. On the heels of the manga’s finale came an announcement that the series will get an anime series adaptation. However, the details are scarce, but a new anime is never a bad thing, especially one that seems so intriguing. 

What Dungeon Of Black Company Is All About

Image via Seven Seas Entertainment.

The Dungeon of Black Company is the English title of the manga which came out in 2016. The original Japanese title of the manga is Meikyu Black Company, written by Yohei Yasamura. After four years, the manga’s story will end on July 10 with Chapter 30 of the series. However, the author later confirmed on Twitter that it’s not actually the end. So there could definitely be a lot more content for the anime to build on than what’s included in the manga. Rather than a straight-up adaptation, it could be a sequel series, sort of like how HBO’s Watchmen is a sequel to the comic of the same name. 

The Dungeon of Black Company is about a lazy protagonist who ends up in a fantasy world. Usually, these kinds of stories feature someone who becomes a hero through their adventures in a new world, but this is different. The protagonist is a slacker, now forced to work in a back-breaking mine upon his arrival into the new world. Ultimately, how this forced servitude changes him, possibly for the better, is the premise of the story. 

The Dungeon Of Black Company Anime Is An Isekai

The story of the manga is in the isekai genre which directly translated means “different world”. So this genre of storytelling is about characters who accidentally travel from one place to the other and embark on adventures. The travelling is most often from a contemporary setting into past or fantasy worlds. As a result, the adventures consist of this modern-day character in a setting and world foreign to them, and the crazy situations they get into. The stories can range from being dramatic tales that take place in a period setting, or completely fantastical with magic and demons. Some of the most famous isekai are titles like Inuyasha and Digimon, for example.

Very Little Details About The Anime Adaptation

『迷宮ブラックカンパニー』TVアニメ化決定

こちらを記念した特設サイトでは、期間限定での１巻無料公開に加えて安村洋平先生からメッセージ付きお祝いイラストも到着！
大人気の異世界×ブラック企業ファンタジー、この機会に是非

▼詳細はコチラhttps://t.co/67CX6UOjkt pic.twitter.com/xaFQYM31Zn

— マグコミ＆コミックガーデン (@MAGCOMI_) July 1, 2020

The manga series of The Dungeon of Black Company ran 30 chapters so far, with many collected in 5 volumes. The 6th volume is set to ship out on July 10 from the retailer, Rakuten. In a Tweet-announcement the original publisher announced The Dungeon Of The Black Company anime series is in development. However, there are no details on which anime studio will be part of the project, when it will premiere, or on which network.

So are you excited about The Dungeon Of Black Company anime? Let us know in the comments below. 

Featured image via Mag Comi’s Twitter.

Popular Manga The Dungeon Of Black Company Announces New Anime Series
Shah Shahid

The new series Stargirl, a joint production of DC Universe and the CW, is a delightful teen superhero drama. Thus far in the season, Brec Bassinger’s Stargirl worked to recruit fellow outcasts from her high school to form the new Justice Society of America. Until now, she and her compatriots only faced adult villains, the enemies who killed the original JSA. Yet, in the latest episode we see that Stargirl’s toughest villain is actually Shiv, a teenage assassin played by Meg DeLancy. Known as Cindy Burman in her civilian identity, she is the daughter of one of the villains and the resident mean girl at Blue Valley High School. However, there is more to Cindy than her spoiled, entitled popular girl demeanor.

As the captain of the cheerleading squad and girlfriend of the star quarterback, Cindy is a popular kid. However, as we see in this episode, she is not well-liked. In fact, what little power she wields comes from fear not respect. For a moment, the show lets us think that, like Stargirl, she’s just a victim of the machinations of the Injustice Society. But she is no victim.

In fact, despite going up against adult baddies, Stargirl’s toughest villain is someone a lot like her. Courtney Whitmore is trying to connect to her father by wearing a mask and fighting crime. Well, it seems that Shiv is doing the same thing.

Spoilers below

Stargirl’s Toughest Villain Is the Daughter of the Dragon King

Image via Warner Bros. Television

The Dragon King is a Japanese super-scientist who fought in World War II against the original Starman and Stripesy. Luckily, since he was created in 1981, Dragon King avoids most of the yellow peril stereotypes that plague some comics. In the series, he’s one of the most comics-accurate villains, complete with creepy hood and cape. The Dragon King has a lot of weird things going for him. His wife appears to be caught up in a sort of hypnotic trance, meant only to be a caretaker for Cindy. (And one she abuses regularly.) He’s also responsible for creating the mysterious plan and machine that brought the Injustice Society to Blue Valley, Nebraska. We’re meant to have all sorts of questions about him, but he’s not as interesting as Cindy.

Cindy wants to get closer to her father, particularly by actively being a super-villain. We find out that her interest in Jake Austin Walker’s Henry King, Jr. is mandated by her father, who knows that he’s got the same mental powers as his father Brainwave. We also learn that she bears the blame for her mother’s death, creating the need for the rotation of step-mothers in her life. While Dragon King doesn’t show any affection of any sort towards his daughter, it’s clear she is valuable to him. She does whatever she wants, including suiting up as Shiv against his express wishes.

Superhero-ing Just Got Real On Stargirl

Image via Warner Bros. Television

So far, the show has been a fun romp featuring kids with powers besting adult adversaries. The villains are truly evil and cruel, but there is something different about Shiv. What makes her Stargirl’s toughest villain is that she’s as cruel as any Injustice Society member, with the impetuous nature of a teenager. More so than ever, Courtney was impatient and overconfident in her heroing abilities. And, as the end of this episode showed, she’s finally paid the price for it. For the first time, Courtney is injured in a way that will be hard for Luke Wilson’s Pat Dugan (her stepfather) to explain to her mother (played by Amy Smart). The sweet family dynamic at play here might be in for a bit of a dramatic shake-up.

The other thing we shouldn’t miss is that Pat was calling Stargirl “Courtney” while Shiv was still there. He might have just given up her secret identity to the most fearsome villain on the show to date. Shiv is Stargirl’s main nemesis in the comics, and it appears that she’s going to be the true threat in this first season.

What did you think of Shiv’s debut? How are you liking the series so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Featured image via Warner Bros. Television

Stargirl’s Toughest Villain Is A Teenage Mean Girl With A Super Creepy Father
Joshua M. Patton

The last 20 years have been pretty good for pirates. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, inspired by the iconic Disney attraction, released in 2003 to near-instant success. Almost two decades, $4.5 billion, and five released films later, the franchise will forever be a fan favorite. The latest addition will be a separate story that retains the same swashbuckling elements. Margot Robbie and Christina Hodson have officially become attached to the latest Pirates of the Caribbean project. The film is still in the early stages of development, but we have learned some exciting details.

New Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Coming With Margot Robbie and Christina Hodson Attached

Margot Robbie, recently seen starring in films like Birds of Prey and Bombshell, will be reuniting with Christina Hodson, Birds of Prey‘s screenwriter. The script will be a completely new adventure tale for Disney, with Robbie at the bow of the pirate ship – er, film. This movie will not be a spinoff and will feature original characters.

Another addition to the franchise, an entirely new reboot, was also announced recently. Ted Elliott (a writer for the original Pirates films) and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl’s creator) are teaming up for its creation. However, this new project will be entirely separate from Elliott and Mazin’s. Jerry Bruckheimer will produce both projects.

Image via Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

It’s A Pirate’s Life For Us!

There is no shortage of good action-adventure genre films. Unfortunately, it’s rare to find a good movie about pirates. Sure, there are plenty of movies that follow people searching for hidden treasures, but how often do we get a good swordfight atop a sailing ship? Thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, our adventurous imaginations can keep on fantasizing.

What do you hope to see in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film from Margot Robbie and Christina Hodson? Swordfighting action? Treasure? A performance that holds up against Johnny Depp’s legendary Jack Sparrow? The film is still far off, but it’s never too early to start getting excited.

Featured image via Warner Bros.

New Pirates of the Caribbean Film is Setting Sail with Margot Robbie and Christina Hodson
Meghan Hale

A new Marvel’s Avengers story trailer has a lot of fans talking. Usually, the hype around something Marvel is relatively positive. After pulling of an incredible run of films, people trust what the company has to offer. Plus, the other big Marvel video game, Spider-man, is one of the most celebrated titles of this console generation. We know Square Enix delayed the game to tweak some things, but other than that, we haven’t seen much of the story. In this new trailer, I kind of wish they’ll take more time with it.

What We Learned from the Marvel’s Avengers Story Trailer

Image Credit: Square Enix

I mean, who doesn’t love the Avengers? They’re the biggest name in Marvel right now, so a game should be great right? Except everything we see in the new Marvel’s Avengers story trailer is totally underwhelming. The new video shows us a ton of insights into the story. We know we are getting some Ms. Marvel origin story type stuff, which is wonderful. I think a lot of fans will be happy to see that. We also see that the Avengers are disbanded after really messing things up for the city. Or so we think.

The footage in the trailer shows Ms. Marvel getting the Avengers to reconnect after it’s clear they were set up. A ton of bad guys seem to be at play here. All in all, the leader of the evil forces looking to thwart the return of the Avengers is MODOK. I think the villain choice is great because MODOK hasn’t appeared in the MCU. Just a reminder, Square Enix is not building this game to fit inside the films. That’s probably why they tried hard to not mirror the character images on the actors from the Disney films. Except for Thor, who looks like Hemsworth quite a bit. Then again, Thor is a God, and Hemsworth is God-like in appearance, so it’s hard to avoid.

Good Villian, Good Developer – Why is the Game Still Missing the Mark?

Image Credit: Square Enix

I think the overall sentiment for the Marvel’s Avengers story trailer is that this game doesn’t wow anyone. The amusement park allegory that Martin Scorcese used to describe MCU films isn’t wrong. Those movies feel like an action-packed ride that you experience head-on. This game, on the other hand, feels very empty. I don’t feel anything from the story mode for these characters. Some of that is the relationship we’ve built with the MCU actors, but you can make an emotional video game. We know these characters well at this point. That means we have some preconceived notions about their presence in the game. We know how Tony Stark should act, as well as Banner and the rest. It just doesn’t feel like Square Enix nailed it.

I think there’s more than meets the eye with a limited story trailer. We don’t know what the game is going to feel like. Early gameplay videos showed how limited each character’s move set would be. The emphasis on co-op is really going to play a huge role in diminishing the solo experience. Still, this doesn’t have to be a bad game. It just feels a little less exciting now than it did when they originally delayed it.

Some really cool preorder bonuses for the game are still available if you want some goodies with your purchase. Otherwise, we’ll keep you posted on what we learn about the title before its September 4 release. The game will release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. We also know it’s coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X as well. Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things gaming, comics, and pop culture.

Featured Image Credit: Square Enix

Marvel’s Avengers Story Trailer is Divisive and Troubling
Taylor Bauer

One of the summer anime season’s most anticipated series is The God of High School. As one of the Crunchyroll Originals launching in 2020, this series is already very popular. The show originally debuted on Webtoons and has a huge readership. With the first episode’s debut only days away, a God of High School premiere event is set to give a sneak peek of the show.

The God of High School Premiere Event

Image Credit: Crunchyroll

The God of High School is already building a ton of buzz ahead of its premiere. To keep amping up the excitement, Crunchyroll announced a God of High School premiere event for this Friday, June 26. The event’s main feature is going to be a five-minute preview of the upcoming series. A ton of other extras are going to be featured as well for fans old and new of this series.

If you saw the trailer, then you know how hype the music is for this show. Luckily, we’ll get to hear from the music team of the series including Arisa Okehazama (composer) and Yoshiki Kobayashi (music producer). Voice actors for the show are also going to be on board for guest appearances and fun fan interactions. Those actors include:

• Tatsumaru Tachibana (Jin Mori)
• Kentaro Kumagai (Han Daewi)
• Ayaka Ohashi (Yoo Mira)

Plus, we’ll get to see the musical artists responsible for playing the opening and ending music, KSUKE and CIX. Lastly, we’ll have a look at a trailer for a behind the scenes documentary. Overall, the event is a welcome surprise for an already highly-anticipated series.

Where to Watch the Event

Image Credit: Crunchyroll

There are a ton of people talking about this series, but some people never read the Webtoon. If you are brand new to the series, then here’s what you need to know. The show is going to mix some of the most electrifying genres of anime together. In short, with incredible main characters and a great plot, the webtoon is always engaging and entertaining. Thanks to the animation team MAPPA, I can only assume the anime series will be just as wonderful.

You can catch the God of High School premiere event on Crunchyroll’s Collection Youtube channel. If you’re anxiously awaiting July 6 for the debut, then this is a great way to build hype! Overall, the show’s chatter online is building up to an incredible summer anime debut. If you’re curious about the show’s style and tone, then be sure to tune in on Friday, June 26 at 4 PM PT.

If you’re excited about the anime series, then let us know in the comments! Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things anime, comics, and pop culture.

Featured Image Credit: Crunchyroll

The God of High School is Getting a Digital Premiere Event
Taylor Bauer

Fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installment in Pat Rothfuss’s excellent Kingkiller Chronicles for years. And this week the author announced a new story set in the world would be arriving. Unfortunately, this story is not the third book – The Doors of Stone. Instead, the story will focus on a group of students at the The University’s Arcanum. A location that is heavily featured in the Rothfuss’s book The Name of the Wind.

Image via Penguin Books

A New Story From Pat Rothfuss via One Shot Podcast

The story arose out of a playtest of a Kingkiller Chronicles role-playing game that Rothfuss is developing with James D’Amato who hosts the One Shot podcast. The story will unfold across episodes of the podcast, with new chapters arriving every Monday. The synopsis tells us a bit about the story, and who is ‘playing’ the characters.

“Four students in The University’s Arcanum get unlucky draws for their tuition interviews with the masters and have to reckon with the possibility of taking a semester off. The well-intentioned Volli (Patrick Rothfuss), the bookish and distractible Garlich (Bee Zelda), the prideful and stylish Amara (Satine Phoenix), the irrepressibly rebellious Chett (Liz Anderson), and the biggest horse you’ve ever seen.”

Author Pat Rothfuss has often spoken about how roleplaying games have influenced his writing and shaped his books. He spoke about the RPG game and the podcast, and how this gives him the opportunity to explore new areas of the world he created in The Kingkiller Chronicles. “Telling stories like this will give me a chance to show off corners of my world that don’t appear in my novels.” Rothfuss state. “It’s playful and collaborative in a way that I really miss. Most importantly, these are stories that will let people spend time in my world sooner rather than later, while they’re waiting for the next book to come out.”

Still No Word On When We Will See The Doors Of Stone

Image via the Author’s Twitter

How long we will continue to wait for the next book to come out is still unknown. It has been almost a decade since Rothfuss published the second book in his (alleged) trilogy. The Wise Man’s Fear came out in 2011, and fans have been impatiently awaiting the third book ever since.

This is not the first time that Rothfuss has put out a new story in the world of Temerant that is only tangentially related to the rest of his trilogy. In 2014 he published The Slow Regard of Silent Things. That novella that focuses on the mysterious character of Auri, a resident of the University’s Arcaneum who has been drastically changed by magic. This was a lovely little story that filled in some of the gaps of Kvothe’s story, but it didn’t really do much to further the plot of the books. I suspect that Rothfuss’s new story in collaboration with One Shot will be similar. But it is good to know that Rothfuss is at least working in the world he created in Name of the Wind. Hopefully playing through the RPG will give him some inspiration to finish the trilogy he started so long ago.

Image via Penguin Books

Until then you can listen to the first episode of One Shot podcast and experience this new story with Rothfuss himself playing one of the roles.

For more genre news be sure to follow Comic Years on Facebook and Twitter today.

A New Story In The Kingkiller Chronicles Is Coming From Pat Rothfuss (No, it is not The Doors of Stone)
Emily O'Donnell

DC Comics will not publish a Warren Ellis story set to appear in a Dark Nights: Death Metal anthology after a number of women made allegations of sexual coercion and misconduct. The story would have focused on one of the most delightful characters from the first issue of the Death Metal event, the robotic tyrannosaurus known as “B-Rex.” The fate of his other DC Project, The Batman’s Grave is currently unchanged, but a future notice of cancellation of that project as well wouldn’t be a surprise.

The allegations first came from Katie Ellis, with successive stories coming from Meredith Yayanos, Zoetica Ebb, and Jhayne Holmes. The latter created a private support group for women with similar stories, reportedly more than 60 members strong.

The specific details and circumstances vary slightly, but all follow the same general idea. Ellis reached out to young women with aspirations in the comics industry. He would befriend them, support their careers, and then leverage those professional relationships into sexual ones. After some time, he’d end things with them, often leaving them as if they’d somehow disappointed him.

Ellis, for his part, issued a statement that was not a denial. He apologizes to the women he hurt, however he also says that he was not “aware” of his fame, stature, and power in this business. Even the most charitable reading of the statement finds this particular bit hard to swallow. Warren Ellis is easily one of the most famous and influential comic writers of the past three decades.

The private group now has nearly 50 members. Please, if you know of anyone who might have been targeted by @warrenellis, send them our way. This is so much bigger than you might guess.

— Jhayne Holmes (@Foxtongue) June 18, 2020

He writes:

“I have always tried to aid and support women in their lives and careers, but I have hurt many people that I had no intention of hurting. I am culpable. I take responsibility for my mistakes. I will do better and for that, I apologise.

“I apologise to my friends and collaborators for having created this situation, and I hope they will be treated kindly. Mistakes and poor choices in my personal life are not on them, but only on me.

“We have a responsibility to one another, every day. And I have, in my past, let too many people down. I hope to one day become worthy of the trust and kindness that was placed in me by colleagues and friends.

He’s currently writing The Batman’s Grave and serves as the executive producer for Castlevania. He’s written hundreds of stories for every major character at DC and Marvel. Ellis created a universe for DC called “The Wildstorm Universe,” and wrote the acclaimed TransMetropolitan series. He even “guest-starred” in Brian Michael Bendis’ Powers in a story about the comic writer doing a ride-along with the series’ metahuman police. He’s also been involved in multiple film and television projects.

The statement itself has been criticized. Despite saying he takes responsibility, Ellis claiming he was unaware of his status in the industry is impossible to believe. Still, at least Yayanos hopes that he commits to actually becoming a better person and “doing the work” to make amends.

That DC pulled the Warren Ellis story from the Dark Nights: Death Metal anthology suggests that the misconduct allegations are being taken seriously. What their next steps will be, however, is anyone’s guess.

Featured image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr

DC Pulls Warren Ellis Story From Dark Nights: Death Metal Anthology After Misconduct Allegations
Joshua M. Patton

This was a long time coming. After officially announcing that the Justice League Snyder Cut will premiere on HBO Max in 2021, now we have our first official footage. The brief clip of one scene works almost as a Snyder Cut teaser trailer for the long-awaited version of the movie. And boy, is it ever awesome. The footage is not only significant for what it shows, but also for what it means to those fans who unwaveringly believed in the Snyder Cut for years. 

The Snyder Cut Teaser Trailer Is Undisputed Confirmation Of The Film’s Existence

First ever sneak peek at JL. Get ready for more at DC FanDome. @hbomax #releasethesnydercut #DCFanDome pic.twitter.com/WIWwFo4Xnt

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) June 18, 2020

Zack Snyder took to his Twitter account to release the Snyder Cut teaser trailer for fans. The footage is an entirely completed scene featuring Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince. The scene shows how Prince, seemingly through her own investigations, discovers an ancient relic. The relic is a painting with some text on it, and a crudely drawn image of the DC Comics character, Darkseid. All the while, there is a voiceover monologue by Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor playing in the clip as Diana reacts to what she has found. 

It’s unclear where in the original cut of Justice League this scene would fall into. It only makes sense that Diana would find something like the painting, given that she works in a museum at the beginning of the movie. The Snyder Cut teaser trailer ends with a flashback to an epic battle for the Mother Boxes, probably the one seen in the theatrical Justice League. However, one huge change this time, is that we actually see Darkseid in the thick of it all instead of Steppenwolf. 

How Darkseid Exited The Original Justice League

Image via Screengrab.

Darkseid is one of the New Gods and ruler of his own planet, Apokolips. So he is basically a conqueror who desires to rule the universe by eliminating free will in all living beings. Most often, in DC Comics stories, he is a villain of Superman’s. Zack Snyder always planned for Darkseid to be the main villain in his Justice League movie. But that’s when the movie was to be a two-part epic. After the middling reception to Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice, the bigwigs at WB decided that one movie was enough. Then there was also the personal tragedy in Snyder’s family that prevented him from finishing Justice League. The movie then went through a lot of changes under new director Joss Whedon. It’s not entirely known when the decision was to remove Darkseid as Justice League’s villain, but eventually, he was.

The now infamous Knightmare scene in Batman v. Superman did tease Darkseid with his signature Omega insignia shown, but the character himself was absent in Justice League. Instead, audiences got an entirely CGI Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) who lacked any sort of intimidation or agency within the story. This newly-released Snyder Cut teaser trailer basically confirms that Darkseid was always part of Justice League. It also provides a look into just how extensive the changes to the theatrical movie were. Recently, Ray Potter the actor who played Darkseid confirmed his involvement. With explicit permission from Snyder and WB, of course. 

That said, and because I’ve been given permission…
Hi, I’m Ray. I played Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s “Justice League”.
There. It’s out now.

— Ray Porter (@Ray__Porter) May 22, 2020

Justice League Snyder Cut releases on HBO Max in 2021. 

What did you think of the Snyder Cut teaser trailer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Featured image via Screen Grab.

First Official Footage From Justice League Snyder Cut Teases The Legend Of Darkseid
Shah Shahid

With Netflix churning out new original series all the time, sometimes you become used to all the new content. However, when you have the trailer for a new Netflix original series that is part religious mythology, part teenage girl histrionics, and all action, you pay attention. Netflix’s Warrior Nun live-action trailer has introductions, action, and tongue-in-cheek humour. And it looks wonderful. The new original series premieres on July 2nd. 

Warrior Nun Is A Unique Concept From Various Comic Book Appearances

Image via Antarctic Press

Warrior Nun Areala is a religious comic book story from Ben Dunn published by Antarctic Press. The manga-style comic book series saw limited runs, with one-shots and compiled volumes that make up the world of the story. Unlike other series, there is no one series of books, but more collected stories from various titles that flesh out the world. Premiering in 1994, the story follows a character who is basically like ‘the one’ for a fictional religious group called Order of the Cruciform Sword. The Order fights on behalf of the Catholic Church to protect the world from Hell and other evil threats to humanity. 

The series’ hero is basically the reincarnation of the original Warrior Nun, a Pagan Valkyrie who turned to Jesus Christ for Salvation. Similarly like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, there is an avatar of her born into every generation to continue the fight. Actually, there’s a lot in this series that’s reminescent of Buffy. A teenage girl finding out she’s the chosen one in a fight against hell? All the while she’s just trying to figure out how to be the typical teen. But, while this show may not be as prolific as Buffy, it sounds completely badass. So an original Netflix series feels like the perfect live-action adaptation to this franchise.  

Isn’t The Idea Of A Warrior Nun Kind Of Controversial? 

Image via Netflix.

If the title of Warrior Nun seems offensive to you, you’re not entirely alone. The comic book series was very controversial and divisive. Mixed reactions were ranging from a lot of praise to condemning the series as being blasphemous. There were accusations that Warrior Nun appropriated Christian imagery and mythology. The character design of the heroine in a Nun’s outfit with the usual comic book embellishments to the female form took the brunt of the backlash. But despite it all, the series came out the other side with more fans than detractors. Hence, the adaptation into live-action on Netflix. 

Netflix’s Warrior Nun Live-Action Trailer Is All Kinds Of Action Amazingness

Netflix’s Warrior Nun live-action trailer dropped earlier today, and it’s completely bonkers. The story seemingly veers off the comic series into a more modern-day setting. Not to mention completely omitting any objectification of nuns whatsoever. The trailer starts with a young girl named Ava, who wakes up in a morgue with powers and an ancient artifact in her back. The artifact, supposedly a real, honest-to-God Halo, given only to God’s champion. So she is basically this generation’s Warrior Nun.

With it, she unwittingly joins this special group of the Church’s military organization. So now she has to stop, what looks like a tech giant who has seemingly opened a portal to actual Heaven. Because, that’s never a good thing when it comes to evil geniuses messing with portals. Subsequently, Ava joins other fighters in God’s service like Beatrice, Lilith, Shotgun Mary, and Camila., character who are already interesting despite their one-line introduction. Together, Ava goes from everyday teen to God’s warrior, fighting evil at every turn. The kicker though, is that Ava is a nonbeliever, who presumably does not even believe in God. Oh, the heresy!

The Warrior Nun Trailer Blends Multiple Genres and Tones Into Something Great

Image via Netflix.

The Warrior Nun live-action trailer is my new favorite thing. The trailer focuses on Ava’s desire to be a normal girl, only for her to become an actual religious savior. So the premise of the show is very much Harry Potter meets Constantine. We’re introduced to this world through Ava, as she discovers her higher purpose. Literally, a higher purpose. From God. Warrior Nun has tones of a Young Adult teen drama, along with vibes that totally remind me of the Keanu Reeves starring Constantine movie. Especially the supernatural, Heaven-meets-Hell concept and storyline. The moments of lighthearted humor is so dry and witty that it’s hard not to smile at every delivery. 

The cast of characters seem great as well, all with their own potential back stories. Even the music in the trailer becomes instantly memorable and fits the on-screen shenanigans just perfectly. Not to mention, the gothic visual tone, juxtaposed with the violent, hyper-real action sequences featuring guns, swords, and high flying acrobatics is breathtaking. As a result of the Warrior Nun live-action trailer, the show just shot to the top of my most anticipated shows’ list. 

Warrior Nun premieres on Netflix on July 2nd. 

What did you think of the Warrior Nun live-action trailer? Let us know in the comments below. 

Featured image via Netflix. 

Warrior Nun Is The YA Religious Goth-Girl Action Series That I Didn’t Know I Wanted
Shah Shahid

The first five minutes of the pilot for Black Lightning are perfection. It immediately establishes what the series is truly about and where the characters stand on these issues. The show may be named for the hero Cress Williams plays. Yet, a case can be made that it’s not really his show, but rather his daughter’s. Nafessa Williams plays Anissa Pierce, who is the first black lesbian superhero on any TV show, Thunder. If there is a Hero’s Journey at play in this series, it belongs to her.

The story begins with her being arrested for protesting in the city of Freeland, which is to Atlanta as Gotham City is to New York. The conversation between her and her father is a great character piece. Her dad, Jefferson, is all about working within the confines of the system and the law. Anissa, on the other hand, is all about direct action and sacrificing your own comfort for the needs of others. When Jefferson returns to his Black Lightning identity, it’s for selfish (of a sort) reasons. Anissa, on the other hand, dons her first costume because once she discovered her powers, she knew she had to use them to help people.

Thunder, her superhero name, is the first black lesbian super-powered individual to be a regular on a TV show. Not only that, she is the “purest” hero on the show. Her father is in it for revenge. Her sister, Jennifer A.K.A. Lightning played by China Anne McClain is duped into become a costumed hero by a villain. Anissa just can’t stop helping people. So much so that she has two costumed identities. Thunder is a symbol of hope, a reflection of her father. Blackbird, however, crosses lines Black Lightning never would.

Why the First Black Lesbian Superhero on a TV Show Is an Important Thing

Image via CW

We live in the interesting times from the old curse, which is why superhero stories for kids are more important than ever. Part of the allure of these costumed figures is that anyone can see themselves in the suit, whether it’s a full-face mask like Spider-Man or no mask at all like Superman. Yet, there is something special about a character who looks (and loves) like you do. It’s not impossible for kids to see themselves in heroes that don’t look or even act like they do. But, it’s always easier to make that connection when they reflect their audiences.

You can’t tell me representation doesn’t matter. You can’t tell me media including art doesn’t control the narrative of how we look at others and ourselves #BlackLivesMatter
Cc: my friend @BRIANMBENDIS Miles Morales influence pic.twitter.com/J6dEYtbCNo

— Azie Tesfai (@AzieTesfai) June 14, 2020

As the first black lesbian superhero on a tv show, Anissa Pierce provides some much needed diversity to the live-action pantheon of costumed crimefighters. Girls, especially those of color, can see themselves in her. Queer kids can see themselves in her. She is strong, smart, determined, and compassionate. She’s basically the Captain America of Black Lightning. She’s not a “girl scout” in the way that Cap is often described as a “boy scout.” But like scrawny Steve Rogers, she is uniquely aware of what it’s like to live without power. That’s why she’ll never waste her abilities or, even, play it safe when she should.

The other thing that makes Anissa such a great hero, is her lack of fear. Black Lightning is full of fear, weighing the consequences of his actions on himself and his family. Yet, he’s also pulled by a sense of duty and a desire for justice. Lightning is full of fear and anger. (It’s an allegory to the teenage experience, though.) She can’t control her immense power. When she finally can, she’s manipulated into being something she doesn’t want to be. Anissa? She’s not perfect, but she’s just good.

Black Lightning Might Just Be the Best Superhero Series on the CW

Image via CW

When Black Lightning first debuted, series creator Salim Akil made the arguably questionable decision to be entirely separate from the rest of the Arrowverse. Partly this was practical, since Black Lightning films in Atlanta, and the rest of the CW shows film in Vancouver. This distance would make those casual crossovers and appearances by different shows’ casts very difficult. However, Akil also wanted to have his own space to develop the story and allow the characters to grow on their own. Still, after the Crisis On Infinite Earths event, Black Lightning takes place on the same Earth as the rest of Arrowverse.

The downside of this early separation, however, was that it almost discouraged CW cape show fans from investing in the Black Lightning-verse. Yet, this is a huge oversight on the part of fans. This show features consistently great writing, acting, and action. The series is able to better tackle the social issues that comic book stories often adapt than other series. The interplay of street crime, modern policing strategy, government intervention, and the fine line between justice and vengeance make Black Lightning the best show you’re probably not watching.

Only recently did I finish the third season of the show, and its themes are as relevant as ever. The town of Freeland is occupied by a secretive government military force, and Jefferson must fully face his internal conflict. Always wanting to work through the system and in the confines of the law, he sees is family and city decimated by the villains. (Also, Wayne Brady turns up as one of the greatest bad guys since Killmonger.)

So, that Black Lightning has the first black lesbian superhero in a TV show is just one of the many remarkable achievements of this series.

Black Lightning will return for a fourth season in 2021.

Featured image via CW

The First Black Lesbian Superhero On TV Is On The Best Show You’re Not Watching
Joshua M. Patton

Spike Lee has never been an unambitious filmmaker. However, it’s hard to think of a movie in his catalog that’s as big and as bold as his new one, Da 5 Bloods. It somehow manages to be many movies at once, including a meta-movie about war movies. But we’ll talk about that and more in our movie review of Da 5 Bloods.

A Plot Summary, If That’s Possible

image via Netflix

Four men–four of the “Bloods” of the title–make their return to Vietnam. Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr) are all veterans of the war. They’re returning to retrieve the body of the fifth blood, their commander “Stormin’ Norman” (Chadwick Boseman). But that’s not the only reason they’ve come back. They’ve also come to locate a cache of gold they left. Joining them on this journey is Paul’s son, David (Jonathan Majors), and many ghosts of the past. (Yes, Lee named most of the main characters after the original members of The Temptations. Spike, you scamp!)

But this being a Spike Lee joint, it’s not just the war ghosts they’ll have to confront, but the ghosts that haunt America. And although Lee or Netflix could have never predicted it, they could hardly have picked a more relevant time to release this movie. But that’s one of the points of the movie–it is always a relevant time.

This Movie Is a Wild Mix of Genres

image via Netflix

Both IMDB and Wikipedia list this movie as a war movie or a drama or both. It is both of those things, but those descriptors are too chaste, too simple. Because this movie is so much more than either of those. Clocking in at a healthy 2 and a half hours, Da 5 Bloods is an experiment with genre and form. At first, it seems like it’s going to be a pretty straight-forward film, maybe something like Last Flag Flying.

It has Lee’s typical stylistic flourishes, as it begins with a montage of clips of prominent black celebrities and activists, like Muhammad Ali and Angela Davis, talking about the war in Vietnam. But that montage is more than just a stylish quirk; it’s also a clue. Lee isn’t just talking about one war or one thing. He’s talking about the history of the United States as a war and how it’s all connected.

As such, the movie seems to shimmer and shift through genres. Quentin Tarantino has rightfully earned a reputation as a cinephile who imbues his own movies with references to other ones. Whether you think of it as homage, pastiche, or even theft, he loves to sprinkle in visual and other allusions to movies, including his own. But he’s not the only movie fan in town and Spike Lee’s movies have also often riffed on the movies that came before them.

However, they’ve probably never been as overt as they are in this movie, which finds Lee riffing on not only war movies, like Apocalypse Now, but adventure films like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Even the ending, with its classic Spike Lee double dolly shot, is like a riff on his own movies. (Uh, not to mention two of the actors who played Klansmen in Blackkklansman, Paul Walter Hauser and Jasper Pääkkönen, appearing as NGO workers.)

But as they go deeper into the jungle, the genre switches swiftly to horror. One of the classic tropes of horror is the idea of no escape. And although the war is over, as their guide Vinh (Johnny Trí Nguyen) points out, no war ever really ends. (Just ask my nieces, who’ve never known a world without it.) In the jungle and even before it, it’s as if time stopped. The war never ended and they never came home.

Da 5 Bloods Movie Review

image via Netflix

After all, landmines still stud the ground, while metaphorical ones have lodged in the men’s minds. And none of them is as touched as Paul. Although he’s an imposing character, secure in his beliefs–his MAGA hat gets a lot of use–there’s a fragility at the heart of him that Lindo plays well. (Since so few movies are going to come out this year, maybe he will get the Oscar attention he deserves.)

Ultimately, he’s a tragic figure, the Colonel Kurtz of their expedition. But neither the war nor the world leaves anyone untouched. Although they were supposed to give the gold to Vietnamese forces, the men are taking it because they believe it to be theirs. It is a small reparation for the war and everything that came before and after.

One example: Otis, for instance, finds out that he left behind a daughter. She spent her childhood being called a “cockroach” because her father was black–but as her mother points out, Vietnamese people didn’t instinctively know the n-word. American GIs taught it to them. It’s an idea that hearkens back to a scene in Miracle at St. Anna, Lee’s other war film–the scene that stuck with me the most. A group of black soldiers stops in at a diner for “ice slops,” whatever that is. While a quartet of German POWs eats in the restaurant, the soldiers–all American–are told that they have to “go around back” to get service.

And it’s similar to the ending of Blackkklansman, wherein Lee ties the 70s-set movie with the events in Charlottesville. No war ever ends, and although the world has tried hard to make it seem not so, black lives matter.

Da 5 Bloods Movie Review: The Bottom Line

Da 5 Bloods isn’t a perfect film–it’s a little long, slow to get started, and it can be chaotic. It also doesn’t dig deeply enough into some of its ideas. Still, it’s sure-footed and it’s Spike Lee at his freewheeling best. Even an okayish Spike Lee movie is still interesting–just ask me, who once watched Summer of Sam every day for a week–but thankfully, Da 5 Bloods is more than just interesting.

Have you watched Da 5 Bloods yet? What did you think of its chaotic energy? Let us know on the social media, which I check with the fervor of a new convert, or here in the comments.

featured image via Netflix

Da 5 Bloods Movie Review: The War Is At Home
Salomé Gonstad

San Diego Comic-Con, or SDCC, is easily one of the most important events of the year for comic lovers. The event always brings impressive stars, insightful panels, and plenty of opportunities to showcase your love for fandoms! After COVID-19 forced many cons to cancel, SDCC fell victim, too. Though, considering how important the event is, we always had faith that something would happen in its place. And finally, we have confirmation! San Diego Comic-Con 2020 will happen online this year, and you can attend for free.

San Diego Comic-Con 2020 Is Free And Online!

SDCC’s online event, named Comic-Con@Home, will happen from July 22 to July 26, 2020. It will be completely free, from watching panels to printing badges to wear. Previous years would cost hundreds of dollars if you’re looking for more than a single day pass. The cost of hotels and transportation can bring that total up further. Another incredible perk is that the event will have no attendance limits. Compared to previous years where fans can’t fit inside panel rooms and have to stand in close quarters just to see their favorite stars, that’s a good deal!

Little has been announced regarding what stars we can hope to see, and what films or shows might be releasing sneak peeks. However, there will certainly be panels, presentations, and more! Based on how previous at-home media has been going, we can probably expect to see a lot of live-streams, pre-filmed videos from stars, and potentially some exclusive merchandise available for purchase.

Yeah, we’re going to miss these kinds of panels. Image via Gage Skidmore on Flickr.

A Strange Time For Comic Creators

A handful of con related events have been canceled or postponed this year. Emerald City Comic Con, Toronto Comicon, and more have been lost due to the coronavirus pandemic. While we’re excited to see how SDCC pulls off the online event, it’s still unfortunate when considering how many smaller creators, artists, and cosplayers have lost the opportunity to sell and showcase their work. So, if you see a creator that you admire, be sure to support their work by sharing and even buying online, and let them know how much you look forward to seeing them at the next in-person event!

Are you thinking of attending the San Diego Comic-Con online event? The #ComicConAtHome hashtag can be used to participate and share your excitement, cosplays, and love for all things comic! Even though it’s at home, we’re still excited to share the comic love!

Featured image via Gage Skidmore on Flickr.

The 2020 San Diego Comic-Con will Officially be Online (and Free!)
Meghan Hale