Fantastic Universes

Article by Max Byrne Never before has a rumor been more divisive. According to an article published by Variety, Robert Pattinson is in pole position to assume the role of Batman in Matt Reeves’ forthcoming film, scheduled for release on June 25th 2021. It must be emphasised that, despite the internet reaching critical mass, nothing has been officially confirmed. There has been no comment forthcoming from Warner Bros. nor the actor himself, so far, with no indication that this is a done deal as yet. The reaction to the would-be casting of Pattinson has been decidedly mixed. With comments ranging from vitriolic to euphoric, from indifferent to cautiously optimistic, the jury remains very much out. Certainly Pattinson would bring a loyal fan base with him, as a legion of rabid Twilight fans remain very much behind their man. Naysayers have pointed to his perceived lack of physicality and muscular build, mixed with a lack of action credentials on his CV. A physical transformation would be req…

Article by Steve J. Ray

After the amazing success of The Wild Storm and Wild Storm: Michael Cray, DC Comics are bringing back one of Image Comics'/Wildstorm Productions greatest ever teams, the WILDCATS, in an all-new six issue mini-series this summer.

Here's the full scoop, direct from DC:
WARREN ELLIS RESURRECTS WILDCATS WITH ARTIST RAMON VILLALOBOS THIS AUGUST
This August, Warren Ellis unites with artist Ramon Villalobos for an action-packed new era of WILDCATS. Following his genre-breaking work reintroducing beloved superheroes from the WildStorm Universe, Ellis and Villalobos will take the covert team on a new adventure in a six-issue miniseries beginning August 28.
“The first line I wrote down for WILDCATS was: ‘Saving the human race from the human race,’” says Ellis.  “It’s a team made up of people who have seen the worst in everybody and everything, and yet still put themselves in frankly absurd amounts of jeopardy just so tomorrow might be a little bit better. And it’s a sh…

Article by Philip Clark DC Comics have announced the release of Mister Miracle and Batman: White Knight hardcover editions. That’s right, two of the biggest and most loved DC mini-series are available as lavish hardback collections right now! I don’t know about you, but I love graphic novels. I also happen to prefer my books and graphic novels to be hardcover too. So if you’re anything like me, then this is great news! BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT collects the critically acclaimed eight-issue miniseries written and illustrated by Sean Murphy in a dust jacketed 232-page hardcover edition with new cover art by Murphy priced at $29.99 US. After years of epic battles, the Dark Knight finally finds a way to cure the twisted mind of his archenemy. The Joker…is now sane. The Clown Prince of Crime has now changed his ways, fighting for good in Gotham City, and it may just cause Batman to go over the edge of his own sanity. Writer/artist Sean Murphy takes the helm of this Batman/Joker story like no one els…

Article by Philip Clark The Demon’s Head is back! One of Batman’s all time greatest villains is returning in a new six issue mini series. Batman vs. Ra’s al Ghul will be hitting the shelves in August. The new mini-series will be written and drawn by Ra’s co-creator Neal Adams! I mean, just look at the cover art for the first issue. It’s vintage Adams. Ra’s al Ghul, leader of the League of Assassins, grandfather of Bruce Wayne’s son and the only person in the world capable of going sword-to-sword with Batman, returns this August during DC’s Year of the Villain in a new six-issue mini-series, BATMAN VS. RA’S AL GHUL, written and drawn by Ra’s al Ghul’s co-creator himself, legendary artist Neal Adams. Neal Adams has produced some of the most memorable DC comics ever, but none more memorable and known worldwide than 1971’s BATMAN #243 and #244, in which Ra’s al Ghul co-creators Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams built to one of the most iconic images in the history of the Dark Knight, a swashbuckli…

Review: Teen Titans #30 Writer: Adam Glass
Artist: Bernard Chang
Color Artists: Marcelo Maiolo and Hi-Fi
Letterer: Andworld Design Review by Steve J. Ray Summary“The Terminus Agenda” – Epilogue. Teen Titans #30 deals with the catastrophic consequences of the entire “Terminus Agenda” storyline. This story’s been running in this series and through Deathstroke for the last three months. After capturing Slade Wilson, and imprisoning him in the prison complex hidden beneath their headquarters, the Teen Titans are in disarray. The master assassin broke himself and all the other inmates free, and now Roundhouse, Djinn and Crush want answers. Why did Robin, Red Arrow and Kid-Flash keep this secret from them? How can the team move forward? PositivesThis issue was pretty darned brilliant. While I found the crossover a little pointless, and wish it had just run through this series, the aftermath has proven to be outstanding. This is the outcome that I’ve been waiting for, dreading and fully expecting…

Director: Gregory Smith Writers: Lauren Certo (Story) Todd Helbing and Eric Wallace (Script) Starring: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Nicolet, Hartley Sawyer, Jessica Parker-Kennedy, Tom Cavanagh, Sarah Carter, Chris Klein, Victoria Park and Patrick Sabongui. Review by Steve J. Ray Time travel. Consequences. Family. Legacy. The season five finale of The Flash delivers all the aforementioned, and a lot more besides.

Nora Allen is a creation of the T.V. show, she never appeared in the comics. Does this make her less valid than Iris, Ralph, Cisco, Killer Frost, Thawne or Flash himself? No, I don't think so. Harley Quinn appeared on Batman: The Animated Series long before she ever appeared in a comic-book, and now she's one of the most beloved characters in all of comics, and comic-book inspired film and television. A hero isn't just someone who saves the day. Sometimes being a hero means knowing the memory of you may well …

"Penultimate Patrol"


Director: Rebecca Rodriguez Writer: Chris Dingess Starring: Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Joivan Wade, Matt Bomer, Brendan Fraser, Alan Tudyk, Timothy Dalton, Devan Chandler Long, Phil Morris, Tommy Snider, Julie McNiven, and Victoria Blade. With Riley Shanahan and Matthew Zuk. Review by Steve J. Ray Wow. Every episode of this series is excellent, but this one was pant wettingly good. We got to see old friends, learn secret origins and experience comic-book action like you wouldn't believe. The addition of Flex Mentallo to the cast really made everyone come together in a penultimate episode that I'm sure will lead to an incredible climax next week. Going In Deep
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I adore comics. Horror, sci-fi, Fantasy, American, European, British, colour, black and white... I love them all. This episode digs into the truth about comics; reading between the lines and looking beyond the words and pictures.
Doom Patrol is beyond…

“City Ablaze” – Part Two
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Chris Mooneyham
Color Artist: Nick Filardi
Letterer: Andworld DesignReview by Steve J. RayNightwing #60 follows hot on the heels of last month’s issue, with Ric Grayson and Mal Hutch facing off against Burnback. Who is this monster? How is he connected to Nightwing Red and Alphonse Sapienza’s all new team of Nightwings? This comic’s on fire! I’m so happy that two of the comics I physically buy and collect every month are written by Dan Jurgens. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that this series as been consistently excellent for years, but having a legendary comics writer re-interpreting a vintage comics character is a thing of beauty. Under Jurgens’ pen Sapienza and the Nightwings have become more real… and this is just his second issue! Having Ric name each new Nightwing and getting some background for Sapienza and his new team has really made my admiration of the characters, and my understanding of their motivations grow. Jurgens knows how…