Ahead of "Outcast's" big debut on Cinemax on June 3, series co-creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman has given his new series very high praise: it's scarier than "The Walking Dead." Kirkman compared his two series -- AMC's "Walking Dead" and Cinemax's "Outcast" -- in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Both series are based on comics he writes, so he elaborated on what makes the upcoming "Outcast" from the massively popular horror drama, "The Walking Dead."
"It’s not a road show like 'The Walking Dead,'" said Kirkman of "Outcast. "There’s not a lot of traveling or things like that. The town of Rome, West Virginia, is very much its own character in the show, and the community that’s built there is kind of what makes it so terrifying to think about all these people that know each other’s secrets, But there’s this element in this town that is changing them, that’s making them different people, that’s making them a threat. Your friends and neighbors and loved ones can be your greatest enemy at the turn of a dime, and it’s not because they’re mindless monsters -- they’re a cunning, manipulative, very dangerous creature that is suddenly in your midst. It’s a scarier show."
Based on the Skybound/Image Comics horror series by Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta, the exorcism drama stars Patrick Fugit as Kyle Barnes, a man that's been plagued by demonic possession all his life. With the help of evangelist Reverend Anderson (Philip Glenister), Kyle embarks on a journey to find answers and regain a normal life. Kirkman spoke about Kyle's journey, particularly how it differs from the trajectory of "Walking Dead's" leading man, Rick Grimes.
"Yeah, a lot of the process of 'The Walking Dead' is watching Rick Grimes being beaten down and having to grow and change and evolve to overcome that," said Kirkman. "And when we meet Kyle Barnes at the beginning of 'Outcast,' his life has already been ruined, and he is completely at the end of his rope from this phenomenon that surrounds him that he’s been dealing with his entire life. And so, it’s really more a process of him digging himself out of this hole and trying to take control of his life again. At the very start of our show, he’s in a darker place than Rick Grimes has really ever been."
While "Outcast" doesn't debut on television until June 3, the first episode is already available to watch online. You can check it out below and see for yourself how scary it is.
DC Comics continues to peel back the curtain of its "DC Universe: Rebirth" one-shot, which goes on sale tomorrow. After a shared unveiling on DC's social media channels, the publisher has released the superhero-filled double-page spread that appears at the end of the issue, as illustrated by artists Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Hi-Fi. Click on the below for a high-res version of the image.
The image is reminiscent of classic group shops by DC legend José Luis García-López, or the "Drawing the Line at $2.99" campaign from 2010. Dozens of heroes appear on the illustration, from the classic -- Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are naturally front and center -- to the recently returned (that's freshly revived former Flash Wally West in the lower-left hand corner) to entirely/relatively new characters, including the New Super-Man Kenan Kong and Green Lanterns Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz. Feel free to name as many characters as you can, and let us know how far you get in the comments.
Written by DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and illustrated by Reis, Gary Frank, Ethan Van Sciver and Phil Jimenez, "DC Universe: Rebirth" #1 kicks off a line-wide relaunch of the DC Universe titles, with multiple core titles like "Batman" double-shipping, and all series launching with a new #1 -- except "Action Comics" and "Detective Comics," which will return to their legacy numbering started in 1938 and 1937, respectively.
Along with the relaunch comes a renewed focus on optimism and legacy, something stressed by Johns in multiple interviews. Notably, all the heroes in this "Rebirth" illustration are smiling -- even Batman's sporting a smirk -- a striking contrast to the darker interpretations in past years of DC's heroes in comics and live-action.
While the "Rebirth" one-shot is not yet on sale, details leaked online this past Friday, leading to DC Comics itself issuing spoiler-y press releases on some of the issue's major developments -- leading to an increasingly tricky challenge for fans looking to avoid plot details before reading the actual book.
Have you seen some of the Variants ? Spider-Gwen # 8 & Amazing Spider-Man # 12 is selling fast.
With ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ hitting theaters this May, True Believers are preparing for the arrival of one of the most nefarious villains in the entire Marvel Universe to theaters all over the world. Although, that won’t be the only place that we’ll be seeing the mighty Apocalypse. In addition to Bryan Singer’s follow up to the acclaimed ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’, the House of Ideas will be unveiling an epic three-part crossover in the pages of their X-Men comic books titled ‘Apocalypse Wars’. But it appears that En Sabah Nur will be appearing in the pages of ‘Extraordinary X-Men’, ‘Uncanny X-Men’, and ‘All-New X-Men’ with a bit more Horsemen than usual.
In anticipation for the coming of the all-powerful Apocalypse to the page and screen, Marvel Comics announced this week that they will be releasing a series of variant covers reimagining Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the big bad’s deadly henchmen.
From the Merc With A Mouth to the Star-Spangled Avenger to the Sorcerer Supreme, a number of Marvel’s biggest names will be turned into Horsemen for the Age of Apocalypse variants. You can check out the first wave of covers for titles such as ‘All-New, All-Different Avengers’, ‘Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘Captain America: Steve Rogers’, and more in the gallery below:
On top of those books receiving AOA variants, here’s a list of other comics receiving special covers throughout the month of May:
Black Panther #2
Black Widow #3
Captain Marvel #5
Daredevil #7
Deadpool #11
Doctor Strange #8
Extraordinary X-Men #10
Howard the Duck #7
Invincible Iron Man #9
Ms. Marvel #7
Power Man & Iron Fist #4
The Punisher #1
Spider-Gwen #8
Thunderbolts #1
The Totally Awesome Hulk #7
Uncanny Inhumans #8
Out of the upcoming covers, it will definitely be cool to see fan favorites like Spider-Gwen and Howard the Duck as Horsemen of Apocalypse. However, I’m surprised to see names like Squirrel Girl, Silver Surfer, Hellcat, and Silk excluded from the line up. But the more that I think about it, seeing Howard under Apocalypse’s control may make up for it.
What do you think about Marvel Comics’ Age of Apocalypse variants? Are there any notable exclusions that you wish were included in this special event? And will you be picking up ‘Apocalypse Wars’ throughout the Spring?
This article has the most up-to-date info on the status of The Strain Season 3 as we continuously monitor the news to keep you in the know. FX has scheduled the premiere date for a new season for August 28, 2016.
Image: FX
About the show
Created by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, The Strain is an American horror TV series that first aired on FX in July of 2014. After the initial success, the series was renewed for season 2, which premiered on July 12, 2015.
After an airplane full of dead people lands in New York City, Dr. Ephraim Goodweather from the CDC is called upon to investigate. What he discovers is more alarming than any terrorist attack. The passengers on that plane were infected with an ancient strain of a vampire virus and now that virus is about to go viral on the East Coast. Goodweather, along with his colleagues and a group of good Samaritans hold the fate of humanity in their hands as they battle the infected and try to find ways to curb the virus.
In second 2, it becomes clear that New York City has fallen to the epidemic. Dr. Ephraim and his team decide to take on a new approach and concentrate on finding a biological weapon that would wipe out the vampires, as well as search the past in hopes of finding any mention of the creatures and how it’s possible to destroy them. Will they succeed, or will they become monsters themselves?
The Strain has received critical acclaim and enjoyed good viewer ratings. Full of gore, blood and survivalist drama, it’s not anything that hasn’t been shown before, but is definitely something that the audience thrives on. Thus, it is no surprise that FX recently announced that it’s renewing the series for a 10-episode season three, which will premiere sometime in 2016.
Latest news
UPDATED May 11, 2016: FXX has set the release date for the third season of the dystopian horror drama The Strain. The 10-episode season will return to the small screen on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at 10pm. The upcoming chapter kicks off with New York City in the midst of a full-blown epidemic, the population left by the US government to fend for themselves. How will the battle between the humans and the strigoi end? Sign up or our automatic updates and receive a reminder one day prior to the season premiere of The Strain.
Rick and his group confront the Hilltop Colony's enemy, The Saviors, a group of brutal people led by a man named Negan. However, Rick severely underestimates The Saviors and does not take them seriously as something to be feared until some of his best friends begin dying in brutally savage ways. In the end, Rick is forced into an ultimatum that puts the lives of everyone in Alexandria on the line.
Plot Synopsis
Gabriel Stokes is keeping a church service for survivors outside. After it, Abraham asks Maggie if everything is alright, as he sees her holding her stomach. Maggie convinces him that she is fine.
Abraham goes to see Eugene, who begins planning to create more bullets for everyone. Abraham asks how Rosita is doing. Eugene tells him that she's fine and she doesn't want to see him, implying that they are in a relationship. After Abraham leaves, Rosita tells Eugene that she and him are not together. Eugene admits he was just trying to mess with Abraham.
Meanwhile, Heath is keeping watch for any zombies at the gate. Abraham hopes Rick and others will be back soon. On the way to Alexandria Safe-Zone, Rick and his squad hear a motorcycle from behind their van; a squad of Saviors are following them. An unnamed member tells them to stop their vehicle. After noticing that they aren't from Hilltop, the man claims that they "must give a different tribute" to Negan and demands that they give up all their supplies as opposed to just half. Rick assumes the one talking is Negan; the Savior claims everyone in their group are "Negan". Rick doesn't grant his command and has Michonne and Andrea kill three members of his group, still leaving the one speaking alive. Rick tells him to report back to Negan and tell him to stop harassing the Hilltop Colony. As the savior leaves, Carl says he remembers his father murdered one of the Marauders with a knife before Rick tells him to get back in the van.
Rick and others arrive back at the Safe-Zone with the supplies. Maggie goes to hug Glenn. She reveals to him that she is pregnant.
Rick holds a meeting and tells everyone what happened outside. Rick says they have to put some people in danger in order to defeat the Saviors, but not to make an army. He asks that if anyone objects to the plan, they are free to speak their mind; no one objects to the plan. Later, in Rick's house, Andrea talks to him about starting a relationship and says that she is happy Rick stopped being a coward.
The next morning, Abraham and Eugene leave the Safe-Zone without telling anyone, in order to find some ammunition. They are watched by three unnamed men, assumed to be Saviors.
Abraham tells Eugene that he's noticed that the latter has lost some weight, possibly to attract Rosita. Eugene says she sees it, but doesn't believe that he has a chance with her. Abraham says he just needs to be less unusual than other guys to get her to like him. He also says that although he still has some feelings for Rosita, he just wants her to be happy whether he is with her or not. Then, Dwight, one of the Saviors, shoots an arrow into Abraham's head, killing him. Eugene grabs Abraham's gun, but is taken as a hostage by Dwight and three other Saviors. Dwight says that if Rick and the others had not killed their friends along the way back from the Hilltop, they wouldn't have killed Abraham. One of the saviors tells Dwight that Eugene is not in a situation of power; they still decide to use him as a bargaining chip and has him lead them back to Alexandria.
Meanwhile, Carl goes to Rick's room and finds him along with Andrea, indicating that Rick and Andrea had sex. Carl then says Rick does not have to say anything about sex, Rick replies and says that it would be uncomfortable for both him and Carl. Then the two hear Abraham's machine gun and Rick goes to see why and who was shooting and tells Carl to stay at home. Dwight appears outside the Alexandria gates and demands Rick let him in with a large group of saviors. Rick asks Dwight, what the response was to his message he gave to the savior on the road. Dwight says that Negan did not take kindly to the message and once again demands Rick open the gate or they will kill Eugene. Eugene then bites Dwight in the crotch, injuring him. One of the other Saviors tries to get at Eugene but Rick shoots him and tells Dwight to leave or they will all die. Refusing, Dwight tells the others to attack; one Savior tries to kill Rick's group using the machine gun they took from Abraham but gets shot in the head by Andrea. She then instructs the others to make a line against the wall so they can pick off the Saviors. Dwight then instructs the remaining Saviors to flee to avoid further casualties.
Rick tells Andrea to accompany him to kill Dwight and the Saviors who survived. While Rick and Andrea are pursuing the saviors, they are surprised to see the corpse of Abraham. Rick says that there's "no fucking way they're going to escape." While still pursuing the Saviors, Rick and Andrea get cut off by a group of zombies, Andrea is going to kill them when Rick tells her to save the ammunition. The two then turn back, taking the body of Abraham so it can be buried back at the community. Andrea enlists the help of someone to take the body of Abraham; Glenn and Heath arrive to help her. Holly becomes distraught when she sees Abraham's corpse. Glenn asks Andrea if Abraham needs to be shot in the head so he won't come back as a zombie, but she tells him that the arrow impaled him through the brain and that he will not reanimate. Andrea then asks Rick what they should do, and Rick says, "I don't know."
Sometime later, Glenn, Heath and Nicholas are seen fighting zombies behind their car barrier just outside of the Alexandria Safe-Zone.
Andrea walks into Rick's home and they discuss the situation with The Saviors. Carl walks in on Rick and Andrea hugging, without them knowing, and backs out of the room and smiles.
Glenn is telling Maggie about how he wants to leave the Alexandria Safe-Zone and move to the Hilltop Colony. Sophia exits the kitchen so Glenn and Maggie can discuss the topic alone. Glenn explains that it is much safer for the baby that Maggie is having. Maggie shouts at Glenn but then hugs him. While hugging she explains that she just doesn't know what to do.
The citizens of the Alexandria Safe-Zone mourn for Abraham Ford in the church with a service by Gabriel. Many of the group members are crying. When Rosita tries to talk to Holly, she snaps at Rosita while crying over Abraham's covered body.
Rick, as well many other survivors, are about to leave the Alexandria Safe-Zone and travel to the Hilltop Colony. Rick tells Andrea to stay so that she can watch the Safe-Zone to keep it safe.
After Rick tells Andrea that she has to stay behind and protect the survivors, a band containing Rick, Carl, Michonne, Heath, Glenn, Maggie, and Sophia leave the Safe-Zone and head for the Hilltop Colony. All the while, three saviors are watching from a nearby building and say that they will attack at dawn.
The same three Saviors are complaining about the plan to attack at dawn, wondering why they can't attack now. One of them says that he is going to get a man named Paul, whose group is the farthest away.
The Alexandria Safe-Zone citizens are seen praying for their lives. Spencer reveals to Andrea that he's happy for her and Rick. Eugene is seen mourning over Abraham's grave, while Gabriel is in the church, praying. Aaron and Eric are preparing for the Saviors, making an inventory over the Safe Zone's guns.
On the road, Michonne worries that the group will not make it to the Hilltop Colony in time. Glenn is still optimistic about it. They stop the van for the night.
Michonne and Rick are talking nearby the van. Rick thanks Michonne for everything, and says they'll have to be on the road by dawn. Rick then says goodbye to Glenn, and states that he is happy for him. Rick then begins his shift on keeping guard. A group of Saviors sneak up on the group and subdue Rick by surprise. They line up all the survivors from the van (Rick, Carl, Glenn, Maggie, Sophia, Michonne, and Heath), kneeling them down. Then, Negan appears and tells how he wants revenge for the saviors that the survivors killed. Without an agreement from Rick, Negan makes a deal; Everything that belongs to the Alexandria Safe-Zone, now belongs to The Saviors. He introduces his weapon of choice; Lucille, a baseball bat covered in barbed wire. After a long talk about who he should kill using Lucille, he finally picks his victim at random: Glenn. Maggie panics, as Glenn tries to talk Negan out of it. Negan ignores him and begins to crush Glenn's skull with Lucille. Everyone cries, glaring at Negan. After Negan finishes killing Glenn, Rick states, "I'll kill you. Not today, not tomorrow, but I will kill you." Negan tells them the Saviors will be back in one week to collect half of everything in Alexandria, then turns around and leaves with his men, leaving the survivors with Glenn's body.
Maggie begins hitting Rick, calling him a coward, but stops as Carl points a gun at her and tells her to stop hurting his father. Sophia bites and tackles Carl.
The group continues to the Hilltop, where they tell Paul Monroe and Gregory about what happened. Glenn is buried there, and Maggie and Sophia stay behind as the group and Jesus return to the Alexandria Safe-Zone. They return to find several crashed vehicles and dead bodies outside of the Safe-Zone. Nicholas tells Rick that the Saviors attacked that morning, but none of the Alexandria residents were killed. They killed about a dozen Saviors, and the remaining Saviors retreated without entering the Safe-Zone. Andrea says that it's not even the best part, taking Rick to a house. Inside, she reveals a tied-up Dwight and asks if he could be useful.
Dwight yells to them that they will all be killed when Negan shows up. Andrea punches him in the face and tells him to shut up. Rick stops her and she tells him that he killed Abraham, attempted to kill Eugene and was going to kill them all. She threatens to ruin his other eye if he keeps running his mouth. She wants to talk, to which Rick replies, "Not here."
Andrea and Rick are back at the house when she asks him what the hell that was. He tells her they killed Glenn and she tells him all the more reason to kill the Saviors. He tells Andrea about how they were attacked on the road at about the same time the Alexandria Safe-Zone was attacked. Rick is afraid because of how low on ammo they really are and tells her he is open to suggestions. He doesn't want to piss off Dwight more then they already have.
Paul and Heath are talking about how the Hilltop is a much better community than Alexandria. Jesus apologizes about Glenn and tells him he will try to help them go after Negan.
Rick tells Carl that Jesus is staying in a vacant house. Carl asks if Andrea has Dwight in the infirmary and tells Rick to kill Negan to show him they're "not to be fucked with." Rick replies that he doesn't know and that they are all mad about Glenn. Carl tells Rick they have to do something. That night, Rick and Andrea are talking about Glenn. He tells her that Glenn and Maggie were a symbol of hope to Rick. Rick is blaming himself for the death of Glenn. She yells at him that he can't blame himself and it is not his fault. She says that maybe he would have picked her instead if she had been there. The walls held because of the defenses, not because of Andrea. It is not his fault when someone dies, it is his fault when the rest of them live. He then says that they aren't prepared and that he can't protect anyone from this. He won't let anybody else die because they've come too far and he doesn't think he can fight Negan.
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.
The film is set to feature the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, this time joined by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany as The Vision, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye and Don Cheadle as Jim Rhodes/War Machine.
Sebastian Stan will also be back as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier alongside Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter / Agent 13, Daniel Brühl as Baron Helmut Zemo, Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow / Crossbones, William Hurt as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man, and Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, Captain America: Civil War will debut in theaters on May 6, 2016. The film has a running time of 2 hours and 27 minutes, making it the longest Marvel movie to date.
Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
X-Men: Apocalypse also stars James McAvoy as Charles Xaver, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Lucas Till as Havok and newcomers Alexandra Shipp as Storm, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Ben Hardy as Angel, Tye Sheridan as Cyclops, Olivia Munn as Psylocke and Lana Condor as Jubilee. Oscar Isaac is starring as the film’s title antagonist.
DC Entertainment revealed a new logo today, as the "new identity and logo for its iconic DC brand." The logo replaces the opening page logo they launched just ahead of the New 52 reboot in 2011.
The logo doesn't feature the word "comics," mirroring Marvel's approach to creating a single logo to use across multiple media. This isn't the first DC logo to remove the "comics," though, so it's not exactly a sea change: the iconic "DC bullet," which was used from 1976 until 2005, didn't feature the word. In fact, no logo from 1970 until 2011 used "comics."
Director Shane Black with Robert Downey, Jr. on the set of 'Iron Man 3.'
While lots of female fans love superhero movies, the movies don't always love them back.
Whether it's problems with representation of women onscreen, the fact that it's taken so long to get a solo female superhero film off the ground or the lack of merchandise featuring female characters, women and superhero movies have, let's just say, a complicated relationship.
And now Shane Black, who directed Marvel's Iron Man 3, it's bringing to light a whole other facet of this issue. The director, who is on the press tour trail for his upcoming film The Nice Guys, gave a very revealing interview to Uproxx in regards to how one of the female characters of Iron Man 3 ended up with such a small part.
"All I’ll say is this, on the record: There was an early draft of Iron Man 3 where we had an inkling of a problem. Which is that we had a female character who was the villain in the draft," he told the website, referring to Rebecca Black's character Maya Hansen. "We had finished the script and we were given a no-holds-barred memo saying that cannot stand and we’ve changed our minds because, after consulting, we’ve decided that toy won’t sell as well if it’s a female."
"New York called and said, 'That’s money out of our bank,'" he added. "In the earlier draft, the woman was essentially Killian (Guy Pierce's character) – and they didn’t want a female Killian, they wanted a male Killian. I liked the idea, like Remington Steele, you think it’s the man but at the end, the woman has been running the whole show. They just said, 'no way.'”
But Black was quick to note that this might not be the way of Marvel anymore.
"So, we had to change the entire script because of toy making. Now, that’s not (Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige). T
That’s Marvel corporate, but now you don’t have that problem anymore," he said, referring to recent corporate changes at the company.R.I.P. DARWYN COOKE.
Master Comic Artist, Writer Succumbs to Cancer
Posted by Milton Griepp on May 15, 2016 @ 11:25 pm CT
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Eisner Award-winning artist and writer Darwyn Cooke has succumbed to cancer, his family announced on his blog on Saturday. The post came only one day after a post revealing that he was receiving palliative care "following a bout with aggressive cancer."
"We regret to inform you that Darwyn lost his battle with cancer early this morning at 1:30 AM ET," Saturday’s post said. "We read all of your messages of support to him throughout the day yesterday. He was filled with your love and surrounded by friends and family at his home in Florida. Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society and Hero Initiative."
Cooke had a story published in DC’s New Talent Showcase in 1984, but DC didn’t realize what they had until much later. Cooke began working for Bruce Timm on DC’s animated series in the 90s, then directed a year of Men in Black: The Series.
The original graphic novel Batman: Ego, in 2000, marked Cooke’s first comic work in 15 years. In 2001, Cooke revamped Catwoman with writer Ed Brubaker; the look of the character is still used today, including in the TV series Gotham.
Cooke continued to work for DC, and also spent some time with Will Eisner’s The Spirit character, drawing a Batman/The Spirit crossover (written by Jeph Loeb) and The Spirit series.
