New Superman Trailer Has Us Looking Up

 It seems as though my last blog post was in regard to the first Superman trailer.  Either I don't post enough, or I must really like Superman.  I think it's a lot of both.  Today the newest trailer for James Gunn's Superman movie dropped online.  This film will help kick off the new DC Comics shared TV & film universe; or DCU.  A lot is riding on this film.  Gunn is not only directing the film but is also head of DC Studios along with Peter Safran.  The ending of the DCEU left a lot of fans disappointed as the films slowly made less and less money.  This film has to bring back "hope" for the DC characters, and in the DC brand.  It has to silence the Snyder fans who think this movie sucks before they even see it.  It has to be good enough to help make the next film, Supergirl, a success.  And it has to help Warner Bros get out of the financial hole it's in.  Everyone is counting on the Man of Steel to save the day.

As this trailer opens, we see Lois interviewing Clark as Superman. We know this film isn't an origin story, but I'm curious if Lois knows Clark's secret identity when the film starts.  They discuss a situation where Superman stopped a war, but not everyone is happy about it.  This idea was present in the DCEU as well, most notably Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  Superman wants to help people, but in the modern political landscape a person cannot just cross borders and do as they like, regardless of how many people they save.  Clark seems to be upset that Lois is pressing him, but I think we all know Lois is just trying to prove a point as to how some people see him.

This also makes me think about other shots like Rick Flagg Sr. and members of The Authority arresting Superman.  The most interesting shot in the trailer to me is Superman being beaten in a cell with Metamorpho behind him.  We also see another person in the cell next to them, and another view shows many cells.  My guess is that any metahuman who doesn't want to take orders from the government is in a cell.  So, I can only dream of all the DC characters that are in there!

We see Lex and the Engineer enter the Fortress of Solitude and destroy some robots and get into a fight with Krypto.  So God help me, if anything happens to that dog!!  I'm curious to know who the guy in the golden armor is.  With some kind of blast, that might be heat vision, he could possibly be another Kryptonian, whether he/she is from this reality, I can't say.

We get a few shots of his parents, Ma and Pa Kent, who were probably the most lackluster part of the trailer for me.  I'm used to Smallville's John Schneider and Annette O'Toole being a big part of Clark's story.  I think they'll serve their purpose, but maybe not a big part in the film. I also don't think either of them will die, at least in this movie.  

We see shots of Cat Grant taking a selfie during a fight, Jimmy and Clark messing around, and Guy Gardner bitch slapping some soldiers.  Remember, this film takes place in world that superheroes have been around for a while, and most have become cynical.  Superman is coming in to show them the light and bring hope to the world. Another shot shows a citizen coming to help Superman after he fell out of the sky, perhaps inspiring people to help others.

The part of the trailer that hook me was when he said "Hey, eyes up here," and took off.  While Superman isn't a funny guy, he likes to keep things light.  One of my pros for the theatrical version of Justice League was Superman post-resurrection.  He had a happy attitude instead of brooding.  As he said, he "liked being alive."  This also makes me think Superman was trying to get the bad guy away from people where they could be hurt, another thing the DCEU never really addressed.

A big thing this trailer told me is what James Gunn has said, this film is very much focused on Superman AND Lois.  Rachel Brosnahan and David Corsenswet's chemistry looks like it'll be good.  We just had four seasons of show about Superman and Lois, and it ended too soon in my opinion. We heard John William's theme, and even got the classic Superman fonts swooshing in to let us know July 11 is gonna be awesome!!! 

 

Superman & Lois Continues To Be The Superman We Need

 The fanboys were in a tizzy this week as it was announced that David Corenswet will play Superman in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy. People online debated whether Henry Cavill should have stayed or whether audiences will even turn out to see this newest interpretation of the Man of Steel on the big screen.  Meanwhile, on the small screen, we have continued to get a solid Kal-El for three seasons in the form of Tyler Hoechlin on Superman & Lois.

The CW series was on the rocks as to whether it would return for a fourth season. The show is CW's #1 show, but also its most expensive. With The CW cancelling shows, and knowing an integrated DC Universe was coming, I knew this series would not have a long run, but I was hoping for another season before we get a new live-action Superman in Corenswet. And then word came down from high that we will get a shortened season four with a smaller budget, and possibly losing some supporting characters because of the money constraints. No matter what, I am excited for this show to return for one more season. Since the season one episode where Clark tells his son about the struggle he faces every time he puts on that suit, and the complete control he must have every time he does, I knew the people making this series get what Superman truly is, and where the character's strengths lie. 

Season 3 gave us a great Superman story. People say the character isn't interesting because he's too powerful and perfect.  But that is what makes a good Superman tale. In this season, his wife, Lois Lane, is diagnosed with cancer.  This isn't some villain trying to take over the world or destroy Metropolis. This is something Superman can't fight.  The most powerful being in the world is helpless to save his wife. That is a good Superman fable. You give him something he can't fight, like his father having a heart attack.  You make this alien human.  And then you have a scene where his sons argue with him about using Kryptionian technology to help, but come to find out Lois and Clark have made the decision not to use it, because it wouldn't be fair to all the other millions of people who have cancer.

My favorite scene this entire season was the diner scene. Clark is frustrated with his wife being sick and comes to find out a man hit his son and pulled a gun on his wife. He walks into that diner, knowing he could kill this man with his pinkie.  But he doesn't. He barely touches him. The control Clark has to have in that moment is remarkable. 

As good as season three is, it does have a few faults for me. Lex Luthor came into the season with two episodes left.  Instead of focusing on Bruno Mannheim most of the season I thought Lex should have been brought in sooner. Although the idea of a man just trying to save his wife from cancer by using any means at his disposal was interesting. The new actor playing Jonathan Kent took some getting used too. But now I think I like this actor better than the other. As for Jordan, well, I've always thought Jordan was a little bitch, and when he started to disobey his parents, I would have taken him to the Fortress of Solitude and put him in a crystal like in Superman II until he gained some perspective. John Henry and Lana hooking up I called back in season 2, and I could care less about Kyle and Chrissy.

They brought back Bizarro in the season finale and did something interesting. The season two premiere saw a beast coming out of the ground, which I thought was Doomsday, and I thought it was too early to bring that character into the series. But the creators tricked us when under the suit was Bizarro. But now, they've almost walked that deception back, and turned Bizzaro into Doomsday. Honestly, I'm not thrilled with it. I think fighting a newly brain-washed Bizarro would have been sufficient. Plus, less costly to the budget. But that last shot of the two characters about to rumble on the moon was cool. My favorite live-action version of Doomsday is still from the Syfy series Krypton.

This season of Superman & Lois gave us a very human story. And that's what this series continues to do. It tells the tale of a man who is burdened with being the most powerful being in the world, but can't save everyone, even those closest to him. Clark is constantly being told by people what he should do but tries to continue to do what he feels is right, and protect all life, not matter how hard it is. I'm going to miss this Superman, and I can only hope James Gunn is going to give us one who, as Mark Waid once wrote, doesn't make the 'Super' more important than the 'man'.

The Flash Can't Seem To Find It's Footing

I like the character The Flash. I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns time writing the character, and one of the storylines he wrote being Flashpoint, the book this film is based on. I was also a fan of The Flash TV series, which, like a lot of TV shows, continued way longer than it should of.  Flashpoint was a way for DC Comics to do one of their patented reboots of their universe, and with the upcoming regime change at DC Studios, I expected this film to kind of do the same for the DC film universe. This movie was originally supposed to be released in 2018.  It was announced during the first season of The Flash and now being released after a nine-season run of The CW series has ended.  This film went through several writers, several directors, and a lot of personal trouble from the film's star, Ezra Miller. Some thought The Flash was never going to be released.  But now that it has, was the marathon it took to get to this finish line worth it?

The last time we saw Ezra Miller on the big screen as Flash was 2017's Justice league.  Miller was the comic relief in a film that had it's own production drama. I didn't mind Miller's character in the film, but I thought he in no way represented who Barry Allen is. Grant Gustin plays it a little closer to Barry's personality on The CW show, however, Miller's Flash entertained me, and that's the most important thing. In The Flash, Barry is supposed to have been the Flash for over two years now, and still acts like a newbie. Granted, he knows how to do a few things, but his attitude as a hero is ridiculous. Which comes to a head when he talked to Bruce about going back in time and changing reality, warning him of the consequences. In the original storyline, Barry goes back in time to save his mother in a moment of weakness, out of nowhere, but Batman just told Barry not to do it, and then five minutes later he does it. 

So Barry puts a can of tomatoes in a shopping cart, and causes a ripple effect in time that evidently made Ben Affleck turn into Michael Keaton. In the original Flashpoint story, Barry's actions cause time ripples like Kal-El's ship not landing in Kansas, or Bruce Wayne dying instead of his parents in that alley. But I'm not sure how a person gets a completely different look. I knew Keaton was put in the film just as a nostalgia cash-grab, but he just logically seems out of place. Had they knew they needed a Batman, and found Keaton's from another reality, I would have accepted that better than, "well we wanted Michael Keaton back as Batman. So we just did it."

Sasha Calle plays Kara Zor-El in this film, aka Supergirl.  Though, her look is more like Lara Lane-Kent, the multiversal daughter of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. To me, Supergirl was the standout in this film with little actual screen time. In the original Flashpoint, Kal-El's ship landed in Metropolis instead of Smallville. It killed thousands of people, and he spent his entire life as a lab rat, and never became Superman. Kara Zor-El left Krypton as a teenager, allegedly charged to look after baby Kal when they both got to Earth. In this film, Kal was intercepted by Zod, who killed him, and Kara was captured by Russians and tortured for 30 years.  So why is she still a teenager?  Also, wasn't Zod supposed to be trapped in the Phantom Zone when their ships left Krypton?  I know you can say "multiverse" as your plot hole, but at least tell us if Canon is different. Kara is also allegedly in possession of the Codex, the thing Zod was looking for in Man of Steel. The McGuffin of the entire first DCEU film, that has stll led to nothing after 10 years of stories.  

The conclusion of this film is finding out this new reality's Barry is the bad guy, or Savitar.  And basically, that is what this film comes down to for me.  This film has had a long road with multiple creatives working on it for years, and it just feels like a blend of all these ideas that never meshed. The film was at constant war with its plots and characters.  I've not only seen Flashpoint in the comics, but also I've seen it on TV and in an animated movie. This was the worst version. I've seen Barry Allen in live-action for years.  I've even seen future Barry try to fight past Barry as Savitar. And I know, a lot of general audiences didn't watch The Flash TV series, and don't have these comparisons, but I can't watch the Ben Affleck Daredevil film because the Charlie Cox version is so superior. I can't watch Val Kilmer or George Clooney as Batman because I feel they are inferior to other versions. That's the life we live as fans of properties that have been around for generations.

And as I just said above, this film just seems inferior to what it could have been. They made CGI pictures of past DC film characters, when just images from those films and series I think would have been better. Actually, put CGI characters of possible future films and let audiences see that. A Michael B. Jordan Superman project has been rumored. Show a fake version of that and let people go nuts wondering if it will ever come to fruition.  This film looked back when it should have looked forward.  The Clooney cameo was a fun, cheeky, laugh.  It was a waste of scene between Bruce and Barry where Barry tells him about all the possible multiverses out there, one of which could be describing the forthcoming DCU cinematic universe. The post credit scene with Jason Momoa could have got people excited for the upcoming Aquaman sequel, a film that needs all the good buzz it can muster, but instead it was a pointless scene that made Arthur Curry look like a drunken idiot rather than King of the Seven Seas. 

I always believe you should judge a film on what it is, and not what you want it to be.  But within this film I saw the sections where they could have done something different and chose what they chose, and thus made it a lesser film. And maybe that's because I've seen other versions and have seen what is possible with the Flash and Flashpoint. When I boil it down this film is another good idea that wasn't executed properly.  And so, it never gets a chance to reach its top speed. 

  

DC Studios Plans For "A Better Tomorrow"

It's 2013. Henry Cavill is about to make is debut as the newest actor to play Superman. Zack Snyder is about to start his idea for a multi-film storyline that will tell an epic tale. And Warner Bros Studios is about to start counting their money thinking they have a cinematic universe that will rival Marvel Studios at the box office. It's ten years later, and things didn't go as everyone hoped. Henry Cavill isn't playing Superman, Zack Snyder got fired before he could finish his plan, and Warner Bros has fumbled the DC characters to where, now, it's a brand that regular moviegoers no longer trust.

Enter film maker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. They are the heads of the newly created DC Studios, a division of Warner Bros Studios, created by WB studio head, David Zaslav, in hopes of turning the DC Comic brand into something consumers will think positively of.  Tuesday, James Gunn announced the beginning stages of their plan in regard to the DC Universe moving forward.  A plan that will include theatrical films, HBO Max series, and animated projects.  

This comes as a disappointment to some fans that still believe in the film universe Zack Snyder started, and still campaign for WB to "Restore the Snyderverse" even though I believe Zack Snyder's vision is the reason the DC characters are now held in such low esteem. Anyway, Gunn announced five films and five series that is just a sneak peak in what he has in store for the DCU, which includes some heavy hitters like Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, but also leaves room for more fringe characters like Creature Commandos, The Authority, and Swamp Thing.  

I liked Henry Cavill as Superman, even though I wasn't as warm on the films he played Superman in.  As my favorite superhero, I didn't agree with some of the story plots. I mean, you're doing the biggest event in comic book history, The Death of Superman, in your second film? In the words of Red Foreman, "Dumbass!"  Just the description of these first few projects makes it seem like Superman could be the lynchpin to the whole universe. Superman could be the beacon of light in a cynical world that has lost its hope, and that is what Superman should be, and what makes me believe that's what we're going to get. 

One of the lesser-known titles announced, The Authority, is like a group we might compare to The Boys super team, The Seven. They are powerful, and get the job done, but they aren't nice about it. Their leaders, Apollo and Midnight, are comparable to Superman and Batman, but as I said, they aren't as nice, and they are lovers. I know The Authority, but not very well. I can very much see them being the catalyst of this universe, and its hopeless tone. But then Superman arrives, decides things need to change, and perhaps he starts to gather his own "super friends" to rival this gang of anti-heroes. 

Included in the films set to release is a Swamp Thing film, and a Supergirl film based on a recent miniseries, Woman of Tomorrow, that I started to read and never finished. The miniseries has a less happy Kara Danvers than we are used too, which again feeds into the overall theme of this universe. But why not? This teenager saw all her friends and family die when Krypton exploded. That'd be a buzzkill to anyone. As for Swamp Thing, I've never been a big fan of the character, but I hope we get some cameos from other would-be Justice League Dark members to set-up that team. 

And no, I did not forget about Batman. The final film planned is The Brave and the Bold, another storyline in this line-up based on the works of Grant Morrison. This film will see the first live-action appearance of Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's blood son, who was raised by The League of Assassins. So, as you can imagine, his morals may be a bit looser than his father's. Gunn promises something we've never seen in a Batman film to date, the appearance of the Bat Family, which hopefully includes appearances by Nightwing, Batgirl, Huntress, Batwoman, and many more.

Over on the TV side, we have the thing I'm least excited for, a Wonder Woman prequel, Paradise Lost, and also Creature Commandos, a titled I've heard of but never read. However, this seems right up James Gunn's alley as it even features a character he's put in one of his films, Weasel. A team full of monsters I believe can also be a tie-in with Swamp Thing. 

Lanterns is a series that will feature the two most famous Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart.  It's said to take place on Earth and be like a True Detective show. Green Lanterns are space cops, but they patrol space. To me, the GL's(like Batman) is a section of the DCU that can stand on its own because of its deep mythology and many characters. To me, Green Lantern is an epic space opera. To widdle it down to a TV series makes me sad because of the budget restraints that will be placed on this show. However, knowing it is connected to feature films gives me hope that the scope of the GL's will expand as this universe of characters does.

Booster Gold is another fan favorite character that DC scholars have been hoping to see on a larger scale. The character is from the future but goes back in time with future tech to make himself seem like a superhero and get famous.  If you want the 411 on BG I recommend the comic series 52, or the Justice League Unlimited episode, The Greatest Story Never Told.

I saved the series Waller for last because I think it raises the most questions about the overall plan. The Flash is said to change the DC films, and I believe that was always its purpose. But I believed it was going to be a hard reboot with different actors. However, with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom coming out after The Flash we still have Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. Gunn also mentioned Waller including the Peacemaker cast. So, it doesn't seem like a hard reboot if we still have some of the same actors. Henry Cavill was a fan favorite. Why does he not get asked back if other actors are?  My best guess is twofold. 1) Superman is so essential to the new plan they wanted to make sure there was no comparison to the Snyderverse version of Superman to what the first film released will be. 2) We don't yet know all the pieces of this first chapter so, for now, we are left with questions that will just have to be answered later.

Overall, I like what was announced. I think there are a lot of safe choices, mixed with bold choices, to give everyone something to look forward to, and possibly make it distinguishable from Marvel. Of course, I have that fear that it could fail, but I trust James Gunn, and with the characters he has announced I can possible how they will fit into an overall story. Remember, Gunn worked very closely with Kevin Feige, and was almost handed a piece of the MCU kingdom as his own. But now he has been given his own kingdom to create.  And I wanna see what happens. 

MY THOUGHTS ON DC STUDIOS POSSIBILITES

 A few days ago, Jason Momoa walked out of Warner Bros Studios after taking a meeting with the new heads of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran. Momoa was gleefully excited, praising the duo and WB studio head, David Zaslav.  This was a different tone than we've seen recently from DC actors coming out of their Gunn and Safran meetings. Dwayne Johnson announced after his meeting with the studio duo they would not be moving forward with him as Black Adam at this time.  Before that, the Batgirl movie that was being made for HBO Max will not be released.  Zaslav supposedly feels the film wasn't good enough and would serve the studio better as a tax ride-off. Wonder Woman 3 is not moving forward, and Superman, Henry Cavill, is not coming back for another pass as the Man of Steel. All these things add up to the end of the DCEU that will finish with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in December.  But if Jason Momoa is no longer going to be the King of Atlantis, why is he so giddy?

Let me start off by saying I think Zach Snyder is decent director. But when he was picked to direct a Superman movie, I looked at his previous work and knew this was not the character for him. Warner Bros put him in charge of creating a cinematic universe to rival Marvel, but when the audience response didn't go how they wanted, or the box office numbers, they decided to play hopscotch with reworking The Suicide Squad and Justice League. By then, the damage was done.  In the eyes of general audiences DC's cinematic universe was less than Marvel's, despite having more heavy hitters like Superman and Batman. After years of trying to recover, and new leadership at WB, the DCU looks like it's about to get a fresh start. Zaslav's first priority was establishing its own studio for DC, much like Marvel had got years ago.  Then, putting two superhero movie veterans in charge of it, director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. Safran has been helping make DC movies for Warner Bros the last few years, and James Gunn is a geek God with films like Slither, Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker. 

So, what could these two have planned? James Gunn is very active on social media and has been talking about the importance of both Superman and Batman in their plans. We know they are looking for a younger actor than Henry Cavill to play a new Superman, in perhaps a Year 2 storyline like The Batman was.  We also know these plans involve Jason Momoa and his mile-wide grin. And we know that Gunn and Safran are meeting with The Batman director, Matt Reeves, and his plans for future related films.  Gunn has also stated that a few (not all) things they are planning will be announced by the end of January. With a little over a week to go, I think I'm part of the group that is drooling to find out what is to come.  But here are some of my ideas.

Superman. Clark Kent. Kal-El. The Man of Steel. The Last Son of Krypton. The Man of Tomorrow. The Big Blue Boy Scout.  I think WB and Zach Snyder were right to start their cinematic universe with a Superman movie.  He's the most important hero of them all. But what they failed to do was capture the hope and fun of the character.  The only time I saw Henry Cavill smile in those three films was when he was beating up Steppenwolf, or in a bathtub with Lois.  Superman is about inspiration. He doesn't want to lead; he wants us to strive for a better world.  Hope. That's what was missing from Zach Snyder's films, and that's what a Superman movie should be about. Hope. The first job I think Gunn and Safran are going to do is put the Big Blue Boy Scout back at the top of the DC food chain. Seeing Superman reveal himself to the world will not open the door for other heroes to step out into the light, but also draw enemies to Earth to face the challenge of the Last Son of Krypton.

Batman. Bruce Wayne. The Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader. I'll start off by saying, I love The Batman. And I think he has a big enough rogues gallery, and allies, to stay separate from the other DC characters. And that could be what they will do with Reeves Batverse, seeing how it's grounded in a world without super-powered aliens and mythical Gods.  But my fear is that Battinson will get the ax just like all the rest.  Of course, Batman will have to mix it up with the Justice League, but it won't be Robert Pattinson, and are we going to get two Batman character franchises running at the same time? I would like to see Reeves build on his version of The Caped Crusader, but I can see how it could end for the good of starting a new cinematic universe in the DCU.

Jason Momoa. Aquaman. The King of Atlantis.  At least he will be till the end of this year.  As an Aquaman enthusiast, I understood why Momoa was cast in the role years ago. He broke the stereotype of what Aquaman was perceived as.  I get it and I liked Aquaman.  But let me put it to you like this, if Cavill doesn't get to stay, nobody does.  I think the grin on Momoa's face after his DC meeting is because they gave him another part. A meatier, juicer, part. Lobo the space bounty hunter.  Google Lobo and tell me that doesn't look like Jason Momoa.  Watch any media with the character and tell that's not Jason Momoa.  He could be the perfect Lobo, and a linchpin in a new DC cinematic universe. My introduction to the character was in Superman: The Animated Series. In the episode, Lobo was hired to capture the Last Son of Krypton for an intergalactic collector, who collects rare things. I'd say the lone survivor of a dead world counts.  Lobo could come to Earth looking for a young Sups, then drag him out across the galaxy, thus opening Kal-El's eyes to all the beings and threats in the universe.  And Lobo is the exact kind of character James Gunn loves to play with.  If Gunn is writing a Superman movie, I'd say this kind of story may be something he'd write.

And if we step out into the galaxy, we're going to run into space cops, The Green Lantern Corps. Like Batman and his supporting characters, I think the GL's have enough for their own separate franchise. They are so diverse in their membership even if you just include the Earth Lanterns.  And don't get me started on the other color corps's. This mythology is ripe for the telling. 

Kevin Feige once said that the stories of the Marvel characters already exist with decades of publishing.  He and his team just have to adapt them for the screen and the cinematic universe.  That's what Warner Bros has failed to do these last ten years. They need to find out why Superman, Batman, and the rest of the DC pantheon of characters have been imprinted onto fanboys for generations. Why do we love them, and what are their best stories that can be interpreted to reach a wider audience?  It's not an easy code to crack, and I do not envy the clean-up job Gunn and Safran have ahead of them.  But I'm cheering for them, not because I dislike what Zach Snyder did, but because I love these characters and I want more people to love them as I do. Now, everyone hold your breath, cross your fingers, and look, up in the sky.

Wonder Woman: Year One

Tonight, many fans will get to see Wonder Woman in theaters, but before I go experience the newest DCEU film I thought it would be best to get more acquainted with WW's mythology since, I confess, I'm not a long-time reader of Diana Prince.  The only Wonder Woman story line I've truly ever enjoyed was Brian Azzarello's New 52 take on the Amazon Princess.  It was deep in Greek mythology and, I felt, added another layer to Diana's personal story.  

I tracked down the newest interpretation of Wonder Woman's origin story; Wonder Woman: Year One.  This way, I can gripe about all the stuff the filmmakers got wrong in the big screen adaptation.  The new take is set in modern times and is written by current WW writer Greg Rucka as part of DC Comic's Rebirth marketing campaign.

In Year One, a mysterious plane lands on the island of the immortal Amazons.  The only survivor is Colonel Steven Trevor, who is to be returned to where he came from.  But it is a task no Amazon will volunteer for because it means never being able to return to Themyscira and losing their immortality. A tournament is held to decide who will fly Colonel Trevor back(using an invisible jet) and naturally, Diana is the winner.  So, she takes Steve back home where she is quickly met by skepticism from the US government.  While imprisoned, Diana is visited by animal manifestations of the Greek Gods who grant her "gifts"  for taking on this crusade such as strength, flight, etc.  Diana and Steve soon begin working together to uncover the terrorist organization know as SEAR, which has a close tie to one of the Amazon's old enemies.

Again, I sought out this book to be a littler more prepared when entering the theater tomorrow night.  While at the library, I also found another recent Wonder Woman origin story, The Legend of Wonder Woman: Volume I: Origins.  This puts Diana in World War II fighting a disciple of Ares and Hades, and goes much more in depth to Diana's childhood, training, and her journey to becoming the hero known to the world as Wonder Woman.  The art is beautiful and it's got a lot of depth to it, but I also felt like it had a little too much "filler" characters and subplots that bogged down the real story. Year One on the other hand had almost the opposite problem where I don't think it explored the characters enough.  I guess that's the difference between telling a 6-part story and a 12-part story.  Although, Rucka does give Steve more background to make us(and Diana) want to care about him more.  

I also kind of admired Rucka's decision to make the Amazons be lovers.  In ancient times, the warriors would "comfort" each other, and their leaders allowed this because it made them fight harder to protect the soldier next to them.  So, it would only seem natural that on an island with only women,  Love Is Love.

Year One doesn't go into the circumstances of Diana's birth so I'm curious if the film will go into the the original origin of Wonder Woman, with Zeus making her out of clay, or the New 52 version where her powers come from the idea that she is a true demi-god.  Then again, maybe Rucka is just saving that for Year Two.

5 Forms of Wonder Woman Prep Material

This Friday(or Thursday night) is a big event in geek culture.  The oldest, and most famous, female superhero will be hitting the big screen in her own theatrical film.  This is something many have waited a while to see.  The comic book and superhero genre has long since been thought of as "boy's stuff", but there have been plenty of female super heroines to grace the pages of Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, and all the other publishing companies.  

Wonder Woman first appeared in All-Star Comics #8 in 1941, and was created by psychologist William Moulton Mason and illustrated by Harry G. Peter.  Throughout the years she's had a sorted history, and some would say an icon for feminism.  During the 1940's she was portrayed as strong to get women to keep the factory jobs alive while their men fought in World War II.  In the 1950's they wrote her weaker(and in need of man) to show women they "belonged" back at home now that men were back from the war.  And in the 1970's, Diana was de-powered completely and was more of a kung-fu expert instead of a superhero demi-god.  

Now the Amazon princess is about get her own solo film, and many are holding their breath, hoping that it's success will lead to a slew of female-led superhero films.  Early reviews are favorable for the film, saying it's the best film yet in Warner Bros. DC Cinematic Universe that started with 2013's Man of Steel, followed by last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad.  I've never been a big fan of Wonder Woman. But, I know what she represents, and I'm just as anxious as everyone to see the film. My hope is that it will not only be a step for female superheroes in film, but also change the path of the DCEU that will begin an uphill climb.  Listed below I have five pieces of entertainment starring Diana Prince that get me excited to see Wonder Woman in a few days.  Check them out, and get to know the Princess of Themyscira a little better before seeing her first solo film.

5)  Batman v. Superman:  Dawn of Justice(The Ultimate Cut)

When word came out that Gal Gadot was going to be playing the most famous super heroine in fiction there were some(like me) who did not agree with this decision.  The model-turned-actress had not proven she had the acting chops to pull of this iconic character.  She was too skinny for an Amazon and her part in the Fast & Furious franchise showed no potential for her to carry this heavy role.  

Batman v. Superman gives us our first glimpse of Gadot in the part, and while no one is doubting she looks great in the costume during the final action scene, she wasn't in the film long enough to get a good sense of how she will do on her own.  To this day, I am still worried about what I will get from Gadot when I sit down in the theater.  But from the trailers it looks like director Patty Jenkins did what all good directors do; she built a great supporting cast around the fresh star and had their performances make her look good.  At least, I hope that's what happend.

Side Note: if you do watch this film, please what The Ultimate Cut.  It's 30 minutes longer, but WAAAY better than the theatrical cut.  Whoever at Warner Bros thought taking those 30 minutes out of the film I hope was fired, because they didn't know that having a good product will help a film make $1 billion rather that getting more showings in a day by cutting the film and making it crap.

4)  Justice League (2001-2004)

This was probably my first real good exposure to Wonder Woman.  Bruce Timm's series spun-out of his Batman and Superman animated series and expanded to what we now see as the first TV or film DC connected universe.  This cartoon had four seasons, starting with the premiere that saw Diana leave Themyscira to help fight off an alien invasion by teaming up with Superman, Batman, Flash, and others.  

Voiced by Susan Eisnberg, Wonder Woman had some good stories in some great episodes.  The series even teased a long flirtation between her and Batman that is very interesting to watch progress.  Eisenberg went on to voice Wonder Woman for several other animated projects like Batman/Superman: Apocalypse and Justice League: Doom, but this one is still my favorite.  You can find all the episodes on Netflix. 

3) Wonder Woman (1975-1979)

I was too young to know about the TV series that was Wonder Woman starring Lynda Carter, but it's the most infamous version of the character to date.  Even I can't say the words "Wonder Woman" out loud without singing them.  Carter portrayed Diana as a strong and capable woman in a series some would consider cheesy by today's standards.  But the serious approach Carter took to the character is one of the reasons girls where spinning in their bedrooms hoping a rainbow flash would turn them into the Amazon warrior.

In 2011, NBC was looking to get another Wonder Woman TV series off the ground starring Friday Night Lights alumi Adrianne Palicki.  The series was not picked up and the pilot was never aired.  If the show did go to series we might never have gotten this big screen adaptation.  You can find the 1975 series on Amazon Digital and the 2011 pilot on "the black internet", but I have yet to see it.

2) Wonder Woman (2009)

These days I'm much more impressed with how Warner Bros is treating the DC characters in animated form that they are on the silver screen.  The people behind the animated films seem to handle the mythology of the superheroes better, and get what makes each character so beloved.  I just hope Patty Jenkins and the rest of the yahoo's at WB see this film as a great outline on how to do a Wonder Woman film correctly.

This adaptation has Keri Russell(The Americans, Felicity) voicing Diana, and is joined by other great casting choices such as Nathan Fillion, Rosario Dawson, Alfred Molina, and Oliver Platt.  It leans into the core of what Wonder Woman is all about by just updating the classic origin story and giving us characters to care about in the process.  Honestly, if Jenkins just remade this film in live-action form I have no doubt Wonder Woman will be a most enjoyable experience.  They just re-released the film on DVD and Blu-Ray.

1) Wonder Woman (2012-2016)

Like I said, I've never been an actual fan of Wonder Woman.  And while I credit the 'New 52' for ruining some of my favorite DC characters like Superman and Flash, I have to also give them props for making me completely enthralled with Wonder Woman for the first time in my life.  

Written by Brian Azzarello, the first seven volumes of this run are fantastic.  Diana finds out her true origins(which I won't spoil), and goes on a journey protecting a daughter of Zeus from his wife Hera's wrath.  I love greek mythology, and once again, the minds behind this Wonder Woman embrace her world, and give Diana a very personal character quest as she battles all the gods of Greece from Ares to Hades.  Sadly, I haven't latched onto the 'Rebirth' Wonder Woman as much, but I would recommend this as a starting point for anyone looking to learn more about Princess Diana of Themyscira.  

My Top 12 Geoff Johns DC Stories

Yes, I know.  This is one of those rare occasions when I sit down and actually write a blog entry.  I thought about doing this one via podcast, but my voice is gone so looks like I'm doing this one "old school."  Last week I read a list about the best comic book story lines written by Geoff Johns.  I am a big fan of Johns.  I like almost anything he writes, minus his early days on JSA, and maybe a few Justice League books.  But in his writing career he has rejuvenated Green Lantern, Flash, and Aquaman into hit series and characters.  

Because of his success with DC Comics he has moved up the ladder to president and Chief Creative Officer of DC.  The list I read last week had a lot of good story lines, some of which are my favorite, but some I felt were also left out.  I started making my own list of almost two dozen Johns books I enjoy and then whittled it down to my top twelve.  Let me know which ones are your favorite, or which ones you have yet to read!

12) Superboy: Boy of Steel

After returning from the dead, Connor Kent is determined to get his life back together.  He revisits his best friend and (ex)girlfriend who both have fallen on dark times since his death.  Connor attends Smallville High and tries to live his life like Superman did.  But after a run-in with Lex Luthor's sister he faces a moral dilemma not even Superman could choose between.

11) Green Lantern: Sinestro

Hal Jordan was the greatest Green Lantern of them all; and Sinestro their #1 enemy.  But after War of the Green Lanterns Hal is kicked out and Sinestro is chosen back into the Corps.  But Sinestro needs help, and the only one he trusts that can help him is Hal.  Sinestro grants him a temporary ring and the two show why their unique relationship is so engaging to read.

10) Aquaman: The Trench

For years, Aquaman was the laughing stock of the DC Universe.  People saw him as just a fast swimmer and a person who can talk to fish.  But after his resurrection in Brightest Day, Aquaman got his own solo title and showed why he is a big hitter in the DCU.  He's strong, bulletproof, and can control sharks.  I sure as hell wouldn't mess with him. 

9) Superman: Up, Up, and Away

Being a Superman fan, I will admit, I am little biased towards John's Superman stories.  It's been a year since Superman helped take down the alternate Superboy by flying him through a red sun, and de-powering them both.  Clark Kent has lived a normal life and getting along pretty well, until his powers slowly start to come back as well has his rogues gallery.  Clark has to get back into the swing of things before the return of his greatest foe; Lex Luthor.

8) Infinite Crisis

I will admit it, I am not a fan of the multiverse storylines.  I really don't like to read Crisis on Infinite Earths or Final Crisis, but I like Infinite Crisis for it's personal moments.  The Justice League has been fractured due to the discretions of key members, and the first issue ends with Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman having it out and Bruce burning Clark by saying, "The last time you inspired anyone was when you were dead."  From there an alternate Superboy and Superman try to save their Earth by destroying Earth One.  It all culminates in a battle through a red sun and the death of Connor Kent.    

7) Superman:  Last Son

Lois and Clark adopt a Kryptonian boy and have their hands full when they find out it's Zod's offspring; and daddy's home.  It's an interesting story that has Clark and Lois question something they never thought they'd be; parents.

JON:  Who's Wonder Woman?

LOIS:  Someone you won't meet until you're 17.

JON:  Who's Batman?

LOIS:  Someone you won't meet until you're 18.

6) Superman: Secret Origin

I terrific retelling of Superman's origin that hits all the high points.  From his awkward years discovering his powers in Smallville, to meeting The Daily Planet staff for the first time.  It's not as hard-edged as Birthright, or as poetic as A Superman For All Seasons, but this one is just a fun read.  At the end I always hear the John Williams score play in my head as Superman flies away.

5) Green Lantern: Secret Origin

After Johns brought Hal Jordan back into the spotlight he decided to reintroduce him to readers who may not have been around when he first appeared during the Silver Age.  This is the story about a rebellious pilot who couldn't stay out of trouble after his father's death.  He is chosen for the greatest honor in the universe and must learn to be responsible, while showing the Green Lantern Corps a few new tricks.  So disappointed the GL movie didn't turn out like this.

4) Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War

This tale re-establish Hal as the greatest Green Lantern of them all, and kicks off a story line that would expand the GL mythology in ways nobody ever thought.  After years of wielding a yellow ring by himself, Sinestro creates his own Yellow Lantern Corps that finds those who instill fear in others.  This Corps gives the GL's a run for their money as Kyle and Hal must both conquer their fears if they are to defeat Sinestro, and prepare for the Blackest Night.

3) Flashpoint

Some people think this story line is a bit weak, but I love that it not only gives an alternate look at our DC heroes, but also proves just how powerful Barry Allen is as the Flash.  Barry runs back in time to save his mother and ends up wrecking reality.  Clark Kent is a science experiment, Bruce Wayne is dead, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman are at war. Barry must give up his mother or leave the world in apocalyptic nightmare.  Barry's goodbye to his mother at the end left me in tears.

2) Green Lantern: Rebirth

This is the story that not only put Geoff Johns on the map, but reinvigorated Green Lantern for years to come.  Johns spent almost a decade writing GL and it started with giving Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps a "rebirth."  I really can't explain this book except to say that if you've only seen the Green Lantern movie it is a great jump-on point for GL, followed by nine years of great stories! 

1) Flash:  Rebirth

While Green Lantern will no doubt be the main chapter in Johns comic book legacy my favorite book of his, say one of my favorite books of all-time, is this one.  In Final Crisis, Barry Allen returns from the Speed Force to a world that as gone on without him.  While all his friends and family want to celebrate his return, Barry feels he must make-up for all the good work he could have done while he was gone.  Along the way, Barry runs into old enemies, new family, and the truth about the event that lead him to becoming the Flash.  It's a book about slowing down, and enjoying the things that matter in life that is beautifully written.

5 Things I Want To See in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'

Yes, I know.  It's been a LOOOOOOOOONG time since I have written an actual blog on Blogger.  I hopped on the podcast bandwagon and have been riding that engine ever since.  But I felt like a topic such as this one deserved my special touch.  So, I guess that means that from time to time you still may see me write an actual blog.  But don't hold your breath on it.

I am only a few hours away from watching a film most fanboys have wait years, if not their whole lives, to see.  Anyone who knows me, or heard me talk about Man of Steel, knows I had some major issues with it.  Though none of them had to do with their pick of Henry Cavill as Superman.  It's Zach Snyder's style I thought ruined the film, and ever since I heard he was not only continuing with Batman v Superman, but Justice League as well, I've been afraid of the entire DC Cinematic Universe expansion.  I loved the casting of Ben Affleck and Jeremy Irons as Batman and Alfred.  I hated the casting of Jesse Eisenberg and Gal Gadot as Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman.  I want to like this movie.  I'm trying my best to walk into it with hope and an open mind.  But even today, as I see bad headlines online, I am preparing for the worst.

While not a fan of the previous film it was not without merit.  Like I said, I liked Henry Cavill as Clark Kent, I liked Amy Adams and Laurence Fishburne as Lois Lane and Perry White.  And I loved the visual effects.  Seeing Superman and Zod fight, while very unnecessary, was cool to watch.  So in order to correct this ship that Man of Steel has launched I've thought of 5 things I'd like to see in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to get me on board with the DCCU moving forward.

1)  Superman must feel bad about killing Zod

I get that Superman kills every once and a while.  I've read enough comics to know he avoids it at all costs, but sometimes, it happens.  My main gripe with him snapping Zod's neck in MoS was tat it was the first Superman film of the reboot.  The audience didn't even get one film to establish his rule on not killing.  In Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy the first two entire films established that Batman went out of his way not to kill because it separates him from his enemies.  Is Snyder and writer David Goyer saying Superman has no quarrel with it?

I want Clark to draw the line in this film.  I want him to have thought about his actions and realized that Zod is the last life he'll ever take.  Jor-El sent Kal-El to Earth to "give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards".  Right now, Clark is down in the mud with the rest of us.  That isn't Superman.  Like Captain America, he is supposed to show us that the right thing to do is usually the hardest choice.

2)  Keep Doomsday's screen time minimal

When I saw that Lex was going to turn Zod's corpse into the villain known as Doomsday I was horrified.  And not by Doomsday's appearance.  It was that they took this iconic, powerful, villain and put him in the 2nd film of this cinematic universe.  Marvel has been teasing Thanos for 6 films!  In the comics, Doomsday took out the entire Justice League before killing Superman.  Now, it appears that a rookie Superman and Wonder Woman, along with Batman, can handle this force of nature.  Um.....no.  

However, if Doomsday shows up at the end of this film, and the Trinity realizes they can't take down this beast alone, so then they form the Justice League to help them.  I'd be on board with that.  If you're going to waste a good villain like Zod in the first Superman film, and then double tap that bad decision by turning him into Doomsday, at least make it worth our while. 

    

3)  Show me Darkseid

We've all seen the parademons and the Omega symbol in the Batman v Superman trailer.  So we can all guess that Darkseid will be the big bad guy in the Justice League film.  In the mid-credit scene for The Avengers we got our first glimpse of Thanos and had non-comic readers saying, "Isn't that Red Skull?"  I want a tease like that.  I've seen parademons; show me the big guy.  Show me the ultimate galactic villain that Warner Bros and DC thought it would be ok to have in the 5th film of their cinematic universe(Marvel is at 13 and still not fought Thanos).  I just wanna know what he looks like.  I figure the Justice League film will loosely be based on Geoff Johns New 52 storyline; Origin.  Or if you want to check out the animated film, Justice League: War to get an idea what the live-action film may be like, it's also based in Origin. 

4)  Lois supporting Clark

In several storylines we see that Lois is Superman's anchor to humanity.  I will also give some credit to Ma and Pa Kent.  Clark is a being who is so powerful he can take over the world; possibly the galaxy.  But his human emotions, like love, are what keep him humble.  Without them, he'd really think he was a god.  Governments and vigilantes are coming after Clark for the destruction of Metropolis.  He will feel ashamed.  He will feel like his mission is not worth it.  Lois has to be there to support him.  To know that world needs someone like him to give them hope.  And Lois needs to be there for him so that he doesn't have to be "Superman" all the time.  I love that Lois knows who Clark is right from that start.  So let's not waste it.

5)  Don't screw up Wonder Woman!!!!!

Ben Affleck has proven himself in recent years to be not only an accomplished actor, but a great film maker as well.  I have no worries that he will make a good Batman.  But giving the most iconic female superhero character in history to a model who is trying to start an acting career?  What were they thinking!!!!!  

Granted, I have been trying to hold off judgement on Gal Gadot until I see the film, but I have been VERY scared of this casting choice since the beginning.  The only thing I've seen Gadot in is the Fast & Furious films and I was not impressed at all.  Rumor has it WW isn't in the film enough to make or break it, but with her own solo film coming out next year I feel like the entire female superhero film sub-genre is on Gal Gadot's shoulders.  And those shoulders look like they can barely lift a lasso.