Surprising as it may seem, Comic-Con International: San Diego 2016 represents directorLuc Besson’s first appearance at the annual event. And to commemorate the occasional, the filmmaker behind such movies as The Fifth Element and Leon: The Professional was presented with an Inkpot Award.

“I know all the guys who’ve received this before me, so I feel pretty lucky,” said Besson. Placing the statuette in front of him, he added, “I’m going to put it here, and after a few minutes, you’ll tell me if I deserve it.”

The director and his producing partner Virginie Besson-Silla presented a number of slides revealing the world of Alpha, the titular location in their upcoming film, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. As described by Besson-Silla, the Alpha grew from an American Apollo capsule and a Soviet Soyuz capsule into a sprawling extension of the world, and then the galaxies. By 2300, it had to move out of Earth orbit before endangering the planet. And by 2700, it was the center of commerce, science and politics in the known universe. As Besson-Silla put it, “It’s a place where everybody wants to be.”

A number of the slides revealed the look of Alpha’s interior, a place that at once seems like clockwork, but is also a mishmash of different alien environments and human infrastructure. Others revealed some of the aliens Valerian and his partner Laureline will encounter along the way. While some resemble humanoid or bipedal creatures, others require encounter suits to interact with the humans on Alpha.

One group of aliens, the Dogendaggies — spelling to be confirmed — come straight from the French graphic novel series by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières. Besson-Silla described them as information brokers who split the beginning, middle and end of vital intelligence to guarantee their lives are never taken. Yet more stills offered a brief look at the desert world of Kirian, home to the biggest market in the universe and a major setting in the film.

After that, Besson showed some vacation slides. No really! The film ended principle photography five weeks ago. And immediately afterward, the director took a quick vacation to clear his mind for editing. Luckily, he put some of that refreshed energy into a handful of brief scenes screened at the panel.

One saw Dane DeHaan’s Valerian prepare to jump through a wall and fall down several levels of Alpha. He’s not particularly enthused to do it. Another sees Laureline — played by Cara Delevingne — abandon the controls of their ship, the Intruder, when Valerian questions her flying. In a moment that seems to happen soon after, the pair disembark theIntruder looking like tourists. Yet another quick scene revealed Ethan Hawke as a sort of space pimp and Rihanna as a cabaret performer.

The scenes are quick and the effects far from complete, but the energy is interesting. A further scene sees Laureline escape some guards to track down the Dogendaggies. One last montage sees Valerian complete his jump through a half-dozen environments. The movie looks, at least from these glimpses, looks insane.

Following the clips, DeHaan described Valerian as “a space bro” who “thinks he’s the greatest, hottest, most capable guy in the universe, but he’d be nothing without Laureline.” The actor believes the character knows that deep down, but maintains an emotional armor, acting like the toughest dude instead.

Laureline joins a long tradition of kick-ass woman in Besson’s films. Delevingne said the character is a “strong, independent and hard working woman in a partnership. They wouldn’t be able to do what they do without each other. It’s a wonderful thing to be part of such a pairing.”

“I wanted actors who are passionate,” said Besson of his star duo.

“It didn’t feel like a job,” added Delevinge. “There were new surprises and adventures everyday.”

When asked how Valerian compares to The Fight Element, Besson said, “Twenty years ago, I was weird. Now, the world is as weird as me. Now, we match.” He added that The Fifth Element was the last sci-fi film before the real digital revolution. “The Fifth Elementhad 200 effects shots. This one has 2700,” he explained. “It was the last film done the old way where you lock your camera and do one shot per day. One year later, you could do anything.” He jokingly referred to Valerian as his “vengeance” for missing the digital revolution.

During a brief audience Q&A, DeHaan mentioned the brief clip with Rhianna barely scratches the surface of her character. “Really, you guys don’t even know. Rihanna’s part is so crazy,” he said. The actor worked with her during his first two weeks on the set and mentioned whenever he told friends what he was doing, “their jaws dropped, they were so jealous.”

Besson also confirmed that the film is not an origin story, with Valerian and Laureline already working together as the story opens.

When the actors were asked why big sci-fi or comic-inspired films appealed to them, Delevingne responded with “Fans. People get so involved in the characters. It’s a world you can lost in because sometimes this world sucks.”

Finally, a fan asked why Besson pays so much attention to hats in his films. The entire group let out a big laugh and teased that a hat will feature in a key scene in the film. “A big hat,” said Delevingne.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets opens on July 21st, 2017. (Via Bleeding Cool)

The Bluey-mania continues.The series’ first special, titled “The Sign,” made its Disney+ debut on April 14. After seven days of viewing, the episode drove 10.4M views globally, according to the streamer.In fact, the company says that’s the largest seven-day premiere audience for any Disney Junior episode — and any episode of Bluey — ever on Disney+.Disney+ rarely releases viewership figures, and this is the first time the streamer has done so for Bluey. However, the company did reveal Monday that it is consistently among the top five series on Disney+ by monthly views. (via Deadline)

The bickering duo of Marvel are at it again: The trailer for Deadpool and Wolverine dropped today, and finds Ryan Reynolds‘ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine doing what they do best. “Hi peanut,” Deadpool says to a drowning-his-sorrows Wolverine. “I’m going to need you to come with me right now.” The trailer contains enough quips, fights, insults and R-rated verbiage to satisfy a universe, Marvel or otherwise. It's alll set to the tune of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer.” (via Deadline)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/cen0rBKLuYE

Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products invite fans to pounce into the big new companion comic book series for the smash-hit ThunderCats mythos, as Cheetara rockets into her own title led by the stellar Soo Lee (Carmilla: The First Vampire).

In a historic first for the franchise, the fierce feline warrior famous for her lightning-fast speed is being showcased in a multi-issue story of her own. Writer/artist Soo Lee is joined by rising artist Domenico Carbone on ThunderCats: Cheetara, with the first issue releasing this July!

Before the founding of Third Earth, before the destruction of Thundera, Cheetara was a young woman with secrets. Now, for the first time, these secrets will be revealed. Wrapped in a stifling life of Thunderian nobility, she seeks to find her place in an unsure universe, and to understand why she's experiencing alarming visions of both the ancient past and the near future...

"There are some very cool things about Cheetara that have been overlooked in the original cartoon, things that I really want to make the center of her story," said writer Soo Lee. "She's also iconic and very strong, it makes sense she gets her own series. It's a look into one of the most important supporting characters.





The new era of ThunderCats comics have been blazing up the charts, with fans hotly anticipating each new issue in the flagship series by Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss. For the new series spotlighting Cheetara, Soo Lee has been following the title and collaborating with Shalvey, alongside some binging of the original show and fandom resources to guide her own tales. All that said, this is a separate series that fans can jump right into and not worry about tight chronology with the preceding ongoing.

Lee also contributes a stunning cover to the series in her style. She's joined by superstar Sozomaika, Lesley "Leirix" Li, Rebeca Puebla, and Edwin Galmon.

No matter how fast Cheetara can run, she can never outrun her own past!



THUNDERCATS: CHEETARA #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!

Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products are excited to announce sugar, spice, and everything nice! Three of the most powerful superheroes are back together for new comic stories starting this summer from a team of superstar creators in Kelly Thompson and Paulina Ganucheau!

Professor Utonium added a little extra to that famous recipe, when some Chemical X was thrown into the concoction. And lo, The Powerpuff Girls were born! Since that day, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have dedicated their lives to fighting evil in all its forms. Their awesome powers and teamwork tirelessly defend their idyllic city from the likes of petty criminals, marauding monsters, and diabolical super-villains alike.

They're sweet, they're petite, and they can't be beat! Eisner Award-winner Kelly Thompson is one of the biggest names in comics and she's the perfect match for this trio of fearless heroes. She is known for DC's critically acclaimed Birds of Prey, acclaimed runs on Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Deadpool, and contributions to both Spider-Man and X-Men. Thompson has also knocked it out of the park on other franchises from television and animation like Jem and the Holograms and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Taking the reins on artwork, Paulina Ganucheau is acclaimed for her brilliant "Adventures of Young Diana" feature in issues of DC's Wonder Woman. She's also contributed to titles like My Little Pony, Zodiac Starforce, and Rainbow Brite. The duo's shared grasp on superheroics and balancing their storytelling for diverse ages fits the Powerpuff Girls to a tee — topped off only by their passions for the franchise!

"I have to say, I am a very big fan of The Powerpuff Girls," said writer Kelly Thompson. "So much so that when I was young — just out of art school — I even wrote a few short stories and began to storyboard them in hopes I could get a job on the show! So this just feels… exactly right. I was over the moon to get the offer."

Artist Paulina Ganucheau added, "I grew up obsessed with them. Had my own PPG OC and everything. I was on a Powerpuff Girls oekaki board way back in the day where all we did was draw in that style. I remember calling into Cartoon Network for PPG merch giveaways even. So yeah, safe to say: very exciting!"

Editor Nate Cosby added, "I was like, y’know who’d write an unbelievably awesome Powerpuff Girls story? Probably Kelly “Eisner-Freaking-Award-Winner” Thompson. And then I was like, y’know what artist’d blow people’s minds drawing The Powerpuff Girls? Probably Paulina “Eventually-Will-Be-An-Eisner-Winner-Too” Ganucheau. And after seeing what KT/PG have cooked up, I can confirm that my “probably’s” have turned into “definitely’s.""

In talking about the series, Thompson made sure to emphasize that just like the show, this comic is aimed at both younger and older audiences. The comic is aiming to capture a magic mix of heart and fun, with clever self-awareness that makes it rewarding for everyone. While artistically, the show's iconic designs and popping colors translate perfectly to the comics page. Uniquely rare today in comics, stories will be done in one so fans can pick up any issue and enjoy!

Fans can of course look forward to seeing plenty of the titular super-trio, as well as their father Professor Utonium, the Mayor of Townsville, Miss Keane, and iconic villains like Mojo Jojo, HIM, Fuzzy Lumpkins, Sedusa, the Rowdyruff Boys, and perhaps even more as the series goes on!

Ganucheau delivers the lead cover, an eye-catching vision of the girls taking on several of their infamous foes. Thompson's Birds of Prey and Hawkeye collaborator Leonardo Romero contributes a cover. Two more from Karen S. Darboe and Nicoletta Baldari round out the colorful classics on the first issue.

Dynamite has even more surprises in store for this series that fans will not want to miss!



POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!

One of my favorite scenes in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and yes, I liked the film, was when Hank Pym showed up with his ant friends to save the day. I’ve been a Hank Pym fan since I was a kid, never really happy with what comics did to him later on, but really liking Michael Douglas’ performance as the character. That was Hank’s hero moment, and I was all there for it. Douglas has since said that he would only return to the character if he was going to be killed off. Turns out, Douglas wanted that to happen in Quantumania. He was on The View promoting his new series Franklin and said: “[Getting killed off] actually was my request for the third one. I said I’d like to have a serious [death], with all these great special effects. There’s got to be some fantastic way where I can shrink to an ant size and explode, whatever it is. I want to use all those effects. But, that was on the last one. Now, I don’t think I’m going to show up [for a fourth].” It’s unclear what the future of the Ant-Man franchise will be with the poor performance of the most recent film, but Kevin Feige never forgets about characters, and you never know just where he might show up again if Douglas is willing.   

Skybound Entertainment is getting ahead of a potential scandal. The studio created by Robert Kirkman and home of titles like The Walking Dead and Invincible put out a statement this morning addressing concerns that they might be working with a North Korean company. They explain that there is an unconfirmed report of a cloud storage server connected to a North Korean IP address and that it contains an Invincible animation sketch. It was followed by an official statement that reads: “We do not work with North Korean companies, or any affiliated entities, and have no knowledge of any North Korean companies working on our animation. Our policies strictly prohibit any subcontracting to any third-party without our express prior written consent, which, in this case, was neither sought nor granted. We also mandate that all our service providers fully comply with all applicable rules and regulations and prohibit disclosures of materials by our service providers to third parties. Skybound Entertainment takes these allegations seriously and has initiated a thorough internal review to verify and rectify any potential issues. We have also notified the proper authorities and are cooperating with all appropriate bodies.” The sanctions on North Korea would prohibit Skybound from using animation studios based in North Korea, hence the company wanting to nip these rumors in the bud. 

This morning James Gunn posted a simple image to Threads and of course multiple articles were written about it. What did the writer/director of the upcoming Superman movie post to get this quick a reaction? The original Superman logo, the simple red “S” on the yellow badge that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first put on the early sketches of the character in 1936. It appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938 but would change to a triangle shape with red borders quickly that same year. The logo changed a lot in the first few years and wouldn’t settle on the most recognized version until 1944. We already know that the logo for his Superman is going to be similar to the one created by Alex Ross for Kingdom Come but with yellow instead of black. Many of the articles posted try to figure out what Gunn is trying to say by the post. There’s no text with it, he just posted the first logo. It’s possible that Gunn isn’t trying to send a message with this anymore than he was with the picture he shared of his cat the day before. The people who follow these films and the websites that cover them are always looking for clues and Easter Eggs and that’s mainly because the people that produce these films love teasing their fans… but sometimes what Sigmund Freud said is true, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. 

When word came out that the upcoming Joker: Folie à Deux was going to be a “jukebox musical” a lot of fans of the original Todd Phillips film became nervous. The original 2019 Joker was extremely gritty and dark, so the idea of the sequel having the main characters bust into popular songs didn’t sit too well with a few people. Now director Phillips is setting the record straight, saying, "We've never really talked about it like that but it's a movie where music is an essential element and, to me, it doesn't veer to far from the first film." He went on to say that this fits with the character introduced in the first film, "Yeah, Arthur is weird and aloof...but he has music in him." This does go against the original report that the film was going to have 15 covers of popular songs from the recent past, but it also said that the film would break the mold of traditional musicals. The Joaquin Phoenix lead Joker made over $1 billion and Warner Bros is hoping that the sequel, with addition of Lady Gaga, will do just as well when released this October. 

One of the big, rumored cameos associated with the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine is the potential of megastar Taylor Swift appearing in the film as the mutant/singer Dazzler. The character has an extremely interesting creation, having been a collaboration between Marvel and Casablana Records as a multi-media disco star that could appear in comics, make music, and eventually go into film. Where the idea originated is debated, but the initial design was based on singer/actress Grace Jones at first, but when John Derek showed interest in doing the movie, Dazzler’s look changed to appear very similar to John’s wife Bo Derek who was coming off the film 10. The movie never happened, but Dazzler had her own solo series, and she would eventually be retconned into being a mutant, her powers to turn sound into light, and would work with the X-Men. There have been rumors floating around for some time about Swift being part of the movie because of her friendship with star Ryan Reynolds and his wife, actress Blake Lively. We move to yesterday’s release of Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, which was a surprise double album, and one of the songs, Clara Bow, ends with the line: “The future is bright, dazzling.” While it might seem like a stretch to see that as a tease for her potential role, we know that Swift loves to put “Easter Eggs” into her album and the Deadpool & Wolverine is believed to have a bunch of surprise cameos, so who knows. This one could be true.