Latest news with #DCComics'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix's The Sandman still comes off like unimaginative cosplay
DC Comics' The Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman, was a groundbreaking and surreal series. However, the Netflix adaptation remains content to paint by the numbers. Superhero movies often take inspiration from their source material, but the better ones usually avoid directly translating stories to the screen word-for-word or panel-for-panel. As a TV show, The Sandman struggles to exceed or even match the original's stunning visual landscape, and its characters often feel like unimaginative cosplayers reciting Gaiman's dialogue. The Sandman's first season offered some compelling reasons for viewers to sympathize with its lead, Morpheus of the Dreaming (Tom Sturridge). He was kidnapped and held prisoner for a century; and once he escaped, he set out to reclaim what he had lost, both physically and spiritually. Sadly, the first half of The Sandman's second and final season doesn't deliver many satisfying reasons for us to care about what we're watching. These six new episodes are based on Season Of Mists and Brief Lives—and unfortunately, those very different tales are loosely connected through a specific plot point that just wanders off midway through its run, as if left unattended. Ultimately, this batch of installments serves as a character study for Morpheus, also known as Dream, who mostly sleepwalks through the proceedings. As drawn by artists Kelley Jones and Jill Thompson, the original Dream boasts a thrilling, unconventional weirdness that is absent on the screen. Instead, Sturridge performs the part as if he's a supernatural Mr. Darcy—or worse, Prince Charles from The Crown. There's far too much of the preening aristocrat and not nearly enough of the unknowable eternal being, with Sturridge delivering somber lines that feel stiff and joyless. A relentlessly dour Dream roams around rooms that resemble vampire-themed nightclubs and speaks in ponderous, whispered tones. It all comes off at times like a Key & Peele parody. Yes, he's the lord of dreams, but his very presence shouldn't put viewers to sleep. Critics have argued that the Netflix series is too faithful to Gaiman's work, but that's only true on the most superficial level. Overall, the TV series misses the mark on what made The Sandman so engaging and unique. Season Of Mists and Brief Lives were published in the early 1990s, and the Netflix adaptation exists in a seeming vacuum as if the past 30 years of TV fantasy and horror never happened. It's a curious choice. The Sandman is a clear spiritual ancestor to later genre entries such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Supernatural, and Gaiman's work shares (and perhaps even inspired) their quirky, tongue-in-cheek approach. Dream holding a 'dinner party' where he meets and greets the treacherous contenders for ultimate power could have played out like a timely spin on reality shows like The Traitors. Later, Dream and his (very odd) sister Delirium (Esmé Creed-Miles) embark on what is effectively a wacky road trip to find their estranged brother Destruction (Barry Sloane). The sight of the two on a commercial airline fight in the comic is a laugh-out-loud moment. But the Netflix series drains these situations of any trace of humor or sly wit. Simply put, the show is serious at a time when works of fantasy are confident enough to not take themselves so seriously. The first-season finale set up a potential epic war between Hell and the Dreaming that is never fully realized, so Gwendoline Christie's return as Lucifer is disappointingly anticlimactic. The series obviously struggles with Lucifer, the fallen angel who was the basis for the titular series on Fox (and later Netflix). Tom Ellis' crime-solving devil was a significant departure from the text, and apparently Netflix's The Sandman chose to distinguish between the two versions by eliminating most of Lucifer's puckish charm and Machiavellian edge. Christie's Lucifer is as mopey and sullen as Dream, so their scenes together lack the source material's tension. Gaiman's Lucifer, on the other hand, was openly based on David Bowie. It's a shame, as it feels like a waste of Christie's talent and a commanding presence. Kirby Howell-Baptiste's Death is a necessary departure from the comic's now-dated 'pale goth girl,' yet the incongruity of a hip, perky, teenage embodiment of Death helped make her a fan-favorite character. Howell-Baptiste plays her as almost timeless, not really of this particular moment. She's more mature and somber than her on-the-page counterpart, so just what you might imagine from the personification of Death. And that brings up a big conundrum with the series: There are rarely any surprises. The comic was famously adventurous, frequently pushing the boundaries of its format, while the Netflix series is predictably straightforward, without the madcap nature of an actual dream. But on the plus side, the show does make a change to a character from Brief Lives that is particularly relevant for today, with the story directly challenging the cruel prejudice some people can't escape even in death. This tweak also affords a rare moment of genuine compassion from Dream (something the show could have used more of). And in other good news, Mason Alexander Park remains something of a revelation as Desire, imbuing Dream's younger sibling with layers of complexity. They are simultaneously seductive and sinister—and luckily (given that this is such a predictable adaptation), Desire should play a larger role in the final half of season two, which adapts The Kindly Ones and Overture. In the end, the experience of watching Netflix's The Sandman is like listening to a cover band perform one of your favorite songs: It's a passable version of something you've long enjoyed, with familiar beats that are comforting—even if nothing new or original has been added. And for newbies, there is still enough left of the original's imaginative world to entertain. The Sandman season two, volume one premieres July 3 on Netflix More from A.V. Club Duster's LaToya Morgan and Rachel Hilson on rooting a very '70s story in the here and now Spoiler Space: Jurassic World Rebirth once again makes dinosaurs everyone's problem Sinners got a bunch of its costumes from Marvel's abandoned Blade period movie Solve the daily Crossword
Newsroom
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsroom
The history of the world's greatest superhero
Nearly a century ago, a man in red and blue lifted a car on the cover of Action Comics #1. It didn't take long for that man of steel to fly off the comic page and into radio … then onto the small and big screens, books, merchandise and anything else you might care to name. If anything is going to bring movie-watchers back to the cinema it's Superman – and the latest iteration is out this weekend, simply called Superman. The latest interpretation comes from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. After a long streak of darker, more brutal and gritty interpretations, Gunn has returned to a more traditional, hopeful take. The bearer of that red shield is arguably the most iconic character ever made, but over so much time, and having passed through the hands of so many varied creators, no character is going to remain unchanged. Today on The Detail we look at how Superman changed over his many years, and his surprising origin story, and we speak to Stu Colson, the co-owner of Auckland comic shop Heroes For Sale. He says every time a superhero gets a new lease of life on the big screen, it's like a two-hour advertisement for his shop. Superman might not be his best seller – that honour rests with the Dark Knight, Batman – but Colson says Superman's legacy and the history of his impact on pop culture is unrivalled. Superman wasn't the first comic hero. In 1936 Lee Falk published the daily newspaper strip 'The Phantom' about a purple-suited fighter of justice. But in 1938 Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster made a story about an alien from another planet being raised in the USA and choosing to use his superhuman powers to do good. Colson agrees he's probably the most iconic character ever written. 'His legacy and the history of his impact on pop culture I don't think has been rivalled by anyone else.' In the 1950s he was easily the biggest pop culture phenomenon America had ever seen, with summer camps dedicated to him. 'The radio plays were so popular that the guy who voiced Superman … after a few years said 'I need a break, I need some time off with my family', and that's where kryptonite actually came from. So he went off on his holiday and in the story Superman was taken down by kryptonite so they just had another actor lie on the floor in the studio and groan for three weeks. 'It's a fantastic plot device.' Superman was born just before World War II broke out, but he wasn't a reaction to global uncertainty. The legend goes that Jerry Siegel's father, a tailor in Ohio, was fatally attacked in his haberdashery in 1932, so the character was a son's bullet-proof invention. This protector had working-class origins, and was something of a socialist. Once upon a time Superman represented 'truth, justice and the American way', but in 2021 DC Comics' chief creative officer said Superman now stood for 'truth, justice and a better tomorrow'. 'I think he's the exact opposite of what's going on in America right now,' says Colson. 'He's the symbol of what they were, not what they are now. I mean, he's an immigrant. He's the ultimate immigrant, he's an alien. He's there to help all of those people, he'd be on the front line of those protests against Ice imprisonments. 'He would be trying to stop insider trading somehow … you know he'd be using the Justice League to get on top of that. 'I think he would incredibly disappointed at his adopted homeland were he a real character. 'This is not the America he was there protecting. Lex Luthor is probably more of a symbol of America right now.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Krispy Kreme unveils 'heroic' new doughnut collection: See flavors
Krispy Kreme has unveiled a new doughnut collection with a heroic twist. The doughnut chain announced on Tuesday, July 8, its "Hungry for Heroes" collection in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. The collection includes three new doughnuts celebrating DC Comics' most iconic heroes: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The doughnuts are available individually and in a custom-designed dozen's box beginning July 8 and for a limited time at participating U.S. shops. Customers can purchase the collection in-shop, for pickup or delivery via Krispy Kreme's app and website. 'We can't promise you'll reach Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman level by bringing a dozen doughnuts to the office or your next get-together, but you will be a hero,' said Dave Skena, Chief Growth Officer at Krispy Kreme, in a news release. Krispy Kreme offers free superhero doughnut with purchase In addition to announcing the collection, Krispy Kreme also announced a sweet deal customers can take advantage of. From July 24-27, coinciding with San Diego Comic-Con, the doughnut chain will offer all customers who show their appreciation for their favorite DC superhero while visiting participating shops nationwide one free Hungry for Heroes doughnut with any purchase, while supplies last. According to Krispy Kreme, customers can show their love by wearing merch, sharing their enthusiasm or presenting a movie ticket to redeem the offer. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Superman star Nicholas Hoult reveals new 'love' after secret wedding
Nicholas Hoult is taking on the iconic role first made famous by Gene Hackman in an all new cast for the much anticipated DC Comics' movie Superman, released in UK cinemas in July It has been almost 50 years since Christopher Reeve took on the iconic role of Superman and made the world believe a man can fly. But next month, a new generation will embark on the Man of Steel's latest adventures, when director James Gunn's reboot of the superhero saga hits cinemas, as part of a new era from the DC Comics universe. Rising star David Corenswet is donning the famous red cape for the eagerly awaited fantasy movie, which follows Superman's journey to reconcile his alien Krypton heritage with his adoptive human family on Earth. Cast as Superman's arch enemy Lex Luthor - a role made famous by the late Gene Hackman in the original 1978 movie - for British actor Nicholas Hoult, this is the chance to join Hollywood's elite. Nicholas, 35, has starred in hit movies Mad Max: Fury Road, X Men: Apocalypse, Tolkien and last year's Oscar nominated gothic vampire hit Nosferatu. But, after being hooked on the Superman origins TV series Smallville growing up, he feels he was destined to play Lex Luthor. He says: "Back in 2001 when Smallville came out I was 11 or 12. 'Since then I have seen the Superman movies." James Gunn's new movie takes inspiration from the 12 issue All-Star Superman fantasy comic books. And Nicholas could not wait to replicate the bald headed Luthor from the comics, saying: "At one time I was thinking of letting my two boys shave it for me. "I have shaved my head before for Mad Max: Fury Road. That was in-fact the last time I shaved it." Nicholas also grabbed the chance to "buff up" after noticing that Luthor was as muscular as Superman in the DC comics. He says: "There's that bit in All-Star Superman where he (Superman) talks about his muscles being real and hard work and all that. I kind of took that as a little bit of fuel for the fire. "I do try and exercise most days. I boxed for quite a few years.' An actor since he was three, when he appeared as Bobby in the 1996 movie Intimate Relations, starring Dame Julie Walters and Rupert Graves, a few years later Nicholas was spotted by the famous London-based Sylvia Young Theatre Agency. His sister Rosanna and brother James were also interested in acting and he would tag along if they went to classes. "One time, my older sister went to meet someone from Sylvia Young and they were like, 'Well, we will represent all your kids'. So that was kind of it,' he says. And, in 2002, aged 11, his life changed forever when he got his movie breakthrough, starring alongside Hugh Grant in the hit film About A Boy. At first, Nicholas was reluctant to take the part, fearing his schooling would suffer. But his role as lonely schoolboy Marcus thrilled critics and helped make the movie almost £100 million at the box office. "Doing About A Boy when I was 11, that was a big step up for me,' he says, admitting he did not expect his success to continue - especially as everyone around him warned how often child actors became troubled. 'I felt as if I would like to continue doing it, but I also had a little bit of hesitancy, because it was like 'I don't know if this will work', he says. But About A Boy was lauded by critics and, just five years later, Nicholas was cast as the lead in the hit teenage drama Skins. The ground-breaking E4 series, which followed a group of sixth formers in Bristol, was perhaps the first of its kind to tackle issues such as mental illness, depression, eating disorders and sexuality. And it gave Nicholas his first glimpse into the good and bad aspects of celebrity. 'I remember sitting inside a car outside Marylebone station in London. At one point, people just stood outside the car watching me,' he says. "I remember just feeling that it was scary and I was like, 'I don't know about this'". He feared that he would spend his life being watched. Today, Nicholas is certainly one of Britain's most watched stars. Since Skins, he has appeared alongside Colin Firth in fashion designer Tom Ford's 2009 movie A Single Man, as well as appearing in the X Men film series Deadpool 2 and in the Golden Globe nominated TV comedy drama series The Great. Recently, he appeared in a music video for The Rolling Stones and he's provided voiceovers for children's movies such as Watership Down and The Garfield Movie. Nicholas says his love of acting is inherited from his distant aunt, Dame Anna Neagle, who was voted the most popular actress in Britain back in 1949. He says: "She was a great, great aunt somehow removed. We never met. I'm not entirely fully sure how we're connected, but that is what I've been told. I don't know if it's (acting) in my blood. "Acting wasn't something that I woke up one morning and did on my own accord. I was doing it and I enjoyed it and carried on." Outside work, Nicholas shares his life with his two sons and Californian model wife Bryan Holly. Last November, he revealed to the world that they had secretly married, having dated since 2016. He also has a new love - for racing Ferraris. He says: "The fastest I drove was at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. I think we hit about 170mph on the back straight there. "Weirdly, I was trying not to glance down because traveling at that speed you don't really want to glance down too long, because you might miss something. "Going in the straight line fast isn't the worrying bit. It's going around the corners fast, which is more scary, because that's when things can go wrong." Nicholas, who has now graduated from Ferrari's Corso Pilota driving school, says his hobby means he has to reassure film studio bosses that he is not putting himself at risk. And he has received legal contracts from worried movie execs. He says: 'Sometimes I sign them, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I'm like, 'Well, what's the risk here?'' Another thrill Nicholas enjoys is ice baths. He says: "I do love my cold plunge pool. I've got up to about two and a half minutes now. It is all about breathing. If you put your hands in it is a game changer. "I try to do it most days. The first minute is the toughest because that's when your body is like shocked. But once you go past the minute, you're kind of almost numb to it. "I see the benefits as it releases adrenaline. Also, mentally, I feel this kind of sharpness and clarity and all that sort of thing. "There was one day when I got in and I glanced at the clock, sat there a bit longer then glanced again. Then I realised the hand on the clock had jammed. I had no idea how long I'd been in there!" Once his Superman journey is over, Nicholas' next planned movie, in 2026, How To Rob A Bank, will reunite him with his Mad Max co-star Zoe Kravitz - daughter of rock star Lenny. Delighted with his career progress, Nicholas - whose heroes include Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Clint Eastwood and Anthony Hopkins - feels he is finally improving as an actor. 'The 30s for an actor are hopefully when the roles get really good and interesting and whatever,' he says. "If I could go back 10 years and look now to this, I'd be thrilled."
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marvel vs. DC: Superman nominated as 'Ohio's official superhero,' snubs Incredible Hulk's Dayton connections
May 28—A proposal at the Ohio Statehouse would proclaim Superman as the state's official superhero, but DC Comics' "Man of Steel" isn't the only superhero with Ohio connections, including a certain angry green scientist who's from Dayton. Reps. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland, are cosponsors of the bill, which would designate Superman as the "official superhero of the state," beginning on April 18, 2033, a year before Superman enters the public domain. "Superman is the first and greatest of superheroes, even though personally I do prefer Batman," said Mathews. "But Superman was created in Cleveland and this summer is a great time to highlight this fact, because the newest movie was filmed primarily in Cleveland and Columbus, highlighting the art deco architecture that's become just as much a character of the DC Universe as Green Arrow, Green Lantern or the others." Ohio isn't the only state to memorialize Superman in some fashion. Kansas — the home of the fictional Smallville, where Clark Kent was raised — inducted Superman into its state Hall of Fame in 2013. Additionally, Metropolis, Illinois, styled as "Super City," hosts the annual Superman Celebration each June. Superman first appeared on the page of Action Comics #1, on April 18, 1938. The character was originally created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, both of whom were born in Cleveland to immigrant Jewish parents. Siegel and Shuster's origins were a major influence on the earliest portrayals of Superman, as were the political and economic conditions of the time, said Jared Whittaker, manager of Super-Fly Comics and Games in Yellow Springs. Superman's earliest adversaries included greedy mine owners, crooked politicians, and labor racketeers. Lex Luthor's first appearance in the comics in 1940 casts him as a war profiteer who wishes to take over the world once Earth's nations have been weakened in conflict. " At the time, you had a very depressed economic state," Whittaker said. "In the very first (issues), Superman is a hero for low-income people. Some of that includes people who are holding common people down." As the world entered World War II, Spiegel and Shuster shifted to portraying Superman as a character that stood up for the defenseless, and even on occasion to Hitler himself, according to the Ohio History Connection. "World War II had a big part in creating fictionalized battles, where the superheroes could go and fight," said Peter Bell, owner of Bell Book and Comic in Dayton. "Captain America was Marvel's symbol of freedom from the Nazis, and so Superman, even though he was not 'American,' but grew up in the US, and he was raised as a US person ... it made sense that Superman was their flagship at the time." Hulk origin story in Dayton Superman, however, isn't the only superhero with connections to Ohio. Bruce Banner, the alter ego of Marvel's The Incredible Hulk, was born in Dayton. Given the choice, Bell said, he would have voted for the Hulk as Ohio's superhero, but "I'm a little biased towards my city," he said. "When Marvel got started, Stan Lee and everybody wrote into our real world," said Bell. "Spider Man's from Queens, Captain America is from New York City too, and they actually used real cities in our country to ground those heroes in our reality. That's one reason why Marvel took off so well, because, 'Oh my gosh, Spider-Man, this is a kid who's just like me.'" The Incredible Hulk was created by the legendary Marvel writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and made his first appearance in his namesake comic in 1962. The series ran for only six issues, but the Hulk went on to appear in other comics, and the Incredible Hulk was relaunched in 1968. Later, in the 80s and 90s, other Marvel writers including Bill Mantlo and Peter David fleshed out Bruce Banner's origins, including establishing his roots as the child of an alcoholic father in Dayton, Ohio. The Hulk returns to Dayton in later issues of the comics, including one where he attempts to infiltrate a facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. As comics matured as a medium, Superman's "truth, justice, and the American way," gave way to darker stories with more complex themes in the broader comic landscape. However, Superman's simplicity makes him the better pick for a symbolic role, said Whittaker. "Superman, for what this is supposed to represent, I guess it's probably better ... being the first superhero, and kind of being this kind of very revered character versus the Hulk. The Hulk isn't bad, but the whole 'gets mad and breaks stuff' thing doesn't really have a lot of the iconic, relatable feel to it," Whittaker said. Other superheroes and comic book characters from Ohio include Black Alice, a teenage superhero from Dayton who appears in Gail Simone's Birds of Prey. Additionally, the cast of Scooby Doo is said to be from the fictional town of Coolsville, Ohio, and secondary character Tommy Glass — appearing in Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque's American Vampire — is from Dayton. "We are excited that Ohio is being shown off. As Superman enters the public domain in 2034, Ohio needs to be prepared to highlight to the whole world that, while the Cleveland native sons of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster have said he was born in Smallville, Kansas, Superman is from Ohio and he's ours," Mathews said.
