Not long after teasing that there might be more plans in the offing for characters from his new movie The Suicide Squad, James Gunn’s return to DC (in some capacity) has been confirmed.  Warner Bros. executive Walter Hamada, who is in charge of the DC Films label, said in an interview today that Gunn had more projects in the works with DC and Warner.  It is not immediately clear whether Hamada’s plans involve the teased The Suicide Squad spinoffs, or whether Warner Bros. — who had reportedly tried to get Gunn to direct a Superman movie before he landed on Squad — might have something new in mind for the filmmaker.

The confirmation came in the form of a story from The Hollywood Reporter.  In an article that spoke with cast and crew of the upcoming DC film, Hamada was asked about the prospect of bringing Gunn back once the director is done with Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3.

“He’ll be back,” Hamada told THR. “We have more stuff planned.”

The film is tracking to earn about $70 million in its opening weekend — one of the biggest weekends of the post-pandemic era, and nearly as big as Marvel’s opening for Black Widow. That alone would have been enough to suspect Gunn might return, but the filmmaker’s seemingly boundless enthusiasm for the property, the cast, and the possibility of spinoffs really had most people convinced even before Warner opened up about it.

In The Suicide Squad, welcome to hell — a.k.a. Bell Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A.  Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out — even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X.  Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin, and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn.  Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

The Suicide Squad will see the return of Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman as Colonel Rick Flag, and Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang from 2016’s Suicide Squad.   Joining them in the film are David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Steve Agee as King Shark, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, John Cena as Peacemaker, Nathan Fillion as T.D.K., Pete Davidson as Blackguard, Flula Borg as Javelin, Mayling Ng as Mongal, Peter Capaldi as The Thinker, Michael Rooker as Savant, Alice Braga as Sol Soria, and Sean Gunn as Weasel.

As  fans, young and old alike, demand for more James Gunn, you can join The Suicide Squad  in theaters and on HBO Max.

The post Demand For More James Gunn appeared first on DC Comics News.

In the film, Comedy guru Del Close, mentor to everyone from Bill Murray to Tina Fey, sets out to write his autobiography for DC Comics. As he leads us through sewers, mental wards, and his peculiar talent for making everyone famous but himself, Close emerges as a personification of the creative impulse itself. He’s a muse with BO and dirty needles, offering transcendence despite (or because of) the trail of wreckage behind him.

In this hilarious and poignant look at the life of the godfather of improv comedy, Del Close, Festival alum Heather Ross (Girls on The Wall) tracks the trailblazer from “human torch” sideshow act, to his influential and contentious rise at The Second City, mentoring such greats as Bill Murray, John Candy, and Tina Fey, among many others.  Inspired by his semi-autobiographical DC Comics anthology, Wasteland, the film delves into the inner workings of Close’s wacky mind through inspired reenactments, archival clips, and interviews with such devotees as Bob Odenkirk, Tim Meadows, and Adam McKay. The result is a lively, multi-layered picture of a man and his mission, riding on the edges of genius and despair, creativity, and insanity.

Heather Ross said of her second feature documentary, “We knew that to make the definitive movie about this icon/unknown, we would need to take the same kind of creative risks that he was famous for. As someone known for breaking down genres and experimenting with form—not to mention playing fast and loose with the truth – we decided to apply the same ideas to our film and try to break new ground with the documentary genre.  This resulted in constructing a set of scenes imagining the creative process behind WASTELAND, Del’s comic book autobiography.”

Danielle DiGiacomo, Head of Content for Utopia, said, “For Madmen Only is a singular film reflecting a singular man – a creative and joyful exploration of one of the lesser sung heroes in all of comedy; we at Utopia can’t wait for viewers to be taken on a much needed escape into hilarity and genius.”

Founded in 2018, Utopia Media is a film distribution and sales company with a ‘filmmaker first’ approach, co-founded by filmmaker Robert Schwartzman.  Recent Utopia titles include official Sundance 2020 selection Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets; celebrated fashion documentary House of Cardin; Academy Award Winner Errol Morris’ American Dharma; Annabelle Attanasio’s Cannes breakout, Mickey and the Bear, starring Camila Morrone; Tim Heidecker’s Adult Swim comedy, Mister America; Liam Firmager’s portrait of trailblazing singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro in Suzi Q; and, the 4K restoration of Hal Needham’s 1986 cult-classic, RAD, among others. Upcoming releases include the official SXSW 2020 comedy Golden Arm; documentary on the improv legend Del Close: For Madmen Only; the TIFF breakout feature Shiva Baby; and more.

DEL CLOSE did many works with John Ostrander. You can find out more about the legacy of  DEL CLOSE’ and his book Wasteland on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

The post SDCC 2021: The Legacy of Del Close, Creator of DC’s Wasteland appeared first on DC Comics News.

That episode, “The Fatal Frame,” premieres on Aug. 8 and is directed by Macallan herself.  “That was a weird script, let’s just say that out loud,” she laughed.  As a first-time director, she was happy that the episode got to add style in the vein of The Big Lebowski for her episode.  “I was allowed to do shots that aren’t traditionally wanted, and they stayed in!”  Keeping the oddness in her episode was important to her, and she was glad that she also got to keep in a montage where she and Gary Green (Adam Tsekhman) wear her wedding dress.

On a show like this, weirdness and change are constants, but it also matters to keep true to the characters . Co-showrunner Phil Klemner used the dynamic between Oliva Swann’s Astra Logue and Lisseth Chavez’s Spooner Cruz as examples. Because of their respective traumas, both women have found themselves becoming best friends.  Addressing Swann and Chavez, who became friends outside of work, Klemner called the penultimate episode “an episode almost all to yourselves,” as it finally digs more into Spooner’s supposed alien abduction.  The writers came to love their dynamic as Spooner and Astra become each other’s first best friend, and exploring that was something they became keen on.

Looking toward the future, showrunners Klemner and Keto Shimizu offered up small teases of season 7, which will find the Legends “stuck” and unable to time travel.  Their only hope lies in a new character, Gwyn Price, played by Matt Ryan, whose current character, John Constantine, will be retired at the end of season 6.  To Ryan, John’s departure is true to his character: “In all his history, he dips in and out of stories, and his time with the Legends and me has come to an end.”  In creating this new role, he hopes it will provide him with some fun that the trenchcoat wearing chainsmoker could not. However, Gwyn won’t be the only new-ish face for the show, as Amy Pemberton will physically play the ship AI Gideon after voicing the character for six seasons. Klemner didn’t specify how the change would happen, but teased that the Legends’ predicament would necessitate an actual body.

But to get there, we first have to get to the finale. Shimizu promised that it would be bigger than the annual Arrowverse crossovers in terms of VFX, and that the Ava/Sara wedding would for sure happen.  “But,” she teased, “it’ll have a Legends twist.”

Legends of Tomorrow premieres Sundays on The CW.  You can also catch up on the previous episodes on The CW app and Netflix.

The post SDCC 2021: DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow Panel appeared first on DC Comics News.

It has been confirmed that Robin Givens is joining the CW superhero drama in a major role for season 3.  She has been cast in the series regular role of Jada Jet, the powerful CEO of Jet Industries who “isn’t bossy — she’s the boss.”  Described as “passionate and hard-working,”  Jada is “a woman who has worked her way through life’s ups and downs to climb her way to the top — all while being extremely protective over her impetuous son.”

But perhaps the most important part of Jada’s character description is the revelation that she has “a deep past that forced her to give up her first-born child.”  As Batwoman fans know, Ryan (Javicia Leslie) was thrown a huge curveball in the season 2 finale when she learned, thanks to a newly imprisoned Alice (Rachel Skarsten), that her biological mother is actually alive. (Ryan had always believed her mother died in childbirth.)

It can’t be a coincidence that Givens’ major new character who has an adult child somewhere out in the world is being introduced at the same that Ryan will be searching for her birth mother.  Jada’s character description also reveals that she is “a woman with a good heart, but will do whatever it takes to protect her family .” Will that protection extend to Ryan if or when Jada and Ryan reunite this season?  Or will Jada’s “impetuous son” take priority over her (presumptive) long-lost daughter?

Batwoman showrunner Caroline Dries previously told EW that she had plans beginning at the start of season 2 to “expand Ryan’s world slowly but surely” with her biological mother.  But “it was that delicate dance of trading off leads at the beginning of the season, so we didn’t want to overpopulate the show with Ryan’s personal world while we were still transitioning to a new Batwoman,” Dries said.  “Of course, we really wanted to get to know Ryan and use this notion of a biological mother as a point of drama or an obstacle for her moving forward into the next season.”

Fans can expect this potential mother of all twists to take center stage when Batwoman returns for season 3.  “I did want to explore just that maternal love and what Ryan is missing in her life, or has never experienced fully,” Dries said.  “She had it with her adoptive mom, but that was ripped away from her.  So if you’re a child that’s been through the foster system your entire life, I think there’s always this question mark hovering over you of,  ‘Where did I come from?  Who gave me my looks? Who gave me my interests?’  For Ryan, that’s something she’s going to grapple with — how much does she want to know? — in season 3.”

Batwoman star Leslie previously told EW that she “always had a feeling when we started this season that we never addressed Ryan’s biological parents and that would always end up being something that gets addressed in a very tricky Gotham way…  Now that we know that there is a possibility or maybe just it is the truth that Ryan’s mother, her biological mother is still alive, I just am so excited for season 3 because this is just a whole [new] world that we’ll be able to enter.”

Robin Givens is of course a veteran TV and film actress with many credits to her name.  She got her start on ABC’s ’80s sitcom Head of the Class and also had roles on Diff’rent Strokes, The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Women of Brewster Place, Sparks, and The Game, as well as in films such as Boomerang and Blankman.  Most recently she’s appeared on Riverdale, Katy Keene, Step Up: High Water, Chuck, and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.

Catch Robin Givens on Batwoman  as season 3 premieres Oct. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the CW.  Meanwhile, catch up on Batwoman on HBO Max.

video courtesy of TV Line

The post Robin Givens Joins Batwoman Cast appeared first on DC Comics News.

Fans of the franchise will be happy to know all these new villains are being brought to you as Funko Pops, and EW has your exclusive look at the collection.  The best part: You can preorder them now.

Funko Pop always goes the extra mile with the details it incorporates into its collectibles.  In DC comic books, Ratcatcher was a villain that could communicate with rats, and the Ratcatcher II Funko Pop alludes to that power by having a rat sit in the character’s palm. (The rat’s honestly kind of adorable.  If only rats on the NYC subway looked like this.)  The King Shark Funko Pop depicts the character in the middle of an awkward hand raise or wave, which is both subtly charming and fitting, since one of the movie’s trailers shows Amanda Walker asking if anyone has questions, followed by King Shark raising his hand (fin?) and only saying “hand.”

Funko Pop is also intuitively offering multiple Harley Quinn collectibles.  In Suicide Squad (2016) Harley Quinn was introduced to the audience as the “total wild card.”  While this probably applies largely to her unpredictable behavior and villainous doings, it could also easily apply to her numerous playful (and iconic) outfits.   So it’s only fair there be different collectibles of her donning different garb.  You want a figure of Harley Quinn in a bodysuit holding a spear?  Funko Pop has it.  You want a figure of Harley Quinn in a red dress holding a spear?  Funko Pop has it.  You prefer a Harley Quinn collectible sans any weapons?  Funko Pop (surprise, surprise) has it, offering an Amazon exclusive figure of her curtsying in a red dress.

The new Suicide Squad Funko Pops include:

Funko; Warner Bros. Pictures Bloodsport Funko Pop and Idris Elba in ‘The Suicide Squad.

From Polka-Dot Man to Bloodsport, Funko Pop is bringing you the best of the Suicide Squad.  If you’re ready to pack your shelves with some of the most notorious DC villains around, check out the collection below and start preordering before your favorites inevitably sell out.

Harley Quinn Funko Pop
Rocking a black-and-red bodysuit with matching eye makeup, this Funko Pop is all about style.  It also captures Harley Quinn’s nonchalant and jaunty attitude by placing one hand on her hip while the other grips a spear.

Buy it! Harley Quinn Funko Pop, $11 at amazon.com

Bloodsport Funko Pop
Sporting a mask and clenched fists, this Bloodsport Funko Pop looks both resolute and menacing.

Buy it! Bloodsport Funko Pop, $11 at amazon.com

Rick Flag Funko Pop
Rick Flag is keeping it casual in a pair of camo pants and a graphic T-shirt.  The Funko Pop also features a cut on the commander’s forehead.

Buy it! Rick Flag Funko Pop, $11 at amazon.com

King Shark Funko Pop
There’s something endearing about this Killer Shark Funko Pop — maybe it’s the ear-to-ear (gill-to-gill?) fang-filled smile, or maybe it’s the awkwardly raised fin.

Buy it! King Shark Funko Pop, $11 at amazon.com

Polka-Dot Man Funko Pop
Crouching down and wearing goggles with dots in hand, Polka-Dot Man looks like he’s gearing up to launch his polka dot projectiles.

Buy it!  Polka-Dot Man Funko Pop, $11 at amazon.com

Peacemaker Funko Pop
This Peacemaker Funko Pop features the villain’s signature dove emblem on both his shirt and helmet.

Buy it!  Peacemaker Funko Pop, $11 at amazon.com

Ratcatcher II Funko Pop
While looking mysterious in a cloak and mask, Ratcatcher II is also holding a rat in this Funko Pop design.

Buy it! Ratcatcher II Funko Pop, $11 at amazon.com

Harley Quinn Funko Pop
This Amazon exclusive Funko Pop features Harley Quinn in a bold red dress, curtsying and weaponless.

Buy it! Harley Quinn Funko Pop, $12 at amazon.com

Harley Quinn Funko Pop Keychain
This keychain allows you to bring the chaos of a spear-equipped Harley Quinn wherever you go.

Buy it! Harley Quinn Funko Pop Keychain, $7 at amazon.com

Get Your Funko Pop Suicide Squad figures now and be a part of saving the world!

The post New Suicide Squad Funko Pops: Exclusive Look appeared first on DC Comics News.

“The tide is rising,” Director James Wan posted on Instagram, along with a photo of his name next to a sign that said “Production Meeting” and boasted the title, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Warner Bros. Pictures, the studio behind the DCEU film, also shared Wan’s post.  A WB representative also confirmed the news to SYFY WIRE.

The upcoming sequel will see the return of Jason Momoa as Aquaman (aka Arthur Curry), the half-Atlantean/half-human  who eschews wearing a shirt.  Aquaman’s ally, Mera (Amber Herd), and former rival King Orm (Patrick Wilson) are also expected to return in the sequel.  Pilou Asbaek has also been confirmed to be part of the cast, though who the Game of Thrones star is playing is still unknown.

While Aquaman 2 is now in current production, there is still little known about the Aquaman sequel, other than the fact that it has some big fins to fill: the 2018 original took in over $1.1 Billion at the global box office.  Momoa did share a few weeks ago, however, that he lovingly participated in the writing of the script, and Wan said during last year’s DC FanDome that sequel would be scarier and “a little bit more relevant to the world we’re living in today” than the original.

Other than those few tidbits, fans remain in the dark as to where Wan will take us.  There’s a year-and-a-half until the movie premieres, however, so hopefully that tide will continue to rise and flood us with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom details.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom splashes into theaters on Dec. 16, 2022. In the meantime, you can join the King of the Seas  on HBO Max and DC Universe Infinite!

The post Aquaman 2 Is Now In Current Production! appeared first on DC Comics News.

Based on the DC Comics team Teen Titans, the R-rated TV interpretation follows the group of young heroes as they deal with their powers, learn how to work together, and take down criminals – led by former Robin-turned-Nightwing, Dick Grayson.
Titans was set to return in 2020, but due to filming being delayed as a result of Covid-19, Titans is now unlikely to return until the latter half of 2021.  That said, there’s already been a plethora of news about the series and rife speculation making its way across the web, setting up what could be the biggest season of superhero action ever.  And that includes the casting of Jonathan Crane, also known as the Scarecrow – who’ll be played in Titans season 3 by Vincent Kartheiser.

So, here’s everything we know about Titans season 3, including its release date, cast, costumes, storylines, and more.

Titans season 3 has an official release date: August 2021, as confirmed by the cast.  As mentioned, unlike the first two seasons, this third will roll out on HBO Max rather than the DC Universe app.  There might be even more good news for Titans fans, as the show has reportedly gained an early renewal, meaning season 4 is officially in the works.

As of June 2021, we have our first Titans season 3 teaser trailer – it’s not very long, but gives us a little more Nightwing, and shots of the team together.  It’s just enough to whet your appetite before the show gets here.

The full confirmed cast list so far for Titans season 3 can be seen below:

Brenton Thwaites – Dick Grayson/Nightwing
Anna Diop – Kory Anders/Starfire
Teagan Croft – Rachel Roth/Raven
Ryan Potter – Garfield “Gar” Logan/Beast Boy
Alan Ritchson – Hank Hall/Hawk
Minka Kelly – Dawn Granger/Dove
Curran Walters – Jason Todd
Conor Leslie – Donna Troy/Wonder Girl
Joshua Orpin – Conner Kent/Superboy
Chelsea Zhang – Rose Wilson/Ravager
Damaris Lewis – Blackfire
Iain Glen – Bruce Wayne
Savannah Welch – Barbara Gordon
Jay Lycurgo – Tim Drake
Vincent Kartheiser – Jonathan Crane

All of the main cast of superheroes from Titans season 2 will return – including Conor Leslie’s Donna Troy, who was seemingly killed off in last year’s finale.  Iain Glen’s Bruce Wayne will return (along with his ‘American’ accent) too.

Titans is known for its extensive line-up and season 3 is set to increase that further, thanks to the arrival of numerous fan-favorite characters from the world of Batman.  Most notably, Savanna Welch has been confirmed to play Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), while Jay Lycurgo will suit up as Tim Drake, the third Robin.

More villains are incoming too, as season 2 guest star Blackfire (Damaris Lewis) will be bumped up to a regular member, alongside the introduction of Arkham Asylum inmate Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka Scarecrow.  In April 2021, it was confirmed that Crane will be played by Vincent Kartheiser, best known as Mad Men‘s Pete Campbell and Connor from Buffy spin-off Angel.

Cole King has been cast in an undisclosed role.  It’s widely speculated that he is playing a much younger version of Jason Todd.

Season 3 of Titans will take the group from San Francisco into the heart of Gotham City.  Here, Dick Grayson will meet up with Barbara Gordon, the former Batgirl who was paralyzed by Joker and now heads up the GCPD (via Variety).  The two will work together and try to learn from the “mistakes of their parents”, according to showrunner Greg Walker.

At the same time, Dr. Jonathan Crane will serve as an inmate at Arkham Asylum who offers his services as a criminal profiler to the police department.

Variety also confirmed that Tim Drake will enter the show “as a streetwise kid who’s managed to grow up on the toughest streets without losing his indelible belief in heroism.”  Interestingly, Jay Lycurgo who plays Drake, will appear as a supporting role in The Batman from Matt Reeves in 2022. We expect this to be nothing more than a coincidence, but Lycurgo can be seen as one of the terrified goons in the debut trailer.

Another big plot point will be Jason Todd’s descent into madness. In the comics, Jason transforms into the anti-hero Red Hood after being killed by the Joker and subsequently resurrected. Titans season 3 will hopefully give the Red Hood story the live-action treatment it deserves.

Considering the Joker has only been briefly seen during a vision from Dick Grayson at the end of season 1, we’re not entirely sure the comic origin of the character will play a big role here.  What we do know is that Red Hood will look to hunt down the Titans after previously leaving the group, not on the best of terms.

Hank and Dawn’s relationship will be put under the microscope after the two supposedly called it quits (Walker confirmed this will be answered early on in season 3), as well as an inevitable confrontation between Kory and her sister Blackfire, following the latter’s arrival on Earth in the closing sequence of season 2.

Seemingly killed in the finale, Conor Leslie will return as Donna Troy with Rachel accompanying her body to Themyscara. Rachel’s powers have been growing continuously throughout the show (culminating in a shared hallucination at the Elko diner), and she even discussed whether resurrection is a possibility with Dick.

Walker commented on the character’s return at DC FanDome stating that: “We’ve got some exciting opportunities and stories ahead for Donna Troy and for Rachel and the whole, uh, you know perhaps the whole underworld we may like go into and see what it’s like as a transition stage.” Could this be how Wonder Girl adopts the identity of Troia as per DC’s comics?

Lex Luthor was heavily teased in the finale of season 2, with Cadmus Laboratories security specialist Mercy Graves receiving a call from the Superman arch-nemesis, potentially teeing the character up for an appearance in season 3. The only hindrance to this is the lack of casting news and the many storylines already in place. More plausible is that Mr. Luthor will be pulling the strings in the backdrop once again, eventually turning up in a small role or not at all until a couple more years down the line.

After Dick Grayson completed his transformation into Nightwing in the Titans season 2 finale, the newest season will see more characters don new costumes and identities from the comics.

Anna Diop will finally sport Starfire’s comic book costume, something fans have been clamoring for since the show’s inception.

Similarly, Damaris Lewis’ Blackfire will suit up as she looks to go toe-to-toe with her sister.

As mentioned, Curran Walters’ Jason Todd will make the transition to Red Hood throughout season 3.

Now Titans has found its way on to HBO Max, the series is likely to find a bigger audience in the US than it was able to on the more niche DC Universe app.  As the Titans season 3 teaser trailer supercharges the show with more recognizable DC heroes and villains, this third season should be a big deal – even if the overall grim tone of the show means it still won’t be for everyone.

Let the Titans season 3 teaser trailer make you curious! If you’ve not seen Titans, yet, but you’re excited by the promise of more Batman-adjacent characters in season 3, you can catch up on HBO Max in the US and Netflix elsewhere.

The post Titans Season 3 Teaser: What We Know So Far! appeared first on DC Comics News.

Golden Globe Award winner Matt Bomer has returned to the DC Universe Movies after his debut as the title character in 2013’s Superman Unbound.  Beyond winning the Golden Globe and earning an Emmy Award nomination for The Normal Heart, Bomer has been a triple threat with starring turns on television in White Collar, Doom Patrol, The Last Tycoon, The Sinner and American Horror Story (where he also made his directorial debut), in films like Magic Mike and The Magnificent Seven, and on Broadway in The Boys in the Band.

“I love the arc of the character in this story and I find it a very relatable arc, particularly with the pandemic, that his mind is so scattered, his mind is in a thousand places and he’s trying to be in all these places at one time, he just can’t be with Iris in the moment.  His relationships are suffering and I think it’s only with his encounter with the Justice Society that he’s really able to appreciate the present moments and the nuances of relationships that can only really be found in just being with that one person in one place.  I feel like, if there’s one silver lining, the pandemic has afforded me the opportunity to just be really present with my family in ways that you can’t really be as an actor if you’re going from set-to-set or to press conference.” -Bomer

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Justice Society: World War II stars Stana Katic as Wonder Woman, Matt Bomer as The Flash, Elysia Rotaru as Black Canary, Chris Diamantopoulos as Steve Trevor, Omid Abtahi as Hawkman, Matthew Mercer as Hourman, Armen Taylor as Jay Garrick, Liam McIntyre as Aquaman, Ashleigh LaThrop as Iris West, Geoffrey Arend as Charles Halstead/Advisor, Keith Ferguson as Dr. Fate and Darin De Paul as Roosevelt. The film will be released digitally on April 27 and on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on May 11.

The post Matt Bomer Talks About Justice Society: World War II appeared first on DC Comics News.

Since his first appearance in November 1941’s More Fun Comics #73, Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, has defended the Seven Seas and the DC Universe itself from all manner of threats.  On August 31, DC and Aqua-fans alike can celebrate the legacy of the Atlantean Sea King, with the release of the Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular.

Some of the greatest names in comics will contribute their storytelling firepower to this 100-page collector’s item – writers Dan Jurgens, Geoff Johns, Brandon Thomas, Chuck Brown, Stephanie Phillips, Michael Moreci, Marguerite Bennett, Dan Watters, Jeff Parker, Becky Cloonan and Francis Manapul.

They’ll be joined by some of the most prolific artists in comics, including Steve Epting, Paul Pelletier, Valentine de Landro, Hendry Prasetya, Pop Mhan, Trungles, Miguel Mendonça, Evan “Doc” Shaner, and more.

In addition to a stunning cover by the iconic team of Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, the Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular will feature eight “decade” themed card stock variant covers, portraying the marine monarch throughout the years:

1940’s variant cover by Michael Cho

1950’s variant cover by Ramona Fradon

1960’s variant cover by Walt Simonson

1970’s variant cover by José Luis García-López

1980’s variant cover by Chuck Patton and Kevin Nowlan

1990’s variant cover by Yvel Guichet

2000’s variant cover by Becky Cloonan

2010’s variant cover by Robson Rocha.

This all-star-filled anthology spans across the ocean king’s legacy, not just celebrating his own triumphs but also those of his greatest allies and enemies.  The main cover version of this 100-page blockbuster is priced at $9.99, with each card stock variant priced at $10.99

For the latest news on the Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular, be sure and check out the DC website at www.dccomics.com, and follow on social media @DCComics and @thedcnation.  You can also catch up with Aquaman on DC Universe Infinite!

The post Aquaman 80th Anniversary Special! appeared first on DC Comics News.

For the man behind the cover, toy photographer Mitchel Wu, the image blends a sense of catharsis and a new adventure.  The Pop Insider talked with Wu about how the powerful photo came together.  Here is how that interview of bringing hope went.  Just how did Mitchel Wu help Batman and heroes bring hope?

Pop Insider:  We’ve talked before about how you got your start in toy photography, but how has your career evolved over the past few years?  What projects have you most enjoyed working on?

Mitchel Wu:  My career has evolved in a few ways:  First, besides continuing to create images for many of the large toy companies, my client base has grown to include many of the major entertainment studios as well.  These include The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Entertainment, Warner Bros, and Funimation/Sony Pictures.   Second, the scope and scale of my collaborations have also expanded.  Throughout 2020 I represented Schleich USA and created a series of really fun images for their amazing “Power of Imagination” campaign, which encouraged and supported real play, imagination, and creativity among kids.  And third, my work has become a lot more visible both within and outside of the toy industry.  Marian Bossard, EVP Market Global Events at The Toy Association, invited me to speak and exhibit at Toy Fair New York 2020.  The work I did for the Toy Association, Schleich USA, and the Pop Insider Magazine at Toy Fair NY 2020 led to the most epic and memorable week of my career.   I’ve also been getting a lot more mainstream media features.  Being featured in the documentary series; Marvel’s 616, which is currently streaming on Disney+, is a good example of that.  And even more recently I was filmed for a show that will be televised across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland on one of Germany’s major television networks.

Honestly, I enjoy every project I work on.  Each presents its own challenges and opportunities for creativity.  With that said, of course, I love the magazine cover images I’ve created for the Pop Insider !  Those are always really fun collaborations!

Pop Insider:  What was the inspiration behind the latest issue’s cover for the Pop Insider?  Why was this an exciting story for you to tell?

MW:  I was really thrilled to create this image because I knew it was a theme most of us could relate to.  And I always have a wonderful collaboration with the team at the Pop Insider.  Marissa Dibartolo, co-editor-in-chief of the Pop Insider, and I always have a fun back and forth on ideas, playing with a variety of different themes and concepts until we arrive at something amazing.  For this image, we wanted an image that communicated the power of working together to triumph over monumental challenges, which 2020 was for most of us.

Pop Insider:  The cover for the Pop Insider’s spring issue is not the first you’ve done with us.  What were some creative differences between creating this new cover and last winter’s Mandalorian cover?

MW:  The emotion and intent are completely different.  The Mandalorian and The Child cover was about the father and child relationship I saw building between the two characters with each new episode, so I wanted to create a fun, heartwarming moment that captured that.  That image also has a very organic feel to it, created through environment and tone.  This current cover image has more to do with coming together to rise above monumental challenges, which 2020 was for most of us around the world.  The image itself is more in your face with its message and stark environment and shows the struggle we’re just now getting past and the optimism and hope most of us are feeling today.

Pop Insider:  Can you walk us through the process of creating the image?  How did you take it from idea to reality?

MW:  I work with my clients in a variety of ways based on what works best for them.  For the Pop Insider, I typically will provide them with a written list of several ideas for some initial feedback, to see if any of the ideas resonate with them.  This is a very collaborative stage that takes into account toy availability, concept, and ultimately if I feel I can successfully create an amazing image from that concept.  This then leads to a rough concept sketch so that the team at The Pop Insider can see what my vision for the image is.  Once that’s approved I will move directly into set-building and photography, using the concept sketch as my guide and roadmap.

Pop Insider: This cover features some fun elements like fire and smoke.  What sort of techniques did you use to pull off these fun effects?

MW: I typically create my images using practical effects, which simply means they’re real effects as opposed to digital.  For this image that meant actually setting fire to the 2020 numbers seen in the image, which felt oddly cathartic!  I also created the smoke rising through the image with a burning stick – simple but effective!  And then there are the unsung and unseen heroes of my images, like my Litra LED lights, which I use to light nearly every one of my sets.  I also used a product called Atmosphere Aerosol (fog in a can!) to create some added atmosphere in the background, which I then enhanced further with a digital glow creator called Oniric.  This is a good time to mention that I will absolutely use digital effects if I feel it will help create a stronger image and story.  I love how it all came together!

Pop Insider: Did you have any creative plans that didn’t work out or that surprised you in some way?

MW: Aside from the usual challenges of constructing the set and posing and positioning multiple figures, I was unsure of how the 2020 numbers would burn.  They are made out of cardboard and I didn’t know if they would burn too quickly (as in, “POOF!,” gone!), or hardly at all.  I was hoping for a slow burn and nice orange flames, which is exactly what I got! For obvious reasons whenever an image requires smoke or fire, I will create it outside, with full safety measures and precautions in place.  Working with smoke can also pose its own challenges since creating interesting smoke patterns requires a fairly windless day.  I was pretty happy with the variety of smoke plumes and patterns I was able to create that day.

Pop Insider:  This cover, much like the one you created for our 2019 holiday gift guide, features characters from a variety of different fandoms.  How do you make all of the figures work well together, and how important is it to highlight their individuality as well as their power as a group?

MW:  I love that every character used in this image is so incredibly different from the next.  I think it symbolizes and illustrates perfectly how, even though we are all so different, we can come together during an incredibly challenging time to solve almost any problem.  It’s a cliche to say we are better and stronger when working together, but it’s also true! I think the characters all work together in this image because, well, they are all working together, so to speak.  But more to your question, the theme, the composition, and the environment really binds them together.

Pop Insider:  Is there anything else you would like to share?

MW:  My images are often topical and based on current events.  If you look at my images from a year ago a few of them were clearly influenced by what was happening around the world, in my own community, and in my own home.  I handled them in a playful way because this is toy photography after all, but it definitely impacted my work.  I much prefer the optimism and hope that I and others are feeling today. Good riddance to 2020!

Check out more of Mitchel’s toy photography on his website, Instagram, and Facebook pages; and read the full spring 2021 issue of the Pop Insider here!

You can watch as Batman and heroes bring hope on HBO Max.  Also, check out how Batman and heroes bring hope on DC Universe Infinite! Be a Hero of Hope!

Source: Nicole Savas, The POPINSIDER.COM

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