Knight Terrors: Wesley Dodds And Batman Have More In Common Than You Think

The Sandman has a long history in DC Comics and Knight Terrors has brought back the frightening detective as its story's dream empowered Batman.

Knight Terrors is DC's latest event. It's focused on a villain named Insomnia and his quest for the Nightmare Stone. Empowered by the Lazarus Rains in Lazarus Planet, he attacked Doctor Destiny, the Dream Stone's former bearer, and used his power to put the world asleep, adrift in their nightmares while he retrieves the Nightmare Stone's power. Only a few heroes can oppose him at this stage. Deadman is possessing Batman's unconscious body and he's resurrected Wesley Dodds specifically to deal with Insomnia. A classic hero of the Golden Age, Dodds is a character with a rich history and he's well-known to DC's hardcore fans.

Wesley Dodds was the first Sandman, a gas mask-wearing detective of the Golden Age. A founding member of the Justice Society of America, Dodds often felt like a throwback to the pulp heroes that had ruled crime fiction before Superman's ascent. In this way, he was quite similar to Batman and they paralleled each other in their early years. In fact, Batman and Wesley Dodds are very similar and this says a lot about the crucial role Dodds is playing in Knight Terrors.

Wesley Dodds Is A Golden Age Great

DC's Golden Age comics are the best. Without characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Black Canary, and Green Arrow, superheroes would look very different, if they even existed in a recognizable form. The pulp heroes that transitioned from fiction magazines to comics in the Platinum Age, before Superman's arrival, played a large role in shaping DC's early superheroes, and Sandman was the best example. Wesley Dodds held all the hallmarks of a pulp hero. He was a wealthy socialite, clad in a fedora and trenchcoat, had a gimmick weapon a la Doc Savage's hypodermic guns - in Dodds' case a sleep gas firing gun, and was a brilliant detective with a variety of skills. His stories were pulpy mystery yarns, and he scratched a different narrative itch than DC's other Golden Age heroes.

Wesley Dodds joined the Justice Society, firmly enmeshing himself in the brighter superhero world. Looking at those old comics, it's easy to see Dodds as an anachronism. Surrounded by the bright, primary-colored heroes of the Justice Society, Dodds already felt like a throwback. Wesley Dodds didn't really ever seem to fit in with the Justice Society, and he never got his own Golden Age title, although he did have a running feature in Adventure Comics. The success of heroes like Superman and Batman caused DC to change Dodds in order to fit in with the brighter-colored superheroes that had taken over the comic racks.

Marvel and DC exist to service fans, and in the Golden Age that meant superheroes. Wesley Dodds wasn't a superhero or a pulp hero, but a combination of the two, somewhat like Batman. However, unlike the Dark Knight, Dodds wasn't enough of a superhero and DC modified the character to give him a boost. The company removed the gas mask, the fedora, and the trenchcoat. In their place was a yellow and blue, more traditional superhero costume. It gave Dodds a sidekick, too, Sandy the Golden Boy. The Sandman had become a superhero. It's impossible to gauge fan reaction to an event that happened almost eighty years ago, but this was a huge change for a character. Back then, major superheroes didn't modify their costumes to this extent, and their stories didn't change in this way. Later, when the Justice Society was brought back in the Silver Age, Dodds was back to being the gas mask-clad detective, so it's safe to assume that the change wasn't popular with everyone. Sandy also returned but was almost immediately placed into suspended animation and kept there until the '90s.

Wesley Dodds wasn't as popular as the other members of the Justice Society during their Silver Age return. Sandman didn't gain superpowers like the other members of the Justice Society, so he was basically a senior citizen when the JSA became a big name again. He still made many appearances with the team but was one of the members killed by Extant during Zero Hour, his days at the top of the superhero game long over. However, he would soon get a new chance at stardom.

Sandman's Name Recognition Brought Wesley Dodds '90s Fame

While Dodds was always C-list at best, the name Sandman was another story. There were several Silver Age Sandmen at DC, including one created by Jack Kirby, that were more superhero friendly, but they all fizzled out. However, the British Invasion of the late '80s saw writer Neil Gaiman launch The Sandman. This wasn't a legacy hero, although Dodds did show up in the first issue, but a complete reimagining of the Sandman's mantle, playing more off the dream motifs that Kirby had introduced and focused on the incarnation of Dreams themselves. This story revealed how Dream's captivity was the source of Wesley Dodds' prophetic dreams, that drove his crimefighting, and his costume was even meant to be reminiscent of Dream in his full battle regalia. The Sandman became a massive hit and DC launched the Vertigo imprint to capitalize on the new mature comics craze. 1993 would prove to be a momentous year for Dodds, as he got a new series - Sandman Mystery Theatre.

Inspired by film noir and the pulp heroes of the Golden Age, Sandman Mystery Theatre ran for five years. The book followed Wesley Dodds and his girlfriend Dian Belmont through their gritty adventures in New York City. Of course, calling them "adventures" isn't exactly correct. Sandman Mystery Theatre was a hardboiled crime comic with an oddly gentle protagonist and it made a minor star out of Wesley Dodds. The character and his world fit perfectly into the Vertigo/Mature Readers side of comics, arguably better than he ever did as a superhero. Mystery Theatre played up his detective skills, and thrilled readers with grisly murders and pitch-black mysteries. It was Wesley Dodds' last big starring role before his return in Knight Terrors.

Sandman And Batman Mirrored Each Other In Odd Ways

Of all DC's original Golden Age heroes, Batman and Sandman were the most alike. Both of them were more indebted to pulp heroes than someone like Superman. They were mere men who took the law into their own hands, using their riches and skills to solve crimes that no one else could. They both used distinct looks and gimmicks to strike fear into their enemies. They were both seemingly characters meant to link the worlds of pulp fiction and superheroes, characters that were made for older readers than other superhero fare, at least at first in Batman's case. Both of them took on the trappings of superheroes more as time went on, with Sandman's costume and gimmick change finally fully taking him into the world that Batman inhabited.

That gimmick change itself was intended a way to make Sandman into Batman, but DC was no stranger to self-imitation in the Golden Age. Batman and his partner Robin became big business with kids, and so DC decided to do more Batman-esque characters. Sandman was one of these and his new sidekick Sandy the Golden Boy was inspired by Robin. Much like the Golden Age Green Arrow, Sandman became a Batman clone in one of the first revamps of any major comic hero.

This was easy because the characters were very much alike. Sandman and Batman were rich detectives who fought crime with gimmicks. The biggest difference was their costume styles and even that changed. From an in-universe standpoint, they operated in similar ways, gifted polymaths who investigated crimes that the police couldn't solve. They both had sidekicks and they were each considered the brains of their team, although Dodds never had Batman's tactical mastery. The Sandman Mystery Theatre years saw Wesley Dodds become darker than ever, his enemies becoming brutal monsters, which mirrored Batman's own darkening in later years.

Knight Terrors Lets A New Generation See What Wesley Dodds Does Best

Knight Terrors subverts DC's Batman tropes in a clever way. Batman is technically a part of the story, but he's actually piloted by Deadman, a ghost who possesses human bodies. This leaves the place of super-intelligent detective open. While Deadman is no slouch in the detective game, he isn't on Batman's level. That's why Wesley Dodds is so perfect for this story. Basically the Batman of the Justice Society, he's known for his detective skills. He faced grotesque monsters in his adventures, and Insomnia's quest for the Nightmare Stone plays into Dodds and the retcons in the Bronze and Modern Ages that subtly changed the superhero. Batman is irreplaceable, but someone like Wesley Dodds can step up and fill a similar role.

Knight Terrors is a different kind of event, using Batman differently and lower-level DC legends like Deadman and Wesley Dodds to sell the story. DC seems to be using this as a way to bring Wesley Dodds back and will be debuting a new miniseries starring the aged hero soon. DC has big plans for several of its Golden Age heroes, but the ones for Dodds are the most tenuous. Jay Garrick and Alan Scott both have long histories and legacies to play off of. Dodds doesn't really have that and even his time as a solo hero in his own book ended twenty-five years ago. Using Dodds as a Batman substitute reintroduces him to a whole new audience, and Knight Terrors using Wesley Dodds as the story's Batman will show his new fans what the character is all about and why he still matters today.

MHA: Ochaco Uraraka is the Hero Himiko Needs, But Doesn't Deserve

Ochaco Uraraka went above and beyond to save Himiko Toga, but that wasn't what either character needed in this endgame battle.

In the most recent My Hero Academia manga chapters, the supporting hero Ochaco Uraraka fought her final and most personal battle against her villainous counterpart, the yandere Himiko Toga. Chapter 395's events finally resolved Himiko's character arc, which had been going in circles for many chapters now, but even so, it didn't feel like a proper resolution for that arc.

The stubborn and independent-minded Himiko Toga was determined to be her true, authentic self as a societal reject, and she scorned Ochaco's attempts to redeem her with a heartfelt talk jutsu. Then, Himiko changed her mind, and in Chapter 395, totally reversed her position and actually gave her life for Ochaco's sake. Himiko had heartfelt reasons for doing this, but her sacrifice still felt like a waste. Ochaco was Himiko's personal hero, but probably shouldn't have been.

Himiko Toga's Character Arc Didn't Need Redemption

Being a shonen superhero franchise, My Hero Academia is fairly forgiving toward all its characters, giving even the biggest bullies like Katsuki Bakugo and Neito Monoma a chance at redemption. This extends to the villains as well, although sometimes My Hero Academia is actually a little too forgiving. It's always inspiring when a shonen antagonist is convinced to see the error of their ways and make amends, such as Nagato in Naruto and Ultear in Fairy Tail, but not every charismatic antagonist needs such a resolution to their arcs. Even the most popular and compelling villains should sometimes die as their true selves, and face a bittersweet end if they still have a glimmer of good in them. A few villains need personal heroes to change their ways, but not Himiko Toga.

Most My Hero Academia fans may agree that as a villain and criminal, Himiko Toga is too far gone to deserve redemption at this point, and she really dug in her heels on her villainous ways throughout the story. Her redemption might have felt more justified earlier in the story before she committed more criminal acts, but by Chapter 395, that ship had sailed. This means that Himiko's redemption in Chapters 394 and 395 felt unearned and awkward, and gave her a second chance that she had already squandered earlier. Ochaco Uraraka succeeded in becoming the personal hero Himiko Toga needed, but she's not the one Himiko deserves, which is the key distinction.

For the sake of her own happiness and being able to die in peace during this endgame battle, Himiko Toga really did need an empathetic girl like Ochaco to see and admire Himiko's true self. Hence, Himiko was happy that Ochaco saw her as a "normal girl with a cute smile," the kind of acknowledgment she has wanted since her childhood. However, that wasn't the kind of resolution Himiko's character needed for narrative reasons. Above all, Himiko Toga's character is a commentary on hero society's unfair treatment of people deemed to have the "wrong" Quirks or personalities, since for there to be "right" members of society, there must be wrong ones. Instead of getting redemption just moments before giving up her life, Himiko Toga could should have either died or been captured as she ruminated on all this, and wondered what could have been if either she or society had been different. Redeeming Himiko now, whether she dies or gets captured, means very little.

Ochaco Uraraka Didn't Need a Talk Jutsu

On a personal level, Ochaco Uraraka was the empathetic hero who the lost and miserable Himiko Toga needed, but neither character needed this particular resolution for their intertwined character arcs. Ochaco took a serious risk by trying to talk Himiko out of her villainous ways, especially in the context of the final heroes vs villains war to decide the fate of Japanese society. Pro heroes are meant to take the high road and show mercy to villains, capturing them rather than killing them, but even so, Ochaco was too merciful. Ochaco already tried and failed several times to empathize with Himiko and convince her to get redeemed, so Ochaco should have been more practical by choosing to cut her losses with Toga. It's true that Ochaco's risky talk jutsu paid off in this final clash, but Ochaco didn't know for certain ahead of time that it would work. For in-universe reasons, Ochaco made the wrong call, regardless of the eventual outcome.

Despite Ochaco being a naturally kind and helpful person (like her love interest Deku), she is also a young pro hero who, like all heroes, is expected to risk her life and fight to defend society from all villains. A talk jutsu is the wrong kind of risk, and one that Himiko didn't deserve, regardless of Ochaco's contrary beliefs. The stakes were too high for a talk jutsu, and the surviving villains have all made their choice about their criminal ways, including Himiko, Dabi, Tomura Shigaraki, and certainly All For One. By now, all of the villains are beyond a talk jutsu, or at least should be, and a fight to the death is the only way to properly resolve the conflict for society's future.

Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco are a bit too idealistic for their own good, and they should not try to talk Himiko and Tomura Shigaraki out of their villainy considering that everyone is past that point by now. Deku and Ochaco have already said and done enough to save other, more redeemable villains and change people's hearts for the better, so they have little left to prove in that regard. Ochaco's heartfelt speech to the panicking crowd at UA was her own symbol of peace moment, and Deku already showed kindness to villains like Gentle Criminal and La Brava. The stakes were lower then, and a talk jutsu was the right call in those situations, but this is different, and Deku and Ochaco must harden their hearts for the sake of ultimate victory. They may not like it, but it's necessary, and it won't diminish their personal heroics in past story arcs, so they can fight to the finish without hesitation as the war reaches its bloody endgame.

Hulk Hogan Discusses Legal Fight With Marvel to Keep His Name

WWE Legend and Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan reveals how he was able to license the Hulk name from Marvel Comics early in his career.

WWE legend and Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan wrestled legally with Marvel Comics for years over his iconic name.

Per Fightful, Hogan spoke to Theo Von on The Weekend After where he recalled how Vince McMahon, Sr. gave him the Hulk name early in his wrestling career to represent Irish Americans. At the height of his popularity in WWE under Vince, Jr. in 1985, however, Marvel came after him and the sports entertainment company over his name infringing on Marvel's Incredible Hulk. "Right when Hulk Hogan takes off, we get a call from Marvel Comics. 'You're infringing on our mark. Reasonably similar. We're going to sue you, put you in litigation,'" Hogan said. "We let them have the name, didn't license the name. I only had to pay them one-tenth of 1%."

Of all the wrestling superstars of the Rock 'N' Wrestling era, Hogan and Hulkamania took the world by storm. Beyond his accomplishments in the ring, Hogan's name had been used not only to sell toys but also a plethora of merchandise and even a short-lived restaurant in Florida. While the Hulk name was always synonymous with Marvel, Hogan stood out on his own.

Hogan continued by explaining how the long and drawn-out legal battle with Marvel lasted twenty years until he nearly lost the name while attempting a comeback in WWE. "In 2005, it's over. Now, I can't use Hulk Hogan anymore, and I'm red hot in 2005. I went to my attorney, 'I don't give a damn what deal you make, you're going to make a deal because I need the name.' What happened was, I got a one-year extension and I had to pay them 30% of everything I made. Movies, TV wrestling, they got 30% of everything, but if they decided to sell the name, they had to give me first shot at it. They couldn't sell the name or do anything. Fair market value."

Hogan continued, "All of a sudden, Marvel Comics gets in a bitchfest with WWE about intellectual properties, that they can't re-air old Hulk Hogan matches. Marvel Comics lost. They owe Vince $35 million. They made a huge mistake. They said, 'Instead of paying $35 million, how about we give you the Hulk Hogan name.' I heard about it and went, 'You screwed up now.' Now, I don't have to pay $35 million for the name, you have to sell it for me for fair money value,' which is only $750 grand."

After the situation with Marvel was settled, McMahon tried unsuccessfully to purchase the Hulk name from Hogan. With the wrestling icon in full control of his name and trademarks, Hogan will be using his post-wrestling days to honor his past. A biopic starring Chris Hemsworth was in development at Netflix with Todd Phillips attached to direct; however, the Hogan biopic is reportedly in limbo due to Hemsworth's schedule and Phillips' work on Joker 2.

Seth Rogen Breaks Silence on Why He Never Joined Marvel or DC

Seth Rogen, an executive producer of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, shares the reason for his reluctance to work with Marvel or DC.

Filmmaker, producer and actor Seth Rogen, known for his work on The Boys, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and Invincible, has recently talked about why he prefers to stay away from Marvel and DC Studios.

Rogen has quietly become an authoritative voice in the comic book cinema in recent years. In an interview with Polygon, the acclaimed producer spoke at length about his philosophy on choosing and creating big projects, jokingly saying that when it came to potential comic book adaptations his tastes were varied as long as they were "not Marvel and DC," although these criteria eliminated "a lot right away."

Seth Rogen and the Marvel or DC Process

Rogen has never worked with the industry giants, and according to him, it has been intentional. He mentioned that he was turned off by Marvel and DC out of "fear of the process." Rogen elaborated that he and Evan Goldberg, his friend and longtime collaborator, had "a pretty specific way" to work, as they have been "writers for 20 years." The filmmaker acknowledged that he did not know much about "the process" at Marvel or DC Studios, but its scale still scared him.

Despite loving "a lot of Marvel things," Rogen does not desire to become a part of their mechanism because he has no idea how he would "plug into the system they have in place, which seems like a very good system, and a system that serves them very well." The producer's concern has to do with the fact that he might "ultimately get frustrated" with the system, even though he believes that it represents a quality way of doing things.

Rogen went on to say that he was content with the system and the process he and Goldberg "dictated" for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem as they were the producers of the project. He stated that the "appealing" quality of the big franchises that he has been a part of was the ability to create the "infrastructure and process" from scratch for them, instead of "plugging into someone's else infrastructure and process." The producer finished off by saying that he and Goldberg were "control freaks," which many fans consider a good thing and the reason for their combined success.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is scheduled for release on Aug. 2, 2023. Paramount+ has already ordered a sequel movie and a spinoff series, which are currently in development.

Batman Just Gave the Joker a Disturbing New Origin

Batman's ongoing multiversal adventure reveals a surprising (and disturbing) new origin for his worst enemy, the Joker.

Batman's journey through an alternate Gotham has been an examination of the good that the Dark Knight does for the city. Through it all, the mysterious Red Mask has been pulling the strings, using Gotham's law enforcement to terrorize its citizens and use them for bizarre experiments. In Batman #134 (by Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Tomeu Morey) it was confirmed that Red Mask was none other than Darwin Halliday, this universe's version of the Joker. While this was a shock, his motives were even more surprising. Darwin wanted to know how to break his own mind, so he could become this universe's Joker.

According to him, his entire life feels empty, despite his incredible financial success. After learning about the Jokers of other realities, he became obsessed with replicating the process that would transform him into the Clown Prince of Crime in an effort to finally be whole. His quest proves that the true nature of a person is relatively consistent throughout the multiverse. Darwin Halliday's actions reveal that the Joker wants to be bad and that his transition may not have been an accident as many assume.

Darwin Halliday Actually Wants to be the Joker

As told by Halliday, his success brought him to new heights of wealth. However, despite this, there is a hole he could not explain or fill. It wasn't until one of his chemical experiments went wrong that Halliday finally understood why this was. The gases he was exposed to gave him a glimpse of the multiverse, and he saw another version of himself that felt truer to who he was -- the Joker.

Ever since then, Halliday devoted himself to doing whatever was necessary to peer through the different universes to discover the moment the Joker became who he is. To that end, he crafted the Red Mask persona to get the test subjects he needed and prepare himself for the day he would finally feel complete. A twisted desire, but one that provides unique insight into the psychology of the Joker.

The Joker May Not Really be a Tragic Victim of Circumstance

What's so interesting about Halliday is that he is a rare version of the Joker. He's who the Joker was before becoming a villain. He isn't just some flashback of his many pasts, but an actual examination of the man in real-time. Batman has never had the chance to learn more about what kind of person the Joker was before he changed, and neither have the fans. He wants to become the Joker. In his mind, the Joker's chaos and evil are the truest expressions of who he is deep down, and without that distorted view of the world, he can never reach his true potential. This is important to understand as it implies that other versions of the Joker prior to their transformation shared a similar disconnect from the rest of the world.

If Halliday is a typical example of what the Joker was like before his change, then there's an excellent chance that every other version of the Joker was the same -- a monster looking for an excuse to be worse. The Joker has given fans so many possible beginnings for himself, most of them portraying him as the victim of some horrible accident, but the truth might be even more sinister. These "origins" were nothing more than lies, and the Jokers remember exactly what happened because it was deliberate. They became the Joker to finally feel happy.

Justified: City Primeval Cast and Character Guide

FX's Justified: City Primeval features an almost entirely new cast, playing a wide variety of characters who challenge Raylan Givens.

While Justified: City Primeval marks the return of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, he's the only character from Justified who has returned for its sequel. The limited series has taken Raylan out of his reasonably stable (but still eventful) life in Florida and thrown him into the middle of chaos in Michigan. When Raylan crosses a judge who later ends up dead, he finds himself matching wits with the judge's ruthless killer.

Since City Primeval takes place in an entirely new state and more than a decade after the events of the original series, it's no surprise that most of the cast and characters are brand new. Many of them, however, are played by actors who will be recognizable to TV viewers. And all of them are far different from anyone that Raylan came across during his years in Kentucky.

Justified's Timothy Olyphant Returns as Raylan Givens

Justified's protagonist Raylan Givens is still working for the U.S. Marshals Service when City Primeval picks up 15 years after the end of the original series. He hasn't changed much in that time -- including Raylan's trademark hat. The biggest difference in his life is that his daughter Willa is now a teenager, and he finds himself struggling to parent her even though she displays several qualities just like her dad. But Raylan loves his daughter more than anything, so when Clement Mansell targets Willa as a means of getting at him, Raylan's latest case goes from an annoyance to immediately and intensely personal.

Vivian Olyphant Is Raylan's Teenage Daughter Willa Givens

Fans of the original Justified will remember that Raylan's ex-wife Winona became pregnant with his child in Season 3, with Willa appearing as a baby in later seasons. In Justified: City Primeval, the character is now a rebellious 15-year-old who has a strained relationship with her father. In her first scene, the audience learns that Willa has gotten into trouble for breaking another girl's nose at school. She continues to get in trouble in Detroit but also shows an overall naivete about the world, such as believing Clement Mansell is one of her father's police associates. Timothy Olyphant's daughter Vivian portrays Willa, in a case of life imitating art.

The Sandman's Boyd Holbrook Plays 'The Oklahoma Wildman' Clement Mansell

Justified: City Primeval's new villain is Clement Mansell, also known by his nickname "The Oklahoma Wildman." Together with his partner and girlfriend Sandy Stanton, Mansell cons and robs his targets -- but he's also unafraid to murder. Flashbacks show him as part of a group called the "Wrecking Crew," while in the City Primeval premiere, he murders Judge Alvin Guy and Guy's assistant simply because the judge cut him off in the casino parking garage. Mansell has both Marcus "Sweety" Sweeton and Carolyn Wilder in his grasp, threatening to harm the former if the latter doesn't continue representing him, and quickly becomes obsessed with Raylan. He is portrayed by Boyd Holbrook, who also faced off with Kiefer Sutherland in The Fugitive.

Quantico's Aunjanue Ellis Portrays Defense Attorney Carolyn Wilder

Carolyn Wilder establishes herself as an adversary to Raylan Givens when she criticizes his treatment of the drug dealer he brought back to Detroit, and later as Clement Mansell's lawyer. However, it's soon revealed that Carolyn isn't representing Mansell voluntarily. She previously got him off the hook for charges years earlier, after Marcus "Sweety" Sweeton connected the duo, and he expects her to do the same again -- or he'll set his sights on the closest person she has to family. Carolyn's aspiration to become a judge is further threatened by her ex-husband Jamal, who has a criminal history of his own. But she may be more interested in Raylan. Aunjanue Ellis is recognizable to TV viewers for roles in Quantico and NCIS: Los Angeles, and earned an Oscar nomination opposite Will Smith in King Richard.

Vondie Curtis Hall Is Bartender Marcus “Sweety” Sweeton

Marcus "Sweety" Sweeton's musical talent could have made him a famous jazz musician, if he hadn't been pulled over on the way to record with George Clinton. Now he operates an aging Detroit bar that's become a hub for a wide variety of patrons -- some of them questionable. He also has a past with Clement Mansell that he has come to regret, and when he sees an opportunity to get Mansell out of his life, he might just take it. Sweety is portrayed by actor-director Vondie Curtis Hall, who is best known for starring as physician Dr. Dennis Hancock in David E. Kelley's medical drama Chicago Hope. More recently, he portrayed a hard-nosed CIA boss in Netflix's hit series The Recruit.

Adelaide Clemens Provides Comic Relief as Sandy Stanton

Sandy Stanton is Clement Mansell's girlfriend and accomplice -- though their relationship on both counts is somewhat rocky. Sandy may be in love with Mansell, but she doesn't always like what he asks her to do. She works as a cocktail waitress at a Detroit casino, where she can also scout for potential marks. Raylan claims to see potential in Sandy when he initially meets her, though his temporary partner Robinson (who has dealt with her before) is much more skeptical. However, the role of Sandy is perfectly inhabited by Australian actress Adelaide Clemens, who's in somewhat familiar territory. She played Rebecca Pyre in another FX crime drama miniseries, Under the Banner of Heaven.

The King of Queens' Victor Williams Plays Wendell Robinson

TV viewers will definitely recognize the actor who portrays cynical Detroit detective Wendell Robinson, but they aren't likely to guess where. Victor Williams made his name in the sitcom world: he played Deacon Palmer, Doug's best friend and co-worker, on CBS' wildly successful comedy The King of Queens. His extensive list of television credits also includes the Damon Wayans sitcom Happy Together, Flight of the Conchords and The Michael J. Fox Show. Det. Robinson would not be a sitcom fan; in fact, he has a very dry sense of humor, even moreso than Raylan. The long-serving Detroit cop has clearly resigned himself to the harsh realities of the city -- but he provides Raylan with valuable insight since he's dealt with many of the players in City Primeval before.

Marin Ireland Portrays Maureen Downey

If Robinson is the cynical cop and Norbert is the corrupt cop, Maureen Downey is square in the middle. The Detroit detective reveals to Raylan early in Justified: City Primeval that Judge Guy's assistant was working as her confidential informant when Mansell murdered the other woman, and later opens up her home to Raylan and Willa. Marin Ireland has a connection to her co-star Victor Williams: they both appeared in the Prime Video crime drama Sneaky Pete. Ireland starred as Juia Bowman in the series created by David Shore and The Upside star Bryan Cranston, while Williams recurred during Season 1. She also guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fans as Bella Carisi, sister of ADA Sonny Carisi. However, her best work came in the 2014 crime drama The Divide as the relentless Christine Rosa.

Broadway Legend Norbert Leo Butz's Character Is Also Norbert

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Robinson and Maureen is the hard-charging Detective Norbert Beryl, who doesn't give any quarter to the criminals of Detroit. His methods surprise even Raylan, who is unimpressed when Norbert knocks a suspect down the stairs despite the man attempting to surrender -- and Norbert doesn't care, telling Raylan that's how things are done in Detroit. He and his colleagues later decide to destroy Sweety's bar while serving a search warrant. It's not clear whether or not the character was intentionally given the same name as his portrayer Norbert Leo Butz, but that's a fun coincidence. Butz has two Tony Awards and two more nominations, and played the original Fiyero in Wicked. FX viewers will know him better from being in the network's miniseries Trust and Fosse/Verdon.

Justified: City Primeval airs Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. on FX.

Marvel Reveals the Identity of the New 'X-Traitor'

In this week's X-Men: Hellfire Gala, the X-Men discover that they have a new traitor in their midst...but there's more to it than it appears

During their record-selling run on X-Men in the 1990s, Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio introduced the idea that there was a traitor on the X-Men who would betray his or her teammates in the near future and become a (very bad) legend in the distant future that the mutant known as Bishop grew up in. The X-Traitor became a major mystery for fans that was eventually resolved by different writers as part of the crossover, Onslaught. Now, though, there is a new X-Traitor, only this "traitor" isn't really what they appear.

In X-Men: Hellfire Club #1, written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Adam Kubert, Luciano Vecchio, Matteo Lolli, Russell Dauterman, Javier Pina, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, Kris Anka & Pepe Larraz, plus color artists Rain Beredo, Ceci De La Cruz, Matthew Wilson, Erick Arciniega & Marte Gracia and lettering by Virtual Calligraphy (Tom Muller w/Jay Bown did the design work for the issue), Firestar, who was the winner of last year's fan vote to decide a new member of the main X-Men team, is the new "X-Traitor," but she only took on the role because Jean Grey asked her before being killed.

How did Jean Grey recruit Firestar as the X-Traitor?

The X-Men were attacked by the anti-mutant group, Orchis, during the Hellfire Club, and Moira MacTaggert stabbed Jean Grey with a blade that was coated with the Otherworld material, Blightswill, which, as one of its abilities, dampens mutant's powers. Jean was slowly dying, but since she was so powerful, she was able to still use her powers before she died. So she telepathically contacted Firestar, and asked her to be willing to go undercover as a member of Orchis. Jean would use her powers to alter the memories of Dr. Stasis, the Nathaniel Essex clone who was one of the heads of Orchis, to make him believe that Firestar had been working with Orchis before she even joined the X-Men.

It was as terrible thing to ask, since Fiestar would now appear to be a traitor to EVERYONE, the X-Men included, but she agreed. However, Jean Grey then died...

So now Firestar is all by herself, helping the rest of the X-Men, but hated by them at the same time.

What do the other X-Men think about Firestar now?

The rest of the X-Men community already had some issues with Firestar because she was one of the most prominent mutants to NOT be a member of the X-Men for many years, choosing to be a part of the New Warriors and Avengers instead, so there were some hard feelings towards her from some of her teammates.

But now that she seemingly betrayed the X-Men to Orchis? The other X-Men now all hate her, with Rogue threatening her at the end of the issue. Time will tell, though, if Firestar is able to convince the other mutants that she is working for their benefit.

Secret Invasion Director Addresses Talos' Potential MCU Return

Secret Invasion director Ali Selim hints at a future for Ben Mendelsohn's Skrull Talos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite his apparent demise.

Marvel's Secret Invasion has concluded its six-episode with more than one unexpected character death, but director Ali Selim hints that viewers may not have seen the last of Ben Mendelsohn's Talos.

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Selim shed some light on the decision to end Talos' story and the potential for his return. He clarified that the decision to kill off characters was beyond his authority and fell under the higher-ups at Marvel Studios, but despite Talos' apparent demise, Selim teased the potential for revisiting the character's history.

Selim hinted at the character's intriguing history with Nick Fury, suggesting that there might be more to explore in the future. For instance, the Marvel Cinematic Universe might explore stories set before or after the events of Secret Invasion, providing ample room for Talos to resurface. As the Skrull's body was cremated in Episode 5, Selim emphasized the timeline of the show, set in 2023 and 2024, leaving intriguing opportunities for prequels or future tales.

The director's tantalizing hints about Talos' involvement in other MCU events while impersonating Fury or other characters have ignited fan speculation. The enigmatic nature of Talos' exit leaves the door open for the character's future involvement in the MCU's future.

Secret Invasion's Shocking Deaths

Early in Secret Invasion, another major character was killed off: Maria Hill, played by Cobie Smulders since 2012's The Avengers. While Maria Hill's departure raised many eyebrows, fans were intrigued by Talos' demise, given his relatively recent introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Skrull General Talos, played by Ben Mendelsohn since 2019's Captain Marvel, also played a pivotal role impersonating Nick Fury in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Secret Invasion centers around Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., navigating life after the events of Avengers: Endgame. The series delves into the theme of paranoia, raising the possibility that some of the major characters may secretly be alien Skrull invaders. The show introduces several new and surprising aspects of Fury's life, such as his Skrull wife, Varra.

Selim, aiming to infuse the series with heartfelt emotions and intense storytelling, acknowledged a deep bond between Nick Fury and Talos, describing it as a beautiful love story that paralleled Fury's marriage to Varra.

All episodes of Secret Invasion are now streaming on Disney+.

Why is Video Game Preservation so Difficult And Why is It Important?

Video game preservation is important to protect the medium as an art form, but there are several factors preventing it from being a standard practice.

Video games are art that tell amazing stories, feature gorgeous graphics, and have wonderful musical scores. Plus, it is the only art form that actually allows people to become an active participant in it. People have been moved and inspired by video games for decades now, and video games offer some of the best experiences. Unfortunately, they are not always seen for the art that they are. Games have consistently been treated as merely a means for entertainment. Not only has that tainted the perception of games as art, but it has also prevented games from getting the same preservation options as other forms of art.

While books, music, and films are all considered entertainment, there are also governmental measures in place to ensure their preservation as an art form. The Library of Congress pools new movies every year to be saved and categorized, and this is the same for literature and music. New pieces of art are constantly being preserved so that the art isn't lost, and it is an effort that ensures future generations will have access to a wide variety of art that will keep inspiring new people leading to new art. It is an incredibly hopeful and optimistic cycle. Unfortunately, video games are not afforded the same amount of hopeful optimism, but the Video Game History Foundation aims to change that.

What is Video Game Preservation?

There are many who may not be aware of video game preservation efforts, and there are some who may not even be familiar with the process of preserving forms of art. It is a shame that this process is not better explained for fans everywhere because the results of these efforts benefit everyone. The phrase "video game preservation" is self-explanatory and describes efforts to preserve video games. However, the actual process is much more complicated and difficult, and it requires some knowledge of art preservation to fully understand. Basically, the Library of Congress pools together a large selection of art from different mediums and decide if it is allowed to be entered into the Library of Congress. This ensures that precious art, regardless of the medium, will be around for generations to come. Obviously museums play a part in preservation as well, and some have even featured video games as exhibits. Preservation also extends to copyright laws which allow for libraries at the local level to freely loan out books, movies, and albums to its members.

While the Library of Congress has selected several games to be added to their library, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of games available. The Video Game History Foundation recently reported that 87% of games are not preserved in any form. According to the Foundation's research, only 13% of games are preserved today for fans to play, and that number drops to below 3% for games released prior to 1985. This also does not include games released after 2010. The study points out the Commodore 64 is particularly lacking in terms of game availability. It describes the system as an "Abandoned Ecosystem" due to the extremely limited options for experiencing C64 games. The study goes on to describe the Game Boy family of games as a "Neglected Ecosystem." The family of systems at one point had roughly 6.5% of its library available on the Wii U and 3DS eShop, but now that those services have shut down, that number is much less. The Video Game History Foundation is working find ways to make these historic pieces more available for people and have them regarded as important forms of artistic expression that deserve to be preserved.

Why Is Video Game Preservation Difficult?

Unfortunately, there are several barriers standing in the way of better video game preservation. The chief obstacle facing video game preservation is the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The ESA is the main lobbying group for the video game industry and have repeatedly and successfully argued that the video game industry does enough for video game preservation without outside interference. Based on the new study from the Video Game History Foundation, that could not be further from the truth. Game studios are starting to embrace digital markets, and many games released on recent generations of consoles have been made available on modern systems or received ports or remakes. More console developers have also embraced backwards compatibility, which has made it easier for fans to continue to play games even after upgrading a console. Despite all of this, the study proves that there are still far too many games that are not available on modern platforms, and there are even less options when trying to experience retro games.

The ESA may be the chief barrier for video game preservation, but there are still others. While the secondary market of gaming is thriving and continuing to grow, it poses its own struggles for video game preservation. Anyone who is a retro gaming collector can attest that it is an expensive hobby, and the excessive cost of purchasing retro consoles and games makes it that much more difficult for people trying to experience them. Likewise, there are digital markets available, but they are not as beneficial as some may think. Obviously, the Wii U and 3DS eShops were shut down, and while Sony recently decided to extend support of the PS3 and PS Vita digital stores, they are not upheld with the highest quality. Conversely, licensed games bring an entirely new issue to preservation. Developers seldom hold rights over a licensed game, and that means that the rights' holder of an IP can decide to pull a licensed game from a digital market whenever they see fit. All of these make it more difficult for a reliable way to preserve and protect games for future enjoyment.

Why Is Video Game Preservation Important?

Some fans may be quick to point out that dozens of the most influential video games of all time are very much available in some form on modern platforms. They may also argue that emulation is an option for those who desperately want to experience older retro games that have not been ported or updated. Unfortunately, neither of these offer help to the ongoing effort of video game preservation. Many influential games like Doom and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are available, but the thousands of other games that are not as well regarded, best-selling, or influential are wallowing in limbo. However, that doesn't make them any less important than the bigger games. Furthermore, emulation is not a solution to the problem or a viable option for most people. Frankly, it is a violation of copyright law, but realistically it requires a certain level of technical skill and troubleshooting that is difficult for many people to manage at best and impossible to utilize at worst.

Video games, like books and movies, should be openly available for those looking to experience them. There are dozens of options for people looking for a particular old movie, book, or album, but video games are not afforded that luxury. If a player wants to play an older video game that has not been made available on modern platforms on modern platforms, the only legal ways to accomplish that is to track down the console and a physical copy of the game they wish to play or travel to the actual Library of Congress and hope it is stored there. Obviously, this is neither practical nor helpful. With better video game preservation efforts, it would not only save these pieces of art from being lost but also make these games available for everyone who wants to experience them.

Successful preservation efforts could open the door for even local libraries to have a selection of games for people to check out like books or movies. Beyond that, it could help create a massive digital library that would allow players to log in and "rent" older retro games along with a reliable way to play them from one spot. It would create a way for everyone to reliably and legally experience games from their childhood or play the hidden gems that get lost in a sea of releases. Preservation helps ensure that the most interactive artistic medium is never lost, and, more importantly, it would allow the next generation to experience everything the medium has to offer without having to jump difficult hurdles or spend a function. Video game preservation ensures that video games will always be there to inspire future generations of game designers, developers, and creators.

Marvel Reveals Whether Ms. Marvel Has Mutant Superpowers

Ms. Marvel has been resurrected by the X-Men, but this week's Hellfire Gala reveals whether her superpowers are from her mutant X-gene or not

After Ms. Marvel died in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, her death turned out to be shockingly brief, as Marvel revealed recently that it was resurrecting the popular superhero, but not only was she coming back to life, but she would both be joining the X-Men and discovering that she was a mutant!

In this week's X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1, we discovered the details about Kamala Khan's resurrection on Krakoa, including whether her classic "embiggening" superpowers were due to her mutant heritage, and also whether she was definitely still an Inhuman, or if that was a mistake, and she was only a mutant all along.

First off, as soon as Kamala was resurrected, the X-Men calmed her fears down about this new fact that she was a mutant, but also that her family had to deal with her recent demise. Emma Frost noted that she will adjust her family's memories so that they do not recall that their daughter ever died at all (she was also given an outfit to wear for the Hellfire Gala. It is what we used in the header image for this article).

We then received confirmation that Ms. Marvel's current superpowers, the ability to increase her size and stretch (basically Mister Fantastic's power set) comes from her Inhuman side being activated by the Terrigen Mists. Therefore, her superpowers are NOT mutant ones. It also means that she just happens to be both of Inhuman heritage AND mutant heritage.

What are Ms. Marvel's mutant powers then?

Naturally, if her superpowers are still Inhuman in nature, Kamal wanted to know what her mutant abilities are, but Charles Xavier explained to her that there is no way to know, because she was exposed to the Terrigen Mists before her mutant powers surfaced. That, though, might have been a major blessing for her, as Terrigen Mists have been shown to have very negative effects on mutants. So had Kamala manifested her mutant abilities FIRST, she might have died, or been severely injured by the Terrigen Mists.

As it is, Xavier explains that there is no sure bet that activating her mutant abilities (which were apparently suppressed when her Inhuman abilities manifested themselves) would not cause her physical harm. In addition, the X-Men believe in bodily autonomy, so they would never ask Kamala to try to trigger her mutant abilities without her permission.

So for now, after the devastating attack on the X-Men at the Hellfire Gala, Kamala is working as a member of the X-Men, but using only her Inhuman abilities for now. Time will tell if she ever manifests her mutant powers at ALL, and whether they are similar to the ones she had on her Disney+ TV series.

NBC's Night Court Revival Renewed for Season 2

NBC's revival of the 1980s legal sitcom Night Court lands an early Season 2 renewal following a strong start in January.

The Melissa Rauch-led revival of the 1980s legal sitcom Night Court has landed an early Season 2 renewal at NBC.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, NBC picked up Night Court for Season 2 after the show's two-episode premiere delivered the network's "biggest comedy audience in more than five years." The Night Court revival debuted on Jan. 17, with the pilot episode attracting an audience of 7.55 million viewers and Episode 2 subsequently being watched by 6.94 million viewers. The show has continued to post strong numbers, with Episodes 3 and 4 being watched by 5.17 million and 4.77 million viewers, respectively. Episode 5 is slated to air next Tuesday, Feb. 7.

"It's so rewarding to have audiences respond and return to a show in which they have such incredibly warm feelings, and, more broadly, it's testament to how broadcast is still a huge driver of communal viewing," said Lisa Katz, the president of scripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. "A huge thank you to our studio partners, a wonderful cast, incredibly talented writers and producers, and a crew that has transformed a lower Manhattan courtroom into a true family."

"The verdict is in and the 'new-boot' of Night Court is a hit! The series' razor-sharp humor makes the show a weekly must watch," added Channing Dungey, the chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group. "We're overjoyed that court will remain in session and return with new cases for season two. We're so grateful to our colleagues at NBC, to the richly talented creative team led by Melissa Rauch, Winston Rauch, Dan Rubin and John Larroquette, and to the stellar ensemble cast."

Night Court Is Back in Session

Like the revival, the original Night Court was produced by Warner Bros. Television and aired on NBC. The sitcom ran for a total of 193 episodes over nine seasons from 1984 to 1992. It starred the late Harry Anderson as Harold "Harry" T. Stone, a young, unorthodox judge who presided over the night shift of a criminal court in lower Manhattan. The show also starred the likes of Markie Post, John Larroquette and Charles Robinson, among many others.

NBC began developing a Night Court sequel series in 2020, with Larroquette attached to reprise his role as Reinhold Daniel Fielding Elmore. The project moved forward in 2021, with Melissa Rauch -- of The Big Bang Theory fame -- being cast as lead character Abby Stone, the daughter of Harry Stone, who follows in her late father's footsteps. In addition to Rauch and Larroquette, NBC's Night Court revival stars India de Beaufort, Kapil Talwalkar and Lacretta. Faith Ford guest stars as Gina, Abby's mother.

Here's Why Maria Hill Is Much More Powerful Than DC's Amanda Waller

Maria Hill and Amanda Waller are two of comics' fiercest leaders, but Hill is making more waves in the Marvel Universe than her DC counterpart.

Although from different universes, Maria Hill, the former Director of Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D., and Amanda Waller, the founder of DC's Suicide Squad, share many similarities. Hill and Waller are strong and committed leaders who bear the world's burden on their shoulders. They're both workaholics and often struggle with guilt. They are recognized for their cruelty, recklessness, and controversial unsanctioned operations. Hill and Waller are visionaries responsible for imaginative security responses to dangerous threats. However, a notable difference exists between them. While Amanda Waller is a well-respected leader in the DC Universe, Maria Hill possesses more power in the Marvel Universe thanks to her unexpected capacity for personal growth.

Despite making difficult decisions others might perceive as extreme or unethical, Hill and Waller never openly express remorse. Despite their similarities, the two spymasters have followed very different paths. Waller's lost a lot of her influence over Task Force X as she's lost her superiors' trust. However, Hill is still respected as a strong leader and a frontline soldier and has become more of a superhero ally over time. Her decision to trust one superhero led to her success with the CIA and SHIELD in ways that Amanda Waller has never matched.

Hill And Waller Express Deep Regret For Following Orders

Maria Hill and Amanda Waller share many similarities at first glance. They're both military veterans who suffered trauma and pioneering women with high-level security positions. They even both live in Chicago. On a deeper level, Waller and Hill also share a sense of hidden guilt about their work. After following orders that almost led to her demise, Maria Hill struggled with remorse. In 2016's Jessica Jones #12 (written by Brian Michael Bendis, with Michael Gaydos, Javier Pulido, and Matt Hollingsworth), metahuman private investigator Jessica Jones was on the case to discover who was trying to kill Maria Hill. Jess discovered that Hill had ordered her own assassination and wiped her own memory afterward because she'd been forced to eliminate Hydra triple agent who was loyal to SHIELD. Amanda Waller has faced similar internal struggles.

Amanda Waller's guilty conscience is explored in Suicide Squad Most Wanted: El Diablo and Amanda Waller #6 (by Vita Ayala, Jai Nitz, Cliff Richards, and Matt Merhoff). Here, a drugged Waller blames herself for the way her workaholic tendencies have led to her family's victimization. In Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller #1 (by Jim Zub, Andre Coelho, Scott Hanna, and Andrew Dalhouse), Waller laments: "I have nightmares about all the people who've died because of shots I've fired or decisions I've made." Although Hill and Waller both feel guilty about their work, they keep it to themselves and don't share it with others. In Captain America: Steve Rogers #9 (by Nick Spencer, Jesus Saiz, edited by Tom Brevoort), when Maria Hill is on trial for using the Cosmic Cube to imprison supervillains in Pleasant Hill, she defends herself by explaining that her controversial decisions were made for the common good. Despite her mistakes, Hill perseveres and confidently presents a new idea while defending the good intentions underlying her previous project.

Hill And Waller Produce Imaginative Solutions To The Supervillain Problem

The Suicide Squad, led by Amanda Waller, and Maria Hill's Pleasant Hill, are both notorious for using lethal tactics to contain and control supervillains. However, they also demonstrate innovative methods to accomplish their objectives. Avengers: Standoff #1 (by Nick Spencer, Mark Baley, Scott Hanna, Paul Mounts, and VC's Clayton Cowles) details the top-secret S.H.I.E.L.D. prison Pleasant Hill. Once launched, this security project contains supervillains inside a suburban fantasy alternate reality, using fragments from the sentient Cosmic Cube to power its simulation. In theory, Pleasant Hill may seem like a peaceful community where prisoners' powers are suppressed and their criminal tendencies are erased. However, The Fixer created a device within the illusion that revealed his true identity and exposed the harsh reality Pleasant Hill was based on. This resulted in a catastrophic rebellion among the prisoners and a reprimand for Hill from the World Security Council.

While Maria Hill learned from her mistake and came out of her experience humbler and wiser, Amanda Waller can't resist showing off her skills, even if it means overestimating herself. In Suicide Squad # 30 (by Sean Ryan, André Coelho, Scott Hanna, and Brett Smith) Waller all but lost her leadership role in Task Force X because of her failure to follow the U.S. government's directives, making the already caustic Waller more bitter than ever. Conversely, Maria Hill has learned to prioritize global security over her personal feelings of failure. Even after big missteps, she employs more innovative methods to ensure that Earth remains secure. Her "Shield" for the planet is still impervious, even after she faces the consequences for her personal mistakes.

Maria Hill Knows How To Make Friends

Secret Invasion #3 (by Ryan North, Francesco Mobili, Jordie Bellaire, and Joe Caramagna) did a lot to demonstrate how Maria Hill is the more impressive leader, soldier, and spy when she stopped a full-fledged alien invasion. Her success was based on her surprising decision to trust Iron Man and work with the Skrull refugees he vouched for. Maria Hill's willingness to try something new showed the humility Amanda "The Wall" Waller lacks. Maria knows how to be vulnerable, trust superhero allies, and challenge her own prejudices. Waller may have possessed these strengths at some point, but after spending years with the Suicide Squad, she seems to have lost them.

Maria Hill and Amanda Waller share a lot of similarities, but Hill is evolving while Waller is standing still. Waller is a brilliant woman with lofty aspirations but she's still bitter and antagonistic in a world that rewards cooperation. Hill is building alliances within the government, the superhero community, and even with Skrulls, whereas Waller's long tenure leading supervillains may have turned her into one herself. Hill keeps making better decisions putting her ego aside. This has made her more powerful than Waller has ever been in her extensive run in DC Comics.

Hannibal Lecter's Real-Life Inspiration Is Scarier Than Silence of the Lambs

Though he was a composite of various real-life killers, The Silence of the Lambs' Hannibal Lecter was particularly inspired by one foppish murderer.

Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic and terrifying villains in cinematic history. Debuting in the 1981 book Red Dragon, he would later be most well-known in The Silence of the Lambs with Anthony Hopkins' demented and diabolical portrayal of the doctor. Between his sociopathic behavior and his tendency to eat his victims, Lecter charismatically creeped out many who watched his movies, leaving many viewers wondering: was Hannibal Lecter real?

Hannibal Lecter is not real per se, but the character is based on a real-life, murderous doctor. Hannibal's creation in Thomas Harris' novels was a grim example of art imitating life. From his homicidal tendencies to his impeccable charm, so much of what audiences recognize about Lecter had roots in a real-life killer. So, here's the true terror behind Hannibal Lecter that's sure to leave the lambs far more than just silent.

Who Was Hannibal Lecter Based On?

Back in the early 1960s, The Silence of the Lambs author Thomas Harris was working as a journalist. One of his cases took him to Mexico to interview a gruesomely wounded killer, Dykes Askew Simmons. However, it was the fellow prisoner who had tended to this convict that truly left an imprint on Harris when crafting the horror movie icon.

This was "Dr. Salazar," a man Harris believed to be a member of the prison staff. Dr. Salazar began interviewing the journalist as much as the reverse. His questions and mannerisms were incredibly astute, truly embodying his doctor sobriquet. The ideas that he put forth concerning Simmons' victims were both intellectually and utterly gruesome. Harris later found out that Salazar was not the prison employee he had assumed. In fact, the former medical surgeon was a prisoner himself named Alfredo Ballí Treviño.

Treviño was also a gay man during a time in Mexico's history when it was highly looked down upon. His attempt to fit into mainstream society greatly angered his lover, whom Treviño would later kill in anger. Afterward, he sliced him into myriad intricate pieces and buried him in a vain attempt to get away with the crime. On top of this already horrendous act, he was also suspected of committing similar murders on numerous hitchhikers during the 1950s and '60s, but his guilt was never proven.

How Are Hannibal Lecter and Alfredo Ballí Treviño Similar?

The idea of killing and dismembering their victims is an obvious similarity between Hannibal Lecter and Alfredo Ballí Treviño, but this wasn't the only area in which Harris was inspired. There's also the fact that Alfredo had impeccable taste and erudite mannerisms, even while imprisoned. This heavily resembles Lecter's own characterization, in which he upholds gentleman-like qualities when speaking and carrying himself. Both men were also once doctors, though Treviño was a highly intelligent surgeon with precision and skill with a scalpel, while Lecter was a forensic psychologist who understood serial killers so well, he moved as one of them among his own colleagues for quite some time.

At the same time, Treviño wasn't the only killer who inspired Harris when he created Lecter, but the idea of getting into a killer's demented mind was a lot easier due to his experience in the Mexican prison. This makes Lecter essentially a composite character based on real killers, much like Mario Puzo's Don Corleone. Though it's unknown if Treviño ever ate a victim's liver with fava beans, the real-life killer certainly made a grisly impact on Lecter's creator.

Two Superman Shows Reinterpreted Intergang - But Only One Is Comics-Accurate

Superman & Lois and My Adventures with Superman both recently featured Intergang. One of them, however, takes the criminal team in a wild direction.

Superman is enjoying an elevated moment of television right now, with the live-action Superman & Lois wrapping up its three-season run in June, only to hand the baton off to the animated My Adventures with Superman. Both series have enjoyed high praise among the fans. Both also bring a breath of fresh air to a Man of Steel rather desperately in need of one.

That includes a double presentation of Intergang, one of Superman's perennial foes in the comics with a long history to draw upon. Both series have their own take on the organization, yet Superman & Lois delivers a very comics-accurate take, while My Adventures with Superman ranges far afield. And they're both still undeniably Intergang, reinterpreted for the needs of a specific project. They're a great example of how such characters can thrive despite such diverse incarnations.

Superman & Lois Strip Intergang Down to Its Basics

Intergang first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133 (Jack Kirby, Al Plastino, Vince Colletta, and John Costanza). In the comics, they began as an old-school crime syndicate under the command of founder Boss Moxie Manheim. When he dies, he's replaced by Morgan Edge, who has deep ties to Apokolips and uses the gang to help Darkseid complete the Anti-Life Equation. Accordingly, Intergang often sports high-tech alien weaponry from their sinister benefactor: unwittingly performing Darkseid's will on Earth and going from a mundane criminal mob to a genuine challenge for Superman in the process.

Edge is eventually replaced by Manheim's son Bruno, who continues to run Intergang in a manner similar to his predecessors. Lex Luthor takes control of it in The Adventures of Superman #552 (Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett, Denis Rodier, Glenn Whitmore, and Albert DeGuzman), while reboots and capital "c" Crises have thrown the specifics for multiple loops. Superman & Lois uses them as major villains throughout its run, starting with the pilot when Morgan Edge buys out the Daily Planet. Lois and Clark return to Smallville with their family, only to find Edge and his forces setting their sights on the town. The series belongs to the larger Arrowverse continuity. Darkseid and the Apokolips connection have been completely eliminated.

Instead, Edge turns out to be another Kryptonian exile, with a plan to resurrect his dead planet by using humans to house Kryptonian consciousness. That simplifies the narrative and ties Intergang more closely to Clark's past. Yet at the same time, it sticks remarkably close to many of the group's core notions, including Bruno Manheim, the use of high technology, and the fact that they are very dangerous for Superman and his family.

My Adventures with Superman's Intergang Is Almost Entirely New

Ironically, My Adventures with Superman's version of Intergang may be far more closely connected to Darkseid than Superman & Lois, depending on the as-yet-unrevealed origins of the tech they use. It's surprising because the series starts from the bottom up, showing Intergang's humble origins as a trio of stick-up artists who luck into some big-time gadgets. They include The Silver Banshee and The Mist -- a DC stalwart villain and a holdover from The Golden Age, respectively -- who nonetheless had no connection to Intergang before now. Superman & Lois interweaves its version of the group with plenty of pertinent details from the comics. My Adventures with Superman takes only the bare-bones concept and the name.

Neither way necessarily works better than the other. Both have their advantages: greater accuracy gives Superman & Lois more ready access to comics storylines, while My Adventures with Superman has a lot more freedom to do its own thing with Intergang. But their proximity demonstrates that good storytelling renders accuracy a superfluous detail. The comics are the comics, and as long as creators approach them with respect, how they're used becomes a matter of what the particular project needs.

New episodes of My Adventures with Superman stream every Thursday on Max.

Arrowverse Co-Creator Believes Marvel Should Reboot the MCU: 'Prune the Tree'

Arrowverse co-creator Marc Guggenheim urges Marvel Studios to reboot the MCU, describing the franchise as having too much content.

Marc Guggenheim, one of the heads of The CW's wildly popular Arrowverse, offered his perspective on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stating that he believes the franchise needs to shrink if it wants to continue.

Speaking on The Aarthi and Sriram Show, Guggenheim explained that he agrees with current Disney CEO Bob Iger that Marvel Studios needs to slow down its content production, adding that he believes the MCU is due for a "Crisis on Infinite Earths"-like event that can reduce the number of plot threads. "Each of these movies in Phases 1 through 3, they all stood on their own. Look I get it. I think honestly what the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going through right now is the same discovery that Marvel print universe and the DC print universe also went through," Guggenheim explained. "Which is - I think of these universes like ships, and the longer a ship sails, the more barnacles get attached to its hull, and the more that weighs down the ship and the more it effects how fast the ship can move through the water."

The creator went on to speculate that he believes the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars film will largely serve that goal. "My guess is what they are building up with Phase 4 is - the Secret Wars that they've announced is not the Secret Wars of the 1980s, it's Jonathan Hickman's Secret Wars which basically was sort of like a reset for the Marvel Universe," Guggenheim concluded.

Iger's Take on the MCU

As the MCU continues to grow with new characters and stories, many fans have complained that the franchise is becoming too large for its own good. Iger has previously gone on record to say that he intends to significantly reduce the number of projects in the cinematic universe's pipeline. The CEO singled out many of the series on Disney+ which he says "diluted focus and attention."

As for the Arrowverse, The CW's connected world of DC superheroes began life in 2012 with Arrow and went on to spawn several spinoffs including The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman and Black Lightning. While certain series were reviewed better than others, the entire property gained a dedicated following that collectively mourned when it ultimately came to a close in mid-2023 with the final episode of The Flash Season 9.

SDCC: Rick Remender Discusses The Sacrificers and The Holy Roller

CBR sat down with Rick Remender at SDCC 2023 to discuss The Sacrificers and his work with Andy Samberg and Joe Trohman on Holy Roller.

Between impressive stints on several Marvel titles (including Captain America, Uncanny X-Force / Avengers, and Venom) and several creator-owned series, like Deadly Class, Low, and A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance -- Rick Remender has built a reputation for telling compelling, thoughtful stories.

CBR sat down with the venerable writer at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 to discuss his newest projects with Image Comics. Remender discussed his and Max Fiumara's The Sacrificers, which is due out on Aug. 2, and teased what he, Andy Samberg, Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman, and artist Roland Boschi have in store for audiences in the recently announced Holy Roller.

CBR: What can you tell us about your upcoming projects with Image Comics?

Rick Remender: Well, the first one is The Sacrificers, which is a book I'm doing with the brilliant Max Fiumara and colorist Dave McCaig. This is sort of a dark science fiction fantasy story if we had to pin it to a genre. It's a story that, at its heart, comes down to an examination of the older generation's stranglehold on the world and their inflexibility and unwillingness to relinquish it to the younger generations coming up.

In this world, every family is expected to give over one child, a Sacrificer, to the ruling five families. In exchange, their world is made perfect. There's an abundance of food, the weather is perfect, and everything functions properly -- but nobody knows what happens to the child they hand over. This is the story of one particular Sacrificer as we follow him on his journey.

That's a very interesting premise, like a utopia at a cost.

That's right. But what is the cost, and what's happening? I'm enjoying the onion approach to storytelling on this one, where I'm just slowly revealing one layer after the other and trying to hide the ball in a lot of ways. One problem with comics is that it's imperative that you give the audience some kind of idea of what it is they're getting into upfront. But I'm the opposite.

I'm reminded of David Lynch because I grew up on Lynch films, and he won't tell you in interviews what a movie is about. He won't tell you what Twin Peaks is about. He won't tell you what he thinks is happening or what was in his head because he wants every individual experiencing his art to come away with whatever they get from it. I love that because there's a participation aspect to that way of storytelling. And so, what I'm trying to do moving forward as we unveil the new line of books over the next year or two, and we get into unrolling this huge line of product, is to treat it with a little more artistic respect and give just a very basic snapshot. All the rest of the secrets and reveals will be slowly doled out to the people who want to take the ride.

There's also another project you're working on with Image. What can you tell us about that book?

It's called The Holy Roller, and it's a story I'm sharing with a friend of mine, Joe Trohman, who is the guitar player in a band called Fall Out Boy. He is also a television writer, and while we were taking a break from writing one day, he was talking to me about being a Jewish kid in this area of Chicago where he was experiencing anti-semitism fairly regularly. And so, as we were discussing that, he was saying that he would deal with being bullied by going to the bowling alley to blow off steam. He said he had an idea for a superhero vigilante called the Holy Roller, who uses bowling balls as weapons. A friend of ours, who was a producer, heard the idea, and we set up a Zoom call with Andy Samberg, who loved it. I was really isolated during the pandemic, so the idea of collaborating and writing with people again was really exciting to me. Joe and I, along with Andy, spent hours and hours on Zoom developing this and forming it into something we fell in love with. So I brought in one of my art teams, and we put this thing together.

It seems so crazy, but the more we got into it, the more it became a really fun action vehicle. It had a good social commentary and discussed something that still continues to rear its ugly head in our society, anti-semitism. And then it handles the issue with a sort of wink in a really intelligent way that still manages to make fun of it. Maybe it's a Generation X trait that we have this sort of gallows humor about the horrific and a tendency to laugh at the ugliness instead of letting it consume us. I think that was where Joe was coming from with this idea. I've had so much fun making this book because you get into the seriousness of it all alongside the humor to discuss something that's pertinent to the world we live in, blemishes and all. That's truly the Holy Grail of creating comics.

The Sacrificers is due out on Aug. 2, and Holy Roller is due out on Nov. 22.

Ashley Benson & Fiancé Brandon Davis Keep Close on Lunch Date in Beverly Hills

 Ashley Benson is enjoying a day out with her fiancé.

The 33-year-old Pretty Little Liars actress held on close to Brandon Davis while heading to a restaurant for lunch on Monday afternoon (July 24) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Ashley Benson

For their outing, Ashley wore a white T-shirt with denim jeans and black cowboy boots while the 43-year-old oil heir and music manager wore a navy shirt with jeans.

Earlier this month, Ashley announced that she and Brandon were engaged! The two were first linked in January this year, but have been together for a bit longer.

If you didn’t know, Brandon is an oil heir who is the grandson of Marvin Davis, who at one point owned 20th Century Fox.

Dead City's Lauren Cohen Refuses to Reveal the Meaning Behind Her Last Line

Lauren Cohan, the actor who plays Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City refuses to reveal the meaning behind her cryptic last line in Season 1.

The Walking Dead: Dead City actor Lauren Cohen refused to talk about the meaning behind her last line.

In the season finale of The Walking Dead: Dead City, Lauren Cohan's portrayal of Maggie Greene takes center stage as she faces a personal battle with herself and her son. The emotional exchange between mother and son leaves viewers with lingering questions about the hidden meaning behind Maggie's cryptic last line. Cohan remained tight-lipped about the true meaning behind Maggie's decision to finish things with Negan. In an interview with EW, she said, "I am hesitant to say because I know what it means, and I don't want people to be directed because I have heard so many different perceptions of that moment. And I love seeing how differently people take it."

"What's really interesting here is that what people might say is, 'Oh, she's enraged because she's lost the father to help her raise her son,'" Cohan explained. "And it is that, but it's also the place in time that she's frozen in because of this thing that happened has made her in so many ways locked and so desperate to melt some of this rigid place in her heart so that she can be healed, be with her son, and be full and flexible and imperfect as herself and as a parent."

The reunion between Maggie and Hershel isn't the happy ending fans might have hoped for. It's a raw and realistic portrayal of the challenges they face in rebuilding their relationship. Cohan explains that Hershel simply yearns for a genuine connection with his mother, but their bond remains elusive, even after being physically reunited. Their path forward is uncertain, and they must navigate their way through the turmoil together.

One intriguing moment comes when Maggie visits Hershel in her room and reflects on her life of loss and struggle. She admits to having tried to regain what was taken from her through relentless fighting but now realizes that it only led to further losses. She acknowledges her need to let go of her fixation on Negan, hinting at a decisive action to end their conflict.

Lauren Cohan delves into the twist in Dead City Season 1

This season of Dead City also brought a surprising twist in the storyline, with Maggie's deception adding complexity to her character. Cohan earlier expressed her excitement about this unexpected development, remarking, "I was so glad when [showrunner Eli Jorné] came with this story and that this was the twist. It was something I just didn't see coming and couldn't have seen coming."

The season finale sets the stage for an intriguing second season, but the specifics of Maggie's plan remain shrouded in mystery. Production for the upcoming season has not yet begun.

Mortal Kombat 1 Gives a Longstanding Franchise Villain a Tragic Twist

The Mortal Kombat 1 reboot has made a massive retcon to a fan-favorite bloodthirsty villain, teasing a more human, sympathetic story to come.

In the clever and brutal Mortal Kombat franchise, Baraka is undoubtedly one of the most iconic villains, even though he doesn't have the final boss pomp as Shao Kahn or Shang Tsung. Fans have nevertheless absolutely loved his design and dogged mentality over the years.

Given the blades in Baraka's hands, how swift he is as a fighter, and how easy his combos are to execute, it's understandable why he's so popular. Interestingly, with Mortal Kombat 1 rebooting the entire series, Baraka now has a vastly different backstory that gives him a tragic twist that'll leave loyalists hoping Baraka cuts his enemies to pieces on his new mission.

Mortal Kombat 1 Makes Baraka Sympathetic

Initially, Mortal Kombat II depicted Baraka as one of Shao Kahn's generals. As the franchise evolved, he was said to be part of a group of mutants known as Tarkatans. They were hybrids: part Netherworld demons, part Outworlders. But this was soon retconned, with his clan being refined as folks Shao Kahn enslaved. The exalted Emperor annexed their region, baiting the species over to become his dogs of war—something Baraka thoroughly enjoyed in time.

MK1 gives Baraka more agency and purpose, shifting him from being a bloodthirsty flesh-eater. The Umgadi trailer confirms Baraka and his people contracted the Tarkat plague, which mutates and turns them into bloodthirsty monsters. It adds nuance to their tribe, making them more than just cannibals who were strong-armed into battle. Further information from Ed Boon's team confirms Baraka was a merchant who was exiled after becoming sick, joining others who were afflicted.

It teases other people uniting as Baraka becomes a freedom fighter wanting to help create a better life for them. Sadly, the trailer also has Baraka's people being experimented on, as the Umgadi seek a cure for Mileena after she contracts the disease as well. The clip foreshadows Mileena's monstrous turn, making Baraka's kind vital to her survival literally. However, he won't like how his people—and whoever else they find seeking haven—are being used as test subjects. This gives Baraka a higher calling and paints him as a necessary champion in a time of oppression, xenophobia, and hatred.

Mortal Kombat 1 Changes Baraka and Mileena's Dynamic

The new world created by the Fire God in Liu Kang is definitely fresh. Having Mileena go from a mutated Kitana clone to a victim of circumstance is quite interesting. It shapes her as someone to feel for, but also someone fans won't like seeing benefit from the deaths of innocents. That duality will play on the humanity within, and the repressed monster waiting to be unleashed.

Coincidentally, this has been a big part of Baraka and Mileena's past relationship. Previous iterations had Baraka as Mileena's consort, following her orders blindly. Now, though, that romance is gone, as Mileena has a romance with Tanya. This undoes her and Baraka being killers and lovers bonded in blood. That said, there's still a chance Mileena is banished or runs away once her people find out she's infected. It can lead to them having a deeper friendship down the line.

That way, Baraka may not be able to save her physically once she leaves the royal court, but he might be able to heal her mentally. Ironically, it'd remix how Liu Kang and Kitana found kindred spirits in each other, vowing to protect all the realms. Ultimately, Baraka and Mileena may end up with a smaller mission, protecting outcasts suffering. In the process, at least Baraka would end up becoming the hero no one ever predicted, leaving gamers pleasantly unsure of what to expect from Mortal Kombat 1.

Mortal Kombat 1 will be released on Sept. 19, 2023, for the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

X-Men: First Class’ Big Bad Was Perfect in Every Way - But They Were Still Forgettable

X-Men: First Class introduced the origins of some iconic mutants. It also debuted one of the team's best villains, even if he was mostly forgettable.

The X-Men movies have helped usher in comic book movies to the 21st century with a compelling story about superpowered individuals protecting people who hated and feared them. This same hate also fueled many of its villains, whether it was Magneto, who hated the oppression Mutants faced, or William Stryker, who hated how the mutant gene ruined his family. But some villains avoided hate and instead fought for conquest and superiority over Homo sapiens. This was perfectly shown through the character of Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: First Class.

X-Men: First Class was set in the '60s, long before Hugh Jackman's Wolverine would join the team. Instead, the movie focused on the origin of Professor X and Magneto and their friendship before their ideals tore them apart. It was a compelling look at one of comics' most tested friendships and offered a chance to see Magneto as a hero against the killer of his mother, Sebastian Shaw. But while Shaw's characterization was a motivated and dark antagonist to the protagonists, he remained one of the franchise's most forgettable villains.

X-Men: First Class Nailed Sebastian Shaw

In the comics, Sebastian Shaw was born into poverty but gifted with incredible intelligence. He used this intelligence to eventually make a name for himself, earning back his family's wealth. He also had the mutant ability to absorb kinetic energy and redirect it at an attacker, which led to a desire to fight whenever the opportunity arose. Shaw was also a member of the Hellfire Club, a group that controlled the political field from the shadows with an affinity for the English styles of the 1800s. As a member of its inner circle, he challenged the X-Men with his team of loyal followers.

First Class introduced a similar version of Shaw but chose not to explore his past, instead having him as the head of the Hellfire Club. While he and the club didn't embrace the style of the 1800s as the comics had, First Class still had the club embrace the finer things in life and a desire to control the political climate. In this case, it was to establish the Cuban missile crisis in hopes that nuclear annihilation would give birth to a world ruled by mutants. Like the comics, this Shaw had the power of energy absorption, and he only used it when his charisma and deceptive kindness failed to work. The murder of Colonel Hendry was the best example of this, as Shaw started the meeting with politeness until a threat on his life caused him to react violently.

Why Was Sebastian Shaw So Forgettable?

While the broad strokes of Shaw were captured in First Class, it never managed to capture his love of conflict or greed, which may have led to more action-packed sequences. However, being that he was the direct cause of Magneto's mother dying, it showed that this iteration didn't need to throw a punch to be a threat. There was also the fact that Shaw didn't have a distinct style that made him stand out like the comic version's 1800s garb had. Still, that never solved why, when compared to other villains in the X-Men movies, he was more forgettable than the likes of Bolivar Trask or Apocalypse. But closer inspection may reveal that the cause for Shaw's lack of impact lies with First Class as a whole.

One of the huge possibilities why Shaw never reached prominence was that he had to contend with Michael Fassbender's Magneto. While he and Kevin Bacon are amazing actors, the fact that First Class was originally a Magneto origin was prevalent. Magneto carried the rage of a person who never let go of the tragedies he faced as a child and would stop at nothing to get revenge. As a result, the fans connected more with Magneto and saw Shaw as a boogeyman that was so evil that he couldn't even be liked. Plus, seeing Magneto get his revenge on Shaw was a satisfying moment for audiences with a dark undertone as it represented the rise of Magneto as the next major enemy. In a way, Shaw was relegated to a motivator for Magneto rather than a villain that stood on his own, like Loki or Thanos.

First Class was also an ensemble movie that served to set up the first team of X-Men while establishing Professor X, Magneto and Mystique's relationships. That alone set up a slightly overpopulated movie in terms of storylines and pushed Shaw to the back burner, only using him to push the conflict forward. There was also the struggle of exploring other characters like Beast and Havok, which made little to no room for its villains to be more than physical threats, such as Azazel or Emma Frost. In the end, what resulted was a near-perfect villain who didn't get the time that deserved to be explored more deeply.

A Return to Sebastian Shaw Could Offer a New Experience

While First Class failed to have a villain like Shaw stand out from the crowd, it doesn't mean it has to be the last time anyone sees the character. In fact, with mutants appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it could mean a return of the Hellfire Club and its leader in a more comic-accurate style. With organizations like Hydra trying to take over world governments, the Hellfire Club could fill that void and do so with its 1800s flair as viewers learn that its agenda is more mutant-focused. This would mean the perfect opportunity for Shaw to orchestrate grand schemes and face enemies like the X-Men one-on-one.

X-Men: First Class showed how Sebastian Shaw could operate as an evil mutant leader in power that's focused and willing to sacrifice anyone for his goals. With that in mind, it's still a great example for fans to watch and see how the character could work in another franchise. But where his shortcomings were in First Class, the MCU could offer a more dangerous variant that will be far more selfish than ever. Then, rather than one awesome take of Shaw, there would be two that served the best parts of the character in their own ways.

Marvel Games VP Teases a 'Scary' Venom in Spider-Man 2

Venom in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is 'scary', according to Marvel Games creative director Bill Rosemann at San Diego Comic-Con.

Marvel Games and Insomniac gave more details about Venom's motives as a character in the upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man 2, calling him "scary."

Bill Rosemann, the vice president and creative director of Marvel Games spoke to panel attendees at San Diego Comic-Con to answer fan questions about one of the game's main antagonists, Venom. In regard to his motives as a villain, Rosemann said that Venom's conflict with Spider-Man has nothing to do with personal gain and purely comes from a desire to kill Peter Parker. "What makes Venom so scary, he doesn't want to rob banks," Rosemann said to convention attendees. "He doesn't want to take over the world, Venom wants to kill Spider-Man, [so] there's an element of fear."

The director goes on to discuss how the symbiote is like an addiction for its host, which corrupts and dilutes their mind in return for raw power, and that the game will explore this theme as a primary plot point. Recent gameplay and story reveals from Sony and Insomniac Games showed that Peter will be attached to the symbiote as well, causing him to act more ruthless and mean-spirited toward his friends and enemies.

While Rosemann states that Venom's motives are purely personal, the character, voiced by horror icon Tony Todd, makes mention of a desire to "heal the world" in the game's most recent trailer. The trailer does not give any context as to what this might mean, though previous iterations of the character often showed that Venom sees Spider-Man as a plague that needs to be eradicated.

Insomniac and Marvel have intentionally withheld information about who is inside the Venom suit in Spider-Man 2, though they have stated that it is not Eddie Brock, the usual choice for the symbiote in most Spider-Man media. However, the first game's post-credits scene does provide a clue about who Venom may be, as it shows Peter's best friend Harry Osborn in a stasis chamber exposed to a black substance that resembles the alien symbiote.

Venom will not be the only threat to Peter and his apprentice, Miles Morales, however, as Kraven the Hunter was also revealed in the game's first trailer as a primary antagonist. The game will also feature new gameplay mechanics such as a glide suit and new combat features during Peter's time with the symbiote.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is set to release on Oct. 20 exclusively on the PlayStation 5. The first game and its follow-up title Miles Morales are available on PlayStation 4 and 5 and PC. Sony also announced a Spider-Man-themed PS5 console and controller bundle available for pre-order on July 28.

Robert Kirkman Reveals Which Major Star He's Trying to Land for Invincible

Robert Kirkman says there's one big star he's trying to get to join the voice cast of Invincible.

There might be many big names that are joining the voice cast of Invincible for its upcoming second season, but creator Robert Kirkman is a bit disappointed over not landing one particularly popular star.

At San Diego Comic-Con, per ABC, Kirkman was present for an Invincible panel where he divulged some new details about the episodes to come. Among the announcements came some new cast members revealed for Season 2, and that brings in such names as Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog), Daveed Diggs (The Little Mermaid), Chloe Bennet (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Peter Cullen (Transformers), and Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul). During the panel, Kirkman noted how comedian Connor O'Malley turned down a voice role in Season 2, joking that fans should tease him about it on social media.

From there, Kirkman shared how there was someone else the team had offered a role to who didn't accept. Kirkman says he probably shouldn't reveal who it is, but for the sake of the Comic-Con attendees, he'd go ahead and do so. From there, Kirkman stated that Bryan Cranston had been offered a role for each season, including both upcoming seasons. However, as Kirkman explains, Cranston has always turned down the show saying he's "very busy." Kirkman added, "I believe him, but hopefully, at some point, he won't be too busy."

It's Not Known Which Role Was Offered to Bryan Cranston

Kirkman did not divulge which role was offered to Cranston, leaving it up to fans to speculate in the meantime which one he might have been a good fit for the actor. It's not the only time recently with Cranston's name coming up for a potential role in a comic book adaptation, as some fans have been rooting for him to play Lex Luthor in a Superman movie. He was previously in talks to play Mr. Sinister in The New Mutants, though the casting didn't work out.

“I want to play an antagonist a fraction smarter than the protagonist, never dumbed down to give the hero an easy win. That’s frustrating and boring to watch," Cranston previously told Screen Geek about his rules for accepting a comic book adaptation role. "I guess it’s a selfish standpoint. I don’t want to do a character that has been done several times before. I don’t want to be compared."

The second season of Invincible will premiere on Prime Video on Nov. 3, 2023, though only the first four episodes will be released. More episodes will follow in 2024 when Season 2 resumes. Meanwhile, an all-new standalone episode focused on Atom Eve was recently released on Prime Video and can be streamed now along with the first season of Invincible.

Berserk: How Heavy & Long Is Guts' Dragonslayer Sword?

Guts, Berserk's "struggler" hero, wields a unique broadsword that can cut down any Apostle who gets in his way — and only he can use it.

Berserk is a famous seinen manga series whose protagonist, the wandering swordsman Guts, wields one of manga's most iconic weapons of all time. Guts is almost synonymous with oversized swords throughout Berserk's story, using broadswords in the Golden Age story arc before moving on to his famous Dragonslayer sword after the horrific Eclipse. For Guts, the Dragonslayer isn't just a weapon — it's an extension of himself.

The Dragonslayer sword has seen Guts through countless desperate battles against enemy soldiers, Apostles, and even fantasy monsters like trolls and a kraken. All this action and mayhem is also personal for Guts since he and his famous sword are both tough, brutal, and surprisingly vulnerable in every Berserk story arc. Now, Berserk fans want to know the exact details of what makes the Dragonslayer what it is, how it's shaped, and why it's such a personal weapon for its wielder.

What Is the Dragonslayer In Berserk?

New Berserk fans might be tempted to think that Guts' incredible Dragonslayer sword is a legendary weapon passed down to him from a heroic knight or similar figure, but the reality is the opposite. The Dragonslayer is not some famous weapon like Excalibur — the Dragonslayer sword lay in obscurity for years, with no one to wield it. In fact, this weapon was forged as an act of folly, a foolish waste of metal. Near the end of Berserk's Golden Age story arc, an injured but recovering Guts met a blacksmith named Godot, who lived in a remote hut with the Dragonslayer sword just lying around, unwanted. Guts learned the sad history of the Dragonslayer sword from its creator and soon adopted this bizarre, fearsome weapon for himself.

Years ago, a local liege lord put out a request for a mighty sword that could slay a dragon, even though monsters like dragons didn't exist in Berserk's world at the time. Godot, who usually forged ornate swords for noble patrons, gladly took on this challenge and forged an oversized, heavy sword that could theoretically hack apart a dragon's neck. The resulting Dragonslayer was too heavy and big for anyone to use, so the frustrated liege lord threatened Godot's life for forging a seemingly pointless weapon. The Dragonslayer went unused in all that time until Guts claimed it, breaking in that weapon by slashing apart a huge Apostle to save his and Godot's life. From then on, the Dragonslayer was Guts' primary weapon, and he wielded it with Godot's blessing.

The Dragonslayer sword isn't just a huge, brutish weapon to reflect its owner's tall and brawny stature. The Dragonslayer also mirrors Guts' personal arc throughout Berserk's story in two critical ways, starting with Guts' and the sword's connection to the supernatural. Guts, bearing the Brand of Sacrifice, is constantly pursued by the undead and Apostles, meaning Guts stands between the mortal realm and the Astral Plane. Guts is a man of two worlds, and after cutting enough spirits and Apostles, the Dragonslayer became a weapon of two worlds, too. It's imbued with supernatural energy after all those battles, allowing it to slash apart more spirits, Apostles, and even the God Hand members' bodies with ease. An example was when Slan appeared before Guts in Qliphoth, only to get hacked apart by his Dragonslayer weapon.

The Dragonslayer sword also echoes Guts' character arc on a more personal level. Both of them are rough and durable and have survived countless fights with brute force, but all this took a toll on them. The Dragonslayer's blade became impure and less effective, similar to Guts collecting mental and physical scars without ever getting proper rest. Guts and his sword were both about to fall apart after too much struggling, so Godot reforged the Dragonslayer to purge its impurities. Similarly, Guts needs a chance to rest and refocus himself once in a while.

How Heavy Is Guts' Sword In Berserk?

Berserk's lore never provided a clear answer on how heavy the Dragonslayer sword is, and the official Berserk guidebook is usually dismissed as inaccurate and untrustworthy. According to some online sources, dedicated Berserk fans did their best to estimate the Dragonslayer's statistics, including its weight, and have come up with a rough estimate. Berserk fans believe that the Dragonslayer's weight is around 300 pounds, or 130 kilograms. Berserk fans inferred this from Guts' fights against human opponents with large, heavy weapons of their own, observing how Guts could destroy his enemies' armor and weapons with the Dragonslayer's sheer weight.

Even if the 300-pound weight is only an estimate, such an enormous weight is consistent with how the Dragonslayer is portrayed in Berserk's story. Manga artist Kentaro Miura didn't just make Guts' signature weapon a big sword — he made sure that sword actually felt heavy to readers. Mr. Miura drew Guts' movements to suggest that a strong person is swinging around a heavy, dense item that can simply smash whomever it strikes in battle, giving that weapon weight in every sense of the term. The Dragonslayer doesn't just cut like Askeladd's sword in Vinland Saga or Ichigo Kurosaki's bankai in Bleach — the Dragonslayer has incredible momentum and crashes into its enemies while cutting them with its rough iron edge.

How Long Is Guts' Sword In Berserk?

Berserk's lore and official guidebook do not provide a definitive answer to "How long is Guts' sword?," but here again, Berserk fans have done their best to make an educated guess. Based on how long this weapon is compared to Guts himself, who evidently stands at 6'3," or 190 centimeters, the Dragonslayer sword is anywhere from 60 to 72 inches in length, or 150 to 182 centimeters. Most likely, the Dragonslayer is at the higher end of that estimated range, such as 71 inches. This makes the Dragonslayer sword as tall as most adult men, which few other fictional or real swords can claim.

The size of Guts' sword gives him key advantages in combat. With such great length, the Dragonslayer can easily reach an opponent and cut them before they can attack back, as many combat scenes in Berserk show. Guts often strikes the first and last blow for this very reason, with few swords able to match or exceed the Dragonslayer's reach. The Dragonslayer isn't just extra-long, though — it has thickness and width to match its impressive length, meaning Guts can use the flat side of this oversized sword as an improvised shield in battle. The sheer length of the Dragonslayer, especially if it's around 71 or 72 inches long, means it has even more momentum and leverage whenever Guts swings it at an opponent.