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Warning! Spoilers for DC vs. Vampires: World War V #6The Justice League is full of compelling characters who deserve the spotlight, and none have more untapped potential than Animal Man. This underrated hero hasn't been the subject of many stories in recent memory, but DC is finally giving Animal Man a new story that redefines his lore and primes him for horror movie adaptation.

Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt’s DC vs. Vampires: World War V #6 features a back-up story entitled "The Hunger", written by Joey Esposito with art by Pasquale Qualano, Pierluigi Casolino, and Tom Napolitano. Animal Man makes his debut in DC's vampire-ridden universe in this tale, and his world takes a dark turn that befits the gritty setting.

Animal Man is out hunting animals in the wilderness, dismally navigating a world that's succumbed to a vampire plague, only to return home to an utterly haunting sight. This...

As Wicked hit theaters, it's interesting to see Disney's surprisingly long history with the Oz books!

The world of Oz is about to see a new spark in popularity. After two decades as one of the biggest musical hits in the world, Wicked is about to hit the big screen in part one of a two-part epic. It's a revisionist take on the property showing how Elphaba aka the Wicked Witch of the West, wasn't that bad a person and her friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

The movie is from Universal and seems set to become a major box office hit. Yet there was a time when it looked like Disney might get their toes into the property and the history of Disney and Oz is fascinating to see!

The early Oz foray

The early days of moviemaking were tricky, yet was always interested in adapting some beloved books.

Animal Man, the underrated hero, makes a comeback in Absolute Power, hinting at a significant role in the upcoming DC Comics storyline. The variant cover by John Timms featuring Animal Man suggests a pivotal role in Absolute Power, exciting fans of the hero. Animal Man's return to the DC Universe is a long-awaited moment for fans, signaling a chance for the hero to shine once again in the spotlight.

He hasn't been in the spotlight for a few years, but a new variant cover hints that one of DC Comics' most underrated heroes and personal favorite of mine is making a return. Animal Man, the hero who took the alternative superhero scene by storm in the late '80s is making a return just in time for the DC Universe's latest calamity.

The last several months have seen news slowly trickle in regarding DC Comics' upcoming summer event Absolute Power.

Ok, I know it’s only April, but technically, Christmas stuff will show up in stores by August. So, it’s not that early to start thinking about tree decorations, especially when they involve the Haunted Mansion!

Hallmark, the name synonymous with Christmas decor, has listed several new returning Haunted Mansion ornaments on its site. The best part is that you don’t have to wait until the giving season to get them!

Some of the seven new Keepsake pieces will be released in July. Each features lights and sounds, which bumps up the price tag. But look at them and tell me they’re not worth it!

We’ll start with the most expensive, the Magic Kingdom Hm tree topper, which is $149.99! You’re getting another chance if you missed out on it last year.

It measures 8.8″x6.5″x7.6″. It’s pretty big!

It has a separate power adaptor,...

Several DC Universe heroes have had children that will one day or have already surpassed them. Space Case is a creation of Danny the Street, joining the Doom Patrol to fight universe-level threats. Animal Girl exceeds Animal Man's powers as the Red's chosen avatar, controlling animals and reviving them.

The DC Universe has no short supply of heroic characters, but some iconic heroes have had kids that are going to be even better than their parents one day. Over time, the Dcu's heroes have formed families that have ushered in the next great generation of heroes.

While some next-gen heroes have existed for years, other future DC Universe stars have just gotten their start. But whether new or old, these heroes are on the right track to be more accomplished or even more powerful heroes than their parents. Read on to discover 10 of the most amazing children of DC Universe heroes.

Aquaman's ability to attack people's minds makes him a formidable threat, even to advanced beings. Plastic Man's stretchy physiology makes him virtually indestructible and able to protect others. Animal Man has access to the powers of any creature, giving him near-limitless defensive abilities.

The Justice League is one of the best superhero teams ever created and not just because of their ability to play offense. While many DC heroes have special abilities that make them powerful threats to even more powerful evildoers, sometimes going on the defensive is the smarter way to go. Sure heat vision or superspeed can help turn the tide of battle. But when heroes need to keep themselves or others safe, the following 10 powers just can't be beaten.

Aquaman Can Attack People's Minds Created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris

People may laugh at Aquaman’s ability to ‘talk to fish’, but no one is laughing...

DC Comics is home to some of the best and most iconic superhero characters ever created for fiction and has earned its status as one of the two major powerhouses in comics publishing. Headlined by characters like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, DC has found mixed success in cinema, ranging from smash hits like Aquaman to flops like Batman and Robin. Though these heroes are no sure bet for success, the DC brand has been associated with intriguing movies.

Following the demise of the controversial Dceu continuity of DC-based movies, James Gunn is taking the franchise in a new direction with his Dcu. One of the more satisfying things to come from this has been Gunn's openness to leading with some of the publisher's more obscure heroes, as was the case with Marvel's MCU. Many heroes could use a great standalone movie, one that doesn't necessarily tie in with the Dcu,...

The Justice League members have surprising day jobs, such as running a hair salon, being a museum curator, and working as an actor/stuntman. These unexpected careers add interesting dimensions to the characters' lives, showcasing their versatility and willingness to take on different roles. From podcasting and owning a bar to being a congresswoman and a groundskeeper, the Justice League heroes demonstrate that even superheroes have to make a living outside of their crime-fighting duties.

Even the stalwart members of the Justice League aren’t above a day job. When they’re not saving the Earth from powerful, world-ending villains, many of them are working a regular job just like everyone else. And while many of them have notable professions in their private lives, every once in a while, the Justice League’s members have taken on some unexpected lines of work.

Forget writing for The Daily Planet or flying jets for a living.

The DC Universe is filled with plenty of heroes who have some of the most recognizable costumes in the entire comic book medium. From the black and yellow symbol emblazoned across Batman's chest to Superman's bright red trunks, the A-listers of the Dcu have become icons to fans all over the world.

But not every hero is on the same level as the Trinity or even the Justice League's more notable members. But that doesn't mean that they don't have costumes that are just as cool as any other hero. Read on to discover 15 underrated DC superheroes that have amazing outfits.

The Question

Popularized by the original Question, Vic Sage, current Gotham City Police Commissioner Renee Montoya keeps his look alive. This investigative vigilante keeps it simple with a classic noir look, generally wearing a thick coat and fedora. And of course, the key to Question’s look is her mask made of Pesudoderm,...

Director Justin Simien, a former employee of Disneyland, takes us on a thrilling adventure in his passionate film interpretation of the popular Haunted Mansion experience at Disney Parks. The movie offers a wealth of Easter eggs from the ride to the big screen with its recognizable stretching chamber, floating candelabras, and eerie adorned walls.

A popular attraction at several of the company's theme parks, Disney's Haunted Mansion is a terrifying ride that transports guests through a haunted mansion full of unsettling spirits and paranormal activity. It has grown to be a fan favorite over time, prompting several versions, including a 2003 movie starring Eddie Murphy. In 2023, a brand-new recreation of the Haunted Mansion will hit theaters.

Welcoming the Foolish Mortals

As the curtains rise, the film opens with Madame Leota greeting us with the familiar line: "Welcome, foolish mortals." Accompanied by a ghostly organ-driven version of the ride's classic theme song,...

The upcoming crossover of Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong brings the Monsterverse to the DC Universe, pitting the Titans against the superhero team. Animal Man, an underrated and rarely seen hero, may become the Justice League's secret weapon with his ability to tap into the earth's morphogenetic field and borrow the powers of animals, including the Titans. In this high-stakes battle, Animal Man has the potential to steal the powers of Godzilla and Kong, potentially making him one of the League's strongest members and gaining widespread fame.

The Justice League has one hero that will help turn the tide in their favor when Godzilla comes to terrorize the DC Universe. With Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong on the horizon, an underrated hero could wind up becoming the team's secret weapon.

The DC Universe has had some strange crossovers in the past, but this October, the iconic world...

Not all of the Flash's villains are irredeemable or psychopathic; some, like Heatwave and Mirror Master, have redeeming qualities and lines they won't cross. Quicksilver, although a rival to the Flash, is still considered a hero in his own world and ultimately fought dirty to defeat the Flash. Captain Cold, Pied Piper, and the Shade are among the Flash's villains who have shown respect for him and have even become allies or redeemed themselves.

The Flash has one of the greatest and most identifiable rogues galleries of any hero. Even the Fastest Man Alive isn’t above being challenged by a zealous antagonist. Whether it's Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, or Wally West, every version of the Scarlet Speedster has faced off with some truly trying opponents.

But not every villain is completely irredeemable or a downright psychopath. Sure, there are villains like Reverse-Flash, but many of Flash’s other...

The Haunted Mansion is that rare attraction that both people who adore haunted house rides and those who hate them agree is splendid. It's got lots of creepy atmosphere and some terrific jump scares (the best of which takes place in the stretching art gallery as your journey begins), but it's also got plenty of humorous moments, and Buddy Baker's "Grim Grinning Ghosts" is the perfect tone-setter for the attraction's whimsical sense of horror.

Yours truly even checked an item off their bucket list when I visited Disneyland in time for the ride's seasonal overlay themed after "The Nightmare Before Christmas." With respect to all the Haunted Mansion purists, the addition of Henry Selick and Tim Burton's twisted creations to the Mansion is a perfect marriage in my eye.

You can imagine, then, how pleased I am to see the trailers for Disney's second attempt at turning the ride into a movie,...

Death is an all-too-common occurrence in the superhero world, even for a team as powerful as the Justice League. No matter what kind of amazing powers its members possess, it’s not unusual for a hero to meet their maker, even for heroes as strong as Flash or Wonder Woman. While many of these deaths are often at the hands of their greatest enemies, sometimes it’s a little-known villain that fells a Leaguer.

A villain doesn’t have to be as famous as the Joker or Darkseid in order to kill a hero. In fact, sometimes it’s the most random baddies that turn out to be the deadliest. Discover which 15 heroes were killed by virtually unknown rogues.

Azrael

Jean-Paul Valley wasn’t fit to replace Batman and cracked under the pressure. But he tried to redeem himself, carrying on as a hero in his identity of Azrael. Unfortunately,...

Warning: The following contains Spoilers for Titans season 4, episode 9, "Dude, Where's My Gar?"One character cameo in Titans season 4 suggests that the real world is connected to the DC Comics Multiverse. This would not be entirely surprising, as the designation Earth-Prime was used to label the real life universe in the Pre-Crisis DC Comics multiverse, where multiple comic creators interacted with their creations as they traveled throughout the multiverse. However, this does mark the first time that the television and film multiverse commonly known as the Arrowverse was suggested to include our real world.

The cameo came in the closing moments of TItans season 4, episode 9, "Dude, Where's My Gar?" The episode centered upon Gar "Beast Boy" Logan, who learned he was more powerful than previously imagined and that his connection to the mystic force known as The Red gave him a connection to "all animal life in this universe, and many others.

Warning: This post contains Spoilers for Titans season 4.A new theory suggests that the cosmic order has been corrupted in Titans season 4, and the Earth-9 DC Universe has become broken as a result. This theory is based on a seeming overlap between the elemental forces that form the backbone of the DC Universe in the comics, as depicted in Titans. Suggesting that the natural order is falling apart as a result of the activities of the Church of Blood and Mother Mayhem.

The story of Titans season 4 has taken a mystic turn, with both Beast Boy and Starfire having strange visions regarding their respective destinies. The Titans also recruited Jinx, a magic-using thief, and ex of Dick Grayson, to lend them her expertise after Raven lost her powers. All of these subplots are seemingly connected through the same elemental forces that bind all life in the DC Universe together.

Related:...

The DC Universe has gone through some major upheaval of late. Some issues can be credited to the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery, while other problems have existed for a while. Between shelving the nearly-completed "Batgirl" and the continually-troubled production of "The Flash," not to mention the spotty quality of DC movies overall — read our review of "Black Adam" here — Warner Bros. didn't seem to have a clear direction for its comic properties. That may all be changing with DC Studios, which will be headed up by auteur James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. This begs the question, what's next for the Dcu?

We know sequels to the company's more successful films such as "The Batman," "Joker," and the long-gestating "Wonder Woman 3" are in the works, and that "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," "Blue Beetle" and "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" are set to hit theaters next year. Then...

Warning: The following contains Spoilers for TItans season 4.A major subplot of Titans season 4, which has Beast Boy coping with unexpected transformations and strange visions, requires some explanation. A storyline focused on Beast Boy, who is one of the most popular members of the Teen Titans in the comics, is long overdue. However, while Titans season 4 has done a great job in developing a mystery that has left Gar Logan dazed and disoriented, it has also confused those viewers who are unfamiliar with Beast Boy's full history from the modern Titans comics.

Titans' season 4 premiere took the Titans to Metropolis, where several members of the team allowed themselves to be studied by the scientists at Star Labs. Beast Boy was gifted a special costume that could shift with his body, so he wouldn't have to undress to use his powers, but he had a strange vision the first time he...

This one is long overdue as I bring my Creator in Focus segment back to the pages of eBuying Comics – last seen in Week 38 where I looked at the key issues of Todd McFarlane’s career. I have decided to make a tweak to the segment, previously I looked at current values of those key issues. Where as now the main focus will be on finding good bargains on eBay for the key issues of your favourite creators. Also I think it would be fun and more beneficial to talk about the collected versions available of creators works, which makes it easier for readers to seek out. Especially with the early career stuff. Its useful to know what volumes certain issues are in, whether its paperback or hardback is good knowledge to share with the comics community, new or old readers alike.

Grant Morrison is a writer who has a...

In Meta-Messages, I explore the context behind (using reader danjack’s term) “meta-messages.” A meta-message is where a comic book creator comments on/references the work of another comic book/comic book creator (or sometimes even themselves) in their comic. Each time around, I’ll give you the context behind one such “meta-message.” This time around, we take a look at Animal Man trash talking Spider-Man!

Buddy Baker, Animal Man, has had one of the odder journeys into becoming a relatively recognizable superhero. Like Hank Pym, Buddy originated in the pages of a comic book where his powers weren’t part of being a superhero, but just as a dude who gained animal powers. Then, just like Hank Pym, he was re-introduced with the same abilities that he had before, only now as a superhero.

On Don’t Be Tardy this week, Kim Zolciak-Biermann and husband Kroy meet with his agent Buddy Baker to talk about his free agency — but she has some strong opinions about where she’d be happy to live! Buddy has been Kroy’s agent since he first got into the NFL, and he’s here to help for the next step of their ride. But with Kroy entering free agency he needs to sound them out about where they’d be willing to live as a family. The kids have already made it evident where they’d be happy to move to. Kim jokes: “I don’t really...read more...

He's out in Buffalo ... but Kroy Biermann says he's absolutely Not considering hanging up his cleats for good.  As we previously reported, Kim Zolciak's hubby was released by the Bills early Friday morning -- despite the fact the linebacker signed a 1 year contract before training camp.  TMZ Sports spoke with Kroy's agent, Buddy Baker, who says 30-year-old Kroy was still impressive in camp despite getting to Buffalo "late in the process."  Baker says getting...

Disney's The Haunted Mansion attraction has its very own comic series and it will be available in 2016. Also in this round-up: details on Neca's Alien Vs. Predator Series 14 figures and a look at six pages from Plants Vs. Zombies #7.

The Haunted Mansion #1: Press Release: "New York, NY – December 4th, 2015 – The world famous attraction haunts Marvel Comics in 2016! And its residents are just dying to meet you! Today, Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering are proud to announce The Haunted Mansion #1, the newest blockbuster limited series coming in March! Step inside foolish mortals, as rising comic stars Joshua Williamson (Illuminati, Ghosted) and Jorge Coelho (Loki: Agent of Asgard, Polarity) throw open the doors of the mansion for a delightfully chilling thrill ride!

Launching under the Disney Kingdoms banner, The Haunted Mansion has been created in close partnership with the designers, producers, and creative directors at Walt Disney Imagineering. Joining other...

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 5.08: “Eldorado” leaves only the dust and ash of regret

That it seemed obvious for the series’ finale to send Nucky out was a bit of a given, considering the telegraphed nature of the flashback conceit which had been building for the entirety of this season. There were glimpses of hope, and chances for atonement but the clock had already run out by the time Nucky took his final stroll down the boardwalk…. click here to read the article.

‘Neverending Nightmares’ is truly neverending

Based on designer Matt Gilgenbach’s battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, Neverending Nightmares is a psychological horror game that amplifies feelings of unease through repetition in a minimalist setting. Personally, this was the most difficult game for me to finish because of the content. There were several moments when I just had to stop and seriously question whether or not I could feasibly finish the game.

Animal Man: The Hunt

Written by Jeff Lemire

Art by Travel Foreman, Jeff Huet, Steve Pugh, & John Paul Leon

Published by DC Comics

Jeff Lemire’s Animal Man stands out as one of the strongest books from the early days of the New 52. The story follows the titular Animal Man, a.k.a. Buddy Baker, a former stuntman, turned father, turned superhero, turned animal rights activist. His powers were granted when aliens experimented on him and gave Buddy Baker access to a morphogenetic field entwined with all animal life on Earth from which he can draw many abilities: the reflexes of a fly, the strength of a rhinoceros, and many more.

As he’s introduced, much of Buddy’s superheroing has taken a backseat to being a devoted father and husband, dealing with family finances more than street criminals. That all changes when his four year old daughter, Maxine, starts...

Award-winning composer Christophe Beck scores the action-drama Edge Of Tomorrow, directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. The film follows a soldier (Cruise) who finds himself caught in a time loop while battling an alien invasion.

The Edge Of Tomorrow soundtrack will be released on Watertower Records. In theaters now, read Jim Batts’ review Here. Earlier this week I spoke with the composer about his latest film soundtrack.

Christophe Beck is behind the score to the Golden Globe- and Oscar-winning film Frozen. The Frozen soundtrack, certified platinum 11 weeks after its release, has sold more than one million copies, and spent five non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Beck returned to the Muppets in Muppets Most Wanted after scoring The Muppets in 2011. He’s also scored the blockbuster Hangover trilogy, Tower Heist, Due Date, Date Night and Pitch Perfect. He staged the drama for...

Award-winning composer Christophe Beck (The Hangover I & II, Waiting For Superman) scores the action-drama Edge Of Tomorrow, directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. The film follows a soldier (Cruise) who finds himself caught in a time loop while battling an alien invasion.

Listen to a preview of the soundtrack below.

Want to hear more? Check out 4 tracks from the upcoming Edge Of Tomorrow soundtrack Here.

Christophe Beck credits display his ability to find the tone of film in any genre. In 2000, the cheerleading comedy Bring It On launched Beck’s prolific film scoring career. His credits include The Hangover, the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time, Under the Tuscan Sun, Red, Burlesque, What Happens in Vegas, and the heartwarming film, Crazy, Stupid, Love demonstrated Christophe Beck’s ability to convey a spectrum of emotion, with his varying tones throughout the film. The same year, he...

Mickey Rooney rivaled his National Velvet costar Elizabeth Taylor for number of marriages: He was married eight times throughout his career. As he deadpanned to People in 1993: "Weddings? I've been to a lot of them." Meet the women who helped Mickey Rooney find love, however - in some cases - briefly. Ava GardnerRooney was instantly smitten with Gardner and pursued her doggedly, according to his autobiography, Life is Too Short. But Rooney's compulsive habits - among them working, gambling, and philandering - caused the marriage to implode after a little over a year. Betty Jane BakerRooney once described Baker...

Animal Man #28

Written by Jeff Lemire

Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Colors by Dave McCaig

Published by DC Comics

Poor Buddy Baker. Jeff Lemire has really put his family through the ringer. You can’t help but feel sorry for the guy. His son Cliff died in Rot Wars, his daughter has been drawn into the Red, and evil blood monsters keep attacking his wife. Every villain he faces taunts Buddy with his failure to protect his clan. Family is the major theme running through Lemire’s run of Animal Man, and while Buddy manages to save the rest of the Bakers one last time, it’s a pyrrhic victory.

This issue ends the Brother Blood arc of Animal Man, tying up the plot that dovetails so nicely with the theme of family. Having invaded the Red, the source connecting all of the animal kingdom, Brother Blood has been tearing through...

“Animal Man” (1988) #1-26*

Writer: Grant Morrison

Penciller: Chas Truog, Tom Grummett, Paris Cullins

Inker: Doug Hazlewood, Steve Montano, Mark McKenna

Letterer: John Costanza, Janice Chiang

Colourist: Tatjana Wood, Helen Vesik

Covers: Brian Bolland

*The specific details of #20-26 will not be discussed in the below article. If you’ve never read this comic before, don’t be afraid to read this. To appropriately write about this comic, early and middle narrative has to be spoiled, but the big end-game surprises are not given away here.

For some, the late 1980s-to-early-1990s is probably the creative highpoint in DC’s modern era of comics. A turning point for mainstream superhero comics in general, it saw a shift in tone and audience, appealing more to adult readers for its “gritty” and “realistic” depictions of the otherwise fantastical lives of superheroes. Frank Miller’s success on The Dark Knight Returns and Batman Year One...

In comics news this week, Matt Fraction, one of Marvel’s brightest stars and writer of the award-winning Hawkeye, has been replaced by Charles Soule as the writer of the upcoming new Marvel series, Inhuman, though Joe Madureira remains the series artist. No reasons were given for the switch nor for pushing back the release date from January to April. Inhuman spins off of the Marvel Event Infinity where thousands of new Inhumans appeared after Black Bolt exploded a Terrigen Bomb, with the series looking at the changed lives of the newly transformed Inhumans. Soule is a prolific comics writer, currently helming Superman/Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing and Red Lanterns for DC, Letter 44 for Oni, and Thunderbolts for Marvel along with the new She-Hulk series set to debut in February.

DC are going to end two of their original New 52 line-up titles, Animal Man and The Dark Knight, early next year.

DC Comics continues to blur the lines between their adult-oriented Vertigo Comics and mainstream identity with Animal Man Volume 3: Rotworld: The Red Kingdom. This graphic novel collection contains Animal Man #12 through #17 and Swamp Thing #12, #17, and #18. The two monthly series continue to complement each other and give the lesser-known character of Animal Man a better sense of belonging for readers in the DC Universe.

Animal Man and Swamp Thing must join forces to do battle against the Rot and keep it in balance with the Red and Green elements of the natural world. In order to do so, they journey into a future where the evil Anton Arcane has set up his kingdom of Un-Men and Rotlings after taking over. At the same time in the present, Animal Man's family and Abigail Arcane battle for their lives in the absence of their loved ones.

Writers Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder...

“And in each universe, there’s a copy of you witnessing one or the other outcome, thinking – incorrectly – that your reality is the only reality.”

– Brian Green, The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos.

• • • • •

Who are you?

Are you sure?

• • • • •

Are you Buffy Summers, the Slayer, the chosen one of her generation who stands alone against the vampires, monsters, and demons who threaten the world? Or are you Buffy Summers, a schizophrenic patient in a psychiatric hospital battling the unleashed horrors of your own id?

Doctor: Do you know where you are?

Buffy: Sunnydale.

Doctor: No. None of that’s real. None of it. You’re in a mental institution. You’ve been with us now for six years.

Spike: Put a little ice on the back of her neck. She likes that.

Buffy: Some kind of gross, waxy demon-thing poked me.

Xander: And when...

Still reeling from the shocking death of his son, Buddy Baker is taking his grief out on the world around him. But in this special story, learn how the bonds of family can be stronger than the forces of evil—even when that evil is a horde of massive, slavering spiders! Animal Man Annual #2 Written by Jeff Lemire Pencils & Cover by Travel Foreman...

Disclaimer: Alan Moore is not found or mentioned in this article. (Except for now)

Wizard magazine used to be both a blessing and a curse to comics fans. It had exclusive interviews with creators and fun features, like “Casting Call” and “Top Ten Writers and Artists”, but it was also criticized for mainly focusing on Marvel and DC and for pandering to a “mainstream” audience. In this column, I will revive the “Top Ten Writers and Artists” for a new generation of comic book fans. Every few months, I will evaluate the current comics writers and artists that are innovating in their field, find success in multiple genres, or just putting out interesting stories on a monthly basis. These creators will range from Marvel to DC to Image and other independent publishers and will be listed in no particular order.

Brian Michael Bendis Age of Ultron, All-New X-Men, Daredevil: End of Days,...

by Ryan Rigley

Based on a true story, Ben Affleck's "Argo" tells the tale of six American hostages that escape the U.S. embassy in Tehran after its taken over my Islamic militants. In order to get out of Iran, the six Americans must pretend to be part of a Canadian film crew shooting a fake movie called "Argo." Which makes the film kind of like "Inception"; in the regard that there's a movie within the movie, not a dream within a dream.

With "Argo" now in theaters, we thought what better way to celebrate than by making our own list of things within things. Comic book things, to be exact! These comic books within comic books are all either parodies of actual comics or metaphors for something way bigger, but they're all read by both fictional comic book characters and the real people reading those comic books.

Confused yet?...

Just when we’re getting to the height of the Swamp Thing/Animal Man crossover, DC steps in the way to bring us back to Buddy Baker’s past. It will be interesting to see how Lemire treats Buddy’s origin, and how it helps to develop the current plotline. Lemire’s done nothing but good for the character thus [...]...

Jeff Lemire—writer, artist, and enthusiasic nerd in the best possible way—has managed to find a special current of vulnerability in storytelling by juxtaposing horrifying circumstances with intense family drama. Animal Man, hailed over and over as one of the best ongoing DC titles, is the most perfect example: The Rot plays visually and conceptually disturbing cards against Buddy Baker and his wife and children, but the surreal conglomerates of animal organs that march against him would not be nearly as visceral if Lemire ignored the personal stakes. I could say the same for his creator-owned works such as Essex County and the newly published Underwater Welder: magic happens when displaced people must protect their normal lives from strange situations. Despite his recent successes, Lemire proved to be earnest and willing to discuss properties he has quite possibly talked to death, if only for the benefit of FM monster-lovers...

Writer Jeff Lemire has just tweeted a very special first look at the joining covers for issues 12 of both Animal Man and Swamp Thing which kick off the epic crossover event that fans have been waiting for! The crossover will be co-written by Lemire and Scott Snyder while featuring the artwork of Yanick Paquette and Steve Pugh.

Buddy Baker and Alec Holland join forces to lead a pre-emptive strike deep into The Rot, the consequences of which will tear both of their worlds apart forever. Running in both series through to Issue #17 Rotworld is an epic superhero/horror story that Scott and I have been busy planning for the last year.

Click to see larger image.

via [Twitter]...

Don Draper would probably do quite well in a zombie apocalypse. Roger Sterling? Not so much. We're wondering about our favorite fictional ad executives' prospects in a world brimming with the undead thanks to an awesome "Walking Dead"-"Mad Men" mash-up that hit the web earlier this week.

Beyond the fine gentlemen of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, we're also keeping our eye on the big screen, where Marvel's planned movie marathon leading up to "Avengers" is already a proven success.

Close your week out right with a nice pair of Tights after the jump!

» "Walking Dead Mad Men" is worth a watch if only for the opening sequence and zombie Lane Pryce. Genius. It's somewhat Nsfw, so check it out over here. Thanks to Comics Alliance for the tip!

» Would you be interested in some new "Men in Black 3" photos? Of course you would! ComicBookMovie.com has the below shot and a couple more,...

Scott Snyder has been on my interview bucket list for what feels like ages, even if it’s only been a year or so. This writer has taken the comics world by storm in twelve months by sheer virtue of his awesome storytelling, which often takes a horrific turn. He’s tortured Batman with owl assassins, terrified us with a sharp-toothed salesman, turned American History red with bloodsuckers, and given Alec Holland something rotten to scream about. In the short time I had to speak with him, he proved to be gracious, enthusiastic, and very appreciative of his sudden fame, now that people recognize him everywhere he goes.

Famous Monsters. I’d first like to talk about your writing style in general. What I’ve noticed in some comic books is that the prose is forgotten as a sort of afterthought, like it’s only there to drive the action.

This week, Animal Man no. 6 hits the shelves and appropriately the story features a cool movie tie-in. Animal Man is one of the more interesting books of DC’s New 52 relaunch and is written by Jeff Lemire, a well-regarded writer of independent books now making his mark in DC’s corner of the off-beat and dark (he also writes Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.). Photos: Comic-Book Characters In Dispute Animal Man is a horror comic but this issue centers on the independent film mentioned in earlier issues that our hero, Buddy Baker,

read more...

And here we are again, with all the new product coming from DC.

We have a tip of the hat to the original Justice League of America #8, the first endings from the New 52, and… oh heck, let’s just dive in, shall we?

As usual, spoilers lurk below.

Justice League #8

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Carlos D’Anda

Backup story art by Gary Frank

Cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams

1:25 Variant cover by Mike Choi

1:200 B&W Variant cover by Jim Lee

On sale April 18 • 40 pg, Fc, $3.99 Us • Rated T

Combo pack edition: $4.99 Us

Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.

In the five years that the Justice League has been a team, Green Arrow has never once been a member. And he intends to rectify that right here, right now! One member against his candidacy: Aquaman!

Jeff Lemire and Travel Foremen continue their work on the Animal Man series, which has already begun to prove itself a classic in the making. What began as a story that only dabbled in the disturbing has blossomed into a full-on superhero horror comic. On top of that, Lemire and Foreman have pushed Animal Man into the center stage spotlight, capturing the audience’s attention for a character that has never been a mainstream figure when compared to the superstars of the DC universe.

Animal Man #5 picks up immediately where we left off in the last issue with Ellen (Animal Man’s wife) fighting off one of the grotesque agents of The Rot, who’s been sent to find and assimilate Buddy Baker’s daughter, Maxine. While this is occurring, Animal Man and his daughter have finally left the realm of The Red, where they’ve been learning about The...

Book: Animal Man #5

Written By: Jeff Lemire

Art By: Travel Foreman and Steve Pugh (pages 17-20), Jeff Huet (pages 1-16)

Cover By: Travel Foreman

Published By: DC Comics

Price: $2.99

This is one of the best titles of the New 52. Already, other titles have begun to experience a drop in quality (Justice League International, Superboy and Legion Lost, among others, spring to mind), but every month Jeff Lemire builds the anticipation in the pages of Animal Man.

The character is not a mainstream figure among the heroes of the Dcu, which allows Lemire to take risks that wouldn’t fly in the pages of Superman or Batman. Yes, Animal Man is a superhero, but this is a horror comic without question. Concepts surrounding life and death, growing and rotting and other mature ideas are intertwined throughout all of the action, resulting in a book that is rewarding on an emotional and intellectual level.

Animal Man, one of the more cerebral books in ‘The New 52′, continues to remain strong as one of the leading comic book titles from DC Comics.

In the latest issue, we continue to follow Buddy Bakerand his daughter Maxine as they fight the evil manifestations belonging to The Rot, the invasive enemy that threatens The Red. At the end of issue #3, we find that Buddy and Maxine are in the throws of battle against three agents of The Rot within the surreal realm known as The Red. This grisly encounter coincides with the events in the real world where Buddy Baker’s wife and his son are unknowingly taken captive by an agent of The Rot, disguised as a friendly face.

This issue provides a healthy bit of backstory for The Red, which is essentially the source of Animal Man’s superpowers, explaining the significance of Baker’s daughter to...

I think this review will probably be pretty short, because I have nothing but praise for Animal Man and I don't want to spoil this issue for those who have not yet read it. I'll give a quick synopsis of what has happened so far before I review this issue: Buddy Baker (Animal Man) is living the quiet life with his family, having stopped his super heroics. His daughter Maxine begins to exhibit some strange new powers of her own (resurrecting dead animals and turning a man's limb into a chicken claw) so they set out to find "the Red", which is basically the source of Animal Man's powers, so they can find out what's going on. They talk to some totem god things, who tell them that the Red is under attack from "the Rot", or the forces of death. They are then attacked by terrifying creatures called...

We hold in our hands the covers for DC Comics this February. As a child of four can plainly see, these comics have been hermetically sealed in a Cgc 9.9 slab, and they’ve been kept in a #2 mayonnaise jar under a giant stack of returned copies of Holy Terror since noon today.

What do we have worth noting? The new look of Darkseid, and we’re far enough into the new 52 books that it’s time for Batman to start crossing over in all of them. Plus Mara Jade, the red-haired assassin who fell in love with her blond-haired man she was sent to kill– oh, I’m sorry, that’s from Star Wars. This is Mera in a jade outfit. Our mistake.

Shall we? Surely!

As usual, spoilers may lurk beyond this point.

Justice League #6

Written by Geoff Johns

Art and cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams

1:...

With any revamp or rebooting of an established continuity some changes are inevitable, and DC continue the tradition with Buddy Baker. Animal Man has always been one of my favorite lower tier characters so I was delighted with how well Jeff Lemire handled him in the New 52. However I have yet to read the third issue which reveal some major changes for the character and his overall calling/purpose. From Newsarama.. With Animal Man #3, writer Jeff Lemire has revamped the superhero's origin for this new Dcu, which isn't a surprise. But what is perhaps more unexpected is that Animal Man's new origin takes importance away from him and places it squarely on his daughter. In the story, Buddy Baker enters a mysterious realm known as the Red, and he finds out he was given superpowers only so he could prepare the way for someone else: his four-year-old daughter, Maxine. Interesting stuff.

Well, here’s something strange. Within a 72-hour period last week a half dozen people asked me if I had read the new, new Animal Man. During that same period, my daughter was asked the same question by one of her friends. Then I had lunch with comics writer Paul Kupperberg, so I asked him if he read the book. He said no, not yet, but a number of people told him he should.

Hmmmm. Word of mouth is either the best or the worst type of publicity. I noticed not a one of these folks said it was great; just that it was worth reading.

I enjoyed the original Animal Man – the one that was created by Dave Wood and Carmine Infantino in Strange Adventures 180, some 46 years ago. It was unusual in that it was only occasionally published, and the lead didn’t get his costume (one of Carmine...