The online edition of the British newspaper The Daily Mail is reporting sightings throughout the country of faceless, well-dressed people at events like Wimbledon.
Comic fans might suspect that DC Comics’ The Question, investigator of social corruption, has crossed over to our universe. Not really, but we really wish that would happen.
Instead it’s creative marketing from car manufacturer Lotus.
That is, unless car manufacturers are up to something evil… Hmm.
With Incredible Hulk hitting theaters this weekend, the crazy cats over at io9 recently posted a list of popular comic book characters whose talents might allow them to save the universe — but cause problems when they start to feel a little frisky.
It’s a great read, but it also reveals a plot point from at least one upcoming film, so be warned.
Oh, and if you’ve ever wondered about the ol’ Green Goliath’s sex life, Charlie Jane has you covered:
Since I’ve read almost every Hulk comic ever published (except I admit Bruce Jones lost me after a while) I should stick in a little dissertation about the Hulk’s sexual history. Can the comics version of the Hulk really never have sex? We know that the Hulk is Incredibly, perhaps Unfeasibly, well-hung, because the Hulk gets naked in Incredible Hulk #400 and his arch-enemy The Leader remarks on how well-endowed he is. But it’s strongly implied, during the "gray Hulk" period, that the gray Hulk — who’s working as a Las Vegas leg-breaker — is getting laid on a fairly regular basis.
Well, that settles it, I guess. Head over to io9 for the full rundown of under-sexed superheroes.
I’m not going to even pretend to understand 80 percent of the Scientific American article I was recently sent with the title "Does Time Run Backward in Other Universes?" The 20 percent I can make sense of, however, seems to fall right in line with the subject line that accompanied it: "Maybe Doctor Who Was Right"
To the best of my summation, the article describes physicists’ investigation of the potential "timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly" nature of the fourth dimension, and the likelihood that time might not always be a one-way street. Of course, this is all old hat to fans of the relaunched BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who, who were told something similar by The Doctor in last season’s award-winning (and terrifying) episode titled "Blink."
If the observable universe were all that existed, it would be nearly impossible to account for the arrow of time in a natural way. But if the universe around us is a tiny piece of a much larger picture, new possibilities present themselves. We can conceive of our bit of universe as just one piece of the puzzle, part of the tendency of the larger system to increase its entropy without limit in the very far past and the very far future. To paraphrase physicist Edward Tryon, the big bang is easier to understand if it is not the beginning of everything but just one of those things that happens from time to time.
While I’m always interested in the ways life (or science, in this case) matches up with my favorite television series, I’m not so keen on the idea of stone statues attacking me whenever I turn my back (the other element of "Blink" worth noting). Even if you’re not a fan of Doctor Who, the SciAm article provides science-fiction fans some food for thought… and who knows, it might be just the impetus you need to brush up on your theoretical physics.
What, you didn’t get to play the Hellboy: The Science of Evil demo at New York Comic Con? I’m so sorry. Your tears taste so sweet.
Ahem Sorry…
Well if you’re curious how the game looks in motion, Konami has released the first official gameplay footage. Hellboy faces off against goblins, werewolves, Japanese demons and weird stuff that could only be imagined by Mike Mignola. As you can see for yourself it takes cues from God of War and Ninja Gaiden type games: crazy, over the top beat ’em ups with big boss battles.
Opening up the videogame console war debate once again, there were slight differences in the game from system to system. The graphics on the PlayStation 3 version were crisper, while the Xbox 360 version played smoother. The PSP version was less detailed, but the difference was barely noticeable on the portable’s smaller screen. All three versions played the same graveyard level where Hellboy fought a host of goblins. The lock-on system was not easy or natural, but I did enjoy ripping a goblin’s head off to use as a grenade. (more…)
There were rumors back in Fall 2007 that the next Mortal Kombat game would pit the Kombatants against superheroes from the DC Universe, but they were quickly scoffed at and ignored.
After all, how could these two universes possibly come together? Would DC really allow Scorpion to rip Batman’s head off? Foolishness!
Well, all those people look like the fools now. Mortal Kombat Online has gotten wind that Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a reality.
The Mortal Kombat series is good at violence but poor when it comes to the comic book universe (see Malibu’s Mortal Kombat comics). On the flip side, the DC superheroes are great at comics and poor when it comes to fighting games (see Justice League Task Force on the 16-bit consoles). Can these two great tastes combine and taste great together?
Not many details about the title are known at the moment. Future details (and an official confirmation from Midway) may be forthcoming on developer Ed Boon’s website, Noob.com.
(via Joystiq)
Put down your Wiimotes, folks. A variety of online retailers, including Amazon and RightStuf, have started accepting orders for The Legend of Zelda
This is great news for fans of the popular Nintendo character. For several years, the series has only been in Japan and acclaimed for keeping faithful to the games while explaining some of the back story of the fantasy franchise’s universe.
Link, the elf boy from Hyrule, is perhaps Nintendo’s second biggest character, only eclipsed by Mario. There is no indication which storyline the series will start with, but it’s presumed to be published in the same order as Japan, so that means it would chronicle the events from the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Finally, the good news: Volume One will have 200 pages by Akira Himekawa and retail for just $7.99. And the bad news: It doesn’t come out until October 7th.
Don’t be sad. It could be worse. They could’ve revived the old Zelda comic published by Valiant.
An imp from the 5th dimension, Mr. Mxyztplk is an inveterate troublemaker and jester. Because he’s from another dimension, Mxyzptlk is not bound by our universe’s laws and can produce a variety of magical effects with a single thought.
Shortly after arriving on our world, Mxyzptlk encountered Superman, and the the imp has delighted in tormenting the Man of Steel ever since that first meeting. The only way to get rid of Mxyzptlk is to trick him into saying his own name backwards—this sends the imp back to the 5th dimension for at least 90 days.
It never lasts long, though, and soon Mxyztplk is back to tease and confuse Superman yet again.
Maybe the most surprising thing about how much I’ve enjoyed the first episodes of the Legion of Superheroes
The cartoon series (from Warner Brothers and DC) fixes those two criticisms by hemming in the team size to a handful of key characters and streamlining the background: A young [[[Superman]]] is pulled into the future to help a fledgling group of heroes save the world. Simple enough.
In this second volume (containing the episodes [[[Champions]]], [[[Fear Factory]]], [[[Brain Drain]]] and [[[Lightning Storm]]]), the team goes through a series of challenges that manage to be kid-appropriate without being overly simplistic. Like the legendary Batman: The Animated Series
Particularly, this volume highlights the character development of Lightning Lad as he becomes a greater hero, and that of his brother, Mekt, as he becomes a villain. Meanwhile, Superman finds his powers have limits, which serves as a lesson as he tries to become the universe’s greatest hero.
I definitely wouldn’t put this series on the same level as [[[Batman: TAS]]], but it’s a fun, clever and exciting foray into the 31st Century.
Is there anything in the universe scarier than a blank page? Danny doesn’t think so.
In today’s brand-new episode of EZ Street, by Mark Wheatley and Robert Tinnell. Scott and Danny have to change a tire. Do they have to change anything else?
Credits: Mark Wheatley (Artist), Mark Wheatley (Colorist), Mark Wheatley (Letterer), Mark Wheatley (Writer), Mike Gold (Editor), Robert Tinnell (Writer)
More: EZ Street
The Los Angeles Times has posted a fairly extensive interview with "Doctor Who" Executive Producer Russell T. Davies, touching on everything from the upcoming broadcast schedule for various "Who"-related projects to the sexuality of "Torchwood" and his decision to distance himself from the "Who" fanbase.
According to the interview, the highly anticipated "Sarah Jane Adventures" – another "Who" spin-off project with a decidely younger target audience – will hit U.S. networks in April, along with the next season of "Doctor Who." The world of "Doctor Who" is quickly becoming a universe, according to Davies, and with the expansion comes some necessary sharing of resources.
"’Sarah Jane’ inherited some of our ‘Doctor Who’ monsters," Davies said. "We can’t afford new prosthetics."
Davies goes on to discuss the controversial sexuality of the more adult-themed "Who" spin-off, "Torchwood", as well as his unusual stance against becoming too entangled in fan message boards and fan-community response to the various series.
"I think we’re an unusual science-fiction franchise in taking a very big step back from fandom and having nothing to do with them. . . . Every program on the BBC has a message board on the website. I forbid it to happen on ‘Doctor Who.’ I’m sorry to say this, all the science fiction producers making stuff in America, they are way too engaged with their fandom. They all need to step back."
(Hat Tip: Outpost Gallifrey)
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