#DC VS VAMPIRES ALL-OUT WAR no.1 (of 6)

[nfcomics]

DC VS VAMPIRES ALL-OUT WAR no.1 (of 6) • cover art • Kael Ngu [July 2022]

One of the last secret, underground human cities is facing total annihilation and its leader—John Constantine—must plan a suicide mission to assassinate a key lieutenant in the vampire empire! Against unreal odds and with an unlikely team including Booster Gold, Deathstroke, and Mary Marvel, does the Hellblazer have one more trick up his sleeve? A gritty, violent, monochromatic companion series to DC vs. Vampires, this series will feature a brutal story with a cadre of talented creators delivering 32 pages of original content!

(W) Matthew Rosenberg, Alex Paknadel (A) Pasquale Qualano (CA) Kael Ngu

[donnatroyprincessofthemyscira]

ComicList: DC Comics New Releases for Wednesday, September 27, 2023, by Charles LePage.

Action Comics #1057 (Cover A Steve Beach), $4.99

Action Comics #1057 (Cover B Jorge Jimenez Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Action Comics #1057 (Cover C David Talaski Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Action Comics #1057 (Cover D Rafael Albuquerque Card Stock Variant), AR

Action Comics #1057 (Cover E Al Barrionuevo Card Stock Variant), AR

Action Comics #1057 (Cover F Mikel Janin Justice League Vs. Godzilla Vs. Kong Connecting Card Stock Variant), AR

Batgirl Year One TP (2023 Edition), $19.99

Batman Beyond Neo-Gothic #3 (Cover A Max Dunbar), $4.99

Batman Beyond Neo-Gothic #3 (Cover B Christian Ward Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman Beyond Neo-Gothic #3 (Cover C Jorge Corona Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Red Hood #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Carmine Di Giandomenico), $3.99

Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Red Hood #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Karl Kerschl Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman Catwoman The Gotham War Red Hood #1 (Of 2)(Cover C Chuma Hill Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman The Brave And The Bold #5 (Cover A Simone Di Meo), $7.99

Batman The Brave And The Bold #5 (Cover B Saren Stone), $7.99

Batman The Brave And The Bold #5 (Cover C Ben Oliver), $7.99

Batman The Brave And The Bold #5 (Cover D Goni Montes), AR

Batman The Golden Age Omnibus Volume 1 HC (2023 Edition), $125.00

Batman The Golden Age Omnibus Volume 10 HC, $100.00

DC Connect #41, AR

DC Vs. Vampires All-Out War Part 2 HC, $19.99

Detective Comics #1074 (Cover A Evan Cagle), $4.99

Detective Comics #1074 (Cover B Kelley Jones Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Detective Comics #1074 (Cover C Mike Perkins Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Detective Comics #1074 (Cover D Pablo Villalobos Hispanic Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Detective Comics #1074 (Cover E Sebastian Fiumara Card Stock Variant), AR

Detective Comics #1074 (Cover F Evan Cagle Black & White Card Stock Variant), AR

Detective Comics #1074 (Cover G Mikel Janin Justice League Vs. Godzilla Vs. Kong Connecting Card Stock Variant), AR

Flash #1 (Cover A Mike Deodato Jr. & Trish Mulvihill), $4.99

Flash #1 (Cover B Mike Deodato Jr. Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Flash #1 (Cover C Dan Mora Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Flash #1 (Cover D Rose Besch Creator Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Flash #1 (Cover E Blank Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Flash #1 (Cover F Rahzzah Foil Variant), $7.99

Flash #1 (Cover G Riley Rossmo Card Stock Variant), AR

Flash #1 (Cover H James Harren Card Stock Variant), AR

Flash #1 (Cover I Matt Taylor Card Stock Variant), AR

Flash #105 (Facsimile Edition), $3.99

Green Arrow #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Sean Izaakse), $3.99

Green Arrow #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Kendrick Kunkka Lim Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Green Arrow #4 (Of 6)(Cover C James Stokoe Card Stock Variant), AR

Harley Quinn #32 (Cover A Sweeney Boo), $4.99

Harley Quinn #32 (Cover B Jenny Frison Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Harley Quinn #32 (Cover C Rose Besch Creator Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Harley Quinn #32 (Cover D Joshua Sway Swaby Card Stock Variant), AR

Harley Quinn #32 (Cover E Corin Howell Card Stock Variant), AR

Harley Quinn Volume 4 Task Force XX HC (2021), $24.99

I Am Batman Volume 3 The Right Question HC, $24.99

Penguin #2 (Cover A David Marquez), $3.99

Penguin #2 (Cover B Darick Robertson Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Penguin #2 (Cover C Otto Schmidt Card Stock Variant), AR

Penguin #2 (Cover D David Marquez Black & White Card Stock Variant), AR

Power Girl #1 (Cover A Gary Frank), $3.99

Power Girl #1 (Cover B Jonboy Meyers Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Power Girl #1 (Cover C Sozomaika Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Power Girl #1 (Cover D Blank Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Power Girl #1 (Cover E Warren Louw Foil Variant), $5.99

Power Girl #1 (Cover F Otto Schmidt Card Stock Variant), AR

Power Girl #1 (Cover G Frank Cho Card Stock Variant), AR

Power Girl #1 (Cover H Warren Louw Card Stock Variant), AR

Spirit World #5 (Of 6)(Cover A Haining), $3.99

Spirit World #5 (Of 6)(Cover B Jessica Fong Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Spirit World #5 (Of 6)(Cover C Yoshi Yoshitani Card Stock Variant), AR

Static Shadows Of Dakota #6 (Of 7)(Cover A Nikolas Draper-Ivey), $3.99

Static Shadows Of Dakota #6 (Of 7)(Cover B JJ Lopez Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Static Shadows Of Dakota #6 (Of 7)(Cover C Demetrius Dawkins Card Stock Variant), AR

Tales Of The Titans #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Nicola Scott), $4.99

Tales Of The Titans #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Rose Besch Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Tales Of The Titans #3 (Of 4)(Cover C W. Scott Forbes Card Stock Variant), AR

Tales Of The Titans #3 (Of 4)(Cover D Skylar Patridge Card Stock Variant), AR

Tim Drake Robin Volume 1 Mystery At The Marina TP, $19.99

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 (Of 7)(Cover A Chris Burnham), $3.99

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 (Of 7)(Cover B Mikel Janin Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 (Of 7)(Cover C Alan Quah Card Stock Variant), AR

WildC.A.T.s #11 (Cover A Stephen Segovia), $3.99

WildC.A.T.s #11 (Cover B Lesley Leirix Li Card Stock Variant), $4.99

WildC.A.T.s #11 (Cover C Rose Besch Creator Card Stock Variant), $4.99

WildC.A.T.s #11 (Cover D Mike Bowden Card Stock Variant), AR

[dailycass-cain]

DC Vs. Vampires #1-12 Final Thoughts

DC vs. Vampires concluded this week. It barely had Cass in it (a shadowy cameo). 

 So I guess she lived? 

Regardless I'm gonna talk about the series as a whole. What I liked about it and what I didn't.

First off I'm not gonna be posting pics of the issue or the main series for this finale.

  Why?

Well, the main artist of the series turned out to have done some questionable things when #7 hit (and hasn't addressed them or apologized for it).

I'll fully confess I highly enjoyed #1-6 (even with the art), along with DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #1-6 (a few of the secondary stories too) for the sheer absurdity factor. Not to mention hey Mary Marvel had a really good subplot going throughout this series.

But then the fill-ins (Hunter and forgot about the Harley one lol) occurred. Damian's wasn't too bad but it felt like a really missed opportunity to showcase how he was able to fight the vampirism while everyone else succumbed to it. Also I hated the shock deaths in it (and J’onn being turned into a vampire off panel).

We see it teased in #4 with John Constantine interrogating the vampire Zee. Like we get hints that the memories are there. But the drive to "thirst" is what breaks most (save apparently Kate/Damian). Heck, it was interesting to see that being a vampire brings a bit of clarity (Jean-Paul Valley) hence the urge to be one again.

I think that's when the "ball" was dropped on this comic for me. The ideas around it are more interesting than the actual main plot. Characters you want to follow are barely followed up on, for me the biggest crime for the main series would be Jayna.

It just feels wrong that the character barely gets any closure and she's reduced to a background character in #12. With all the build-up from #1-6, this is what we get? I think the only thing more disappointing...

Is Babs as a lead character.

I get it though, ever since #2 Dick was targeting her. But the payoff this issue felt so meh.

Dick tries to "reason" with Babs. Why he did do what he did when he turned. But really he wanted to send her lewd dreams of banging Starfire?! 🙃🙃🙃

Look I get it. Vampirism has this whole thing subtextual angle on sexuality.  That Dick/Babs relationship is the bridge to that.

Dick explains himself and Babs' "crumbles".

Her entire plan was to become the Vampire Queen? Then use Harley to kill Dick? Seriously?!

However, my issue is again the "payoff". Why didn't we get a panel of Dick biting Babs? We get the tease and next panel she's on the floor. Why are we that tame nowadays?

Literally, this is what the series has been leading up to and we don't even get that? Just her being turned? COME ON! We literally got in #6

Jason (and Damian) being turned. But not Babs?

And we the reader know humanity is far from "done" but I guess that's the point. Babs is "lying" to her vampire minions.

Speaking of which... yeah this second act was pretty bland in the main series. Even with the retreaded "evil" Superman trope in All-Out War, at least there was a villain to watch and act around.

Dick was barely in the main series after #6. We didn't get a full appearance of him until THIS ISSUE. That's kind of why everyone enjoyed vampire Hal. He was a force in #1-6. He was active in making people vampires.

  Here, we get the minions doing that but it just feels so-- hollow. Likewise, the "final" line protecting Dick is easily taken out (R.I.P. Duke) and honestly, that's another mess too.

Literally, we have Duke being jumped about to be bitten. The panel where he's jumped establishes Damian there. Along with Frankenstein (who exited with Cass last issue). But zero Steph?

Then Duke goes boom and for a moment I thought he accidentally killed Damian (until he showed up later on in the series). This whole issue was a clustered mess.

It doesn't help either that the series doesn't have an ending. Instead, a tease for more.  I HATE IT when the media does that. Never giving us a concrete ending instead teasing for another story.🤬🤬

It just goes to show me why I love DCeased and why this is leagues better than that.  Besides of course doing a better job with Cass. 😋

DCeased, DCeased: Unkillables, DCeased: Hope at World's End, and the current all feel like stories you can pick up and read in one sitting.  There are teases for sequels but never once does it override the main story.

Not to mention balances the cast perfectly throughout.

If you read all of them? It makes the experience all the better.  

DC vs. Vampires? It barely feels like that. We got sidequest stories of Steph, Ivy, and Black Lightning that sort of filled in some gaps but otherwise had little story beats.

DC vs Vampires: All-Out War? The end tied into #12 (and technically #11 too). But it feels like one massive reading. Not something like DCeased where you can pick any and just enjoy it for what it is.

Which brings me to Cass.  She appears in #2-6, and we get cameos everywhere else. The fact that we get confirmation Frankenstein and Vampire Grodd survived with a silhouette of Cass.

Is some straight garbage.

Show clearer Cass survived the attack last issue. Literally, you have Frankenstein there. Why not Cass?! Again, she literally was in issues before. Where's the presence of mind for her?

Yeah DC vs. Vampires #6-12 was a MASSIVE disappointment. The dropoff in a targeted ending for this was bad. Maybe it did? But I guess there's some blood to drain in the series.

I just feel utterly disappointed in the series as a whole. Anything #1-6 gave us and whatever side stories. The end result feels so lacking. So ironically without any actual bite.

I do think there's a way to save this "universe". The best way? Ironically? No sequel main series. Instead?

Focus on Cass or Mera. 

The stuff behind the scenes. of the main. Give us that filler that's needed. Add stuff from the previous series. That's it. Either character can do that. Cass showcase how utterly dreary Gotham became (or her mood set after Dick killing most of the family in #6. Maybe even showcase her and vampire Damian/Kate interacting). 

For Mera? Show how she became the new Black Manta and we find out if she survived her fight with Arthur?! 

Maybe this series as a whole could be saved. If not. Yeah, put a stake in it.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, November 19th

DARLA: Why is everybody trying to make this about Angel?! I mean, for God's sake, can't a woman wreak a little havoc without there being a man involved?

~~Redefinition~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

I lesbian you by f0rest_crypt1d (Buffy/Willow, G)

"Offer me that deathless death / Good God, let me give you my life" by f0rest_crypt1d (Buffy/Spike, T)

L is for the way you look at me by prose-for-hire (Lorne/reader, not rated)

A Little Lost, We Might Fit In by nastieswewhispered (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

This is All Andrew's Fault! by rkm (Buffy/Spike, R)

Word's Out by hysteriumredux (Faith, multiple crossovers, FR7)

The Doctor and the Champion by DoctorSkywalker (Angel, Doctor Who/Torchwood crossover, FR15)

[Chaptered Fiction]

You Can't Fight Fate - But You Can Probably Piss Him Off, Chapter 51 by Hermione2be (Faith/Bruce Wayne, Batman crossover, T)

Sandy Places in Tomorrow, Chapter 41 by Raihne (Xander/Spike, M)

Different Lives, Chapter 42 by BuffyBot3000 (Faith/Tara, E)

Steve: The Vampire Hunter, Chapter 13 by Marsetta (Ensemble, Stranger Things crossover, T)

Charmed and Chosen, Chapter 10 by QuillBard (Buffy/Faith, Charmed crossover, M)

Since You’ve Been Gone, Chapter 3 by HuonParticlesAreHarmless, myrobotheart (Buffy/Giles, Stargate crossover, M)

A New Family for Buffy, Chapter 31 by BrennaLynn (Buffy/Faith, Charmed crossover, T)

Dawn of the Caribbean 2: Dawn of Time, Chapter 21 by BrennaLynn (Dawn/OC, Pirates of the Caribbean crossover, T)

Dawn of the Caribbean 3: Dawn of the Pack, Chapter 21 by BrennaLynn (Buffy & Dawn, Women of the Otherworld crossover, T)

Charmed: Another Halliwell, Chapter 13 by BrennaLynn (Buffy/Dawn, Charmed crossover, T)

Slayer Begins, Chapter 10 by BrennaLynn (Buffy/Bruce Wayne, Batman crossover, T)

What Lies Within, Chapter 7 by cawthraven (Buffy/Spike, E)

Oxnard to Glory, Chapters 1-4 (complete!) by scarecrow_horses, tabaqui (Xander/Spike, E)

SNAFU, Chapters 1-5 (complete!) by scarecrow_horses, tabaqui (Xander/Spike, E)

Buffy 2.0, Chapters 1-4 by BlueZeroZeroOne (Buffy, Buffybot, M)

Everlasting Love, Chapters 1-5 (complete!) by Amejisuto (Xander/Spike, E)

Slaying Through Time, Chapter 3 by refusetoshine (Scoobies, Star Trek: The Next Generation crossover, T)

Anything You Can Do, Chapter 11 by Daxeah (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Darkest Before the Dawn, Chapter 66 by Luna (Buffy, Lord of the Rings crossover, FR15)

Something Strange This Way Comes... Chapter 5 by ShadowMaster (Scoobies, DC Universe crossover, FR21)

The Sky Opens Up, Things Doth Die, Chapter 5 by ShadowMaster (Xander, Utawarerumono/Rurouni Kenshin crossover, FR21)

Plastic Hearts, Chapter Eight by PatriciaLouise (Dawn, Marvel comics crossover, FR18)

The Courage Of Another, Chapter 2 by BlueZeroZeroOne (Buffy, Legend of Zelda crossover, FR18)

The Broken That is Lost Amidst Stardust, Chapter 1 by ShadowMaster (Xander, Star Wars crossover, FR21)

Consequences of Bargaining, Chapter 26 by All4Spike (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: BTVS “Every Outfit” “Listening to Fear” by whatshisfaceblogs (worksafe)

Artwork: Xander, Willow and Buffy in Halloween by artsying-ifer (worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy The Vampire Vs Faith The Vampire Slayer by Shannon Mear (worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy doodles by jadeyarts (Buffy, Drusilla, Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy and Spike in shorts and crop tops by isevery0nehereverystoned (probably NSFW)

Artwork: Buffy/Faith and Angel by punksouthie (worksafe)

Artwork: Concern by Sofya Créations (Buffy & Spike Fool for Love porch scene, worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy S11 comics remastered by l0veisntbrains (worksafe)

Gifs: He is in my heart by andremichaux (worksafe)

Cartoon: The Hero of Three Faces by Paul Gadzikowski (Spike)

Artwork: Sailor Spuffy’s Tattoo Parlor, Chapter 6 by cawthraven (worksafe)

Fanvid: soldier poet king by Bea Jack (Buffy/Riley, Buffy/Spike, Buffy/Angel)

Vidlet: Dark willow|buffy edit by Strange insect

[Reviews & Recaps]

Video: Angel and Choice Analysis by Becoming Buffy Podcast

Podcast: 7.5 – "Selfless" by Beep Me Pod

[Recs]

Reaction video rec: darcie's watching buffy by 147days

[Fandom Discussions]

the shitshow that was seasons six and seven by badrecognition

Buffy feeling responsible for Spike in in Season 7 by badrecognition

Headcanon: Angel buying Buffy a class ring in "The Deathless" by oveliagirlhaditright

The Daryl/Cordelia relationship (Some Assembly Required) by oveliagirlhaditright

“WillowTaraFred OT3 rights” by oveliagirlhaditright

I have a theory that Buffy and Spike don’t have nearly as crazy of a sex life as they both think they do… by redbone135

Buffy’s directionlessness by corvidyus

Trying to adhere to the show’s original soul lore is pointless by disco-tea

[Buffy's friends trying to control her life] by ficrebloggercuzynot

Let's talk about Spike and fashion by metaphasia-words-upon-words

so did buffy ever actually confront spike after he tried to get his chip removed in "out of my mind"?? by silvermars

What if there were Buffy in 2023 by gmac

buffy in a demon dimension by gmac

Character Battle: Gwendolyn Post vs Maggie Walsh by Stoney

Am I the only one that loves season 7? by Tatidanidean1

Question about aspect ratio (not Buffy HD related) by Ricks94

What if Dawn was the next slayer? by ragbook231

How did Willow turn out to be the only main Scooby to give Anya some goddamn respect in this series? by DrPepper450

Question re the Scythe by Daryl90

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[haljordangreenjedi]

I posted 3,633 times in 2022

40 posts created (1%)

3,593 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@damthosefandoms

@dailydccomics

@sohotthateveryonedied

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I tagged 3,633 of my posts in 2022

#tag: hal jordan is my emotional support green lantern - 801 posts

#tag: wally west is kid flash - 359 posts

#tag: bart allen is impulse - 328 posts

#untaggable - 288 posts

#tag: barry allen is the fastest man alive - 278 posts

#tag: bruce wayne is an eternal dad - 154 posts

#tag: about me - 137 posts

#tag: superboy is conner kent - 128 posts

#tag: the flying grayson - 125 posts

#tag: he was a skater boi is tim drakes theme song - 118 posts

Longest Tag: 135 characters

#thinking about that one animated show where hal literally had the magical girl transformation? i know y’all know what i’m talking about

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

not really an artist by any means but uhhhh, happy birthday to my boy Hal Jordan!!

76 notes - Posted February 20, 2022

#4

PICK A HILL TO DIE ON

FUCK I FORGOT TO ANSWER THIS YESTERDAY.

uhhhhh. mashed potatoes are gross. hal’s middle name is trauma. there are two versions of how to treat his character. 100% of DC Writers don’t understand how fucked you are if you get dishonorably discharged. there’s so much about being military/being raised military that no one talks about, and it’s because of how fucked up it can make you feel.

Hal and Barry’s relationship reads like a really early life attachment and i love that for them.

77 notes - Posted March 25, 2022

#3

it’s not star wars until someone loses a hand

142 notes - Posted May 28, 2022

#2

new theory that iris was so tired after giving birth to the tornado twins that she legit thought she was seeing double and the nurses/hospital people were part of an episode of Punk’d when they asked her for the baby’s name a second time. could this have been avoided if Barry hadn’t died? maybe, maybe not. Barry loves her too much to call her on her bullshit

157 notes - Posted July 25, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

hey hey so i didn’t actually read DC vs Vampires, but i’ve seen the screenshots from #6 or whichever one came out today and i have a Thought:

this panel right here… the angst factor could be dialed up to like 15 if right before he died, Hal said thank you.

Because Ollie’s right, the real Hal wouldn’t be able to live with himself after killing Barry, and it would go well with the notion that the real Hal was trapped inside, to some extent—since i think my understanding is that the vampire king kind of had control of all the vampires? and it’s just…if that’s the only part you care about, that’s one HELL of a way to end that plot line.

751 notes - Posted March 29, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[cybercitycomix]

Top New DC Comic Releases for the Week of November 16th, 2022.

Batman One Bad Day Mr Freeze #1,

Batman Superman World’s Finest #9,

Black Adam #6,

Catwoman #49,

Dark Crisis: Worlds without a JL: Batman #1,

DC vs Vampires All-Out War #5,

DCeased: War of the Undead Gods #4,

GCPD the Blue Wall #2,

Harley Quinn TAS: Legion of Bats #2,

Nightwing #98,

Stargirl the Lost Universe #1 +

Titans United Bloodpact #3.

[bow-chicka-wow-wow-wow]

Weirdest Mortal Kombat Characters

1. Mokap - Don’t we already have a dickhead Hollywood actor in the roster? You know, Johnny Cage? This secret character know many different styles of martial arts, and knows Johnny very well. He was one of the secret characters that was added as a goof, but feels more like he should’ve been an alternate costume for Cage rather than an actual character.

2. Hsu Hao - Just because one black market crime syndicate isn’t enough, we have the leader of the Red Dragon, that rivals the Black Dragon. Hsu Hao is as stereotypical mustache-twirling villain as Dick Dastardly. And he’s not even in the least bit likable. Sure, Kano is absolutely unlikable, but his scumbag charm makes us love to hate him.

3. Chameleon and Khameleon - Honestly, why do we need these ninja characters when we have a literal spectrum of ninjas, like Ermac, Skarlet, Tremor, Scorpion, Tanya, Reptile, Jade, Sub-Zero, Kitana, Rain, Mileena, Smoke, and Noob Saibot? These two characters always change color palettes and fighting stances of several ninja characters, and their special move? Camouflage. Reptile already does that.

4. Moloch - Since when did we need Orcs in Mortal Kombat? Oh, wait, he’s an Oni. My bad! He’s noy the only Oni on this list, but Moloch in particular felt more like something written in a J.R.R. Tolkien book or Warcraft character rather than a Mortal Kombat fighter.

5. Nitara - We got ninjas, cyborgs, Orcs (sorry, Oni), so do we really need vampires? Not to mention she’s the only vampire on the roster (Skarlet’s a blood mage, stark difference between the two). And she only appears in one Mortal Kombat title. Well, technically two, but Armageddon has literally EVERY character that’s ever been in a Mortal Kombat game up to that point. She was also in the 2021 movie, but was dispatched quick as she was introduced.

6. Drahmin - Another Orc. Oni. While granted, the last one I mentioned is actually a sub-boss in Deadly Alliance, this one, well, looks like he’s into kink, sporting a mask and just his undies. He does have a knife in his back, and if you pull it out, he’ll go berserk!

7. Meat - He’s literally what his name is. Just a walking pile of muscle and bones, no skin! Like Mokap, he was added as a goof. According to the lore, he was a failed experiment by Shang Tsung. I’m sorry, I just can’t fathom the idea that a literal evil genius would make a mistake in his experiments!

8. Motaro - Just what we need, a centaur! Or a Minotaur… depends on what Mortal Kombat you’re playing. He was a centaur first introduced as the sub-boss of Mortal Kombat 3, and was actually playable in Armageddon, but became bipedal rather than a quadruped. The reasoning according to Midway was because he was cursed by the Shokans.

9. Dark Kahn - Remember that crossover with DC? No, not DC characters as guest characters on Mortal Kombat, and vice versa. No, in 2008, we got Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The big baddie of each universe, Shao Kahn and Darkseid, got sucked into an anomaly, merging into one ungodly creature. Um yeah this game didn’t need to happen. But thankfully it gave birth to NetherRealm’s sister series, Injustice.

10. EVERY. GUEST. CHARACTER. - Beginning with Mortal Kombat 2011, there have been characters from other works of fiction available as DLC, called guest characters. It all started with Freddy Krueger in Mortal Kombat 2011, and a PlayStation exclusive in Kratos from the God of War franchise. Other guest characters in Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11 include Alien, Predator, Leatherface, Jason Voorhees, Spawn, the Joker, Rambo, T-800 Terminator, and RoboCop. Joker isn’t just some carry-over from the Injustice series; he’s actually a pretty deadly fighter with a pretty sick Fatality.

[guttertalk]

New Gutter Talk Episode, December 2022

Comics Featured:

Mile Morales: Spider-Man #1

Invincible Iron Man #1

Leonide the Vampyr: A Christmas for Crows

Golden Rage #5

DC vs. Vampires: All Out War #6

DC vs. Vampires #12

Batman Spawn

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21) Poison Ivy #1 art by Marcio Takara

22) Batman Dark Victory Ivy

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27) Justice League Action Ivy

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[jade-jupiter]

so i may or may not have just purchased every single dc vs vampire comic minus variants but including the coffin and crypt editions :)))

[gorogues]

Spoilers for comics in November!

These are from the official solicits for that month, which you can see in full at Newsarama.

An exciting month for Rogues!  Finally we return to the Iron Heights plot, and maybe DC vs Vampires has Lisa as a vampire?

THE FLASH #788 Written by JEREMY ADAMS Pencils and inks by FERNANDO PASARIN and MATT RYAN Cover by TAURIN CLARKE Variant cover by GEORGE KAMBADAIS '90s Cover Month variant cover by TODD NAUCK $3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 11/15/22 When Gregory Wolfe wins the mayorship of Central City, he implements a radical agenda to instill order…including deputizing the Rogues to enforce the law and ridding the city of its well-known vigilante—the Flash!

Interesting strategy on Wolfe’s part.  Question is, why are the Rogues going along with it?  It's probably nice to get out of prison and stick it to the Flash, but they can’t possibly trust Wolfe unless he’s forcing them to do it.

Not sure if that’s Axel or James.  The Tar Pit cover is a variant of the Flash issue, BTW.

DC VS. VAMPIRES: ALL-OUT WAR #5 Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG and ALEX PAKNADEL Art by PASQUALE QUALANO Backup written by MATTHEW MANNING Backup art by ACKY BRIGHT Cover by ALAN QUAH Variant cover by LEIRIX 1:25 variant cover by JAMES STOKOE $3.99 US | 32 pages | 5 of 6 | Black and White | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 11/15/22 Betrayed and out of options, the pitiful remnants of the team head to a bleak and desolate Central City for one last Hail Mary as Baron Cinder's terrifying lieutenants close in. Will a Marvel Family showdown at the end of the world snuff out humanity's last hope, or will the team's final desperate gamble pay off?

Based on the Lisa variant cover, it seems like we might see some vampire Rogues...and if the humans really do manage to revive Mark/Marco, maybe he’ll have to square off with them.

THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #3 Written by KENNY PORTER Art and cover by JASON HOWARD Variant cover by SCOTT KOLINS 1:25 pencil variant cover by JORGE CORONA 1:50 foil variant cover by JORGE CORONA $5.99 US | 48 pages | 3 of 3 | Variant $6.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 11/8/22 Barry has learned to control his powers and is finally starting to feel like the hero he's always dreamed he could be. But then a showboating new villain going by the name of the Top shows up looking to test his abilities and make some cash selling his weapons after showing how they can take out the Flash! Barry will need to use every skill he's picked up along the way if he's going to stop this topsy-turvy terror!

I hope we finally get to see this issue, it’s become a minor obsession for me.

@theworrierqueen

[nfcomics]

DC VS VAMPIRES ALL-OUT WAR no.1 (of 6) • cover art • James Stokoe [July 2022]

One of the last secret, underground human cities is facing total annihilation and its leader—John Constantine—must plan a suicide mission to assassinate a key lieutenant in the vampire empire! Against unreal odds and with an unlikely team including Booster Gold, Deathstroke, and Mary Marvel, does the Hellblazer have one more trick up his sleeve? A gritty, violent, monochromatic companion series to DC vs. Vampires, this series will feature a brutal story with a cadre of talented creators delivering 32 pages of original content!

(W) Matthew Rosenberg, Alex Paknadel (A) Pasquale Qualano (CA) James Stokoe

[thecreaturecodex]

Gyaos Juvenile

Image © Lluis Abadias. Accessed at his Twitter here

[Commissioned by @majingojira​, based most closely on the version of Gyaos from the 90s Gamera trilogy. The Gyaos are the enemies that have appeared in all incarnations of Gamera, and it’s not hard to see why. The original Gamera vs. Gyaos is the best movie of the Showa series, and the hook of “what if Rodan was also a vampire” is a pretty good one. Since the Kaneko films made Gyaos a flesh eater instead of a blood drinker, I went in that direction. But I still included a few references to the 1967 version of the monster, both in flavor text and abilities.

And yes, this means that “kaiju, Gyaos” is forthcoming. But considering how many people have commissions with me at the moment, it will be a while before it posts. Stay tuned!]

Gyaos Juvenile CR 14 NE Magical Beast This avian reptile has membranous wings growing along its arms and strong hind legs with talons. Its leathery hide is reddish-brown in color. Its skull is shaped like an arrowhead, a wedge flattened on top with an underslung jaw filled with small, sharp teeth.

The gyaos are a biological weapon devised in an ancient war. They are superficially pterosaur-like, but their anatomy has a variety of strange quirks—they have glowing patches that burn red when the creature is distressed or badly injured, their eyes can move independently in their sockets from one another, and most notably, they are always hungry. The more a gyaos juvenile eats, the more they grow, eventually reaching the size and strength of a kaiju. In this form, a gyaos can begin to lay eggs, which hatch into more gyaos in a matter of days—a single monster can become a global plague in a surprisingly short period of time.

A juvenile gyaos in combat is remarkably agile and mobile despite its size. They fight from the air whenever possible, making hit and run attacks with their claws and teeth, or firing lines of slicing sonic energy from their maws. Against a single opponent, their typical strategy is to grab it in their claws, carry it to a secluded area, and devour it. A gyaos juvenile can heal its wounds, but it requires rapidly metabolizing its own body to do so—only a well fed gyaos can accomplish this feat, and most wait until they are out of combat to do so.

Gyaos juveniles are vulnerable to bright lights, and so are nocturnal. They hunt in aggregations, but these are competitive, not cooperative associations. Juvenile gyaos have even been known to turn on and eat each other if they are hungry enough. During the day, they retreat to caves, deep forests and other dark shelters. They are not site-specific or territorial, roaming over great distances in search of flesh.

Gyaos Juvenile         CR 14 XP 38,400 NE Huge magical beast (air) Init +9; Senses darkvision 120 ft., Perception +12, scent Defense AC 29, touch 18, flat-footed 19 (-2 size, +9 Dex, +1 dodge, +11 natural) hp 200 (16d8+112) Fort +17, Ref +19, Will +9 Immune sonic; Resist acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10; SR 25 Defensive Abilities evasion; Weakness light blindness, light vulnerability Offense Speed 30 ft., fly 90 ft. (good) Melee 2 talons +23 (2d6+9/19-20 plus grab), bite +23 (2d8+9) Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. Special Attacks breath weapon (1d4 rounds, 80 foot line, 14d6 sonic, Ref DC 25), devour, mobile grappler Statistics Str 29, Dex 29, Con 25, Int 4, Wis 20, Cha 22 Base Atk +16; CMB +27 (+31 grappling); CMD 47 Feats Dodge, Flyby Attack, Improved Critical (talons), Lightning Stance, Mobility, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Stealth), Wind Stance Skills Fly +18, Perception +12, Stealth +11 Languages Aboleth (cannot speak) SQ metabolize, sprint Ecology Environment any land Organization solitary, flight (2-6), flock (7-12) or swarm (13-40) Treasure none Special Abilities Breath Weapon (Su) The breath weapon of a gyaos juvenile ignores the first 10 points of hardness of any objects in the area. Devour (Su) Whenever a gyaos juvenile consumes 16 HD worth of creatures, it gains 1 growth point. It gains a bonus equal to its growth point total on attack rolls, CMB rolls, saving throws and skill checks. Its maximum hit points increase by 10 for each growth point. For every 2 growth points it gains, its natural AC bonus and SR increase by 1, and its breath weapon deals an extra d6 of damage and its length increases by 10 feet. For every two growth points it has, it gains +1 to its CR. When it has 6 growth points, and again when it has 12 growth points, it gains the giant simple template. When a gyaos juvenile has 16 growth points, it transforms into a gyaos kaiju. Light Vulnerability (Su) A gyaos juvenile takes damage from searing light, sunbeam, sunburst and similar spells and effects as if it were undead. It does not need to save or die when exposed to a sunbeam or sunburst. Metabolize (Su) As a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity, a gyaos juvenile can expend 1 growth point to gain the benefits of a regenerate and cleanse spell. This growth point is lost, reducing the gyaos’ bonuses as appropriate, but the gyaos cannot reduce in size category due to this loss. A juvenile gyaos can use this ability up to 3 times per day. Mobile Grappler (Ex) When a gyaos juvenile succeeds in a CMB check to move a grappled opponent, it may move up to its speed. Sprint (Ex) Once per hour, a juvenile gyaos can move up to 10 times its fly speed on a charge.

[dailycass-cain]

DC vs. Vampires #11 came out this week as we're one issue closer to this series finale.  Does Cass survive or not? Am I okay with it? Is this series ending satisfyingly?

We do get the most Cass since #6, but it still find it aggravating she's barely been in the series, and feels like a footnote when she kind had a descent role (along with Damian/Babs) and somehow is the one ironically left behind of the three.

First off, it feels like it's been hours since the ending of #10 with the fighting being more desperate being the first hordes of vampires against the Birds, Harley, Franky, and Damian. Instead of you know all those UV-Bat signals in the Gotham City sky (now down to a lonely one). 

Until we do get a neat calvary showing up moment with Cass and the remaining living Bat-Family (save Kate who is busy in the other DC vs. Vampires All-Out War) and-- ROY HARPER (I’m amazed he’s alive at this point)?!

If there's anything negative I have to say here is well I'm not a fan of Steph's design here, and more in love with the wild one we got by Guillaume Singelin in the secondary story from DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #1.

I mean just look at this design. LOOK AT IT:

It just goes SO HARD. 

Cass's own outfit is interesting, but again I feel a story SHOULD have been told to bridge Babs and her better than what we got with freaking Harley Quinn. That or gotten a story with Kara. There should've been MORE one-shots I'm just saying than one with HARLEY QUINN that had ZERO PAYOFF.

I mean in this very issue we learn a JL who we haven't seen since Damian's one-shot is now a vampire. Someone who shouldn't be but is (J'onn along with M'ggan).

HOW?! How are we not getting that story?! But no the Harley story seemed to be a MUST. 

Still, I can't help but continue my feelings that I'm ironically burned out on this series story-wise as it's focus since #7. Or care about most of the art for the main series when finding out the main artist did a lot of skewy things. 

.  The remainder of Cass's part in this issue is getting Frankenstein's Monster as her co-partner and quipping about it. Which again, an interesting dynamic I wish we could've had MORE WITH.

Again, there's stuff here storywise as well. Damian is a vampire now and Cass being the only survive with her humanity and life intact in #6's Bat-Family slaughter. Yeah... again there's blood that could've been taken here for a story. 

Oh well...

The last section of Cass for this issue is Vampire Gorilla Grodd emerging and taking out her bike (though she is landing gracefully unlike Franky who got the brunt of that hit).

I do like that we're getting MAYBE some continuation here as Grodd was a vampire Cass fought before in #4 (but that was with Jason). Soooo maybe round 2 with an ending? HOPEFULLY?!

I mean you can't just bridge this prior encounter and not have some finality here right? RIGHT?!

Also, I'm again not fond of the fake that again there just doesn't feel like a villainous to chew the scenery like the earlier six issues in Vampire Hal. I expected something at the end with Vampire King, smirking at getting his encounter with Babs. But NOPE.

Again another wall of Hero/Villain Vampires this time. This time one Kryptonian and another Amazonian. I kind of wish we got Vampire Wonder Woman or Hawkgirl but I think the former might've bought it already? Anyway vampires we've SEEN then rando conversions (save Wondergirl).

So yeah another sluggish issue of DC vs. Vampires. I'm glad this series is running toward an ending. But man what wasted potential and disappointment with this concept after the first six issues. It feels like it's trying to do a DCeased thing with these last six issues and failing hard at it with no real balance with the surviving characters on the first half (instead of throwing more random characters to help the humans).

I do love if this becomes predictable as heck with the anime set-up this issue ends with. I mean come on... if Kara doesn't wipe the floor with the vampires for three pages straight. What's the point of her arc then?

But yeah, DC vs. Vampires has lost its bite and feels so much like lost opportunities now. I feel like I'm repeating myself, but yeah. While DCeased you can feel there is SOMEWHAT anchors around that series. This series lost all of that.

I'm just expecting disappointment at this stage. Other than MAYBE Cass survives an apocalypse event longer than others. But still, the DCeased stuff is the superior series thru and thru.

You had HAD thing to do series. Dustin Nguyuen laid it all out. You could've gotten him to do a variant cover. He would've killed it.

Instead...

[davidmann95]

Thoughts (if any) on DC's April 2021 solicitations?

Let’s take ‘em in order! I should be able to muster up a comment on just about everything one way or another.

Green Lantern #1: Oh this is gonna be bad. Heard only the worst about Thorne’s Future State: Green Lantern, and I assume Jo Mullein’s DCU debut will be wasted here to either function as some kind of ridiculous ‘popularity contest’ with Teen Lantern for who gets the bigger push, or as a way to put TL over with a few “good work kid, you got a future” comments. Also, and granted I don’t know how Morrison will end or this will begin, is the New Guardians angle being immediately dropped?

Robin #1: Dope suit, art, and premise, but it’s Williamson so I don’t care.

Batman: The Dark Knight #1: I’ll read this and I expect to like it, but between this being Kubert’s first big Batman project since Master Race, the ‘old but not quite retirement age yet’ angle, and the title, I’m concerned the shock ending here is that it’s actually a stealth DKR prequel.

The Next Batman: Second Son #1: So they really are committing here, though weird that this kinda makes Ridley’s Future State book basically a longform teaser for this. And I’ll get it as it comes out since it turns out this won’t be in that John Ridley’s Batman collection after all - sorry Dustin Nguyen, I love your stuff but I won’t buy an entire trade of material I otherwise already own just for one new story by you.

The Batman & Scooby Doo Mysteries #1: I got that whole great-looking Scooby Doo Team-Up run by Fisch for free on Comixology, I should read that sometime and see if this’ll be worth getting too as well, because it sounds like a hoot.

Challenge of the Super Sons #1: Glad people who want it are getting it, I do not care.

RWBY/Justice League #1: WILL BE GETTING A POST ALL ITS OWN

Action Comics #1030: His powers waning definitely won’t help the standard pre-run fuming by a lot of Superman fandom, but it’s an interesting pairing with PKJ apparently doing mainly cosmic Superman adventures so I’m curious where he’ll go with it. That it’s particularly cited as being tied to Death Metal might validate my suspicion that the new ‘everyone remembers their entire mainstream publishing histories’ thing will play into Johnson’s description of Clark really feeling his age at the start of the run. And Janin on covers even before he gets in on the book proper! And that Midnighter description!

Superman #30: This sounds like where Johnson’s gonna start with that worldbuilding he touted, and I’m curious; definitely reads in this instance like him shoving Clark and Jon into some swords-and-sorcery-esque territory he’s familiar with.

American Vampire 1976 #7: Not reading, don’t care.

Batman #107: I assume ‘the events at Arkham Asylum’ are the ‘A-Day’ ominously brought up in Future State solicits. Tynion Batman, Jimenez as the regular artist now, whatever the Unsanity Collective is, all entirely my shit. More importantly than any of that though, GHOSTMAKER BACKUPS. And drawn by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, artist on Steve Orlando’s excellent The Pull! Dope!

Batman: Black & White #5: Any other issue and ‘Jamal Campbell doing a life story of Nightwing’ would probably be the highlight, but in case you somehow hadn’t heard Gillen/McKelvie are making their DC debut on a Batman vs. Riddler story here, absolutely wild.

Batman: Urban Legends #2: Even more excited for this now that I’m onboard for the Grifter and Outsiders stuff given how much those features pleasantly surprised me in Future State.

Batman/Superman #17: Injecting it isn’t enough anymore, I need to be on some kind of constant IV drip with this book. I was wondering whether it’d take the premise to further generational riffs or follow a history of mass-media Supermen and Batmen, but instead it’s veering off in a direction I never could have guessed and I couldn’t be more excited.

Batman vs. Ra’s Al Ghul #6: NOTHING CAN STOP THE ADAMSVERSE. NONE MAY DARE TRY.

Batman/Catwoman #5: Wondering how this Harley involvement plays in - I don’t imagine it’s quite what it seems given how King’s written her before. And love that Joker by Mann on the cover, major Clown at Midnight vibes.

Catwoman #30: No reason to assume this run won’t continue to rule.

Crime Syndicate #2: Dammit, I don’t think this book is going to be good, but I’m kinda tempted.

Detective Comics #1035: Wouldn’t be psyched, but Dark Detective was another pleasant surprise so I’ll give this a chance.

The Dreaming: Waking Hours #9: Again, not reading.

Far Sector #11: Sucks a little knowing we’ll never see that little ‘Young Animal’ label in the corner again after this wraps. At least it’s going out on its highest note.

The Flash #769: In a vacuum this would sound dope but I have less than no faith in this, and goddamn that’s a terrible cover.

Harley Quinn #2: I’m sure it’ll be fine, no interest.

The Joker #2: I wanna believe Tynion will be able to make this work, he keeps talking like he has more freedom on this than he has some other books, but everything about this reads like the price he has to pay for relative post-Joker War freedom on Batman.

Justice League #60: It’s Bendis/Marquez on Justice League, lots of people will complain but I’ll mostly dig it. More interested in Ram V briefly getting to write the main crew in the JLD backup.

Man-Bat #3: I’d ask why this exists - and as a matter of fact I still do - but checking out some of DC’s digital-first output recently I see Dave Wielgosz has something on the ball, so maybe he’ll be able to make this work? Perhaps I’ll check it out in trade someday if worth-of-mouth is on its side.

Nightwing #79: I maintain, this is gonna be huge. And clever move to make for how to justify Nightwing keeping up his standard way of business after Bruce loses most of his money.

Rorschach #7: A comic I will purchase and let’s continue leaving it at that.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #109: DC’s highest-numbered comic (that hasn’t gone through an interim renumbering), astonishing. Not getting it myself, but respect.

Sensational Wonder Woman #2: Can’t say this sounds like my thing.

Suicide Squad #2: I’ve been swayed into checking out the Future State debut, but that’d have to really blow me away for me to follow into the main book.

Superman: Red & Blue #2: Sadly if unsurprisingly DC’s clearly not stacking this with AAA attention-grabbing names in the same way as this latest version of Batman: Black & White, but there do seem to be some interesting names from outside the usual big two roster here. And the main and Bolland cover may disappoint but holy cow that David Choe variant.

The Swamp Thing #2: I have no doubt it’ll be incredible but time and again I learn I simply don’t have it in me to care about Swamp Thing regardless of the objective quality of the effort put into him.

Sweet Tooth: The Return #6: Another one I’m not interested in.

Titans Academy #2: Oh lord so this is where they stuck Billy Batson.

Truth & Justice #3: I continue to have no idea what if anything the unifying idea of this anthology is supposed to be.

Wonder Woman #771: Wonder Woman as troubleshooter for mythological mishaps isn’t a permanently sustainable or desirable status quo but I’m down for it for as long as it lasts if it’s any good (though that Immortal Wonder Woman preview...concerned me, in spite of Jen Bartel’s jaw-dropping art).

So that’s 19-23 out of 37 I’ll be getting - if DC’s standard for success with Infinite Frontier is the proportion of their line people will be checking out, I guess it’s winning with me.

[sssshhhthefilmsabouttostart]

The best and worst films of 2020

Let’s be honest - 2020 was an extremely shitty year for moviegoers everywhere, as the Queen would say an annus horribilis.

Due to the Covid pandemic’s dramatic impact on nearly every facet of human life, cinemas closed, film festivals went virtual and film productions became an intricate mess of insurance and safety challenges.

Yet despite these dire challenges and an unpredictable future, cinema remained very much alive throughout the year, with a wide range of ambitious undertakings snaking their way into whatever form of release seemed viable. Blockbusters receded to the background, allowing a wide range of movies to trickle through an uncertain marketplace that would have been hostile to them even in pre-pandemic times.

So what cinematic gems and unmitigated disasters were dropped upon audiences during the year?

Ladies and gentlemen, may we please offer for your consideration...

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

THE CURRENT WAR - THE LIGHTHOUSE - IN FABRIC - BEING FRANK: THE CHRIS SIEVEY STORY (D) - BOMBSHELL - THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON - THE SOCIAL DILEMMA (D) - LIGHT OF MY LIFE - THE ASSISTANT - THE LODGE - THE GENTLEMEN - THE WAY BACK - DARK WATERS - 1917 - THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY - THE HUNT

2020′S TOP TEN BEST FILMS

10. THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW

Hot off the critical success of his debut feature ‘Thunder Road,’ writer-director Jim Cummings’ refreshing yet effective take on the werewolf genre amped up the dark comedy whilst delivering quite a few chills. Tinged with realistically flawed characters and clever scares, ‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’ might not have been your typical werewolf flick but it successfully managed to bring that classic legend to life once again.

9. LET HIM GO

Previously last seen together as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents in ‘Man of Steel,’ Diane Lane and Kevin Costner were reunited onscreen as husband and wife again in writer-director Thomas Bezucha’s neo-Western drama ‘Let Him Go.’ Adapted from author Larry Watson’s 2013 novel, the film featured stunning landscapes, full-blooded moments of sudden violence and compelling performances from Diane Lane, Kevin Costner and, most memorably, Lesley Manville’s turn as a gritty and cunning matriarch.

8. COLOUR OUT OF SPACE

Based on the classic short story by HP Lovecraft and featuring another scene-stealing performance from Nicolas Cage, this clever adaptation was an effective horror film with an unrelentingly grim sci-fi bent. In addition to the truly disturbing and inspired images of queasy body horror, ‘Colour Out of Space’ also marked the eagerly-anticipated re-emergence of filmmaker Richard Stanley (his first time back in the director’s chair since being fired from his 1996 remake ‘The Island of Dr Moreau’).

7. THE INVISIBLE MAN

Who knew a remake could be so refreshing? With this updated take on the H.G. Wells tale, writer-director Leigh Whannell did just about everything right, delivering a tense, clever thriller with touches of both horror and sci-fi. As the fascinatingly flawed yet appealing tough protagonist, Elisabeth Moss gave a captivating performance in a film that was chilling in all the right ways, packed with plenty of twists and a deliciously nasty resolution.

6. THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (NETFLIX)

Whilst the subject matter of ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7′ shared an uncanny relevance to today’s politically charged times, as a gripping courtroom drama with a stellar cast, the film ticked all the boxes. ‘West Wing’ creator Aaron Sorkin put his trademark traits - razor-sharp wit, rhetorical flair and political insight - to very good use in this masterful retelling of the trial following the 1968 anti-war protests outside the Democratic National Convention.

5. HEARTS AND BONES

In his debut feature film, Australian director Ben Lawrence created a spiritually rich and immersive drama about the relationship between a grizzled, broken war photographer and a Sudanese refugee. Whilst Hugo Weaving was note-perfect in his portrayal as a crumbling man wrestling with his past, equally impressive was first time actor Andrew Luri who delivered a quiet yet memorable performance in what was an affecting piece of cinema.

4. TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL (DOCUMENTARY)

Watching a documentary about the COVID-19 crisis in the middle of a global pandemic might not sound appealing but prolific filmmaker Alex Gibney’s latest work was easily the most essential non-fiction film of 2020. Shot safely in secret for five months, ‘Totally Under Control’ played out like a tightly-wound thriller as it placed the Trump Administration’s inept response to the coronavirus pandemic under the microscope.

3. BAD EDUCATION (HBO)

As far as crime stories go, embezzlement isn’t always the most thrilling subject. However, ‘Bad Education’ turned a relatively simple white collar crime story about a New Jersey school administrator caught stealing money into a compelling drama, thanks to an incisive and nimble script and spot on performances from Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan, Ray Romano and especially Hugh Jackman.

2. MANK (NETFLIX)

Director David Finch’s dazzling portrait of Herman J. ‘Mank’ Mankiewicz, the screenwriter who collaborated with wunderkind filmmaker Orson Welles to write the first draft of ‘Citizen Kane,’ was a cinematic jewel from start to finish. Similar to last year’s ‘Once Upon A Time in...Hollywood,’ ‘Mank’ delivered a layered depiction of the filmmaking process, whilst Gary Oldman continued to excel at immersing himself in playing real-life characters, this time as the hard-drinking, intellectual screenwriter.

1. NOMADLAND

Writer-director Chloe Zhao’s intimate drama about an unemployed widow living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad was a thoughtful, contemplative and reflective piece of storytelling. It may have touched upon mature themes about loneliness, financial instability and restlessness, but ‘Nomadland’ remained an uplifting and hopeful piece of cinema that captured the various bittersweet reasons people choose to live a life on the road.

With an outstanding performance from Frances McDormand, brought to life through the charm of the ‘real life’ supporting cast, great direction and Joshua James Richard’s mesmerising cinematography, ‘Nomadland’ was the perfect film for 2020.

...AND NOW THE WORST!

DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS

VAMPIRES VS THE BRONX - BAD BOYS FOR LIFE - THE OLD GUARD - PROJECT POWER - ISN’T IT ROMANTIC - THE RHYTHM SECTION - WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE - I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS - MIDWAY - YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT - BABY DONE - FORCE OF NATURE - CAPONE - THE NEW MUTANTS - DOOLITTLE

10. WONDER WOMAN 1984

To quote Red Letter Media’s resident film critic Mike Stoklasa, “this movie was the cinematic equivalent of the Bluesmobile.” Directed by Patty Jenkins, this 80′s-set sequel to the 2017 DC superhero hit was lethargically paced and featured a completely bonkers narrative that made absolutely no sense. Horribly scripted, disjointed and overstuffed (a runtime of 2.5 hours), ‘Wonder Woman 1984′ sadly jettisoned everything that made Jenkins’ original film so compelling. The result? An appalling misfire.

9. THE GRUDGE

A curiously talented and interesting cast were somehow lured into - and subsequently wasted in - this pointless, tired, reboot/revival of the long-running ‘Ju-On’ Japanese-based horror series. Despite director NIcholas Pesce’s attempt to disguise the rudimentary nature of the plot via back-and-forth timeline jumping, ‘The Grudge’ was just a formulaic paint-by-the-numbers meander through a poorly developed story that existed only to prop up a bunch of uninspired jump scares.

8. BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN)

There are many movies that have no reason to exist - and this latest misfire from DC Comics was one of them. Directed by Cathy Yan, ‘Birds of Prey’ was a mire of uninspired ideas and recycled genre conventions that got old real quick. Penned by Christina Hodson (’Bumblebee’ being the ‘highlight’ on her resume), the script was as simplistic as it was thin, with needless subplots merely introduced to inflate the film to a decent running time. Even Margot Robbie’s manic performance as the ‘Mistress of Mayhem’ couldn’t save this mess.

7. JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT

What could’ve been a dream film for fans of these two classic stoner characters instead was nothing but a string of cameos and callbacks in a plot-less bore. Director Kevin Smith sucked all the life and fun out of this watered-down story, that suffered from a constant series of awkward and forced jokes that were painfully unfunny. An unfortunate stinker.

6. AVA

This latest foray into the ‘female assassin for hire’ genre was about as cliched as you could get. An emotionally troubled female killer whose male mentor assumes the role of the surrogate father? Check. Pounding dance music score? Check. Obligatory nightclub fight sequence? Check. Confused love interest? You betcha! Humourless, dry and uninspired, ‘Ava’ played out like a poor man’s ‘La Femme Nikita.’

5. FANTASY ISLAND

Hollywood’s obsession with repackaging Gen-X childhoods continued with this absurd attempt to reboot the classic 1970′s TV series as a low-budget horror joint under the Blumhouse label. At a dangerously close two hour runtime, there was simply nothing interesting about the film’s characters or its inane plot about a mystical island that grants wishes (a’la ‘The Monkey’s Paw’). Our advice? Turn ‘de plane’ around if you ever plan to visit this ‘Fantasy Island.’

4. ARTEMIS FOWL

For every ‘Harry Potter’ that explodes into the public consciousness, there always seems to be a dozen or more failed franchises. Sadly, Disney’s ‘Artemis Fowl’ found itself in the latter category. Director Kenneth Branagh’s dull and superficial attempt to transfer this popular children’s book series from page to screen suffered from a lack of character development, an over-reliance in CG effects and featured a lifeless performance from newcomer Ferdia Shaw as the titular character. 

3. HUBIE HALLOWEEN (NETFLIX)

A month before last year’s Oscar nominations were released, Adam Sandler joked on ‘The Howard Stern Show’ that if the Academy snubbed him for his role in the film ‘Uncut Gems,’ he would make a movie “that [was] so bad on purpose.” And that’s exactly what happened. Supposedly a comedy, ‘Hubie Halloween’ was unfunny, disposable and completely devoid of any originality. Sadly for audiences, Sandler signed a four-movie deal with Netflix last year, worth up to $275 million - so we can expect to see more of this shit soon!

2. ALIEN ADDICTION

Aliens visit New Zealand and get high smoking human faeces? Someone should have advised Kiwi director Shae Sterling that audiences have moved on from such puerile comedies as this abomination. Suffice to say, if anybody ever admitted to finding this film remotely funny, they’d probably be outcast from society. An embarrassment to all those involved. 

1. THE BEACH BUM

Director Harmony Korine’s generic stoner comedy about a prolific poet who drifts through life in a drug-induced haze had all the natural high of an unfiltered, soggy joint and was easily, hands down, 2020′s worst film.

‘The Beach Bum’ was a pretentious and uninteresting movie whose lead character, considered to be an ‘artistic genius,’ was nothing more than a relentless shithead to everyone around him. As Moondog, the semi-naked, bongo-playing, pot-fuelled beat poet, Matthew McConaughey was insufferable and grating in his portrayal of a character you would quite easily want to punch in the face - repeatedly. Blazed and confused, ‘The Beach Bum’ had no plot, no class and no entertainment value whatsoever. 

MOVIE POSTERS

From the classic to the abstract, here is just a sample of some of the best poster designs from a highly unusual year of movies.

...AND FINALLY, WHEN WHEN IT COMES TO DIRE-LOG, THEY SAID WHAT!?

“I've never wanted anything more. But he's gone, and that's the truth. And everything has a price. One I'm not willing to pay. Not any more. This world was a beautiful place, just as it was, and you cannot have it all. You can only have the truth. And the truth is enough. The truth is beautiful” (’Wonder Woman 1984′).

And who could forget this little chestnut of advice...

“That is the only truth and truth is all there is. You cannot be the winner because you are not ready to win. And there is no shame in that. Only in knowing the truth in your heart and not accepting it. No true hero is born from lies” (’Wonder Woman 1984′).