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The Incredible Hulk Enters The “Age of Monsters” In Marvel Comics Relaunch

Comic Books

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March 9, 2023

The Incredible Hulk Enters The “Age of Monsters” In Marvel Comics Relaunch

Bruce Banner and his alter ego the Hulk are returning to a solo comic book series relaunch of The Incredible Hulk from Marvel Entertainment. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Alien) and artist Nic Klein (Thor) are in the driver’s seat for the run which will see Hulk battling monsters in order to survive.

“The Age of Monsters has begun, and the only being who can stop a legion of the world’s most depraved creatures from overtaking the Marvel Universe is the INCREDIBLE HULK,” Marvel said on their website. “Enter this horror-fueled new era of the strongest there is when writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Nic Klein relaunch INCREDIBLE HULK this June.”

“As an enraged Hulk tries to take control of Bruce Banner’s body permanently, a mysterious immortal turns every monster in the Marvel Universe against Banner in an attempt to free their creator, the primordial Mother of Horrors. With the help of an unlikely new friend, Banner and Hulk must try to stop the world from getting plunged into darkness,” Marvel added.

Marvel plans on teasing the new series in the upcoming Hulk Annual, which will be available on May 17, 2023.

They also released a “first look” at the cover by Klein:

First look at the cover of INCREDIBLE HULK #1 coming in June! pic.twitter.com/nIet9NL05H

— Jukt Micronics (@JuktMicronicsX) March 9, 2023

Johnson expressed his excitement for the project, saying in a statement, “The significance that we’re finally bringing back the classic title INCREDIBLE HULK is not lost on me. It’s a tremendous honor, and Nic and I have the clearest possible vision for what we want to do with this story.”

“Nic Klein is a genius, and working with him is pushing me to write a story worthy of his very best,” he continued.

Klein agreed, “Phillip and I put a big serving of monsters, a bit of eldritch gods, a good dash of suspense, and some cool new characters into the cauldron.” He added, “We’re trying to serve up a Hulk the readers haven’t seen before. And if they like it half as much as I’m enjoying drawing it, they’re gonna love it.”

The Incredible Hulk #1 is set to debut at comic book shops on June 21, 2023.

King Tut, Batboat, And Wayne Manor Coming To McFarlane’s Batman ’66 Toyline

Mike Phalin

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March 9, 2023

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King Tut, Batboat, And Wayne Manor Coming To McFarlane’s Batman ’66 Toyline

More wonderful Batman toys! I wasn’t sure if McFarlane Toys would keep this line going, but here we are with more vehicles, characters, and playsets!

Coming soon, Batman and Robin can take to the water with the Batboat. It’s unclear if the sea vessel will float in water, but it looks great. Also, lIt’ll probably be affordable like the Batmobile, which is very welcome by us collectors right now.

Photo Credit: McFarlane Toys

Finally! King Tut! I never thought we’d get Egghead and King Tut, but here we are. I can’t wait for McFarlane Toys to release army-builder figures like nameless goons!

“William Omaha McElroy, highly respected professor of Egyptology at Yale University, was struck in the head by a rock during a violent student protest. When he awoke, McElroy believed himself to be the legendary King Tutankhamun reincarnated, and Gotham City the ancient city of Thebes.”

This latest wave includes a surprising appearance of Two-Face. Harvey Dent’s evil half didn’t appear in the original Batman ’66 series. He did pop up in later comics and an animated adventure based on the show’s universe. Harvey doesn’t come with the BIFF, POW, or ZAM accessories, unlike other action figures in this series. Instead, the duality-obsessed villain is packing an assumedly 1:1 replica of his infamous two-headed coin.

“Harvey Dent has led a deeply conflicted life. Possessing a split personality that veers between two extremes—good and evil— Dent goes by the name of Two-Face. It is an apt description of his physical appearance. Scarred by acid into outwardly becoming the monster he once hid away from the world, Two-Face has become a tragic figure and one of Batman’s most unpredictable and dangerous opponents.”

The Wayne Manor playset is a great addition for those of us who purchased the Batcave released last year. The Manor’s study has the Shakespear bust, Batphone, and the bat poles hidden behind the bookcase. Too bad it cannot attach itself to the top of the Batcave playset.

[Source: McFarlane Toys]

Topol of Flash Gordon and James Bond Fame Has Passed Away

Mike Phalin

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March 9, 2023

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Topol of Flash Gordon and James Bond Fame Has Passed Away

Actor Chaim Topol, better known simply by his last name, passed away today. Topol was widely known for two iconic roles: Dr. Hans Zarkov in Mike Hodges’s Flash Gordon feature film and as the pious Tevye in the big screen adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof.

According to Variety, Topol had been battling Alzheimer’s disease. At 87, the beloved actor passed into the great beyond while staying in Tel Aviv. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, validated the sad news. In a kind statement, Herzog said the late actor was a gifted man “who conquered many stages in Israel and overseas, filled the cinema screens with his presence and especially entered deep into our hearts.”

Like many kids of the 1980s, I was first introduced to Topol via his performance as the slightly unhinged Dr. Zarkov. In a cast full of people with prominent personalities, Topol was right up there with Brian Blessed, commanding your attention whenever on screen.

Years before Flash Gordon, Topol starred in thousands of Fiddler On The Roof stage performances, along with its 1971 screen adaptation. He played the loving but strictly religious father named Tevye, someone so different from Zarkov. In fact, Topol’s turn as Tevye may be considered the gold standard for anyone who takes on the role, as I’ve seen quite a few actors try to imitate his performance over the years.

The late actor also spent some time opposite Roger Moore in the 007 James Bond universe. A year after Flash Gordon was released, Topol appeared in For Your Eyes Only as reformed smuggler Milos Columbo. As expected, Columbo is just as charismatic as Topol’s other characters. Sadly, this was a one-off role, and the character never returned to the series.

When did you first see Topol in action? Was it in Flash Gordon like many of us? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Source: Variety]

Unique Playdate Handheld Devices Gets New Games And Price Hike

Mike Phalin

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March 9, 2023

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Unique Playdate Handheld Devices Gets New Games And Price Hike

Remember the Playdate? It looked like a squat yellow Game Boy but had a crank handle on the side. Don’t worry; until a recent Ars Technica article popped up, I, too, had forgotten about the system.

The monochrome console launched last year to good reviews, and if you wanted to pick up a Playdate, now would be the time. Why? Because the console is about to jump up in price.

The next batch of Playdate consoles is set to hit the market at the end of 2023, but the pre-order price of $179 will only be good until April 7th. After that, prospective buyers will have to pay $199. According to Ars Technica, the reason for the upcharge is “because our factory recently gave us the inevitable news that in 2023, the price of building a single Playdate is going up.”

This isn’t entirely surprising since nearly everything from insurance premiums to groceries have rocketed up 10-20% in the past twelve months. At least the system is delivering new games on a regular basis, with the newest catalog being updated as of yesterday.

So if you’re on the fence about spending almost $200 for something that only plays black-and-white indie games, check out the video below to see if any of those titles look like they’re worth your cash:

We covered the Playdate before its original release quite a while ago. Since then, it’s flown under the radar, although it has been getting decent reviews. It’s just a very niche product. The first 12 weeks after the Playdate launched, owners were to get two new titles each week. So, six months on, how is the quirky handheld doing?

According to some YouTubers, the platform needs some killer apps and a better storefront. However, there’s still quite a bit of positivity surrounding the Playdate. It seems you have to be really into weird controls or super interested in indie games.

What do you think about the Playdate? Let us know below.

[Source: Ars Technica]

Hasbro Announces New Transformers Cybertron Video Game Toys

Mike Phalin

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March 9, 2023

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Hasbro Announces New Transformers Cybertron Video Game Toys

The Transformers Studio Series is returning to the High Moon Studios Cybertron games by announcing three new “Gamer Edition” figures. You may have a hard time finding the XBOX 360 and PS3 versions of these great 3rd person shooters, but Hasbro is bringing the in-game designs back this Summer.

The first three figures in the Gamer Edition of the Studio Series include Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Barricade. No Megatron or Soundwave? I don’t even remember Barricade being in the two Cybertron games. OK then.

Prime is priced at $34.99, while Barricade and Bumblebee are $24.99 each. Wave 1 will launch in July.

Transformers Studio Series — Photo Credit: Hasbro Pulse

Optimus Prime comes with the following:

6.5-INCH SCALE OPTIMUS PRIME: Transformers Studio Series 03 Gamer Edition Optimus Prime action figure for boys and girls is highly articulated for posability and features video game-inspired deco and details
2 ICONIC MODES: This Voyager Class Transformers toy for 8 year old boys and girls features classic conversion between robot and Cybertronian truck modes in 22 steps
AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with axe, 2 axe handle pieces, blaster, and Matrix of Leadership accessories. Swap out the figure’s hand and attach weapons as arm attachments
REMOVABLE BACKDROP: Removable backdrop displays Optimus Prime figure in the Kaon Prison Break scene. Fans can use the backdrop and pose their figures in the scene with their own style

The small yet heroic Bumblebee comes with:

4.5-INCH SCALE BUMBLEBEE: Transformers Studio Series 01 Gamer Edition Bumblebee action figure for boys and girls is highly articulated for posability and features video game-inspired deco and details
2 ICONIC MODES: This Deluxe Class Transformers toy for 8 year old boys and girls features classic conversion between robot and Cybertronian car modes in 22 steps
AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with 2 blasters and a sword accessory attach to the Bumblebee figure in both modes. Swap out the figure’s hand and attach either blaster as arm attachments
REMOVABLE BACKDROP: Removable backdrop displays Bumblebee figure in the Defend Iacon scene. Fans can use the backdrop and pose their figures in the scene with their own style

Barricade may not look super impressive, but his vehicle mode is interesting. Like the Autobots in this line, he’ll come with a backdrop and the following:

4.5-INCH SCALE BARRICADE: Transformers Studio Series 02 Gamer Edition Barricade action figure for boys and girls is highly articulated for posability and features video game-inspired deco and details
2 ICONIC MODES: This Deluxe Class Transformers toy for 8 year old boys and girls features classic conversion between robot and Cybertronian car modes in 15 steps
AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with a blaster accessory attaches to the Barricade figure in both modes. Swap out the figure’s hand and attach the blaster as a weapon arm attachment

I’m getting concerned about how cheap these figures are starting to look. We see the prices inch upward, but I don’t think the new premium is reflected in the final product. Of the three, Bumblebee is the best looking, while Prime could use a few more paint applications here and there.

[Source: Hasbro Pulse]

These 1:6 ‘Halloween III’ Figures Reflect Conal Cochran’s Victory

Mike Phalin

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March 9, 2023

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These 1:6 ‘Halloween III’ Figures Reflect Conal Cochran’s Victory

Millions of children, for whatever reason, all wanted one of three Silver Shamrock masks one year. So on Halloween night, they went about trick-or-treating, unaware that the badge adhered to their costume hid an ancient and deadly secret. Only one man could save the children … but did he?

Halloween III: Season of the Witch ended on a cliffhanger. Odds are the film’s hero failed because it would have been impossible to pull down all of the Silver Shamrock “magic pumpkin” TV spots across the US. All those kids met horrible fates. Although we only saw one youngster’s demise during the film, we never got to see what the other two masks would look like when activated.

Trick Or Treat Studios is giving us a little insight into the gruesome demise that may have occurred to those vast number of skeleton, pumpkin, and witch costume fans. The company plans to release a set of three figures in a 1:6 scale this May. Each costumed figure will come with an alternate “activated” head complete with whatever foulness Cochran had in store for the youth of America.

The action figures come with soft goods costumes and over 30 points of articulation.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch — Photo Credit: Trick Or Treat Studios

Here’s what you’re getting in the box:

Witch Trick or Treater Figure in screen-accurate clothing.
Skeleton Trick or Treater Figure in screen-accurate clothing.
Pumpkin Trick or Treater Figure in screen-accurate clothing.
3 Additional Melting Mask heads (1 for each figure)
Additional Hands 4 per figure.

We last covered this studio’s offerings when the Killer Klowns From Outer Space figures were announced.

Do you think Dr. Challis managed to save at least a few kids on the night no one came home? Let us know down below!

[Source: Trick Or Treat Studios]

Prime Video Drops Trailer For Spy Thriller ‘Citadel’

Jacob Airey

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March 8, 2023

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Prime Video Drops Trailer For Spy Thriller ‘Citadel’

‘Citadel’ is an upcoming spy thriller series that will debut on the Amazon streaming service Prime Video. Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas are set to star in the show as members of an elite spy network. Months after the project was announced, Amazon Studios dropped a trailer for the espionage drama series.

“Prime Video debuted the high-octane official trailer for the upcoming epic spy-thriller series Citadel. The first season of the groundbreaking global series consists of six-episodes with two episodes premiering April 28 on Prime Video,” they said in a statement.

You can watch the trailer below:

The series also stars Stanley Tucci as Bernard Orlick, Lesley Manville as Dahlia Archer, Osy Ikhile as Carter Spence, Ashleigh Cummings as Abby Conroy, Roland Møller as Anders Silje and Davik Silje, and Caoilinn Springall as Hendrix Conroy.

Amazon Studios describes the series as follows,

“Eight years ago, Citadel fell. The independent global spy agency—tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people—was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, elite agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts. Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason seeks out his former partner, Nadia, and the two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love.”

‘Citadel’ is a joint production between Amazon Studios and the Russo Brother’s film studio AGBO.

Robert De Niro Tapped For Netflix Thriller ‘Zero Day’

Celebrity News

Jacob Airey

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March 8, 2023

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Robert De Niro Tapped For Netflix Thriller ‘Zero Day’

Netflix has cast ‘GoodFellas’ actor Robert De Niro to star in their upcoming conspiracy theory thriller ‘Zero Day’ as well as serve as an executive producer. This will be the first time that De Niro will work as a producer for a television series.

“Netflix announced today the new limited series Zero Day, a conspiracy thriller from Creator / Executive Producer Eric Newman under his Grand Electric Productions deal with Netflix, and Creator / Executive Producer Noah Oppenheim,” the streaming service said in a press release. “Robert De Niro stars and executive produces in his first TV series.”

All six episodes of the miniseries will be directed by Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland, Mad Men, Love & Death) who will also be an executive producer.

Newman said in a statement, “I am a lifelong fan of Robert De Niro. To have him as a producing partner and star in this show is beyond my wildest dreams. And Lesli Linka Glatter has directed so many of my favorite episodes of television; she was our clear first choice to direct this show. I am grateful to Netflix for their continued faith and support and thrilled to be in business with the amazing creative team of Noah, Lesli, and Jonathan on this timely (and terrifying) series.”

“Zero Day is a shrewd, heart-pounding conspiracy thriller that will keep audiences at the edge of their seat. What an honor to have this A-list caliber of talent assembled, led by the iconic Robert De Niro and brought to life by the unrivaled talents of Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, Lesli Linka Glatter and Michael S. Schmidt,” Netflix exec Peter Friedlander added.

De Niro is also set to star in the upcoming film ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ with frequent collaborator director Martin Scorsese.

Netflix describes the film, by noting, “Zero Day asks the question on everyone’s mind — how do we find truth in a world in crisis, one seemingly being torn apart by forces outside our control? And in an era rife with conspiracy theory and subterfuge, how much of those forces are products of our own doing, perhaps even of our own imagining?”

Super7’s Dungeons & Dragons ReAction Figures Are Coming!

Mike Phalin

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March 8, 2023

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Super7’s Dungeons & Dragons ReAction Figures Are Coming!

Super7’s ReAction figures are finally entering the world of Dungeons & Dragons!

Taking inspiration from the LJN line from decades past, Super7’s initial wave of action figures genuinely looks like something we’d expect to see on a toy shelf in the 1980s. An Efreeti, a Githyanki, and a Sorceress are now up for pre-order at $20 each.

Each of the three characters features card back artwork taken from the classic days of Dungeons & Dragons. The Fiend Folio cover by Emmanuel brings back a lot of memories. Maybe we’ll see a translucent variant of a Githyanki in the future. Give the Efreeti the same treatment with glow-in-the-dark red plastic, too, Super7!

The Dungeons & Dragons figures are expected to ship in June of this year.

Dungeons and Dragons — Photo Credit: Super7

Super7 aims for fans of the ’80s LJN Official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons toy line. Unlike other action figure collections of the time, AD&D didn’t focus on gimmicks; rather, it tried to give kids an extensive array of heroes and villains to choose from, all with vastly different looks and sizes. This was a far cry from what Mattel was doing (reusing the same parts repeatedly in the Masters of the Universe line).

The problem with this now four-decade-old LJN venture was that they were hard to find in stores. I only came upon them closer to the late 1980s when they’d be in discount bins at K-B Toys or Lionel Playworld. By that time, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze was in full swing.

You can learn more about the weird split in the merchandising strategies by checking out Retro Blasting’s video below:

Speaking of classic Dungeons & Dragons, Hasbro recently announced the next wave of D&D cartoon figures.

[Source: Super7]

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Kevin Feige Movies Get Shelved By Lucasfilm

Jakejames Lugo

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March 8, 2023

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Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Kevin Feige Movies Get Shelved By Lucasfilm

Fans of a galaxy far, far away have been constantly asking when they will see the release of a new Star Wars movie in theaters. Despite things happening on Disney Plus with The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch getting a new season, as well as Ahsoka coming down the line, fans want to see a brand-new movie from Lucasfilm. A lot of chatter surrounding the Patty Jenkins-directed Rogue Squadron and untitled Star Wars film produced by Kevin Feige gave hope to those waiting for a Star Wars theatrical release. But it looks like things have changed according to a new report published by the entertainment outlet Variety.

The article published by Variety gives details on Kevin Feige’s Star Wars movie being shelved, while also stating that the Rogue Squadron movie was also shelved. Lucasfilm announced that Patty Jenkins would direct the (at the time) upcoming Star Wars Rogue Squadron movie back in December 2020, with a special video to commemorate the announcement. Patty went into great detail about how much being part of the film meant to her because of her late father who was a fighter pilot.

However, Variety has sources close to the film’s development said the Rogue Squadron movie was no longer in active development at the studio. This comes after Disney removed the movie from its December 2023 schedule, causing many to question the status of Rogue Squadron going forward. The outlet also stated that Lucasfilm did not respond to their request for comment.

In the same report, Variety revealed they had also learned through their sources that the Kevin Feige Star Wars movie was also not in active development. The film was not titled since news broke out about Kevin Feige’s involvement back in September 2019. Variety was told by Michael Waldron, screenwriter for Doctor Strange 2, back in May 2022 that he was working on a Star Wars screenplay for Kevin Feige’s film. But months later Waldron was hired to write the screenplay for “Avengers: Secret Wars” over at Marvel, leading many to speculate that the MCU would take away the attention of Kevin Feige from Star Wars.

The Variety article goes on to detail other Star Wars projects from Lucasfilm, including the untitled Star Wars movie being made by Taika Waititi. While no specific details about the film are currently known, Variety has reason to believe Taika would play a part in the film he is making, similar to some of his previous film releases like Jojo Rabbit. Star Wars will need to be patient for any details about this movie however since no clear release window or timeframe was ever given for it.

Another project mentioned by Variety is a possible film by director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. While no confirmation has been made by Lucasfilm yet, it is said to have Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson (Watchmen and Counterpart respectively) attached to write the script. Unfortunately, no other details about the movie are known. Not even if Lucasfilm is keen to move forward with the film or not.

While the Variety article leaves many more questions, Star Wars fans are going to be looking towards the upcoming Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London for answers. Speculation about the event has led some to believe that more will be revealed about upcoming Star Wars movies, alongside other surprises that may involve the Star Wars Disney Plus shows. Who knows what Lucasfilm has planned, we can only hope everything will lead to a lot of excitement for Star Wars in the future.

Are you interested in new Star Wars movies getting made by Lucasfilm? Disappointed to hear the news about Rogue Squadron and the Kevin Feige film? Leave us a comment down below and let us know your thoughts about everything!

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