The action series ‘Almost Paradise’ is returning for a second season to the ad-supported Amazon streaming service Freevee. The series is made by Electric Entertainment and returning as a midseason summer show.
“Amazon Freevee has released the official trailer for the second season of Almost Paradise and announced it will premiere July 21. All 10 episodes from the season will be available on premiere day exclusively on Freevee in the U.S. and UK. Christian Kane returns to star along with returning executive producers and co-showrunners, Dean Devlin and Gary Rosen,” Amazon said in a statement.
They added, “Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan-Wilson of Electric Entertainment executive produce alongside co-showrunners Devlin and Rosen. Mark Franco co-produces. The first season of Almost Paradise is available now on Freevee for viewers looking to catch up on Alex’s adventures.”
The series originally premiered on WGN America in the United States.
You can watch the trailer below:
Amazon describes the synopsis as follows,
“Kane is Alex Walker, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent forced into early retirement. The combination of his partner’s betrayal and a life-threatening battle with hypertension has sent him as far from the madness as he can get—to a small tropical island in the Philippine archipelago. He now runs the gift shop in the island’s luxury resort hotel, which attracts the rich, powerful, and sometimes criminal elite from around the world. Despite his best efforts to transition from Jason Bourne to Jimmy Buffett, Alex is pulled back into a world of dangerous people and deadly situations—either through his friends in the local police, Kai Mendoza (Samantha Richelle) and Ernesto Alamares (Art Acuña), or encounters with people from his old life. And the problem is that he likes it.”
The series was shot almost entirely in the nation of the Philippines.
Marvel Comics is bringing us a new pull list with a plethora of titles for readers to select. The Carol Corps are highlighted along with the villainous Carnage, the Spider-Verse, King T’Challa, and Captain America brings an end to the Cold War.
Marvel said on their website, “Likewise, CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR comes to an end with CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR OMEGA (2023) #1 by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Tochi Onyebuchi, and Carlos Magno. White Wolf has unleashed an army of Dimension Z monsters upon our world as a declaration of global war, and Team Cap’s only hope to stop it is to take him down for good. Meanwhile, Bucky Barnes deploys his final chess piece—Ian Rogers himself—to turn the situation in his favor. Lifelong friends battle alongside mortal enemies—and change the trajectory of their lives—in this stunning conclusion.”
They released the complete list online:
New Comics
BLACK PANTHER (2023) #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR OMEGA (2023) #1
CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #50
CARNAGE (2022) #14
CLOBBERIN’ TIME (2023) #4
COSMIC GHOST RIDER (2023) #4
DOCTOR STRANGE (2023) #4
EXTREME VENOMVERSE (2023) #3
MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE (2023) #1
MOON KNIGHT (2021) #24
PLANET OF THE APES (2023) #3
ROGUE & GAMBIT (2023) #4
SON OF ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS: MARVEL TALES (2023) #1
SPIDER-GWEN: SHADOW CLONES (2023) #4
SPIDER-MAN: INDIA (2023) #1
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER (2020) #35
STAR WARS: SANA STARROS (2023) #5
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) #27
THE X-CELLENT (2023) #4
VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR II (2023) #4
WOLVERINE (2020) #34
X-23: DEADLY REGENESIS (2023) #4
X-MEN RED (2022) #12
New Collections
BLACK PANTHER BY JOHN RIDLEY VOL. 3: ALL THIS AND THE WORLD, TOO TPB
LOKI: GOD OF STORIES OMNIBUS HC YILDIRIM COVER
MURDERWORLD TPB
THE UNCANNY X-MEN OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC OPENA COVER [NEW PRINTING]
THE UNCANNY X-MEN OMNIBUS VOL. 5 HC ROMITA JR. COVER
WOLVERINE BY BENJAMIN PERCY VOL. 5 TPB
X-FORCE EPIC COLLECTION: ARMAGEDDON NOW TPB
Marvel Unlimited
AVENGERS (2018) #66
BLACK PANTHER (2021) #15
BLOODLINE: DAUGHTER OF BLADE (2023) #2
FANTASTIC FOUR (2022) #5
MARY JANE & BLACK CAT (2022) #4
MOON KNIGHT (2021) #21
NIGHTCRAWLERS (2023) #2
PREDATOR (2023) #1
SCARLET WITCH (2023) #3
SILVER SURFER: GHOST LIGHT (2023) #2
STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS (2020) #32
STAR WARS: SANA STARROS (2023) #2
STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC (2022) #6
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) #21
X-23: FACSIMILE EDITION (2023) #1
X-MEN (2021) #20
All of these titles will be released on June 14th in both print or digital formats.
American fans of the anime ‘Teasing Master Takagi-san’ received some good news when it was announced that Sentai Filmworks would be bringing the film spin-off ‘Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie’ to the United States on the HiDive streaming service.
“The first official day of summer may be at the end of the month, but we don’t see that as a reason why we should wait until then to give you the Teasing Master Takagi-san movie. Besides, you’ve waited long enough. Save the date for June 18, 2023,” HiDive said on their website. The original Japanese version will be available with subtitles and the English dub will also be released.
‘Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie’ is directed by Hiroaki Akagi and produced by the Japanese entertainment studio Shin-Ei Animation. Toho Visual Entertainment distributed it to cinemas where it premiered as number six at the local box office.
“Takagi and Nishikata’s final summer in junior high is about to begin, and it’s already off to a heartwarming start! When the pair find an abandoned kitten, they decide to work together and take care of their adorable new companion until they can locate its missing mother.”
The film and anime are based on the manga ‘Teasing Master Takagi-san’ written and illustrated by Sōichirō Yamamoto. It has been published by the Japanese publisher Shogakukan since 2013 and has been serialized in the Monthly Shōnen Sunday since 2016. Yen Press publishes the stories in the United States.
The Avengers are assembling in a brand new way. Janet Van Dyne, the founding Avenger known as the Wasp, is forming a new team to hunt down criminals and rogues. Al Ewing has been announced as the writer while artist Leonard Kirk will handle the illustrations.
“60 years ago, Janet Van Dyne stood alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as they assembled for the very first time and named them the Avengers! Now, during the team’s milestone anniversary year, she’ll lead them into all-new territory in a brand-new AVENGERS title—AVENGERS INC,” Marvel said on their website.
“Together, Ewing and Kirk will introduce readers to a whole new style of Avenging. It kicks off with a deadly conspiracy rooted in the ghosts of the Avengers’ past that only founding Avenger Wasp can solve. But she won’t be alone as she finds a new partner in Victor Shade! This former alias of Vision mysteriously resurfaces just as Janet discovers a score of Super Villain murders. Will he guide Wasp to the truth or is his familiar guise hiding the very clues Janet needs to crack the case,” they continued.
The comic series will tie into the main Avengers title. While the line-up is unknown outside of Wasp, the cover features Vision in his Victor Shade form.
“Her name is Janet Van Dyne. She’s a hero. She’s a celebrity. She’s hunting a killer. His name is Victor Shade. He’s a villain. He’s an enigma. He just got killed. And together, they’re out to solve every mystery in the Marvel Universe…starting with their own,” they added.
Wasp was a founding member of the Avengers along with Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, and Ant-Man. She would be featured in several incarnations of the team and would have an on-again-off-again relationship with Hank Pym. At one point, she would take on the identity of Giant Woman.
After years of waiting, another company has started to produce storage expansion cards for the XBOX Series X|S. Western Digital is now competing with Seagate, and the company’s initial offerings are far more affordable than the competition. WD’s drives are priced at $79.99 and $149.99.
The downside is that the expansion cards are still relatively small when it comes to capacity. As of right now, Western Digital only offers 500GB and 1TB models. If you want 2TB, Seagate currently offers a card that is $279.99.
Like Seagate’s version, the Western Digital cards allow you to store and play games made specifically for the Series X without having to transfer them to the console’s internal storage:
“The WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox leverages the Xbox Velocity Architecture and delivers similar performance as your Xbox Series X|S internal storage for a seamless experience with your favorite games.”
What’s funny is that I reported on affordable memory back at the tail end of 2021. It took a year and a half from that point for us to finally get drives that were under $100. Meanwhile, affordable SSD expansion options have been available for the PlayStation 5 for some time. However, the process of adding a new drive to the PS5 requires the removal of a side panel rather than XBOX’s plug-and-play route.
At least we’re finally in a period where all versions of the competing consoles are easy to find in stores. Not only did the XBOX Series X|S and PS5 suffer from shortage, but scalpers made the situation much worse. Even the Seagate expansion cards for the XBOX were showing up on Facebook Marketplace at inflated prices: $800+ for the console and $300+ for the memory. Ugh.
Photo Credit: Western Digital
If you’re looking to move from Seagate to Western Digital, check out the new expansion card specs below:
1TB WDBMPH0010BNC
512GB WDBMPH5120ANC
Operating Temperature: 23°F to 131°F [-5°C to 55°C]
Non-Operating Temperature: -4°F to 185°F [-20°C to 85°C]
LENGTH: 55.6 mm | 2.19″
WIDTH: 31.6 mm | 1.24″
HEIGHT: 7.7 mm | 0.30″
WEIGHT (WITH CAP): 25.0g | 0.056 lbs
If you’ve already ordered the Spike VS Vicious statue, you may want to break out the wallet yet again because a brand new Cowboy Bebop statue has been announced! Faye Valentine, in her classic outfit, is set to debut in 2024!
Yes, this is one of those times that First4Figures is making multiple versions of a statue. Faye Valentine comes in a standard and “exclusive” edition. What is the difference between the two? Additional head and arm sculpts. To be fair, these changes do make a big difference depending on how you like to display your Faye.
The exclusive version of Faye ($269.99) comes with swappable heads and a right arm. Instead of holding a “totally not coke bottle,” she can now wield a submachine gun. The alternate head slightly changes her pose and adds shades over her eyes. That’s it. The price difference is a mere $20 for two extra parts.
Photo Credit: First4Figures
The exclusive edition of Faye Valentine includes the following:
Premium painted resin statue
Highly detailed base inspired by Cowboy Bebop’s art style
Limited edition numbering
Authentication card
Extra interchangeable right hand
Extra interchangeable head
Photo Credit: First4Figures
The standard statue has the following in the box:
Premium painted resin statue
Highly detailed base inspired by Cowboy Bebop’s art style
“First 4 Figures is proud to introduce their latest 1/8 scale resin statue collectible, Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop. Faye Valentine is a sultry and mysterious member of the Bebop crew. Her beauty and sharp wit make her an asset to the team, despite her occasional selfishness and trust issues. Faye’s past is a mystery, but her loyalty and tough attitude help her face danger on their intergalactic bounty hunting missions.”
Speaking of Cowboy Bebop, remember when the Netflix live-action adaptation was a thing? Yeah. Hard to believe that the trainwreck really happened. Even the anime’s creator, Shinichiro Watanabe, said it was a chore to sit through. Oh, and the actress playing totally-not-Faye lashed out at fans of the original and her animated counterpart’s outfit. Big oof.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (review) is officially out, but the collectibles so far have been … meh. Hasbro’s offerings right now are lackluster, but thankfully Threezero is making up for this by producing a brand new, highly detailed Bumblebee action figure.
Hasbro Pulse is currently taking pre-orders for the 8″ tall, $169.99 Bumblebee. At first glance, that price tag may be a bit of a turnoff, but I can attest to the quality of these figures. I’ve had the opportunity to inspect a few of Threezero’s Transformers offerings this past year, and they’re certainly worth that chunk of change.
Sadly, these figures do not transform, but lacking that feature means you’re going to get a more screen-accurate robot mode in this Autobot. Along with 60 points of articulation, the fan-favorite Transformer has a die-cast metal frame and multiple LED-lit pieces.
Bumblebee is expected to ship next February. However, if you want Bumblebee sooner, check out Threezero’s G1-inspired action figure.
Photo Credit: Threezero
“DLX Collectible Figures present intricate Transformers designs in a smaller scale with high-fidelity production value. With its unique die-cast metal frame design, DLX not only provides an advanced range of articulation, but also greatly enhances the weight and durability. Together with the detailed and weathered paint application of threezero, a remarkable resemblance is achieved in matching the characters as seen in the original media.”
Officially Licensed by Hasbro and TakaraTomy
Approximately 8 inches (~23.2cm) tall
Approximately 60 points of articulation
Detailed and weathered paint application
Die-cast Metal frame design with an advanced range of articulation
LED illuminated eyes, Ion Blaster, Battle Head Eyes
One (1) pc of interchangeable Battle Head
One (1) pair of Ion Blasters
Four (3) pairs of interchangeable hands: one (1) pair of fists, one (1) pair of relaxed hands, and one (1) pair of action hands
For those who love playing games on their Xbox consoles or through Xbox Game Pass, there was plenty of interesting reveals at the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase. Despite E3 being canceled this year, that didn’t mean Xbox gamers wouldn’t be getting a look at the future of Xbox gaming. Whether you’re booting things up on your Xbox Series X or playing Xbox on your PC, the rest of 2023 and 2024 is going to be filled with new games for you to get excited about. A variety of world premieres and looks at highly anticipated games allowed for a solid presentation from Xbox.
The showcase began with a big bang, showing the first look at Playground Games’ upcoming Fable game. It’s been a long time since the announcement of Fable, with little to no details known up till now. Much like the early releases of the series, this Fable continues the goofy humor that many fans love. A little bit of combat and interactions between characters showcased the game’s fantasy setting, with a few getting hit by fire magic. While there was no release date or window given for the game, the trailer did promise that Fable would be available for everyone on Xbox Game Pass on day 1.
The presentation also gave some spotlight to the new Cyberpunk 2077 extra content and Obsidian’s next game, Avowed. Cyberpunk 2077 had actor Keanu Reeves introduce a look at the game’s new DLC, which is featuring Idris Alba in the story expansion. Avowed was revealed to have a 2024 release window, with it being available on Xbox Game Pass and consoles.
A big reveal for the showcase was the reveal trailer for Star Wars: Outlaws from Massive Entertainment. The game is set in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, with a story focused on two new characters Kay and Nix. The two of them are part of the underworld, trying to survive in a galaxy in disarray with the Rebellion and Galactic Empire at war. The game is planned for a 2024 release window and is the first open-world Star Wars game that will allow players to explore multiple locations within a galaxy far, far away.
Persona 3 Reload was also officially revealed in the showcase. Despite the game being leaked out by ATLUS through their social media pages, Persona 3 Reload finally got a chance to get the spotlight officially and show players how Persona 3 is getting revitalized. The visuals and gameplay of Persona 3 Reload are similar to that of ATLUS’ most recent game of the series, Persona 5, with a remixed soundtrack that will cater to old fans and definitely bring in some new ones. In addition, Persona 5 Tactica also got a chance to be officially revealed to the public, which is a tactics-style RPG taking place within the setting of Persona 5. Persona 5 Tactica is slated for a November 14th release, while Persona 3 Reload is planned for an early 2024 release. Both will be available for Xbox Game Pass on day 1.
While multiple games smaller games were shown and others were revealed to be getting new content, one big showing was for the sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will be coming out for Xbox Series X and PC in 2024. The trailer showed a bit of gameplay that had Senua facing a dark force in a cavern, before being pulled underwater. If you’ve played the original Hellblade, you’ll be familiar with how the visuals and audio cues of the game play a big part in Senua’s story.
Capcom revealed a brand new game called Kunitsu Gami: Path of the Goddess. It’s an action game with horror elements that is reminiscent of games like Onimusha and Okami but with some kaleidoscope imagery. There’s definitely a big influence from mythology for some of the creatures and characters that are shown in the trailer, with action that seems fast-paced and suspenseful. No release date was given in the trailer, but the game is coming to Xbox Series consoles and Xbox Game Pass.
The Xbox Game Showcase then closed off with the reveal of a new game called Clockwork Revolution. For some, the visuals of the game reminded them of titles like Bioshock Infinite with its steam-powered technology being a big part of the environment. The trailer had an ominous narration that talked about time while many hostile robots and firefights were shown. No release date was given in the trailer, other than saying it was coming in due time, followed by confirmation that Clockwork Revolution would be available on day 1 on Xbox Game Pass.
Following the showcase was a presentation of Starfield from Bethesda, which happened to get a quick trailer earlier in the show. But the showcase for the game was much more detailed than what the trailer had shown, allowing players to get a deep look at nearly every important aspect of Starfield. Everything from combat, dialogue with characters, types of weapons, crafting items, space travel, and more were featured. Bethesda emphasized just how much freedom players have with approaching situations and how vast the game would be, especially with the story that will play out. The game can be played in either first-person or third-person, with so many aspects being customizable and deep in many aspects. There’s a lot to the game that players will eventually have to discover themselves when they finally get a chance to play it on September 6th.
What do you think of all the announcements and reveals from the Xbox Games Showcase? Are you excited about all the new games you’ll be able to play on Xbox consoles and PC? Share all of your thoughts down below in the comment section!
During the Xbox Games Showcase hosted in Los Angeles, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment finally revealed the Star Wars game they’ve been making. Star Wars: Outlaws is the first open-world Star Wars game that will be released for Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC. While other Star Wars games have had large environments to explore and partake in a story, Massive Entertainment’s game looks to drop players within a dynamic world set within the Star Wars galaxy. The game is planned for a 2024 release.
Star Wars: Outlaws takes place during the time between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The story of the game follows a scoundrel named Kay Vess and her small companion Nix. The two of them team up with a BX-commando battle droid for a heist that will set the two of them off on a new life away from the underworld. Kay looks to have characteristics reminiscent of Han Solo and many other members of the galactic underworld we’ve come to see in various Star Wars media. Kay’s story plays out as the Rebel Alliance battles the Empire for control of the galaxy, whether she will cross paths with the Rebellion or Imperial forces is yet unknown. Kay also meets a man named Jaylen, who appears on her ship and appears to have a rocky interaction.
One interesting thing in the reveal trailer is the sight of multiple Star Wars planets that Kay and Nix will be going to. Star Wars: Outlaws promises to let players travel to multiple locations, showing Kay’s ship and a collection of places she’ll visit. Some of the shots within the trailer look to have elements of Star Wars planets like Tatooine, Coruscant, Naboo, and possibly Bespin or Kamino. A few frames also show some of the aliens that Kay will come across, including the infamous Rancor that many Star Wars fans will recognize. Could it possibly mean that Kay and Nix will meet up with Jabba the Hutt, since the infamous vile gangster is alive during this timeframe? The trailer doesn’t seem to give any answers.
Julian Gerighty, the creative director at Massive Entertainment, spoke with StarWars.com about the reveal trailer and what fans should be ready to see within their game. “It’s a dream come true to be able to collaborate with the team at Lucasfilm Games to create Star Wars Outlaws, the first open-world Star Wars game… Our team at Massive Entertainment has a great deal of experience in open-world games backed by strong technology, and it’s the perfect time to tell an original scoundrel story that will resonate with fans. With the Galactic Empire on the heels of the Rebel Alliance, and the criminal underworld thriving, an outlaw like Kay Vess has a whole galaxy of opportunity in front of her.”
While the Xbox Games Showcase gave us our first look at Star Wars: Outlaws, many have speculated that we’ll see more during the Ubisoft Forward presentation in the following week. But despite a great reception, Star Wars Outlaws might be in an early stage where gameplay might not be ready to be shown to the public. So we’ll have to be patient for when Massive Entertainment completes its work on making this Star Wars game something exciting for fans.
Are you excited to see more from Star Wars: Outlaws? What do you think will happen in the story of the game with Kay and Nix? Share your thoughts about everything in the comments down below!
Saxophonist, activist, and feminist María Elena Ríos has accused actor Tenoch Huerta of being a sexual predator. Huerta recently joined the MCU as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The accusations were outlined at Reforma, and we spotted them thanks to Cosmic Book News and Twitter.
The accusations came out when Ríos made public she did not want to be associated with the anti-racism group Poder Prieto, claiming she was not paid for a podcast she allegedly took part in.
Ríos’s tweets are in Spanish, so we’ll include links to the original tweets and quote the translations below.
Oye MARCA de @poderprieto_mx NO TIENEN CONSENTIMIENTO en difundir un material que no me quisieron pagar y que así como este, en varios me explotaron para trabajarles gratis.
“THEY DO NOT HAVE CONSENT to disseminate a material that they did not want to pay me and that, like this, in several they exploited me to work for them for free. They don’t learn do they? Apart from being violent for defending the PREDATOR from @TenochHuerta, exploiters.”
Les dejé muy claro a mi salida de su secta que protege al violentador y DEPREDADOR sexual de @TenochHuerta que no publicaran nada de mí. Todavía fueron a buscarme a un concierto bola de hipócritas para evitar escándalos por su película de @MarvelLATAM.
“I made it very clear to them when I left their sect that they protect the violator and sexual PREDATOR of @TenochHuerta that they not publish anything about me. They still went to look for me at a hypocritical ball concert to avoid scandals over their @MarvelLATAM movie.”
“¿Y por qué no denunciaste?”
Dicen los que viven en un país machista, donde la justicia es inalcanzable donde casi te matan y ni aún así te creen ni llega la justicia.
• Y no, no quiero ser famosa. • Y no, no quiero dinero porque sé trabajar.
“It is very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved in the world for playing a character in a movie like @TenochHuerta Charming in appearance, the great hallmark of a narcissist + a good helping of victimization.“
“They say those who live in a macho country, where justice is unattainable where they almost kill you and still they don’t believe you or justice comes.
• And no, I don’t want to be famous.
• And no, I don’t want money because I know how to work.”
The details of Tenoch Huerta’s alleged crimes are nowhere to be found, and Ríos has not commented further on her statements since early this morning. However, according to La Verdad, This isn’t the first time Huerta has been accused. In 2019 the actor was called out during the MeToo movement for allegedly sexually harassing someone on a Skype call.
It should not have to be said, but since we live in an age where a story travels faster than the truth, please wait for more information before making judgments on Tenoch Huerta or anyone involved. That includes Jonathan Majors, who was also accused of abuse.
