The trailer for the highly anticipated Avengers: Infinity War is finally out and it did not disappoint! Marvel fans have waited for an entire decade for this showdown, so it is no surprise that some people felt emotional after watching the trailer. People even posted trailer reactions on YouTube, and a lot of them are similar to when people saw the first Avengers movie five years ago. For a dose of nostalgia, you can look back when Good Comic Books covered the Avengers teaser trailer.

Let’s recap: Avengers: Infinity War reunites the Avengers to face their most powerful enemy yet, Thanos. The Mad Titan is on a mission to collect six Infinity stones to further his plans of inflicting his will on reality. Based on the trailer, Thanos already has two of the stones, and it seems like he will successfully procure the third one from Vision.

While several fans shed tears for Avengers: Infinity War, there were also those who noticed other things. Many enthusiasts pointed out Thanos’ ridiculous new look, which Polygon mentioned as the subject of new memes. These include face swaps with Homer Simpson and Hank Hill from King of the Hill, while others showed Thanos with Photoshopped hats.

Meanwhile, other people have opened up discussions on which Avenger will be saying goodbye after the climax. Plus, MCU Exchange revealed that there has been a casting call for mourners, which spurred the rumours of an Avenger’s death even further. While fans are quite confident about the idea that Vision will not make it, popular theories also cite the end of either Iron Man or Captain America, mainly because the contracts of both actors have already reached their due.

The Avengers: Infinity War has definitely got everyone talking. In fact, Variety claims that all of social media was ablaze with conversations on the topic. In its first week alone, the trailer has generated around 500,000 new conversations on social media, surpassing the 208,000 conversations made by another highly anticipated film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Of course, Marvel Studios is no stranger to creating social media buzz. Earlier this year, two funny offbeat promotional videos for Thor: Ragnarok were released on Marvel Entertainment’s official YouTube account. These Team Thor clips showed a glimpse of Thor’s whereabouts during the events of Captain America: Civil War. Apparently, he’s just bunking in with a guy named Darryl, who is not exactly fond of his presence.

Thor and the rest of the Avengers are highly responsible for the world’s current fixation on superhero movies. With the introduction of a shared cinematic universe, comic book fans always have a new movie to look forward to every year. It is uncertain when the mainstream audience will move on from the superhero craze, but it can be said with certainty that it’s not any time soon. This is because many companies have already joined the superhero bandwagon or are scrambling to incorporate their own superhero themes. For instance, Universal Studios has introduced its own shared cinematic universe starring universal monsters like the Mummy, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and more.

Video game creators are also adopting comic book characters and some even write their own original storylines. Batman: The Telltale Series is one example of a game that features a fresh narrative that is not tied to the comics. Meanwhile, other titles display flexibility by taking inspiration from sources tied to the famous superheroes of today’s generation. Take the case of Thunderstruck that’s hosted on games portal Slingo, which was based on the Norse God of Thunder. The design elements are reminiscent of the Marvel counterpart, even though there have been numerous representations of the deity throughout history. This creates a juxtapose effect considering that, technically speaking, the two are different characters. At any rate, the present hype surrounding comic book characters are affecting even other creations that only share a few resemblances, whether directly or otherwise.

Ultimately, it’s proof that the phenomenon is not likely to die down soon, especially with hundreds more characters not having their chance to shine yet. But through the capability of social media to put topics and/or people (including fictional ones) on the limelight, discussions like the conversations about the Avengers will become more common.

As for today though, all eyes are on the beloved all-star team of Marvel. Avengers: Infinity War is slated for release on April 27, 2018.

For comic book fans, some of the biggest news of the past year was that Ben Affleck would take up the role of Batman in the next Man Of Steel film. The news of a Superman-Batman collaboration alone was fairly explosive on its own. And following a relatively brief period of speculation on who might take up the role of the Caped Crusader, the Affleck news set the Internet ablaze for weeks.

So, what exactly has Affleck signed on for? Is it a good idea with the potential to launch a successful franchise? Is it a disaster waiting to happen and an insult to Christopher Nolan’s incredible Dark Knight trilogy? Our thoughts on these questions and more are below!

What Has Ben Affleck Agreed To?

Right now, no one is 100 percent sure what Affleck’s agreement to play Batman entails. What we know for certain is that Affleck will play the Caped Crusader—likely in a somewhat limited role—in the 2015 follow-up to Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel film. However, the International Business Times recently speculated that Affleck’s agreement may go well beyond 2015, encompassing a fresh Batman trilogy as well as additional follow-ups and collaborations with Superman. Wow.

Is Ben Affleck The Right Man For The Job?

When Ben Affleck was announced as the next Batman—even after Argo launched him to a new career peak—most fans were immediately up in arms. But now that the dust has settled a bit, it seems as if the real outrage was in anyone playing Batman so quickly after Nolan’s franchise concluded. Affleck himself may be a pretty decent pick, though, in the end.

To begin with, he’s exactly the right physical type, and he’s also been hitting the gym even more lately to beef up. But going beyond that, Affleck has demonstrated the kind of quiet, brooding strength that defines Batman. He can also pull off the boisterous arrogance that can at times represent Bruce Wayne. For the quiet strength, check out Argo, or even The Town, both of which show Affleck in full control, but never over-the-top. For a bit of Affleck’s action chops, take a look at Smokin’ Aces. This wasn’t the most popular film, which means you may have missed it. The movie’s actually currently available at Picturebox Films, an online streaming service with a fluid selection of films, and it’s worth a watch if you want a more comic book-style look at Affleck. And for Bruce Wayne-style charisma, take a look at the (critically slammed) Runner Runner in which Affleck himself was, while nefarious, quite enjoyable. All
in all, he may not be a bad pick all things considered.

Is There Disaster Potential?

Of course there is, but it’s not Affleck’s fault. The dirty little secret in the room is that Man Of Steel was, quite simply, not a good film. Where Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise thrived on character conflicts and situational drama, Snyder’s Man Of Steel fell into mindless action for the sake of action. There’s always the chance that Affleck himself offers a fine take on Batman while films themselves simply aren’t up to snuff.

Good Comic Books | The Day of Chaos is fast approaching, what can we expect? Apart from there being some sort of chaotic day… Will it be a good place for new readers to cut their teeth on Judge Dredd?

John Wagner | I’d like to think so.  It does involve characters regular Dredd readers will be familiar with, but it’s important to make any story accessible to new readers. Not perhaps if you jump on in the middle, but if you’re there from the start. In this the format of Day of Chaos should help – a lot of shorter stories, some of which may seem at first only obliquely connected to the bigger picture – building up to an electrifying and violent conclusion (at least, that’s what my PR guy is saying). A similar structure to Tour of Duty, in fact, though the matter at hand is totally different.

GCB | What exactly constitutes a mega-series? Has there been pressure to write stories that can compete with DC & Marvel ‘events’?

John | Matt Smith (2000AD editor) never pressures me in that way. I’m sure he’s happy to be having another mega-series, if that’s the word, but he didn’t hassle me or get on my back about it, though I could, I suppose, sense an unstated preference from him. And I was pleased to go along, though it took a lot of time and no little agonising to come up with. I’ve done so many short Dredds now that I feel a bit played out on them. A multi-part story makes my task more difficult in some ways, of course. Putting all the pieces together is always testing. That’s what it is, though, a multi-part story. I don’t think I’d call it a mega-series.

Image ©Rebellion A/S www.2000adonline.com

GCB | How easy do Dredd story ideas come to you after so many years of writing the character?

John | Like I said, not that easy. Think of an idea and it’s probably been done. It’s best when they just pop into your head – and you have the presence of mind to write them down. I’ve probably forgotten more good ideas than I’ve written.

GCB | Do you ever start a story before realising you’ve done it before?

John | On at least one occasion I wrote the complete story before I realised in all essential details I’d written it before… How I laughed.

GCB | You’ve been an incredibly influential figure in the comics industry for years, what is your view on how the market is changing? What are your thoughts on DC’s big reboot thing?

John | I have no idea what Marvel are up to but from what little I’ve heard about the latest DC stunt I can’t say I’m that enthused. Maybe readers will love it, what do I know? I used to take more of an interest but these days I know nothing about comics.

Image ©Rebellion A/S www.2000adonline.com

GCB | How do you feel about the guys working on the new Dredd film? Are they up to it? How does it feel having strangers let loose on a character you created, like… Sylvester Stallone?

John | Alex, the writer, has been determined to keep Dredd true to character. The Mega-City One he portrays is one side of the multi-faceted city we know, a frightening, dystopian view of the future. Stallone I won’t criticise. The first movie wouldn’t have been made if it hadn’t been for him. Many would say that would have been for the best, but – if you exclude the script – there were a lot of good things about it. And at least it has set the stage for next year’s film.

Image ©Rebellion A/S www.2000adonline.com

I’ve never felt that possessive about Dredd. So many writers and artists have added detail to the city and the judges that it was no wrench when the movie guys got hold of it. A character like Button Man, that’s different. That’s only ever had my hand on it, mine and Arthur Ranson’s. It feels more personal. But when you sign away film rights there’s not generally a lot you can do about what comes out the other end. All you can do is hope they understand what makes the story tick and get it right.   Dreamworks, I’m glad to say, are being very particular about getting the right screenplay.

GCB | What inspires you to tell these stories?

John | Beats working.

GCB | Does Judge Dredd sleep with his armour on?

John | He usually only gets ten minutes in the sleep machine, hardly time to disrobe.

Make sure to check out 2000AD on the 29th July to catch Dredd in the first bit of the mega-series, and keep checking back at Good Comic Books for updates on the Dredd film, which I’m now incredibly excited about…

At the end of last year I put a band together, and it kinda went really well, you can listen to it HERE if you want, it’s anti-folk geek pop rock (I think). We have a FACEBOOK, a TWITTER and a WEBSITE, but if you’re all about the comic books and you’d like to help me maintain this website (as I don’t really have time anymore) email me at joe(at)joeinnes(dot)com.

Only a true fan could have made this film and director Steven Spielberg completely indulges himself in the world of Tintin and Herge. He often keeps the shot wide or medium which lets the audience view and admire the beautifully animated landscapes and locations. Spielberg must have known the weight of expectation on his shoulders when making the movie, and he never diverts from Herge’s original M.O; adventure, mystery and thrilling action. If you’ve read our interview with Tintinologist Michael Farr, then you’ll know Herge (back in the day) named Spielberg as the man to bring Tintin to the big screen, and it’s done with a huge amount of love and passion.

The Adventures of Tintin is surely the pinnacle of motion capture, and Spielberg treats the technology like an over-excited child with a super 8 camera and a toy set; he fluidly moves the action across scenes and locations and the action set pieces are pure spectacle. In a scene in which Captain Haddock recounts the story of the Unicorn, Spielberg cuts the action between Haddock recounting the story and the actual events in the past. The frame whizzes around at high speeds and cuts effortlessly between both locations, it’s stunning, and the action sequences on board the Unicorn are truly magical, I was in effing awe.

Screenwriters Moffat, Wright and Cornish have freely taken story points from across the Tintin volumes and have created a patchwork quilt of a script, which perfectly matches up to any Herge story. The cast all fill their roles well, and the animators have done a great job re-creating the characters on screen. When it comes to Tintin himself, considering that Herge’s drawings of the boy hero lacked any great amount of detail surrounding his facial features, I thought he looked pretty good in the film. Pegg and Frost also shine as Thompson and Thomson, and Andy Serkis is brilliant barging his way across the scene as Captain Haddock (even if his accent does sometimes drop).

The Adventures of Tintin starts not with a shot of the hero himself, but brilliantly begins with a shot of his creator Herge drawing a portrait of Tintin in a busy market square. The film is littered with little in jokes and trivia, and I will need to see the film again to catch them all. Tintin is pure old school fun, full off adventure, mystery and action. I already know when I will be seeing the film again upon its release, and I cannot wait.

Will Pond.

The good news is that the best issues were brilliant. They shone out as winning combinations of artists and writers that packed in as much brain as brawn. My personal Top 5 were as follows:

1. Action Comics – Fresh, fast, fun and fantastic
2. Aquaman – A whale of a time
3. Wonder Woman – Less is more, and scarier
4. Batman – Bat to basics with gusto
5. Batwoman – Stylish and swift, if sparse

There were a few guilty pleasures like Justice League and Demon Knights that were high on spectacle (and explosions) but failed to offer much else. Others like Green Lantern were perfectly acceptable chapters in ongoing stories but felt a little underwhelming this month. And some were not even worth picking up let alone being disappointed by (I’m looking at you Red Hood and the Outlaws).

So was it worth it? Well in my opinion, no. The comics that impressed me (about 20% of all the titles released) could have easily been made without resetting the entire universe. And while I’m being frank, a success rate of 1 in 5 should not be acceptable for a business move like this. For every decent series the readers enjoy they have to put up with four bad ones? Surely DC shouldn’t bother unless they can guarantee a higher level of quality all round. At any rate, as long as I avoid looking down the shelves at all the wasted potential, I might be able to pretend as if nothing has happened.

Joe Read.

Also on a side note, Tintinoligist Michael Farr (who we did a recent interview with HERE) will be giving a talk all about Tintin at the Wigmore Hall in central London on October the 22^nd in aid of charity, to apply for tickets and for more information head to www.justgiving.com/sdftintinlecture.

Will Pond.

Everything looks super sized; the cast, the sets and even the explosions, the wide shot 18 seconds in is particularly impressive. Director Joss Whedon is keeping his cards pretty close to his chest, and the trailer shows less than it feels like it does; but he does introduce the main characters and the villain, so it’s enough to get me excited.

Oh, and if your wondering where the hell is the Hulk, just wait to the end. Check out the trailer below and get back to us with your thoughts.

It suits Serge Gainsbourg well that director Joann Sfar chooses not to just follow the usual plodding linier line of events that create the narrative structure of most musical biopics, but opts to instead make his debut directorial feature as unique, eccentric and unusual as the man it is inspired by. Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life is an ambitious film; as Sfar attempts to blur the line between myth and fact and reality and imagination, and in doing so creates a well-formed portrait of the man behind an icon.

Sfar strings together a fractured narrative drawn from important and influential moments from Gainsbourg’s life, using the women and relationships in his life as tent poles upon which the rest of the film hangs (You may notice on the poster Gainsbourg is framed by his two great loves, Bridgett Bardot and Jane Birkin). Sfar skilfully paints Gainsbourg at times both boastful and full of confidence but also manages to give the character a hidden shyness and shows an internal conflict between his natural urges and artistic desire. Sfar ingeniously does this by creating a physical representation off Gainsbourg’s own mind, which follows him throughout the film, changing its appearance reflecting the protagonist’s emotional state. Genius.

As a child hiding from Nazi’s in the French countryside (Gainsbourg was Jewish) he is followed by a huge round figure twice his size and at least three times his width, impossible not to see! As an adult a stick thin Ghoul with large ears and a long nose advises and, well quite frankly berates him into decisions. Doug Jones playing the Ghoul almost wraps his thin body around Gainsbourg’s and exaggerates his movements for full creepiness! Sfar draws upon his own graphic novel (which served as the source text for the screenplay) and blurs the line between reality and imagination, having characters talk to both Gainsbourg and the Ghoul at once, its mind-boggling!

The is a great film to look at; the particularly fine lighting and camera work perfectly compliment the production design, I can’t think of a single frame that wouldn’t look beautiful as a framed photograph. Of course Gainsbourg was a musician and Sfar is obviously a big fan of his music, often when a song plays the film stops dead in its tracks and just admires the musicianship. Eric Elmosnino gives one of those ‘throw yourself completely in’ performances as Gainsbourg; apart from closely resembling the musician, his performance is incredibly well judged, a scene in a police van after his Father’s death is particularly fine.

As I am writing this review I am listening to the best of Serge Gainsbourg, which I bought within about 10 mins of finishing the film. Sfar’s direction is impressive for a debut feature and I feel his cinematic career may be one to watch, the leap from comic book artist/writer to film director has proven tricky in the past (hello Frank Miller!) but he has managed it successfully. Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life paints both paints a vivid portrait of the French legend, and at the same time is loads of fun.

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life currently has a limited North American Release, and is available on DVD elsewhere.

Will Pond.

In preparation for the home entertainment release Warner Bros’ UK distribution arm have released the details of the Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-Ray extras and the cover art for both Blu Ray release formats and the DVD release. And yes, it does come in a green case!

Both the Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-ray will come with a DVD and digital copy of the film. The Blu-Ray extras will include:

• MMM and Picture in Picture Focus Pods
• The Art of Green Lantern
• Weapons Hot: The U.C.A.V. Dog Fight
• Reinventing the Superhero Costume
• Ring Slinging 101
• We Are the Corps
• Acting Under 10 Pounds of Silicone
• Guardians Revealed
• When Parallax Attacks
• The Universe According to Green Lantern
• Ryan Reynolds Becomes the Green Lantern
• Deleted Scenes
• Justice League #1 Digital Comic
• Preview of Green Lantern: The Animated Series

The Blu-Ray release will also include an extra 8 minutes of footage, get back to us with your thoughts on where this extra footage could fit and check out the cover art for all three releases below.