Fanboys Anonymous

For the longest time, whenever I told someone I was setting out to be a journalist, their immediate concerns were of covering wars or national disasters and how safe I'd be as a part of the press. It never would have crossed my mind that after college I would soon land in the most hostile war zone of geek media where I'm not alone in the fear of being doxxed (publishing private information on the Internet with malicious intent) or harassed for joining the conversation about #GamerGate.

The very much real-life #GamerGate war is a battleground that is tough to pass through, primarily because there is so much confusion as to what #GamerGate actually is. The massive controversy around #Gamergate conflicts with the two sides that don't even agree to what it is they're really fighting for.

Many would say #GamerGate is a debate about the perceived lack of journalism ethics by many game reviewers after game developer Zoe Quinn was outed for having intimate relations with a gaming journalist in exchange for positive coverage of her game, but the disturbing facts that have recently been coming out of #GamerGate pushed media focus more on the wave of misogynistic harassment.

It's not fair to denounce the entire movement because of one section of it being Internet trolls hiding behind a hashtag that was meant for something else, as #GamerGate members seemed just as outraged and condemn personal threats and harassment. According to /r/KotakuInAction on Reddit, "GamerGate is a consumer revolt triggered by overt politicization, ethical misconduct, and unprecedented amounts of censorship targeted at gamers." The main issue they are attempting to address is the unbalanced view of the industry by the media that project their political ideas as facts in their articles.

"We can't control what anyone says or does in the name of GamerGate, but we can send a clear message that we don't stand for it," Redditor "rhoark" said in a thread he started. "It does not represent us. If anyone feels unsafe about talking to gamers, it is because Gawker crafted that narrative."

But the ugly half of #GamerGate supporters—hellbent on the destruction of the traditional gamer lifestyle—are hiding behind the hashtag, sending death threats and doxxing anti-#GamerGate supporters, though they insist they aren't targeting women even if it seems that they are.

Threats of the "deadliest school shooting in American history" were sent to game critic Anita Sarkeesian prior to her scheduled speech on women in video games at Utah State University, prompting her to cancel the event. Others, like 28-year-old #GamerGate supporter, Erik Foreman, said he received an e-mail that included his home address and a threat to mutilate his body and attack his family, according to The Washington Post.

"There has been so much hate. So many angry words, so many accusations, over…what? Video games? Women in video games? People who write about video games? It would be absurd if it hadn't forced people out of their homes for fear of their personal safety," Kotaku's Luke Plunkett wrote.

The reason #GamerGate has received so much controversy is because it lacks formal leadership and denounces any harassment as not being carried out by "true" #GamerGate members, but members of the group have been tainted.

An analysis by Newsweek discovered that Twitter denizens using the #GamerGate hashtag have directed negative tweets at critics of gaming more than they do at the journalists who supposedly lack the integrity they are seeking to uphold.

In August, Kotaku writer Nathan Grayson, one of the "five guys" who were accused of having a sexual relationship with Quinn, received less than a thousand tweets using the #GamerGate hashtag as opposed to Quinn who received over 10,000 tweets in the same period. Even after it was proven that Grayson never wrote more than one sentence mentioning the game before their relationship even started, ethical issues in gaming journalism continued to grow after disclosures rose that some game journalists supported crowd-funding campaigns for games, but this is where it gets confusing.

To say #GamerGate is about journalistic integrity while female game developers like Quinn or Brianna Wu receive more outraged tweets than the male journalist is contradictory. If Chris Kluwe can write a profanity-filled tirade against #GamerGate without so much as a blink, yet Felicia Day is doxxed almost immediately for speaking up about it, the weight of the movement is no longer viable. As a journalist, I'm all for a movement to better the integrity of those in the field, but this is an irrational way of going about it.

It doesn't make sense to outright attack a non-journalist in a movement about the ethics in journalism, but after #GamerGate members convinced advertisers such as Intel to pull their ads from a gaming website after running a piece that argued video games are for everyone, it only further dilutes their core. However, thinking #GamerGate is about harassing women is far from the truth when many vocal voices of the group are women, and the #Notyourshield tag on Twitter will produce more posts from women that prove this isn't just male gamers talking about #GamerGate. Additionally, HuffPost Live held a #GamerGate conversation with three female gamers to get their views on the movement.

If #GamerGate's true mission is to convince game critics to adopt the same standards as "real journalists," they must make that a clear and concise initiative by focusing on the journalists themselves. The Society of Professional Journalists has been protecting journalism since 1909, outlining the Code of Ethics that all professional journalists, student journalists, and even bloggers should follow. It is the official code that is taught in journalism programs and enforced in the newsrooms of major media.

"GamerGate believes that journalistic ethics are important and we want nothing to do with journalists or publications who do not agree on those points," Gurney Halleck wrote on the website dedicated to #GamerGate. "We want transparency, we want to trust our news sources, and we want to make sure that a small and vocal minority of the gaming press will not try to smear their readers because we are demanding this."

However convoluted #GamerGate is, misogyny in gaming is fully prevalent, whether it is attached to this movement or not. I recently wrote an article about the harassment and bullying of females in comics and at conventions, and while those communities have made great strides in improving acceptance for fangirls, the gaming industry has taken a few steps back.

When Felicia Day finally spoke out against #GamerGate on Wednesday night after remaining silent for "self-protection and fear," just 50 minutes later she was doxxed by the username "gamerg8" with her address and personal email posted in the comments.

So seeing another gamer on the street used to be an auto-smile opportunity, or an entry into a conversation starting with, "Hey, dude! I love that game too!" Me and that stranger automatically had something in common: A love for something unconventional. Outsiders in arms. We had an auto-stepping stone to hurtle over human-introduction-awkwardness, into talking about something we loved together. Instant connection!

But for the first time maybe in my life, on that Saturday afternoon, I walked towards that pair of gamers and I didn't smile. I didn't say hello. In fact, I crossed the street so I wouldn't walk by them. Because after all the years of gamer love and inclusiveness, something had changed in me. A small voice of doubt in my brain now suspected that those guys and I might not be comrades after all. That they might not greet me with reflected friendliness, but contempt.

I went home and was totally, utterly depressed.

It is a familiar feeling that I know all too well. I grew up playing video games and reading comics and never felt unaccepted by those who shared in the same interests. But when I got to college, I realized exactly how females are treated in geek culture.

My college had a comic book club and gamer guild that was one of the reasons I chose it over a top university I was also accepted to that didn't have much of anything past Division I sports teams. At the orientation, the speaker went over the list of clubs, and I could easily see among the crowd of newcomers that I was the only one that cared. I went home and wrote on Tumblr my excitement about coming to a college with such a tight-knit community of people just like me—but they weren't like me. Almost instantly, before I officially became a member of the community, I started a war. Members from each group questioned my credibility in a heated debate over whether I was a "real geek" and if I "should be trusted" while others went so far as to find me on Facebook to quiz me on geek topics. And for what? Voicing my excitement of a few clubs where I can discuss comics and gaming and make new friends? I felt nothing but ostracized and unwelcome to a college I barely started at, and I graduated feeling almost the same.

I can't say my experience is unique, because it's not. Policing women and questioning their credibly to push them out and preserve male dominance is a phenomenon that happens all too often because females are no longer hiding that they're fangirls—and we shouldn't. We play video games. We read comic books. We are every part of the conversation that men are.

Felicia Day is right—it is depressing. To fear being harassed or doxxed for merely typing the words "Gamer Gate" is not what the gaming community is about, and it surely isn't what #GamerGate is truly about because any negativity stemming from #GamerGate has been torn down as the work of an anonymous troll. I will never put my controller down because of #GamerGate, and neither should you.

What are your opinions on #GamerGate? Are you for or against it? Let us know in the comments below.

All-New X-Men 32 Cover by Sara Pichelli

Last time we left off with the All-New X-Men, they had just been transported to the Ultimate universe by a newly fledged mutant unable to control her powers.

The unexpected trip landed each of the team members alone in different locations. Some are more fortunate than others in this respect, but each faces challenges in his or her circumstances. It is at this point that we can begin to speculate how this turn of events may play out in the face of the recent NYCC announcements regarding Marvel's "Secret Wars."

So far, during the All-New X-Men series Brian Michael Bendis has taken us from one challenge to the next as the group adjusts to the lasting effects of time travel. They have faced this admirably and, with the understandable exception of young Scott (Cyclops), the group has stayed together. Now we get to see the All-New X-Men group face a new and uncertain test as individuals.

Of particular interest to audiences will be the plot dealing with mutants on the Ultimate universe. The reaction to Laura (X-23) when it is discovered she is a mutant is intriguing. Bendis has already hinted elsewhere that this will be an important twist in the narrative, and we will have to wait to see how it plays out. Given the divergent threads and characters to follow in All-New X-Men there may be some mileage yet available for Bendis to lengthen out the story details.

The art by Mahmud Asrar in All-New X-Men 32 looks stronger than the previous issue. The lines seem more certain and play well with the use of shading and light that Marte Gracia employs. The way that Asrar draws faces and imbues them with emotion and expression is fantastic. This element brings the story to life through its characters. We can see the uncertainty in Jean Grey or the fear and confusion in young Iceman. The effort from the artists extends to some specific notable pages, such as the double page splash of Miles Morales as his mind is read by Jean Grey.

Miles Morales has an out of body experience.

The All-New X-Men end up separated in some strange places.

There certainly seems to be a lot of art for your money's worth. The number of panels used between the writer and artists is on average 8 per page, with the most being 18 across the double-page spread. The diversity of environments and scenes, due to the scattered characters, also means we get to see a depth of ability used to bring each scenario to life. From what we have seen so far in the series, it is clear why Asrar has been put under the spotlight as one of the new Marvel Young Guns.

All-New X-Men #32 provides a nice next step in a strong series. It is an engaging story, and the art is great to see. I continue to wait each week, hoping for the next issue to turn join my mailbox, and can't wait for the next issue.

So what do you think of All-New X-Men?

Make sure you leave your thoughts about the series or this issue and comment below.

The last time we saw Samurai Warriors hit a major console, it was for the Wii back in 2010. The title was received with major backlash toward Koei, which had not been seen since their blunder in what was the lackluster Dynasty Warriors 6. Since then, Dynasty Warriors has won back its fan base with back-to-back terrific releases of Dynasty Warriors 7 and 8. The question that remains is, did Samurai Warriors 4 accomplish the same thing?

GAMEPLAY

I have been playing the various Warriors titles from Koei ever since the release of Dynasty Warriors 3 for the PlayStation 2. I found myself extremely disappointed when Samurai Warriors made the transition to the Wii; the controls were clunky on a Wii remote, even when I swapped it out for one of the various alternatives, such as the Gamecube controller. The buttons were just too ass backward in several areas; I just couldn't get used to it. To sum it up: it was a mess!

With Samurai Warriors 4, they have hit the nail on the head. One of the biggest criticisms of the prequels was that they were more of the same. To some extent, the same can be said about the newest title. The raw combat mechanics are pretty much the same; you juggle light attacks with strong ones to create some fast and crazy combos. However, several added features to this game have not only created a more difficult and fun experience but also given Samurai Warriors 4 its own identity and feel.

First, the new hyper attack system has changed my gaming experience (for the better). In the past, hitting the triangle button would create a standard charge attack that didn't do much but stun the opposition. Now it's become a way of destroying large groups of enemies. By hitting triangle, you glide foreward and crush huge groups of enemies, string together various other combos after, and can easily charge up your special attack. The only catch is that enemy officers are pretty much unaffected by this new assault.

As for special attacks, better known as "Musou," they've been upgraded from just holding circle down until your bar is depleted, to a fun one-button press spectacle that has your character strike an epic pose before crushing your enemy. If you've played Dynasty Warriors 7 or 8, it's pretty much the same thing that's been done there.

All in all, everything is much smoother and in many cases provides you with much more of a challenge than the previous titles. Throw in the ability to change to another character in real time, and the chaos that ensues is just amazing. Plus it's so convenient to switch to a character who is nearer the target you're after.

As for the game modes, they are split in two:

Story Mode, in which you follow the story of bulky roster of Samurai and Ninas and watch history unfold, and

Chronicle Mode, where you create your own character and travel across Japan, meeting, greeting, battling, and more with the warriors you from Story Mode. Chronicle Mode seems more of a fun passtime than it does the meat of the game, but the character creation is definitely most welcome and quite in-depth compared with previous attempts. Samurai Warriors has never failed to deliver with Story Mode, and it continues that trend here. Its over-the-top spin on things never ceases to keep me interested and researching the history of the Sengoku period of Japan.

PRESENTATION

Samurai Warriors 4 is by far the best looking game in any of the Warriors series, which is quite the upgrade considering Samurai Warriors 3 was the most ugly, by far. Although the art style is a little more "cartoony" than, say, Dynasty Warriors, it fits with the Japanese culture, creating something that's pleasing to the eyes.

The opening to the game shows clips of various storylines that you will play in Story Mode and highlights the poster boy of series, Yukimura Sanada, and his brother, Nobuyuki Sanada. Now, while the video package was well put together and had me excited for the game, I couldn't help but notice from the get-go that all of the voice actors were Japanese.

Many people in the past have played with the Japanese voice actors because in previous titles the English ones have not been up to the expected standard. I can appreciate that, but during actual game play there is too much going on at once. I don't have time to read, plus hack and slash at the same time. Thus I'm constantly missing what the characters are saying. I'm not sure if Koei was hesitant to put more money into the game due to the last title, but this has hurt my overall experience more than I thought it would.

Putting the voice acting aside, the game sounds great, the music is well produced and fits the mood of the battle, whether it's Tadakatsu Honda charging the battle field or an action-packed chase to a retreat point, Samurai Warriors 4 gets it right every time.

FINAL VERDICT

If you have not liked the Dynasty Warriors or the Samurai Warriors series in the past, then this game just isn't for you. It's not going to have changed enough to make you think otherwise. In the end, that's the biggest problem in any Warriors title; it's evolved, but not enough to make a huge difference to the casual audience.

If you have been a fan of the previous titles, or are new to this genre and want to give it a try, then Samurai Warriors 4 is definitely for you. It's the most complete, polished, and fun game in any of the Warriors series. As a Warriors fan who has been jerked around by Koei a few too many times, my final verdict is…

RATING: 7/10 — I'd love to give it an 8, but without an option to have English voice acting, I'm definitely not getting the full experience that I think anyone who purchased the piece of trash known as Samurai Warriors 3 deserves.

Are you going to purchase Samurai Warriors 4? If you have already, do you agree with me? Let me know in the comments below!

Uncanny X-Men #26 cover bv Chris Bachalo

"To me, my X-Men, one last time…"

The words of Charles Xavier ring in the air as Cyclops, Wolverine, and the other X-Men continue to deal with the effects of hearing their former mentor, leader, and teacher confess to doing the exact opposite of what he had always taught his students to do.

Uncanny X-Men #26 picks up the search for Matthew Malloy, the dangerous mutant, whose powers Xavier had been trying to inhibit for most of the former's life. With Xavier now gone, the psychic blocks holding Mallow back have fallen, with devastating results. Enter Maria Hill and S.H.I.E.L.D.—as so often is the case in this series—to step up to the mutant menace.

Hill has been constantly battling the threat posed by various groups or individuals but has been prominent in this and previous arcs of Uncanny X-Men. It is nice to see Brian Bendis using this in a constructive manner in #26, as Hill reaches out to the X-Men once she realizes Malloy is a mutant. This is a nice contrast to Hill's previous attitude and builds on the incidents at the Jean Grey School in Uncanny X-Men issues #21 and #22 and the outcome of the Battle of the Atom event.


Xavier's teaching for Cyclops was a lie.

As we progress through #26, it is nice to see some collaboration between Cyclops and Wolverine as they attempt to fulfill Xavier's last wishes. However, this is not without some understandable confrontation from Cyclops, who resents his old teacher's revelations and still shows guilt for unwittingly killing him. Storm and Wolverine quickly quell the obtuse excuses Cyclops rants about, but it is the surprising turn of Iceman, who shows a rather vindictive streak, that provides the most satisfaction here.

Bendis is big on characterization, on seeing the development of characters beyond what they appear, building weaknesses into strengths, and exploring unique ways of having them react to new situations. For Iceman, we see one of the original X-Men declare his hatred of Cyclops for killing Xavier. Iceman is often seen as a comic relief for some of the other more serious undertones of the world of the X-Men, so this approach is refreshing.

Besides the above-mentioned characters, the story seems to be progressing, but the pace is not extremely quick. This is not necessarily a drawback, as it feels like Bendis is building this up again. We get glimpses of what Malloy is now capable of, and other pieces such as the X-Men and S.H.I.E.L.D. collaboration begin to take shape. This is a nice way to lead into issue #27 of Uncanny X-Men.

Maria Hill realizes her nightmare about mutants has come true.

One of the most fascinating developments out of issue #26 is the training scene at the new Xavier School for Cyclops' students. As Triage challenges the status quo for the group's moral compass and tries to understand his and the other students' place in the wider mutant agenda, we start to see splinter, hairline cracks forming in the group that could lead to some great stories in the future. Also a highlight is Goldballs actually using his name as a catchphrase during his training; this was a great moment in which the artists lift the seriousness of the series as it currently stands.

Kris Anka is on art duty this time around, and his more simple, expressive take on faces lets us digest the more straightforward emotions of the characters in this issue. Anka has a clean line style, but it is on a second viewing of the art that you can see his emphasis on clearly and concisely telling the story that he wants to achieve. The colors Anka uses are another great cue to enhance his storytelling; the limited use of colors mirrors the emotions or tone of any particular panel or series of panels throughout the issue. For example, the action set pieces, with confrontation between Cyclops and the other X-Men or those panels involving S.H.I.E.L.D., are mostly reds and yellows, whereas the training environment and student debate about being good or bad are in softer purple hues.

The X-Men leave to fulfill Xavier's last wishes.

As a creative endeavor, Uncanny X-Men aims to set a different standard from other Marvel comics. It is a part of the publisher's flagship titles for the mutant side of their universe but deals with some more mature themes and questions. Given this, it is great to see a real difference in art and storytelling used to set the series apart. Long may this continue.

To wrap things up for this issue, don't forget to let us know what you think of Uncanny X-Men by leaving your thoughts or a comment below, or send us a tweet or Facebook comment.

The first trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron has leaked online a little earlier than originally planned, so take advantage of it while you can and check it out below!

Marvel Studios presents Avengers: Age of Ultron, the epic follow-up to the biggest superhero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jump start a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry, and Earth’s mightiest heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Avengers: Age of Ultron will be released in theaters May 1, 2015.

With the recent release of the Master Quest DLC Pack for the Wii U exclusive Hyrule Warriors, Andrew and Tam of the Press Start crew decide to test their mettle with the new content!

The Hyrule Warriors Master Quest DLC Pack features a new weapon for Link (his trusty steed, Epona. Yes, she's a weapon), a new Adventure Mode map with all-new challenges, a new story campaign for the villains, and new costumes for every character. The game also had a free patch update on the day of the DLC's release allowing players to use the three villains featured in the main story campaign (Cia, Volga and Wizzro).

Hyrule Warriors is available now exclusively for the Wii U. The Master Quest Pack DLC is available now and is the first pack to be released with another three on the way.


Have you gotten the chance to play this brand new content? What are your thoughts on this Zelda-Dynasty Warriors crossover? Let us know in the comments below!

Press Start films weekly and can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

On this edition of Channel Surfing, we join Chris "The Dace Man" Dace as he reviews the second episode in the premier season of FOX's The Flash entitled The Fastest Man Alive.

He'll give you the scope on this week's episode as to what went down with a hint of Dacetacularness.  So put down that remote control and sit back and enjoy this brand new edition of Channel Surfing. I'm calling for the few, for the proud, and for The Dacetacular let's start channel surfing!



As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a TV remote—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


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Nightcrawler 7 cover by Jamie McKelvie

Remembering the fallen—a time to mourn.

Nightcrawler #7 provides the Jean Grey School what is much needed at this time. School is suspended for a period and we catch the campus on a still night when Nightcrawler feels the need to eulogize:

"The Wolverine touched so many souls. He made mistakes and tried his best to set them right. He fought for his friends and tried his best to make the world a better place. He never gave up, and never backed down. He would go to the wall for those he cared about. He would even forgive you if you couldn't match those standards. All he demanded, in the end, was that you try."

Nightcrawler #7 pays homage to the loss that is rippling out from the events of the Death of Wolverine series. The above from Nightcrawler summarizes the intent and character of the narrative from Chris Claremont in this issue. Claremont expands a plot provided by Marguerite Bennett which is both reflective and taut with emotion.

This is a Death of Wolverine tie-in issue which examines the friendship of Nightcrawler and Wolverine, focusing on the legacy of Wolverine through the lens of Nightcrawler's experiences. Claremont has used the series so far in a nostalgic manner to explore the way Nightcrawler—and by extension the other X-Men—fit in the current world of comic audiences. With the ever changing dynamic of the X-Men moving at such a rapid pace, this has been an interesting exercise to be a part of as a reader.

Claremont's narrative style finds full force in Nightcrawler #7. As the writer employs a very verbose direction to his stories and these can be dialogue laden at times, this is the perfect opportunity to unleash in a way that is fitting to both the art and the plot. We get a sense here the Nightcrawler as the narrator is appropriate for guiding readers through the recent events in the Death of Wolverine, especially those who may not have read the other series.


A time for reflection

Todd Nauck continues to provide very reader-friendly art through the Nightcrawler series. In issue seven, Nauck is able to expand the number of X-Men drawn to a variety of supporting cast. As this issue shows a number of past major events that Nightcrawler and Wolverine have been apart of, Nauck gets to flex some creative muscle when recreating these in his own style. There are a few memorable set action pieces and the colors are nostalgic as Rachelle Rosenberg aids in taking readers back over the decades and we see uniforms and setting from days gone by.

The art continues to have a light feeling to it, targeting an audience of all ages, so while the content and tone of the story are necessarily downcast in Nightcrawler #7, the art is quite approachable.

The end to this issue is sombre, but it is great to see it rounded out as it began, reflecting on friendship. As Nightcrawler mourns for one lost so suddenly for him, he does so in the embrace of another, as Rachel Grey arrives to strengthen the Elf's resolve.


Nightcrawler uses the danger room to offer a fitting farewell to Wolverine

At the close of Nightcrawler #7, it feels that the death of Wolverine has only just begun. There are a lot more stories to come from such a dramatic change to the X-Men.

Despite this feeling like it may not quite be the end, the Jean Grey School needs to continue and the students look to the older X-Men like Nightcrawler for guidance.

Nightcrawler #7 was an enjoyable reflection on the fall of Wolverine. Did you enjoy this jaunt through memory lane? What did you think about this issue? Make sure you leave your comments below.

It was a whirlwind late last week, as Warner Bros. revealed their slate of upcoming releases based on DC Comics properties. WB is betting heavily on these properties, with several titles announced through the year 2020 and beyond. In addition, two new and key characters are rumored, and while Jason Momoa finally admitted that he's Aquaman, WB confirmed that Ezra Miller will portray the Flash in Justice League and, presumably, a series of stand-alone films.

First, the slate. WB/DC announced close to a dozen superhero films to be released over the next 6 years, through 2020. In brief:

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in 2016…

Suicide Squad, directed by David Ayer and courting Will Smith, Tom Hardy, and Margot Robbie for key roles, also coming in 2016…

Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot in her first solo outing as the Amazon princess, in 2017…

(Here's where things get interesting.)

Justice League Part One, directed by Zack Snyder, starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, and presumably Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, and Ezra Miller taking on or reprising their roles as Aquaman, Cyborg, and Flash respectively, in 2017…

The Flash, starring Ezra Miller in his first solo movie and the first post-Justice League film in 2018…

Aquaman, starring Jason Momoa in 2018…

Shazam, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the villain/anti-hero Black Adam (Shazam himself has yet to be cast) in 2019…

Justice League Part Two, directed again by Zack Snyder and presumably starring a solid percentage of the above, plus popular supporting characters from the solo films, in 2019…

Cyborg, starring Ray Fisher, in 2020…

…and finally Green Lantern, also in 2020.

Let it all sink in for a second. It's a lot.

We'll wait. Come back in a bit if you need.

The most immediately striking news is that Justice League will be split into two parts, which we can assume to mean will cover one long story as opposed to two separate, if possibly interconnected, stories. Obviously this isn't the first time Warner Bros. has split their tentpole pictures over multiple films (looking at you, Harry Potter and The Hobbit), but that speaks to the scope of the film, I think. One hopes that WB wouldn't pull such an obvious cash-grab move without believing they have the story to justify it. What that might entail, I'll get into in a moment, but it's worth examining some other properties first.

Suicide Squad: director David Ayer, of Fury and Training Day fame, talks about this film as "The Dirty Dozen with superheroes." That's spot on, and I personally can't wait to see Ayer's (likely) violent and grimy version. Clearly the film has some power, attracting not only names like Ayer's but also Smith, Robbie, and Hardy, which would lend huge visibility to the project. The story is about a team of supervillains created to carry out blacker-than-black-ops missions for the US government in exchange for parole, a reduced sentence, or freedom.

Flash/Green Lantern: I wrote about a rumored WB/DC slate awhile ago, and many of the rumors about that have now turned out to be true. Even Suicide Squad was being considered as part of an effort to make middle-budget superhero movies, an idea that apparently gained traction. One surprise on that rumored list was the potential for a Flash/Green Lantern team-up film, an idea that hadn't been done yet: introducing two new heroes in one film, even though both would presumably have been seen in Justice League. Still, it was a new idea, one that apparently didn't gain as much traction as Suicide Squad. So while we now know who our Flash is—and he'll be a good one, I think—we're no closer to figuring out the big green elephant in the room.

GL is one of DC's highest-profile comic titles thanks to a 2004–2005 reboot by writer Geoff Johns, who went on to write the character for another top-selling 9 years. WB/DC was supposed to cash in on the popularity of the character, and maybe start building their own movie universe, with the ill-fated 2011 film that set WB/DC's films back a bit, forcing them to restart with 2013's Man of Steel. I would bet that executives are afraid of the character. Now, just because we won't have a solo Green Lantern movie until 2020 doesn't mean he won't appear as part of either Justice League. In fact, his appearance could even be a plot point, considering the cosmic nature of the major villains being considered for the League to fight and the cosmic nature of GL's work. One could follow the other to Earth. That said, we're still no closer to knowing who will wear the ring next, or indeed which Lantern of the several available will do the ring-slinging. But I find it hard to believe WB/DC will let the League gather without one of its founding members.

Just probably not this guy.

Cyborg: The announcement of this movie is meaningful for a few reasons. First, it means WB is basically looking to make stand-alone films for every member, and then some, of the Justice League. Even Marvel hasn't done that, relegating Black Widow to supporting roles in Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier instead of getting her own movie, they've basically ignored Hawkeye, and it'll be awhile before Hulk gets another film of his own. Right now, WB/DC has just about everyone covered, and even has time to let New Line make Shazam as a non-Justice-League-related side project.

Also worth noting, however, is that Cyborg has gotten a big push in recent years as a high-profile member of not just the Justice League but of the DC Universe in general. WB/DC clearly has faith in the character, which is great, because based on current production schedules Cyborg might become the first African-American superhero heading his own film from either Marvel or DC. While Marvel has Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, and Anthony Mackie in crucial roles as Nick Fury, James Rhodes/War Machine, and Sam Wilson/the Falcon, none of them have gotten their own films and, frankly, none seem likely to in the near future. (Sorry, Sam Jackson. It would, and still might, be awesome.)

There are three big names missing from this list, however. One was confirmed as a film in development: Sandman. However, it's understandable that it's missing from this list, as it won't be a core DCU film. Like Shazam, it'll be a production separate from the Justice League continuity, and maybe similarly made by New Line. Notice, though, that there are no confirmed release dates or even years for a new Superman or Batman movie.

Since they'll be the core characters of the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie as well as, probably, Justice League Parts One and Two, maybe WB/DC doesn't feel they need to promote these well-known heroes as much as others. It's just odd that they go totally unmentioned, for the same reason: they're two of the best-known heroes in the world, let alone those belonging to WB/DC. It could be the studio is going to base their plans for those heroes on the performance of Batman v Superman, which I suppose is understandable—if still odd.

Superman may have had his ups and downs on film, but Man of Steel still made three times its budget, which really can only be considered underperforming in this age of throwing crazy money at big-ticket films and bloated box office. I have to imagine that a Batman movie would do pretty well for itself, Batfleck or no. The other problem there, though, is WB's relationship with Ben Affleck, who has become a treasured filmmaker of theirs. They'll certainly want to keep him happy to keep him around, which will mean letting him make his own movies in between stints as the Caped Crusader. We'd heard before that a film called The Batman might be released in 2019, allowing for Affleck's schedule, and possibly even directed by Affleck himself.

It makes some sense that the busy filmmaker would appear as Batman only in core films (Batman v Superman, Justice League Parts One and Two) before getting his own. His Batman is supposed to be a veteran, effectively, having already fought his war against crime for many years before the events of Man of Steel, or at least Batman v Superman. There's no need for an origin film to set up his world and characters. We'll see part of it, to be sure, in Batman v Superman, but people know Batman by now. The Dark Knight Rises was released only 2 years ago, and Batman was again cemented, as he was during the initial Batmania that preceded and followed the original 1989 Batman film, as a pop-culture icon.

Seriously. This was EVERYWHERE.

I've already waxed too long, so brief rumors shall end this roundup. Previously, the megavillain Darkseid was rumored as the main antagonist for the Justice League. If you've Googled him and wonder why he looks kinda like Marvel's Thanos, their big bad, it's because Darkseid was created by Jack Kirby 3 years before Jim Starlin brought Thanos to Marvel. At first blush, sure, DC would obviously use their "original" villain to compete with Marvel's ultimate baddie. It also makes sense to play against that expectation of direct competition and find a more unique foe. It may be that's the case. Rumors say the the main villain in Justice League is Brainiac, a longtime Superman enemy and an alien android. Like most characters who have been around as long as him, he's gone through a few incarnations, but suffice it to say he's deadly, more than a match for the Justice League with his genius-level intellect and abilities to interface with and control machinery or computers. In our drone-filled, computer-saturated world, that makes him dangerous for sure.

Finally, a prediction I made in another article might in fact come to pass. As filming on Batman v Superman continues, actress Jena Malone supposedly has a small role, and it's thought that she's Robin. You read that correctly: Carrie Kelley, or some kind of female Robin, could be in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Whether this would be a plot point then folded into the solo Batman films, or whether Robin might be a part of Justice League, I couldn't say. I do think this makes some sense. People have been making fun of Robin for years, partially because of his questionable portrayal by Joel Schumacher and Chris O'Donnell in Batman Forever and Batman and Robin. (For the record, I maintain this is the filmmakers' fault, and not the character's.) Including Robin, a core component of Batman's universe, and including her as a female is a bold and quite possibly brilliant step, opening up a world of possibility for WB.

Whew. I'm exhausted. You know what do to, dear readers. Put the thoughts in your head into the comment boxes below and let's talk about superheroes.

As a fan of Logic for a number of years, I have been waiting patiently for the day of the release of his debut album. For a while, it felt like it was never going to happen. However, after releasing four mixtapes, signing with Def Jam, a number of nationwide and international tours, and numerous tweets from the man himself, the day has arrived for Under Pressure to be released to the public for the rap junkies to listen to.

Under Pressure is a very serious album compared to most of Logic's mixtapes. Throughout the album, Logic tells stories of how his brothers were in gangs and how it affected him, his father's addiction to crack, his difficult uprising, his success, and his transition into a celebrity, etc. At the end of the day, what most fans only want to know is this: did Logic "sell out" and became a mainstream rapper? The answer to that question is no, at least not yet.

Like I mentioned, this album is very dark with its lyrical content, and the production that went into it matches what Logic is saying. Most of the songs are very emotional and it doesn't really bring out a vibe that it will sell well if the song was released as a single.

For some reason, fans have a tendency to turn on rappers if they sign a record deal and just release albums that includes pop-like songs that would successfully sell as singles. Logic clearly stays away from that with this record, showing people who and what he is and what he brings to the table. This album isn't going for mainstream appeal as it is the coming out party for Logic and letting us know that he is here to stay.

Now for my opinion on the album: I am in love with it. Everything flows together smoothly and all of the songs deserve to be there. From "Gang Related," which tells from both Logic's prospective and from his brother's about the gangs they were in, to "Nikki," which is about the addiction of a certain something that Logic has been infatuated with for ten years now, everything has a spot and successfully lets us into Logic's world.

This is a definite buy for any fans of Logic who want to get to better understand the man's youth. I fully believe people will be talking about this album years from now as the starting of a great career for this young man. At the age of  24, Logic has brought upon us a new classic (Iggy pun intended) that hopefully brings the man the recognition and respect that he deserves.

So what do you think about the record? Is it a five-star classic or is it a dud that will be made fun of for years to come? Fill free to comment below!

Hey, hey, hey Dacetacular Nation! Chris "The Dace Man" Dace here with a goodie I acquired from New York Comic Con! Now it's been one whole week removed from the Beast of the East, and yours truly finally had some time to decompress.

Up on the slate for review today in the world of comics is an independent comic called The Agency. I got a chance to talk with the creators a bit on the floor of New York's nerdiest convention and was sold on the idea of this comic. So after purchasing the first two issues and finally having a moment at home, I dived right in.

First things first, let me give you a quick overview of what The Agency is all about. It's a story of an agency that was assemble to combat the increasing threat of magic in the world and contain those who use it in a negative way. As in most awesome and heroic stories, there's a young teen with magical powers himself who gets tied up in the middle of all the action.

Now for being a first issue, and essentially an origin story for the main character, its tough to break into the world of comics these days with an original idea. With the oversaturation of comic book heroes debuting on the large and small screens, the heavy hitting companies have flooded the paperback world trying to push characters who may have not had main stage potential in the past. I believe the Romeros and Cabrera have struck gold here with a captivating idea of mashing everything we love about high-stake political thrillers and the world of magic, a very tough mix to pull off in my humble opinion. I'm hooked from the get go, as the action within the first few panels of the comic show us they're not holding anything back.

The art work done by Eric Koda and coloring done by Ross Hughes is aesthetically pleasing to me as a reader. There have been many instances, for at least myself, where there is a good story being told, but the artwork leaves me wanting more or feeling dissatisfied. Overall I feel that this story has a potential for a lengthy and fun run and I'm excited to dive into the second issue. Definitely would recommend you pick this up or download it on the Comixology app.

As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this a fresh comic—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


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On this edition of Channel Surfing, we join Chris "The Dace Man" Dace as he reviews the fifth episode in the premier season of ABC's Forever entitled The Pugilist Break.

He'll give you the scope on this week's episode as to what went down with a hint of Dacetacularness.  So put down that remote control and sit back and enjoy this brand new edition of Channel Surfing. I'm calling for the few, for the proud, and for The Dacetacular let's start channel surfing!



As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a TV remote—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

On this edition of Channel Surfing, we join Chris "The Dace Man" Dace as he reviews the fifth episode in the fourth season of FOX's New Girl entitled Background Check.

He'll give you the scope on this week's episode as to what went down with a hint of Dacetacularness.  So put down that remote control and sit back and enjoy this brand new edition of Channel Surfing. I'm calling for the few, for the proud, and for The Dacetacular let's start channel surfing!



As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a TV remote—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

On this edition of Channel Surfing, we join Chris "The Dace Man" Dace as he reviews the sixth episode in the sixth season of FXX's The League entitled Breast Awareness Month.

He'll give you the scope on this week's episode as to what went down with a hint of Dacetacularness.  So put down that remote control and sit back and enjoy this brand new edition of Channel Surfing. I'm calling for the few, for the proud, and for The Dacetacular let's start channel surfing!



As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a TV remote—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime

This is a brief news item (or less, even, as it's just a rumor) so as such I'll try to keep it short, but it's an intriguing and potentially exciting tidbit from the Star Trek camp. Rumor has it that William Shatner will appear as Captain James T. Kirk, alongside Leonard Nimoy as Spock, in Roberto Orci's forthcoming Star Trek 3.

"You were perhaps expecting someone else?"

"Excuse me..."

Storm #4 Cover by Stephanie Hans

Storm has always had a fragile emotional balance in check. There was always so much at stake if she didn't. Her mutant abilities are so astronomically strong that if she lost control of her emotional state, it could spell disaster for anyone around her.

Considering this, what fate awaits Storm once she learns that her lover, Wolverine, is now dead? Grek Pak examines just these considerations in Storm #4, a Death of Wolverine aftermath tie-in issue.

A standout feature of Storm #4 is the cover by Stephanie Hans. The imagery is a moving testament to the lasting impact Wolverine's death will have on Storm. We witness an emotional figure in the pouring rain, oblivious to all except the drenched mask of her former lover. On closer inspection, we see tears in Storm's eyes and the beauty of her state of being in such a heavy moment. Hans' art sets up the heavy impact of the death of Wolverine.

As we move past the cover into the issue we are immediately carried on an emotional ride, as Storm is taken by Beast to great heights, flying high above the earth, before she can erupt with pent-up power. She cannot contain her anguish, but letting her feelings out would wreak havoc on the earth's weather systems.

Gotta get clear before its to late!

Clearly Pak is tapping into that primitive sense of loss any person would feel in such a situation and then aptly applying a mutant factor to it. As the story continues we find Storm conducting a solo mission after she discovers that Wolverine had unfinished business with a mutual ally, Yukio. As the pair travel under Las Vegas, she realizes that there was a side to Wolverine she hadn't suspected.

We begin to see a clan struggle breakout as Storm unwittingly contravenes a tenuous balance among the clans that Wolverine had helped to oversee. With Storm's interference and Wolverine's absence, this struggle will play out until a sense of order can be restored, which will carry us into the next issue.

Pak moves us smoothly through the plot, with a lingering link to Wolverine though the course of the narrative. It is important to recognize this story as one that could be told with or without such a connection to Storm's former lover. We are being set up in this issue, and it will be interesting to see the follow through next time. It was also a nice touch from Pak to see a connection  with the previous issues of Storm, as we see panels in the early art of characters, like Forge, witnessing Storm's grief-induced aurora display.


The interior art returns to the very capable hands of Victor Ibanez and Ruth Redmond. Ibanez does very well with the emotional display of Storm's characterization during this issue. The first 3 pages are a grief-filled show that is beautiful to see and heartfelt. The way he draws faces endears Ibanez to a character like Storm and compliments the stories Pak is telling.

Storm is a very engaging look at what it means to be a mutant through a solo series. It has an emotional weight and maturity that is not possible to fully transcend toward in contemporary team books with the X-Men.

How are you enjoying Storm so far? What did you think of this issue and how does it compare with other current X-Men solo series? Make sure you leave you thoughts and comments below.

On this edition of Channel Surfing, we join Chris "The Dace Man" Dace as he reviews the fourth episode in the premier season of FOX's Gotham entitled Arkham.

He'll give you the scope on this week's episode as to what went down with a hint of Dacetacularness.  So put down that remote control and sit back and enjoy this brand new edition of Channel Surfing. I'm calling for the few, for the proud, and for The Dacetacular let's start channel surfing!



As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a TV remote—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!


Follow on Facebook: Mega Powers Radio | Fanboys Anonymous | The Dace Man Show | Nerd Court | Sports Talk Weekly | Addicted to Anime