The biggest, baddest, and most ruthless criminal in the world will be returning in a series more than a decade in the making, as Mark Millar teams up with Batman artist Jorge Jimenez for his follow-up to Nemesis with "Nemesis Reloaded" - which will begin this January 2023 under Millar's Millarworld publication!
The news comes via Millarworld and Comic Book Resources, with the story still kept under wraps but will be a sequel to the 2010 comic book miniseries/ graphic novel which pits a Batman-like international criminal against the world's best cop who's very much inspired by James Gordon. A Nemesis film is also in production, but other than news on the project moving around studios and different people working on the script - no other details have been mentioned on when it will come out.
Based on Mark Millar and Dave Johnson's classic 2003 DC Elseworld's story where Kal-El from Krypton crashed into the Soviet Union instead of Kansas, DC Universe Original Movies is adapting "Superman: Red Son" into animated movie form - and IGN has the exclusive first trailer online.
Superman: Red Son - Exclusive Official Trailer (2020)
Superman: Red Son will hit Digital and Blu-Ray/ Physical media on Early 2020.
What happens when the writer of Civil War weighs in on the classic Marvel storyline and Spider-Man joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to the deal between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios?
Mark Millar Talks Civil War and Spider-Man Joining the MCU
This awesome interview by IGN with the man himself... Mark Millar!
Looks like another shared universe is in the works after the template set out by Marvel Studios' proved successful, and this time it involves two well-known Marvel team line-ups that will certainly excite fans, especially with the numerous possibilities and potential that this crossover could have!
Via a post in Bleeding Cool, it appears that 20th Century Fox and Marvel are preparing for an inevitable X-Men and Fantastic Four team-up, as both franchises will reportedly be in one shared cinematic universe according to executive consultant and comic book scribe Mark Millar! With a Fantastic Four reboot slated for 2015, and next year helming the ultimate X-Men team-up of past and present with X-Men: Days of Future Past, this would be a monumental combination of both epic hero groups. For more info and details, visit the source post at Bleeding Cool and SFX.
X-Men: Days of Future Past arrives in theaters on May 23, 2014, while the Fantastic Four reboot is slated for a March 6, 2015.
This week just became a good time for fans of Mark Millar's "Kick-Ass" to get excited, as Universal Pictures has released the official Red Band Trailer and 6 Character Posters for their upcoming sequel flick Kick-Ass 2.
Breaking News just hit the comic book movie world, as The Ultimates and Kick-Ass scribe Mark Millar was just named "Creative Consultant" by 20th Century Fox for their Marvel Comics movie adaptations! With the studio having recently given up their hold on Daredevil, they still retain the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, with new films on the way like The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and a Fantastic Four Reboot! It should be interesting to see how the famous Scottish comic book writer gives his input on those since he had a hand in writing the Earth-616 and Ultimate versions of both teams!
Here's the press release after the jump by 20th Century Fox, and thanks goes to Superherohype for breaking the news!
Looks like hype and anticipation are building up for the much awaited movie adaptation of Kick-Ass 2, as Newscom and Bleeding Cool have posted up some set photos featuring Jim Carrey suited up as Colonel Stars! The photo above shows him together with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, reprising his role once again as Kick-Ass, and new supporting actors Lindy Booth and Robert Emms, who play Night Bitch and Insect Man respectively!
Via Bleeding Cool and Mark Millar's own Twitter page, the people behind Kick-Ass 2 have launched the first official logo and Facebook page to the much anticipated sequel to the 2010 film adaptation of Millar's asskicking comic book series! It's slated to start filming sometime this September, and will once again see Aaron Johnson back as David "Dave" Lizewski / Kick-Ass. Jeff Wadlow will step in as the new director to the sequel, as handpicked by his predecessor Matthew Vaughn himself. No news yet on whether Hit-Girl will be confirmed to return, but it's a sure bet if she does, then Chloë Grace Moretz may be back for more slicing and dicing. For more information on the story, visit the source post at Bleeding Cool!
It's breaking news for Mark Millar fans, especially those looking forward to a visit from the man behind The Ultimates and KickAss in their own respective countries.
Via his own website Millarworld and a news scoop in Bleeding Cool, the Scottish born comic book writer has set up a competition wherein he will travel to any location in the world for a signing of his upcoming new book Supercrooks #1... Provided that store orders the most copies of said comic book. Stores in Ireland and New York City are up in the lead for Millar himself to pay a visit. However, the big cheese and top qualifier to get the man himself is a store located right here at home... The Philippines!
That's right, Mark Millar may make the trip to Manila, and things are holding up so far for Filipino fan hopefuls who are looking forward to his potential visit. Bleeding Cool even used an image of just how the comic book store scene looks in the RP above... with a certain fellow blogger friend I know who's actually in the image! For more on the story, check out the source posts at BC and Millar World!
This October, Dave Lizewski and Mindy MacCready will be donning the costumes once more to kick ass and take names, as Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. set up to bring fans "Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall"! That's right, Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl are coming back to the streets, to finish the job against crime and take on their archnemesis, Red Mist! Not only that, their actions have gone viral on the web, and now every person in this planet wants to be a superhero, in one form or the other! Comic Book Resoruces has this amazing interview post with Millar on the direction the writer is taking this series once the second story launches. Check it out via this link, and here's a teaser image of one page that's already making me excited to read the next installment!
Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall #1 debuts on October 6. It will also be serialized in smaller form via Mark Millar's CLINT Magazine next month!
Any of you read Mark Millar's Nemesis? If you haven't, you're missing out on some of the most awesome and intense s@#$ the writer has done since he introduced The Ultimates and Kick-Ass to comic geeks around the world! Imagine a story where Batman was The Joker? That's Nemesis for you - a costumed vigilante who traveled the entire globe to train and hone his body to kill cops around the world. Call it the reverse Dark Knight if you will, but the first two issues of this mini-sadistic-comic series has me glued on like a kid with his favorite candy treat. Millar's on a role with this comic... and following in the footsteps of Kick-Ass, it's even getting the big screen treatment!
News from io9 and Millar's own Millarworld Forums have just pegged legendary action movie director Tony Scott as the guy to helm the Nemesis film adaptation, and the comic's creators - Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, couldn't be even more pleased about the news. The man who directed Top Gun and The Last Boy Scout will be getting the green light to direct a film where we have a Batman archetype ready to dish it out against the law and kill anybody standing in his way, with guns and explosions blazing. It may sound crazy, but I'm actually very excited, and I can't wait for more details to pop up on the Nemesis movie!
If any of you guys loved the Kick-Ass comic, its subsequent film adaptation, AND Hit-Girl... you're gonna love this bit of news I just read up in MTV and Enewsi.
According to comic scribe and Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar, the series will see its long awaited sequel in a the pages of his new magazine called "cLiNT", an upcoming UK publication that features comic publications and related content. That's pretty good news on the comic side, but how about the sequel to last month's blockbuster superhero flick? Well, the sequel already has a name - Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall, and is expected to begin production in 2011 for a 2012 release. I'm all hyped up for these comics
Fresh from watching the movie last night with my friends and buddies, all I can say about Kick-Ass is pure and simple - IT KICKED ASS!!!
Into the start of Saturday and still geeking over a fantastic movie experience, I can honestly say that the film adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr's work is AWESOME. So awesome that even if I said a number of things to clarify the differences between it and its comic book counterpart, it wouldn't matter. This film uses the same premise I know and twists it around into a unique version that absolutely caught me off-guard and impressed the hell out of me. Nothing says fangasm more than seeing a comic book movie outdo its printed counterpart, and that's saying a lot already. Don't get me wrong here, I still like the original Kick-Ass story presented in the books, but this one totally blew me away, and I'll get right to explaining why as soon as I kick off this ass kicking review. Pardon the puns, but it's soooo true.
Movie review: Kick-Ass Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicholas Cage, Mark Strong, Chloe Grace Moretz Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Following mostly the same plot as in the comics, Kick-Ass tells the story of Dave Lizewski, your average teenager and student who has a dull life and decides to become a real life superhero. His first attempt to fight crime nearly gets him killed, but he soon recovers and is still determined to pursue his passion. Eventually, he succeeds in saving a guy and becoming an instant sensation via You Tube, as well as taking up an identity - the alias of "Kick-Ass"! However, Dave isn't the only hero around town, as the mysterious team of Big Daddy and Hit-Girl take on the mob and leave a body count trail behind them. With his actions causing more trouble in his life than he bargained for, Kick-Ass will learn firsthand what it means to be a hero, even if could get him killed.
Directed by the guy who produced Snatch and directed Stardust, Matthew Vaughn brings an excellent re-imagination of Kick-Ass to the big screen. It's the flick to start off an awesome month laced with comic book movies, and even if it's not a big time superhero name you would have normally heard off, this film pays tribute to the heroes that inspired the making of this story, with several references and montages placed all around the story. The right combination of story-telling, action, and comedy is what makes Kick-Ass work, and the cast in the movie bring the two-dimensional comic book characters to life gloriously.
Aaron Johnson takes the lead and is the guy who plays Dave Lizewski/ Kick-Ass. Although the character was a blond kid in the comics, this version is just about the same, living with his dad and suffering a pathetic, Peter Parker-esque life in High School each and everyday. Dave's quite a likable fellow, albeit insecure and almost unsure of his actions most of the time. It's only when he takes up the mantle of Kick-Ass that he gains a sense of renewed confidence and self-esteem. But that itself is thoroughly tested as he realizes how big a hero's life is. Johnson's performance was excellent, and he kind of reminds me of a younger Tobey Maguire with the role he's taken up here. His previous film, Nowhere Boy, had him in the lead role of a younger John Lennon, and that's still pending a US and International release date later this year.
As a veteran actor and legend in his own right, Nicholas Cage knows what it takes to play heroes in the big screen. Being a big comic book fan himself, he's played Marvel's demon riding hero, Ghost Rider, and now gets another heroic role in Damon Macready/ Big Daddy. This version of the character is vastly different from its comic book counterpart, but that's on the good side, and a better improvement thanks to adjustments made to the story's narrative. Big Daddy is a former cop who was framed by the mob and sent to jail, losing his wife to drugs but gaining a daughter just before she died. After leaving prison, he decides to get payback, raising and training his daughter to exterminate crime and donning costumed identities to hide their faces. Damon Macready was just a man... but Big Daddy is ready to kick the mob's ass. Instead of an accountant who sold his comic book collection to fund an ideal future for his daughter, Cage plays a Big Daddy who actually wants revenge, and dresses in a costume that has a noticeable similarity to Batman. The actor also pays homage to the legendary DC character by incorporating a "utility belt" and speaking in a manner that would make William Shatner and Adam West proud. Good performance I've got to say, but wait til you get a load of BD's daughter.
Young actress Chloe Grace Moretz plays Mindy Macready/ Hit-Girl, Big Daddy's "Baby Girl" who completely steals the movie's spotlight with her moves and kick-assery! Much like her comic book counterpart, Hit-Girl is the character that makes Kick-Ass work, and as adorable looking as the 11 year old lady looks, you DO NOT want to mess with her. Her knowledge of using guns and the balisong thanks to her daddy's training comes a long way, and unlike the comics, she gets a lot of great action scenes that pay tribute to a number of games and movies people will probably recognize outright. I love Hit-Girl, and she made this movie totally awesome to watch.
Another familiar Hollywood face who last appeared alongside Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes is actor Mark Strong, who breaths new life into the role of Frank D'Amico, a mob boss who was not such an intimidating villain in the Kick-Ass comics, but becomes a serious threat with some serious martial arts skills to show for it in the movie adaptation. D'Amico mixes his calm and organized nature with some aggression and frustration, and that adds a new layer to the character that was just another punk waiting to get his ass kicked by the right person. He's not all ruthless, however, as he shows a father side to his "strictly business" attitude with his son Chris D'Amico, played by Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse.
A comic book reader himself, Chris actually respects Kick-Ass in this film unlike his comic book counterpart, but also takes on the role of Red Mist to draw out the hero and impress his father in relation to the mob killings. He's not so much the Harry Osborn type of guy, but that soon becomes apparent by the end of this film that Kick-Ass has gained a new enemy instead of an ally in the superhero business.
Kick-Ass Red Band Trailer
Co-produced by Brad Pitt and co-written by the actual comic book's creators, Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. themselves, the movie adaptation of Kick-Ass does more than good, it really KICKS ASS. Tons of actions, lots of nods to other films and videogames, and great acting and comedy only serve the film well. Even if it deviates from the comics and improvises on certain scenes, it's fresh enough to feel great about this movie, especially on the changes made to Dave and the characters around him. True, it won't replace that feeling of awesomeness I got the first time I read the comics, but Kick-Ass The Movie is another great experience for the comic book/ action movie lover. This is certainly looking like a sleeper hit to many who don't know about the premise of this film, but if you be curious enough to give it a try, rest assured, it WILL KICK YOUR ASS.
Kick-Ass: The Movie premieres today on cinemas everywhere. Most of you have probably seen the trailers already and gotten a gist of what it's all about... but did any of you read the comics on which the movie is based upon? If you haven't, you're missing out on what is probably one of the most awesome, gruesome, best written superhero stories ever written in the history of comics, and one that touches on life as we know it rather than the surreal adventures of an alien refugee from another planet or a boy endowed with radioactive spider powers! Warnings should be given of course, and this IS NOT FOR YOUNG KIDS, and STRICTLY FOR MATURE READERS ONLY. If you wanted to know what it meant to be a superhero in this day and age, look no further. Kick-Ass is here.
Written by Mark Millar and drawn by John Romita Jr., Kick-Ass tells the story of Dave Lizewski - your average high school teenager living with a single father and has a big love for comic books and porn. He's neither athletic nor the smartest boy in class, and everytime he makes a move on his crush, Katie Deauxma, he's rebuffed with insults that would make any man feel puny. Yep, life seems pretty dull for Dave... but all of that changes one day when he has an epiphany. "Why does everyone work to get a job they don't want and a future that isn't the least bit exciting"? "Why hasn't anyone tried to be a superhero"? With those thoughts feeding his energy and imagination, Dave sets out to carve a heroic legacy for himself by purchasing a spandex suit online and hitting the streets in search of trouble wherever it may be. After a few hits and big mistakes, Dave strikes gold when he manages to save a guy from a serious beat down from some goons, and with bystanders seeing and recording the whole thing, he soon becomes a You Tube sensation, and finds a moniker to call himself by - "Kick-Ass". Following the sudden surge of popularity, Kick-Ass' influence goes from media hype to trend setter, as other wackos start coming out of the woodwork and begin dressing up as superheroes, such as the crimson vigilante Red Mist and the mob killing duo of Big Daddy and Hit Girl. Yes, it does feel great to be a hero... but there are consequences that follow because of it. What Dave Lizewski doesn't realize is that his actions have triggered the ire of the mob, and they will see to it that Kick-Ass and his cohorts get a less heroic ending than they thought.
When it started out back in 2008, I didn't really know what to make of Kick-Ass. The idea seemed too crazy to imagine - a kid wanting to make a difference decides to become, of all things, a superhero. As an avid comic book reader, I could relate to the idea, but I don't know if I'd actually survive the world's scrutiny and abuse if I dared to step out in a pair of tights and fight crime.
That, my friends, is where the brilliance of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. comes in.
If you ever longed to read a tale where a regular ol' joe like you and me wanted to become a superhero, this is the book for you. It comes along so natural and down to earth that you can relate to Dave's situation every step of the way. Every punch, kick, insult, injury, frustration, and emotion the kid takes is a hit to our character, and we feel the up and down moments as if we were actually experiencing them firsthand. Millar, the guy who delivered classic Marvel books like The Ultimates and Civil War, taps into life's daily going ons as inspiration to create a tale that doesn't have anything special... except people kicking ass as heroes and learning things the hard way. He's not one to censor things either, and being a book away from the norm means that the kid gloves are off and the shit is about to hit the fan. You will see about every curse word there is to know, and the most violent, gore-fested death scenes you can actually see in a comic, and all that artwork comes from the talented hand of John Romita Jr. It's not the artist's first team up with Millar either, as both worked on an epic Wolverine run with Wolverine: Enemy Of The State a few years back. To say that this is a dream team come true is an understatement.
If you haven't read Kick-Ass, you're sorely missing out on a true classic. As an 8 issue miniseries that only concluded recently, the Hardcover is finally out and ripe for the picking at a bookstore near you. Of course, with the movie out in theaters now, it's going to be a little hard to come by, but when you actually see one, don't hesitate to grab a copy. Comic book stories do make for good movie material, but it's always a constant fact that not everything makes a complete or faithful translation to film. There are very noticeable differences between both mediums, but I would definitely recommend to check out both when you have the time. Rest assured, it will definitely Kick-Ass.XD
For kicks, here's the trailer for the movie one more time... in case you missed it.
Via Newsarama and you tube, here it is - The final redband trailer for Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s Kick Ass! Pack 'em up and watch what it takes to be a true hero... and kick ass!
Everyone's looking forward to Mark Millar's latest comic book sensation "Nemesis", and I am too for the most part. Collaborating with his longtime partner in comics Steve McNiven, this Marvel miniseries presents a story that begs the question - "what if Bruce Wayne was The Joker"? Basically, you have the biggest, baddest costumed individual of them all... and he's trying to make the lives of the police a living hell. This has gotta be one of the most intriguing stories coming up yet. But then again, this isn't the first time an "Anti-Batman" was made, and from the way the plot sounds, it's very much reminiscent of an old Bat-rogue's M.O and style, and The Dark Knight confronted his complete opposite many times before.
The character who is arguably the "direct opposite" of Batman is The Wrath, a vigilante who harbors a deep grudge for anyone siding with the law and justice. Like Bruce Wayne, he lost his parents at a young age, but they were burglars shot down by a police officer, who mistook them for finishing off a robbery when in fact they were simply skipping the rent. Filled with anger and looking for direction, he traveled the globe and honed his skills like Bruce did, and after learning all that he could, he set out on a one man crusade against those who called themselves agents of the law. Like Batman, he took up a costume, which was nearly identical to the Caped Crusader. He even had gadgets, vehicles, and a utility belt at his disposal. However, the one thing that he did that Batman would never do was adopt the use of firearms, which sealed his nature as The Dark Knight's complete opposite. Eventually, this maroon colored fiend was apprehended by Bats, after a failed attempt at assassinating Commissioner Gordon. Despite that, he even learned Batman's secret identity, and pursued to torture his loved ones. However, his final confrontation with Batman led to his demise, after The Wrath falls for one of his own traps and falls from the rooftop to the streets of Park Row.
However, that would not be the end of the Wrath's legacy. A successor rose up to take up the mantle, and his name was Elliot Caldwell. In a story depicted in Batman: Confidential, this Wrath reveals a dark secret that ties Commissioner Gordon to a crime many years ago on the same day Bruce's parents died - the gunning down of the original Wrath's parents. Gordon was shipped to Chicago to protect his mistake, while the newly orphaned boy was sent to an orphanage and never adopted, thus fueling the rage and passion inside him to eliminate any law enforcing agent. The new Wrath would also reveal that he was trained by the original to be his "Robin", inspired by Batman's admission of a sidekick to his crusade. After his mentor died, Elliot took up the mantle and attacked Batman and Nightwing (the former original Robin), but was defeated and sent to Blackgate Prison in the end.
Looking back at this, the comparisons between Nemesis and Wrath are strikingly similar, but I don't think Millar will tell things in the same manner once his new book gets rolling. Looking forward to the new "Anti-Batman" book soon!
