OVER 1.6 MILLION PAGEVIEWS SERVED

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

MARVEL'S INHUMANS Casts Anson Mount as Black Bolt


Mount, as you might expect, was silent on the announcement.

Marvel has revealed that the upcoming ABC television series Marvel's Inhumans has cast Anson Mount as the Inhumans' king, Black Bolt.  The 8-episode series will explore the never-before-told epic adventure of the Inhuman royal family.  Mount joins Iwan Rheon (Maximus the Mad) in the series.

Black Bolt is described in the article as "the enigmatic, commanding King of the Inhumans, with a voice so powerful that the slightest whisper can destroy a city."

Mount, 44, is best known as Cullen Bohannon on the AMC series Hell on Wheels.  His film work includes the movies Visions, Supremacy, Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama bin Laden, Straw Dogs, The Battle of Shaker Heights, Crossroads, and Urban Legends: Final Cut.  He has also appeared on episodes of LOST, Dollhouse, Smallville, Red Widow, Law & Order, Conviction, CSI: Miami, Sex and the City, and Ally McBeal.

"Anson loves the challenge of playing a character who will only communicate silently," said Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television and Executive Producer.  "His enthusiasm mixed with his imposing almost regal persona made it easy to see why he is our Black Bolt."

Executive producer and showrunner Scott Buck added, "Black Bolt is a character whose deep complexity must be conveyed without uttering a single word, and I’m very excited to have Anson on board to bring him to life."

Created in 1965 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Bolt first appeared in Fantastic Four (vol.1) #45 as Blackagar Boltagon, the son of two preeminent Inhumans.  Black Bolt was exposed to the mutagenic Terrigen Mist while still an embryo, and eventually demonstrated a destructive hypersonic voice. To protect the Inhuman community from his voice, Black Bolt was placed inside a soundproof chamber and was tutored in the use of his powers.  Reentering Inhuman society as a young man, having vowed never to speak, he was attacked by his younger brother Maximus, who attempted, unsuccessfully, to goad him into speaking.

Black Bolt later discovered his brother had secretly allied himself with the alien Kree, the race whose genetic experiments first created the Inhumans, and in trying to stop an escaping Kree vessel, he overextended his sonic powers and caused the vessel to crash.  Several members of the Council of Genetics, including his parents, were killed by the crash, and Maximus was driven insane by his proximity to Black Bolt's use of his voice.  Black Bolt assumed the title of King and married his cousin Medusa, but was haunted by the consequences of his actions.

In recent years, during the Secret Wars storyline, Black Bolt took part in the incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610.  Afterwards, Medusa sent the Inhumans Nur and Auran to find Black Bolt, who was forced by Maximus to use his voice against them, killing Auran. Black Bolt and Medusa ended up separating over his prolonged absence from Attilan, but teamed up to battle Kang the Conqueror for their son Ahura (Black Bolt had earlier given Ahura over to Kang for safe-keeping during the incursions).  Unwelcome in Attilan, Black Bolt currently runs "The Quiet Room", a night club that functions as a neutral zone for metahumans.

This will be the first time the character will appear in live-action, although he has been in several animated projects, including Fantastic Four (1978), Fantastic Four (1994), Planet HulkHulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (voiced by Clancy Brown), Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers: Ultron Revolution (voiced by Fred Tatasciore), and Guardians of the Galaxy (voiced by Trevor Devall).

The first two episodes of Inhumans will first debut in IMAX theaters on September 4, 2017, followed by the ABC television series two weeks later.

Fox's X-Men Universe Pilot Casts Stephen Moyer in Lead Role


Sadly, we probably won't get to hear him say "Sookie..."

The Hollywood Reporter revealed late yesterday that Fox's upcoming X-Men universe drama pilot from writer Matt Nix and X-Men movie director Bryan Singer has cast Stephen Moyer in the lead role of Reed.  Moyer joins Jamie Chung as Marvel mutant superhero Blink and Blair Redford as an unnamed character.

The still-untitled drama focuses on two ordinary parents who discover their children possess mutant powers.  Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.

According to the article, Reed is described as "an ambitious attorney trying to balance the demands of his job at the DA's office with his responsibilities to his family."

Moyer, 47, is an English actor best known as the vampire Bill Compton on the HBO series True Blood, and has appeared in the films Concussion, Detour, Devil's Knot, 88 Minutes, and Prince Valiant. He's also appeared in episodes of The Bastard Executioner, The Sound of Music Live, Phineas and Ferb, Casualty, Waking the Dead, Princess of Thieves, Highlander: The Raven, Ultraviolet, and Conjugal Rites.

Nix wrote the pilot, which Singer will direct.  The two will executive produce with Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory.  20th Century Fox Television will produce in association with Marvel Television.

Friday, February 24, 2017

BLACK LIGHTNING Pilot Casts Cress Williams as...Black Lightning


The CW's Arrowverse has an electrifying new hero.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that the Black Lightning pilot for The CW has cast Cress Williams as lead character Jefferson Pierce, better known to DC Comics fans as the superhero Black Lightning.

Williams, 46, is probably best known as the hitman Wyatt on Prison Break and as Mayor Lavon Hayes on Hart of Dixie.  In addition, he's appeared as Baron Sunday on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and on episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Friday Night Lights, Grey's Anatomy, Close to Home, The West Wing, Veronica Mars, House, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Providence, Nash Bridges, Sports Night, JAG, NYPD Blue, Living Single, and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Black Lightning is being developed by Greg Berlanti (famous for the four DC Comics series currently on The CW), Mara Brock Akil and her husband Salim Akil (The Game, Being Mary Jane).  The project is from Warner Bros. Television, Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions.  Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil will serve as executive producers with Berlanti Productions' Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter.

According to the article, Black Lightning "centers on Jefferson Pierce.  He made his choice: he hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hell-bent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend Black Lightning."

Created in 1977 by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden, Black Lightning first appeared in Black Lightning #1 as Jefferson Pierce, a gold medal-winning Olympic decathlete who returned to his old neighborhood in the Southside (Suicide Slum) section of the city of Metropolis, with his wife Lynn Stewart and his daughter Anissa to become the principal of Garfield High School.  Southside was where his father, renowned journalist Alvin Pierce, had been murdered.  Guilt over this event was a factor in Jefferson's decision to leave the city of Metropolis.  Suicide Slum was being torn apart by a local organized criminal gang called the 100, shady corporations, and crooked local politicians like Tobias Whale.

Peter Gambi, a family friend and tailor, had taught a much younger Jefferson how to suppress his inborn metahuman ability to generate and magnify externally-localized electro-magnetic phenomena, by manipulating intense bio-electric fields generated from his body, so that he would not accidentally hurt any of the people he cared about.  Upon his return, Gambi suggested to Jefferson that he should use his powers to help the neighborhood.  Appalled by the public murder of Earl Clifford, one of his more promising students, Pierce tried to intervene on behalf of the schoolchildren, but quickly learned that the 100 objected violently to any interference.  He soon adopted the identity of Black Lightning.

As Black Lightning, Pierce developed a strong reputation as a crimefighter and was invited to join the Justice League of America, but turned them down.  He did, however, end up joining the Outsiders and remained with them until their eventual breakup.  After moving to Brick City, Black Lightning continued fighting crime, while his daughter Anissa joined a new incarnation of the Outsiders as the superhero Thunder, and his sixteen-year-old, younger daughter, Jennifer Pierce, was recruited by the Justice Society of America under the code name Lightning.  Black Lightning eventually joined another incarnation of the Justice League of America, who needed help fighting the android Amazo.

The character has appeared in a number of animated projects, including Batman: Brave and the Bold (voiced by Bumper Robinson), a "Thunder and Lightning" DC Nation Short (voiced by Blair Underwood), Young Justice: Invasion (voiced by Khary Payton), and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (voiced by LeVar Burton).  His only live-action appearance was in a 1992 Saturday Night Live sketch that parodied "The Death of Superman" storyline in DC Comics (played by Sinbad).

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Chris McKay in Negotiations to Direct NIGHTWING Movie


Wingnuts, your time has finally come at last.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Chris McKay, director of The Lego Batman Movie, is in negotiations to direct a movie based on DC Comics superhero Nightwing.  Bill Dubuque (The Accountant) is reportedly writing the script.

Nightwing is the latest in Warner Bros.' plan to grow the DC Extended Universe, including Gotham City Sirens starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, a sequel to Suicide Squad, The Batman starring Ben Affleck, Shazam starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson,The Flash starring Ezra Miller, and Cyborg starring Ray Fisher.

In addition to The Lego Batman Movie, McKay has directed the animated TV film Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III, along with various episodes of the animated TV series Robot Chicken, Titan Maximum, and Moral Orel.

Created in 1984 by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Nightwing first debuted in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 as Richard "Dick" Grayson, a member of the New Teen Titans who gave up his previous superhero identity as Robin and his partnership with Batman.  When the supervillains Deathstroke and Terra kidnapped his fellow Titans, Grayson adopted his new identity of Nightwing after being inspired by Superman telling him the legend of Kryptonian heroes Nightwing and Flamebird.

As Nightwing, Grayson became the protector of Gotham City's neighboring municipality of Blüdhaven, relocating there to investigate a series of murders.  He remained the city's guardian for some time, facing foes such as Blockbuster and new villains such as Torque, dividing his duties between Bludhaven and Gotham after a devastating earthquake and the subsequent decision to declare Gotham a No Man's Land until the city was fully rebuilt.

In the current New 52 continuity, after briefly acting as an agent of the Spyral organization, Grayson has resumed his identity of Nightwing and associated with a vigilante named Raptor in a plan to bring down the Court of Owls from the inside.  Though Raptor seemed willing to play by Grayson's rules of not killing, he tricked Grayson into agreeing to a plan that resulted in the deaths of all of the Parliament of Owls in Sydney.  After defeating Raptor, Nightwing has once again become the protector of Blüdhaven.

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 075: "The Androids of Tara" is Up!


"Hear that, K-9?  Wedding bells or a funeral knell?  Do hurry up, a hamster with a blunt penknife would do it quicker."
"You ordered me to make no noise, master."
"Just get on with it."
– The Fourth Doctor and K-9Doctor Who: "The Androids of Tara"

That's right, my partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back once again with a special 75th episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast!  In this episode, we're joined by special guest companion Karen Lindsay from The Fandom Zone Podcast and review "The Androids of Tara", the fourth serial from Season 16, a.k.a. "The Key to Time" season, starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm as the First Romana, and John Leeson as the voice of K-9!

This time, Jesse, Karen and I discuss things like my two podcast worlds colliding, Karen's love of the Tom Baker era, K-9 being thrown to the wolves by the Fourth Doctor, The Prisoner of Zenda, The Princess Bride, the original humanoid Jabba the Hutt, Robert A. Heinlein's Double Star, the Fourth Doctor going fishing, K-9 beating the Doctor at chess, everyone underestimating the Fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm carrying the entire story on her shoulders, Count Grendel's crazy yet historically proven plan to become king, Neil Patrick Harris in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Jesse and Karen debating the greatness of K-9, Twiki from Buck Rogers and the Robot from Lost in Space, the branding of K-9, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment fail, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Google Play Music -- RIGHT HERE
iTunes -- RIGHT HERE
Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn --  RIGHT HERE
Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page
Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

And hey, if you'd like to pick up the officially official Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back soon as Jesse and I review "The Power of Kroll", the infamous fifth serial from Season 16, a.k.a. "The Key to Time" season, starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm as the First Romana, and John Leeson as the voice of K-9!  Look for more of Next Stop Everywhere on iTunes, Google Play Music, YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Sticher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

THE FANDOM ZONE 093: "Rock in the Road" is Up!


"And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children -- black men and white men, jews and gentiles, protestants and catholics -- will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual -- Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
– King Ezekiel (after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) , The Walking Dead: "Rock in the Road"

You guessed it, Karen Lindsay and I are back with another big episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  

This week's reviews of comics on television include:

The Walking Dead 7x09: "Rock in the Road"  (Midseason Premiere)
Supergirl 2x12: "Luthors"
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4x14: "The Man Behind the Shield"
Arrow 5x13: "Spectre of the Gun"
Legion 1x02: "Chapter 2"

This time, we talk about things like the Justice League Dark animated movie, wanting Sandman and Doom Patrol Funko figures, Sgt. Hulka from Stripes, Gregory the useless bureaucrat, Rosita's anger issues, King Ezekiel wanting Morgan's opinion, Rick and Michonne's awesome zombie decapitation stunt, everybody wanting to think that Lena is evil, Lillian's appreciation for Lena's chess skills, Coulson and May's almost relationship, that awkward moment when your secret organization is infiltrated by evil android duplicates, the classic Star Trek episode "Spectre of the Gun", Team Arrow getting up on their soapboxes about guns, Mayor Queen's magical solution to solve the gun debate in an hour, the bird being the word, speculating on X-Men villain the Shadow King, wondering if David's memories of his dad are completely false, Karen's MRI machine fantasy, some feedback from Justina, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

Google Play Music
 -- HERE 
iTunes -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week, as Karen and I review new episodes of The Walking Dead, Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Legionright here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MARVEL'S INHUMANS Casts Iwan Rheon as Maximus


Maximus might want to stay away from Lockjaw's kennel.

Marvel has revealed that the upcoming ABC television series Marvel's Inhumans has cast Iwan Rheon as the Inhuman supervillain genius Maximus the Mad.  The 8-episode series will explore the never-before-told epic adventure of Black Bolt and the Inhuman royal family.

Maximus is described in the article as "a clever and charming Inhuman that is fiercely devoted to the people of Attilan, especially his brother, the King – although he harbors an intense desire to wear the crown himself."

Rheon, 31, is best known as the psychopath Ramsay Bolton on the HBO series Game of Thrones.  He has also appeared as Simon Bellamy on the British series Misfits and has appeared in episodes of Residue, Our Girl, Vicious, and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.  In addition, he's appeared in the films Libertador, Wild Bill and Resistance.

"Iwan’s ability to be charming, roguish, and still completely unexpectedly dangerous were all the different sides we needed to bring the character to life," said Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television and Executive Producer.  "We’re thrilled to have him on board."


Scott Buck, executive producer and showrunner, added, "Maximus is a complex character. Likable, charming, tragic and villainous all in the same moment, and I’m very excited to have someone of Iwan’s considerable talent."

Created in 1966 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Maximus the Mad first appeared in Fantastic Four (vol.1) #47 as Maximus Boltagon, the second son of two of Attilan's top geneticists, Agon, the head of the ruling Council of Geneticists, and Rynda, director of the Prenatal Care Center.  Subjected to the DNA-altering Terrigen Mist when he was an infant, Maximus peculiarly showed no outward sign of any mutagenic change.  As he matured, he hid his developing psionic powers from the community, but was less successful at disguising his antisocial tendencies.  When he was about sixteen, his elder brother Black Bolt was released from the protective chamber in which he had been confined since birth due to the destructive nature of his Terrigen mutation. One of Maximus's first responses to his brother's freedom was an unsuccessful attempt to make him release his power and prove Black Bolt could not control his sonic powers, and thus lose his freedom.

A month later, Black Bolt witnessed Maximus making a treacherous pact with an emissary of the Kree, the alien race responsible for genetically accelerating the Inhumans eons before.  In an attempt to stop the fleeing emissary so that he could be questioned by the ruling council, Black Bolt used his forbidden power of the quasi-sonic scream and blasted the alien ship out of the sky.  When the ship crashed to earth, it landed on the parliament building, killing several key members of the Genetics Council, including his parents.  The reverberations of Black Bolt's voice also affected Maximus, who was standing nearby, affecting his sanity and suppressing his nascent mental powers.  When Black Bolt assumed the throne shortly thereafter, Maximus vowed to oppose his brother and eventually usurp his rule.

Maximus staged his first successful coup a few years later.  By performing an illegal experiment on the Alpha Primitives, the subhuman worker clones that once served the Inhumans, Maximus created the Trikon, three bodiless energy beings of great destructive power.  While the Trikon wreaked havoc in Attilan, Maximus was able to drive the Royal Family of the Inhumans out of the city.  Feeling secure in his position, Maximus bade his servant, the Seeker, to locate the Royal Family and bring them back to Attilan.  Immediately upon doing so, Black Bolt seized the crown back, to Maximus' dismay.  Maximus also encountered the Fantastic Four for the first time.  Maximus, hoping to win back the public's affection, activated the Atmo-Gun device he had been working on, a machine he believed would kill the human race and leave all other living beings intact. Maximus miscalculated, however, and the device had no effect.  Out of spite, Maximus used the device to erect a barrier that encased Attilan in a dark force sphere, imprisoning the entire race inside.  Black Bolt liberated his people by using his quasi-sonic voice to destroy the barrier, at the price of devastating Attilan's ancient architecture.

This will be the first time the character has appeared in live action, although he has been in several animated projects, including the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series (voiced by Mark Hamill), Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and Ultimate Spider-Man (voiced by Nolan North), Guardians of the Galaxy (voiced by Diedrich Bader), and Avengers: Ultron Revolution (voiced by Keith Silverstein).

The first two episodes of Inhumans will first debut in IMAX theaters on September 4, 2017, followed by the ABC television series two weeks later.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

THE FANDOM ZONE 092: "Chapter 1" is Up!


"Stop looking at me like that, man.  I know, I'm dead, you killed me.  And I gotta say, not cool, man."
"I didn't."
"Yeah, you did.  Don't blame her, don't blame her.  She was just a passenger, riding around in your body.  Don't give a newbie a bazooka and then be surprised when she blows shit up."
– Lenny Busker and David Haller, Legion: "Chapter 1"

That's right, Karen Lindsay and I are back with another HUGE episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  

This week's reviews of comics on television include:

Supergirl 2x11: "The Martian Chronicles"
The Flash 3x12: "Untouchable"
Legends of Tomorrow 2x11: "Turncoat"
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4x13: "BOOM"
Arrow 5x12: "Bratva"
Legion 1x01: "Chapter 1"  (Series Premiere)

This time, we talk about things like the first appearance of Legion, Karen meeting the late Ray Bradbury, the Heat Wave opening to Legends of Tomorrow, the Hyperclan from Grant Morrison's first four issues of JLA, Karen giving Alex cancer with multiple uses of her X-Ray Vision, Mon-El entering the Super Friendzone, Karen's Sean Connery impression fail, Joe c-blocking Wally, the death of Iris West in the comics, obscure Flash villain Clive Yorkin, the Flash's awesome train rescue, Heat Wave inspiring George Washington on how to be an American, Citizen Steel and Vixen having Revolutionary sex, that awkward moment when you try to turn someone into an Inhuman and turn yourself into an Inhuman instead, the Captain America movies being the best superhero trilogy, Karen's proof that she was on the Dark Web, wondering how Ragman can stop a nuclear blast with his rags and not leave radioactive fallout, the origin of Legion from the comics, the career of Bill Irwin, David being instantly smitten with Syd, wondering if the devil with yellow eyes is X-Men villain Mojo or the Shadow King, some feedback from Justina, Karen's upcoming appearance on Next Stop Everywhere 075, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

Google Play Music
 -- HERE 
iTunes -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week, as Karen and I review the midseason premiere of The Walking Dead, along with new episodes of Supergirl, Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Legionright here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

Thursday, February 9, 2017

THE FANDOM ZONE 091: "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies" is Up!


"Face it, kid -- Gotham has no heroes."
– Jerome Valeska to Bruce Wayne, Gotham: "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies"

With Karen off the disabled list, we're back with a new HUGE episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  So huge, in fact, we're splitting it into two parts!

This week's reviews of comics on television include:

Supergirl 2x10: "We Can Be Heroes"
Gotham 3x14: "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies"
Lucifer 2x13: "A Good Day to Die"

The Flash 3x11: "Dead or Alive"
Legends of Tomorrow 2x10: "The Legion of Doom"
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4x12: "Hot Potato Soup"
Arrow 5x11: "Second Chances"

This time, we talk about things like Karen dropping some geek cred points, Karen's new Funko figures, the term "chicks" still being acceptable, hoping that Mon-El's new costume isn't permanent, Kara telling everybody how to be a superhero, wondering why The CW pushes angsty junior high romance on all of their shows, hoping for a Lois & Clark reunion on Supergirl, National Lampoon's Vacation, another rehashed imposter storyline, David Mazouz stepping his game up, the Penguin's doomed crush on the Riddler, Bruce vs. Jerome in a prototype Batman vs. Joker showdown, why flipping Lee Thompkins to the Dark Side is a terrible thing, Bruce getting his arm stapled, Bruce developing his code against killing, Lucifer sending himself to Hell to save Chloe, Karen missing Arrow, my theory that Gypsy was actually working with H.R./Abra Kadabra, why Barry and Iris are much better together than apart, not wanting Dark Future Barry, Keane vs. Lily Allen's cover, Heat Wave beer runs being better than replicated beer, Karen watching Twin Peaks Season 1, Northern Exposure, being disappointed that the Koenigs are clones instead of LMDs, why it's okay to give heroes superpowers without using that damn particle accelerator accident, Karen on the Dark Web, wanting Mystery Arrow Theater 3000, some feedback from Justina, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

Google Play Music
 -- HERE 
iTunes -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week, as Karen and I review the series premiere of Legion, along with new episodes of Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 074: "The Stones of Blood" is Up!


"If they should break through, run as if something very nasty were after you, because something very nasty will be after you."
– The Fourth Doctor to Professor Emilia RumfordDoctor Who: "The Stones of Blood"

You guessed it, my partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back once again with a new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast!  In this episode, we review "The Stones of Blood", the third serial from Season 16, a.k.a. "The Key to Time" season, starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm as the First Romana, and John Leeson as the voice of K-9!  

This time, Jesse and I discuss things like Super Bowl Sunday, Vivian Fey's cheap silver makeup, reading more into Professor Rumford and Vivian Fey's relationship, the Simon Pegg and Nick Frost movie Hot Fuzz, the greatness of Professor Rumford, Romana's very poor choice of shoes, Tom Baker's massive 'fro, K-9 taking things way too literally, wanting to catch up with Romana in the modern era, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, paying tribute to Sir John Hurt as the War Doctor, Peter Capaldi's upcoming departure from Doctor Who, the latest Series Ten and Series Eleven news, some more feedback from Fred Firestine, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Google Play Music -- RIGHT HERE
iTunes -- RIGHT HERE
Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn --  RIGHT HERE
Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page
Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

And hey, if you'd like to pick up the officially official Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back soon as Jesse and I review "The Androids of Tara", the fourth serial from Season 16, a.k.a. "The Key to Time" season, starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm as the First Romana, and John Leeson as the voice of K-9!  Look for more of Next Stop Everywhere on iTunes, Google Play Music, YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Sticher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

First IRON FIST Trailer Showcases the Final Defender


The final Defender is about to arrive.

Netflix has released the first full trailer for their latest Marvel Cinematic Universe television series, Iron Fist.  The 2-minute, 10-second trailer gives us our first real taste of the upcoming martial arts drama series starring Finn Jones as Danny Rand.

As the trailer opens on the streets of New York, we see a bearded and barefoot Danny Rand pounding the pavement until he comes across the Rand Enterprises building.  "Hi, I'm Danny Rand," he says warmly to the receptionist upon entering.  "I've been away for a long time."

Based on Danny's appearance, Rand's security team immediately assumes he's a homeless person and starts shoving him toward the door, telling him he doesn't belong there.  Danny tries to explain who he is and that he just wants to talk, but the security team isn't buying it and keeps on shoving him outside, until Danny easily disables them before proceeding up the elevator.

As we see a picture of young Danny with his parents, Danny explains more in a voiceover. "I left here, ten years old, in a jet with my parents," he says as we see Danny's mother get sucked out of the exposed roof of an airplane.  "I became the lone survivor."

"Danny Rand, back from the dead," says Harold Meachum (David Wenham), the ruthless corporate leader who was partners with Rand’s parents at the time of their deaths.  "Why has he waited this long to show up?  How the hell did he learn martial arts?"

We're then introduced to Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick), an ally of Danny who runs her own martial arts dojo in New York City.  "Where'd you train?" she asks after seeing his skills.

"K'un L'un," replies Danny as we see fleeting glimpses of the mystical city.

"My father instilled in me a love and respect for this company that has never faded," says Danny in another voiceover as he visits his parents' graves.  "This is my home."

We then see Harold with blood spatter on his face, followed by him brutally beating someone.

"This city is no place for Danny Rand," says the mysterious Madame Gao (Wai Ching Ho), whom we remember from Daredevil.  

"Danny, what happened to you?" asks Harold's daughter, Joy Meachum (Jessica Stroup).   "Why are you really back here?"

"Some bad people have gotten on the inside," replies Danny as we see dangerous men with throwing axes.  "Criminals."

"I know what they are," says Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) as she connects Iron Fist to the other three Marvel Netflix shows, "what they can do.  To fight them, we need someone with special skills."

As Danny reads the message "THIS IS THE ANSWER FOR WHICH YOU SEEK", he looks inside a small bowl and see the image of the Steel Serpent, which Madame Gao used for her drug trade on Daredevil.

"I've been training my whole life for this," remarks Danny as we see Madame Gao watching something (or someone) rather ominously.  "This is my destiny."

From there, we see a number of fleeting images, including Danny's right hand glowing with mystical energy, before getting an exchange between Danny and Colleen.

"I'm going with you," she says as we see a shot of her and Danny running down a street.

"No, you're not," Danny counters as we see a thrown ax just missing his face.

"You need me," replies Colleen as we see her briefly in a sword fight..

"The change is coming, Danny," someone says to him as we see Danny's Iron Fist punch through a wall.  "Become what you were meant to be."

In the last scene, Danny remarks to Claire, "I am the Iron Fist."

Claire simply shrugs.  "What the hell does that mean?"

You can view the trailer below, thanks to the official Netflix US and Canada YouTube account...




All 13 episodes of Iron Fist will be released on Netflix on March 17, 2017.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Extended GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Super Bowl Trailer Reveals Ayesha


Well, at least Drax tried.

Once again, Disney/Marvel took advantage of America's most-watched sporting event by promoting the next Marvel Cinematic Universe film during last night's Super Bowl.  The 30-second TV spot was just as thrilling as the New England Patriots' comeback to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, showing us more from James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2However, a spiffier extended trailer was immediately released online, with a full minute providing even more anticipation.

Opening to the classic rock goodness of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain", we find the Guardians brought before a new villain, Ayesha (played by Elizabeth Debicki).  Ayesha asks the Guardians, "Just who...in the hell...do you think you are?"

Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) replies "Well...", which is immediately followed by multiple fleeting images of the Guardians in outer space action.  We see glimpses of new team members Yondu (Michael Rooker) with a more traditional Yondu headfin, Mantis (Pom Klementieff) in awe at how cute Baby Groot is, and Nebula (Karen Gillan) unleashing a battle cry as she swoops down in some sort of fighter craft.

Yondu, however, is apparently a little freaked out by Baby Groot and asks Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) what Baby Groot meant by "I am Groot."  "He says welcome to the frickin' Guardians of the Galaxy..." replies Rocket.  "...only he didn't use frickin."

In the final scene, the Guardians stand assembled, but a fireball abruptly comes down from the sky and takes out Mantis.  "Look out!" cries Drax (Dave Bautista), far too late after the fireball has already struck.  Drax looks up at the astonished others and says "I tried, guys."

If you'd like to check out the one-minute extended Super Bowl trailer, you can view it below thanks to Marvel Entertainment's official YouTube account...




Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 5, 2017.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

THE FANDOM ZONE 090: "Raiders of the Lost Art" is Up!


"What are you doing up so late?"
"Just trying to figure out what the Legion of Doom wants with those two amulets."
"The Legion of Doom?"
"Darhk, Merlyn, and the speedster.  It's from a Hanna-Barbera cartoon I liked to watch when I was a kid."
– Vixen and Citizen Steel, Legends of Tomorrow.: "Raiders of the Lost Art"

With Karen temporarily on the disabled list, I'm joined by my Next Stop Everywhere partner in time Jesse Jackson for a new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!

This week's reviews of comics on television include:

Supergirl 2x09: "Supergirl Lives"  (Midseason Premiere)
Gotham 3x13: "Smile Like You Mean It"
Lucifer 2x12: "Love Handles"
The Flash 3x10: "Borrowing Problems from the Future"  (Midseason Premiere)
Legends of Tomorrow 2x09: "Raiders of the Lost Art"  (Midseason Premiere)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4x11: "Wake Up"
Arrow 5x10: "Who Are You?"  (Midseason Premiere)

This time, we talk about things like the Phantom Zone projector from Silver Age Superman comics, Jesse's love of Supergirl, wondering why Mon-El has the last name El if he's from Daxam and not Krypton, why Jesse bailed on Gotham, Cameron Monaghan as Jerome, a guest appearance from Jesse's son Chris, catching Jesse up on Lucifer, remembering Linda Park on The Flash, Gypsy from Justice League Detroit, Jesse's thoughts on Legends of Tomorrow, Star Wars and Indiana Jones references with George Lucas, wondering if the Legends stop off to make beer runs, catching Jesse up on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., wondering how Oliver and Felicity are funding Team Arrow's operations if they're supposedly broke, wanting to see Talia and Nyssa together, the destruction of the ugly Black Canary statue that looked nothing like Katie Cassidy, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

Google Play Music
 -- HERE 
iTunes -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week, as Karen and I review new episodes of Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, Gotham, Lucifer, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!