Newly Released 'Daredevil' Character Poster

Season one of Marvel's Daredevil will premiere with thirteen one-hour episodes in 4K on April 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM PT in all territories where Netflix is available. Now, for your viewing pleasure, they've released a character poster featuring; Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Matt Murdock, Claire Temple and Wilson Fisk. To get a better look, I cropped each character so you can check them out a little better (after the jump).

Synopsis:
Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the Super Hero “Daredevil” in modern day Hell's Kitchen, New York City.

The cast includes:
-Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil
-Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk
-Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple
-Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page
-Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson
-Vondie Curtis Hall as Ben Ulrich
-Scott Glenn as Stick
-Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Marianna
-Bob Gunton and Leland Owlsey
-Toby Leonard Moore as Wesley

'The Avengers Sing Christmas Carols' Will Bring You Marvelous Cheer

It's always fun when the Avengers assemble, right? Well, not always but this time they've come to spread some holiday cheer with a little guest spot from Groot. It's short and adorable and cheery so give it a watch or we'll tell Ultron.

The video is courtesy of James Covenant's YouTube.



-Larissa Mrykalo

USPS To Release Batman Forever Stamps in Time For NYCC

Courtesy USPS

To coincide with New York Comic Con, the US Postal Service is taking on the Batman with some super new stamp designs.

According to the USPS, "This new issuance showcases eight unique designs in a sheet of 20 stamps. Four versions of the iconic DC Comics super hero are depicted from four eras of comic book history. In addition, there are four incarnations of the Bat-Signal." The stamps will be available on October 9 but you can click here to pre-order.

Here is the remainder of the press release and then check out the designs (after the jump)...

The first row of stamps features Batman with his fists clenched. This muscular, determined Caped Crusader has spent the Modern Age of Comics defending Gotham City from its most notorious villains.
The second row of stamps displays Batman dramatically staring up at the Bat-Signal. By the Bronze Age of Comics, artists had encased the super hero’s spare black bat emblem with a yellow oval. The insignia became the crime fighter’s trademark.
The third row of stamps shows Batman swooping into the frame with his cape flying behind him. The image, from the Silver Age of Comics, accentuates the super hero’s signature glowing white eyes and utility belt.

"The Geeky Book of Horror" Kicking Off Kickstarter Campaign

Horror writers Jeremy Biggs, Victor Wright, Nathan Stack and John Robinson are teaming up to bring readers "The Geeky Book of Horror." The anthology will contain new stories that harken back to the horror stories we grew up on; a little silly with some spine chilling creeps along the way! Think of it as a new version of Alvin Schwartz' "Scary Stories" collection, for adults.

As of now, the book will feature 128 pages featuring at least two stories from each author. Various artists around the world, including Mario Gully & Maxi Quy, will be providing black and white illustrations to keep in the vein of classic horror stories.

When asked what the goal of the project is, author Victor Wright stated, "We wanted to write a book that would chill you to the bone; I think this does just that![...]It's great to be working alongside such great talent. These guys are gonna freak you out!"

No strangers to self publishing, each author has successfully published their own titles in the past. A Kickstarter campaign will go live on July 7, to bring this graphic novel/geeky horror anthology to life. The team is looking to raise £6000 ($10,204 USD) to put the project into production.

Backers who pledge £20 ($34 USD) will receive a copy of the book and for donations over that, you can receive merchandise from artwork to signed copies of the book and much more! If they attain their goal, "The Geeky Book of Horror" is set for a December 2014 release.

-Nowal Massari

Peter Parker is Back with a New Villain

You may have heard that Peter Parker is coming back with the next volume of Amazing Spider-man as part of the All-New Marvel NOW. In fact, you may have read about it right here on this very website!

More news is coming out of the Marvel camp regarding Peter's return and it involves a new villain. Beginning with issue #1.1 (to be released May 7, so don't confuse this with the real #1 which is due to be released on April 30), Spidey writer, Dan Slott, has written a five issue series dealing with some of the historical and character development aspects of Peter Parker in an arc being called "Learning to Crawl."

"Learning to Crawl" is being given a treatment similar to Season One that Marvel has used for other titles such as X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Spider-man where a piece of the past is explored. In this case, it's specifically the first sixty days for Peter as Spider-man. You have to imagine that it can be difficult for a writer and an artist to try and incorporate the older feel of that vintage time in writing and art.

In fact, artist Ramon Perez went back to the original work done by the legendary Steve Ditko to evoke the feel of the original days of Peter Parker's journey. This was especially challenging when coming up with a new villain, dubbed Clash. Perez states that he wanted that iconic, old school feeling in costume design and so kept things simple and refrained from adding too many tiny and/or unnecessary details.

Check out Clash, Spidey, and other classic characters in Amazing Spider-man #1.1 to #1.5 starting May 7.

-David Berck

Marvel's Ultimate Universe Gets a Reboot

*CAUTION: SPOILERS AHOY!*

You can already hear the cries, "Again with the reboot?!?" Well, yes and no. Yes, there is a reboot of titles, but there is a reason. That reason is that, in the Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610 for those keeping score), death is final. So, no, it's not a reboot just for the sake of a reboot. What with the final events of Galactus' visit to Earth in Cataclysm having been played out, including the death of a certain iconic hero, we now have some new titles to continue the Ultimate Universe story.

The Ultimate Universe's most popular character, Miles Morales, made it through Cataclysm and will be starring in his own title, "Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-man." This will continue his story under writer, Brian Michael Bendis, who states that the title will mean something extra as Miles does prove he is the ultimate Spider-man. In addition, Miles will also be appearing in a new team book, "All-New Ultimates," along with Kitty Pryde, Cloak and Dagger, a new Black Widow and relative newcomer, Bombshell. They'll be patrolling Hell's Kitchen trying to deal with the super-powered baddies and aftermath of Cataclysm.

Lastly, we've got a new FF and their probably not the first FF that comes to mind when you hear FF. In this case, it stands for that other FF, the Future Foundation. Sue Storm is teaming with a retooled Iron Man, Machine Man, and Falcon to deal with threats coming on a bigger scale. The encounter with Galactus has opened Sue's eyes to the real state of...well, reality...and how our universe sits in relation to other universes out there. Writer, Joshua Hale Fialkov, states that the FF's purpose is to be 'the line of defense against things you just can't hit. How do you fight a planet eater? If you find yourself smack dab in the middle of an intergalactic war, what do you do?' He's also promised that one more principle member of the team will be revealed in the first issue.

Get ready for the next phase of the Marvel's Ultimate Universe. It's coming your way in April.

-David Berck

Fox Announces 'Wolverine' and 'Fantastic Four' Sequels Plus a Mystery Movie

Hollywood Reporter has announced Fox plans to release sequels to "Wolverine" and "Fantastic Four" in March and July of 2017, respectively. What's that? The first FF reboot hasn't been released yet? Apparently, Fox is confident enough in their new team that they don't think it matters!

Fans of the last Wolverine installment will be happy to hear that James Mangold will be returning to direct the follow up to "The Wolverine." No details as yet on storyline, but how cool would it be if Wolverine were suddenly Killable or if X-23 were introduced?

The biggest vague news is the untitled Marvel property under Fox control also being slated for a 2018 release. Speculation has already begun over the unnamed movie, but current front runners seem to be X-Force, which already has a completed first draft, according to Rob Liefield, and something involving the Silver Surfer. After all, if Stan Lee says there's no way a Silver Surfer movie doesn't eventually get done, who are we to argue with the Generalisimo? Do you have any guesses as to what Fox may have planned?

Just to clear up any confusion, Disney/Marvel Studios doesn't own the movie rights to any of the X-Men, Fantastic Four, or Spider-Man characters, so Avengers vs. X-Men won't be happening anytime soon. Daredevil and Ghost Rider have both reverted back to Marvel and are no longer under Fox or Sony control. Confused yet? Hopefully, this handy dandy Geek Twins article will help you keep the movie stuff straight. Or, you know, just look at the pretty picture they made.

Personally, I'm hoping Universal has a Man-Thing solo movie in the works.

-David Berck

Epcot's Figment Leaps from Your Imagination into Comics

When Disney acquired Marvel, it was no big surprise when it was announced that Star Wars would be moving back to the company famous for iconic heroes. Did you think that was where it was going to stop? Au contraire, mon frere. Disney has also announced that it’s having Marvel produce a new comic mini-series that features one of its most beloved characters that resides at Epcot. A lil' purple dragon dude named Figment!

The five issue mini-series, titled "Figment," will delve into the mythology of Figment and his buddy, Dreamfinder. Or is it Dreamfinder and his buddy, Figment? We’ll have to leave that up to your imagination.

In charge of this project is "Skullkickers" writer, Jim Zubkavich and Filipe Andrade, who’s drawn Captain Marvel. Marvel recently sat down with Jim Zub as did Comic Vine to talk about the origin story as well as the flavor of the series.

Jim Zub says the charge of expanding the history behind such popular characters while doing justice to their past has been as exciting as it was intimidating at first. With his history of "Skullkickers," it’s easy to see a sort of whimsical feel making its way into the story, though "Figment" will be much more kiddo friendly. In keeping with each iteration of the popular attraction at Epcot, Zub also focuses on the importance of the imagination that everyone has.

If you’re not all that familiar with the history or characters of Dreamfinder and Figment, don’t worry. Jim has taken special care to remember that not everybody has been following our heroes since 1983, when Journey Into Imagination was first opened in Orlando. You’ll be able to pick everything up and enjoy it, regardless of your familiarity or lack thereof.

Strap yourselves in for the newest historical ride Disney has to offer come June 4th!

-David Berck

Two Brand New "Doctor Who" Comics From Titan Comics Coming Soon

Titan Comics is releasing two all new "Doctor Who" comic series and we've got a sneak peek at the covers for both issues!

First up, the Tenth Doctor will be returning in a brand new on-going series, which means a new companion and adventures throughout all of time and space. The first five issue arc will be presented by artist Elena Casagrande and written by Eisner Award winner, Nick Abadzis. The second arc will come from series architect Robbie Morrison.

The Eleventh Doctor will also be getting a new on-going series, taking on that wibbly-wobbly thing we call time and yelling "Geronimo!" in the face of danger. Series architects Rob Williams and Al Ewing, along with artist Simon Fraser, will be taking helm
of the TARDIS for this new series with the Eleventh Doctor.

If both first issue covers look familiar, they are by Alice X. Zhang, who's Doctor Who artwork has been floating around the internet unnamed for quite awhile. Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor and The Eleventh Doctor will hit shelves July 23, 2014. Until then, just keep Ponding and check out the gorgeous first issue covers below. Allons-y!

FX's 'The Strain' to Offer Rejuvenation Pods at SXSW Festival

For those of you heading to the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, we've got a little relief for you. The FX network understands how utterly exhausting these shindigs can be, so they've decided to set up "The Strain Rejuvenation Station" to perk up all you weary fest attendees! Now, what exactly is a rejuvenation station? For 20 minutes you will be able to catch some zzz's in a nap pod, while exclusive content from the new FX show, "The Strain," plays on a tablet. The press release gives a bit more insight, so here are all the exciting details!

FX is bringing relief to fatigued South by Southwest attendees in Austin, Texas. The Strain Transformation Station will provide participants with the chance to recover from "the strain" of SXSW with 20-minute power naps inside custom-built Rejuvenation Pods. The pods are equipped with tablets showcasing exclusive content from the new FX original series, "The Strain."

The Strain Transformation Station
·Operating from March 7 through March 10, 12:00pm - 6:00pm · Located in the prominent downtown Austin location 419 Congress Ave. @ 5th Street
·A hostess will be on hand to book power-nap appointments in 10 Rejuvenation Pods with additional sitting area/lounge
·Appointments may also be booked ahead of time through the custom mobile site (www.thestrainpods.com)
·The Strain Vaccine (branded energy shots) will be distributed in and around the venue
·The Strain novels and special-edition comic books will be available for takeaway

Sneak Peek: 'Zombie King' Arthur Suydam Variant Cover for George Romero 'Empire Of The Dead' Comic

Having George A. Romero working in comics is good enough, but adding a celebrated zombie artist to the mix? Well that's more than our poor reanimated corpse brains could hope for.

But it's true. According to a press release, Romero's "Empire Of The Dead" Marvel comic is continuing its variant cover treatment for issues #2 and #3, once again with art by "Zombie King" Arthur Suydam. Fans know Suydam as the master behind zombie cover art seen in "Marvel Zombies," "Marvel Zombies vs. Army Of Darkness," "Marvel Zombies 2," "Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth," "Thor #1," the Misfits' "Land Of The Dead" single and more. So pairing with Romero (with interior art by Alex Maleev) makes this a pretty awesome zombie duo.

In the variant covers, Suydam will be zombifying New York City and turning the Big Apple into a rotten one. Issue #2 hits today, while #3 will be released March 26. Take a look at some of his variants for the first two issues of "Empire," along with a sneak peek at the zombie subway from #3 (after the jump).

-Aaron Sagers

Take a Peek Into George Romero's 'Empire of the Dead #3'

If you haven't checked out George Romero's "Empire of the Dead" comics yet, you should definitely get on it. The grisly tales of post apocalyptic New York being overtaken by zombies and vampires is brought to life by artist Alex Maleev.

The third installment will be hitting shops on March 23, so don't forget to shuffle to your local store and pick it up! While you wait, here's a preview of the next issue:

"This March, the pulse-pounding horror epic continues in 'Empire of the Dead #3' – from the mind of Zombie Godfather George Romero and drawn by critically acclaimed artist Alex Maleev! Zombies roam the streets of a plague-ridden Manhattan by day. And Vampires feast on humans by night! Something is rotten in the big apple. Someone moves to strike against the mayor from the shadows. Who is the firecracker known as Dixie Peach? And as whispers of a full-scale zombie uprising stir – where does that leave the last remaining humans? Find out when George Romero's 'Empire of the Dead #3' shambles its way into comic shops this March!"

-Nowal Massari

Wolverine's First Appearance Up for Auction

Save your pennies and break that piggy bank open! A historic piece of comic art is coming up for bid through Heritage Auctions!

Believe it or not, Wolverine's first appearance was forty years ago as of this year, and his first appearance from "Hulk" #180 will be held for auction on May 15. The panel shows classic whisker-costumed Wolvie busting in on Hulk and Wendigo as they're battling it out and announcing his presence with authority. Whether or not this piece of art was still in existence was a matter of debate until now.

The owner, wishing to remain anonymous at this time, was given the page of original art work by artist, Herb Trimpe,  and is returning Trimpe's favor so to speak by donating "the majority of after-tax proceeds" to The Hero Initiative. The Hero Initiative was developed as a not-for-profit corporation that operates as a safety net for comic book creators. They've helped provide financial and other support to creators in desperate straights in return for the enjoyment provided by comic books over the years.

Nobody is quite sure what dollar amount this iconic piece of art will bring, but it's sure to garner a lot of interest, as Wolverine is, without question, one of the most popular comic book characters of all time.

-David Berck

ReedPOP Announces Special Edition: NYC

Love comic books right down to every little detail, but find yourself kind of left out of the convention scene? Well, chin up friend, because a new convention is coming your way! ReedPOP, the people behind events such as C2E2 and New York Comic Con, have developed a brand new convention specifically for "die hard comic book fans, creators and publishers!"

A press release from ReedPOP gives more detail: "As you know, ReedPOP puts on great events like New York Comic Con and C2E2 and we are very excited to announce our newest event - Special Edition: NYC! Being held June 14-15 in New York City, hosted in Javits Center North, Special Edition: NYC will focus on creators, artists, dealers and publishers and is expected to attract 25,000 Fans over the two day event. Special Edition: NYC will celebrate the love of comic books, cartooning, illustration and the graphic arts. We already have a great lineup of Guests and will have many more exciting Guests announced in the coming weeks."

So far the line-up of guests, or Creators, is pretty impressive. Fans can expect to be in the presence of people such as Alex Maleev, Dustin Nguyen, Jenny Frison, Frank Cho, Marguerite Bennett and many more! Be sure to keep checking the Creator's page for updates.

Tickets go on sale for the event February 26 at 12 p.m. ET, so be sure to snatch some up while you can! This inaugural convention is definitely something you won't want to miss.

-Nowal Massari

Dark Horse Comics Brings Season 10 of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

Cover Art by Rebekah Isaacs

Although Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" left television in 2003, that doesn't mean the story was over. Beginning in 2007, Dark Horse Comics provided fans with an eighth and ninth season of the series in comic book form, with some Whedon-helmed stories to continue the saga of Sunnydale. Going to heights that couldn't physically or fiscally be reached during the television run, the Buffy comics took the Scoobies into all new territories.

On March 19, Dark Horse will be publishing the tenth season, which promises even more adventure. In a brief description from the "Buffy Zone" of the Dark Horse website, they reveal- "New season. New rules. The age-old battle of Slayer vs. vampire is the focus of Buffy’s life once again—it’s downright nostalgic! But with all the toying with magic she’s done lately, this girl should know it’s time for another game change . . . Shouldn’t she?"

The premiere issue ($3.50) is executive produced by Joss Whedon, written by Christos Gage and illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs. With all the familiar characters fans loved, hated, or even the ones we loved to hate, be sure to hit up your local comic book shop to find out what happens next!

-Nowal Massari

Clive Barker's 'Nightbreed' to Become a Comic

Cover by Riley Rossmo courtesy MV Comics

After a fair bit of speculation, Clive Barker has revealed on his Facebook page that his underground classic, "Nightbreed" will be made into a comic series. In an exclusive with Multiversity Comics, Piotr Kowalski and Marc Andreyko discuss their upcoming adaptation.

The pair have teamed up to breathe new life into the underrated story of Midian and the monsters that reside within. According to the synopsis, "The Nightbreed is a secret society of monsters and misfits that hide away from humans, but have been a part of this world since time immemorial. Explore both the past and the present of this clandestine tribe, unleashing new secrets and horrors as they fight to coexist with mankind."

Nightbreed panel by Piotr Kowalski courtesy MV Comics

What if you've never watched the film or read the novella "Cabal," on which it's based? Fear not. Andreyko reveals that "I’m writing the book to be both fully accessible to new readers and hit the spot for long-time fans of the property. The pitch: Monsters are real and they live in our world. Some in plain sight, others find refuge in the ancient city of Midian. “Nightbreed” will chronicle tales—past and present—of these creatures and how they survive in a world that hates, fears, and wants to destroy them. From ancient Greece to colonial America to the world of today, there be monsters here."

Kowalski provides some of the panel art in addition to cover art for the first issue, and will be joined in the future by artists such as Mike Mignola, Riley Rossmo and Christopher Mitten. The first issue is 32 pages of fully colored, nightmarish beauty and will available for $3.99 in May. For more information, check out the full interview over at Multiversity Comics!

-Nowal Massari

Fox's "Gotham" Casts Alfred Pennyworth, the Penguin and More!

Casting news for Fox's newest drama, "Gotham," keeps rolling in. Joining Ben McKenzie's Detective Gordon are Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth and Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald "The Penguin" Cobblepot.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Penguin is described as "having the brains of a chess grandmaster and the morals of a jackal who is a low-level psychopath for gangster Fish Mooney who hides his sadistic lust for power behind an exquisitely polite demeanor." Taylor is the first actor to step into the role since Danny DeVito in "Batman Returns" was released in 1992.

Sean Pertwee, son of third Doctor Jon Pertwee, will be playing the "tough as nails ex-Marine from East London," that was a loyal family servant turned fierce protector of the orphaned Bruce Wayne. Pertwee will be joining actors such as Michael Caine, Alan Napier and Michael Gough, who have also portrayed the beloved Pennyworth.

Zabryna Guevara is also joining the cast as Det. Gordon's boss, Captain Essen. Erin Richards rounds out the latest casting news as Barbara Kean, Det. Gordon's fiancee and gifted ER doctor.

During the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, Fox chairman Kevin Reilly said that Batman fans can absolutely expect to see their favorite characters on the screen, stating "This is not one of the things where you bought a franchise and then none of characters people know, we will follow Bruce Wayne right up until the point where he gets interesting[...]This is all of the classic Batman characters."

The pilot was written by Bruno Heller ("Rome," "The Mentalist") and will be directed by Danny Cannon ("Nikita," "CSI"), with the pair co-executive producing. So far there is no word on when production will begin, but stay tuned and we will keep you posted!

-Nowal Massari

Marvel Does A Re-Relaunch

True believers, you may have heard about this thing going on with Marvel relaunching a ton of titles. What was that? Marvel NOW? Oh, no no no, I'm talking about another slew of relaunches Marvel has dubbed the All-New Marvel NOW (seriously, though, when did "all-new" become a thing?) and this one is as big as the other relaunch about a year ago. There are a ton of new titles, some that are just renumbering from #1, and others that are labeled as part of the All-New Marvel NOW that are carrying #1 status on the cover, but remain numbered in continuity with the existing title (e.g. Avengers 24.NOW also having #1 printed on the cover so you know where the ANMN series begins).

Neil Marshall to Direct 'Constantine' Pilot

Image courtesy Digital Spy

The live action adaptation of DC Comic's "Constantine" has finally found the man to direct the pilot. Deadline reports that Neil Marshall, known for "Doomsday" and "The Descent," will be taking the helm of NBC's upcoming project. Marshall most recently directed the opening sequence and third episode for Michael Bay's pirate drama "Black Sails" on Starz, and is set to direct an episode of the new season of "Game of Thrones."

For those unfamiliar with the title, "Constantine" centers on John Constantine, an enigmatic and irreverent con man-turned-reluctant supernatural detective who is thrust into the role of defending us against dark forces from beyond. The pilot will be written by Daniel Cerone, who penned the original story with David S. Goyer.

Currently there is no word on when the show will air, but we will keep you posted!

-Nowal Massari

The Battle Continues in Romero's 'Empire of the Dead #2'

This February, Marvel along with Zombie King George A. Romero and artist Alex Maleev are bringing fans the second issue of their comic "Empire of the Dead." The story takes place in quarantine zone NYC, years after a horrific outbreak spreads across the nation. Though locked away, the inhabitants of the city are far from safe, for lurking amongst the masses are blood sucking vampires and brain eating zombies!

A press release reveals, "Something is rotten in the big apple. And it’s not just the rotten flesh of the Zombies overrunning Manhattan! Deep in the pit of the bloody Circus Maximus – the undead battle for the amusement of the living. But not all here is as it seems. Amid the fury of the arena, vampires roam New York City, hiding in plain sight! What menacing secrets lie in the dark corners of the once bustling metropolis? And when the zombies and vampires prowl – where does that leave the humans? Find out in George Romero's 'Empire of the Dead #2!'"

Be sure to shamble on in to your local comic book shop on February 26 and snag your own copy.

-Nowal Massari