Opinion: The Big Problem with Marvel and DC’s Art
It's been said many times before, but it always bears repeating: comics are a visual medium. Even the best writer is helpless without a talented artist to bring their script to life. And very often, it's those writers and artists who form close, lasting partnerships that produce the best stories. Names like Lee and Kirby or Brubaker and Phillips or Morrison and Quitely carry a lot of weight. That's why it's so unfortunate that consistent, lasting creative teams are becoming such a rarity in mainstream comics. Consistency doesn't seem to be a priority anymore.
Consider this. Marvel is wrapping up Star Wars: Darth Vader in a few weeks. The fact that all 25 issues of the main series featured the same creative team (writer Kieron Gillen and artist Salvador Larroca) is impressive. But Darth Vader is an anomaly in today's market. It's becoming increasingly rare to see an artist draw five issues in a row on a mainstream comic, much less 25. It was less than a decade ago that Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley broke Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's record by collaborating on 111 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man in a row. There might be a handful of creator-owned comics that achieve such Cal Ripken-worthy feats (The Walking Dead comes to mind), but certainly no book at Marvel or DC has come remotely close in the nine years since.
Stranger Things Soundtrack Now Available for Streaming
The entire soundtrack of Netflix's new critically acclaimed series Stranger Things is now available for streaming via Apple Music.
Volume 1 spans a total of 36 songs created by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, each of which you can listen to below.
While Netflix has yet to officially announce a second season for Stranger Things, co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer already have several things in mind for the future of the series, and are interested creating a video game that leads into a potential Season 2.
19 of Star Wars Rogue One’s Most Cinematic Shots
One of the things we really geek out about is a beautiful movie's cinematography, which is a fancy word for how a movie is lit and shot. When it’s good - as it is in Rogue One’s newest trailer - every element seen on screen suddenly feels punchier, bigger, and more powerful because the story is being communicated through the visuals in lock-step with the sound and dialogue. When the shot alone communicates a story that is big, emotive, impactful, and beautiful - we call it cinematic. And boy, is Rogue One packed with cinematic shots.
This slideshow is a small collection of our favorite cinematic shots from the new trailer. They hint, rather excitingly, at a new visual style for the timeless franchise, and a new way of looking at the characters, setting, and conflict between light and dark that we’ve all come to know and love. It’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan.
5 Ways People Are Cheating at Pokemon Go
If we’ve learned anything from Pokemon Go, it’s that people will go to great lengths in order to successfully beef up their Pokedex and increase their levels. Some travel the world in an attempt to catch ‘em all, some make additional purchases for phone battery packs to maintain a good charge, and others accidentally stumble off a pier trying to line up the perfect shot.
Experience the Magic of Pete’s Dragon in 360 Video Experience
The magic of Pete's Dragon comes to life in this new VR 360 video experience, debuting exclusively on IGN.
In the video you'll not only meet some of the main human characters in the new Disney film, but you'll also come face-to-face with Pete's titular dragon, Elliot.
Check out the video below:
Directed by David Lowery, Pete's Dragon tells the story of an orphan boy Pete (Oakes Fegley) and his giant pet dragon Elliot who live together in the woods. When Pete is discovered by some people in a local town, it is up to forest ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) to find both him and his dragon the right home.
Disney also released another 360 video experience for Pete's Dragon that allows viewers to experience flying high atop Elliot's back.
Tony Gilroy Credited as Screenwriter on Rogue One
Tony Gilroy has been added to the team behind Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as a screenwriter, according to the credits that conclude the film's brand-new trailer.
Reports of Gilroy's involvement in Rogue One surfaced earlier this year when we learned the film was undergoing reshoots. As you can see in the screenshot from the new trailer below, he's now listed as screenwriter alongside Chris Weitz.
Tony Gilroy listed alongside Chris Weitz as screenwriter
Craig’s Showtime Series Shouldn’t Conflict with Bond 25
Daniel Craig's commitment to the Showtime series Purity is not expected to interfere with the production of James Bond 25, should Craig reprise his role as 007.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour (via Deadline), Showtime president and CEO David Nevins said he doesn't think the new series will preclude the actor from the next Bond movie, though that may change should production on the film begin earlier than expected.
Production on Purity's first two seasons will be "fairly continuous," according to Nevins, with the majority of the project expected to be "completed during the course of 2017." That should theoretically give Craig time to film Bond 25, as according to a report published earlier this year, there currently isn't a workable script for the film, "and the creative elements have yet to come into place."
No Man’s Sky: Users Reporting PC Launch Day Problems
No Man's Sky launched today, August 12, on PC, but many users have begun reporting that this version of the game is plagued with performance issues and is preventing some players from even playing the game.
Dozens of players on the No Man's Sky subreddit, as well as on the game's Steam community page, have posted about issues they have encountered with the game so far. Many players have reported poor performance issues and stuttering, while others have reported they are unable to launch the game to play it.
Suicide Squad Postmort and What’s Next for DCEU
Download Keepin' it Reel, Episode 335!
Welcome back to Keepin' It Reel, the IGN show where Jim Vejvoda and Ahmad Childress bring you the latest genre movie news.
This week, we have a SPOILERISH discussion about Suicide Squad's performance and reception, as well as the latest on the next entries in the DC Extended Universe. We then discuss the latest buzz on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Captain Marvel, Transformers: The Last Knight, the Ghostbusters reboot, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, and more.