Networks are nervous these days. And it’s no wonder. Not only are more and more shows hitting the skids as the primetime schedules begin the rollout, but streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu as well as cablers such as HBO and AMC are taking aim at audiences by offering brilliant, new content.

So, in a valiant effort to keep audiences exactly where they are without having to think up of daring new content, networks are building on reliable hits.

This ain’t nothing new. Norman Lear created an entire universe out of spin-offs that took audiences from All in the Family to the Maude to The Jeffersons. It’s the idea of holding on to a built-in audience as long as you can without jumping the shark and resorting to adopting moppets, marrying off characters or bringing in distant cousins to keep the show going (aka The Happy Days Syndrome).

Recently, a whole host of primetime shows have announced a round of spinoffs. CBS’ long-standing No. 1 laffer The Big Bang Theory just announced it was getting a Sheldon-centric spin-off in an effort to continue to capture the attention of adults between the ages of 18  to 49.

Titled Sheldon, the comedy will act as a prequel to the comedy as it centers on the antics of a teenage Dr. Sheldon Cooper when he was a teenage misfit growing up in Texas with his uber religious family. Co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady will act has handlers on this show as well, as star Jim Parsons will exec produce.

CBS is also prepping a spin-off for it’s multi-kudo winning drama The Good Wife, which was retired back in May. Award-winning thesp Christine Baranski’s character of Diane Lockhart looks to keep her storyline going as the attorney gets her own 10-episode offshoot on CBS All Access.

The spinoff, The Good Fight, is set to premiere in early 2017.

Also on the docket for a spin-off is ABC’s ‘80s retro comedy The Goldbergs, which will spit out a ‘90s set sitcom based on the PE coach Rick Mellor, played by Bryan Callen. The premise, which is set a few years after the antics of The Goldbergs, follows the gruff teach as he mentors a trio of kiddos, whose momma is the school secretary.

Not to be left out, NBC also enters the spin game with an offshoot of The Blacklist. The Blacklist: Redemption, starring Famke Janssen as Scottie, the head of Halcyon Aegis, the mysterious slightly evil military-esque company from the original show that teamed with operative for shady missions.

Spencer Strasmore (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and his boys are back to “ball out” in Season 2 of the hit HBO comedy Ballers from the team behind the HBO classic Entourage. Johnson showcases his “movie-star charisma” (The Hollywood Reporter) in the series that looks at the whirlwind lifestyles and real-life problems of former and current football players in sun-soaked Miami. Ballers: The Complete Second Season will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on January 31, 2017 and includes “Inside the Episode” bonus segments that give the play-by-play on all 10 episodes, featuring interviews with executive producer Evan Reilly, star Dwayne Johnson and more. DVD and Blu-ray versions also include a Digital Download.

In Season 2 of Ballers, things are getting more competitive and complicated for retired football star turned financial manager Spencer Strasmore. As the lines between professional and personal blur in his pursuit of lasting success and glory, Spencer must face demons from the past when he goes head-to-head with the biggest business manager on the scene. Meanwhile, Spencer’s closest friends and clients struggle to find their footing. A humbled Ricky (John David Washington, former pro-football player) explores his options as a free agent, while getting to know the father who left him behind; Charles (Omar Miller) tries to balance a new baby and his future in the game; and Vernon (Donovan Carter) deals with the consequences of his life off the field. Returning to help Spencer juggle lucrative deals and big personalities are his outrageous business partner, Joe (Rob Corddry), level-headed agent, Jason (Troy Garity) and girlfriend/sports reporter, Tracy (Arielle Kebbel). In a business where it’s go big or go home, Spencer and his crew are about to learn that having it all means being ready to fight for more dollars, deals and respect.

Executive producers of Ballers include Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Peter Berg, Evan Reilly, Rob Weiss, Julian Farino and Denis Biggs. In addition, the series features high profile pro-athletes and sports journalists such as Ndamkong Suh, Terrell Suggs, Anthony “Spice” Adams, Jared Odrick, Mark Schlereth and Jay Glazer.

I won’t lie. It’s been difficult to want to write about pop culture right now. Not after Donald Trump was elected president.

That election was followed by a wave of racialized attacks, now that a man who ran on white nationalist rhetoric is going to be the leader of the free world. A week in which the former editor of Breitbart – a alt-right website praised by white supremacists, with a “black crime” section – is going to be in the White House.

Dave Chappelle tried to save us, hosting Saturday Night Live. His monologue’s jokes packed terror alongside the kind of weathered hope built from tragedy and struggle. The kind of hope that black people know, the kind of hope Barack Obama spoke of eight years ago, but went unheeded amid a wave of imagined racial absolution from the majority.

The gallows humor of Chappelle and Chris Rock at an election night viewing party amid a sea of despondent white liberals pretty much encapsulated my week on Facebook.

It was almost painful to watch SNL, because this was the same show that had Trump host a year ago as he ran for office. Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton played the recently deceased Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” as a dirge. Her boss helped normalize a man whose presidency would seek to erode her rights as a gay woman.

So at a time when my spirit needed some life, it came Sunday morning. I saw the wonderful, emotionally compelling Moonlight.

A story told in three parts, Moonlight follows Chiron, a black boy growing up in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood while dealing with a crack-addicted mother and his budding homosexuality.

In some ways, this structure seems similar to the generally acclaimed Richard Linklater film Boyhood. But unlike the arguable gimmick of shooting that film in real time over 12 years, Moonlight chooses different actors for the principle characters in each part. Barry Jenkins’ direction has each actor carry their personality traits through simple but strong gestures and attitudes.

Also, Moonlight stands apart in how it doesn’t fixate on the usual milestones in an average life. It uses a few formative moments to sketch Chiron’s life, and those scenes play out in such a naturalistic way. Even if the film’s ending feels too writerly than real, the emotional power of the film washes over you in waves that carry you away, like when drug dealer/father figure Juan teaches Chiron how to swim, a scene that feels baptismal.

This film pushes on the spirit by centering on the black male body.

A lot of scholarship on black Americans concentrates on concepts of the body, because it was our labor that made us valuable. Our bodies are why our ancestors were stolen from Africa in the first place. Our skin ascribes much of our lives, and we can’t change the color.

Moonlight joins that tradition. It opens with Chiron as a child, running from bullies who would harm him. As we progress through the three sections, we see his mother lose her beauty and grow frail as her body is ravaged by drugs. Chiron as a teenager undergoes ecstasy and pain both physical and emotional.

It also shows that black male body as beauty, when we see Chiron as an adult. His musculature is imposing and sculpted, and Jenkins’ camera lingers on his dark skin, which shines as much as his gold grills.

We see that black male body as love and desire, through Chiron’s dreams of his childhood friend, Kevin. In the final third of the film, when Kevin cooks a meal for Chiron, the camera captures the passion of in Kevin’s concentrated face and firm, gentle hands in the kitchen.

And, within that beautiful, black male body of the adult Chiron, we also see tragedy. Movements of the plot connect the homophobic bullying of Chiron to the drug trade and the school-to-prison pipeline. Chiron, who was so skinny and underfed as a young child and teenager, now looks like vintage 50 Cent, all muscles and gold.

It’s a prison body. It’s a body that Chiron has built, muscle by muscle, as a fortress around his battered heart.

Moonlight, in all these artful ways, says black lives matter without ever uttering the phrase. Only in its totally did the movie overtake me in its melancholic beauty. It’s what I should have expected from Jenkins, who also wrote and directed the poetic Medicine for Melancholy.

My Sunday in the darkened theater gave me a chance to hold on to my sadness of the past week, and still find roses growing out of the concrete. Moonlight showed how much we continue to persist, if not for a chance to start again, at least to find love and tenderness.

Just like Moonlight in its ending, I want some love and tenderness at the end of these long days. Within that love and tenderness, I can have a place where I can be home and drop my own bodily and mental fortress.

Without categories, without contexts, without the world outside, in this moment I can be my most authentic, rooted self.

That I, too, can be that boy at the ocean’s edge, in the moonlight.

• A compilation of Bob’s monologues from his many holiday tours for the USO
• Bob and Red Skelton (Freddie the Freeloader) experience a small Christmas miracle
• Jack Benny visits Santa at the North Pole for a holiday stickup
• Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt delivers a Christmas message of historical note
• Naomi and Wynonna Judd sing Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
• Lily Pons, Robert Cummings and Bob examine a large, mysterious package under the tree
• Bob and Dolores Hope sing Silver Bells over a montage of him performing the song with an array of female costars from 17 holiday specials
• Clips of the most hilarious Christmas sketches throughout the years

And we’re giving away three copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “HOPE” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

What song was considered to be Bob Hope’s signature song?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 27th, 2016.

Nomad will risk his sanity to bring down Madcap and prove he is his own man, while a new threat prepares to strike.

Captain America #309
“Nomad Madcap Cap…”
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Penciler: Paul Neary
Inker: Dennis Janke

Lots to talk about this week, so let’s get into it.

First off…

Why am I doing this?

The idea for this feature came to me after reading Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme maxi-series for the (woefully belated) first time.

The series crossed over with Gru’s Captain America run towards its end and I decided I’d give it a try.

I wanted to give this a go because I thought it would be fun to read through this whole run and I wanted to provide a place for others to read along and talk about it, to enjoy comics for the fun of it. I also wanted to provide a service for fans of the MCU, who wanted to know more about the source material without judgment from fans for not having read the comics before.

So if you’d like to engage here, check out this issue, available in print where back issues are sold, as well as in the “Society of Serpents” collection. Digitally, you can find it at Comixology, and on Marvel Unlimited. Then read on and hit me up in the comments, or on Twitter. Talking about comics can be a lot of fun, and I’m going to keep doing this as long as it stays that way!

Now, before we get into the story, I wanted to give a brief history of Jack Monroe, the soon-to-be-ex-sidekick known as Nomad. That’s right, we say goodbye (sort of) to him this issue, and before we see him off, I wanted to give newcomers more of an idea of who he is.

So who is Nomad?

Just about everyone has a passing knowledge of Bucky, Captain America’s wartime sidekick. In the comics, he’s a plucky teen in Steve Rogers’ unit who learns Steve’s secret identity and becomes his partner. (That was retconned slightly decades later to explain Bucky was also an advance scout and assassin.)

Most people also know that Bucky was thought killed during the war, while trying to defuse an airborne bomb that also sent Captain America into an arctic deep-freeze. (Yes, movie fans, I know it happened slightly differently in The First Avenger, but here, it all happened at the same time.)

That was Cap and Bucky’s wartime fate as established upon Captain America’s return in Avengers #4.

But what most people didn’t know was that Marvel’s precursor Atlas briefly relaunched Cap and Bucky in Cold War adventures fighting a Communist Red Skull. The revival didn’t last more than a year, and his more successful ‘60s return ignored those ‘50s stories.

That changed in 1972 when writer Steve Englehart and artist John Buscema brought the ‘50s Cap and Bucky out of mothballs by revealing they were impostors who disguised themselves as the real deal so that the country could have a Captain America around to battle Communists.

They injected themselves with a version of the Super-Soldier Serum, but without a blast of vita-rays to stabilize their dosage, the two of them went mad and began attacking people simply for having dissenting views.

The government arrested them and forced them into cold storage.

The two of them were revived (in a story by Roger McKenzie, Jim Shooter, Michael Fleisher, and artist Sal Buscema) by a white supremacist organization called the National Force. The fake Cap was brainwashed into becoming their “Grand Director,” and seemingly murdered the fake Bucky before killing himself.

Of course, this being superhero comics, both deaths didn’t last.

J.M. deMatteis reintroduced the fake Bucky, using the name Jack Monroe, four years later, with him being cured of his mental deterioration.

Steve Rogers decided to take Monroe under his wing and give him his old costumed identity of Nomad.

That’s another long story that involves Rogers giving up his Cap identity after learning the leader of a terrorist organization called the Secret Empire is actually President Nixon.

That’s the moment Cap has his faith in American leadership shattered, a theme we’re going to return to later.

That’s how Nomad as we know him came to be. Now let’s get rid of him!

Nomad and Madcap…team up?!

The main event here is another confrontation between Nomad and the mirthful Madcap, who made his debut a couple issues ago. Nomad has tracked Madcap to his Coney Island hideout, but instead of fighting him, he offers to join forces.

It seems Jack has realized nothing makes sense, and he wants to learn more from Madcap. This ranges from running out on the check at breakfast to causing chaos in the city. It also includes learning Madcap’s origin. Once, the mystery man was a very orderly, church-going guy, until one day on a field trip when a truck filled with chemicals–specifically, a nerve agent developed by longtime Marvel arch-foes Advanced Idea Mechanics–crashed into his bus.

Everyone else on the bus was killed, including his little sister, but this man survived and learned in short order that exposure to the toxin gave him superhuman healing abilities and an invulnerability to pain. Shock and sadness overwhelmed him to the point where he renounced any and all faith in an orderly universe.

Thus was born Madcap.

Welcome home, Cap!

While Jack is on his “Training Day” of sorts, Steve finally returns from his long trip home. He and Bernie catch each other up on what’s gone on: his adventures abroad, her shop closing down thanks to a huge rent increase, and Jack’s disappearance. Bernie shows him a newspaper clipping about Jack’s previous battle with Madcap. Worried, Steve contacts the Falcon and Nick Fury, his only two crimefighting friends who know Nomad personally. It’s Edwin Jarvis, though, who tells Cap of a recent encounter with Nomad that tips him off to where he could be.

(For you MCU fans, the Earth-616 version of Edwin Jarvis, like his MCU counterpart, is the Stark family’s longtime butler though older and living in contemporary times. When the Avengers are founded, Stark sets Jarvis up as the team’s butler and majordomo at Avengers Mansion.)

Before Steve can focus on Jack, he has another pressing matter to deal with. While away, the graphic artist by day missed a major deadline, and his ad agency boss isn’t happy about that.

It turns out his boss is pretty forgiving, but Steve realizes he’d rather be doing something more emotionally fulfilling, and severs his freelance relationship with the agency. Don’t you worry though; Steve has something a bit more…appropriate coming his way.

Nomad vs. Madcap, round 2

Of course, Nomad has been plotting to bring Madcap down all along, but he’s forced to act sooner than expected when the villain unleashes his specific brand of hell civilians again. The battle leads back to the amusement park, which is where both plots intersect, as Cap arrives just in time to witness the two fighting atop the roller coaster.

Before he can jump into the fight, Cap realizes that Nomad needs to handle it himself in order to prove to himself he can stand on his own, so he hangs back and watches.

In a crackerjack sequence by Paul Neary, Nomad manages to destroy Madcap’s bubble gun and thinks he’s won. However, he’s horrified when Madcap reveals the gun was never a real weapon, and that he’s able to mesmerize others on his own. It seems like Madcap might finally put an end to the sidekick, but Nomad uses quick thinking to blindfold Madcap with his own cape, then smother him into unconsciousness.

With the fight over, Cap steps out of the shadows to applaud a beaming Nomad. But Jack surprises the elder hero by telling him their partnership must come to an end, so he can stand on his own. That’s the last we see of Nomad…for a while, anyway.

Snakes…why’s it gotta be snakes?

As all of the above has been going on, the sinister Sidewinder has been continuing his recruitment effort from last issue. First, he breaks Cobra, another original Serpent Squad member, out of jail. Then Death Adder pays a visit to the Ringmaster’s Circus of Crime (yes, there’s a Circus of Crime, and they’ve fought everyone from Spider-Man to the Hulk) to talk shop with Princess Python. Finally, Anaconda tracks down the Constrictor, an ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent turned costumed mercenary, and makes the same pitch.

It’s only one page, and as Gru’s narration admits, “the purpose of these serpentine encounters will not be known for days.” But days equals next issue, and I promise you, things get really good really fast.

So where do we stand?

It took a few issues, but Gru is finally ready to get his run started in earnest. Cap’s superhero life is already changed with Nomad gone, and his personal life is about to change with both himself and Bernie out of jobs. Personally, I felt Nomad a touch whiny, so I’m glad to see him gone.

While the Marvel Universe hasn’t seen the last of Madcap, we have in this series. He resurfaces to battle Daredevil, She-Hulk, and a number of other heroes, before things get really weird between him and Deadpool. (To be fair, things always get weird when Deadpool is involved.)

About Madcap: Gruenwald once said in an interview that the character represented “purposelessness, the disaffected youth of today who thinks ‘What’s the reason for doing anything?’ The ultimate dropout generation.“ It’s a very “old man” kind of viewpoint, which means I should hate Madcap. But I’m intrigued by him–maybe Gru was a little too good at his job…What did you think of him?

There are a couple of things I didn’t like. Steve and Bernie’s dialogue feels too cutesy by half, which is a problem I have with most couples’ dialogue from ‘80s superhero comics. And speaking of Gru’s “old man” writing, Cap comes across as almost aggressively bland at times here: the dude’s favorite food is actually an American cheese sandwich on whole wheat with a glass of milk, and I’m not sure if that was a gag or if Gru was being sincere. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe it was the former, especially since Gru was shaking Marvel storytelling up at the same time on Squadron Supreme (which we’ll get into later).

It’s cool though, because Gru’s plotting really kicks into gear starting next issue, and Paul Neary’s art doesn’t disappoint.

Whether it’s Madcap beating a street gang on his own or Cap getting in a workout at Avengers Mansion, or even Steve quitting his job, Neary excels at drawing physicality of all kinds.

He and Gru are only getting better.

Next time: Enter the Serpent Society…and Steve Rogers’ new job!

Space Goat Productions has announced that they will be partnering with Studiocanal, Oak Productions, and Creative Licensing to make The Terminator: The Official Board Game, which will be launching on Kickstarter in February of 2017.

William Wisher, one of the screenwriters of the original 1984 film, has been brought on as a story consultant. “I’m very excited to be consulting with the creative team at Space Goat to bring The Terminator board game to life!” said William Wisher. “I’ve missed my old friends Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese, and the T-800. It will be fun to spend time with them again!”

“We’re bringing 1984 back. The only movie we care about is the original. We love retro. We want to explore the beginning.” Space Goat President Shon Bury said. “Which is why for this game, we’re focusing on what hardcore Terminator fans love about the original movie.”

The board game is currently under production. The Terminator: The Official Board Game is an asymmetrical strategy game played across two boards – one in 1984 and one in 2029. One player takes control of all the forces of the machines: Hunter Killer flying machines, Terminator endoskeletons , and new robots based on the classic 80s aesthetic. The rest of the players take the role of the human resistance, struggling against the impossible odds of the machine uprising.
“At its robotic heart, The Terminator is a raw and intense chase scene,” Evil Dead 2 Board Game Designer Taylor Smith said. “Combine that with a reactive time travel mechanic and you get a super fun mash-up of action and strategy.”

For more information on the Kickstarter and to be signed up for email updates visit www.terminatorboardgame.com.

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s the Friday edition and I would like to tell you about some excellent books you can currently buy!

Moebius Library: World of Edena HC  

Written and Illustrated by Moebius
Published by Dark Horse Comics 

This is one of the best releases of the year. You can’t beat something that Moebius touches. He’s a genius in our field. One of the best ever. There’s nothing like this that has come before…and there will never be anything like this again.

Stel and Atan are interstellar investigators trying to find a lost space station and its crew. When they discover the mythical paradise planet Edena, their lives are changed forever. The long out-of-print Edena Cycle from Moebius gets a deluxe hardcover treatment! Moebius’s World of Edena story arc is comprised of five chapters–Upon a Star, Gardens of Edena, The Goddess, Stel, and Sra–which are all collected here.

Folks, this is the real thing. Moebius has designs that blow your mind. The artwork will blow your mind. A book from Moebius isn’t just something you read…it’s something you experience. Here’s hoping that Dark Horse keeps these coming. I’d love to see them reissue Blueberry and Azrach.

There is so much good work in here. Every page, every panel is something to behold. If you are a comic fan, and you have always wondered what the fuss was all about, pick this up. It may be 50 bones but it’s totally worth every penny. You owe it to yourself.

RATING: A+

Supernaut #1

Written and Illustrated By Michael David Nelsen
Published by 215 Ink and 50 Foot Robot Studios

Well, this is interesting. Creator Nelsen has spent quite a lot of time and investment trying to get this comic book series off the ground. His efforts may actually be rewarded as the first issue is pretty darn interesting and deserves a heap of praise.

Reality-hopping thieves join the newly ascended consciousness of Astronaut Stephen Haddon – now known as the Supernaut – pulling trans-dimensional capers across the Macroverse! Strange artifacts on the Moon, meeting God and stealing a map to the land of the dead from a secret pyramid beneath the Pentagon.

Things can get a little confusing to be sure. But Nelsen is very creative and I appreciate that. He’s passionate about this book and it shows.

We need more creators like this.

The writing is interesting and the art is spectacular. This is a good debut issue. Where it goes from here, I’m not actually sure. But I will be reading. I want to see where this goes.

RATING: B+

Midnight of the Soul #1-5  

Written and Illustrated by Howard Chaykin
Published by Image Comics

Howard Chaykin is one of the only creators from the 1970s who is still around doing top flight stuff.

Here he is again at Image Comics doing an original series.

That’s pretty incredible if you stop and think about it.

The best part of this, is that maybe we haven’t seen Chaykin’s best work yet. And that is truly something, considering his incredible body of work.

It’s 1950, and Joel Breakstone, former GI and liberator of Auschwitz, is seriously damaged goods. He hasn’t exhaled a sober breath in five years—until the sheltered life he’s created for himself unravels and he begins the long night that will change his life forever.

What’s great about Chaykin is that he doesn’t hold back. If characters are dark, he goes there. He doesn’t go halfway….he makes them deplorable.  He just goes for it. It’s pretty impressive and he hasn’t lost his edge, even after all these years.

The art is awesome too. He still can draw along with a quality that keeps up with the youngsters, yet is classic Chaykin. The man works hard and doesn’t compromise. We need more like him. Pick up this book.

Worth the find and the cover price and more.

RATING: A

The Longest Day Of The Future   

Written and Illustrated by Lucas Varela
Published by Fantagraphics Books

This is a book with no dialogue. No words. Yet, Lucas Varela keeps things interesting throughout, and fascinating. It felt like Peter Kuper meets Moebius meets Jason in a way. And that’s not a bad thing.

In a futuristic city, two mega-companies engage in a battle to eliminate the other. Will the crash of an extraterrestrial flying saucer change that?

Under the guise of a science fiction fable, Varela has spun a searing indictment against consumerism and unfettered capitalism.

There is clearly something deeper going on here. Varela is an original and has a great way to create a unique world.

It feels like nothing else out there. Layer after layer is pulled away and the reader finds themselves fascinated by what they see in front of them. This is a new way of looking at comics. And it’s pretty darn cool.

There is humor to be had here too and it works. The whole thing works. Give this a shot and get immersed into Varela’s head. It’s a cool place to be.

RATING: A

Briggs Land # 4   

Written by Brian Wood
Illustrated by Mack Chater
Published by Dark Horse Comics

Brian Wood has a hit on his hand with this comic book. It’s smart, vibrant, original and well drawn. There’s nothing like it out there and it’s the best thing Wood may ever have done (and that’s saying A LOT…the man is a genius).

Caleb Briggs, Grace’s eldest son and a member of the white power movement, attempts to intimidate a local business owner into selling. When that fails, he calls in the troops.

Meanwhile, Grace continues to work to isolate her husband from the family business and the big fracking concern interested in Briggs Land.

Grace Briggs is one of the best developed characters in comics right now. Wood does so well with her that you are stunned. Nothing rings false.

And the art by Chater is great. I was not familiar with Chater’s art before this series…now I want to own everything he has drawn. Perfection really.

I say this every time I review this comic book: Pick it up before the AMC series comes on…so you can be on the ground floor of this book. It’s truly excellent and deserves all the praise it’s getting. Bravo.

RATING: A

Flying and crushing coal into diamonds may come easy, but try popping a Kryptonian zit!

Caldecott Honor-winning and Eisner Award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer) teams with Eisner Award-nominated artist Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer) for a coming-of-age tale like you’ve never seen before.

But while growing pains shake up Kara’s world, a deadly earthquake rocks the small town of Midvale beneath her feet! The Girl of Steel has a choice: let her world die, or overcome her adolescent insecurities and be super!

The brand-new miniseries arrives in comic book stores December 28.
FOC is Monday, November 21.

The exquisite Audrey Hepburn stars in director Blake Edwards’ timeless classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961), returning to cinemas this November, as part of Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies’ TCM Big Screen Classics series.

Moviegoers are invited to fall in love all over again with “TCM Big Screen Classics: Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on Sunday, November 27 and Wednesday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time (both days). The screenings will include commentary from Turner Classic Movies Saturday daytime host Tiffany Vazquez that will reveal what makes Holly Golightly one of American cinema’s most charming heroines.

Winner of Academy Awards^® for Best Song (“Moon River”) and Best Score, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” captured the imagination of audiences everywhere and made an indelible impact on movies, fashion and society at large when it debuted in 1961.  Audrey Hepburn is transcendent as an intoxicating New York party girl who embarks on a wildly entertaining adventure to find love in the big city.

Tickets to “TCM Big Screen Classics: Breakfast at Tiffany’s” can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Our friends at SuperHeroStuff.com are not only one of the industry’s oldest superhero specialty shops, but also one of the best, with a huge selection of t-shirts, Pops!, hats, hoodies, underwear, socks, action figures, stickers, buttons, belts wallets, cardboard stand-ups, jewelry and much more including large selections for women and children.

This time we focused on some toys.  Here are some of the latest items I checked out:

Batman Vs Superman Superman Pop Vinyl Figure 

Regardless what I thought of Man of Steel and Batman Vs Superman, Henry Cavill did a pretty solid job portraying The Last Son of Krypton.

What makes this Pop stand out for me, is it’s design, with Kal hovering slightly in the air.

It’s pretty neat.

Still wish he had red underpants, though.

Joker Pop Heroes Vinyl Figure

What’s interesting to me is with the hundreds of Pops available and their variants, I don’t think they’ve really nailed the Joker.

This take represents the comicbook version, but it’s so far removed from any incarnation I find it more to be a novelty than a definitive take.

Still, it’s The Clown Prince of Crime, so it’s very possible this entire thing might be a joke…

Right?

Superman Classic Bendable and Poseable Action Figure

Batman Classic Bendable and Poseable Action Figure

These are pretty cool.  Standing 5.5″ these poseable and bendable figures are neither particularly poseable nor bendable. which is a shame, but that in no way takes away from their overall coolness.

Both figures appear to have been based on the art of Darwyn Cooke’s series, Justice League: The New Frontier.  Appearing barrel chested with cloth capes, both figures are a staunch reminder of how cool both of these characters are.

Hell, they’re the World’s Finest.

Batgirl 2016 Funko Pop Vinyl Figure

One of the few great changes that came out of  DC’s New 52 is the reinvention of Batgirl as, “The Batgirl of Burnside”.

With attitude, a new costume and bright yellow Doc Marten’s, Batgirl is a ginger with a crime fighting agenda.

This figure captures the hip, new take on this legendary character and does so with charm and grace.

And guess what?  This costume rocks for it’s sheer practicality.  Take that, spandex!

Batman 66 Surfs Up! Funko Pop Vinyl Figure

Batman 66 Joker Surfs Up! Funko Pop Vinyl Figure

A throwback to one of the Adam West series’ more memorable confrontations, this one places The Caped Crusader and his archest nemesis at the mercy of the surf at Gotham Beach!

These amazing Pops are dressed with surf trunks over their outfits and each is armed with a branded surfboard.

Holy Hang Ten!

White Canary TV Legends of Tomorrow Pop Vinyl Figure

Sara Lance’s journey on television is hardly one for the timid.  Presumed dead, reappears after being trained as one of the world’s most deadliest assassins, fights for good before being killed and resurrected.  Finally, with her soul restored, she’s joined a misfit group of heroes to travel through time to protect the space time continuum.

What have you done lately?

Hawkman TV Legends of Tomorrow Funko Pop Vinyl Figure

In the comics, Hawkman has been reimagined twice since you started reading this sentence.  On Legends of Tomorrow, he’s the hero we always want him to be.

A warrior reincarnated again and again as he tried to find his true love from ancient Egypt.

Plus, he’s got rad wings!

For more details and to check out their entire selection, visit SuperHeroStuff.com!

Aaron Paul gets caught in the dangerous criminal underworld as he searches for his missing girlfriend in the gritty crime thriller Come and Find Me, arriving on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD and Digital HD January 17 from Lionsgate. The film is currently available On Demand.

From director Zack Whedon, this white-knuckle thrill ride also stars Annabelle Wallis. Come and Find Me will be available on Blu-ray and DVD for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.

BLU-RAY/DVD/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

• “Unravelling the Mysteries of Come and Find Me” Featurette
• Filmmaker Commentary with Writer/Director Zack Whedon and Producer Chris Ferguson

Image Comics/Skybound is pleased to announce that THE WALKING DEAD #163 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, INVINCIBLE #133 by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley and Nathan Fairbairn, and OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #25 by Robert Kirkman, Paul Azaceta, and Elizabeth Breitwieser, will all hit stores this February 2017 with a $0.25 price point in celebration of Image Comics’ 25th anniversary.

THE WALKING DEAD #163 begins an all-new story arc and readers are met with the aftermath of the Whisperer War.

Ryan Ottley returns as artist on INVINCIBLE #133 just as “THE END OF ALL THINGS” begins. This 12-part mega-story will touch every corner of the INVINCIBLE universe, and when it’s over… IT’S OVER. Every single story for the past 13 years has been leading up to this last finale story arc.

OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #25 begins an all-new story arc as well and provides a major turning point in the series. New characters are introduced and big things are in store for Kyle Barnes as he’s faced with something he never could have prepared for—hope. Everything changes in this 25th issue, for $0.25, in celebration of the 25th anniversary.

THE WALKING DEAD #163 (Diamond Code DEC160627) will be available on Wednesday, February 1st. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, January 9th. INVINCIBLE #133 (Diamond Code DEC160639) will be available on Wednesday, February 15th. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, January 23rd. OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #25 (Diamond Code DEC160664) will be available on Wednesday, February 22nd. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, January 30th.

Before the highly-anticipated final season kicks off this winter, check out the “spectacular” (Vulture) fifth season of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning HBO comedy Girls. Starring and created by Lena Dunham and executive produced by Judd Apatow and Jenni Konner, the hit series follows the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their mid-20s—each facing new challenges in life and love. GIRLS: The Complete Fifth Season will be available on Blu-ray and DVD January 3rd, 2017. The Blu-ray and DVD sets both feature a free digital download of all 10 episodes, plus exclusive bonus content including more than two dozen never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes.

As Season 5 begins, Hannah (Lena Dunham) has put her writing ambitions aside and is teaching alongside Fran (Jake Lacy), her new boyfriend. Marnie (Allison Williams) realizes that she needs more space after her honeymoon with Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). While working towards becoming a therapist, Jessa (Jemima Kirke) also manages a budding relationship. And Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) is thriving at her new job in Japan, flirting with her boss despite her long-distance relationship with Scott (Jason Ritter). Honest and uproarious, with unexpected surprise turns, the fifth season of Girls promises to maintain the series’ place as one of the most talked-about shows on television.

Other GIRLS stars include Alex Karpovsky as Ray; Adam Driver as Adam; and Andrew Rannells as Elijah. Returning guest stars for Season 5 of Girls include: Rita Wilson as Marnie’s mother; Peter Scolari (2016 Emmy Winner, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role) and Becky Ann Baker as Hannah’s parents; Jon Glaser as Laird; Gaby Hoffman as Adam’s sister, Caroline; Aidy Bryant as Abigail; and Jason Ritter as Scott. New guest stars this season include: Corey Stoll as Dill; Lucy Liu as Detective Mosedale; and Frank Wood as Oscar.

Powerhouse creative team Joe Casey (SEX, Butcher Baker) and Chris Burnham (NAMELESS, Batman, Inc.) will release a new edition of their hardcore, hard-hitting, crime-fighting series OFFICER DOWNE from Image Comics and Man of Action Entertainment this January.

Terrence Downe is the committed LA cop who’ll keep coming back for more…even from beyond the grave. Experience the Badass with a Badge like never before, with all-new bonus features for this edition, including the complete screenplay of the feature film and an insane amount of on-set/behind-the-scenes photos, giving you an inside glimpse of the making of the film—in theaters and on video-on-demand November 18th!

“We always knew that we could unleash another edition of Officer Downe onto the unsuspecting masses,” said Casey. “It was just a question of when. Now that the film is about to be unleashed, this was the perfect opportunity. For those who’ve never read this twisted tale of mayhem and madness and law enforcement, get ready for the ride of your miserable lives. For any longtime Downe fans out there, it’s never enough, is it?”

“Joe and I set out to make the most violent comic of all time, and six years later, I think our record still holds,” said Burnham. “Do NOT strap yourselves in, ‘cuz the only way off this ride is straight through the windshield!”

OFFICER DOWNE TP (ISBN: 978-1-5343-0119-1) hits comic book stores Wednesday, January 18th and bookstores Tuesday, January 24th. It can be ordered by retailers with Diamond code NOV160691 and is available for preorder on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, and Indigo.

Questioning everything she knows, a woman must face her terrifying past in the wake of a darkly mysterious event to piece together the truth in the provocative thriller, The Girl on the Train.  Based on USA TODAY’s 2015 Book of the Year and the #1 New York Times Bestseller by Paula Hawkins, the suspense comes home when The Girl on the Train arrives on Digital HD January 3, 2017 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand January 17, 2017 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures.

Emily Blunt (Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow) delivers a riveting performance as Rachel, a woman devastated by divorce, who spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day.  The mystery unfolds as she becomes increasingly un-hinged and serves as the unreliable sole witness to a tragic disappearance in Director Tate Taylor’s (The Help, Get on Up) suspenseful film adaption that Entertainment Weekly has hailed “the darkest, sexiest, most daring thriller of the year.” The Girl on the Train Blu-ray  and DVD includes never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes and exclusive bonus features allowing audiences to go behind the scenes with the cast for the ultimate in-home movie experience.

Blunt heads up the talented all-star cast that includes Rebecca Ferguson (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation), Haley Bennett (The Magnificent Seven), Justin Theroux (“The Leftovers”), Luke Evans (Dracula Untold), Edgar Ramirez (Joy), Allison Janney (The Help, Spy), Laura Prepon (“Orange is the New Black”) and Lisa Kudrow (“The Comeback”).

4K ULTRA HD

The film will be available on 4K Ultra HD in a combo pack which includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and Digital HD with UltraViolet. The 4K Ultra HD will include all bonus features on the Blu-ray disc.

• 4K Ultra HD is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD features the combination of 4K resolution for four times sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio delivering a multidimensional sound experience.
• Blu-ray unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
• DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.

BLU-RAY AND DVD BONUS FEATURES

• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• The Women Behind The Girl : Author Paula Hawkins and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson discuss their thoughts on writing the novel, the adaptation process and the importance of maintaining character integrity. Director Tate Taylor discusses working with these two incredible writers to make sure his vision for the film was represented in the script.
• On Board The Train:  A behind-the-scenes look at the strong ensemble cast of The Girl on the Train. Director Tate Taylor and Producer Mark Platt discuss the specific nuances associated with each of the cast members’ performances and Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Allison Janney, Laura Prepon, Lisa Kudrow, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans and Edgar Ramirez take fans through the process of creating their incredible characters.
• Feature Commentary with Director Tate Taylor

For more details visit Facebook.com/TheGirlOnTheTrainMovie#TheGirlOnTheTrain

Decades Network, the TV network from Weigel Broadcasting Co. and CBS Television Stations, has ordered six monthly episodes of “Then Again with Herbie J Pilato,” a 30-minute talkfest dedicated to classic television and TV stars. Host and author Pilato, and his Television, Ink. shingle, along with Joel Eisenberg and Steve Hillard (“The Chronicles of Ara”), under their “Mirkwood Partners” banner, will be Executive Producing. Program will be directed by former actor Steve Akahoshi (“Tour of Duty”). Akahoshi’s “Unstructured Plans” will produce the segments, along with Lorie Girsh Eisenberg and Len McLeod.
Gilbert Adler (producer of features “Valkyrie” and “Superman Returns,” and television’s “Tales from the Crypt”) is also an executive producer on the project.

“I know of no one in this industry more connected to, or passionate about, the world of classic television than Herbie J Pilato,” says Adler. “We want this program to become a historically important document in the world of both art and culture.”

Geek Nation’s Brian Keathley and Clare Kramer (“Glory” in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) round the creative team as Production Executives.

Pilato is a prolific author, who has written 11 pop-culture-themed books including “Glamour, Gidgets and the Girl Next Door,” “Twitch Upon A Star,” “The Bionic Book” and “Dashing, Daring and Debonair: TV’s Top Male Icons from the 50s, 60s and 70s.” Pilato, also the Founder of the 501(c)3 Classic TV Preservation Society, will host the monthly specials and interview pop-culture subjects from the world of classic TV in each episode. The format will closely mirror Pilato’s successful weekly “Throwback Thursday” live events in the Los Angeles area.

Says executive producer Joel Eisenberg: “Steve and I are thrilled to be in business with Herbie J. The interests of Mirkwood Partners, as always, lie primarily with the artistic journey. While celebrating classic TV, we want to know what a television personality, who may no longer be working within a regular forum, does today as an artist. We want to understand the reality of the business, and we aim for this program to speak to everyone who aspires to make a living in the arts, as well as classic TV fans, everywhere.”

Adds Herbie J: “Our team is comprised of amazing talents and visionaries. We all cherish the classic TV wheelhouse, and to partner with them on a project that will resonate with so many fans of classic TV and beyond, is nothing less than an honor. We are very pleased the show will be presented on the Decades Network and appreciate the opportunity to share the show with their audience.”

Project will begin airing on Decades Network multiple times weekly, beginning in January, 2017. The broadcast network presently maintains 55% clearance in the U.S., and currently has 50 affiliates, including many major market stations owned by the CBS Television Stations. Decades is a network with a unique “time capsule” programming focus on news, history, pop culture and entertainment. Then Again is a show that promises to take viewers back and reconnect them with actors and series from decades past.

Joel Eisenberg and Steve Hillard, and Mirkwood Partners, are repped by CAA.

The Marvel Minimates line of mini-figures has tackled every corner of the Marvel Universe, from the comic books to movies to animation. But now they’re diving into the world of Marvel TV! Two box sets based on the first seasons of Daredevil and Jessica Jones hit stores this week, with a set based on Daredevil Season 2 on the way, and now DST is proud to announce a new set based on the Luke Cage TV series!

Featuring Luke Cage, Misty Knight, Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes and Mariah Dillard, this box set will include both raised and lowered hood pieces for Luke Cage, as well as interchangeable arms, legs and head to re-create his post-experiment appearance.

Read on for more information about all four sets, and reserve or pre-order yours today, through your local comic shop or favorite online retailer.

Available Now:

Marvel Minimates Daredevil TV Series 1 Box Set

A Diamond Select Toys release! The critically acclaimed TV show is joining the Marvel Minimates line! Based on the popular online TV series Daredevil, this box set of four different Minimates mini-figures features plenty of accessories and interchangeable parts!

Daredevil (in his black costume) includes alternate parts to transform into blind lawyer Matt Murdock, while nurse Claire Temple includes an alternate masked head, hood and gloved hands. Rounding out the set are Matt’s partner Foggy Nelson and Hell’s Kitchen crime lord Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin!

Each 2-inch Minimates mini-figure measures 2 inches tall and features 14 points of articulation. Packaged in a full-color window box! (Item #MAY162405, SRP: $24.99)

Marvel Minimates Jessica Jones TV Series 1 Box Set

A Diamond Select Toys release! Return to the world of private investigator Jessica Jones in this Minimates mini-figure box set based on the hit Netflix TV series! Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Trish Walker and Kilgrave each stand 2 inches tall and feature 14 points of articulation.

Plus, each character comes with removable jackets and alternate parts, including arms and a screaming Kilgrave head, as well as accessories like smartphones, a laptop and Chinese takeout! Includes four display stands. Packaged in a full-color window box. (Item #JUN162392, SRP: $24.99)

Coming Spring 2017:

Marvel Minimates Daredevil TV Season 2 Box Set

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen is back, with a new friend and two new frenemies! Based on Season 2 of the Daredevil TV series on Netflix, this box set of four Minimates mini-figures features Daredevil as he appeared in the infamous stairwell fight, plus Elektra, Stick and Karen Page! Each 2-inch Minimates mini-figure features 14 points of articulation, fully interchangeable parts, and a display stand. The set also includes a duct-taped gun hand and chain for Daredevil, a removable hat and alternate head for Stick, a laptop and Frank Castle’s X-Ray for Karen, and sais and an alternate head for Elektra. Packaged in a full-color window box. (Item #OCT162588, SRP: $24.99)

Marvel Netflix Luke Cage TV Minimates Box Set

A Diamond Select Toys Release! Say his name! The newest Marvel TV star is Luke Cage, a.k.a. Power Man, and the Marvel Minimates line is celebrating the release of his first season with a box set of Minimates based on the Netflix series! Luke Cage, Misty Knight, Cottonmouth and Mariah Dillard each measure approximately 2 inches tall and feature up to 14 points of articulation.

Each figure features interchangeable parts and accessories, and Luke Cage can transform from his hooded streetwear to his post-experiment Power Man look! Figures come packaged in a full-color window box. (Item # to come, SRP: $24.99)

Find a comic shop at comicshoplocator.com!

There’s no doubt that the boldest and most personal fashion statement anyone can make is in one’s selection of t-shirt. Personally, I love them. It’s an opportunity to show the world what pop culture I care about, a wonderful flashback to the past and a fantastic way to initiate any nerd discussion.

For this installment of Cool Shirts, I took a look at some of the shirts from Nerd Kung Fu, which might very well have the largest selection of pop culture t-shirts that I’ve ever seen. What’s even more awesome is that their nerdy wares isn’t limited to their shirt collection. They also sell a wide array of posters and a number of geek-centric ephemera including coffee mugs, shot glasses, pint glasses, blankets, wallets, buttons, magnets, playing cards, hoodies and much more.

Their selection of shirts is staggering, with some of their latest releases focusing on some of the most iconic properties in pop culture including Pusheen, Baywatch, Bill and Ted, American Horror Story, Wonder Woman and Star Wars: Rogue One. They also carry shirts in sizes small through 7XL and the site is filled with lots of nerdy trivia on the history of t-shirts!

There is something for virtually any nerdcentric provocation. These are some of my recent favorites:

Gilligan’s Island T-Shirt – Gilligan’s Head

This mate was a mighty sailor man…at least that’s what it says in the theme. One chartered three hour tour launching from Hawaii aboard the S.S. Minnow hit rough weather and Gilligan and the brave and sure Skipper held the ship together until it set down on the shore of an uncharted desert island.

So begins the legend of Gilligan’s Island, where the courageous Willy Gilligan and Skipper Jonas Grumby and their passengers turned castaways lived together for years until their rescue and eventual return to the island to host a  basketball game between robots and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Sesame Street T-Shirt – In Letters

This shirt makes me nostalgic for the Sesame Street that I grew up on; before Elmo, even before Snuffleupagus.

I’m taking about the days when Roosevelt Franklin, Prairie Dawn and Guy Smiley were familiar faces around Mr. Hooper’s store.

This shirt depicts the original Muppets, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover, Ernie and Bert around a retro show logo.

In the words of Cookie Monster, “Me like shirt!”

Knight Rider Full Moon T-Shirt

“Knight Rider. A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist. Michael Knight: a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.”

In other words, an amazing tv show featuring David Hasselhoff and William Daniels as the voice of K.I.T.T.. a talking car, who together fight the forces of evil.

One of the greatest shows of all time can now be celebrated with one of the greatest shirts of all time.

The Breakfast Club T-Shirt – Fist Pump Cut Out

“…and these children that you spit on,
as they try to change their worlds
are immune to your consultations.
They’re quite aware
of what they’re going through…”

– David Bowie

For the legions of fans of John Hughes this shirt is for everyone who at any point, in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions, felt like a brain, or an athlete, or a basket case, or a princess or a criminal.

Sesame Street T-Shirt – Groovy Group

In keeping with the retro Sesame Street theme, this shirt features photographs of some of the original icons, substituting Big Bird for Oscar The Grouch.

This awesome shirt is yet another example of some of Nerd Kung Fu’s amazing selection.

I’ve loved Sesame Street for well over forty years and there’s no reason to stop.

A must have!

Viva la Street!

For more details, visit NerdKungFu.com

From the acclaimed animation studio LAIKA (Coraline) comes an epic original action adventure featuring the voice talents of Academy Award winners Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey. Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers.

And we’re giving away ten copies to Forces of Geek readers!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “KUBO” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

What was the second LAIKA produced film?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on December 11th, 2016.

How Fanfic Helps Black Women
How fanfiction is helping given black women a voice with black characters.

Stranger in a Strange Land
An adaptation is in the works of the Robert Heinlein classic Stranger in a Strange Land.

Children’s Authors Fighting Back
Hundreds of US Children’s authors are signing a declaration to fight against everything Trump.

Space to Meet & Plan
Big Blue Marble is offering hope and space to those who need it after the outcome of the election.

Bad Sex
The nominations are in for this year’s bad sex scene in a book awards.

Indie Publishing
Booksellers are getting into the publishing business in a whole new way.

And The Award Goes To
National Book Awards 2016 winners announced.

The Girl With The Intellectual Property
Lisbeth Salander returns: David Lagercrantz to write next book in the Millennium series