James McAvoy Sporting Professor X’s Signature Look For X-Men: Apocalypse


In the X-Men universe, Professor Charles Xavier has, let’s just call it a signature look, and that look is bald. Like cue ball bald. That’s how he appears in the comics and, as portrayed by Patrick Stewart, in the early X-Men films (as well as for a while in last year’s X-Men: Days of Future Past). Up to now, however, every time James McAvoy has played the part, he’s done so with a head full of luxurious brown hair. That’s changing in the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse, and with production getting under way, we’ve got a sneak peek of what he looks like sans hair follicles. Continue reading

Nightwing (DC) Vs. Winter Soldier (Marvel)

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In our next "Versus" match, we have 2 sidekicks that went pro! We have in one corner Nightwing (DC) and in the other corner we have Winter Soldier (Marvel).  Who would win this all-out, sidekick no more fight? Hand to hand combat! Weapons, you name it they will do it! We will let you decide, who would win? Here is a little something about each character:

Nightwing (DC)

1886848-nightwingNightwing is a superhero identity assumed by numerous characters in the DC Comics universe. Most prominently, Nightwing is the superhero name adopted by Batman's partner Dick Grayson when he outgrows his identity as Robin. Nightwing remains strongly associated with Batman, but title and concept have origins in classic Superman stories.

The original Nightwing in DC continuity was an identity assumed by alien superhero Superman when stranded on the Kryptonian city of Kandor with his friend Jimmy Olsen. Drawing inspiration from Batman and Robin, the two protect Kandor as the superheroes Nightwing and Flamebird. Following a continuity reboot in 1985, Nightwing is a legendary figure much like Batman from Krypton, and it is this legend which inspires Dick Grayson's choice of name when he sheds the name Robin.

Other stories set among the Batman family of characters have seen acquaintances and friends of Dick Grayson briefly assume the title, including his fellow Robin alumnus Jason Todd. Meanwhile, Superman stories have seen Superman's niece Power Girl and adopted son Chris Kent take up the name for brief turns as Nightwing. Various other characters have taken the name in stories set outside DC's main continuity as well. And at times the role has been unoccupied, such as when Dick Grayson operated as Batman and after faking his death. Nightwing, the comic book which focuses on Grayson, has long been a top-selling DC book. In 2013, Nightwing placed 5th on IGN's Top 25 Heroes of DC Comics.

Dick Grayson has almost reached Batman to a point and is believed literally and figuratively to be his successor. Master Detective: Grayson is a world class detective, second only to the likes of Batman. He was rigorously trained by the Dark Knight in everything from escapology to criminology, fencing, stealth, disguise, and numerous other combat/non-combat disciplines.

Grayson is a prodigious natural athlete, possessing a peak human level of agility/acrobatic skills. He is regarded as the greatest human acrobat in the DC universe. Batman himself is an incredible athlete in agility, and is at peak human perfection, but even he gives the advantage in that area over to Nightwing. He is the only person on Earth who can do the quadruple somersault. As Nightwing, Grayson is a master of dozens of martial arts disciplines, with an emphasis on Aikido and Escrima, taught to him by Batman. His preferred fighting style combines Escrima, Judo, Savate, Capoeira, Aikido, Boxing, Wing Chun, Hapkido, Jeet Kune Do, Taijiquan, Ninjutsu, and Bojutsu with his acrobatic abilities. He is considered one of the finest human combatants in unarmed combat, almost on par with Batman. He has fought and held his own or defeated some of the best fighters in the world. Prominent examples include Ra's Al Ghul, Deathstroke, Jason Todd, Shrike, Red Arrow/Arsenal (Roy Harper), Azrael, and even Batman himself. Through his martial arts training with Batman, he has become an expert on almost all types of weaponry.

Winter Soldier (Marvel)

winter_soldier_1_full_01A Russian patrol submarine find Bucky's cold-preserved body missing one arm. Bucky is revived in Moscow, but suffers brain damage with amnesia as a result of the explosion. Scientists attach a bionic arm, upgrading it as technology improves.

Programmed to be a Soviet assassin for Department X – under the code name the Winter Soldier he is sent on covert wetworks missions and becomes increasingly ruthless and efficient as he kills in the name of the state. While a Soviet agent, he also has a brief relationship with the Black Widow. The Winter Soldier is kept in a cryogenic stasis when not on missions, and as a result has aged only a few years to a young adult since the closing days of World War II. In 1968, the Winter Soldier was sent to kill Professor Zhang Chin, whom he had met over 20 years earlier. He was thwarted by an intangible being called the Man with No Face, though he was able to escape. On assignment in the United States in the 1970's, he suffers a breakdown and goes missing for days after assassinating his target.The Winter Soldier also aided in Wolverine's escape from the Weapon X laboratory and later murdered Itsu, Wolverine's wife, seemingly killing their unborn son Daken, who survived the attack after being cut from his mother's womb.

In the present day, the Winter Soldier seemingly kills the Red Skull and Jack Monroe (Nomad) under orders from former Soviet general Aleksander Lukin (Karpov's former protégé). The Winter Soldier launches a terrorist attack on Philadelphia, PA, killing hundreds, and charges the Cosmic Cube which Lukin sent him to retrieve. He kidnaps Sharon Carter, an agent of the international espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and a former lover of Steve Rogers (Captain America). Upon her rescue, Carter tells Captain America that Winter Soldier looked like Bucky. S.H.I.E.L.D. chief Nick Fury confirms the Winter Soldier's existence, but cannot ascertain his identity.

Captain America tracks down and confronts the Winter Soldier. Regaining his memories, Bucky becomes overwhelmed by guilt over his past actions, crushing the Cosmic Cube and teleporting away. He reappears shortly afterward in London, England, where he helps Captain America fend off a terrorist attack. He asks Nick Fury for employment and new equipment following the loss of his bionic arm. Following the events of the superhuman Civil War, Winter Soldier helps Fury plan the escape of an arrested Steve Rogers. Before the plan can be implemented, however, Rogers is assassinated. Considering registration architect Tony Stark (Iron Man) as ultimately responsible, Winter Soldier plans to kill Stark in revenge. Deducing that Stark will oversee the appointment of a new Captain America, Winter Soldier steals Captain America's shield from S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Black Widow so that it cannot be handed down.Ultimately, he heads to Kronas's headquarters, where Lukin reveals he is the Red Skull and has the evil psychiatrist Dr. Faustus attempt unsuccessfully to brainwash the Winter Soldier.

Having trained under Steve Rogers (the original Captain America in World War II) and others in the time leading up to World War II, "Bucky" Barnes is a master of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, as well as being skilled in the use of military weapons such as firearms and grenades. He also used throwing knives on occasion and was a gifted advance scout. His time as the covert Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier helped to further hone his skills, making him the equal to his predecessor in combat skills and an expert assassin and spy. He is also fluent in many languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Latin, and Japanese.  He can understand French. Winter Soldier's left arm is a cybernetic prosthetic with superhuman strength and enhanced reaction time. The arm can function when not in contact with Barnes and can discharge bolts of electrical energy from its palm. The arm can discharge an EMP causing electronics to either shutdown or become useless. The use of Barnes' EMP is shown when Barnes uses it to shutdown a Nick Fury LMD and when he attempts to use it on Iron Man. The arm has a holographic function to disguise it as a flesh and blood arm.

As Captain America, he possesses the original, indestructible, vibranium alloy shield used by his predecessor, as well as a Kevlar/Nomex blend, shock-absorbing costume. He often carries several conventional weapons such as knives, guns - mostly a Colt 1911-A1 .45 and a P08 Luger and grenades.

With that all said  who would you like to see win this brawl? Would it be Nightwing, or would it be Winter Soldier?  We want  you the fans to decide which of these two men should walk away from this fight. Vote now! Make a difference!
Nightwing (Dc)
2 Vote
Winter Soldier (Marvel)
2 Vote
Tie Breaker
2 Vote

Hugh Jackman On Why He’s Walking Away From Wolverine

Over the last year, Hugh Jackman has been very wishy-washy about playing Wolverine and how much longer he would be playing the character. First X-Men: Days of Future Past was going to be his last movie, then he was going to play the character until he died. Now Wolverine 3 seems like it will in fact be the very last time that Jackman busts out his claws. Continue reading

Marvel Studios Begins Production on Marvel’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’

  • Marvel Studios has commenced principal photography at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on “Captain America: Civil War,” the third installment of its Super Hero franchise. The production will shoot on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as the base for the film’s production, as well as locations in Germany, Puerto Rico and Iceland. Continue reading

Batman and Bruce Wayne Sixth Scale Figure Set by Hot Toys

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In the second installment of the Batman series directed by Tim Burton, Michael Keaton reprised his role of the caped crusader to protect Gotham City again from a terrible fate. His amazing portrayal of the iconic superhero character in this darker take set the standard high for future appearances of the dark knight on the silver screen!

Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys are delighted to present a special collectible figure set featuring Batman and Bruce Wayne from the classic and beloved Batman Returns! Continue reading

New Indiana Jones Movie Confirmed by Lucasfilm

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As part of their June Star Wars cover story, Vanity Fair had a chance to speak with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy about Star Wars: The Force Awakens and got her to confirm that a new Indiana Jones movie to relaunch the franchise is in the cards, although it’s not something that will happen in the immediate future. Continue reading

The Mets Could Have Been Named The Avengers

A bottle of champagne is ceremoniously tapped by a bat in the hands of Mrs. Charles Payson majority stockholder, at a party in New York's Savoy Hilton Hotel May 8, 1961 to officially christen the New York National League Baseball team as the"Mets."   The jovial christening guests are, left to right, George Weiss, club president;  Warren Giles, National League President; Ford Frick; baseball commissioner;  Mrs. Joan Payson, and Don Grant, "Mets" board chairman.      Woman in background is unidentified. (AP Photo)

A bottle of champagne is ceremoniously tapped by a bat in the hands of Mrs. Charles Payson majority stockholder, at a party in New York’s Savoy Hilton Hotel May 8, 1961 to officially christen the New York National League Baseball team as the”Mets.” The jovial christening guests are, left to right, George Weiss, club president; Warren Giles, National League President; Ford Frick; baseball commissioner; Mrs. Joan Payson, and Don Grant, “Mets” board chairman. Woman in background is unidentified. (AP Photo)

Did you know Avengers was once considered for the name of the team that became the Mets? This was back in 1961, two years before Stan Lee and Jack Kirby released the first comic book featuring The Avengers. Are they supposed to be avenging the relocation of the Dodgers and Giants from Brooklyn and New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively? It doesn’t seem like a great name for a baseball team, but maybe that’s just because we now associate it with the comic book. Continue reading

MAZE RUNNER Star Cast as Pennywise The Clown in IT Remake

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The big screen adaptation of Stephen King’s It continues to move forward with the casting of Pennywise the Clown. The coveted role of of the evil clown previously played by Tim Curry in the 1990’s TV movie goes to Will Poulter (We’re the Millers, The Maze Runner), which is a very interesting choice that I didn’t see coming. He’s a great actor, but I have no idea if he’s right for the role.

True Detective director Cary Fukunaga is helming the two-part film, which follows a group of outcast kids, who called themselves the “Losers Club,” and come together to take on the murderous monster that’s terrorizing their small town. In the process, they have to face down and battle their own personal demons.

This is such an amazing story; it’s one of the best King has ever written. With Fukunga on board to bring it to life, I know it’s in good hands. I trust he knows what he’s doing with this casting. He obviously has a certain vision for Pennywise, and it was previously reported that he was looking for the perfect actor to take on the role. It looks like they found him in Poulter.

Sources tell Variety that “Fukunaga could not say no after being blown away by Poulter’s audition for the part and felt he was the right choice for the role.” They went on to say that Poulter “is more than capable of taking on the character especially after his work on New Regency’s The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.”

The Revenant is directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, and Poulter plays a robber who leaves DiCaprio for dead after he is mauled in the wilderness by a bear. People who have seen early footage from the film feel that the young actor is more than ready to take on a villainous dark lead like Pennywise.

Fukunaga has been very vocal in interviews saying that his most recent script will stay true to the original story while also giving the film an updated look. The first movie will focus on the protagonists of the story as kids, and the second one revolves around them as adults.

The report says that Fukunaga has scripts done and ready to go for both films, and Poulter will star in both of them. I can’t wait to how this is going to turn out.

Lionsgate Announces JOHN WICK 2, Keanu Reeves and Original Directors Returning

Lionsgate just sent out a press release confirming development of John Wick 2, which had been rumored for the past couple of months. Keanu Reeves will return to reprise the title role, while directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch will be back behind the camera and writer Derek Kolstad is back to pen the screenplay. The plot is being kept under wraps for now, but the studio released this logline:

In the follow up to last year’s adrenaline-fueled revenge and redemption thriller, legendary hit man John Wick is back.

Continue reading

Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie Revealed as Star Wars’ Chrome Trooper Captain Phasma

A leaked image from an upcoming Vanity Fair cover spread confirms the identity of the Star Wars: the Force Awakens chrome trooper as Captain Phasma. A caption indicates that the character will be depicted by Gwendoline Christie, who also portrays Brienne of Tarth in HBO’s Game of Thrones.