Jared’s Joker Revival…

Oh boy did we love Jared Leto’s take on the clown prince of crime in 2016’s Suicide Squad movie, it was a sublime rendering of DC’s most infamous SuperVillain. The only thing we didn’t appreciate was the fact that most of his filmed scenes did not actually appear in the finished movie, in fact he was originally cast as the big bad for the film, alongside Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress, but his role was so heavily cut, that he ended up as nothing more than a side character… Boo!

But it appears that Warner and DC have seen the error of their ways and are looking to redress the fact… by giving Jared another chance to don the green hair and maniacal grin of the jester of genocide, with Variety reporting that he is set to star and executive produce an as yet untitled standalone movie! YES!! 

This of course is also alongside his apparent reprisal of the master of mirth in the undated Birds of Prey movie, which currently has only cast Margot Robbie, returning as everyone’s favourite mischievous minx of mayhem – Harley Quinn.

We have written a number of times about how impressed we were with Leto’s take on DC’s titular villain, he has actually become our favourite live action version of the character ever (yes, yes, we still believe Mark Hamill’s animated variant is the greatest of all time, so please no angry comments!) Leto’s Joker was ripped straight from the comic-book source itself, an almost perfect rendition of the homicidal sociopath.

To put this statement in context, like sixties Joker actor, Cesar Romero, Leto captured the Joker’s essence both visually and narratively from the actual character in DC’s almost eight decade running Batman comics. Though we do really adore both Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger’s take, they both gave us their own interpretation of what they perceived the Joker to be, as opposed to a specific comic book appearance.

Jared Leto’s Joker is ripped straight out of the comics themselves, predominantly from the 2014 Batman: Endgame by master scribe – Scott Snyder…

‘Batman: Endgame’ was a six issue long story arc released in 2014, written by Scott Snyder and pencilled by Greg Capullo. It features the return of Batman’s arch foe, who had not been seen in comics since the 2012  ‘Death of the Family’ storyline. Endgame was written in conjunction with Batman and the Joker’s 75th anniversary and explored the discordant bond the characters shared throughout their tumultuous history.

Leto’s Joker appears to be drawing heavily from Snyder’s storyline, again both visually and narratively. I also see a lot of similarity with Grant Morrison’s version of the Joker from the 2009 story arc ‘Batman: RIP’, again his visual look seems honed from Mr J’s appearance in this fantastic tale.

So, are you as excited as we are for Leto’s re-emergence as the Joker? sound off in the comments below, fellow fans of fantastic fiction…

Comic Cover Of The Week: Justice League vs Suicide Squad #3

Welcome my comic collecting cohorts to another instalment of ‘Comic Cover Of The Week’ and this week’s illustriously illustrated issue is brought to you by the astonishing Amanda Conner. Conner is, and always shall be one of our favourite artists here in the depths of the Precinct’s colossal comic crypts, her peerless mastery of pen and pencil is almost unmatched in the industry, her alluring artwork always oozes emotion and style, and her character’s facial expressions are worthy of the great Keith Giffen himself.

Justice League vs Suicide Squad is the first major storyline event since DC’s Rebirth relaunch, with the titular team up of the world’s greatest superheroes finally discovering the existence of Amanda Waller’s Task Force X (Suicide Squad) the government sponsored team of supervillains and disgraced superheroes who perform covert black ops missions off the radar, and are kept under control through an implanted micro explosive lodged in their brains.

Issue #3 finds the Justice League imprisoned in Belle Reve penitentiary by Amanda Waller who delights in telling the captured Leaguers of the crisis revolving around them. The Joshua Williamson penned mini-series has been a delight thus far, and the interior visuals by Jesus Merino are fantastically well realised and at times spectacular to behold. It’s also awesome to see the return of some of my very favourite villains including Maxwell Lord, Killer Frost and the Main Man himself Lobo!  This really is required reading.

Justice League vs Suicide Squad is available at your local comic book emporium right now.

Precinct1313’s End Of The Year Geekstravaganza…

2016, oh how we lament thee… ’tis been a rollercoaster of a year it has to be said, the world outside of the Precinct’s impenetrably darkened walls has seen many moments of both grief and utterly incredulous disbelief (as an example of this, being a Brit, I am still astonished that the larger populace of my home actually voted for Brexit!?) Some well loved and talented individuals passed away, and the political climate across the globe has shifted in a rather uncomfortable direction. Now more than ever we really need our alternate realities to hide in, be that comic books, movies or video-games and for this at least, 2016 was a great year.

2016, for me, was the year that I had been waiting for since I was six years old… as my beloved DC Superheroes finally burst forth from their comic book shackles, and onto the silver screen. Sure we’ve had plenty of movies throughout the decades that have brought us DC’s big two… Batman and Superman, and quite a few of them have been amazing, but the scale that DC have thrown their much loved characters onto the big screen this year has been literally stratospheric. 

These Were Our Favourite Moments From 2016:

Bats and Supes Had A Disagreement…

Batsy and Supes Threw Down At The Beginning Of 2016… And It Was Epic!!

The Year began with a disagreement between The Dark Knight and The Man Of Steel. In March the world’s two biggest Superheroes clashed head on in Warner Bros and Zack Snyder’s epic ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and it was awe inspiring. Forget what the critics said, the film is a deep and psychological look at how the world would react to Super-humans amongst them, but for all it’s depth, it was also an outstandingly awesome action movie with stand-out turns from Ben Affleck as Batman, and the unforgettable big screen debut of the Themysciran Titan – Wonder Woman, a role actress Gal Gadot seemed born to play.

Suicide Squad Broke Their Bonds…

“Smile For The Camera Mr J…”

In August Task Force X escaped from their well deserved incarceration in Belle Reve penitentiary to inflict all kinds of mayhem and mirth at the cinemas in David Ayer’s spectacularly fun take on DC’s ‘Suicide Squad’. John Ostrander’s classic comic book series about a group of Supervillains and disgraced Superheroes who are recruited by the Government for fully deniable black ops tasks in return for clemency was masterfully translated to the big screen by Ayer. With an eclectic cast of characters, an overtly powerful and enigmatic antagonist, and great performances from Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Will Smith, this is an exemplary exercise in bringing a comic book series to vivid life (and Batman’s in it… and you can never have too much Batman!)

The Phantom Turned 80…

2016 marked the astonishing 80th anniversary of Lee Falk’s genre defining Superhero ‘The Phantom’, it was The Ghost Who Walks who first donned a mask and colourful costume to fight an eternal and ceaseless battle against corruption and injustice with only his quick wits, martial skills and faithful companions; Devil his pet wolf and Ghost his trusty white steed. The Phenomenal Phantom was the progenitor of what later became a deluge of Superheroes and preceded peers Batman and Superman by a full two years.

Wondy Celebrated Her Anniversary…

Oh How Time Flies, One Minute You’re Basking In the Golden Hues Of The Sun On The Resplendent Beaches Of Themyscira, Surrounded By Your Amazon Sisters, Then A Mere 75 Years Later You’ve Become A Superhero, Ambassador, Herald, God Of War, Feminist Paradigm, And Indomitable Icon To The Masses!

It’s been an awesome 75 years since Diana of Themyscira first burst onto the scene, wielding her golden lasso of truth and inspiring female empowerment and emancipation, Wonder Woman has proven to be the most important fictional female ever wrought. 2016 not only marked her 75th anniversary but also her big screen debut in Batman v Superman, and she was a huge highlight of that exceptional movie, and with her own solo movie set to appear at cinemas in mid 2017, there appears to be nothing stopping our immortal idol from ruling the roost for another seventy five… 

The DC Universe Was Reborn…

May 2016 marked a humongous relaunch of DC Comics’ entire line of monthly comic books aptly named ‘Rebirth’. It was primarily intended to return the DC Universe to a time prior to ‘Flashpoint’, a time paradox storyline that altered DC’s timeline and led into the 2011 ‘New 52’ reboot. The reboot itself was divisive amongst fans and some creators alike, and though initial sales were strong, the titles began to lapse in sales as fans yearned for their favourite heroes previous incarnations pre-52.

Wonder Woman Rebirth Has Been Astonishing, With Sublime Visuals Courtesy Of Liam Sharp And Nicola Scott

Rather than a reboot though, Rebirth was more of a soft relaunch retaining much of the history and happenings of the New 52 continuity, but returning characters back to their more popular personas prior to the paradox. And it’s been a hit! Rebirth has proven so popular that DC Comics for the first time in many a year has been soundly thrashing it’s closest rival Marvel in sales month in and out. Detective Comics, Wonder Woman, and Red Hood and the Outlaws have been stand out the best of these for this particular DC fanboy, but all titles have been fantastically written and engrossing, with both superstar veteran creators and upcoming stars scrabbling to join the DC Rebirth fold.

Our Top Picks For DC’s Rebirth, Though Whichever Title You Choose You’re In For An Absorbing And Wicked Ride With Fantastic Art And Engrossing Storylines, Replete With Classic DC Characters… It’s A Win Win!

Happy New Year To All Our Followers, Special Agents, Readers And Everyone Else, 2017 Is Set To Be Even Bigger For DC With The Highly Anticipated Wonder Woman And Justice League Movies, Not To Mention Yet More Marvellous Comics From The Rebirth Line, Kicking Off With Batwoman Rebirth In March, Until Then… Make Mine DC!

The Week In Geek… With Precinct1313

Welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313 to another episode of ‘The Week In Geek’ where we love to share our favourite Comic Book, Video-Game and Cult Movie news for your perusal and pleasure.

NES Mini Launches, And Instantly Sells Out…

In This Case N.E.S. Obviously Stands For ‘Non Existent Store-Wide!’

Nintendo’s classic grey box made a comeback this week with the release of the NES Classic Edition, a cute mini version of their hit 80’s home games console, replete with 30 built in games and a reproduction of the original controller… and instantly sold out worldwide!

Demand has been extremely high for the retro beast and Nintendo manufacturers are currently producing more as we write this post, though for some fans the wait might be too long, as the titchy console (which retails for £50 here in the UK) has been selling for ridiculous amounts on E-Bay, with people paying 4 to 5 times the RRP. Luckily us Precinct1313 dwellers are SEGA fans, and already have our mini Megadrive (known as the Genesis in the US) console… which actually comes with 80 games built in!

We Can ‘Harley’ Wait For Ms Quinn’s Solo Movie…

The Clown Princess of Crime, Harley Quinn, was a huge hit this year at the box office as an integral part of DC’s ridiculously fun Suicide Squad movie, in fact Margot Robbie’s performance was so highly rated that DC and Warner Bros almost instantly announced her own solo movie would be coming ‘at some point.’

“But Of Course I get My Own Movie, I Mean If It’s Good Enough For Wonder Woman, Right?”

Well technically not solo, as DC are lining up a veritable cadre of female comic book characters to star alongside the Mischievous Minx of Mayhem, as we reported some time back, possibly including such luminary legends as Batgirl, Black Canary and Poison Ivy. To help cement the fact that the movie will hopefully begin production soon, it’s been announced that scripting duties have been given to Christina Hodson. Hodson is known for her highly sought after screenplays that include soon to be filming, female led Sci-Fi actioner ‘The Eden Project’ and psychological thriller ‘Shut In’.

(Update: It’s now been confirmed by Suicide Squad director David Ayer that the scripting will be undertaken by Geneva Dworet-Robertson, and the movie will also star Catwoman and Poison Ivy, better known together as the ‘Gotham City Sirens’.)

Justice League Of America’s Full Line-Up Is An Eclectic Enigma…

This Is The Greatest Line Up Of JLA Members Since The Keith Giffen Classic 1980’s Series Justice League International

Not since the halcyon heroes of the 1980’s JLI has a roster for the world’s greatest Super-Team been so… damn cool! Justice League International has always been my favourite version of DC Comics’ beloved team of MetaHumans.

I much preferred the quirky line up of characters, Blue Beetle (the Ted Kord variant, not the current version) and Booster Gold were standouts in the team… essentially they were lovable Superhero screw ups, C-list at best, to begin with, but advanced through those ranks to A listers in a very short amount of time indeed, thanks to great writing, fantastic character arcs, and an endearing slapstick style humour.

Justice League International, The Greatest line Up Of Leaguers Since… Forever!

The new JLA line up includes some classic heroes you expect to be included, such as The Batman and Black Canary, but then throws caution to the wind with lesser knowns like The Ray and former villain Killer Frost!  Definitely the most intriguing and exciting addition is ‘The Main Man’ himself, Lobo, back to his original arse-kicking alien bounty hunter self, after ditching the (rather terrible) New 52 version. Justice League of America Rebirth will be available in February 2017, brought to you by those ceaseless creators of cosmic comic book craft; Steve Orlando and Ivan Reis.

Why not join us again next time friends, for more Week In Geek!

Suicide Squad: The Review

Misfits and malcontents, killers and crazies, this uniquely sums up the members of Task Force X, the Government funded black ops team of incarcerated Supervillains given a chance for clemency if they agree to take on secret missions so dangerous, that they are essentially deemed suicidal.

Cast: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Karen Fukuhara, Jay Hernandez, Jai Courtney, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Written and Directed by: David Ayer.

Award winning director David Ayer presents us with, very possibly, the most fun and over the top comic-book movie of all time. Suicide Squad quite literally is a blast, from zany start to action packed finish, at times it’s like a live action Warner Bros cartoon, and it’s all the better for it. Ayer expertly shows everyone how to adapt a well loved, violently recalcitrant and anti-authoritarian comic book onto the big screen and make it an exquisitely enjoyable experience.

The one thing that makes this cinematic excursion unique amongst its peers, is the virtual lack of actual Superheroes, unlike it’s filmic kin, Suicide Squad follows the path of the bad guys, the worst of the worst. That’s not to say that the movie completely lacks the capes and cowls of previous comic-book adaptations, both Batman and The Flash make very brief appearances, but are used primarily as a plot device to introduce us to the real stars of the show… the Supervillains.

Let’s get straight to the most important part of the movie, the miscreants themselves, and with this in mind the most divisive, but one of the most impressive performances is Jared Leto’s take on the The Clown Prince of Crime. Jared’s Joker is an unpredictable and dangerous sociopath, in context to Heath Ledger’s (equally impressive) take, Leto’s rendering feels a lot more deranged and murderous, much more akin to the comic-book original. And though his time in the movie is short, he shines brightly with homicidal intent.

Demented, Deranged And Downright Dangerous, Jared Leto Kills It As The Joker

The rest of the cast consists of seasoned actors and relative newcomers to the fine art of the thespian, chief amongst these is Will Smith’s rendition of the world’s greatest assassin (and Batman foe) Deadshot. His performance is both heavily dramatic, but also highly comedic, a blend that only someone of Smith’s consummate acting skill could pull off, he nails the character perfectly and is without a doubt a huge highlight of the film.

Margot Robbie as the irascible and psychotic Harley Quinn is a joy to behold, capturing the absolute crazy essence of the character and injecting a small amount of pathos in for good measure, when she and her ‘Puddin’ The Joker share the screen together the atmosphere is absolutely electric.

Deadshot (Will Smith) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) Are Massive Highlights Of The Movie

And backing up this terrific trio are an eclectic and entertaining group of characters, with Viola Davis’ turn as Amanda ‘The Wall’ Waller being a particular stand-out. Like her comic-book counterpart, Task Force x‘s creator Waller, is a no nonsense, hard edged and duplicitous persona and is fundamentally more amoral, than any member of her Suicide Squad.

Jay Hernandez must also be complimented for his turn as El Diablo, Suicide Squad’s second most powerful member (after Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress) who harbours a dark and tragic secret so painful, that he refuses to use his powers to hurt anyone. 

“Flame Off!” El Diablo (Jay Hernandez) Refuses To Ever Use His Powers To Harm Anyone Again, Much To The Exasperation Of His Task Force X Comrades

And lest we forget, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang who elicits more than a few laughs as the Squad’s resident antipodean Supervillain. Karen Fukuhara as Katana, hired by Waller to keep the Squad members in line (and ultimately end them, should they leave said line) Cara Delevingne as The Enchantress, an ancient and insanely powerful Witch who possesses the body of June Moone, the girlfriend of the Suicide Squad’s appointed leader Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) and not forgetting man-beast and constant thorn in the Dark Knight’s side, Killer Croc, ferociously played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

David Ayer’s Suicide Squad ably captures the look and feel of the original comic-book series, in fact original Squad creator, the legendary John Ostrander hails it as an accurate and masterful recreation of his source material, and that is high praise indeed. For all the mixed reviews it has so far received, once again fans and movie lovers have ignored the critics and have turned out in their droves to support the film. It is currently the biggest movie on the planet, and box office takings have been huge easily surpassing other recent comic-book adaptations including Captain America: Civil War and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Fun, silly, over the top, and reverential to it’s source… Suicide Squad is a must watch!

The Week In Geek… With Precinct1313 ‘Special SDCC Edition’

Welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313 to another episode of ‘The Week In Geek’  where we share our favourite Comic Book, Video-Game and, Cult Movie news for your perusal and pleasure. And an extra special welcome to our San Diego Comic-Con edition, there are lots of fantastically geeky DC stuff to share, so why don’t we begin with…

Official Wonder Woman Movie Poster Revealed By The Themysciran Titan Herself -Gal Gadot…

Zeus Would Be Proud…

The amazing Amazon, Gal Gadot, unveiled the official movie poster for the 2017 dated Wonder Woman movie at this years San Diego Comic-Con… and it is indeed, Wonderful. The highly anticipated Patty Jenkins helmed movie marks the Themysciran Titan’s first solo foray on the silver screen, following on from Gal’s outstanding and much praised appearance as Wonder Woman in this year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Zack Snyder’s epic grudge match movie that pit the world’s two most beloved Superheroes against each other in a Battle-Royale spectacular!

And by ‘Zeus’ Chariot’ what could be even cooler than an exclusive look at Wondy’s promo poster? how about a brand new full trailer for her upcoming movie…

 

Justice League Movie Trailer Shines So Very, Very Brightly…

Not content with wowing us with their, quite frankly astonishing trailer for the Wonder Woman movie, DC Comics and parent company Warner Bros have delivered the proverbial one, two by releasing a lengthy preview of the 2017 dated Justice League movie, be prepared folks, for thrill power overload…

Suicide Squad – Final Trailer Is So Much Fun I Think My Head May Explode!!

I mean let’s be honest, every single trailer released for DC’s upcoming movie that thrusts into the spotlight the titular team of misfit and malcontent SuperVillains that combine to make up the Government sponsored black ops team known as Task Force X has been just sublime, and with the movie a mere two weeks from release why not revel in the magnificence of the latest and greatest preview

Why not join us again next time friends for more ‘Week In Geek’

The Week In Geek… With Precinct1313

Welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313 to another episode of ‘The Week In Geek’ where we share our favourite comic book, video-game, and cult movie news for your perusal and pleasure.

‘No Capes Darling!’… Behind The Scenes Shots Of Gal’s Wonder Cloak…

Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice was awesome, and even more awesome was the big screen debut of the amazing Amazon in said movie. Gal Gadot’s outstanding performance just oozed a regal sense of beauty, honour and strength, she was in fact not just the Wonder Woman we needed, but also the one we deserved! Her film costume honoured her comic book roots, but also added a splash of originality all of its own, the one thing we didn’t see her wearing in the movie though was her cloak. These pictures of the Themysciran Titan replete with mantle were released recently thanks to the special features section of the digital download ultimate cut of Bats v Supes, with the avian-esque look of the cloak showing deference to the iconic Amazon Herald eagle motif.

New International Suicide Squad Posters Revealed…

Oooooh, not long now my fellow fans of fantastic fiction, Suicide Squad is only just over a month away from cinematic release. David Ayer’s take on DC Comics’ group of Super-Villain badasses is looking all kinds of crazy in the best possible way… oh and Jared Leto’s Joker… nuff said! Until then though, why not feast your eyes on these new international posters.

Gal Gadot Honours Lynda Carter With Her Very Own Wondy Spin…

Lynda Carter in the seventies and early Eighties ‘WAS’ Wonder Woman… the iconic music, camp nature, oh and, of course, the classic spin transformation…

In a fun little behind the scenes clip, Gal Gadot recently gave everyone exactly what they had been waiting for… her own take on it. And it is ridiculously awesome and strangely mesmerising (in fact I can’t stop watching it!)

And now, neither can you!

Why not join us again next time friends, for more Week In Geek.

The Week In Geek… With Precinct1313

Welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313 to another episode of ‘The Week In Geek’ where we list our favourite comic book, video game and cult movie news for your perusal and pleasure.

DC Comics Unveil A Snazzy New Logo…

Ooooooh… Shiny!

In conjunction with its upcoming ‘Rebirth’ shake-up, DC have unleashed a brand new company logo. This shiny blue symbol replaces its previous ‘peel’ style logo that has only been in use for a mere four years. This new variant is the eleventh logo since the company first drew breath well over seventy five years ago, and has a satisfyingly retro look to it. The new logos debut appearance will be on the cover of Geoff Johns’ upcoming ‘DC Universe: Rebirth Special #1’ which will be available at all good comic book emporiums from May 25.

Harley Quinn Goes Solo…

Love Is… A Large Mallet And A Bad Attitude!

Everyones favourite Mischievous Minx of Mayhem is apparently going to get a spin-off movie that will begin production after the Suicide Squad movie hits the big screen this August. Margot Robbie will be reprising her role as Harley alongside ‘other’ DC female characters, of course the classic ‘Gotham City Sirens’ comic series comes to mind, where our lovable rogue joined up with feisty female felons – Catwoman & Poison Ivy. Though the rumour mill has also put forward such names as – Batgirl, Huntress &  Black Canary, so maybe it’ll end up being a big screen adaptation of the ‘Birds of Prey’ series, either way it’s exciting times ahead for both Ms Quinn and her legions of fans.

NBC Are Powerless To Resist DC Comedy…

Up, Up And Away For DC’s New Comedy

NBC have commissioned a full series of DC Comics’ upcoming comedy show ‘Powerless’. The satirical Superhero show is set in an insurance company that deals with the fallout from the destruction wrought by heroes during their crime busting escapades. The series stars Vanessa Hudgens and Alan Tudyk, plus a large roster of DC characters both major and minor, beginning in the first episode with French Superheroine and former Justice League Europe member Crimson Fox.

Why not join us again next time, for more ‘Week In Geek’

Suicide Squad: A Who’s Who – Katana

Welcome back fellow agents of Precinct1313 to our in depth look at the characters that make up the (fully deniable) Government sponsored Black-Ops team of Supervillains and disgraced Superheroes known as Task Force-X, aka – Suicide Squad.

Following on from our first post that covered the green haired Master of Mirth – The Joker, we now come to the member of the team that I’m most excited to see when David Ayer’s cinematic adaptation of the classic comic releases at theatres in August – Tatsu Yamashiro, better known amongst her allies and enemies as Katana.

Tatsu was created by two of the comic medium’s shining lights, writer Mike W.Barr and artist Jim Aparo in 1983, and made her first appearance in ‘The Brave and the Bold’ #200. Tatsu was born in Japan and was an unremarkable girl save for her love and expertise in martial arts, an attribute that was wholly supported by her parents from a young age. Through her training she met two brothers, Takeo and Maseo, both of whom gradually fell in love with feisty female fighter, though attracted to both, it was Maseo that she found herself drawn to the most and ultimately chose him as her betrothed, enraged by her choice, Takeo refused the invitation to attend their wedding and was later disowned by Maseo when he joined the Yakuza.

Tatsu and Maseo built a life together and had two children, twins Yuki and Reiko, throughout this time Takeo rose through the ranks of the Yakuza, and after being gifted two ancient swords, one of which had mystical powers, he presented himself at his brother’s home and demanded he duel him for Tatsu’s hand. Maseo distracted by his concern for his wife and children loses the duel, and his life to his brother’s magical sword (later given the name – Soultaker).

During the violent incursion a fire was started in the residence and the formerly unconcious Tatsu awoke in time to see her husband’s life extinguished by his brother, engaging with Takeo she managed to disarm him and attempted to save the lives of her twins, who had tragically already perished in the flames, a grim fact that was brought to her attention by her dead husband’s voice, which reached out from the Soultaker sword from where he would now be eternally bound.

Classic 80’s Katana, by the legendary Jim Aparo

Managing to escape the flaming death trap and with a heavy heart, Tatsu gave her life over to famed martial master Tadashi and trained under his tutelage to become a Samurai, legendary and peerless warriors of ancient Japan. After her graduation, she moved to America, took on the name Katana, and along with her dead husband’s soul trapped in the Soultaker sword, used her gifts and matchless talent to fight crime and uphold justice utilising classic Samurai code of honour.

Katana has been a member of many teams other than the Suicide Squad, her longest serving stint though was with the Batman formed Outsiders team alongside heroes such as Geo-Force, Black Lightning and Metamorpho. She has also dabbled with Justice League membership, and an alternate timeline version of Tatsu was an honorary member of the Amazon Furies. Katana also spent some time alongside The Huntress and Black Canary in the Birds of Prey, a Gotham situated team of all female crimefighters, before finally accepting an offer from Amanda Waller to join the Suicide Squad in exchange for current information on her husband’s murderers.

Tatsu will brought to life as Katana in August of this year in the highly anticipated Suicide Squad film, played by 24 year old Japanese/American actress Karen Fukuhara, in her debut role. Looking every inch the comic protagonist brought to life, Tatsu will also be accompanied by her dead husband and the Soultaker sword where he currently (and forever) resides.

Katana and the Suicide Squad will be unleashed unto the silver screen on August 5th 2016.

Task Force X Resurface…

And the excitement continues fellow DC Comics fanatics, hot on the heels of the fantastic Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Awesome, comes a brand new trailer for everyone’s favourite team of malicious Malcontents – Suicide Squad. After the magnificent trailer that was released just a few short weeks ago, this particular fan has been chomping at the bit for more footage of not just the Squad themselves, but especially Jared Leto as the Clown Prince Of Crime, and the trailer does not disappoint, lots of Leto, lots of Harley Quinn and as an added bonus, lots of Batman! That’s right Batfans,  it has been confirmed that Ben Affleck‘s superior take on the Caped Crusader will have a considerably larger role in the film than previously thought.

The film itself, which is part of the DC extended universe of movies, takes place just after the events of Batman v Superman and the circumstances spiralling out of that storyline will shake the foundations of the Squad’s own cinematic extravaganza. Sit back, click play, and be transported once again into the wild and wonderful world of Supervillainry and green haired homicidal maniacs, what more could you want from life!?. Enjoy…

The Week In Geek… With Precinct1313

Welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313 to “The Week In Geek,” where we list our favourite comic book, video-game and cult movie news for your perusal and pleasure.

Suicide Squad – Second Trailer Is Mind-Blowingly Amazing…

Sometimes it’s good to be bad!

So who amongst us have seen the astonishing new Suicide Squad movie trailer and not been blown away by its majestically manic and mirthful brilliance. David Ayer’s adaptation of DC Comics’ team of Supervillain badasses is looking utterly fantastic, and its dark tone and gritty violence are countered masterfully by an effervescent and mischievous sense of humour that just oozes from the trailer. This is movie marketing done right, I for one cannot wait for the (too far away) August 2016 release, and (shock/horror!) after watching the trailer for what must be the 100th time, I am almost more excited to see this than the upcoming “Batman v Superman” movie (almost.)

Oh, and Jared Leto’s Joker… will be the definitive version… calling it now.

One Joker to rule them all…

 

Amber Heard To Be Crowned “Queen of Atlantis”…

Amber Heard will make a huge splash as the Atlantis sovereign.

Though unconfirmed by Warner Bros, it seems that actress Amber Heard is in talks to take on the role of Mera, Aquaman’s love interest and eventual Queen of Atlantis. Amber will star opposite Jason Momoa’s Aquaman in the James Wan directed debut of one of DC’s biggest Superheroes. This is yet more sublime casting on behalf of Warner Bros, following hot on the heels of Danish actress Connie Nielsen being cast as Queen Hippolyta in the 2017 Wonder Woman movie. Amber’s Aphrodite like beauty mixed with real acting chops make her the perfect choice for the legendary Atlantis monarch. 

 

Resident Evil Zero – Remastered…

“We may not be ‘masters of unlocking,’ but we certainly are masters of looking cool whilst posing!”

Following on from last year’s HD remaster of the original Resident Evil, comes the bygone Gamecube classic Resident Evil 0, now in glorious high definition. The “Resi” prequel was the last of the hardcore survival horror entries before Resident Evil 4 brought on a significant change in the much loved series. This version retained the complex puzzles, resource management and fixed camera angles of its forebears that were slowly eroded by the newer games in the franchise (ultimately culminating in the awfulness that is Resident Evil 6!)

Resident Evil 0 is set one day before the famous Arklay mansion incident, as we tag alongside S.T.A.R.S team medic Rebecca Chambers and fugitive Billy Coen as they explore a (zombie infested) runaway train, creepy mansion and an abandoned Umbrella Corporation training facility. An awesome conversion of an absolutely classic game, well worth investing your time and money in.

Why not join us again next time friends, for more “Week In Geek.”

Suicide Squad Film Posters Unshackled

Warner Bros/DC Comics – 2016

Warner Bros have unleashed a spectacular set of film posters for their upcoming Suicide Squad movie. The unique and stylish posters show each of the individual Villains as skulls with a distinctive visual flair that represents the character it’s based upon (Joker’s manic grin and green hair, Deadshot’s cybernetic eye-scope… )

Extreme situations sometimes call for extreme action, which is where the Suicide Squad (aka – Task Force X) come in. The group of Supervillains and Metahumans who reside in the Government controlled penitentiary of Belle Reve, are tasked with taking on situations deemed too risky for normal operatives. Flying under the radar and with full deniability from the Government, these powerful yet unstable individuals must face the worst the world has to offer, with each member considered an expendable asset… sometimes evil can only be bested by something even more so…

Look out for the highly anticipated second trailer releasing on Tuesday 19 January as part of the CW channel’s 30 minute special titled – “DC Films presents: Dawn of the Justice League” right after the mid-season premiere of the second series of The Flash.

Precinct1313’s End Of The Year Geekstravaganza!

The space year of 2015 comes to a close, fellow agents of Precinct1313, and with its inevitable demise comes our 13 favourite moments from across the comic-book, movie and videogame spectrum.

No.13: The Dark Knight Returns!

‘Dark and brooding’… but enough about me, let’s talk Batman!

After a 14 year hiatus, veteran comic book creator Frank Miller returned to his genre bending masterpiece Dark Knight saga with a third instalment, titled DKIII: The Master Race. This final (maybe) chapter takes place chronologically three years after 2001 mini-series “The Dark Knight Strikes Again,”  and continues to chronicle an ageing Caped Crusader and his allies in an increasingly violent and turbulent Gotham.

Thematically this series picks up from the ‘Strikes Again’, but this time Miller has brought along some fellow superstar creators for the intense and dark ride, as he is joined by, writer Brian Azzarello and artists, Andy Kubert, Jim Lee, and original collaborator Klaus Janson. Like its previous instalments, DKIII concentrates on the Batman as a symbol, an almost mythological character of inspiration and a catalyst for the weak and oppressed of Gotham.

No.12: Resident Evil Games Are… Good Again!!

“It’s not the zombies that scare me Claire, it’s the idea of playing through Resident Evil 6 again!”

2015 is the year that survival-horror veteran Resident Evil became great once more, as Capcom released not one, but two terrifyingly awesome instalments in the long running zombie franchise. After the awfulness of Resident Evil 6, even die-hard fans weren’t necessarily looking forward to whatever would come next in the once predominant horror gaming series. The sixth game in the franchise took a downward spiral into bland third person action/shooter territory, leaving behind most of what made the earlier games so much fun to play, namely the tension, spookiness and survival aspects.

Then in early 2015, an HD remake of the original game digitally graced home consoles, with the same intense and creepy vibe of the original, but with much improved visuals, soundtrack and most definitely improved in the acting department (though Jill still, humorously remained – “The Master Of Unlocking” .) And less than a month later Resident Evil Revelations 2 was released episodically across all formats, initially digitally only, though later on disc. This 4 part series was a hark back to classic Resi , tense and horrific with much more limited supplies and the difficulty switched up a notch from the mediocrity that was Resi 6. Capcom redeemed themselves in my eyes after the Resi 6 debacle, and I look forward to their next game with bated breath, the much touted remake of most fans favourite in the series, Resident Evil 2… can’t wait.

No.11: Starfire Goes Solo…

“My own series you say, by Conner and Palmiotti you say? I think I feel a little faint”

Everyone’s favourite flame haired, orange skinned alien princess finally flies solo in her own, rather marvellous, monthly series. Tamaranean native Koriand’r most recently starred alongside one time Robin, Jason Todd now known as violent masked vigilante The Red Hood, and former Green Arrow sidekick Roy Harper, aka Arsenal, in the highly recommended series “Red Hood and the Outlaws.” With the shake-up of DC recently with “DC You” Koriand’r was finally deemed a character strong enough to hold her own monthly series, and the creative reins were handed to the married, dynamic duo of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, to great effect.

The series has been a joy to read so far, we are huge fans of Starfire here in the Precinct and could think of no better team than Conner and Palmiotti to be given control of the series, but what has really drawn us into the series the most are the sublime visuals rendered by Emanuela Lupacchino, each panel is a masterpiece and the book is worth reading for just this alone. This has been standout my favourite comic series so far in 2015, and I’ll just say it’s been a great year of comics, which makes Kori’s solo debut even more impressive.

No.10: Jared Leto Cast As The Joker…

Well dye my hair green, bleach my skin and call me “puddin” if this isn’t just a superlative casting choice, Jared Leto as the Clown Prince Of Crime!?… oh hell yes! The term “Method Actor” could of been created for Mr Leto, as he is one of the most dedicated character actors you could ever come across, his casting in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie as the Joker, has me very excited indeed.

No.09: Mad Max – Fury Road…

Now then, I know that this is going to appear on a lot of end of the year lists, but if you had told me a year ago it would be on mine, I’d have thought you were the mad one himself! You see, as much as I like the director George Miller, and the acting duo of Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, not to mention, I adore the original Mad Max trilogy, what I don’t like are lazy remakes of classic films from my youth, and for a long time that’s what I thought this was, I was sooooo wrong.

The film is a marvel to behold, an almost perfect blend of real time practical effects, mixed with limited but extremely well implemented CGI. Tom Hardy gives a good performance as the antipodean crazy ex-cop, Charlize Theron is fantastic as Furiosa, but it really is the crazy action and fantastic directing style of George Miller that are the stars here. Shiny and Chrome indeed!

No.08: New X-Files Series Begins Filming…

I love the X-Files, I have been a super fan since it first began way back in 1993, my interest in the unknown and supernatural initially drew me into the show but it was the performances by the leads, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson and the increasingly emotional and complex relationship of their characters – Mulder and Scully that kept me coming back to the show time and time again.

Of course the writing was top notch, the episodes were always extremely well made and directed, but ultimately it was that relationship between the main players that drove the series to the cult and beyond status that it now has. Let’s hope the magic is still there over 13 years later, when the much anticipated tenth season finally appears in January 2016.

No.07: Supergirl Soars Once More…

Kara Zor-El is awesome, one of the most iconic female Superheroes of all time, Superman‘s cousin has been with us now since her initial introduction in 1959, created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino. Originally hailing from Argo city, a fragment of the planet Krypton that had managed to survive destruction.

She is one of the few female comic book characters who has appeared on the big and small screen several times in the past few decades (only Catwoman has had more live action appearances.) Played by Helen Slater in the 1984 movie, by actress Laura Vandervoort in TV series Smallville (strangely enough, Laura was born the same year the original movie was released) And now as of 2015, we have a new girl of steel, Melissa Benoist has taken up the cape and red boots of the seminal character in what has become a fantastic and fun interpretation, another quality Superhero show that stands tall amongst its peers.

No.06: Margot Robbie Brings Harley Quinn To Life…

Mistress of Mayhem, Harley Quinn is one of those characters that everyone loves, but have always believed would be almost impossible to bring to live action successfully. There have been attempts, the short lived Birds Of Prey series had a version of the character played by Mia Sara, who, while okay in the role, didn’t really capture Harley’s perfect blend of crazy cool and sociopathic tendency. 

Then we got a glimpse at actress Margot Robbie in the Suicide Squad trailers, everything about her portrayal seems to scream Harley, she looks perfect and I have high hopes for the character, she is definitely the most anticipated of all the Suicide Squad members so her portrayal will be of paramount importance to the film itself (along with her ‘puddin’, the Joker of course.)

No.05: Twin Peaks Season 3 Announced…

The coffee is great, let’s hope season 3 is also…

I’ll admit, I am both elated and worried at the idea of Twin Peaks returning for a third series, I love Twin Peaks, it is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite TV show of all time, but the perfection of the originals will be very hard to recapture I believe. Though this is David Lynch we’re talking about, a ‘mad genius’ of a director and film maker and I have adored virtually everything he has ever put out, so there is hope. Please be good… please!!

No.04: Convergence Was… Awesome!

DC Comics are the master of the epic crossover series, their “Crisis” stories have always been bombastic reads of monumental proportions. The more recent Blackest Night maxi-series was also phenomenal, but for me, it was this year’s “Convergence” that really blew my veritable bat-socks off!

Convergence was a limited series that released weekly and ran between April and May. The story span out of two earlier mini-series – “New 52 – Futures End” and “Earth 2 – World’s End.” The storyline follows Braniac as he gathers Cities and their inhabitants from across different timelines and alternate Earths.  Really there aren’t enough superlatives to sum up this fantastic mini-series, all I’ll say is buy it, read it, thank me later…

No.03: Suicide Squad Trailer…

DC Comics‘ ultimate team of anti-hero badasses finally achieve cinematic glory in 2016, courtesy of David Ayer (director of Sabotage and Fury) in what looks to be a gritty, violent adaptation of the comic book classic. Where this movie differs from all other Superhero films of recent years is the fact that it offers up a different perspective on the comic book adaptation, it focuses solely on the bad guys, the Supervillains and the crazies.

Director David Ayer is well known for his dark and gritty cop thrillers, and is the perfect choice for this live action version of the popular comic series. Peruse the trailer below and bask in the glory of seminal DC characters that include – Harley Quinn, Katana, Enchantress and Deadshot, and lest we forget, what may turn out to be the biggest draw of the film… Jared Leto’s Joker.

No.02: Wonder Woman Solo Movie Begins Production…

It may of come to your attention that we quite like Wonder Woman here in the Precinct, so we are rather excited that her long awaited silver screen appearance has finally begun production, and in the UK no less. Gal Gadot will make her first appearance as the amazing Amazon in March 2016 “Batman v Superman” movie before her 2017 solo film. Seriously it is about bloody time that the most iconic female comic book character of all time got her own movie, and with director Patty Jenkins at the helm and actress Gal looking every bit the Amazon Princess, I for one, cannot wait.

No.01: Batman v Superman Trailers Finally Released…

Well this is it, with the trailers finally released, and the epic nature revealed, you just have to prepare yourself for two things. 1. What could be, quite possibly, The Greatest Superhero Movie Of All Time and… 2. The cinematic debut of the original, and still greatest female Superhero. With these two imperatives in mind watch the trailer below, and then weep for the fact that the biggest cinematic event in DC Comics… nay, in history, is still three months away…

Happy New Year everyone…

Suicide Squad Movie – Plot Synopsis Revealed…

DC Comics have today revealed information on upcoming statues based upon characters from the 2016 movie directed by David Ayer. Though no images of said statues were included, we do know that the first wave will include characters; Deadshot (Will Smith) Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and The Joker (Jared Leto.) But most interesting is the accompanying text that reveals the plot synopsis for the highly anticipated movie:

“It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous and incarcerated Super-Villains, provide them with a powerful arsenal at the Government’s disposal, and then send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic and insuperable entity. Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate and despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However once they realise they weren’t picked to succeed, but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?”

The statues are to be based on the character’s likeness in the film, and will be available from July 2016. New statues of the squad will be revealed on a monthly basis with next month’s characters including Katana (Karen Fukuhara) and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney.)

Suicide Squad will be released in August 2016 as part of DC Comics’ extended universe of interconnected movies that began in 2013 with Man Of Steel and continues through Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, which is due March 2016.

Precinct1313 Recommends: Batman – Harley Quinn

Celebrate the creation of everyone’s favourite mischievous misfit Harley Quinn with this definitive collection of her misadventures. Former Psychiatrist Dr Harleen Quinzel was originally an Arkham Asylum intern, who after prolonged interviews with the Joker decided that it was the Batman himself who was the cause of Joker’s anger and insanity. Gradually falling in love with the irascible psychotic, Harleen eventually helped the Clown Prince Of Crime escape the asylum and joined him on his crusade to dispense murder and madness to the streets of Gotham.

Harley was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for a 1992 episode of Batman: The Animated Series titled “Joker’s Favour.” Her role was originally conceived as a mere walk on part, but she ultimately proved so popular with the audience that she was granted a larger role as the Joker’s main sidekick and potential love interest as the animated series continued its Emmy award winning run. Harley’s first comic book debut was in issue 12 of The Batman Adventures, where she appeared alongside veteran Bat-Villains Catwoman and Poison Ivy. Her origin story was laid out for the first time in the 1994 Paul Dini penned one-shot “Mad Love” but it wasn’t until 1999 that she was officially accepted into mainstream DC Universe continuity with “Batman: Harley Quinn #1″

On July 28, DC Comics will release the ultimate tribute to the Clown Princess Of Crime with this 200 page collection of some of her most enduring adventures. The Joker’s main gal takes centre stage as DC collects together some of her greatest tales from throughout her 23 year reign as DC’s consummate ‘bad-girl’ character. This anthology collects together for the first time; Batman: Harley Quinn #1, Gotham Knights #14, #30, Detective Comics #831, 837, Batman: Black And White #1, #3, Joker’s Asylum II: Harley Quinn, Legends Of The Dark Knight: 100 page Spectacular and Detective Comics #23.2.

The 200 page ultimate Harley Quinn compilation will be available in softcover and digital format on July 28 at your local comic book emporium, and is the definitive look at the Queen of Chaos and a great way to familiarise yourself with a character that in 2016 will be making her first ever big screen appearance in David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” movie.

Harley Quinn: Copyright – DC Comics.