DC Comics embarks on an ambitious project by offering a renewed and alternative version of its characters, moving away from the traditional format that characterizes Marvel. The movie Clayface, directed by James Watkins, and set to premiere on October 23 with a budget of 40 million dollars, promises to delve into the body horror genre, a less conventional approach to superhero storytelling. Clayface goes all in with the horror The plot follows Matt Hagen, a struggling actor who undergoes a procedure that transforms his body into clay. This plot twist does not […]
DC Comics embarks on an ambitious project by offering a renewed and alternative version of its characters, moving away from the traditional format that characterizes Marvel. The movie Clayface, directed by James Watkins, is set to premiere on October 23 with a budget of 40 million dollars, promises to delve into the body horror genre, a less conventional approach to superhero storytelling.
Clayface is going all out with terror
The plot follows Matt Hagen, a struggling actor who undergoes a procedure that transforms his body into clay. This plot twist not only proposes a darker story but also introduces a complex villain that aligns with current trends in horror and superhero cinema. With the script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, Clayface seems to aim for a new horizon for comic adaptations, reminiscent of the dark tales from Vertigo.
Despite the fact that the movie has received an R rating, intended for those over 18, its box office success is considered a possibility given the current demand for original proposals in the genre. The combination of horror and superheroes, if executed effectively, could resonate with viewers looking for something new in a landscape of films saturated with muscular heroes and repetitive plots. In this context, there is talk of the idea that Clayface could open the door to future innovative adaptations, such as Swamp Thing, which also plays in this league of darker stories.
The arrival of Clayface represents a breath of fresh air in the DC universe, which under the direction of James Gunn seeks to balance originality with superhero tradition. Fans and critics will be closely watching the film’s performance and its potential to reconfigure the genre’s offerings, awaiting new narratives that could revitalize interest in the less conventional comic book characters.
Andy Serkis will reprise the iconic role of Alfred Pennyworth in the highly anticipated sequel to The Batman, titled The Batman II, directed by Matt Reeves. This continuation of the acclaimed 2022 film has generated great excitement among fans of the DC Comics universe, who have praised the British actor’s performance in the first installment. Andy Serkis returns The production of The Batman II is scheduled to begin in June in London, a city that has been the usual setting for many high-profile film productions. Serkis’s involvement has been confirmed after finding a […]
Andy Serkis will reprise his iconic role as Alfred Pennyworth in the highly anticipated sequel to The Batman, titled The Batman II, directed by Matt Reeves. This continuation of the acclaimed 2022 film has generated great excitement among fans of the DC Comics universe, who have praised the British actor’s performance in the first installment.
Andy Serkis Returns
The production of The Batman II is scheduled to begin in June in London, a city that has been the usual setting for many high-profile film productions. Serkis’s involvement has been confirmed after finding a solution to balance his production days on this DC Studios project with another film he is preparing, titled Lord, produced by New Line.
This scheduling challenge highlights the growing demand for Serkis, an actor recognized not only for his acting talent but also for his innovative work in motion capture. Serkis’s ability to embody complex characters has made him a notable figure in Hollywood, and his return as Alfred promises to deepen his relationship with Bruce Wayne in the narrative that Reeves is developing.
Meanwhile, it is anticipated that the production team of The Batman II will include several members of the cast from the first film, which could mean that fans will see other beloved characters from the Gotham universe again. Although additional information about the plot and other production details is still lacking, Serkis’s return undoubtedly adds a layer of emotional depth and experience to the upcoming film. Expectations are high, and genre fans are eager to see how this new cinematic installment will unfold.
Bob Kane and Bill Finger are remembered as the creators of the iconic character Batman, a central figure in the superhero universe. However, the story behind the creation of Batman is marked by controversies related to authorship and recognition. Kane, with his privileged status at DC Comics, managed to sign a contract that guaranteed him a high fee for all the material presented under his name. Nevertheless, this agreement raised doubts about the integrity of his work. Bob Kane is quite a peculiar guy Over the decades, suspicions arose about whether […]
Bob Kane and Bill Finger are remembered as the creators of the iconic character Batman, a central figure in the superhero universe. However, the story behind the creation of Batman is marked by controversies related to authorship and recognition. Kane, with his privileged status at DC Comics, managed to sign a contract that guaranteed him a high fee for all material presented under his name. Nevertheless, this agreement raised questions about the integrity of his work.
Bob Kane is quite a peculiar guy
Over the decades, suspicions arose about whether Kane was really drawing the pages of Batman. Despite these concerns, no one dared to openly question his practice. Kane apparently hired other artists, such as Lew Sayre Schwartz and Sheldon Moldoff, to do the illustration work. He would then present these works as his own, pocketing the profits and the credit that belonged to his collaborators. This dynamic, although common in the industry at that time, created an underlying discontent in the offices of DC Comics.
The situation reached a critical point in 1964, when editor Julius Schwartz decided to investigate the veracity of Kane’s work. According to Mark Evanier’s blog, Schwartz made a simple request to Kane, which opened the door to a dialogue about the authenticity of his contributions. While some of Kane’s supporters might interpret the situation as a misunderstanding, others, like the renowned writer and editor Arnold Drake, have been more direct in criticizing the lack of integrity in the creative process.
Over time, Batman’s legacy has grown, as the character has become a symbol of justice and the fight against evil. However, the controversy over true authorship and the exploitation of others’ talents remains part of the narrative of the masked hero, a reminder that behind every icon, there may be a more complex story than it seems.
A new era of crossovers between Marvel and DC Comics is just around the corner, aiming to celebrate the rich history of both publishers through exciting fusions of iconic characters. The first step of this ambitious project is the highly anticipated comic Deadpool / Batman, which promises to kick off a series of epic encounters, with Superman and Spider-Man as protagonists in 2026. This crossover stands out not only for its theme but also for the inclusion of a new character, Deadbat, a unique blend of Batman and Deadpool, created by the renowned Grant Morrison and the talented Dan […]
A new era of crossovers between Marvel and DC Comics is just around the corner, aiming to celebrate the rich history of both publishers through exciting fusions of iconic characters. The first step of this ambitious project is the highly anticipated comic Deadpool / Batman, which promises to kick off a series of epic encounters, with Superman and Spider-Man as protagonists in 2026. This crossover stands out not only for its theme but also for the inclusion of a new character, Deadbat, a unique blend of Batman and Deadpool, created by the renowned Grant Morrison and the talented Dan Mora.
A comic you shouldn’t miss
Deadbat will be presented as a chaotic and humorous figure, with an extravagant appearance that includes swords, guns, and comedic elements like a rubber duck. This creation recalls the Amalgam era of the nineties, where character fusions were a resounding success among comic book fans. According to rumors, Deadbat’s appearance has already generated great anticipation in the comic book world, becoming a hot topic of conversation among veteran fans.
The Deadpool / Batman comic will be released in Spain on January 8, 2026, with a price of 6 euros and various alternative covers. The publisher Panini, which holds the rights to both franchises, is preparing this launch with great care, anticipating that it will be accompanied by special packs. In addition, the team of writers and artists supporting the project includes renowned names, which enhances its chances of becoming a bestseller and a coveted item among collectors.
The combination of humor, action, and nostalgia promises to make this crossover an unforgettable event. With the success of the first Deadpool / Batman comic that flew off the shelves, expectations are sky-high, and many are already preparing to get their copy starting January 2026. Without a doubt, this is an invitation for fans to enjoy an unprecedented literary experience where both universes come together once again.
Surely you know the comic strip. It is probably the DC drawing that the most people have seen around the world, although very few know the author and, of course, even fewer have read the comic from which it comes: Batman slaps Robin with all kinds of different phrases (which, over the years, have gradually lost their charm). The first version of the meme, which many believed to be real, showed Robin saying “Hey, Batman, what did your parents buy you for Christm–?” only to receive a punch from the hero who screams: “My parents are deaaaad!” Well, so […]
Surely you know the comic strip. It is, probably, the DC drawing that the most people have seen around the world, although very few know the author and, of course, even fewer have read the comic from which it comes: Batman slaps Robin with all kinds of different phrases (which, over the years, have gradually lost their charm). The first version of the meme, which many believed to be real, showed Robin saying “Hey, Batman, what did your parents buy you for Christ–?” only to receive a punch from the hero who shouts: “My parents are deaaaad!”. Well, none of this is true. But, looking at reality, I wish it were.
An Imaginary Comic Strip!
To find the origin of this vignette, one does not need to look in the pop art of contemporary artists or in modern comics of the character: one must go way back in time, when DC Comics had little competition, back in November 1965. At that time, the series ‘World’s Finest’ was releasing its issue 153, on the cover of which Batman was throwing a kryptonite batarang at Superman, shouting “You’ve fallen into my trap, Superman! How sweet is revenge!”. Of course, as was customary in these types of stories, it was made clear from the outset that this was an imaginary story and none of this would affect the canon of the super-friends.
“Discover what would have happened if Superman and Batman had become bitter enemies, on opposite sides of the law!” The main story of the comic – there is another one, taken from the DC archives, along with numerous comic strips and ads – was exactly that. In fact, it is even set on “an imaginary day.” In its pages, Batman believes that Superman killed his father, who had just created an anti-kryptonite serum, and seeks revenge against him, while his enemy is busy fighting ants in the jungle (without harming them, of course). Anyway, things from the 60s.
In the end, Batman allies with Lex Luthor, discovers that he was the one who stole the serum, and sacrifices himself to save Superman, bringing an end to this, let’s call it, epic. The thing would have passed without a hitch (there are hundreds of comics with alternative stories where one of the heroes becomes a villain and fights against his friend) and would have been forgotten in history if it weren’t for page 5 gifting us the famous panel. Only, in this case, it has another context: the Masked Crusader shares his thirst for revenge with Robin, and he responds that he must be mistaken. What is the reaction? Well, a slap, of course.
My parents are deaaad!
In the original comic strip, Batman says “Don’t tell me I’m wrong, kid… Proving that Superman is guilty is my whole mission in life!” and Robin responds “Ow! Batman, your grief has obsessed you with this idea of revenge. I beg you, let it go!”. The original image, in fact, is inverted from what we now know as the meme, with Robin on the right. Its creator, by the way, was Curt Swan (scripted by Edmond Hamilton), although at that time it was not customary to credit artists. In any case, the comic strip did not have much impact.
Until June 10, 2008, when someone uploaded the already modified image to the SFWChan forum. It only took a week to go viral on Tumblr and Ebaumsworld. Soon, there was no one who didn’t know the meme… Or who, thanks to a generator that was launched the following year, could create their own, forever modifying pop culture and adding a new piece to the Batman lore as important today as the Spider-man pointing at each other. In fact, if it weren’t so evidently complex to justify, we would have already seen it in some DC movie.
Over time, the meme was modified to include other characters, change their appearance, and even talk about the meme’s own death, leading to the current moment where it is clearly out of use… but anyone can use it and make it recognizable at first glance. The magic of the old Internet was that no one knew where the next viral thing could come from. A comic from 1965 that absolutely no one knows? Of course.
Nowadays, even memes, like social networks and any website, are much more sanitized. It’s hard to find something truly original beyond the users’ imagination without falling into shitposting or brainrot, and it’s a shame because, deep down, that was what gave meaning to the Internet. Who knows. Deep down, it’s tough to feel nostalgia for a meme that we came to loathe. From an era so full of creativity as well as boredom. From an unpredictable Internet. From Batman slapping.
Superman, the iconic superhero of DC Comics, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, as the company has declared 2025 as the Summer of Superman. With a new movie scheduled to hit theaters on July 11 of that year, there is palpable excitement surrounding the character, considered a symbol of hope and goodness in times of uncertainty. Superman is a symbol of hope and that is what they want to convey Mark Waid, a renowned writer who has explored the adventures of the Man of Steel for decades, has shared his perspective on the relevance of Superman today. According to Waid, […]
Superman, the iconic superhero from DC Comics, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, as the company has declared 2025 as the Summer of Superman. With a new movie scheduled to hit theaters on July 11 of that year, there is a palpable excitement surrounding the character, regarded as a symbol of hope and goodness in times of uncertainty.
Superman is a symbol of hope and that is what they want to convey
Mark Waid, a renowned writer who has explored the adventures of the Man of Steel for decades, has shared his perspective on the relevance of Superman today. According to Waid, “Superman is always the symbol of what we can achieve if we collaborate and make empathy a virtue”. This message, which emphasizes unity and kindness in the face of adversity, resonates with many in the current context.
The figure of Superman has been, since its inception, a defender of the disadvantaged and a voice against corruption, confronting corrupt individuals and oppressors. His legacy as a hero is unmistakable; his famous “S” has become a universal emblem of hope, which not only inspires his readers but can also serve as a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from compassion and empathy.
Waid also emphasizes that the inherent optimism of Superman, which has led him to do seemingly impossible things, is more necessary than ever. At a time when uncertainty and unease can be predominant feelings, the story of the Man of Steel offers a light of hope. The movie scheduled for July 2025 promises to revitalize this positive image, both for old fans and for new generations who will fall in love with his legacy.
In a recent revelation about the creation process of Invincible, creator Robert Kirkman shared fascinating details about the original names and designs of the characters. Kirkman revealed that the iconic Viltrumite, known today as Omni-Man, was originally going to be called Supra-Man. However, this choice had to be changed due to fears of legal repercussions with DC Comics, as the similarity to Superman was too evident. A name too similar that had to be changed. Additionally, the main character of the series, Invincible, was initially named Bulletproof, and his design differed significantly […]
In a recent revelation about the creation process of Invincible, creator Robert Kirkman shared fascinating details about the original names and designs of the characters. Kirkman revealed that the iconic viltrumite, known today as Omni-Man, was originally going to be called Supra-Man. However, this choice had to be changed due to fears of legal repercussions with DC Comics, as the similarity to Superman was too evident.
A name that was too similar and had to be changed
Additionally, the main character of the series, Invincible, was initially named Bulletproof, and his design differed significantly from what fans know today. Although the name Omni-Man was the only change made for legal reasons, the early sketches and concepts of both characters showed an artistic direction that is far from the final version that has been depicted in both the comics and the Prime Video series.
These observations not only highlight the creative challenges faced by comic creators, but also reflect the unwavering interest of the public in debating fictional encounters. Discussions about who would emerge victorious in a confrontation between Superman, Patriot, and Omni-Man continue to attract the attention of fans. The humorous reference that the real fear is not the Kryptonians, but the DC lawyers, underscores the seriousness of the legal environment in which comic properties operate.
Kirkman, in the additional material of Invincible Vol. 1: Family Matters, not only provides details about these changes but also invites readers to reflect on how titles and character representations impact their cultural perception. Undoubtedly, the legacy of Omni-Man and his comparisons with other superhero icons will continue to be a topic of conversation among fans over time.
Y a muy pocos les está gustando (e incluso haciendo ilusión, por algún motivo) que deje sin trabajo a gente realmente creativa. Por el camino, la IA ha salpicado a Pokémon, Dungeons & Dragons e incluso a los cómics de DC.
Artificial intelligence has directly impacted creative jobs. And it is evident: some governments have adopted it as part of their daily lives to avoid paying artists for institutional advertising, we have read apology letters written with ChatGPT, and even some video games are considering incorporating it into everyday life as something inevitable. However, the public has reacted.
Since OpenAI, they believed it was going to be a piece of cake: A machine gives a drawing, a worker digitally touches up the mistakes, and voila. However, they didn’t count on the fact that the public is much smarter than they seem and can spot the AI from miles away. And very few people are pleased (and even stirring up excitement, for some reason) that it’s taking away jobs from truly creative people. Along the way, AI has affected Pokémon, Dungeons & Dragons, and even DC Comics.
Although the publisher has been strongly against art made by an AI, there are artists who have preferred to save themselves the work of thinking about a plan and drawing it by asking the machine of the moment. In May, AI influence was caught in a few panels that basically shamelessly plagiarized (the usual modus operandi, you know), yet in June it happened again.
The artist in this case was Francesco Mattina, who, among others, illustrated the 2017 series ‘Darth Vader: Dark Lord’ and who will now be known as “the one with the covers”. And the fact is that several of the alternative covers he has made for various DC comics (‘Superman’ and ‘The Brave and the Bold’, among others) had AI errors even in such mythical things as the Superman logo on his chest.
Mattina already had a long record of plagiarism, and DC has withdrawn not just these covers from future circulation, but they’ve also banned him from working with them again. Despite insisting that artificial intelligence is the future, it sometimes seems to be the present. Specifically, a present filled with layoffs and long faces.
The creator of Fables has decided to definitively break with DC Comics after years of rudeness, releasing his work… and confronting the company
When working for a multinational corporation, there’s always a risk of losing control over your work. In the end, you depend on the good faith of the other party involved because, unfortunately, the law isn’t equally applied to everyone. A gigantic company can afford to spend years in legal battles, while an ordinary person cannot. This means that in the face of any issues with a large multinational, most of the time, workers have only two options: remain silent or take actions outside the legal system. This is especially true in a litigious country like the United States.
That has been the case for Bill Willingham, the creator of the comic book series Fables. As the creator and writer of this series that began in 2002 and is still ongoing, he blended characters from fairy tales like Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf with the real New York, where they had to conceal their appearance and abilities from the rest of the world. This comic book series led to the creation of The Wolf Among Us, the popular video game by Telltale. Today, Willingham has made a public statement announcing that he is relinquishing the intellectual property rights of his work to the public domain.
The reason behind this decision is that DC Comics executives have been imposing increasingly abusive conditions on him, to the point where their relationship deteriorated so much that he saw no other way out. Unable to engage in a legal battle against the company, he has decided that, at the age of 67, it’s more worthwhile for Fables to be owned by everyone than to try to defeat a giant like DC Comics in the courts.
Willingham is thus denouncing the fact that DC’s current executives believe they can do whatever they want with the property without considering its authors. He uses The Wolf Among Us as an example, where not only have they not paid him royalties for the licensing of his work to Telltale Games, but they have also not consulted him on the changes and trauma introduced by the game in relation to the comics.
The Wolf Among Us 2: A Telltale Series is scheduled for release in 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Mac OS. Meanwhile, Willingham has stated that he has read the script that they tried to hide from him for two years and that even if he has put his work into the public domain, he will continue to fight to get the money they owe him. Something we can only applaud.
Little did the screenwriter imagine that at just turned forty he would create the strangest character of his entire career… or that that macarada would have a twist three decades later: this is the story of Snowflame.
The 80s were a very curious time in superhero comics. Sales were going through the roof on a continuous basis and the sagas were so powerful that the authors were stringing together successes, allowing themselves to do things that nowadays would be banned by hundreds of committees. For example, Len Wein, Gerry Conway and Steve Englehart created an unofficial crossover between Marvel and DC in the pages of ‘Strange Adventures’, ‘Justice League’ and ‘Thor’ in which they themselves (and Englehart’s wife) were talking to the superheroes.
Englehart, by then, was already a name of his own in comics: his are sagas such as The Celestial Madonna or The Serpent Crown in ‘The Avengers’, for example. But little did the scriptwriter imagine that at the age of forty he would create the strangest character of his entire career… or that this macabre story would have a twist three decades later: this is the story of Snowflame.
Some people don’t realize how much publishers copied each other in the 80s. So much so, that DC had a group called Guardians of the Universe before Marvel came up with their galactic namesakes. This team was born in 1960 and was united with the Green Lantern Corps until a crossover changed everything (or so they thought): ‘Millennium’ began in 1988 and lasted eight weeks, in each of which a comic book from the main collection was released.
Throughout this crossover, Herupa Hando Hu, a Guardian, and Nadia Safir, a Zamaron (really, we understand you don’t read comics, it doesn’t seem simple at all) chose different heroes from around the planet to form a new team: The New Guardians. An Australian woman who became a cosmic force, a Peruvian man who was one of the first gay superheroes in history, a Chinese woman, a man-plant…
The eight members of the New Guardians were DC‘s way of opening up to a more diverse world. Characters ended up as everything from cosmic entities to robots to being bitten by white supremacist vampires with AIDS. No, we’re not making this up: The Hemo-globin was the first villain ‘The New Guardians’ faced. But the one that changed everything and made the series go down in history of infamy was the one in its number 2: Snowflame.
What a delight, what a pleasure, to be on cocaine
The comic began directly in the jungle with the group facing an enemy dressed in red with a white aura around him, who claimed “Cocaine is my god, and I am the human instrument of his will”. Subtlety flew out the window and the comic was just getting started: Snowflame was getting stronger and stronger as he snorted the power of the cocaine plant he was fighting over.
The villain’s mansion, in the middle of the jungle, had a swimming pool, girls dancing in their underwear and the character himself saying phrases like “Do you know how many bags we have to sell to the dealers to buy a Rolls-Royce? Ten, Manuel!”. In the background, characters appeared snorting straight away – in a DC comic! Think of the sheer lunacy of it all! What’s more, Snowflame himself was doing it to confront our heroes, no plants involved, claiming that he was in for “The ultimate exhilaration, the divine ecstasy, the euphoria of electricity now surging from every molecule in my body.” My goodness, ‘Vicious Bear‘ in muscle version.
Finally, the fire that enveloped Snowflame made him explode… And that was the end of his story. Well, a priori, or don’t you know that in superhero comics nobody lives or dies? They just transform. Let’s move 32 years into the future: September 2020. Society was secluded in their homes, afraid of the Covid. It was the perfect time for Blake Northcott and Sean Murphy to bring back the kids’ favorite supervillain.
He wasn’t dead, he was on a spree
Issue 23 of ‘Catwoman’ volume 5. Selina travels to Nevada Island (subtle she certainly isn’t) to attend an auction hosted by – exactly – Snowflame, who explains how she got off years ago: “The key to faking your own death: explosions. If you blow enough people away, no one’s going to look through the mess to identify body parts.”
Mind you, he was far from reformed: he was still taking drugs (which he even offers to Catwoman), acknowledging that he’s “never quit long enough” to know whether the self-confidence is natural or cocaine-induced. Of course, Catwoman has to take down the entire drug cartel by confronting her old flame, Snowflame (because yes, they do let it slip that they were involved for a small period of time).
And indeed, power still comes from sniffing uncontrollably. Some things never change. The last we see of him is how a giant panther appears from the shadows to eat him, with his superpowers eliminated thanks to an antidote from the people of Isla Nevada. Since then, we haven’t heard from him again, but it’s possible that, seeing as he’s not even a worthy rival for Batman‘s girlfriend, he won’t be back in the pages of DC other than to be comic relief from time to time. Honestly? He won’t be missed much.
