All posts by JC Alvarez

Writer | Producer | Personality. Pop-Cultural Agent. Music | Entertainment & Genre Enthusiast. I knew comics were cool before primetime. The voice of "Out Loud & Live! with JC Alvarez" on Internet Radio. Visit www.thefanzite.com for more!
Coming Soon, DC Entertainment, Entertainment, Featured, Movies

First Look | Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as BLACK ADAM

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Lightning strikes from the heavens and after much anticipation, the first images of action star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reveal how he will look like the DC anti-hero BLACK ADAM!

Thunder rumbles in the distant heavens. The DC cinematic universe has been teasing the introduction of this particular character from their pantheon for some time, and now the first illustrated image of what action-star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will look like as the anti-hero Black Adam a feature film of which is set to premiere in theaters December 2021. It’ll be paving the way for what is certain to be an inevitable showdown between two of DC Comics’ most powerful beings!

After the success of the recent action-comedy Shazam! which brought the publishing giant’s Most Powerful Mortal to the big screen, rumors had started to circulate that Johnson would be brought into the franchise as the hero’s greatest adversary. It is now being reported that Black Adam starring Johnson will go begin production summer of 2020, and the production has released the first images of Johnson as the title character in artwork from BossLogic and DC legend Jim Lee. Johnson excitedly shared the image across social networking.

Johnson has been expressing his interest in bringing this titan to the bog screen for some time, and especially not shying away from his enthusiasm about joining the DC Cinematic Universe. The film’s producer Hiram Garcia has also revealed the depths of which they intend to dive into, by realizing Black Adam’s origins in an entirely new and textured fashion. The character was introduced as a villainous foil to Shazam!, but has become entirely something else in contemporary publications.

Dwayne Johnson as he might appear as the titular anti-hero starring in “Black Adam” set for release 2021.

How the character will evolve into a film will be very carefully watched, given the critical reception most DC properties (outside of Batman) experience in the cinematic market. Successes are few and far between for Warner Bros the studio that owns the properties, unlike the competitor’s record, which is, well, marvelous! Recent releases beginning with Wonder Woman, followed by Aquaman and the recent critical and lucrative success of Todd Phillips Joker means that perhaps lightning may strike again — for Black Adam.

Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson is scheduled for theatrical release December 2021

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Collectible, Comic-Con, Featured, Star Trek

UnBoxing | Star Trek Starship Collection “CLOAKED” DEFIANT from Eaglemoss

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It’s one “Tough Little Ship” and is being offered as a Convention Exclusive for fans attending NYCC! The USS Defiant Cloaked — now you see it, now you don’t!

When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine introduced its hero ship the USS Defiant, among the most stunning revelations about the vessel that would be used in defense against enemy incursions emerging from the nearby wormhole was that it was possessed of cloaking technology! The reason this was so controversial to fans is the fact that the ability for starships to move so stealthily throughout space was often associated with Starfleet’s enemies, and not in keeping with the Federation’s promise of peacekeeping and exploration.

The USS Defiant was also constructed with a singular purpose and that was to repel enemies and even the odds on the battlefield, most significantly to deal with the threat of the dangerously provocative Borg. The muscly little ship was to be moored in defense of the edges of Federation space at Deep Space Nine which was in Bajoran territory and captained by the station’s commander Benjamin Sisko. The ship saw its fair share of conflict, proving formidable against the Dominion and the aforementioned cybernetic alien Borg in Star Trek: First Contact.

Now Eaglemoss Collections / Hero Collector has given collectors an opportunity to own their very own bit of stealth technology with the exclusive “Convention Only” model of the USS Defiant NX-74205 “Cloaked” and available to fans attending this season’s New York Comic-Con. The high-end collectible will be available during the convention season, but only for as long as it remains in stock. The modelers at Eaglemoss will be selling the specialty item at their booth, along with displays of all their most exciting new releases.

Convention Exclusive

For those intrepid fans brave enough to traverse the subway ride to the West Side of Manhattan this fall, Eaglemoss Collections / Hero Collector made the endeavor even more special by offering Trek enthusiasts an opportunity to pick-up the exclusive collectible. The model of the USS Defiant NX-74205 “Cloaked” was available in a limited production run of only 2.500 individual pieces. The model is molded in transparent plastic to simulate the “cloaked” effect and includes a display stand and 20-age magazine in the newer, more compact issue.

Upon the re-release and reissue of the Star Trek The Official Starships Collections, Eaglemoss Collections / Hero Collector decidedly repackaged many of the ships in the line in a new smaller-range blister box. The “cloaked” USS Defiant is accordingly packaged. The model itself is handsomely detailed, made to simulate the effect of being in stealth mode, collectors should be warned — it is incredibly fragile and should be handled carefully. The “convention exclusive” model is being made available to online collectors — so grab yours before they disappear!

USS Defiant NX-74205 CLOAKED | Convention Exclusive | Star Trek The Official Starships Collections from Eaglemoss Collections | $40.00 available from Eaglemoss Collections here.

Collectible, DC Entertainment, Featured

UnBoxing | The Flash “JAY GARRICK” from Eaglemoss

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Continuing in the great tradition of their existing line of collectible figurines, Eaglemoss Collections/Hero Collector introduce  THE FLASH Figurine Collection based on the characters from the primetime hit!

Make some space on that shelf, perhaps somewhere next to your set of DC All-Star Figurines. The folks at Eaglemoss Collections/Hero Collector have expanded on their series of DC Comics collectible items and realized for fans a series of resin figures based on the primetime heroes in the DC “Arrowverse” with The Flash Figurine Collection. The carefully handcrafted figures are characteristically posed and ready for action, each is carefully painted and captures the likeness of its “real-life” counterpart.

Each figure is cast in a specially formulated resin at 1:16 scale in a specially designed blister box featuring on-set photography. The enclosed magazine describes each characters’ background details their ability and provides an insight into their place with the context of The Flash television series. The figures in the line include The Flash, Kid Flash and Issue #3 goes back to the “Golden Age” spotlighting The Flash of Earth-3, Jay Garrick. The veteran speedster is posed tipping his winged helmet.

The Crimson Comet

In a brilliant play on casting, actor John Wesley Shipp who appeared on The Flash as “Henry Allen” the father of Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) was also tapped to play the Golden Age speedster. Jay Garrick had been taken prisoner by the psychopath Hunter Solomon and assumed Garrick’s identity as well as his powers as “The Flash” of Earth-2. He kept Jay chained in a cage and suppressed his powers with an iron mask in his hideout. Garrick was eventually freed by the intervention of The Flash and his friends from Earth-1.

When the iron mask was removed, everyone was surprised to see that the real Jay Garrick bore a striking resemblance to Henry Allen, who was murdered by Solomon as part of his plan to destroy Barry Allen. Jay Garrick, The Flash of Earth-3 resumed his heroic alter-ego and returned to his own universe, but has often partnered with Barry Allen and his friends. Casting John Wesley Shipp in the role of the Golden Age hero was something that fans had always wanted, especially since the actor was the original Scarlet Speedster and headliner of the 1990 CBS series The Flash.

The figurine captures Shipp’s likeness and reproduces the beautifully designed suit based on the character that first appeared in The Flash Comics #1 80 years ago.

The Flash JAY GARRICK | Issue #3 | The Flash Figurine Collection | $19.99 available from Eaglemoss Collections and Hero Collector. Visit the website here.

Entertainment, Featured, In Music

iTunedIN | GEORGE MICHAEL – “This Is How” New Single

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A new single from pop music’s most elusive and irreverent talent, it’s been too long but here now finally is material worth reminding us all of the unmatched quality George Michael contributed to music.

It’s impossible to believe that it’s been nearly a decade since we haven’t heard any new music from George Michael and even harder to accept that with an expansive catalog of tunes as diverse as the pop maestro was capable of navigating, now that he’s gone, we have to cherish every bit of the moments when something original is revealed from the performer’s archives. It couldn’t be more exciting at this moment that one of his previously unreleased treasures has finally seen the light of day.

The new single “This Is How (We Want You to Get)” has all the predictably familiar beats and rhythms that we’ve come to appreciate from Michael and is very reminiscent of some of the tracks from his 2004 release Patience with the lyrical acumen of his offerings off of 1996’s Older which is responsible for defining for his audience the “grown-up” one-time man-child, pop star now transformed. The single is off the soundtrack to the theatrical Last Christmas which nods to the artist’s quintessential holiday hit.

This track was recorded during his final studio sessions and was co-written by collaborator James Jackman and is the first original material from George Michael shared in seven years.

George Michael | “This is How (We Want You to Get High)” – Single available on iTunes.

Collectible, Comic Books, DC Entertainment, Featured, Gear

iGear | DC’s Jim Lee Teams-Up with HEX® for Collectors Backpack

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The award-winning fashion line of tech-driven accessory backpacks has launched a unique collector backpack collaborated upon by none other than DC’s own Jim Lee!

We’ve all been there! Deciding upon the perfect backpack can be a real hassle especially for the upwardly mobile among us who traverse the most densely populated urban jungles or the tightly huddled cosplay aisles of Comic-Cons coast to coast! Keeping your gear safe and accessible and all in one place is a priority, certainly, if you want to make sure those particularly priceless collector items are protected from the elements — and in style!

HEX® the high-end innovators in fashion accessories including all-weather backpacks and cases inspired by fashion, music and art and empowering creators to explore the outer limits of their potential have collaborated with DC’s own Jim Lee for innovation in urban travel cases with the uniquely cool HEX x Jim Lee Collectors Backpack. Retailing for a modest $139.95 the limited edition case is aptly sized at 16”H x 12”W x 6”D with a padded laptop sleeve that fits a 15” computer and iPad inside a water-resistant exterior PU coating.

The case is multi-functional but it’s designed with the comic-collector/designer in mind and features fleece-lined comic carrying pockets to keep your collection safe and intact, with pockets for organization and room for your Overstreet Price Guide and side pockets for your smartphone, sunglasses and poster tube holder. Designed with Jim Lee the interiors feature custom-designed lining starring Batman and sports the HEX® promise of durability and styling. HEX® believes in “equip the creators” and this bag is ideal for anyone in the comic industry.

This HEX Is For You

HEX® prides itself on quality products and teaming up with Jim Lee to give collectors this one-of-kind carry all experience is the perfect way to validate and celebrate the comic enthusiast in a unique and exciting way.

HEX x Jim Lee Collectors Backpack | retails for $139.95 | Goto the HEX® website and get yours.

DC Entertainment, Featured, In Primetime

ICYMI | Countdown to CRISIS: SUPERMEN OF INFINITE EARTHS

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When the CRISIS comes to The CW’s DC primetime multiverse this fall, it’s going to take a whole lot of heroes to save the world — or worlds — from the threat they face…it’s going to take some supermen!

There have been several photos making their way across social media, images filtering out from the set of The CW series that have fans of the primetime DC Comics Multiverse itching with anticipation! Although many of the series has just begun their runs with the return of fan favorites The Flash and Supergirl leading the charge, and the one that started it all Arrow entering into its eighth and final season, audiences are enthusiastically looking forward to this season’s annual crossover spectacle promising to be the biggest one of ever.

After dealing with the trials of last season’s “Elseworlds” event which introduced the world-shattering presence of The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) audiences immediately began to speculate, but before the end credits rolled their wishes had been answered! This season The CW heroes will be facing a threat to the entire multiverse, the coming of the “Crisis of Infinite Earths” and it’s going to take more than just The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) to save the multiverse!

It looks like The CW is pulling out all the big stops and this year’s event will be the biggest in the network’s history. The 5-part, 5-hour epic event will encompass all The CW series including DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Black Lightning as well as the newest in the line-up Batwoman. There have been several iconic names attached to the project, but one picture, in particular, has sparked the greatest excitement and that is the one featuring the “Supermen” of Two-Earths! Brandon Routh and Taylor Hoechlin posed on-set in their super-suits!

Check it out here:

Brandon Routh and Taylor Hoechlin as “Superman” appearing in this year’s CW crossover event.

Routh (who will be appearing in the crossover in a dual capacity) also plays The Atom, Ray Palmer and stars on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow starred as the hero in the feature film Superman Returns. Hoechlin has stepped into the iconic role and has portrayed the Man of Steel on Supergirl opposite Benoist as the cousin of the Maid of Might. The pair will likely be teaming up playing Superman of two alternate-earths and much like the classic story will have to play a role in defeating their foe, an enemy that is unleashing a wave of anti-matter across the multiverse!

Crisis on Infinite Earths the epic 5-part crossover event will be airing this fall in December on The CW.