With "Batman v Superman" set to hit theaters next March, we thought we'd take a look at just how much Superman's costume has changed since he first appeared on the silver screen almost 70 years ago. 

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We're finally getting some real footage of "Deadpool," and it's as exciting as we'd hoped.

In a world of overly serious superhero blockbusters, the upcoming Ryan Reynolds movie featuring the Marvel comic-book mercenary looks like a relief. It's funny and smart, but also looks like it's packing brutal action.

The movie just released a preview for a new trailer that will be out Christmas Day, but here's a 51-second preview of it. We'll post the full trailer when it's up.

We see Deadpool facing down tough guys on the highway, and how he got that way, all with a heavy dose of Reynolds' wisecracks.

"Deadpool" is out February 12, 2016.

Watch the Christmas-themed trailer preview here:

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NOW WATCH: Jennifer Lawrence does something other actors won't, and it's why she keeps improving

The buildup to the latest Marvel superhero movie, “Deadpool,” is a unique one. It's being marketed as not like any other superhero adaptation we've seen in some time. It's edgy, foul-mouthed, and violent, at least judging from trailers.

Now that’s been confirmed, as the film has received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America for “strong language and violence throughout, sexual content, and graphic nudity.”

20th Century Fox is going a different path than the popular Marvel movies that come out through Disney ("Deadpool" has been in development for over a decade, before Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment). Disney's superhero movies haven't edged past a PG-13 rating in order to increase their box-office potential.

We're going to find out on February 12 whether Fox's gamble that there's a big enough adult audience that wants a more mature superhero pays off.

The success or failure of "Deadpool" could also be important for "Suicide Squad," out in August. Though some believe “Squad” won’t try for an R rating, if “Deadpool” does incredible business, don't be surprised if Warner Bros. feels more comfortable with the DC Comics adaptation having an R.

“Deadpool” stars Ryan Reynolds as a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who has accelerated healing powers and a lot of sarcasm to go around.

Check out the trailer here, and you can tell this isn’t going to be a Disney Marvel movie:

SEE ALSO: The next "Star Wars" movie will be "much darker" says star John Boyega

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NOW WATCH: Here’s Mark Cuban’s advice for whoever wins the $1.5 billion Powerball

Kay Pike, 28, started painting herself on Twitch, a live streaming video platform, in December 2015. Her amazing artwork has helped her videos and photos reach over 20 million views across her social media platforms. 

Story and editing by Alana Yzola

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A petition to have the character Deadpool host "Saturday Night Live" is getting a massive online reaction from fans.

Andrew Stege of Matteson, Illinois, created the Change.org petition that's taking off after the Ryan Reynolds superhero movie set a February box-office record. Now it has over 30,000 signatures.

"How would this not be hilarious having Deadpool in sketches, breaking the 4th wall, and inserting some of his brand of humor (obviously toned down a bit for network television)!?!?!" Steberg argued of having the Marvel character on the NBC sketch show.

Steberg certainly has a point. Deadpool has been known in both the comics and the film to be smart-mouthed, profane, iconoclastic, and sexually adventurous. In other words, a good mix for "SNL."

Steberg suggests Deadpool, who does a dance in the movie, could show off his moves during "SNL."

And Ryan Reynolds has hosted "SNL" before (he even joked about superheroes in his opening monologue).

"Depending on the musical guest, how awesome would it be to have some Deadpool interpretive dancing while the musical guest was playing? There's unlimited possibilities!!!"Steberg wrote on the petition addressed to "SNL" executive producerLorne Michaels, "Saturday Night Live," NBC, and Reynolds.

The movie "Deadpool" has been tremendously successful since hitting theaters last weekend. Box Office Mojo reports that "Deadpool" has made more than $163 million in domestic box office. It also holds a 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

NBC declined to comment on the petition.

SEE ALSO: Ryan Reynolds helped Katie Holmes answer an age-old 'Dawson's Creek' question

SEE ALSO: Audio of Kanye West's epic backstage rant at 'SNL' has reportedly surfaced

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NOW WATCH: A new Marvel superhero got the job by telling an exec she could beat him up

The DC and Marvel universes have taken control of the big and small screens.

Between the seven superhero movies slated for this year — "Deadpool" having already hijacked the box office — and the nine superhero shows currently on TV, there is no shortage of options.

Though I've read some comics over the years, I'm not deeply embedded in the comic-book world. But as a fan of these stories, I tend to watch all of the superhero-related movies and shows, which is getting a lot harder to do these days.

But if you wanted to, now's a good time to dive headfirst into the shows, most of which are currently running, including "Arrow,""The Flash" (both on The CW), and "Gotham," which just returned on Fox on Monday night. Netflix's "Daredevil" is coming back for a second season soon, too.

Here is a ranking of the current crop of superhero TV shows, starting with the worst and working up to the best:

SEE ALSO: The 21 best heist movies ever, ranked

9. "Gotham"

This show isn't exactly focused on a superhero. Following a young James Gordon before he's commissioner and Bruce Wayne before he's Batman, "Gotham's" main premise is to see how Gotham's villains and heroes came to be. While the rise of The Penguin and Edward Nygma's transition to The Riddler have made the second season more interesting, the episodes are wildly uneven.

8. "DC's Legends of Tomorrow"

From the creators of "The Flash" and "Arrow," as well as two of "Supergirl's" executive producers, the newly formed "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" is primed for success, but its first few episodes have struggled to find footing. The show does drop some amazing references to the actors' other projects, though, and Wentworth Miller's Captain Cold is a particular highlight.

7. "Supergirl"

When "Supergirl" first premiered, it was CBS's most watched premiere, and while it was voted the favorite new drama at the People's Choice Awards and won for the most exciting new series at the Critics' Choice Awards, it's been struggling to maintain popularity. Hopefully, the upcoming "Supergirl" and "Flash" crossover episode gives it the momentum it needs, because the show is excellent.

Gal Gadot, who will star as Wonder Woman in the upcoming "Batman v Superman," has opened up about her beauty-pageant past, being a mother, and what she wanted to bring to the blockbuster role in Glamour.

Gadot is not your typical Hollywood actress. The Israeli-born former combat trainer was a reluctant pageant queen and relatively unknown actress before landing a part in the multimillion-dollar superhero franchise that will also include her own leading role in “Wonder Woman,” due out in 2017.

After winning the title of Miss Israel, Gadot had second thoughts about pageant competitions.

“When I went to Miss Universe, I rebelled. I was afraid I might get picked again. [Laughs.] I showed up late. I came without gowns. They tell you to come to breakfast in a gown. I was like, ‘No way am I having breakfast in a gown!’ Who needs to wear an evening gown at 10:30 am?” she told the magazine.

But becoming Miss Israel opened Gadot to plenty of modeling opportunities and eventually led to acting. From early on, Gadot wanted to play fierce female roles.

“Whenever I met with producers, writers, or directors, I said I wanted to portray a strong, independent woman," she said. "Cut to Wonder Woman."

Once she nabbed the coveted part in "Batman v Superman," however, she did have one particular convern: She wanted to make sure that Wonder Woman was an independent character in the script.

“She [Wonder Woman] is not relying on a man, and she’s not there because of a love story. She’s not there to serve someone else,” the actress clarified of what to expect from the movie, out March 25.

Not that we would've expected Wonder Woman to be fragile, but it's good to know Gadot plans to keep the character every bit the Amazonian warrior she is and ought to be on the screen. Though she also says that doesn't mean the character will be emotionless.

“She has so many strengths and powers, but at the end of the day she’s a woman with a lot of emotional intelligence. She’s loving,” Gadot said. “And it’s all her heart—that’s her strength. I think women are amazing for being able to show what they feel. I admire women who do. I think it’s a mistake when women cover their emotions to look tough. I say let’s own who we are and use it as a strength.”

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NOW WATCH: Here's the new 'Batman v Superman' trailer that just got a standing ovation at Comic-Con

No, you aren't imagining things: Superhero movies are long, and they're about to get longer.

Following the news that "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" has a running time of 2 hours and 31 minutes, /Film is reporting that the superhero movie immediately following it, "Captain America: Civil War," will go to 2 hours and 26 minutes.

Which makes it the longest Marvel movie yet.

That's a whole lot of Marvel action, as this chapter, which Robert Downey Jr. has dubbed "'The Godfather' of superhero movies," will look at the division within the ranks of The Avengers.

But the 146-minute running time isn't vastly longer than past titles from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" clocked at 141 minutes and "The Avengers" was 143 minutes.

Both made over $1 billion worldwide in their theatrical releases.

It'll be interesting to see if a Marvel movie will one day venture into the rarefied air of "The Dark Knight Rises," with its 164 minutes of superhero brooding.

"Captain America: Civil War" opens May 6.

SEE ALSO: The Wonder Woman actress says she had one demand for playing the role in 'Batman v Superman'

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NOW WATCH: Adele showed why she's the most popular musician on the planet at the BRIT Awards

Ever since "Iron Man" was released in 2008 and kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel has taken over the box office.

In the past eight years, Marvel Studios has put out well over 20 movies that span multiple studios — from Disney to 20th Century Fox. 

"Deadpool," which came out on February 12, has been shattering records since its opening weekend. It has grossed over $679.1 million worldwide.

In anticipation of the upcoming "Captain America: Civil War" and "X-Men: Apocalypse," we ranked the 12 best Marvel movies we've seen since Robert Downey Jr.'s era-defining "Iron Man."

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Every actor who's played Batman, from best to worst

12. "The Wolverine" (2013)

The hugely entertaining "The Wolverine" stays true to the characters' roots while telling an unconventional superhero story that involves Yakuza gangsters. There's a lot of great action here, such as a train chase that is as memorable as it is implausible. What really makes this stand out is Hugh Jackman, who has committed to this character for so long. He's a hero who is immortal and haunted by the prospect of death.

11. "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012)

Spider-Man didn't need to be rebooted, but Sony really didn't want to lose this franchise. While nothing can top what Sam Raimi created — even if "Spider-Man 3" didn't do anybody any favors — the first reboot had a lot of great stuff to offer. It has a whole new Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) who's less of a geek. And Parker created the web blasters this time, making it just slightly more faithful to the comics.

10. "Ant-Man" (2015)

With Edgar Wright originally onboard, "Ant-Man" was looking to be one of Marvel's best. Indeed, Joss Whedon even called it Marvel's best script yet. But when Wright and the studio couldn't see eye to eye, the director dropped out.

Replacement director Peyton Reed had high expectations to live up to. He crafted a superhero story that goes through the standard motions of an origin story while also managing to be a fun heist movie with great performances by Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas. We will never know what Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man" would have looked like, but the version we ended up with isn't so bad.

In less than two weeks, Batman will have his cinematic encounter with Superman in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," but that won’t be the Caped Crusader’s only big moment on screen this year. It was confirmed several months ago that "Batman: The Killing Joke" would be made into an animated movie, and today it was officially revealed that "Batman: The Animated Series" alums Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will reprise Batman and The Joker, respectively, for the project. To mark the announcement, Hamill posted the first official image from the adaptation with one of the story's famous quotes on his own Twitter feed.

Hamill subsequently tweeted the same picture two more times to complete the movie title with more quotes from the original source material. KILLING was accompanied by the line, "Remember there's always madness... Madness is the emergency exit." Then JOKE followed with, "If I have to have a past, then I prefer it to be multiple choice." Following Mark Hamill’s temporary retirement as the Clown Prince of Crime in 2011, he said that he would return to the role if a "Killing Joke" adaptation were ever made. Well, now it’s a reality! Hamill didn’t elaborate on his new Joker experience, but he’s clearly excited to be back.

Like Kevin Conroy with Batman, Mark Hamill has continued to voice The Joker in multiple projects over the decades, from episodes of "Superman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League" to three of the "Batman: Arkham" video games. Both actors are also reprising their roles for the upcoming "Justice League Action" animated series. As for the rest of "Batman: The Killing Joke’s" cast, Comic Book Resources reports that Tara Strong will voice Barbara Gordon and Ray Wise will voice her father, Commissioner James Gordon. 

Written by Alan Moore (of "Watchmen" and "V for Vendetta" fame) and Brian Bolland, "Batman: The Killing Joke" was published in 1988 as a one-shot, and has since become one of the most famous Batman stories ever written. However, it’s earned its share of controversy over the years, primarily for its brutal treatment of Barbara Gordon, who is paralyzed at The Joker’s hands. This cut short her career as Batgirl, though she later served as Oracle from 1989 to when the New 52 began in 2011. Conversely, "The Killing Joke" is also considered by many as the definitive Joker story and one of the few to depict the super villain’s origin, though the clown himself casts doubts on whether events happened the way they’re depicted.

No release date has been set for "Batman: The Killing Joke," but the movie will premiere later this year at San Diego Comic-Con, and the movie’s wide release will follow later in the summer.

SEE ALSO: Meet Gal Gadot, the 30-year-old actress playing Wonder Woman, who started out as Miss Israel

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NOW WATCH: What the 'i' in 'iPhone' stands for — as explained by Steve Jobs

While "Deadpool" is still owning the box office, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is about to become the biggest new movie of the season when it hits theaters next week.

Yet the blockbuster is still shrouded in secrecy.

The latest multi-superhero epic has yet to screen for critics, even while stars Ben Affleck (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman), and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) have done rounds of press.

But Warner Bros. has just released a huge batch of new photos that give a closer look at key moments from the film, including behind-the-scenes shots of the actors at work with director Zack Snyder ("Man of Steel,""300").

A lot is riding on the latest from Snyder, who's already signed on to helm two "Justice League" movies next. We'll see if it cashes in at the box office, but at least based on this glimpse, the visuals look stunning.

Check out the photos from "Batman v Superman" and what you need to know about it below.

SEE ALSO: The best and worst Ben Affleck movies, ranked

The movie centers on a heated battle between Batman and Superman, though they ultimately join forces against a larger evil.

As for the evil, that comes from villain Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). Eisenberg didn't have to bulk up for the role like his costars. He joked that he was Affleck and Cavill's "spotter" in the on-set gym.

Netflix's hit Marvel series "Daredevil" introduces a new character on its second season, which launched Friday. And with the addition, the show's struggle to define the difference between a vigilante and a hero gets very real.

Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) — known as Punisher to Marvel Comics fans— enters the show's Hell's Kitchen with a barrage of bullets. Strikingly accurate and effective, he's considered a major force by everyone in the show. But is that force for good or evil?

"Unlike the first season where there was a clear villain, this season is not that black and white," Charlie Cox, who plays the show's title character, recently told Business Insider of the show's new addition.

"It's not about a villain or an antihero or even a hero," he continued. "I think this season asks the question: What is a hero? What does it take to be a hero? What are people's views on heroes? How do they change and morph and where is the line? What's the line of vigilante justice? Is that something we should applaud, or is it something we should condemn? It's a very blurry line."

Castle stands in stark contrast to season one's villain, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio), who was taken down by Daredevil, aka Matt Murdock, by the end of the season. Castle is an expert sharpshooter who brings an executioner-like quality to his work. He's the physical manifestation of the questions Murdock was left with at the end of season one, in which he battled with his own rules of crime-fighting and vigilantism.

"This season, I think it's sophisticated and interesting and the show hopefully does what it did last year, which was they've taken a superhero show and made it so much more than that," Cox said of Castle.

The Punisher matches Daredevil's skills and then some. He's a master of martial arts, stealth tactics, guerrilla warfare, and a wide variety of weapons. And his take on crime fighting doesn't include the cops and courts. He is judge, jury, and executioner.

"I really feel it's the perfect world to reintroduce this character," Bernthal ("The Walking Dead,""The Wolf of Wall Street") said of Punisher during the recent winter Television Critics Association press tour.

"So much of season one was about Matt sort of dealing with this decision to be a hero. I think here comes this guy who's really not concerned with being a hero,"Bernthal continued. "If I got one thing from the comics as far as superpowers, his superpower is his rage. His superpower is that he is not going to quit, and he is going forward no matter what. And that's as human and grounded a quality as I think as this sort of genre could have."

Cox told Business Insider that Bernthal really delivered as Punisher.

"I think he's going to get a lot of attention from this show for his portrayal of Frank Castle, and rightfully so," Cox said. "He's hugely deserving."

Watch a trailer for the second season of "Daredevil" below:

SEE ALSO: Chelsea Handler finally shared details about what to expect from her new Netflix talk show

SEE ALSO: The best thing about the second season of ‘Daredevil’ is The Punisher

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NOW WATCH: The new 'Daredevil' villain was thrust onto the stage at Comic Con for the first time

As you probably know from the marketing blitz, season 2 of Marvel's "Daredevil" premieres on Netflix today. But if you're still jonesing for more "Daredevil" once your weekend binge is over, we've got the app for you.

Marvel Digital Unlimited is an app for iPhone, Android, and the web that gives you unfettered access to (almost) the entirety of Marvel's 77-year comics publishing history in electronic form. Take it from a comics addict like me, it's the best deal around.

Digital Unlimited works like Netflix. So long as you're paid up, you can read issues indefinitely, and store up to 12 issues for offline reading. That includes literally thousands of issues featuring characters like the Avengers, Spider-man, Jessica Jones, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and, yes, Daredevil. 

And as an added bonus, thanks to the fact that Disney owns both Marvel and Lucasfilm, Marvel Digital Unlimited has tons and tons of "Star Wars" comics, to boot. 

It starts at $9.99/month or $69 a year, but Marvel is having a special to promote the new season of "Daredevil"— sign up before April 3rd, and you can get Digital Unlimited for $60/year. Just use the coupon code "SEASON2."

Marvel Digital Unlimited can be a little daunting, given the sheer amount of comics available. And while it does offer curated collections to get you started with characters like Daredevil and crossover events like "Secret Wars," here's a very quick list of suggested starting points for the curious Netflix fan:  

• Daredevil #168 — the first appearance of Elektra.
• Daredevil #227 - 233 — the "Born Again" story, featuring the Kingpin.
• The Amazing Spider-Man #129 — the first apperance of the Punisher.
• Daredevil vol. 3 #1 — Daredevil moves to San Francisco, kicking off the current era. 

There's a catch here, though: Marvel Digital Unlimited only gets brand-new issues on a 6-month lag.

So if you absolutely have to read the very latest issue of "Daredevil" or "Amazing Spider-Man," you're better off going with Amazon's Comixology app, which lets you buy comics for your phone or tablet outright. 

But with comics averaging $4 an issue, these days, believe me when I tell you that Marvel Digital Unlimited is a much more economical option, delay and all. 

On a final note, it's kind of a bummer that with "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" so close to hitting theaters that DC Comics doesn't offer its own version of this app. Hopefully, one day. 

SEE ALSO: Now that Google's artificial brain is conquering Go, this classic computer game from 1998 could be next

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NOW WATCH: Seth Rogen explains why Marvel is great at making sequels

Charlie Cox had to seriously step up his game to play the title role in Marvel's first Netflix series, "Daredevil."

"The truth is, before I did this show, I'd never really been in shape, I never really had a gym membership, and I'd always just occasionally go for a run, that kind of stuff," Cox told Business Insider.

On "Daredevil," which just released its second season, Cox has to perform extensive fight scenes, exhibit great flexibility, and just look all-around awesome in the superhero suit. For a guy who wasn't a gym rat to begin with, it takes commitment to keep his fitness level high.

"It was such hard work to get into shape, that when we finished the first season, just on the off-chance that we were going to do it again, I didn't let myself completely go," Cox said. "I just couldn't bear the idea of having to start over again."

"He's committed. He's the real deal," Cox's personal trainer and the creator and president of Arazi Fitness, Naqam Washington, told us.

Regarding his training style, Washington said, "Nowadays, people train to get optimal movement from their body. They train like an athlete. And I have an MBA and MMA background, so it works well with Charlie. We did modern, sport-specific, MMA movement."

Here's how Cox stays in "Daredevil" shape:

SEE ALSO: 'Daredevil' star Charlie Cox explains the deadly power of the show's new character Elektra

SEE ALSO: 'Daredevil' star Charlie Cox explains the importance of season 2's most exciting new character

Cox eats lots of meals and lots of carbs each day.

"Be really militant with your food and the regularity of your food," the actor said. "One of the difficulties for me is that I'm naturally very skinny, so the problem that I have is trying to keep weight on, put weight on. I have to eat six, seven times a day, and I have to have a lot of carbohydrates to try and fatten me up so I have something to turn into muscle."

Washington explained that most of the work revolves around food intake.

"You grow or you lose weight outside the gym, and basically, a lot of it is what you eat," Washington explained. "So if Charlie wants to gain weight in lean muscle mass, his caloric intake has to be more than his energy expenditure, mathematically. If you want to lose weight, your energy expenditure should be more than your caloric intake."

Cox works out three to six days a week, depending on where in the production schedule "Daredevil" is.

"I never do seven days [in a week], because you are supposed to rest. I tend to do five days," Cox said. "Before the show, when we're building up to shoot the show, I try to do six days a week. I try to get myself into good enough shape so when we start shooting, I can concentrate on the show and the acting part of it and not worry about it so much. So basically, I can do weeks where I do three or four times a week."

"He normally gives me an hour and 15 minutes," Washington said of the duration of Cox's workouts. "If I can sneak and take an extra 15-20 minutes, I'll take it. But he's usually strict, because he's so busy."

Cox's workout includes isolating body parts, but in a modern way.

"One day you go in, and do your shoulders. And the next day, you do your legs, and the next day after you do your biceps," Cox explained.

But if you think that sounds pretty standard and old-school, Washington says these aren't the isolated exercises of your '90s action heroes.

"Remember back in the day when people used to work out one body part per day and try to be like Arnold Schwarzenegger and want to lift 200 pounds or whatever, some madness like that? Nobody works out like that now," Washington told us. "We'll do some primary muscle, but in a sport-specific, functional way, not the heavy three sets of 12, then you rest... We did none of that."

Though "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" will most likely make a lot of money this weekend at the box office (projections of about $160 million), most critics didn't enjoy the 2-1/2-hour battle between Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill).

A big reason for that? A lot of the movie doesn't deliver on what the title promises. But there are also a lot of other issues.

With a rating of only 30% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, this was not how the film's studio, Warner Bros., was hoping to launch one of its biggest movies of the year, which will be followed by other franchise entries from DC Comics.

So before you throw down your money on the movie this weekend, let us tell you the problems that critics had with it.

SEE ALSO: Here's how much 'Batman v Superman' needs to make to be considered a success

The movie finds no joy in itself.

Taking a page from the "Dark Knight" franchise, director Zack Snyder attempts to make a movie that is very, very serious. And critics didn't buy it.

"There's zero humor or self-deprecation, as there was in Joss Whedon's pitch-perfect 'The Avengers'; no performance of unlikely depth, like the one Heath Ledger pulled off in 'The Dark Knight'; and no animating spirit of decency, a trait Christopher Reeve's Superman had in spades,"Time Out New York writes.

And Indiewire points out a major disappointment of our expectations: "It takes roughly 90 minutes for 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' to justify its title, and another 30 to establish it's a red herring."

The Hollywood Reporter questions any collaboration between the two comic-book characters going forward: "It's hard to say what ought to happen between Batman and Superman in the future, even, indeed, if they actually should share the screen again."

This version of Superman isn't likable.

This is Henry Cavill's second time playing the character, following 2013's "Man of Steel," and many critics have been turned off by a Kal-El who seems more jaded than how we've seen the character portrayed in the past.

"I would have given anything to watch Clark Kent open up his shirt, to reveal that big 'S,' then go off to save the day as the music swells. But this Superman isn't that Superman,"Uproxx writes.

The New York Post believes, "Cavill is stuck with a character who spends far too much time reacting to others, whether it's to Batman's taunts or the romantic overtures of Lois Lane (Amy Adams)."

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune thinks Cavill is "as narcissistic a Superman as you'll ever see."

Director Zack Snyder is more interested in blowing things up than telling a story.

The direction by Snyder, responsible for previous comic book adaptations like "300" and "The Watchmen," is getting a lot of the blowback. Many critics felt he was too focused on the visuals in "Batman v Superman."

"Although director Zack Snyder is a great visualist, all he has here is pretty pictures and giant (and confusing) action sequences,"NJ.com said.

"Snyder is not without skills, or ideas," the Chicago Tribune writes, "but when a critic finds himself at odds with almost every aspect of a director's visual approach to material like this, material like this becomes pretty joyless."

If you were bored to tears in high school science classes, these could be the books you wish you had.

On March 21, the New York Times reported that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is publishing a flotilla of high school science textbooks that will feature webcomics by xkcd creator Randall Munroe.

Specifically, the illustrations will come from Munroe's book "Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words."

Peggy Smith-Herbst, senior vice-president of the publishing house's Math and Science Studios, told the Times that she had an "a-ha moment" while looking at proofs for "Thing Explainer," also published by the company.

It's pretty easy to see why the simple illustrations might appeal to high schoolers.

For example, see how this brief-but-brilliant diagram explains what we know about exoplanets:

Ars Technica reported that the illustrations will include "Pieces Everything is Made Of," about the periodic table.

It will also include "Tiny Bags of Water You're Made Of," which explains cells:

The comics, done in Munroe's distinctly simple, humorous, and somewhat absurd style, will appear in chemistry, biology, and physics textbooks, according to Mashable.

Check out the PDFs of the pages here. Trust us, they're worth your time — even if high school is a distant memory. (You might even learn something.)

Munroe is a former NASA physicist-turned-cartoonist also wrote the bestselling "What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions," which is a great read if you've ever wondered about the physics of Yoda.

The textbooks are set to be released in 2017.

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Scroll through the comments under any less-than-glowing review of "Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice," and you'll encounter a few recurring themes. (Actually, under no circumstances should you read the comments yourself. Just trust me on this.) There's the old saw about critics not getting it, expecting a Batman movie to be "fun" when everyone knows that Batman stories are dark and gritty. (Not remotely true before Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" permanently transformed the character, but okay.) There's the idea that movies are meant as entertainment, and any who thinks about them too hard is just missing the point. All par for the course. But then you get into the particular pathology of certain comic-book fans, the ones who just know that a movie they haven't yet seen is awesome, and anyone who doesn't agree is either crooked or irretrievably biased. (As a hilarious string of retweets from producer Keith Calder underlines, the latter complaint is almost always lodged by people who think that "bias" is an adjective, but we'll leave that alone for now.) Here's one, from a review by The Wrap's Alonso Duralde: "You give this a rotten score, yet you give the last two 'Hunger Games' a fresh rating? Yea, you're bought and a fraud!" Matt Zoller Seitz's review on Roger Ebert.com gets "How much did Marvel pay you for this review?" followed shortly by "There is absolutely no denying that Marvel had a budget set aside to pay critics for negative reviews. They don't want competition."

To state the blindingly obvious: The precise number of reviewers who have been paid to negatively review "Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice" is zero. Studios can buy influence through junkets and other perks, but it's always aimed at getting critics to like their product, not dislike someone else's. You can argue that critics have it in for Zack Snyder — or, if you're the kind of person who thinks they're "bias," that they have it out for him — but the idea that actual money changed hands is preposterous. More to the point, it boggles that mind that there are people for whom the only possible explanation for a critic — or, really, anyone — disliking "Dawn of Justice" is that they've been paid to dislike it. It's like the people who believe that all the protestors at Donald Trump rallies are hired operatives of the Democratic Party, as if Trump didn't go out of his way every day to say something that enrages people.

It's the latter connection that sticks, because it underlines how many Americans have secreted themselves in an airtight echo chamber where they only interact with people who believe what they believe, to the extent that the existence of people outside that circle begins to feel like a myth — kind of like "The Village," where Bernie Sanders voters or people who hated "Man of Steel" become Those We Don't Speak Of. It's hard to confront the possibility that a movie you've anticipated for years might be a letdown — so hard, in fact, that some people would sooner convince themselves it's great, no matter how much actual movie they have to overlook in the process. But then, that's unfair, too: Viewers like and dislike things for all kinds of reasons, and as long as they've got a decent argument to go along with their opinion, it's no better or worse than any other. People holding opinions that differ from your own isn't a conspiracy, mostly because it doesn't need to be.

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It's time to give a big pat on the back to Warner Bros. marketing.

Flooding promotion of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" has helped the film nab record-breaking box-office numbers over the weekend, and at the same time the studio has cleverly teased another one of its Batman properties, "The Lego Batman Movie."

The studio released a second teaser for the film Monday, less than a week after premiering the first one.

This time around, we find Batman (voiced by Will Arnett), hanging out in Wayne Manor. Dressed in a smoking jacket and a Batman mask, he talks to the picture on the wall of his parents about his saving Gotham — again.

After Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) sneaks up on him, he looks back on all the other times Batman missed his parents, recapping the years of the previous Batman movie releases, including flashes of images like Ben Affleck as the current Dark Knight and the nipple suit from the Val Kilmer/George Clooney era.

"I have aged phenomenally," Batman acknowledges.

Watch the funny teaser below. "The Lego Batman Movie" opens February 2017.

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NOW WATCH: 'Batman v Superman' is a complete trainwreck, and director Zack Snyder is to blame

Warning: spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

Like much of the reaction to “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor has been met with mixed feelings. Some love his portrayal of a young version of the villain, while others felt his rapid-fire speak and nervous mannerisms were a bit too much for the role.

It was a gutsy move by director Zack Snyder, which came to him after meeting Eisenberg for another role, the brief cameo in the movie of Daily Planet photographer-turned-CIA agent Jimmy Olsen, a favorite from the comics.

“Zack came to me, and I didn’t know the character he wanted me to play. He just described something very vague,” Eisenberg told Business Insider on Monday while talking about his upcoming independent film “Louder Than Bombs” (opening April 8). “Zack is a more visual guy, so his explanation included a lot of things I don’t excel at, including camera movements and effects. But what I left from it was I didn’t think I could do a good job in that role.”

The Jimmy Olsen character, who briefly appears in the beginning of the movie when Lois Lane (Amy Adams) is in the Middle East to interview a terrorist, is killed when it's revealed that he’s a CIA agent.

Snyder told Entertainment Weekly that originally he wanted a known actor like Eisenberg to play the role, for the added shock value. But when Eisenberg turned down the opportunity, Snyder went with a lesser-known actor, Michael Cassidy, and it's never mentioned in the film's dialogue that the character is Olsen (the only reference is in the end credits).

But "Batman v Superman" wasn’t done with Eisenberg. Months after turning down the role, the actor said he came on the radar of the film’s coscreenwriter Chris Terrio, who was doing rewrites, while Eisenberg was in an Off-Broadways play.

“Chris had seen me in 'The Revisionist' and the character I play can be seen as despicable, and he liked me in that,” Eisenberg said.

Soon after, Eisenberg was given the “Batman v Superman” script with an offer for him to play the infamous villain Luthor.

“I was thrilled,” he said of being considered. “As soon as I read it, I felt excited by it.”

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is currently in theaters.

SEE ALSO: It turns out the "Batman v Superman" box office opening isn't as big as first reported

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DC is pulling out all the stops for their villain-centered feature, "Suicide Squad" for 2016.  Here's how the cast of the movie compares to their original comic book appearances.

Produced by Monica Manalo.  Original reporting by Joshua Rivera.

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