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'Suicide Squad' is getting an expensive reshoot to make it more fun — here's why

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One of the biggest complaints about "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" from critics and comics fans alike is that it's simply too miserable. The Zack Snyder-directed blockbuster is missing the fun element that draws readers to the comic books and masses to Marvel's lighter-toned movies like "The Avengers" and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

Now the studio behind "Batman v Superman," Warner Bros., is reportedly trying to remedy the problem for its future comic book movies.

According to Birth Movies Death, the studio has requested reshoots of its summer DC Comics adaptation, "Suicide Squad," that would give the film a playfulness that fans reacted positively to in its trailer.

It turns out, all the jokes in the movie have already been revealed in the trailer, according to Birth Movies Death.

This might not mean you will see cast members Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Jared Leto throw out one-liners, but director David Ayer will most likely shoot some more fun interactions among the characters to give viewers more chances to giggle than they did while watching "Batman v Superman."

"Suicide Squad" opens in theaters August 5.

SEE ALSO: Ben Affleck has written his own "really cool" Batman script that might get turned into a movie

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Warner Bros. drastically revamped its movie schedule after 'Batman v Superman' backlash

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Warner Bros. has changed its upcoming film schedule and added dates for three untitled projects through 2020.

The Andy Serkis-directed "Jungle Book," which was slated for October 6, 2017, has been pushed back a year to October 19, 2018. 

Serkis posted a message to Facebook Wednesday and said that he is "absolutely thrilled" that the date has changed because "the ambition for this project is huge." 

Disney's live-action version of "Jungle Book" will be released April 15. 

The studio has also made changes to the DC cinematic universe. The release date for "Wonder Woman," starring "Batman v Superman's" Gal Gadot, has been moved up from June 23, 2017 to June 2, 2017. 

WB had nine DC films planned through 2020, which includes March's "Batman v Superman." It has now added two more untitled superhero films for October 5, 2018 and November 1, 2019. They join "Wonder Woman,""Suicide Squad" (August 5, 2016), "The Justice League Part One (Nov. 17, 2017), "The Flash" (March 16, 2018), "Aquaman" (July 27, 2018), "Shazam!" (April 5, 2019), "Justice League Part Two" (June 14, 2019), and "Cyborg" (April 3, 2020). An untitled event film is also slated for October 6, 2017.

The studio is reportedly shifting its strategy in the face of fan and critical backlash to "Batman v Superman." It's focusing more closely on franchise-based films in hopes that they will generate hits, insiders say.

SEE ALSO: 30 iconic roles that were almost played by different actors

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Why 'Suicide Squad' is really getting those expensive reshoots, according to the director

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Suicide Squad

It turns out the stories about“Suicide Squad” undergoing reshoots to make the movie more fun may not be totally correct.

At least, that’s what the film’s director says.

In a tweet early Monday morning, “Suicide Squad” director David Ayer said the reshoots are a chance for him to plug in more action, rather than make the film lighter in tone.

In late March, Birth Movies Death reported that the studio, Warner Bros., requested additional filming to create more fun scenes, after all of the humor had been revealed in trailers.

Many saw this as a knee-jerk reaction following complaints that “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” also from Warner, is too gloomy.

We’ll see what kind of vibe "Suicide Squad" is going for when it opens in theaters August 5. The plot follows a suicide mission by a group of notorious villains from the DC Comics universe.

In the meantime, here’s the latest trailer for the film, which premiered during the MTV Movie Awards Sunday night.

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Batman is getting its first ever R-rated movie in 'The Killing Joke'

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the killing joke dc comics

For the first time, a DC Comic original movie will have an R rating.

“Batman: The Killing Joke,” which stars longtime voice of the animated version of the Dark Knight, Kevin Conroy, and Mark Hamill as the Joker (he too has done that voice in the past), is an adaptation of a 1988 comic in which the Clown Prince of Crime gets Batman’s attention by capturing and torturing Batgirl (voiced by Tara Strong), according to Entertainment Weekly.

The animated film will be available on Blu-ray and DVD later this year following its world premiere at Comic-Con this summer.

“From the start of production, we encouraged producer Bruce Timm and our team at Warner Bros. Animation to remain faithful to the original story — regardless of the eventual MPAA rating,” said Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation & Warner Digital Series, in a statement. “‘The Killing Joke’ is revered by the fans, particularly for its blunt, often-shocking adult themes and situations. We felt it was our responsibility to present our core audience — the comics-loving community — with an animated film that authentically represented the tale they know all too well.”

According to the EW story, Warner Bros. has no plans of releasing a PG-13 version.

This continues the studio’s path of releasing more mature comic-book material to the superhero fan base.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was released last month in PG-13 form, but there will be an R-rated extended cut released on home video (and possibly a theatrical version of it, too, if you believe the rumors).

SEE ALSO: James Cameron just announced 4 more "Avatar" movies — here's when they're coming out

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NOW WATCH: This is the single worst part of 'Batman v Superman'

Critics are already in love with 'Captain America: Civil War'

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Some of the top critics in the country have seen the summer’s most anticipated movie, “Captain America: Civil War,” and it sounds like we should be even more excited about seeing it than we already are.

It currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The third movie in Marvel’s Captain America franchise is its most intense. A rift within the Avengers causes the group to split into two groups: team Captain America (played by Chris Evans) and team Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).

“This is the best Marvel movie so far,” Uproxx claims. 

"The shaming of 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' will continue apace — or better still, be forgotten entirely — in the wake of 'Captain America: Civil War,'"Variety wrote. “A decisively superior hero-vs.-hero extravaganza that also ranks as the most mature and substantive picture to have yet emerged from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”

“It would be a stretch to call this third Captain America film a drama, but far more than most comic-book films, this is a story of conflict between people, building on the history of Marvel's cinematic universe,” The Playlist said. “And the old affection between the two heroes amplifies their new enmity which only further draws the audience in.”

Along with what seems to be a very strong story, the introduction of Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and the new Spider-Man (Tom Holland) in the movie are added highlights.

You’ll get to experience the film yourselves when it opens on May 6.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 23 most awe-inspiring uses of CGI in movies

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We finally know why C-3PO has a red arm in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

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c3po red arm

One of the biggest head-scratchers from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has finally been solved.

Marvel has released the comic book “Star Wars: C-3PO Number 1” and inside we find out the origin of the droid’s striking red arm he was sporting in the movie.

If you plan to buy the comic and don't want to be spoiled, we suggest you stop reading now.

c3po marvel

Okay, for the rest of you, this is how it happened.

In the comic, C-3PO is with other Resistance droids who have on their ship a captured First Order droid named Omri when they crash-land on a planet. 3PO and Omri end up being the only surviving droids, though 3PO has lost an arm in the crash. They talk about the role of droids in the galaxy, and 3PO tells Omri memories from events in the prequel films. Then Omri decides to sacrifice itself in order to save 3PO.

3PO takes Omri’s arm in tribute of the unselfish act of the First Order droid.

According to the comic’s website on Marvel, this is the only place where the red arm backstory will be explored, so don’t expect much about it in the movies.

SEE ALSO: The 23 most awe-inspiring uses of CGI in movies

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A Paris auction will feature some of the world's most valuable comics

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Eric Leroy, Spécialiste BD Artcurial © Artcurial et HergeMoulinsart2016.jpg

The value of an item, the adage goes, is never less than what someone is willing to pay for it.

And for rare comic books, that value is skyrocketing.

At a sale at French auction house Artcurial on April 30, comics — especially those written by the famous Belgian cartoonist Hergé — will receive attention and prices rivaling those usually reserved for fine art.

"The world of comic strips has recently witnessed a renewed enthusiasm," said Eric Leroy, an expert in comics at Artcurial.

"Collectors come from all backgrounds; some of them have previously been collecting contemporary and modern art and appreciate the graphical and historical side of collecting comic strips," Leroy said.

Artcurial set up a dedicated comic strip division in 2005, responding to a rapidly expanding market and a growing need for in-house expertise to identify, authenticate, and curate some of the most desirable comics in the world.

"Quality works are getting harder and harder to find, but some aspects of comics are always important: the rarity, the album it originates from, whether the hero is depicted, the talent of the artist and the condition of the work," Leroy said.

The auction this month will include items from the personal collection of French pop singer Renaud. It heavily features the work of Hergé, creator of "The Adventures of Tintin," a series of graphic novels depicting the worldwide escapades of a young Belgian reporter.

The series has to date sold well over 200 million copies in more than 70 languages, and remains in wide circulation.

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At the top of the docket is a rare double-plate from the "Tintin" comic "King Ottokar's Sceptre," estimated by the house to sell for between $650,000 and $865,000.



A similar, double page from a different episode sold for an astonishing $1.5 million last year, doubling its presale estimate, the BBC reported.

Hergé, who died in 1983, is certainly one of the most important names in the European comic-book tradition.

"Hergé had a career spanning 40 years with a formidable output," Leroy said. "Many generations have grown up reading 'The Adventures of Tintin.'"

The devoted attention Hergé paid to European cultures, as well as those of the many places to which Tintin traveled, made the series a veritable record of the twentieth century.

In the 23 completed works, Tintin trekked in the Himalayas, witnessed Native Americans evicted by the United States Army, saw Japanese soldiers occupy Manchuria, and even walked on the moon.

While the "Tintin" comics have revived only a limited following in the US, the series was developed into a 2011 Hollywood feature film by Steven Spielberg, an avid fan of the books.



Unlike the European tradition, in North America comics have always favored an array of superheroes.

"Actually, US comic books are not really very different from European comics," Leroy said. Even if the subjects may differ.

In fact, comic strips were born in North American newspapers in the 19th century, only later migrating across the Atlantic.

Today, early American comics, especially those that feature the genesis of some of the most famous superheroes, attract similar prices to their European counterparts.

"In a way, comics are timeless and, moreover, universal," Leroy said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

RANKED: The best Marvel superhero movies of the past 8 years

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Guardians Of The Galaxy

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, shattered box-office records, and "Captain America: Civil War" looks to do the same in May.

In anticipation of the upcoming "Captain America" 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.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Robert Downey Jr. hints he might do 'one more' 'Iron Man' movie

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Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. seems to be going back on his word.

After previously telling USA Today that another standalone "Iron Man" film "isn't in the cards," the actor is hinting that it might just come true after all.

"I feel like I could do one more," Downey recently told "Nightline" on the set of "Captain America: Civil War" of the possibility of another "Iron Man."

Downey plays Iron Man/Tony Stark yet again in the latest "Captain America" film, but most had assumed his hugely successful "Iron Man" trilogy, which helped launch the modern Marvel movie universe, was at a close.

"Civil War" takes a darker turn as Stark battles against Captain America. The movie is already making a ton of money overseas.

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Netflix is creating a new 'Marvel's The Punisher' series

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Netflix has ordered a first full season of "Marvel's The Punisher," Marvel announced Friday.

The Punisher (aka Frank Castle) is a comic-book character who appears in the second season of "Daredevil," played by Jon Bernthal, who will reprise the role for the new show.

Steve Lightfoot ("Hannibal") will serve as executive producer and showrunner, and write the first two episodes.

"We want to thank the fans who are clamoring for more of Jon's stunning and powerful performance as Frank Castle from 'Marvel's Daredevil,'" head of Marvel Television Jeph Loeb said. "Now combined with showrunner Steve Lightfoot's compelling writing, we're thrilled to bring 'Marvel's The Punisher' to Netflix."

"The Punisher" will be Netflix's sixth series in collaboration with Marvel, following "Daredevil,""Jessica Jones," and the upcoming "Luke Cage,""Iron Fist," and "The Defenders."

As Business Insider reportedNetflix president Ted Sarandos was talking about the potential for a Punisher series of its own all the way back in the summer of 2015.

"That's the beauty of the Marvel universe," he said of building on Marvel characters in the future.

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Here's why the new Spider-Man is the best part of 'Captain America: Civil War'

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Warning: “Captain America: Civil War” spoilers below.

He’s one of the most beloved Marvel characters, but Spider-Man has had some rough times of late.

Back when the Marvel Cinematic Universe was just a glimmer in Disney’s eye, Sony was the ruler of the comic-book adaptations with the release of three Spider-Man movies from 2002-2007.

From the perfect casting of Tobey Maguire as the web slinger to the steamy chemistry between him and and costar Kirsten Dunst playing Mary Jane Watson — all watched over by the geeky eye of director Sam Raimi — the franchise proved a monster moneymaker for Sony. The three films raked in a combined $2.5 billion worldwide on a $597 million budget. 

tobey spider manBut how things have changed for Peter Parker.

The first blow was the lackluster critical reception for “Spider-Man 3” (2007), which, honestly, was a byproduct of Maguire and Dunst, and probably Raimi too, burnt out from the franchise. This led to a fourth movie with the trio attached being canceled.

Then things got worse when Sony rebooted the franchise in 2012 with Andrew Garfield as Spidey. “The Amazing Spider-Man” and its sequel two years later found only modest box office (by superhero standards) and fans weren’t feeling the passion for the character that the Raimi films had. Future movies with Garfield attached were scrapped.

andrew spider manSony, again, went back to the drawing board. And what they pulled off might go down as one of the biggest moves ever in comic-book movie history.

Though studios are extremely protective of their properties, Sony and Disney came to an agreement to allow Spider-Man to join the MCU, and having Spidey in the mix with the likes of Captain America, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Black Panther, and other Avengers in "Captain America: Civil War." The move has given fans a glimpse at the future Spider-Man/Peter Parker, and we’re here to tell you it’s bright.

As seen in the trailer for “Captain America: Civil War” (now in theaters), Spider-Man swings into action as a member of Team Iron Man in the movie. But Spidey’s presence is far from a blink-and-you-missed-it cameo.

In many ways we get the Spider-Man origin story out of the way in “Civil War,” as Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) heads to Queens to seek out Peter Parker’s help and finds a kid who for the last six months has been swinging around New York City in a unitard and goggles assisting people with his new superpowers.

Stark doesn’t just bring him on Team Iron Man; he also upgrades Parker’s look with the Spider-Man outfit we all know and love. (This will likely eliminate a lot of the backstory and we can get to the good stuff when the standalone movie, “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” opens on July 7, 2017.)

Actor Tom Holland (best known for playing the lead in “Billy Elliot the Musical”) embodies Parker perfectly — a geeky outsider whose new powers make him yearn to do great things. And the 19-year-old has the sarcasm of the character down, as he holds his own opposite fellow smartypants Tony Stark, then as Spider-Man throws out the funny one-liners while going up against members of Team Captain America.

spidey civil war
As much as “Civil War” is a great superhero movie, the beginning is a little slow, and it’s when Stark seeks out Parker that you feel the movie really finds its groove.

Then when Team Captain America and Team Iron Man go head-to-head, the collision of the superheroes and their different personalities in the same space is a thrill. But it’s Spider-Man who stands out best. Mainly that's a result of great action and dialogue, but partly it’s the joy of finally seeing Spider-Man done right since the Raimi era.

What’s so unique about Spider-Man is that along with the superfans of the character, which are many, even if you are just a casual comic-book fan, you’ve probably encountered your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man either through cartoons or movies. So that ingrained knowledge leads to even more enjoyment when you watch a movie like “Civil War” and may not know every character featured, but you're up on the guy in the red tights one way or another.

If “Civil War” is any indication, we are in store for an enjoyable new era of Spider-Man.

SEE ALSO: Why "Captain America: Civil War" is the best Marvel superhero movie yet

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There's a massive shake-up at Warner Bros. after the failure of 'Batman v Superman'

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"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" was not the start Warner Bros. was hoping for in the launch of the DC Comics franchise, the studio's direct competitor to Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Nearing the end of its theatrical run, the movie has grossed only $869.8 million worldwide. For a superhero movie of its size, in which the two best-known comic book characters of all time go head-to-head, that just doesn't cut it. The movie really needed at least $1 billion to be a success.

Meanwhile, "Captain America: Civil War"has almost reached the billion-dollar mark worldwide in less than two weeks.

Though Warner Bros. has been putting on a strong face in public, it looks as if the studio has decided to shake things up.

The studio just created a separate division for the releases of its DC properties, called DC Films, and has hired two executives to run it, according to news of the shake-up at The Hollywood Reporter.

suicide squadExecutive vice president at WB Jon Berg and Geoff Johns, the DC Comics chief content officer who launched the comic book company's foray into television, will run the new division.

The shift is similar to what Disney has done with Marvel Studios, whose president, Kevin Feige, oversees all aspects of adapting the comic book characters to the screen, from choosing the producers and filmmakers to making key casting decisions.

According to THR, Berg was already involved in "Batman v Superman,""Suicide Squad," the Wonder Woman standalone movie, and "Justice League." He also has a close connection with the current Batman, Ben Affleck, as he has worked on the star's movies including "Argo" and the coming "Live by Night."

Johns has been a key member in the launching of DC Comics' TV series including "Arrow,""The Flash," and "Supergirl."

It was essential for Warner Bros. to show that it has a cohesive unit running the DC properties. It has numerous projects traveling through that pipeline, including the highly anticipated "Suicide Squad"— which is set to open in August and has already undergone expensive reshoots— and the recently announced standalone Harley Quinn movie starring Margot Robbie.

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NOW WATCH: This is the single worst part of 'Batman v Superman'

Amazon just blew my mind with a new $5.99 unlimited comic book service (AMZN)

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Archie #1

Today, Amazon's Comixology app announced Comixology Unlimited— an all-you-can-eat buffet of digital comic books for $5.99 per month, so you can binge Netflix-style. 

At launch, the Comixology Unlimited plan includes the first volumes of popular titles like "The Walking Dead,""Attack on Titan,""Saga," and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8," among many others.

There's even a 30-day free trial, so you can try it on your phone or web browser.

A Comixology spokesperson tells Business Insider that this is all about helping readers find an entry point into the medium, with a focus on partnering with publishers to fill the service up with first volumes and introductory storylines.

"CU is about giving the new reader the very best entry point," says Comixology's Chip Mosher. "We’ll be cycling through content periodically."

That means that while it's unlikely that Comixology Unlimited will get the whole run of "The Walking Dead," it'll constantly be refreshed with new hotness. The goal, it seems, is to provide a cheap way to give readers a taste of the next big thing in comics, and then reel them in to pay for the next books in the series.

No matter how you slice it, this is a big huge deal. The first volume of "The Walking Dead," just for example, costs $9.99 on its own from the Comixology store. Getting it for $5.99 a month, plus access to all of those other great comics, is an incredible value. amazon comixology unlimited

Participating comic book publishers include Image, Dark Horse Comics, and Fantagraphics, all big names in the world of independent comic books. 

Absent from the list of participating publishers are Marvel and DC Comics, the two biggest names in comic books: Marvel has its own, separate Digital Unlimited app for $10/month; DC has yet to launch this kind of binge-reading plan.

Still, while big-name superheroes like Spider-Man and Batman aren't included in this plan, Comixology Unlimited includes access to lots of independent titles that are more than worth your time.

Just off the top of my head, "Locke and Key,""Lumberjanes," and "The Wicked and the Divine" are all incredible, and they're all included in the plan. 

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The 'Netflix for Comics' you’ve been looking for has arrived

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The Walking Dead 19 Front Cover

Comixology is launching a new on-demand service that gives readers unlimited access to tons of comics!

Well, this is certainly a gamechanger. Comixology has announced Comixology Unlimited, a new service that will allow readers on-demand access to titles from Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Oni Press, Archie Comics, Valiant Entertainment, Fantagraphics Books, and more. The service is not unlike Marvel Unlimited, which gives readers access to the publisher's massive archive of comics for a flat rate. 

Comixology Unlimited will cost $5.99, but there's a free 30-day trial as well. The service is actually available right now if you're in the U.S. You can use the service through the Comixology app on mobile devices or on the web.

Books available on the service include The Walking DeadAttack on TitanHellboyAdventure TimePeanutsBuffy the Vampire SlayerLumberjanesSagaThe Umbrella AcademyOutcast, and Transformers. You can find a longer list of titles at the end of this article.

With Comixology joining Marvel in the digital on-demand movement, it looks like DC is falling a bit behind of the times. As of now, with its main competitor and all of these mid-tier/indie publishers in on digital, one must wonder why DC hasn't followed suit, especially since it has arguably the biggest and most famous archive of comics in the industry. Especially with an initiative like Rebirth, which is a bit of a refresh for the publisher that gives more than a few nods to DC's past, the opportunity for DC to step into the digital realm seems quite lucrative. 

One must imagine that a whole line of new #1 issues will bring in new readers (although DC Universe: Rebirth, the start of the new line, is clearly aimed at veteran DC fans), many of whom will probably want to consume past storylines as they get deeper into their new favorite books. But looming larger than even that is the draw of the DC Extended Universe films that are going to assault theaters for the next 4+ years. Marvel launched its service at the height of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's popularity as a way to filter in new readers that wanted to catch up on all their favorite characters without having to dish out hundreds or thousands of dollars on back issues and trades. And those characters don't even have quite the history that Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have on the page. 

It will indeed be interesting to see how DC, seemingly the lone wolf at this point, will adapt to this new model, if at all. 

Select Books Available on Comixology Unlimited Today:

Adventure Time by Ryan North, Braden Lamb, Shelli Paroline and various (BOOM! Studios)
Aliens by Mark Verheiden, Sam Kieth, Peter Milligan and various (Dark Horse Comics)
Archie by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples (Archie Comics)
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (Kodansha Comics)
Atomic Robo by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener (Tesladyne)
Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro (Image Comics)
Bloodshot by Duane Swierczynski, Manuel Garcia and Arturo Lozzi (Valiant Entertainment)
The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson (Dynamite Entertainment)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Joss Whedon and various (Dark Horse Comics)
Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image Comics)
The Complete Peanuts by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphics Books)
Conan the Barbarian by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (Dark Horse Comics)
Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima (Kodansha Comics)
Fatale by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image Comics)
Ghostbusters by Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening, and various (IDW Publishing)
G.I. Joe by Chuck Dixon, Robert Atkins and various (IDW Publishing)
Grimm Fairy Tales by Ralph Tedesco, Joe Tyler and various (Zenescope Entertainment)
Godzilla by Duane Swierczynski, Arthur Adams, Simon Gane and various (IDW Publishing)
Hellboy by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse Comics)
Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor (Fantagraphics Books)
The Incal by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Moebius (Humanoids)
Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark (Image Comics)
Letter 44 by Charles Soule and Alberto Alburquerque (Oni Press)
Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima (Dark Horse Comics)
Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books)
Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW Publishing)
Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson and Brooke Allen (BOOM! Studios)
My Little Pony by Katie Cook and Andy Price (IDW Publishing)
Outcast by Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta (Image Comics)
Pretty Deadly by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios (Image Comics)
Princeless by Jeremy Whitley and various (Action Lab Entertainment)
Red Sonja by by Gail Simone, Jenny Frison, and Walter Geovanni (Dynamite Entertainment)
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Serenity by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews and Will Conrad (Dark Horse Comics)
Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni Press)
Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky (Image Comics)
Spawn by Todd McFarlane (Image Comics)
Star Trek by Mike Johnson, Stephen Molnar, Joe Corroney and various (IDW Publishing)
Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less by C. Spike Trotman and (Iron Circus Comics)
Transformers by John Barber, Andrew Griffith, Marcelo Matere and various (IDW Publishing)
The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá (Dark Horse Comics)
Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse Comics)
The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard (Image Comics)
The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (Image Comics)
Wonderland by Raven Gregory and Sheldon Goh (Zenescope Entertainment)
Wuvable Oaf by Ed Luce (Fantagraphics)
X-O Manowar by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord(Valiant Entertainment)
...and many more.

SEE ALSO: Hedge funds are betting billions that Netflix stock will tank

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NOW WATCH: Apple’s new ‘true tone’ iPad feature changes the display color based on the light around you

Everything we've known about Captain America is a lie

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(Warning! Gigantic SPOILERS await ahead! Tread cautiously.)

Yesterday, Marvel fans spent the afternoon on Twitter begging Disney to #GiveCaptainAmericaaBoyfriend. Today, they may be asking to give him the electric chair or life in prison. The new Marvel Comic Steve Rogers No. 1 arrives revealing Captain America's deep dark secret. One he's been harboring for the past 75 years. And knowing what we know of Chris Evans' portrayal of the character as it stands in the MCU, movie fans might be hard pressed to accept this gut punch of a plot twist.

Yes, as it turns out, Steve Rogers is a bigger turncoat than Benedict Arnold. The debut issue of this new Marvel comic book offers an alternate past for America's greatest superhero. The guy is, and always has been, an agent of the evil organization Hydra. This is the ruthless organization Cap has spent the past century fighting, since he was first introduced during World War II. Both in the comics and in the movies. Shocked yet?

Captain America celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year, and this certainly is a flooring discovery, one that fans probably weren't expecting. Marvel executive editor Tom Brevoort confirms that this secret past really belongs to Steve. The Rogers we see in the comic is not a droid, or a clone or some other alternate universe incarnation of the character. He's not a shape shifting member of Skrull, either.

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Steve Rogers No. 1 was written by Nick Spencer and drawn by Jesus Saiz. The story takes place in the aftermath of a battle with Baron Zemo. We can only stare at the pages as Rogers betrays one of his fellow Marvel superheroes and boldly states two words we never thought he'd utter, 'Hail Hydra.' Says Brevoort about the shocking reveal.

"We knew it would be like slapping people in the face. His mission is to further the goals and beliefs of Hydra. If that involves taking down the Marvel universe, sure. (But) it may not be as simple as that. It's not like he's exchanged his white hat for a black hat - it's a green hat."

Red Skull leads the nefarious Hydra in this first issue. The group is currently attracting the disaffected and disenfranchised youth of today, as it did way back in the 1920s. That's when both Rogers and his mother were recruited to join. The story has been in place for awhile. But the current social climate has changed since it was first conceived. Explains Brevoort.

"Having this go on in the middle of this odd and offbeat and contentious presidential primary process, and all of the stuff going on in the world right now, we guessed right. This in a sense feels more relevant right now than it would have a year ago."

The story of Cap being a member of Hydra stretches wide across the Marvel Comic Book universe. And the seeds were planted when Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, took over as Captain America, with Rogers being rejuvenated by the Cosmic Cube. Brevoort promises this.

"It will go to some scary and shocking places if it hasn't already. "Suddenly there's a whole other wrinkle to all of it. Any cover with Steve Rogers takes on a slightly different dimension because you have information that no one else in that picture has.The idea of Captain America means something very primal and very strong to the people of this nation, and they have a very visceral reaction when you get to something like that. You want people to feel and react to your story. So far, so good."

In Issue No. 2, fans will get a better understanding of what is actually going on with Steve Rogers, and how he's managed to work as an undercover agent all these years. Later issues will offer a new side to Steve, showing who he truly is as a person. With the comic just hitting newsstands, the fans have started to show their very passionate response to the twist. They don't like it. Just as much as they didn't like seeing Cap get assassinated in the Civil War storyline. That didn't happen in the movies. So the big question is, will this? We'll have to wait for the answer. We have the big reveal page from the comic thanks to USA Today.

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NOW WATCH: Humans are defying the law of evolution


'X-Men: Apocalypse' is all over the place, but there's one thing it really gets right

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The new "X-Men" prequel series have been divisive, to say the least.

Nobody seems to be able to make up their minds about whether "First Class" or "Days of Future Past" are any good. The same goes for "X-Men: Apocalypse," the third chapter in the relaunched "X-Men" franchise, which just came out in theaters.

"Apocalypse" falls somewhere in between the last two installments. Sure, it is sort of a mess that sometimes diverges into fan service. However, it is an ultimately enjoyable mess that should be recognized for its lofty ambitions.

Whatever issues it may have, there is one thing "Apocalypse"— and the last three "X-Men" movies in general — have absolutely nailed: Magneto.

Who is Magneto?

Magneto (Michael Fassbender), also known as Erik Lehnsherr, is a Holocaust survivor and mutant, both facts that define his life. Magneto is able to control and manipulate magnetic energy, so basically, if you have any metal on you, you're in trouble.

Throughout "X-Men" history, Magneto has vacillated between being a hero and being a villain. While his intentions are sometimes good, he is often misguided. 

Magneto's performance is unrivaled

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Magneto has been fittingly played by two actors that have starred in Shakespeare plays: first the legendary Ian McKellen, and now Michael Fassbender. While "Apocalypse" features a lot of contemporary actors playing the younger versions of the mutants we were introduced to in the first "X-Men" movie in 2000, Fassbender is the only one who actually feels like he is playing the younger version correctly.

He's a complex and fascinating character

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It is difficult to even call Magneto a villain sometimes, and "Apocalypse" does a better job than the other "X-Men" movies at showing how fragile his psyche is.

There is a scene in this movie in which Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) brings Magneto to Auschwitz to confront his past. Apocalypse is trying to remind Magneto of the evils of mankind, and why the world must be destroyed and started anew. 

In a movie that plays mind games and tries to wrestle with characters' pasts, Magneto is the one character whose past truly haunts his present. He is forever dogged by both childhood trauma and the events of "Days of Future Past," which caused him to go into hiding. His fear of humanity makes him an incredibly complex character. This is in part thanks to Fassbender's acting chops, as he shows Magneto's evil side, while also letting the audience in enough to allow for empathy.

Overall...apocalypse xmen apocalypse"X-Men: Apocalypse" answers a lot of questions brought up by the previous movies, for example explaining that every mutant is given a responsibility when they are given a power, and that they get to choose to be good or bad. In this movie, Magneto proves how difficult that decision can be.

The movie is goofy, but really shines when it embraces said goofiness, for instance with its deep-voiced, blue villain. However, it is Magneto's story arc that makes "Apocalypse" more thoughtful and emotional than you might expect.

"X-Men: Apocalypse" is now playing in theaters.

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NOW WATCH: The new 'Jungle Book' movie looks completely different without special effects

This Oscar winner is the frontrunner to star in the first female-focused Marvel movie

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Though Marvel Studios has had huge success in adapting classic comic-book characters into huge blockbuster movies, it hasn't given much attention to the comics' female heroes. 

But that's about to change. 

The long-awaited big-screen adaptation of Captain Marvel is eyeing recent Oscar winner Brie Larson ("Room") to play the role, according to Variety

The trade says it's unknown where negotiations are currently, but Larson is the first choice and a source says she's leaning toward taking the part. 

The movie follows Air Force pilot Carol Danvers, who is fused with alien DNA after an accident, giving her superpowers. Screenwriters Meg LaFauve ("Inside Out") and Nicole Perlman ("Guardians of the Galaxy") are attached, and The Hollywood Reporter stoked rumors that directors Niki Caro ("Whale Rider") and Jennifer Kent ("The Babadook") are contenders to helm the project. 

Getty Images brie larson oscarLarson will next be seen in the latest King Kong big-budget spectacle, "Kong: Skull Island," coming out in 2017. 

It's going to be a couple of years before we see a Captain Marvel movie. But it's very likely that Larson, or whoever plays the lead, will show up in a cameo first in another Marvel movie (like Spider-Man in "Captain America: Civil War").

SEE ALSO: Here are the actors vying to be the next James Bond, and who should get it

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NOW WATCH: Sacha Baron Cohen recounts his 2003 Trump interview: 'I was the first person actually to realize that he’s a d---'

Drug companies are targeting kids with comic books and lesson plans

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The makers of medical products are finding subtle and sophisticated new ways to target kids — a demographic that can bring them hefty profits now, and could grow up to be loyal, even more lucrative, adult customers.

Drug and device companies have been trying to reach kids for decades, but a STAT examination has found that these efforts are taking new forms. Medical companies are bankrolling classroom lesson plans and comic books, hosting events with costumed characters, and promoting smartphone apps. It’s all aimed at teaching children and teens about certain health conditions — conditions for which there just happen to be treatments marketed by the companies sponsoring the outreach.

Companies frame their efforts as a service to kids. But they also bring benefits to the company: Children might ask their parents for a certain medicine just as they would a cereal brand. And kids are valuable customers. The percentage of American children and teens taking prescription drugs has stayed fairly steady over the past two decades, but insurance companies are forking over more money for their pills.

Some of the initiatives are raising alarm among critics who say they’re indistinguishable from marketing.

“Health information should come from experts, not from people who are trying to make money,” said pediatrician Dr. Victor Strasburger, who has studied the effects of media on children and teens. “Drug companies obviously have a conflict of interest when it comes to what they’re going to say.”

Some doctors and educators, however, say these initiatives play an important role. High-quality educational materials developed or funded by a drug company, for instance, can be “wonderful timesavers” and “very useful tools,” particularly for a time-strapped health teacher, according to Jeanie Alter, who sits on the board of the American School Health Association.

Here are some of the ways kids are interacting, directly or indirectly, with medical companies.

Your Pfizer-sponsored homework is due on Monday

The worksheets prompt high schoolers to report on recent meningitis outbreaks on college campuses, or answer a true-false quiz about the bacterial disease. At the bottom of every page: “Check with your doctor about getting vaccinated,” beside a small Pfizer logo. They’re sponsored by the drug maker, which markets one of two vaccines protecting against meningitis B. (Sally Beatty, a Pfizer spokesperson, said the company works “with a wide range of healthcare providers and health authorities to raise awareness of the disease” and the new availability of vaccines.)

The over-the-counter acne product brand Clearasil, owned by the consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser, has sponsored handouts on puberty for seventh- and eighth-grade girls and boys. And another older set of worksheets, which instruct grade-schoolers to color and unscramble the names of body parts, have small images of Neosporin and Band-Aids at the bottom of each page. The sponsor? The health care giant Johnson & Johnson, the maker of those products.

It’s not clear how widely used these lesson plans are in classrooms: Young Minds Inspired, the marketing agency that works with corporate sponsors to develop these and many other lesson plans, didn’t respond to questions about feedback it’s received from health teachers.

Alter, who works with K-12 teachers on public health and prevention issues in her role at Indiana University Bloomington, said the realm of corporate-sponsored educational materials can be “tricky to maneuver.” Her advice to health teachers: assess whether the corporate sponsor’s objectives are educational. And be wary of materials overtly trying to sell a particular product.

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This comic book brought to you by Shire

The superheroes have names like “Skinderella” and “Gastro.” They hail from a planet shaped like the human body. And they’re the stars of a series of several dozen comic books aimed at explaining medical conditions like ADHD, type 1 diabetes, and growth hormone deficiency.

The books are produced by a company called Medikidz, which uses doctors to write and peer-review each edition. More than 3.5 million of the books have been distributed globally. Drug companies (as well as other organizations) often sponsor editions; the sponsor’s logo sometimes appears on the back cover.

Sponsors contribute funding and input on storylines. But Adam Schaeffer, a spokesperson for Medikidz, said that all the company’s content is “free of conflict of interest” and that there is never any mention of a specific medication.

In practice, the final product tends to be pretty nuanced. Take ADHD, a condition for which many in the medical community worry that kids are overmedicated. An ADHD-themed comic book — sponsored by Shire, which markets several ADHD drugs — does extol the potential benefits of medication, but it also talks about side effects and advocates therapy and counseling.

An online comic sponsored by Horizon Pharma, which makes several urea cycle disorder medications, is also fairly measured: A superhero explains that medication for the condition is available in powder, tablet, or liquid form, but that “the doctors will keep a close eye on you to make sure your treatment is working.” (Geoffrey Curtis, a spokesman for Horizon, said the company saw the sponsorship as “an innovative, fun approach to educating children” and has received an “extremely positive” response.)

A Saturday on the DePuy Synthes campus

Companies that make medical products aren’t just reaching kids where they are — they also sometimes draw kids to them.

For instance, on a Saturday earlier this spring, DePuy Synthes, a unit of Johnson & Johnson that markets products used in scoliosis procedures, hosted about a dozen teenagers with scoliosis at its sprawling corporate campus south of Boston. The agenda: A day of educational conversations about the spinal condition — and sandwiches and chicken fingers for lunch.

Costumed Medikidz superheroes entertained younger siblings while young scoliosis patients and their parents learned about resources and listened to expert panelists. Hannah Koval, a friendly 14-year-old who has scoliosis, talked about her experiences and demonstrated some breathing exercises she does.

“It’s nice to be there where there are other people who’ve gone through the same things you have,” she said as she left the day’s event with her dad, Paul, with a Medikidz comic book in her bag.

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Direct-to-teenager advertising

Pharma companies aren’t widely targeting children with drug ads. But a STAT review of ads for over-the-counter acne medicines show that their makers aren’t shy about explicitly targeting teens — particularly during prom season.

And that’s caught the attention of the FDA, enough so that the agency launched a study to understand how teens perceive risks and benefits from ads for acne and ADHD drugs. The agency is now analyzing the results and plans to announce what it learns, according to FDA spokeswoman Sarah Peddicord.

Then there are the many ads aimed at adults that get seen by kids anyway. Drug industry group PhRMA tells its members that ads “containing content that may be inappropriate for children should be placed in programs or publications that are reasonably expected to draw an audience of approximately 90 percent adults.”

That doesn’t always happen. A 2013 study found that children viewed TV ads for erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra an estimated 30 billion times between 2006 and 2010.

‘Siri, launch the Sanofi app’

Kids spend increasing amounts of time on their phones — so it’s only natural that companies marketing medical products would find ways to reach them at their fingertips.

In March, the over-the-counter skin care brand OXY (owned by the Mentholatum Company) launched a smartphone app promoting a “28 day challenge” to help kids clear up their acne in time for prom. Users can get coupons, set up daily alerts reminding them to use OXY products, and snap photos of their faces before and after the challenge. (“We want to make sure students know that OXY has an effective regimen to get clear skin in time for such a BIG day,” an OXY executive said in a press release announcing the promotion.)

There are smartphone apps for more serious conditions, too. Drug maker Sanofi has released games aimed at kids with type 1 diabetes, a condition for which it markets treatments. There’s “Monster Manor,” which turns blood glucose monitoring into a game set in a creepy mansion, and “Mission T1D,” which gives players tips about managing their condition as they navigate through a school.

Video games sponsored by the makers of medical products might sound distinctly of the iPhone age, but in fact they have a long history: In 1983, Johnson & Johnson put out a oral hygiene-themed video game called “Tooth Protectors.”

SEE ALSO: The White House is going after salt

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A 61-year-old Oscar winner is getting insanely buff for a superhero movie, and people are going nuts

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Actor J.K. Simmons has been best-known throughout his career as a character actor who can seep into any role.

His stock rose in 2015 when he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his incredible performance as the psychotically driven music instructor, Fletcher, in "Whiplash."

But now the 61-year-old is the latest internet meme thanks to his pecs.

Pictures of Simmons working out have shown up on Instagram, and let's just say that the actor is focused.

Here's a sample:

SEE ALSO: Here's how reality TV shows get away with paying people nothing

Simmons is currently filming the next big DC Comics movie, "Justice League," in which he's playing Commissioner James Gordon. It's a role you'd think that he wouldn't need to be in superhero shape for, but maybe Jim is going to get more action in this movie.

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Another TV network is making its own Marvel superhero show

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Cinemax is getting into the Marvel TV business.

Contrary to reports placing the series at HBO, a network representative told Business Insider that a series based on the Marvel/Icon comic book "Scarlet" is in development at Cinemax, HBO's sister network.

Early reports placed the series at HBO because "Scarlet" creator and writer Brian Michael Bendis mistakenly told attendants at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas, that the series was being developed by HBO.

Bendis told attendees: "I do a book called 'Scarlet,' which is soon to be announced also in our universe of television. Not announced yet, but HBO."

He also stated that the project is "at the earliest stage" and that "the team around it ... will be announced as soon as all are on the same page."

"Scarlet" follows a young, rebellious Portland, Oregon, woman named Scarlet Rue who battles against corruption and ends up sparking a second American revolution. First released in 2010, "Scarlet" was cocreated and is illustrated by Alex Maleev.

Bendis also serves as writer and producer on Marvel's "Jessica Jones" at Netflix and "Powers" on the PlayStation Network.

Cinemax's "Scarlet" would be the first Marvel TV property outside of Netflix, ABC, and Freeform, which will air "Cloak and Dagger" next year. In May, ABC canceled "Agent Carter" and passed on the "Marvel's Most Wanted" pilot.

SEE ALSO: Here's how 'Daredevil' star Charlie Cox got ripped to be a superhero

DON'T MISS: Here's how Netflix plans to roll out its remaining Marvel series and launch 'The Defenders'

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