In part 1 we started putting together our new DCEU Justice League team. We included in the mix The Flash (Ezra Miller), Supergirl (Sasha Calle), Green Lantern John Stewart (John Boyega), and Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell). In part 2 we’re going to round out our eight member Justice League team. I got an assist on this from our contributor and friend Kris Greet.

Hawkman (Aldis Hodge)

Aldis Hodge was cast as Hawkman in the upcoming Dwayne Johnson led Black Adam movie and talk about fantastic casting! I seriously can not wait to see him and the rest of the JSA fight (or team up?) with Black Adam. I hope that Hawkman survives the movie, and if he does he’d be a perfect fit for the new Justice League.

John Constantine (Matt Ryan)

While talking about being perfectly cast I need to mention Matt Ryan as John Constantine. He looks and sounds exactly how I always expected John Constantine would. He is ripped directly from the page. He was great in his own short lived show, and I was glad to see him return for the the CW and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. With the character gone from the series, he should be the magical anchor for the Justice League (or the go between for the League and for the Justice League Dark!). He can be the version we already met, or he could be an all new version of the character (thank you multiverse!). Just like JK Simmons as J Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man movies, if you have the perfect person in the role, just keep using them!

The Atom Ryan Choi (Zheng Kai)

Okay, so this pick might cause a little controversy. Zheng Kai was cast and filmed scenes as Ryan Choi (pre becoming The Atom) for the 2017 Justice League, but was cut from the final movie. Then in ZSJL cut, his scenes were restored. I love the character of the Atom. Brandon Routh made a great Ray Palmer Atom (in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), and Kai has the potential to excel as Ryan Choi. With the multiverse, it does not matter what cut he appeared or didn’t appear in. I think we can use this casting and look forward instead of looking back.

Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot)

I can not imagine a Justice League team without at least one of the big three. Gadot is returning for Wonder Woman 3, so why not also another JL movie? She is perfect in the role and would be the proper choice to lead the new team into battle.

Presenting our new imagined Justice League Unlimited:

In part 3 we will talk about potential villains for our new Justice League to face off against. What do you think about our overall team?

Just in time for Halloween, we have a #NewComicWednesday! A perfect time for Marvel to bring back their infamous super-zombies!

MARVEL COMICS

MARVEL ZOMBIES: RESURRECTION #1
Official Description: THE HORROR SMASH-HIT LIVES AGAIN! When Galactus’ corpse appears at the edge of Earth’s solar system, the Avengers, X-Men and Fantastic Four investigate. Too late, they discover that Galactus’ body is now the vessel of an interstellar terror, which one-by-one transforms Earth’s Mightiest Heroes into the universe’s most terrifying predators! As our heroes try to escape the superpowered, cannibalistic aberrations that were once their friends and family, will any survive? And even if they do, can they hope to protect Earth from the infestation that has already claimed half of the known universe? Don’t miss the FIRST ISSUE of this terrifying new vision of the classic Marvel tale!
Writer: Phillip Kennedy | Artist: Leonard Kirk

EXCALIBUR #1
Official Description: A NEW DAWN IS FORGED! The Otherworld is rocked by war! It is a new era for mutantkind as a new Captain Britain holds the amulet, fighting for the Kingdom of Avalon with her Excalibur at her side – Rogue, Gambit, Rictor, Jubilee…and Apocalypse.
Writer: Tini Howard | Artist: Marcus to

DC COMICS

BASKETFUL OF HEADS #1
Official Description: The rain lashes the grassy dunes of Brody Island, and seagulls scream above the bay. A slender figure in a raincoat carries a large wicker basket, which looks like it might be full of melons… covered by a bloodstained scrap of the American flag. This is the story of June Branch, a young woman trapped with four cunning criminals who have snatched her boyfriend for deranged reasons of their own. Now she must fight for her life with the help of an impossible 8th-century Viking axe that can pass through a man”s neck in a single swipe-and leave the severed head still conscious and capable of supernatural speech. Each disembodied head has a malevolent story of its own to tell, and it isn”t long before June finds herself in a desperate struggle to hack through their lies and manipulations… racing to save the man she loves before time runs out. Plus, in the premiere chapter of the backup story ”Sea Dogs,” which sails across all the Hill House Comics titles!
Writer: Joe Hill | Artist: Leomacs

THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE PRESENTS HELLBLAZER #1
Official Description: The second year of the Sandman Universe begins with the long-awaited arrival of one of DC’s most iconic characters…John Constantine, Hellblazer! He’s cheated death and damnation more times than he can count, but never like this. Long ago, in the crucible of a magical war waged across countless futures, Constantine was murdered by an all-powerful adversary: a twisted version of Timothy Hunter, bloated with evil. But over the past year strange forces have conspired to restart Tim Hunter’s tale, and somehow-amid sorcery, insanity and secret agendas-this older, wiser, wilier shade of Constantine has been dragged back with it. Unlike young Tim, John remembers every second of a life that went very, very wrong. Now he must ask himself why he, the last person in the world to deserve a second chance, has been given one. Is John Constantine here to put Tim Hunter on the right track and avert a terrible outcome? Or is it because he’s the only person in existence with the guts to do what REALLY must be done? After all, he’s a nasty piece of work, chief…ask anybody. This oversize one-shot sets the stage, and is the perfect jumping-on point, for a new era of Sandman Universe tales beginning in November…and is the official start of the strangest chapter yet in John Constantine’s long life!
Writer: Simon Spurrier | Artist: Marcio Takara

What comics or graphic novels did you get in time for Halloween?

Happy to present six spotlight previews from issues that are hitting stores tomorrow, January 25th, 2017.

DC COMICS

The Hellblazer #6
Official Description: “THE POISON TRUTH” part six! In London, Marid is selling the assembled underworld on his plans for humanity. On a train to Paris, Mercury relives her time in the Creator’s realm she visited—and she’s hoping she avoids death this time as well.
Writer: Simon Oliver | Artist: Pia Guerra

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #13
Official Description: “HEROES”! See the majesty and heroism of the Green Lantern Corps from the point of view of a planet in desperate need of their power. Set far in the future, this issue is packed with clues about what’s around the corner for Hal Jordan and the rest of the Corps!
Writer: Robert Venditti | Artist: Ethan Van Sciver

MARVEL COMICS

Captain America: Steve Rogers #10
Official Description: In the wake of Maria Hill’s court-martial, who will become the new head of S.H.I.E.L.D.? The answer will electrify you!
Writer: Nick Spencer | Artist: Jesus Saiz

Deadpool #25
Official Description: “DEADPOOL 2099” reaches its DOUBLE-SIZED CONCLUSION! Wade’s two daughters battle for his legacy! PLUS: The old man himself gets in the game! AND: IRON FIST shows just how IMMORTAL he is!
Writer: Gerry Duggan | Artist: Scott Koblish

IMAGE COMICS

Saga #42
Official Description: “THE WAR FOR PHANG,” The Epic Conclusion! Hell is war, as Hazel and her family learn the hardest way. 
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan | Artist: Fiona Staples

Wayward #20
Official Description: END OF STORY ARC. The spirits lay their claim…
Writer: Jim Zub | Artists:: Steven Cummings, Tamra Bonvillain

What is in your pull box this week? 

Hot off the news that FOX has picked up Gotham, a Batman prequel focusing on young Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon before he became the police commissioner, comes the news that we’ll be seeing a lot of comic inspired shows next season! So many show sin fact that we’ll be splitting this article into multiple parts.

Marvel’s Agent Carter (ABC)
Spinning directly out of Captain America: The First Avenger and the Agent Carter short film, Hayley Atwell returns to the role in a action series that takes place in the 1940s and recounts the origin of SHIELD.  As we reported on earlier (SEE: TV News: Agents of SHIELD, Agent Carter), Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas have been tapped as showrunners, with Steve McFeely, Christopher Marcus, and Jeph Loeb executive producing. ABC’s official description: The story is set in 1946 and peace has dealt Peggy Carter a serious blow as she finds herself marginalized when the men return home from fighting abroad. Working for the covert SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve), Peggy must balance doing administrative work and going on secret missions for Howard Stark all while trying to navigate life as a single woman in America, in the wake of losing the love of her life – Steve Rogers.

It should be really interesting to see how they shape the series moving forward. There are other heroes and villains from the 40s that could be interesting to see (the original robotic Human Torch or Namor for example). I wonder if they’ll tie the series into Agents of SHIELD at all. Peggy Carter stops a bad guy and finds a powerful weapon, then in the future that weapon is stolen from SHIELD and Agent Coulson’s team must find it. (possible spoiler for Captain America: The Winter Soldier). It would also be pretty cool to see the seeds of HYDRA planted in SHIELD from the beginning. Also, it’d be great to see folks like Dum Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough), Jim Morita (Kenneth Choi), and the Howling Commandos again. Plus, could we see a young Nick Fury in action? Sure, Sam Jackson wasn’t born until 1948, but in the comics Nick Fury is nearly a century old and uses the Infinity Formula to slow his aging and stay strong. Would be cool to see this element of Fury added into the mix along with seeing him rise the ranks from Agent of SHIELD to Director of the spy agency.

The Flash (The CW)
Lets change pace from Marvel Comics to DC Comics for a moment as DC is bringing one of their big guns to the small screen. Justice League member and speedster Barry Allen, the Flash, is spinning directly out of DC’s other successful CW series Arrow. Barry, as portrayed by Grant Gustin, was established in a couple episodes of Arrow as a young CSI who has a keen interest in meta crimes. The CW’s official description: The Flash focuses on scientist Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), who’s given powers that transform him into the Fastest Man Alive. 

On one hand I’m surprised they cast Barry so young, I always picture him as being at least in his thirties. But on the other hand it makes sense to cast him young and let Gustin grow into the role. This could also differentiate the series from a possible Flash film series, where they can make him a bit older. I’d love to see them cross villains over between The Flash and Arrow, and it could lead to a lot of other possible DC spinoffs (Green Lantern? Wonder Woman?). In addition to Gustin, the cast includes Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Rick Cosnett, Candice Patton, Tom Cavanagh, Carlos Valdes, and John Wesley Shipp, the Flash of the 90s television series.

Constantine (NBC)
Three heroes. Three networks. Constantine is an anti-hero from DC Comic’s dark (and magical) corner of their universe. Forget the Keanu Reeves movie, because Matt Ryan is the striking image of a young John Constantine. Maybe they will also get the rest right. The show is executive produced by David Goyer (Writer of Nolan’s Batman flicks) and directed by Neil Marshall (who helmed such movies as The Descent and Doomsday). The Wiki description of the DC Comic character: Constantine is a working-class magician, occult detective, and con man stationed in London. He is known for his endless cynicism, deadpan snarking, ruthless cunning, and constant chain smoking, but is also a passionate humanist driven by a heartfelt desire to do some good in his life.

This show needs to be dark, gritty, and with a touch of noir. A mix between Angel and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Constantine is one of those heroes that is at his best when he is beat down and on the edge of his sanity. NBC, please do not sugar coat the series or try to make it appeal to kiddies. And I hope I’m not asking too much when I say that I need Zatanna to be part of the cast; fishnets, top hat, and all. (It might be cool to also see characters like the Swamp Thing. Just saying.)

In Part 2 we will be looking at some more Comics that are being turned into television series in the 2014 – 2015 season. Which of these three shows are you excited about?

I can honestly say that DC Comics’ supernatural hero Deadman was the last character I thought the CW would ever develop as a new series to follow the gap left by the end of Smallville, especially when you consider that Smallville set up the potential for decent series following a number of characters including Green Arrow, Booster Gold, Blue Beatle and others (including supernatural characters like Zatanna and Doctor Fate). Also add into the mix that NBC recently rejected a pilot for a Wonder Woman series that seemed like a perfect Smallville replacement (and would also likely strike a cord with the CW’s large young female audience). Why didn’t the CW look at WW?

Anyhow, I guess Deadman falls in line pretty well with half of the CW’s current slate, which includes Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the upcoming witch show, The Secret Circle. Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Deadman is being developed for television by the creator of CW’s Supernatural, Eric Kripke. They say that the series “…is about the spirit of a murdered man, Boston Brand, who lives on as he inhabits other people’s bodies and helps them solve crises in their own lives.” Sound like Quantum Leap meets the Ghost Whisperer. Will other members of DC Comics’ supernatural world make appearances? There are lots of great characters he could interact with, like Swamp Thing, Constantine, or even Frankenstein? I guess we’ll have to wait and see if this will actually happen.