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Back to the Past with Samurai Jack

The very nature of animation production grants creators many avenues to create something imaginative, special, and unique, and Gendy Tartakovsky's Samurai Jack stands as a prime example of that. When Samurai Jack premiered on Cartoon Network in 2001 nothing had ever looked quite like it before, or for that matter, ever since. Jack is a genre-blending action show that takes cues from comic books, noir films, 70s TV/cinema, westerns, history, folklore, and many, many other inspirations, and it fuses them all into a cohesive world. Samurai Jack has always maintained a distinct visual style that simultaneously combines bombastic action with a huge emphasis on mood and atmosphere. All the while, the show never ever ignores comedy, charm, or a light heartedness that is just as much a hallmark of the show as its always thrilling fight scenes. So, join the panel as they go back, back to the past to celebrate 20 years of Samurai Jack!

The Suicide Squad

One of our most anticipated films of 2021 is Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn’s first foray into the DC Universe, The Suicide Squad. A no holds barred romp featuring a motley assortment of some of the DCU’s most misfit crooks and criminals who are a thrown into a suicide mission to save the world. Starring Idris Elba, Viola Davis, John Cena, Michael Rooker, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Sean Gunn , Sylvester Stallone, and many more, joining returning cast members Viola Davis, Joel Kinnamen, and the always fantabulous Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, The Suicide Squad is full of colorful characters and James Gunn’s brand of laughs, heart, and explosive action. Join the panel as we share our thoughts on 2021’s The Suicide Squad.

Transformers: The Movie Turns 35

35 years ago, children of the mid-1980s were enthralled by cartoons based around toy lines. They could be found everywhere on TV; weekday mornings, after school, and of course on Saturday mornings. That was Television only though, you didn’t see movies based around toy lines, that is until Transformers: The Movie was released.  An actual animated movie released to theatres that showcased all of our favorite robots in disguise. It shocked and dazzled us all then and it arguably holds up remarkably well today. To celebrate 35 years since its release, the panel looks back at Transformers: The Movie.

San Diego Comic-Con 2021 @Home Reactions

🎵 It's the most wonderful time of the year. 🎵 No it's not Christmas time -- it's Comic Con!!!! (Kind of a Christmas in July, we suppose.) Just like last year, the good promoters and organizers are bringing San Diego Comic-Con to our living rooms - Comic-Con 2021 goes virtual! The panel is here reacting to all the exciting news, and announcements, trailers, and panels that came out of Comic-Con at Home Year Two! Come join the party!

Watching (and Reading) the Detectives

Everyone loves a good mystery. A well crafted "Who Done It?" is among the most exciting kind of story to read or watch; and a huge part of those stories is the Detective, a focal character who learns all the plot details of the case as the audience does. A common practice for the mystery genre, is to take the audience through a brand new case, populated with a whole new slew of supporting players and the detective character acting as the only returning character. Often, over time, we get to peel the layers of these brilliant men and women of mystery and discover more about our favorite sleuths. Today the panel will list their favorite fictional detectives.

Blockbusters

Everyone has heard the term "Hollywood Blockbuster." You have probably seen at least a few dozen by now, but what actually classifies a movie becoming a blockbuster? What is the history? What are some of the traits these films have in common? How has the landscape changed over the years? Finally the panel will make predictions on which upcoming films just might very well hit blockbuster status in the future.

Happy 80th, Captain America

During World War II, comic readers saw many characters address the conflict on the world stage head on. Creators on characters like Superman and Batman pivoted creatively to deal with the war effort in addition to other characters of The Golden Age, including a whole slew of new characters. Among these brand new creations, none was more successful than Captain America. Interestingly, for a character anchored so much in the time period of his creation, Captain America's popularity is one of the most enduring in all of comics. He is certainly one of Marvel's most loved characters, and Chris Evans' portrayal of the character in the MCU has only added to the character’s exposure. It's been 80 years since his creation, and Captain America is still as relevant today as he was in the 1940s. For Cap's 80th year, and just in time for the 4th of July, the panel will celebrate Captain America.

Also stay tuned to the closing segment for our look back at Captain America: The First Avenger as we approach the 10th anniversary of the film's release.

Superhero Swap

Back in the mid 1990s there was a bizarre and shocking moment in comic book history where a swap of two characters between the Big Two comic book companies almost took place. Marvel Comics and DC Comics had in the works a deal that would see one character from each company go on loan to the other company for a period of one year. First, our panel will dive into the details of this surprising plan that almost happened. And then, using it as jumping off point, our panel members will daydream and discuss what other crazy cross-company swaps they would love to see.

Spotlight: The Rocketeer

There are certain movies that are remembered as being crucially important signifiers to Hollywood that comic books could be profitable subject matter; 1979’s Superman, 1989’s Batman, 1998’s Blade, X-Men from 2000 and Spider-Man from 2002 all played a part in building the modern superhero movie. One maybe not remembered enough however is 1991’s The Rocketeer;  one of the earliest comic adaptations to film, and still possibly one of the most faithful translations of comic to movie we have seen to date.  An actioner in the spirit of the same movie serials that inspired the creation of Indiana Jones, The Rocketeer is an epically, fun adventure movie that stood out then and continues to stand out today.  To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the panel spotlights the 1991 film The Rocketeer.

Fictional Dads (Good and Bad)

Pop culture is filled with notable fathers and father figures. From Star Wars to The Simpsons, dad's play an important part in the development of our lead characters. They can act as an influence towards positive growth, but sometimes through the sins of the father, they can also present some internal obstacles for our protagonists to face and overcome. In honor of Father’s Day (this coming Sunday in the United States) we’re looking at fathers in media and the effect they have on their children.