Last Update: June 14, 2025
Marvel's 616 Day event on June 16 – Screenrant
Gianfranco Manfredi has died – The Comics Journal
Creator and writer of Magico Vento is Manfredi’s most famous work, blending western, horror, and supernatural elements. He wrote the main 130‑issue series (1997–2010) and later revived it in new miniseries (Il ritorno in 2019, Guerre Apache in 2023)
He is also known for Gordon Link (1991–1993), Bonelli: Volto Nascosto (2007–08), Shanghai Devil (2011–13), Adam Wild (2014–16), Coney Island (2015), and Cani Sciolti (2018–19).
His work resume is much longer and is considered a highly important figure in the "golden age of Italian comics."
Rare: An original fine print of the original 1977 Star Wars screened at BFI festival with Kathleeen Kennedy in attendance – Superherohype
The print’s discovery came as a surprise, and quickly led to a stir amongst fans online. George Lucas infamously did not like the very first print of Star Wars (which would later be renamed to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope), and would tinker with it in the years after its release. Specifically, Lucas added the now infamous opening crawl, and changed the scene in the Mos Eisley cantina, making it so that bounty hunter Greedo shoots at Han Solo first, rather than vice versa...."
Comic Book Brain wishes there was a 4K blu ray release of the original untouched 1977 Star Wars.
The muddy slog through Diamond DIstributors current situation – Comicsbeat
Interview with Kate Beaton – The Comics Journal
In this excerpt, the two talk about Beaton's webcomic, which often poked fun at historical figures, learning how to adapt to an internet audience and where Beaton is going to go from here...."
The situation for Superhero movies
Thunderbolts* flopped despite "great reviews" - what happens next? – Variety
Days after "Thunderbolts*" hit the big screen, Disney CEO Bob Iger was feeling celebratory. He publicly touted the comic book adventure as the "first and best" example of Marvel’s new movie strategy, referring to the film’s positive reception from audiences and critics. And what a relief, following a bumpy few years and a string of poorly reviewed misfires in the franchise. Six weeks later, "Thunderbolts*" has cratered at the box office...."
Answer: Thunderbolts* is not a good film. It is a likeable film, and it has good things in it, but it is not well made. Not counting Florence Pugh, the cast didn't get enough space to be more than what Scarlett Johansson said (paraphrase) "in a Marvel film characters are plot devices."
Marvel’s calculus has changed," says Shawn Robbins, Fandango’s movie analytics director. "We’re in a new era where not every Marvel movie is going to hit $1 billion."
It has been years since that "billion dollar club" membership was an assured thing for Marvel. Deadpool and Wolverine looks like a blip with Marvel's billion-dollar days back in the teen years if you recognize that the three billion dollar films of the 20's are Sony, 20th Century Fox and Ryan Reynolds film properties. "Endgame" is a film title that is starting to take on a different meaning:
- 2012 The Avengers $1.519 billion
- 2013 Iron Man 3 $1.215 billion
- 2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron $1.403 billion
- 2018 Black Panther $1.347 billion
- 2018 Avengers: Infinity War $2.048 billion
- 2019 Captain Marvel $1.131 billion
- 2019 Avengers: Endgame $2.798 billion
- 2019 Spider-Man: Far From Home $1.132 billion
- 2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home $1.921 billion
- 2024 Deadpool & Wolverine $1.338 billion
The Variety article says:
...If the studio wants to replenish the well with new vigilantes, it needs to spend less on origin stories. But belt tightening is getting harder as the cost of everything — from actors’ pay to visual effects to catering — has drastically risen. And turning these movies into can’t-miss events requires huge promotional dollars for globe-trotting press tours and premieres..."
The article isn't addressing the massive fall-off in quality, but is blaming marketing money (and catering?) Anecdotally speaking, the amount of derision towards the superhero films, post-pandemic, by young people, is palpable. I've heard from too many young non-fan sources, that is, casual superhero film ticket buyers, that (in general) among young people the superhero film ... like superhero comics.... are simply "uncool."
How'd we get here? In recent history, Nolan's Batman movies and Marvel's Iron Man (and Chris Evans' Captain America and then on to the mega-satisfaction people had with the Avengers+ films) made the expectation of quality and likeable casting safe and predictable for the casual "normie" ticket-buyer. But, those days are gone, and Marvel (and DC) have got a lot of stink they've got to clear away to get back into the good graces of ticket buyers who will reflexively think of superhero film brands as reliable entertainment worth the ticket price and attention (it is quite the reverse, now).
The big test is this July. Superman and Fantastic Four could both hit it out of the park, or one might make it and the other one flop, or.... they both bomb, despite the cheering of media and super-fans trying to get them over the hurdles. If that happens, that is, they both tank and word-of-mouth is so-so or even lousy, we might be in a historical footnote situation where Superman (1978) began the big money superhero era and Superman (2025) flops at theaters and closes it out.
Superman Movie vs Fantastic Four movie - - who has bigger first day ticket sales? – Comicbookmovie
Meanwhile: Jurassic Park Scarlett Johansson is "shaping up for a five-day $125 million start" – Deadline Hollywood
- Jurassic World: Rebirth – July 2, 2025
- Superman – July 11, 2025
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps – July 25, 2025
Diamond Distributors drama continues: new owners launch lawsuit – Bleedingcool
Early screening tickets for Superman film go on sale – comicbook
Scarlett Johansson and Thunderbolts* – Comingsoon
Marvel veteran Scarlett Johansson is listed as an executive producer on the latest MCU movie, Thunderbolts*. However, Johansson revealed that she asked to be removed from the credits..."
"Plot Device" - Scarlett Johansson talks about Marvel movies – Superherohype
From the archives:
2014 "The unstoppable Scarlett Johansson"
"There is no getting away from Johansson, and that is how her uncountable fans, female as well as male, would like it to be forever. They do not want to get away. Even if they can’t afford to open a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne, as endorsed by Johansson in 2011, they can still enjoy her likeness on the shell case of their iPhone 5, and come a little closer to her with a deep sniff of The One, the Dolce & Gabbana fragrance that the actress, as an official face of the fashion house, is paid to advertise. Ideally, we are informed, it should be “used to adorn pulse points or misted into the air.” She made a short film, in luscious black-and-white, as a means of encouraging us to buy the perfume. The director was Martin Scorsese, who, presumably, was attracted by its top notes of zesty bergamot and mandarin. And the co-star was Matthew McConaughey, one of Johansson’s few rivals, right now, in the stakes of global celebrity. As I said, exciting times; and she doesn’t even turn thirty until November."
Scarlett Johansson profile at the New Yorker
2012 - The Avengers Natasha Romanoff
Washington Post Article May 4, 2012
"Though her costume was unforgivingly unbreathable and she spent months training to perform in it, Johansson said she’d wear it again in a second to tell the story of Black Widow.
“I love her origin story. I think it’s just such a riveting one,” she said. “It’s just steeped in history and the richness to shoot in Russia, perhaps. ... I hope that the fans’ voice is loud enough and they want to see a Widow origin story, I know Marvel would be happy to entertain that. We’ve spoken a lot about it.”
...“You see a little bit about how Natasha joined and it’s not that she’s fighting for the greater good of humanity,” the actress said. “She was almost salvaged by S.H.I.E.L.D. and so she’s loyal to that group, to that agency, but only as sort of paid debt.”
2010 - Scarlett Johansson signed for NINE films
Brief story at fandango (September 23, 2010) about the future for the Black Widow / Natasha Romanoff character in the Marvel movieland:
"...it is an indication of where Marvel plans to go once they're done with their current crop of superhero cross-promotion. While speaking at a press conference for the new Iron Man 2 DVD, Marvel chief Kevin Feige admitted that they're currently working on a spin-off film for Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow character. He noted, "We've already started discussions with Scarlett about the idea, but The Avengers comes first." Feige later added that they haven't done much else except begin to put concepts together."
Directly related: Scarlett Johansson vs the Mouse
Reed Richards isn't Fantastic Four's leader? Superherohype
Greg Gustin back at DC Comics
Story at Bleedingcool
Super Money
Well, now they're saying James Gunn's Superman movie is approaching a $563 million in production costs, counting original filming costs, reshoots, and marketing. That means it would need to clear well over a billion dollars at the box office to be profitable, since theaters typically keep around half of ticket sales. Seems incredible Warners Bros would get themselves into such a untenable position.
- $225 Million Estimate: usual industry budget estimate for Superman
- $363.8 Million Filing: Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit number
- James Gunn has said that number is too high
- Various people are estimating the marketing budget for Superman at an incredible $200 million
The expected payments from Diamond's new owner... "seem not to have been made" – Bleedingcool
A lot of small companies waiting for money.
Capullo already generating art for the Batman-Deadpool crossover – Bleedingcool
And more Deadpool/Batman art – Yahoo
Superhero movies that shoulda been hits but were not hits
Story at Collider
Ten films reviewed, like Mystery Men, Birds of Prey, and Rocketeer, among others.
Marvel puts out new Fantastic Four poster on eve of pre-ticket sales starting – comicbookmovie
Peter David Obituary – NY Times
Comic Book writer Peter David has died – UK Independent
Director Matt Shakman talks about his Fantastic Four movie – Variety
Frank Miller’s 1/1 Sketch Cards – Sports Illustrated Collectibles
Okay, this probably isn't the new Bat Logo
Here comes a new Batman logo – Bleedingcool
"DC Has Changed Batman’s Logo Again Because the First 1 Million Times Weren’t Enough" – Fandomwire
Black Panther game build is cancelled – Boundingintocomics
Get into the Public Domain archives that are online at Graphic Chatter
Time to go to Disney World? Goofy 4 Mickey
Classic Film, reviews and more Cinemagraphe
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