Women Wednesday: Convergence: Wonder Woman #1

The cover of Convergence: Wonder Woman #1 (June 2015) is downright spooky:

The issue starts with Diana waking up while Steve Trevor looks out the window at the pre-Crisis Gotham City. They talk about her doing outreach in the slums and Etta Candy joining a cult while being stuck under the dome for the past year.

Diana puts on her all white outfit and parts with Steve outside their apartment building. She goes to the slums to find Etta already helping an elderly woman, who want to attend the cult's church. Unfortunately, the old gal drops dead at the feet of the High Priestess. Diana starts to give a lecture about religious tolerance and she gets knocked out just when Telos starts his speech before he lifts the dome. She is taken to the church's dungeon and tied upside down.

Etta Candy goes for help and finds Steve Trevor. Diana regains her super strength when the dome disappears while three mysterious figures show up at the church. The sisters think they are the angels sent to save them. Candy and Steve find them with their necks ripped out. They then confront the mysterious figures that turn out to be the vampire versions of the Joker, Poison Ivy and Catwoman from the Red Rain universe.

The vampire Joker takes Etta away while leaving Steve to face the vampire women. Wonder Woman shoes up to help but he tells her to go save Etta, who has already been bitten. As soon as she leaves, the cult sisters attack him because they have risen as vampires.

I have to put Convergence: Wonder Woman #1 on my favorite list for this even since I love seeing superheroines in horror settings. The grayish tone of the artwork actually works here. I also noticed that Wonder Woman's lasso seemed to pop out on the page. I can't wait until next issue when Wonder Woman battles the vampire Joker.

Doritos Assemble the Avengers Website

The Doritos Assemble the Avengers website is a little bland. I was hoping for a little more graphics instead of the dark red background:

Prizes include Curved TV, Marvel’s Avengers: Age Of Ultron Hulk's Retreat In The Maldives, Marvel’s Avengers: Age Of Ultron Spy Trip To Washington, D.C., Doritos Bold Gold (worth $2,500), Home Theater Seating Pack, Bulk Like Hulk Pack (gym membership), Marvel's Collector Comic, Cast Autographed Movie Poster, Thor's Helmet, Celebrate Marvel's Avengers: Age Of Ultron "Money Can't Buy" New York Comic Con Holiday and a VR Pack.

The code that I found on the Doritos Nacho Cheese with Iron Man bag that I got yesterday gave me four entries. I used them all for the Marvel's Collector Comic.

There are some video clips that you can watch on the website including exclusive Behind the scenes look at Quicksilver, and Behind the scenes look at Scarlet Witch videos. There are also five Inner Challenges videos.

Doritos Assemble the Avengers: Nacho Cheese Doritos with Iron Man

I told myself that I wasn't going to buy every tie-in product for the Avengers 2: The Age of Ultron and there is a lot that has been showing up in the local stores for the last few weeks. However, I was at the local Dollar General and couldn't resist the Nacho Cheese Doritos with Iron Man. The price was $2.95 for the 10 1/2 oz bag.

Yeah, it's a little hard taking picturs of a bag half filled with Doritos but here's a closer look at Iron Man:

Here is the back of the bag that states codes are available on the bags to win prizes and this bag is worth two codes (the code is located in the white box on the bottom right side):

Sorry about the blurry picture but this supposed to be showing all six Doritos Assemble the Avengers packages including Nacho Cheese Doritos with Iron Man, Cool Ranch Doritos with Captain America, Spicy Nacho Doritos with Thor, Doritos Jacked with Hulk, Doritos Jacked with Black Widow and Doritos Dinamita (?) with Hawkeye (the local Dollar General only had the two different Nacho versions):

Each bag comes with an Activate the Avengers augmented-reality badge. I got a big fist that may or may not belong to the Hulk. It's hard to tell since it's more gray than green. Unfortunately, you have to download an app and scan the badge to activate your Avenger. I can't do it since I don't have a mobile phone so I basically got a useless sticker of a fist.

I doubt that I will get anymore of the Doritos Assemble the Avengers bags. The whole badge section does not separate easily from the bag and I don't see myself saving the bag.

Convergence: Batman and the Outsiders #1

Convergence: Batman and the Outsiders #1 (June 2015) is one of my favorites of the week three Convergence titles. The group are under the dome in the pre-Crisis Earth One Gotham City. Batman is still fighting crime since he didn't have any powers to lose.

Black Lightning is still wearing his costume and is still helping even without his powers:

Katana is keeping a vigil over the comatose Halo:

Geo-Force is helping out too but he is filled with rage over the loss of his earth-based powers:

Rex Mason aka Metamorpho is now back to his normal human self and enjoying time with his girlfriend, Sapphire Stagg, who he can actually touch now:

I love this issue because it doesn't dwell on Batman but spends some pages on the Outsiders. Unfortunately, the fun is over when the dome is lifted and they regain their powers. The worst part is that Rex is in the shower with Sapphire when he starts changing back to Metamorpho. Halo wakes up from her coma and explodes with Katana still in the hospital room. Hopefully, they will be enough to face OMAC and his mutant army from the future New York City of Kamandi.

The Phantom Hit It Rich! Casino Slots

I read an email earlier offering me 10,000 bonus coins to play The Phantom Hit It Rich! Casino Slots online game at Facebook. I love the description that they sent: "The Ghost Who Walks has made his way to Hit it Rich in our newest game for the web: The Phantom! With Falling Reels and Jungle Rescue Bonus, you’re going to love your adventure in Bangalla."

I couldn't resit so I started playing it and this was the first screen that greeted me:

Here's the second screen to great me:

They are offering a special coin sale:

Here's the first screen of the actual game itself (note: I didn't have enough coins for the large jackpot):

I bet the minimum which is 800 coins but I didn't win:

I did hit a big win with the fourth bet and got the coins up to 52,000. I bet 20,000 twice and lost both times so I went back to betting 800 coins until I lost it all in a matter of minutes.

I enjoyed playing The Phantom Hit It Rich! Casino Slots online game but I do wish the minimum bet was a lot less. I should note that some of the squares are animated when they are on a winning line (example: Diana Palmer goes from still portrait to pointing).

First Official Look at Jared Leto as Joker in Suicide Squad

Here's the first official look at Jared Leto as the Joker in the Suicide Squad movie (expect to see it everywhere by now):

Image from First Look: Suicide Squad's Joker

Convergence #3

There is a lot going on in Convergence #3 (June 2015). The cover features Earth 2's Thomas Wayne aka Batman being fighting the villains from Grant Morrison's Batman & Robin series. The only one I recognize is the Riddler.

The issue starts with the surviving superheroes of Earth 2 (Flash, Superman, Green Lantern and Red Avatar) helping Deimos.

Deimos eventually takes them to the inner world of Skartaris

Other events include Telos going to Kandor, where the Kyptonians are protesting. Nightwing and Flamebird arrive only to have the former destroyed. Shakira throws Monarch and Degaton into a statis bubble with other masters of time. From what little she says, it seems that Deimos wants them for himself and she is putting them away so he can't find them. I'm waiting for Travis Morgan aka the Warlord to show up soon.

Thomas Wayne and Dick Grayson fight the mob of villains that ends with the former setting off an explosion which kills him. I kind of had the feeling that he was going to die after reading the last issue. The Joker shows up and shoots Dick Grayson but then Telos snaps the clown's neck. The alien asks Grayson where his friends are. You think the all powerful super being would be able to tell that they are inside the planet since he is supposed to be the planet.

Women Wednesday: Convergence: Supergirl Matrix #1

Convergence: Supergirl Matrix #1 (June 2015) has a nice cover:

But that can't be said about page one when we get a look under the Supergirl's skirt:

Most of the issue deals with the redheaded Lex Luthor calling Supergirl names and Lady Quark arguing with Lord Volt. The latter two are from Electropolis. Their daughter, Princess Fern, appears in Convergence: Green Lantern Parallax #1. I did like the surprise appearance of a certain bug on the last page.

Convergence: Justice League International #1

Convergence: Justice League International #1 (June 2015) has a nice cover:

Metallo is walking down a street of the pre-zero hour Metropolis causing destruction to the city along with his drones. The Justice League International shows up to kick their butt. Blue Beetle introduces them more like the Justice League Metropolis since they have been trapped under the dome for a year. This team includes Blue Beetle, Red Tornado, Martian Manhunter, Captain Atom, Fire and Ice.

The dome rises and they get their powers back just in time for the Kingdom Come Justice League shows up. This team consists of Wonder Woman, Shazam (I guess he's no longer Captain Marvel in that alternate universe either), Obsidian, Nightstar, Jade, Huntress, Creeper and Blue Beetle.

Convergence: Green Arrow #1

Convergence: Green Arrow #1 (June 2015) is titled "Father and Son" and I find it interesting because Convergence #2 also dealt with relationships between fathers and sons (Dick and Tommy Grayson; Thomas and Bruce Wayne).

Oliver has been patrolling pre-zero hour Metropolis on his motorcycle.

Connor Hawke has been running a sanctuary for those needing help since the dome went down. He finds a trick green arrow, which means that Oliver is in the city. Connor shoots flare arrows to get Green Arrow's attention when he needs help to fight a hate gang ready to kill those at the sanctuary.

Green Arrow is shocked to find out that Connor Hawke is his son by Sandra Hawke aka Moonday. The two are teleported and find themselves facing the Kingdom Come versions of Dinah Lance Queen and her daughter, Olivia Queen aka Black Canary III.

Convergence: Aquaman #1

At first, I thought the art on Convergence: Aquaman #1 (June 2015) was sick looking and not in a good way. Then I read that Arthur had been away from ocean water for a year when the dome came down in Metropolis and the tap water was just not the same. He had destroyed Chemo but he polluted the harbor by doing so. Kind of ironic that Aquaman would destroy his natural habitat like that.

This is the pre-zero hour hook version of Arthur:

Yeah, Deathblow from the Wildstorm universe shows up when the dome comes down and starts shooting agents:

So the next issue will be a showdown between Aquaman and Deathblow.

Convergence #2: Bruce Wayne Meets Thomas Wayne

Convergence #2 (June 2015) starts with Dick Grayson trying to get his son, Tommy, aboard one of the ships leaving Earth 2. Unfortunately, the ship explodes during lift off before the action switches to the planet Telos where Dick and the surviving superheroes are being held captive. They escape before splitting up with Grayson and Thomas Wayne aka Batman of Earth 2 going to the nearest Gotham City. They find drone circling the ruin city but make it to the hidden batcave. They meet the nu52 Alfred and Batman.

The best scene in the entire issue is when Bruce Wayne meets Thomas Wayne:

The rest of the Earth 2 crew find a rather familiar character that I didn't really expect to show up but I won't ruin the surprise here.

The Official Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Trailer

It's here thanks to Official: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Trailer:

Women Wednesday: Olivia Munn Cast As Psylocke

From Olivia Munn Joins X-Men: Apocalypse As Psylocke:

Just when you thought the cast of ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ couldn’t get any bigger, director Bryan Singer has announced another addition.

Actress Olivia Munn will be joining the cast as Betsy 'Psylocke’ Braddock - a mutant with telephathic and telekentic powers.

Singer confirmed the news, as always, on his Instagram account saying he is “excited” to be welcoming Munn to the cast.

Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe in 1976, Psylocke debuted in UK comic series 'Captain Britain’ before becoming a member of the X-Men in 1986.

The character appeared in 2006’s 'X-Men: The Last Stand’ portrayed by Mei Melançon, but Brett Ratner’s film has essentially been eradicated from the series’ timeline after last year’s 'Days of Future Past’ tinkered with a few things.

Munn is an actress, model, television presenter and proud geek. She has won accolades in recent years for her stand-out role in HBO’s ‘The Newsroom’, leading to this - her first major superhero movie part She enjoyed a small role in ‘Iron Man 2′ back in 2010.

James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender and Nicholas Hoult are all set to reprise their roles in the 80s-set conclusion to the prequel trilogy that began with 'First Class’ in 2011.

They’ll be joined by Sophie Turner as the new Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan as Cyclops, Alexandra Shipp as Storm, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler and Ben Hardy as Angel.

They will be battling Oscar Isaac’s Apocalypse, the original mutant and the most powerful in existence.

'X-Men: Apocalypse’ is set for release on 19 May 2016.

Breaking News: NBC Cancels Constantine

Not really surprised but this sucks just the same:

NBC has confirmed cancellation of Constantine.

A blogger for BuzzFeed posted an article about network renewals and cancellations where she tweeted she fact-checked the information with every network. Constantine has been on the bubble ever since NBC didn't order a full series for the first Season.

Fans of the series quickly took to social networks in an attempt to save the series with the #SaveConstantine hashtag, which regularly trended worldwide.

Showrunner Daniel Cerone has been vocal on Twitter as well. His last tweet as of April 6th read that NBC invited him to pitch Constantine Season 2 in late April, and added Constantine was not dead and to stay hopeful.

Now with, apparently, NBC confirming the cancellation of Constantine with BuzzFeed, it seems all hope for a Season 2 is gone.

There were rumblings that Constantine could be picked up by NBC's sister network, SyFy; however, an exec for SyFy stated the rumor wasn't true.

If Constantine was going to continue, scripts for Season 1 episodes that weren't used, would have been spun into Season 2.

The finale of Constantine saw a big reveal, which explained a lot, but also left fans with more questions than answers and the desire to see more.

Previously, NBC executives offered the reason for the potential cancellation of Constantine was due to live-viewings not getting high enough ratings, though subsequent DVR and online viewings were said to do well.

Warner Bros. will be using Constantine in the Guillermo del Toro Justice League Dark movie, which is separate than the TV show, but Guillermo delo Toro did state he would be open to using Matt Ryan.

Convergence: The Titans #1

Convergence: The Titans #1 (June 15) should really have been titled Convergence: Arsenal #1 because the issue is mostly about the pre-Flashpoint Roy Harper aka Speedy aka Arsenal. Sure, Donna Troy aka Wonder Girl aka Darkstar (I think she had more identities than Roy) and Starfire also appear but they take a back seat to Roy's whining about having one arm. His daughter, Lian, is still dead. The issue never explains what they were doing in Gotham City when the dome came down in the first place. Roy built a secret weapons arsenal and tapped into the communication lines.

Donna Troy and Starfire fly together again straight towards the supervillain group known as the Extremists that consists of Gorgon, Lord Havok, Dreamslayer, Tracer and Diehard:

The end of the issue leaves on a rather unsettling cliffhanger that I won't spoil here.

Even the Who's Who two pager is all about Arsenal:

I was never fond of how Roy was treated towards the end of the pre-Flashpoint era of DC Comics. I think he deserved better then and now. Maybe he will in the next issue but I rather see more of Donna Troy and Starfire.

1700th Post: Convergence: Superman #1

Yes, another milestone has been reached for this my 1700th post at Moongem Comics. To help celebrate is a look at Convergence: Superman #1 (June 2015). First up is the cover:

The issue starts off as a powerless Clark running around Gotham City busting criminals dressed kind of like Batman did in Year One. His Oracle is Lois Lane and he is about to get burned up. He doesn't and his black hood costume is burned off to reveal his Superman costume. Yes, this is the pre-52 man of steel when he and Lois were married. He saves Jimmy Olsen before flying back home to Lois, who is pregnant. Superman, Lois and Jimmy had been attending a news conference in Gotham City before the dome went down a year ago. He leaves her after the voice of Telos fills the sky.

Switch to the Gotham City of the Flashpoint universe where Thomas Wayne aka Batman is having a meeting with Captain Thunder, Cyborg, Abin Sur aka Green Lantern and Kal-El aka Superman. All but the latter agree to take out the married and father to be Superman.

Jimmy Olson stops by Professor Hamilton's lab to pick up a weapon to help his old pal. He winds up with the Whiz Wagon (I'm not making this up for he actually calls it that a few pages later).

Captain Thunder attacks the married man of steel and they duke it out. Flashpoint Cyborg and Green Lantern shows up moments before Jimmy in his Whiz Wagon arrives.

Flashpoint's Kal-El meanwhile flies to the pregnant Lois Lane because the one in his world died. He approaches her while her Superman is struggling against the Flashpoint's superheroes.

So far it seems that all the dome cities have been different versions of Gotham City. I wonder if there is a reason for this. Overall, I liked this issue mostly for seeing the married version of Superman and Lois Lane. The only Flashpoint character that I would like to see more of is Captain Thunder. The Flashpoint version of Superman felt very creepy at the end of this issue.

Convergence #1: Behold Telos

Convergence #1 (June 2015) starts with the surviving superheros of Earth 2 facing off with the traitorous Superman. Yeah, I had to read Earth 2: World's End #26 (June 2015) to find out what the hell was going on here (I did not follow the event at all). Apparently, Darkseid took over Earth 2 but there is a space ship with survivors but the surviving superheroes were teleported to the alien planet known as Telos, who pops up and starts complaining that they showed up without a city.

Behold Telos yapping to the surviving superheroes of Earth 2: Dick Grayson (okay, he's not a superhero in this version but a writer), Alan Scott aka Green Lantern, Val-Zod aka Superman, Yolanda Montez aka Red Avatar of Earth (she's supposed to have died), Jay Garrick aka the Flash, and Thomas Wayne aka Batman. The alien planet actually took the humanoid form last issue and he does a lot of talking again.

This issue felt more like a catch up with the gang from Earth 2. Kind of a disappointment for me really.

Convergence #0

Convergence #0 (June 2015) is all about Superman specifically the nu52 version after being infected with Brainiac's Doomsday virus. I didn't read that particular storyline so I only have a vague idea of what that was about.

One of the highlights of the issue was him seeing different versions of himself throughout the multiverse with most of them dying:

The nu52 Superman escapes his prison and explores the planet a little. He finds several cities under domes before fighting the planet itself which takes on different versions of Brainiac. Finally, the living planet decides to create a new identity for himself as Telos.

I really have to wonder if this major event was inspired by Stephen King's The Dome.