Sinister Scott Derrickson Warns Us To Beware The Night

Scott Derrickson is a man with a few horror films under his belt, each of them approached from his genuine position of Christian faith.

For example, his fairly fun new picture Sinister features an evil demon and, according to writer Robert C. Cargill speaking at Frightfest, Derickson took great pains ensure there was nothing 'authentic' about the demon or any of the occult lore in the movie because he didn't want to 'invite' an actual 'presence' into the film.

More obviously, there was also The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which toyed with, then discounted, rational explanations for the central possession.

And now he's signed on for Beware the Night.

The Wrap describe it like this:

The story is set in a paranormal world and follows a New York police officer investigating real life demon possessions, exorcisms and werewolves after dark.

Derrickson would possibly argue that we live in a paranormal world. Or maybe he wouldn't use that word.

Mark Wahlberg has apparently already passed on the lead role. I don't know who the next in the Mark Wahlberg line is, but I guess we're going to find out. I'm pretty sure it won't be Donnie Wahlberg, mind'

Derrickson is a co-writer on Atom Egoyan's upcoming Devil's Knot, a fictional account of the case of the West Memphis Three. During that case, the prosecution tried to frame the murders as part of a satanic ritual. It's a fascinating, tragic story and I'd recommend checking out the Paradise Lost documentaries for a grounding in it.

DC Zero Issues Roll Out The Legacies

This week is the beginning of DC Comics' Zero Issue initiative, where all their DC New 52 titles publish a flashback issue zero, but one that still has relevance to the ongoing narrative, and more importantly the next issue. You know, like you first read about on Bleeding Cool.

What we didn't tell you (because we had no idea) was that the books wouldn't so much look at the character's origins' but all the characters that came before them. So GI Combat, looks at the Unknown Soldiers from every war. Including ones before they invented head bandages.

Animal Man looks at Red avatars that came before the current Buddy Baker. And with Arcane doing his best Mission Impossible impression

And then doing the exact same thing over on Swamp Thing in the nineteenth century.

And while we know of Jenny Quantum and Jenny Sparks at Stormwatch, in Stormwatch #0 we get to see a bunch of previous Jenny Century babies back to the days of Demon Knights, joining up the dots between the two series, and also giving us, however briefly, Jenny Freedom. Wy do I get the tickling feeling that she'll be back?

But the best legacy character by a long way, has to be in Dial H #0. In which we not only see a Dialer from ancient times, but also exactly what she has to dial.

A Sun Dial.

Which has to be turned at noon every day to dial a new letter.

It takes four days to dial, folks.

For a relaunch that seemed to do away with a lot of legacy characters, it looks like we may be getting a bunch more'

Nineteen Thoughts About Nineteen Comics ' Ultimate Spider-Man, Phantom Stranger, Archer & Armstrong, Action Comics, Invincible Iron Man, Hawkeye, The Boys, Thief Of Thieves, Epic Kill, Detective Comics, Thor, Before Watchmen, Think Tank, Amazing Spider-Man, World's Finest, Earth Two, Green Arrow, Batwing And Action Comics,

In Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales and Captain America seem to be living in a different crossover than the rest of the Divided We Fall Ultimate books, in that civilisation is breaking down around the country, but New York seems fine. Which is, I understand, the opposite of what normally happens. But Ultimate Gwen Stacy saves the day by doing her best 616 Kitty Pryde impersonation.

Phantom Stranger #0 emphasises that this is Judas Iscariot, if we were in any doubt, but again manages not to name him. And while emphasising that Judas himself does not believe his is a bad man, but accepting his expected judgement, has 'avarice' named and linked to the silver coins placed around his neck. Which is an odd one, most modern readings of Judas' actions peg him as a Zionist trying to force the hand of Judas to overthrow the Roman reign, one among the disciples who truly believed Jesus was the Son Of God, and that the payment was more of a peppercorn deal.

 

I'm still enjoying Archer & Armstrong as we get more religious conspiracy, nuns with guns, and our odd couple trying to find some understanding' and yes, Armstrong totally tapped that. The political satire is a bit too blatantly obvious to land any blows, and the fun between the two characters stil is lacking from the original, but there's an ember there. We must blow gently on it, clap our hands, believe in fairies and it may once arise again.

While in The Boys, Wee Hughie and Butcher also come to an understanding. But it's one that puts them in direct opposition, atop the Empire State Building. And friends become downright enemies.

The opposite is happening in Invincible Iron Man, as the book starts to regain the use of that prefix and the Armor Wars provide a different take on that tone' not so much Armor Vs Armor, but Armor teaming up with Armor, even when it's Evil Armor. Morality is out of the door, this is about the survival of the species and odd allegiances are forged. With a rather ring-based foe in mind. It's Armor Wars!!!

In Hawkeye #2 it's' okay, this is a comic book. It is still a superhero comic book. But does anyone, even that bad guys involved possibly think that the above could in any way work. Yes, that's right, don't kill the Avenger now, kill him elsewhere for some reason that is not just apparent but gives Clint a little more wiggle room to find a new target. Seriously now, there are some very stupid super villains around'

See, Black Kiss 2? Thief Of Thieves knows how to still get distributed in Canada and the UK.

Epic Kill continues its Presidential kill spree mission and action adventure car chase and gun chase, that may succeed in this form like no other American publisher has before now, before twisting into a death/life/death/life alternate paths that do everything they can to stop the ending of this series being a terribly obvious disappointing twist. And they pretty much succeed'

Bruce' I am not your father. Say that in a deep husky voice a few times. In Detective Comics #0 it's time for Bruce to go all Karate Kid on us, in a twist on the fate of his actual parents, that seems vry much in keeping with the themes of the Nolan movies. In fact, that's probably the point, this is possibly a perfect Batman comic to pick up after seeing The Dark Knight Rises.

 

Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, you are very naughty people. Very naughty people indeed. Tumblr will be all over you for this, a mixture of cheers and boos for the ending of Thor this month. And a slightly better Loki than last issue, which is nice to see. But the ending, oh the ending' seriously. I may have to spoil this later today. Be warned.

 

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre is the one book that has stuck to the famous Watchmen nine panel grid, which pays off this issue as Laurie gets all loved up on LSD and her world starts to twist and turn. Still, by far, the most beautiful looking book in the project, and it reads at a fast pace too. Outstanding. Warning ' this comic contains a non-blue penis.

Think Tank #2 goes a little neoconspiracy on us this month, showing us that for killing insurgents in Iraq, there really is a App for that. And teaching us that war is bad.

 

As Spider-Man continues not to keep Alpha in control in the new Amazing Spider-Man, he does draw on his own past quite deeply. With a rather prominent reference to Amazing Spider-Man #33' and he has had a lot of experience of that since!

And yes, female Robin-to-be-Huntress one day has her on parental death issues to get past as well in World's Finest #0. I'm starting to see why super villains keep trying to blow up orphanages, it's to try and dispose of as many future superheroes as they can. Playing the long game'

While Earth One #0 brings back the Multiverse' and some very dodgy reason as a result of it. Means justifying the ends time. All very Ozymandias.

 

So who did write Green Arrow #0 then? The cover says Ann Nocenti, the inside says Judd Winick. I'm going to go with the latter, but really it's anybody's guess as we get a rather unpleasant young Oliver Queen, who may have good intentions, but they don't go well. In fact they go very badly indeed. In fact, on the basis of this comic, there's far more scope in making Green Arrow a propr super villain' certainly more than Judas gets blamed for in Phantom Stranger.

 

Whereas Batwing #0 gives us his early origin story as, well, Daredevil. Fighting young kid, check, in a official legal job that doesn't solve the real problems, check, night sticks, check. It's just that in this case, the bad guy has the horns.

At least we were spared a legacy of Batwings going back to tribal African times. Maybe for the Minus One issues next year'

But Action Comics #0 instead, just gives us something' rather sweet. And emphasising not only Superman's alien origins, but highlighting the stuff he carries around with him as well' it's a zero issue for the character, for the brand, for the image, and for his security blanket as well. Super Linus.

This might be the last Thoughts for a while' something different next week, I think.

Nemo: Heart Of Ice By Alan Moore And Kevin O'Neill For February ' Cover And Description

These are the two Midtown Comics exclusive covers for The Walking Dead Magazine, from Titan, coming out in October. I have been told that Diamond orders of this title have been through the roof, and far higher that Diamond have received for, well, any other Titan product ever. Bleeding Cool Magazine #1 comes out the'

Walking Dead Easter Egg: When Zombie Attacks Are Just Not Enough Any More

These are the two Midtown Comics exclusive covers for The Walking Dead Magazine, from Titan, coming out in October. I have been told that Diamond orders of this title have been through the roof, and far higher that Diamond have received for, well, any other Titan product ever. Bleeding Cool Magazine #1 comes out the'

Something' New, From DC Comics In January

For the last couple of months, Bleeding Cool has been reporting that DC Comics may be cancelling a bunch of titles and launching new books in January, as well as giving us a number of creative changes to the books. Grant Morrison announced he is leaving Action Comics with the December issue, we've reported Andy Diggle as picking up the book after him, there's Tony S Daniel's new expected project, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis are rumoured to be leaving Aquaman with Ivan Reis moving to Justice League, a whole bunch of stuff. But it's not like we've had any hard evidence of such a big change in January.

But I am told that we will have this week. And that in the New 52 Zero issues out on Wednesday, as well as articles in the back detailing a new 'Who's Who In The New 52', with the bok's characters gettinga  profile ahead of a new guide to the New DC Universe, Ian Sattler writes in the back talking about the upcoming DC crossovers and then teasing 'and that's before we get to' something' new in January.'

Well that sounds big. Bigger than I've been rumouring as well.

What could it be?

The Last Page Of Crossed Badlands #12 ' SPOILERS

The Crossed series isn't a big one for continuity. Something happened, people are turning into monstrosities of humanity and destroying each other in increasingly hurtful and disgusting fashions, exhibiting the sickest type of humour when doing so.

But you don't see people from one Crossed series appearing in another. Their stories are separate, often by geography.

Until now.

This is the final page of last week's Crossed: Badlands #12. Those familiar with the series may have had quite a surprise. Others will have just had a mysterious cliffhanger.

Here is that last page. The top two thirds of it at least, there's even more spoilers on the bottom third.

That's Harold. Harold from Crossed: Psychopath, also by writer David Lapham.

Things have got far, far worse'