Author: Trafficblast

Note: this is a spoiler-free review of Helstrom: Season 1, which is available to stream now on Hulu.

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Even in a year marked by a frustrating lack of new MCU content, it’s difficult to muster much enthusiasm for Helstrom. What was originally billed as the beginning of a new shared, small screen Marvel universe – one focused on Marvel’s supernatural heroes as opposed to Netflix’s gritty street vigilantes – is now merely a standalone project with no tangible connection to the larger MCU. Helstrom is a relic of an older Marvel TV, before the days when Kevin Feige assumed direct control and big-budget Disney+ series with clear MCU ties became the order of the day. All of this is to say that if you’re hoping Helstrom will give you a badly needed Marvel fix, you’re better off waiting a couple more months for WandaVision.

Helstrom revolves mainly around siblings Daimon (Tom Austen) and Ana Helstrom (Sydney Lemmon), a highly dysfunctional duo who grew up with a demonic serial killer for a father. As adults, both Daimon and Ana do their best to harness their latent supernatural powers to rid the world of their father’s ilk, even as their demon-possessed mother Victoria (Elizabeth Marvel) rots in a psychiatric institute. Other major players in Season 1 include the occult-fighting Henry (Robert Wisdom), wide-eyed Vatican prodigy Gabriella Rossetti (Ariana Guerra) and devoutly religious psychiatrist/mother figure Louise Hastings (June Carryl).

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At this point, fans of the source material may be confused at just how loosely Helstrom seems to borrow from said source material. Daimon and Ana (or Satanna, as she’s normally known) have a decades-long history in Marvel’s comics. But not unlike Fox and Netflix’s Lucifer, many of the more outlandish and fantastical trappings of the comics have been toned down in favor of a smaller, more approachable and ultimately safer adaptation. But whereas Lucifer still has its charms (thanks in no small part to Tom Ellis’ charming portrayal of Mr. Morningstar), Helstrom has very little to show for its grounded approach to these larger-than-life characters.

The series captures very little of what makes either Helstrom sibling compelling. It tries to be a quiet, understated superhero show starring two characters who are normally anything but. You don’t call yourself “Son of Satan” and stomp around New York City bare-chested in a red cape because you’re trying to keep a low profile. Despite dealing with the supernatural and demons, Helstrom is a weirdly unambitious series with very small stakes. If anything, it plays more like a pitch for another Exorcist TV series that was retrofitted to become a Marvel adaptation instead. The fact that Daimon and Ana have superhuman powers often comes across as an afterthought.

Even at a relatively lean 10 episodes, Season 1 is a slog. The plot is both predictable and laden with all the familiar exorcism tropes. Season 1 is a slow burn that never achieves much in the way of dramatic payoff. Nor does the series manage to establish many compelling characters along the way. Daimon himself is surprisingly dull for a guy with demon blood and a lifetime of daddy issues to work through. Again, a far cry from the flamboyant spellcaster of the comics. Ana is somewhat more compelling – given her arrogant demeanor and unusual ways of relieving stress – but she always comes across as a lower priority for the series than her brother. The supporting cast, meanwhile, are uniformly generic and two-dimensional. Season 1 does a poor job of encouraging us to actually care about these characters and their struggles, and so there’s little weight to some of the more dramatic developments late in the season. That’s all too apparent in the closing moments of the finale.

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For the most part, the problem is more with the quality of the writing and direction than the actors themselves. After all, the main cast includes veterans of such modern classics as The Wire, Succession and Homeland. There just isn’t a great deal to work with here in terms of dialogue or dramatic moments. Lemmon is given a little more room than the others to stretch out and have fun, but again, the series never hones in on Ana as much as it should.

Though ostensibly set within the MCU, Helstrom certainly doesn’t feel like it belongs alongside those movies and shows. The show is relentlessly humorless and self-serious when a little bit of that classic MCU banter would do the show a world of good. Nor is it successful in exploring the opposite end of the tonal spectrum and recapturing the magic of shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones. For all the demonic possessions afoot, it doesn’t even function as a decent horror series. It has little sense of visual style, to boot. Though primarily set in San Francisco and Oregon, the series was filmed in Vancouver. Accordingly, it has the look of a forgotten CW series more than an MCU spinoff.

Other than those occasional fun moments with Ana and her assistant Chris (Alain Uy), the music is the only area where Helstrom ever really distinguishes itself. The traditional orchestral score is solid enough, but the use of classic doo-wop tunes and other inspired needle drops from the likes of Peter Gabriel and Nick Drake further elevates the series’ sound. It’s a shame that same quirky sense of personality isn’t apparent anywhere else.

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When ecstatic DC Comics fans were treated to the news of the upcoming 10-episode Green Lantern TV series, the announcement also included the names of the cosmically powered heroes we can expect to see in the galaxy-spanning drama. Even if you’re a longtime fan of comics, you might not be as familiar with some—or even all—of the characters on the list.

Let’s take a look at the Lanterns who will be lighting up the screen when the Green Lantern series comes to HBO Max.

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What Is the Green Lantern Corps?

The Green Lanterns are a group of enforcers handpicked by the ancient and powerful Guardians of the Universe. They formed the Green Lantern Corps as a peacekeeping force whose protection extends across the far reaches of the universe. Each member is granted a glowing green power ring that transforms the bearer’s willpower and imagination into energy and hard light.

Over 7,000 Green Lanterns protect the thousands of worlds under their purview. The Corps itself is based on the planet Oa and its members are assigned to sectors across the galaxies. Earth’s Sector 2814 is a rarity with more than two Lanterns patrolling its stars. In the comics, six humans have officially joined the Corps in defense of Sector 2814: Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, and Jessica Cruz.

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Every Lantern takes the following oath:

In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!

Alan Scott

Alan Scott is the oldest character on this list and one of the most intriguing. The original Green Lantern to wield the ring on Earth, Alan Scott made his debut in 1940 in All-American Comics #16. The railroad engineer miraculously escaped a train wreck by grasping a strange, glowing lantern. He was instructed by the spirit inside to create a ring, and with the incredible powers it granted he became the first Green Lantern.

Even among a group as diverse as the Green Lanterns, Scott stands out as a unique part of their ranks. His bright costume was a delightful arrangement of green, red, purple, and yellow, complete with a mask and flowing cape. He wasn’t a formal member of the Green Lantern Corps and stayed decidedly Earthbound in his early adventures. The abilities of Scott’s ring, which was mystically powered by a green lantern fashioned from a mysterious meteorite, were unable to affect anything made of wood or plant-based materials.

In more recent comic storylines, Scott is an out gay man, and the upcoming television series won’t shy away from that aspect of his character.

Guy Gardner

Guy Gardner is instantly recognizable with his bowl-cut red hair and a fiery temper to match. His first appearance in the pages of Green Lantern comics was in 1968, but he didn’t find his footing as a hotheaded hero until many years later.

When Abin Sur crashed on Earth, his Green Lantern ring identified two possible successors: Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner. Originally, Jordan sought out Gardner as a potential back-up and the two struck up a friendship. In a revised New 52 origin, the two Lanterns met on the planet Oa and were assigned to protect the same sector. Gardner would go on to become a valued member of the Green Lantern Corps, although his stubborn attitude was often at odds with his trainer Kilowog and the rest of the Corps.

His overwhelming anger often proves to be his undoing, but Gardner has showed time and again that he is a loyal friend and hero worthy of the Green Lantern’s light.

Jessica Cruz

When DC Comics’ Rebirth continuity kicked off in 2016, Earth had two new Green Lanterns added to its ranks: Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz. Cruz seemed an unlikely choice for the Corps, suffering from debilitating PTSD and panic attacks after she saw her friends murdered by criminals. As her body was taken over by a fear-based power ring attracted to her crushing anxiety, she fought against its overpowering influence and eventually won. A Green Lantern ring was offered to Cruz for her formidable bravery.

Veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, recognizing the potential of both Cruz and Baz, fused their ring power batteries together to forge their partnership. Cruz continued to be challenged by her anxiety even as she fought alongside her fellow rookie against threats big and small. The two wary partners gradually overcame their differences and even became valuable members of the Justice League.

Cruz bears a glowing mark of the Green Lantern on her right eye.

Kilowog

The massively muscled Kilowog is a Bolovax member of the Green Lantern Corps and one of its most instrumental team players. He first appeared in 1986’s Green Lantern Corps #201 as the guardian of Sector 674 and quickly became known as the Corps’ rookie trainer. He taught new recruits how to master their power rings, often bellowing his nickname for all of them, “Poozer!”

Kilowog’s home planet of Bolovax Vik and its people were destroyed during the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The Lantern persevered, but their absence left a huge hole in his heart. His found family in the Green Lantern Corps meant more to him than ever afterward.

As a Bolovax, Kilowog has naturally superhuman levels of strength and durability. He was also a gifted scientist before he joined the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps.

Simon Baz

While Simon Baz made his first appearance as a cameo in another comic book, it was 2012’s Green Lantern #0 and its attention-grabbing cover that revealed his full story. The brash Baz was another seemingly unlikely candidate for the Green Lanterns, proving once again that bravery and willpower come in many forms. Baz was an automotive engineer before he lost his job and turned to illegal street racing and stealing cars. Taken into custody on a false terrorism charge, the Green Lantern ring selected him as he faced off against his violent interrogators.

The malfunctioning ring, seeking a new recruit after the disappearance of Hal Jordan, didn’t give Baz much guidance as a new Lantern. In time Baz was mentored by Green Lantern B’dg (and later Jordan). Baz would go on to join the Justice League with fellow Lantern rookie Jessica Cruz.

Unwilling to trust in his ring’s finite power, Baz carried a gun until Batman persuaded him to give it up and trust in himself. He’s also unique among the Lanterns with his ability to heal others’ injuries as well as see the future.

Sinestro

Thaal Sinestro was both one of the Green Lantern Corps’ biggest heroes and its worst enemies. His first appearance was in 1961’s Green Lantern #7.

A Green Lantern from the planet Korugar, Sinestro took Sector 1417 under his protection, but his harsh approach made him more of a tyrant than a guardian. While Sinestro was hailed for keeping his sector extraordinarily safe, Hal Jordan discovered he had conquered his own planet to do so. The Guardians learned the truth and Sinestro was banished from the Green Lantern Corps’ ranks.

Sinestro would go on to form the Sinestro Corps and the Yellow Lanterns, brandishing the yellow energy of fear. He and Hal Jordan remained bitter enemies and clashed time and time again. Whether he’ll be a trusted member of the Corps or already an enemy of the universe’s guardians in the upcoming television series remains to be seen, but Sinestro’s presence alone is intriguing.

But What About Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Kyle Rayner?

Of all the Green Lanterns HBO has revealed will be in the series, there are three very notable names missing. Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Kyle Rayner, usually the headliners in Green Lantern comics, are nowhere to be found. Will these three venerable heroes be a part of the story? Or does fate (and HBO Max) have something else in store for them?

Considering that we’re already seeing a strategy of Warner Bros. and HBO Max pairing their film and TV properties (The Batman is getting a Gotham PD series while The Suicide Squad will have a Peacekeeper show), don’t rule out a Green Lantern movie connecting to this series eventually!

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Kelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Her first book, Marvel Monsters, comes out in 2021 from DK Books.

At ExpoCine 2020, Sony Pictures has allegedly said that we will get our first look at Spider-Man: Far From Home’s sequel in December 2020.

As reported by Murphy’s Multiverse, Camila Pacheco, the executive marketing director of Sony Pictures Entertainment in Brazil, told “attendees that the film had already started production and that we would get our first look at the film this December 2020.”

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Pacheco, who was said to also be wearing a Spider-Man shirt for this event, “alternated between the words preview and teaser trailer when discussing the project,” and she also confirmed that Spider-Man 3’s December 17, 2021 release date is still what the studio is planning for.

There have been many reports coming in recently regarding Spider-Man 3, including that Jamie Foxx’s Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe with this upcoming film. It is unclear if he will be playing the same character or a different variation, but Foxx did mention in a now deleted Instagram post that he “won’t be blue in this one.”

Additionally, another report says that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will also be joining the cast of Spider-Man 3 and will take on a “mentor role” for Holland’s Spider-Man.

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For more on Spider-Man 3, read out take on whether or not Doctor Strange joining Spider-Man 3 means the MCU could be adapting a controversial Marvel Comics story and if he and Jamie Foxx’s Electro will bring the Spider-Verse to this new movie.

IGN has reached out to Sony Pictures for a comment but has not heard back as of this writing.

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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

It’s a good weekend to be a tech enthusiast, as tons of great TVs, Headphones and other tech is on sale. If you’re looking for a nice new TCL 4K UHD TV, or a pair of Sony Wireless Headphones, or something else you might not realize you need, then take a look below at the best offerings on sale this weekend.

Deals for October 17

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While Destiny 2 will be able to take advantage of faster load times and cross-generation play when Xbox Series X/S and PS5 are released on November 10 and November 12, respectively, the next-gen optimized versions will not be ready until December 8, 2020.

Bungie detailed all the features owners of these new systems can expect on December 8, including 4K for PS5 and Xbox Series X (1080p on Xbox Series S), 60FPS framerate, and a field of view slider. It was also reiterated that the next-gen upgrade for all consoles will be free.

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Bungie has also noted that this is the first time it is offering Field of View customization on consoles, and the goal is to enable a FOV range similar to that on PC. Also, while loading the game and inspecting character inventory will be much quicker, “some load times are dependent on networking and matchmaking. So, loading activities still takes time while you search for opponents.”

Additionally, Xbox Series X/S players will only be able to play with Xbox One players, while PS5 players will only be able to play with PS4 players.

Destiny 2’s latest expansion, Beyond Light, will be released on November 10, and is the first chapter in a new trilogy of expansion for Destiny 2 that will also include 2021’s The Witch Queen and 2022’s Lightfall.

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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Fans were able to vote on the next lightsaber they’d like to see made available for purchase at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and Cal Kestis’ from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has been chosen as the winner.

Cal’s lightsaber won with 40.79% of the votes, beating out Qui-Gon Jinn (19.56%), Anakin Skywalker (12.37%), Lord Corvax (11.41%), Kanan Jarrus (9.85%), and Ezra Bridger (6.02%).

Cal’s lightsaber will be available later next year and will be the first lightsaber offered at Dok’s to have originated from a video game, and joins other classic sabers inspired by such iconic heroes and villains as Luke Skywalker, Rey, Darth Vader, and more.

While it may be a little while until you can purchase Cal’s lightsaber, Ahsoka Tano’s lightsabers from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Count Dooku’s curved handle will be available at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge this fall.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released in 2019 and, in our review, we said “It’s been ages since we got a great single-player Star Wars action game, but Jedi: Fallen Order makes up for a lot of lost time. A strong cast sells a dark story while keeping things fun and loyal to Star Wars lore, and fast, challenging combat mixes with energetic platforming, decent puzzles, and diverse locations to explore for an all-around amazing game.”

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For more on Star Wars, check out our review of Star Wars: Sqaudrons and a (brief) history of Star Wars games.

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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.