Layoffs have been expected all day today as news trickled out from AT&T of layoffs from the company’s WarnerMedia division. Around 600 staffers were expected to be let fo from the company including numerous high-ranking staffers. WarnerMedia became part of AT&T in 2018 and the changes are part of the company’s long-term plan to be more direct to consumers. Reducing costs, including staff, has been a part of AT&T’s strategy since they bought Time Warner.
DC Comics and DC Universe have been impacted by the layoffs. The majority of the staff of DC Universe has been laid off as the entire service’s future has been in doubt since the launch of HBO Max and many of the service’s original programming has moved over to that digital service. DC Universe has recently stopped offering yearly subscriptions switching to only monthly a sign the service may be winding down.
At DC, editor-in-chief Bob Harris, senior VP of publishing strategy and support services Hank Kanalz, VP of marketing and creative services Jonah Weiland, VP global publishing initiatives and digital strategy Bobbie Chase, senior story editor Brian Cunningham, and executive editor Mark Doyle, who oversaw the rollout of the Black Label graphic novels have all lost their positions. Editor Andy Khouri has also been mentioned by some as having also been let go. Jim Lee will remain as CCO but also be more focused as a liason between the comic publisher and other divisions.
Around one third of DC’s editorial staff have been laid off according to reports.
DC Direct, the company’s in-house collectibles division, has been shut down after 22 years. Its existence was in question with recent deals with McFarlane Toys and other collectible manufacturers who have a greater footprint in markets like big-box retailers.
AT&T, and WarnerMedia’s, focus has been going more direct to consumers in recent years either through AT&T’s services or through new ventures like HBO Max. It’s clear DC is taking that focus as well with its expansion of its original digital comics in the DC Digital First initiative. By building up its digital offerings the publisher will become less reliant on the comic direct market and allow the publisher to build its own community to directly engage.
DC press has not released an official comment as to the changes. We’ll have more updates as more news is released.
The first season of Stargirl wraps up in “Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E.” part two that has the Justice Society taking on the Injustice Society in hopes of thwarting their plan. The opening of the episode is pretty solid with some nice sci-fi aspects as the plan is put into motion and we see its impact on the people around town. We also get some fun teasers for comic fans in the form of movie posters around the theater.
From there, the episode shifts into battle mode. It’s a knock out drag out fight that has the two teams battle. And it’s a hell of a battle with some solid action and the reveal of Solomon Grundy. There’s also some shocking twists that keeps viewers on their toes. There’s some truly unexpected moments which is impressive for a show like this.
And surprises, there’s a lot of them. There’s surprises including who lives and who dies and who does the killing. There’s some moral debate in the episode which makes certain moments quite shocking.
But the episode’s most interesting aspect is how it makes the villains somewhat sympathetic. Grundy is treated more like an animal unleashed. Icicle’s motives make sense and he there’s a case to be made about his actions and reasoning.
But what’s fascinating about the episode is… the body count of the series. Bad guys. Students. The series has quite a number of dead. But there’s always an explanation. And the finale kind of winks and nods at the silliness of such a major event just being explained away by the rest of the country.
It’s a cute finale with a final five minutes that’ll put a smile on your face in a Disney-ish sort of way. The finale also sets up a very intriguing second season.
And that kicker!
Stargirl’s first season finale is exactly what one would expect. It’s full of sacharine moments and a sweet innocence that has filled up and been a hallmark of the series. It’s one that, despite the body count, is full of positive energy and a demeanor that makes it a live action superhero series that can be enjoy by the whole family.
We’re already counting down for the second season of Stargirl and hopefully, it delivers the positive entertaining hour the first season pumped out with every episode. A fantastic finale for a hell of a debut season. A crown jewel in DC’s live-action offerings.
Stargirl‘s first season begins to wrap up in the first of a two-part season finale. The Injustice Society is on the trail of Courtney, Pat and the team regroup to figure out their next steps. Meanwhile, Rick makes a breakthrough, and the team prepares for a showdown with the ISA.
The episode opens up with a bit more as to the plan of the ISA. It not only involves taking over the mind of a large chunk of the country but also build a country of their own. The picture is much clearer as the plan had been mentioned a lot but never what the real goal was. We knew the ISA wanted to make these folks see their views but for what purpose? It makes much more sense now until later in the episode.
The episode has the family scrambling as to what to do about the ISA hunting them and sort of addresses the fact that Pat’s son Mike doesn’t know what’s going on.
But, the action picks up quickly as Sportsmaster and Tigress are on the hunt to take out Pat, Courtney, and the family. It’s interesting and a bit mixed as far as a story goes. There’s some solid humor between Pat and Sportsmaster but why send only one villain to take them on? There’s a whole ISA to choose from and they don’t commit the resources they have. It’s a little frustrating but we get to see when the backup ISA is called in to help Tigress and Sportsmaster. Maybe that’s why they seem to go solo so often?
But, what the sequence really does is give a chance for Barbara to see Courtney in action and Mike to find out the truth about his father. It’s a nice natural way for both things to happen and gives that “wow” discovery aspect to both. It reminds us the viewer as to how special and awesome they are.
But all of that really is to get to that predictable moment of the story when both sides rally their sides and prepare for a final battle.
But, what’s really interesting is the last 5 or so minutes when exactly what the ISA wants to do with their nation is revealed. And… it might be good? Renewable energy. Universal healthcare. Eliminating racism and discrimination. But, there’s a catch, of course, there’s going to be a lot of dead bodies lying in the wake of the plan. It’s an interesting twist as to what the evil folks want and makes them not totally bad? The ISA wants to create paradise it sounds like but doing so in a beyond evil way.
Will they succeed? We’ll have to find out as Stargirl has just one more episode to go before the first season wraps up!
Who is Justin, the mysterious janitor? Stargirl dives into that with an opening dedicated to the character. For fans of the comic series, you know where things are going but the television show has done a solid job of keeping things up in the air.
That’s not the only mystery of the episode as Courtney’s real father arrives. It’s all a little dramatic and feels a little out of nowhere but it flows nicely and leads to some solid family dynamics.
The segment is good as it finally answers the question as to who Courtney’s real father is. It closes that plot point but it also puts the family back in the center of the episode. The moments involving Courtney, Pat, Barbara, and Mike are really important and is a reminder that at the center of the show is this family. It focuses on their relationships and ties nicely into recent issues with all of them. It also throws into question Courtney’s role as Stargirl, shifting from legacy to something better.
The episode really gets interesting when Brainwave and Icicle discuss what to do about Stargirl. Icicle actually shows some hesitation in just killing Courtney, and keep in mind this is a series that has been at ease killing kids. It adds a bit to Icicle beyond the cold killer and makes Brainwave a bit colder as well (though, he did kill his own kid).
There is a little silliness in the episode. How Henry’s death is handled by the school feels… off. Then again, this is the third kid who’s died in the school and no one seems to be questioning that at all.
As Stargirl heads to the end of the first season, the episode is solid as it refocuses the series a bit. Each episode up to this point has felt like it revolved around some action sequence or fight. This episode instead gets it back to basics of the family at the heart of the show. It also makes Courtney an even better character by making it really about her as Stargirl not her legacy as Starman’s daughter. Just like she realizes, she’s was chosen for more reasons than who she thought her father was. She has qualities to be a hero, more than her enthusiasm. This is the episode that puts that front and center.
The opening of Stargirl might as well be called “How Pat met Barbara.” We get to see how the two met, a mystery of the show so far. It’s a cute story playing off of the saccharine nature of the show so far. It’s also somewhat important with Pat’s history with Courtney’s possible father, the previous Starman. There have been some things hovering that are a little creepy when you think about it.
We saw the end of the previous episode where Barbara came upon Pat and Courtney and the staff, stumbling upon the truth. The beginning of the episode focuses on that and does so in a solid way. The unexpected story twist allows Amy Smart to be in the spotlight. She’s been one of the actors who’s been in the background a bit and now we get to see her do a bit more in the series with this direction and reveal.
And the show from there shifts things with Brainwave and Brainwave Jr. picking up on the previous episode’s other surprise twist. The series does a solid job of highlighting similar trauma and experiences in characters and how impacts them. In this case, even though they’re evil, the moment with the Brainwave’s is touching. We learn why they moved to this town. It’s actually an interesting moment and with what’s revealed there, a fascinating direction for the series, sadly it doesn’t go too far but it plays very nicely into the episode’s final moments.
The episode really focuses on family in different ways and part of that is Courtney and the new JSA. Courtney embraces Henry’s new found goodness and you can imagine how well that goes over with the rest of the team. It creates some nice friction as well that really comes together at the end like much of the episode’s moments. Courtney is focused on what she needs to do and that means getting her staff back and freeing Brainwave from the Injustice Society. All of that leads to a showdown and battle that’s a bit of a mixed bag.
Generally, the series has had some decent battles and action but there’s something a bit “Disney” about this particular sequence. The fighting feels a bit held back and there are some moments that feel like they’d fit perfectly in a Disney family-horror film mixed with a bit of The Goonies. It’s not bad and the tone is consistent and works for the intended audience of tweens.
And that interesting tone and direction really comes together in the episode’s final moments. While it’s predictable, with a bit too much Star Wars thrown in, it’s a solid and fascinating episode.
Stargirl is a series that does some predictable things but also just does things really well. It hits the schmaltz when it needs to. It delivers the moments we expect but it still resonates. “Brainwave Jr.” continues a series that knows what it is and what it wants to be. This is an episode whose various moments come together in the end really well. While much of it is predictable it’s a nice example of seeding things along for an emotional finale that really creates an impact.
Stargirl has been doing a solid job of balancing the backstory of the villains while also keeping things in the present as the new JSA forms. “Brainwave” opens up, not surprisingly, with Brainwave and his origin. But more importantly, his son Henry discovering the truth of it all.
What’s really interesting is where the episode immediately pivots and that’s Courtney not just feeling sorry for Henry but wanting to recruit him to help with the JSA. But, we also get some awesome history about Pat and the Seven Soldiers of Victory, a team before the JSA. And we also find out they’re still alive, maybe, Pat lost touch with them.
The series really does a fantastic job fleshing out the various characters giving us a lot of insight into both the good and the bad. Cindy is “off studying” but really locked up in a dungeon. The situation is beyond messed up and we’re reminded how evil Cindy really is. Time’s also spent watching Henry training and learning how to use his power. But what’s nice is we see Henry’s growth and why he goes in the direction he does.
Stargirl “Brainwave” is full of really good moments like Yolanda confronting Henry, a dinner at Courtney’s, and what’s discovered through it. But it’s the last few minutes of the series that makes the episode and really shakes things up.
“Brainwave” is an interesting episode in that it features some really solid moments but nothing standing out. It’s still a really entertaining episode and comes together nicely at the end of the hour with some twists and turns. It plays with expectations, as the series has, and is able to deliver things that are unexpected. It’s not an “oh my god episode,” it’s just a very good episode of a very good series.
Stargirl is being renewed for a second season, with a twist! The series will be showing exclusively “in-season” at The CW and on The CW’s digital platforms. The series had been debuting on DC Universe then airing the next day on The CW.
While DC Universe doesn’t release viewership numbers, the show has done well on The CW for a summer series. It has averaged a 0.2 rating in adults 18-49 and a little over 1 million viewers per episode. That’s about what other DC shows on The CW does. With Live+3, the show goes to 0.4 and 1.5 million viewers.
The move again raises questions as to the future of the DC Universe app. Doom Patrol has moved from DC Universe to also be available on HBO Max. Swamp Thing which aired on DC Universe will eventually come to The CW. The Harley Quinn animated series also will be available on HBO Max soon as well. HBO Max has its own slate of DC-based shows coming to its platform passing the DC Universe platform entirely.
Courtney is injured after her encounter with Cindy, aka Shiv. So what’s a father to do? Lie through his teeth to keep her identity a secret. It’s a loving moment, if not a bit twisted, and really shows that Pat and Courtney’s relationship has come a long way. It has him not just lying to authorities but also to his wife, Courtney’s mother. It’s a hell of a start to Stargirl‘s eighth episode, “Shiv, Part Two.”
Further scenes are really interesting concerning Pat and his relationship with Stargirl/Courtney. There’s a really touching scene as he talks to the staff laying out where he stands with things and where his head’s at. It’s a dual role in many ways not just a sidekick/mentor watching out for his ward but that of a father watching out for his daughter.
Cindy also now knows the identity of Stargirl, upping the danger for her and her family. It also leaves her dad pissed because she didn’t finish the job and Stargirl is still alive. That’s a factor and direction I didn’t expect the series to go in this year and I thought it’d be something we’d see in a second season.
The episode is an interesting one with Pat teaming up with Beth to try to find out more about Cindy and a completely unexpected confrontation between Cindy and Courtney. The latter half of the episode is where things really pick up adding some interesting and delivering action. It’s an episode that’s hard to describe without spoiling it. What happens feels like something we shouldn’t be seeing yet and the reveals and twists and turns are the things of really solid cliffhangers.
Stargirl continues to be a series that mixes humor, action, heart, and drama. It also defies expectations each and every episode. This is a show that feels like it’s breaking the established rules of superhero television and it’s a series that’s a must-watch each and every week.
The episode kicks off with hints as to what being the JSA means to its members. You can see the changes in each person as they begin to fall into their new life.
What immediately stands out is Beth not making her parents lunch and being distracted by her now powers and role. Her parents seem lost due to it. Out of all of the characters so far, Beth seems to be the one that really has changed the most as opposed to their powers just enhancing who they are.
The episode is an interesting one revolving more around the high school and not just the new JSA but their future rivals. The children of the villains take the spotlight such as Cindy and Henry.
We get a bit more about Cindy as Courtney parnters up with her for chemistry class and a school dance looms. Cindy is an interesting character as she begins to have a rough go of school. Her Queen Bee routine begins to falter as she’s rejected by those around her. We also get to see more of her home life and some of what her growing up was like.
Cindy when she gets home, the relationship between her and her stepmother is one that’s beyond abusive and shows a home that’s broken. Any ounce of sympathy for Cindy should quickly go away after the segment with her mother.
But, what’s interesting is that out of all of the future villains, Cindy is the one that’s aware of her father’s role. She goes into his lair in defiance of her stepmother and when confronted by… something (Grundy?) it doesn’t phase her at all. What we learn is very intriguing not just with her mother but her in general. She’s very different from the rest of the future villains as she’s fully in on the situation and wants to join the Injustice Society. It’s a bit different than where I was expecting the show to go.
While the villains get organized, the Justice Society of America needs to get organized as well. We get something of a training montage as Pat runs down the villains we’ve met so far. The team isn’t one quite yet and the series gives us some interesting interactions. Courtney, who is a vet compared to the rest, is a bit headstrong.
But the point of it is to compare Courtney and Cindy. Their pairing during chemistry is for a reason. How Pat treats Courtney is being mirrored by that of Dragon King and Cindy.
There’s a bit of some eye-rolling in the episode. While a lot of it feels fresh and interesting some of it to is predictable like the “future villain” liking the person he doesn’t know is a hero. Cameron asks Courtney to the dance and it feels a bit cliche but even with that, the episode still surprises.
It ends with a fight between Stargirl and… we’ll leave that one to the viewers. It’s a bit surprising as it’s something that’s expected but it’s something that’s expected for a future season, not the first. The show does a solid job of keeping viewers on their toes, just like it does with Janitor Justin who fans of the comic will know about. The episode delivers just enough excitement as far as this mysterious character to get viewers excited to come back for more.
Another solid episode that plays with tropes and expectations and delivers a hell of a lot of fun.
Daily Planet intern Clark Kent takes learning-on-the-job to new extremes when Lobo and Parasite set their sights on Metropolis in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Movies. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the feature-length animated film will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital starting August 23, 2020, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on September 8, 2020.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow will be available on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (USA $39.99 SRP; Canada $44.98 SRP) and Blu-ray Combo Pack (USA $24.98 SRP; Canada $29.98 SRP) as well as on Digital. The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc featuring the film in hi-definition, and a digital version of the movie. The Blu-ray Combo Pack features a Blu-ray disc with the film in hi-definition, a DVD with the film in standard definition, and a digital version of the movie.
It’s the dawn of a new age of heroes, and Metropolis has just met its first. But as Daily Planet intern Clark Kent – working alongside reporter Lois Lane – secretly wields his alien powers of flight, super-strength and x-ray vision in the battle for good, there’s even greater trouble on the horizon. Follow the budding hero as he engages in bloody battles with intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo and fights for his life to halt the attack of power-hungry alien Parasite. The world will learn about Superman … but first, Superman must save the world!
Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Darren Criss (Glee, American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) and Emmy nominee Zachary Quinto (Star Trek franchise, Heroes) lead a star-studded cast as the voices of Superman/Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, respectively. The cast also includes Alexandra Daddario (San Andreas, Baywatch, All My Children) as Lois Lane, Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Parasite/Rudy Jones, Ryan Hurst (The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Remember the Titans) as Lobo, Ike Amadi (Mass Effect 3, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge) as Martian Manhunter, Neil Flynn (The Middle, Scrubs) as Jonathan Kent, Bellamy Young (Scandal, Prodigal Son) as Martha Kent, Cristina Milizia (DC Super Hero Girls) as Maya, Petey & Kaylie, Eugene Byrd (Bones, LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures) as Ron Troupe, April Stewart (South Park) as Mrs. Ross, and Piotr Michael (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle) as Perry White, as well as Cissy Jones (Firewatch) and David Chen (Gotham).
Superman: Man of Tomorrow introduces a new producing vision to the DC Universe Movies series, which now numbers 41 films over its 13 years of existence. Supervising Producer Butch Lukic has a rich pedigree in DC animated productions, serving as producer on Constantine: City of Demons, Justice League Action and the Batman Unlimited franchise, as well as directing episodes of Justice League, Batman Beyond and Beware the Batman. Lukic brings a new visual aesthetic to Superman: Man of Tomorrow that departs from the animation styles – of previous producers Bruce Timm (23 films) and James Tucker (17 films) – thus far represented in the DC Universe Movies.
Chris Palmer (Voltron: Legendary Defender) is the director of Superman: Man of Tomorrow, utilizing a script by Tim Sheridan (The Death of Superman). Producers are Jim Krieg (Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) and Kimberly S. Moreau (Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Executive Producer is Sam Register.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow Special Features
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital
Lobo: Natural Force of Chaos(New Featurette) – He’s the rude, crude, galactic bounty hunter who has been more than a thorn in the side of DC’s greatest heroes. This is a full throttle look at Lobo.
Martian Manhunter:Lost and Found (New Featurette) – This is the personal journey of J’onn J’onzz. A stranger in a strange land who emerges from the shadows as a force for peace and justice.
Look Back: Justice League vs. The Fatal Five (Featurette) – The Earth’s future hangs in the balance when the Justice League faces a powerful new threat – the Fatal Five. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman seek answers as the time-traveling trio of Mano, Persuader and Tharok terrorize Metropolis in search of budding Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz – whom they need to be able to free remaining Fatal Five members Emerald Empress and Validus in order to carry out their sinister plan. But the Justice League discover an ally from another time in the peculiar Star Boy – brimming with volatile power, could he be the key to thwarting the Fatal Five? An epic battle against ultimate evil awaits!
Look Back: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (Featurette) – Based on the popular Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuinness comic series/graphic novel, the film finds United States President Lex Luthor using the oncoming trajectory of a Kryptonite asteroid to frame Superman and declare a $1 billion bounty on the heads of the Man of Steel and his “partner in crime,” Batman. Heroes and villains alike launch a relentless pursuit of Superman and Batman, who must unite – and recruit help – to stave off the action-packed onslaught, stop the asteroid, and uncover Luthor’s devious plot to take command of far more than North America.
From the DC Vault: Superman: The Animated Series, “The Main Man, Part I”
From the DC Vault: Superman: The Animated Series, “The Main Man, Part II”
Movie trailers:
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge
Superman: Red Son
A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie– An advanced look at the next animated film in the popular DC UniverseMovies collection.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.
