The pop-culture merchandise company Middle of Beyond has released a new, officially licensed Mothra pool float. This massive inflatable float is designed to look like the iconic kaiju, "Queen of the Monsters," featuring her vibrant wing patterns and large blue eyes.

Key details include:

• Size: It measures nearly eight feet wide (94 inches).
• Price: $59.99.
• Availability: It is currently available for pre-order on the company's website.
• Shipping: It is expected to ship in late June 2024.

The article highlights the float as a perfect summer accessory for Godzilla and kaiju fans, celebrating Mothra as a benevolent protector who can now "protect your pool."

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The upcoming film Alien: Romulus is officially set in the timeline between the first two films, Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).

The story takes place during the 57-year period when Ellen Ripley was in hypersleep. It follows a new, younger cast of characters described as "space colonizers" who are scavenging a derelict space station. Inevitably, they encounter the deadly Xenomorphs and must fight for their lives.

Key takeaways from the article include:

• Standalone Story: The film is a self-contained story that doesn't require knowledge of the prequels (Prometheus and Covenant) and features an entirely new cast.
• Return to Roots: Directed by Fede Álvarez (known for horror films like Don't Breathe and Evil Dead), the film aims to blend the claustrophobic, tense horror of the original Alien with the action-oriented elements of Aliens.
• Classic "Haunted House in Space": By focusing on a new crew in a confined setting, the film returns to the core concept of the original movie, moving away from the grander mythology of the prequels.
• Practical Effects: The director's preference for practical effects suggests a gritty, tangible feel similar to the early films in the franchise.

Visit https://nerdist.com/article/alien-earth-trailer-confirms-place-in-franchise-timeline/ to read or listen to the article.

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The article announces a special edition vinyl release of John Williams' score for Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith from the collectible company Mondo, in partnership with Mutant.

Key details from the summary include:

• The Product: A 2xLP vinyl pressing of the complete motion picture soundtrack.
• The Artwork: The release features all-new, striking artwork by artist Pye Parr.
• The Vinyl: It is pressed on a unique "Sith Probe Droid" colorway, which is black with red and yellow splatter.
• The Score's Importance: The article praises the score as a dark, tragic, and operatic masterpiece that perfectly captures the film's pivotal moments, such as Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side. It specifically highlights iconic tracks like "Battle of the Heroes" and "Anakin's Betrayal."
• Availability: The vinyl was set to go on sale on Wednesday, April 26, via Mondo's Record Shop.

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AMC Theatres plans to increase the number of commercials and ads shown before its movies begin. The change was announced by AMC CEO Adam Aron during a recent earnings call.

Here are the key points:

• The Goal is More Revenue: The primary reason for this change is to increase the company's revenue.
• Comparison to Europe: Aron justified the decision by pointing out that European cinemas often run 30-40 minutes of ads, suggesting that AMC—with its current 15-20 minute pre-show—has room for growth.
• A "Thoughtful" Increase: The increase will not be drastic. Aron stated they will be "thoughtful" and add just "a few more minutes" of commercials to the existing pre-show.
• Placement of Ads: These new commercials will be added to the pre-show block (like the "Noovie" segment) and will run before the movie trailers start.

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The new trailer for Wicked Part Two sets the stage for a dramatic and epic conflict, pitting former friends Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) against each other in an all-out war for the future of Oz.

The summary highlights these key points from the trailer:

• Elphaba's Rise: No longer hiding, Elphaba has embraced her power and her public image as the "Wicked Witch of the West." She is now a revolutionary leader, commanding an army of flying monkeys to fight the Wizard's tyrannical rule.
• Glinda's Conflict: Glinda is trapped by her public persona and is being manipulated by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) to hunt down her former friend. The trailer emphasizes her inner turmoil as she is forced to choose between her duty and her loyalty to Elphaba.
• Major Reveals: The trailer provides the first look at the transformations of Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) into the Scarecrow and Boq (Ethan Slater) into the Tin Man, revealing the origins of these iconic characters.
• Epic Confrontation: The overall tone is darker and more action-packed than the first film, building towards the final, tragic confrontation that will solidify the legacies of both witches "for good."

The film is set to be released on November 26, 2024.

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Dark Horse Comics is releasing a new boxed set for Avatar: The Last Airbender fans called the Fire and Family Treasury Boxed Set. This collection focuses on the story of the Fire Nation's royal family after the events of the original animated series.

The set includes three key graphic novels, presented in a deluxe, oversized treasury edition format with a collectible slipcase:

• The Search: Follows Zuko and Azula as they search for their long-lost mother, Ursa.
• The Rift: Explores Zuko's difficult relationship with the past and his father.
• Smoke and Shadow: Details Zuko's challenges as the new Fire Lord and Azula's continued schemes.

All three stories were written by Gene Luen Yang with art by the celebrated studio Gurihiru. The boxed set is scheduled for release on September 24, 2024, in bookstores and September 25, 2024, in comic shops, and will be priced at $39.99.

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The article from Nerdist looks forward to the comic series The New History of the DC Universe, which aims to create a single, definitive timeline for DC's notoriously complex and contradictory continuity. The author hopes this new history will finally provide clear answers to several long-standing questions and resolve inconsistencies created by numerous reboots.

The main questions the article hopes will be answered are:

• The Golden Age Trinity: How will the original 1940s versions of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman be integrated into the timeline? Will they be treated as the same characters as their modern counterparts or as separate historical figures from Earth-Two?
• Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes: Will the classic story of a young Clark Kent serving as Superboy with the 31st-century Legion of Super-Heroes be officially restored to the timeline, and if so, how?
• The Original Bat-Family: What is the official status of the pre-Crisis Batwoman (Kathy Kane) and Bat-Girl (Bette Kane)? Will they be formally written back into the main DC history?
• Wonder Woman's Origin: The series needs to settle on a single, definitive origin for Wonder Woman, resolving the conflict between her being sculpted from clay by her mother and her being the demigod daughter of Zeus.
• The Many Crises: How will the new history streamline and explain the cumulative effects of DC's multiple reality-altering events, such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, Flashpoint, and Doomsday Clock?
• "Lost" Characters: Will the full histories of characters and relationships erased by past reboots (like Wally West's original family and the Teen Titans' full timeline) be restored?
• Doctor Manhattan's Role: How will this official in-universe history incorporate the meta-narrative from Doomsday Clock that Watchmen's Doctor Manhattan was responsible for manipulating and rebooting the DC timeline?

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The article ranks the greatest DC Comics villains not just by power, but by their motivations, their iconic status, and how effectively they serve as a foil to their heroic counterparts.

The list is topped by The Joker (#1), who is described as the perfect antithesis to Batman—an agent of pure, unknowable chaos against Batman's rigid order. He is considered the ultimate arch-nemesis in all of fiction.

Following him is Lex Luthor (#2), Superman's greatest foe. Luthor represents humanity's jealousy, ego, and ambition, arguing that Superman's existence makes humanity complacent. He is a villain who often believes he is the hero.

The top three is rounded out by The Reverse-Flash (Eobard Thawne) (#3), who is defined by his deeply personal and obsessive hatred for The Flash. His actions, like murdering Barry Allen's mother, make him one of the most cruel and impactful villains.

The rest of the ranked list includes:

• #4. Two-Face: A tragic villain whose fall from grace as Harvey Dent represents the idea that anyone can be broken.
• #5. Darkseid: The god of pure evil and tyranny, whose goal of eliminating free will with the Anti-Life Equation makes him a threat to the entire universe.
• #6. Catwoman: A complex anti-hero who represents temptation and a moral gray area for Batman.
• #7. The Anti-Monitor: The ultimate "event" villain, a being of pure destruction responsible for the universe-altering Crisis on Infinite Earths.
• #8. Ra's al Ghul: An immortal eco-terrorist who is Batman's intellectual and physical equal, creating a global and personal threat.
• #9. Sinestro: A fallen hero and former Green Lantern who weaponizes fear, making him the perfect ideological opposite of Hal Jordan.
• #10. Brainiac: Superman's primary intellectual foe, a cold, cosmic collector of worlds who represents a galactic-level threat.

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