io9: Kick-ass

Nic Cage, God of Acting

Charlie Jane Anders — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:12:11 PST

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance comes out this weekend — which means we have a chance to pay tribute to one of the all-time great cult-movie method actors. Nicolas Cage has gone from serious Academy Award-winning actor to bee-eating B-movie wizard. More »

Will a surprising villain appear in The Hobbit?

Kelly Faircloth — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:00:00 PST

The Hobbit?" alt="Click here to read Will a surprising villain appear in The Hobbit?" src="http://cache.io9.com/assets/images/8/2012/01/small_d34b586349e52270c3e927e6550f45f4.jpg"/>

Besides playing Smaug in The Hobbit, Benedict Cumberbatch says he'll also voice another familiar villain. Plus Karen Gillan talks abpit leaving Doctor Who, J.J. Abrams explains Star Trek's 3D conversion, and Sam Neill hints at his Alcatraz role. More »

Greatest Random Out-of-Nowhere Deaths in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Charlie Jane Anders — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:00:00 PDT

The great thing about science fiction and fantasy is that they're full of surprises — you just never know what the universe will have in store. Like, sometimes, a totally random, surprising, shocking death. More »

In Wednesday's comics, Batman goes VR and kung fu fighters go nuts

Cyriaque Lamar — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:00:00 PDT

A big heaping dollop of high concept crazy is waiting for you at your neighborhood comic emporium. There are supernatural martial arts masters, a new issue of Kick-Ass 2, and a certifiable deluge of four-color crazy. Let's examine the goods. More »

The Original Kick-Ass

Charlie Jane Anders — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:43:19 PDT

Long before Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl, long before Super, there was Hero At Large, the original story of a regular guy who becomes a superhero. And gets his ass kicked massively. More »

Kick-Ass' wee murderess Hit Girl is getting her own miniseries

Cyriaque Lamar — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:15:00 PDT

Last year, the breakout star of Mark Millar's comic-series-turned-DIY-superhero flick was Hit Girl, a ten-year-old assassin dedicated to eviscerating crime. At London's Kapow! Comic Con this weekend, Millar announced that the heroine will be getting her own miniseries come September. More »

Real-life Seattle superhero Phoenix Jones thwarts carjacker

Cyriaque Lamar — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:30:00 PST

Phoenix Jones, the masked defender of downtown Seattle and member of the Rain City Superhero squad, deterred a carjacker in Lynnwood, Washington last Sunday. Check out Jones' thug-fighting bodysuit and his secret lair in a comic book shop. Updated. More »

Lessons that 2010 taught the entertainment industry

Charlie Jane Anders — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:27:53 PST

This was a year of hard lessons. Movie attendance and ticket sales fell. Television shows struggled and died. Book publishers faced an electronic future. And through it all, some great works of the imagination thrived. What did 2010 teach us? More »

Best and Worst Science Fiction/Fantasy Movies of 2010

Charlie Jane Anders — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:09:23 PST

This year's best movies played with genres in ways that changed their audiences' perceptions. Video-game movies, action movies, heist movies and superhero movies — they all had dazzling reinventions. Here are the 10 best and worst SF/fantasy movies of 2010. More »

8 Superhero Movies That Broke The Mold (Please Copy Them!)

Charlie Jane Anders — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 09:00:00 PST

Kick-Ass wasn't a box-office sensation, but it may have helped superhero films break out of their same old boring mold, the Guardian suggests. Here are eight other superhero films that Hollywood can study, which helped avoid the same old cliches. More »

This Wednesday, it's the return of Kick-Ass and Black Hole's Charles Burns!

Cyriaque Lamar — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:25:08 PDT

There's a lot of comics coming out this week, but the two standouts are Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s Kick-Ass 2 and cartoonist Charles Burns' Hergé-inspired headtrip, X'ed Out. More »

The weirdest, wrongest and sexiest new costumes for 2010

Charlie Jane Anders — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:30:00 PDT

Halloween is almost upon us, but you haven't had time to make a costume. What does the prefab costume industry have for you this year? Lots of superheroes, Predators, skanky robots... and Lady Gaga. Prepare to bleach your eyes. More »

Watch the utterly bad-ass trailer for Thailand's The Dark Knight

Meredith Woerner — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PDT

We're pretty enraptured with Thailand's hyperactive superhero trailer for Red Eagle, a reboot of a Thai action franchise from the 1950s-1970s. This foreign flick has the tension of The Dark Knight with the hyper-kinetic violence of Kick-Ass. More »

Brandon Routh won't return as Superman. Plus secrets of Caprica 1.5, and the Doctor's latest encounter with Sarah Jane

Alasdair Wilkins — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 06:00:00 PDT

New director Zack Snyder is already pretty sure there will be a new actor playing Superman. Sam Adama reveals what lies ahead on Caprica, and new trailers and hints reveal the Eleventh Doctor's awesome appearance on The Sarah Jane Adventures. More »

Super 8 rounds out its cast. Linda Hamilton talks Chuck. Plus news on the Frankenweenie and TimeCop remakes!

Alasdair Wilkins — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 06:00:00 PDT

J.J. Abrams' Super 8, X-Men: First Class and Tim Burton's full-length remake of Frankenweenie all gain castmembers. Linda Hamilton talks about her crucial role on Chuck. Discover the truth about the TimeCop remake! Plus Supernatural, Smallville and No Ordinary Family. More »

Hit-Girl explains her dream ride for Kick-Ass 2, plus Bruce Campbell wants to make The Expendables of horror!

Alasdair Wilkins — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Chloë Moretz will return as Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass 2, no matter how much taller she gets. See some photos her as a vampire in Let Me In. Plus spoilers for The Hunger Games, Fringe, Chuck, Supernatural, True Blood and more! More »

The Hunger Games movie has 3 possible directors, and Hit-Girl may play Katniss.

Charlie Jane Anders — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:00:00 PDT

Can the internal monologue-heavy first Hunger Games book become a decent movie? We're still not sure, but at least A-list people are getting involved — including Kick-Ass' Chloe Moretz — and everybody's calling it the possible next Twlight. More »

The Walking Dead gets a second season — but what about Caprica?

Alasdair Wilkins — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:00:00 PDT

The Walking Dead season two will be a full 13 episodes. (Update: It's just a rumor.) There's an update on whether Caprica might make a second season. Plus a Tron Legacy poster, True Blood hints and a Fringe promo. More »

Kick-Ass 2 has been greenlit, according to Mark Millar

Meredith Woerner — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:46:33 PDT

Even though comic book movie Kick-Ass didn't do so well in the theaters, the DVD sales were pretty good. So good, in fact, that the graphic novel's writer, Mark Millar, says the next movie has been greenlit. More »

August DVD releases, from Blipverts to comix documentaries

Marc Bernardin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:00:00 PDT

Have you been waiting forever for Max Headroom on DVD? Your dreams come true this month. We've got a rundown of noteworthy August DVD releases, from the very good to the, well, watch at your own risk (hello, Heroes!). More »

25 collectibles to covet at Comic-Con

Cyriaque Lamar — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:30:00 PDT

Comic-Con 2010 is chock full of limited edition toys, comics, and collectibles that are available in ridiculously small amounts. Here are 25 gee-whiz exclusives you may want to check out before they're pillaged by the fan horde. More »

Real-life superhero "The Viper" defends Tennessee town, told to take a hike by cops

Cyriaque Lamar — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 07:30:00 PDT

Columbia, Tennessee (a.k.a. "The Mule Capital of the World") has a new defender: The Viper, a 20-year-old masked man who patrols the town square carrying batons and ninja stars. Police aren't impressed, but hey, someone has to defend those mules. More »

Awesome Predators posters, Harry Potter set pics, X-Men casting rumor, The Crow update, and Doctor Who clips!

Charlie Jane Anders — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Get a better look at Predators' main characters. Will Kick-Ass join the X-Men? Find out where the Crow update takes place. Plus Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Smurfs, Splice, Heroes(!), Cowboys And Aliens, Real Steel, Last Airbender and Mission Impossible! More »

Kick Ass 2 To Debut In CLiNT, Mark Millar's Genteelly-Named Comic Mag

Cyriaque Lamar — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:08:04 PDT

Remember how Mark Millar was looking for comic scribes and artists for an upcoming project? Well, Millar's divulged its name - the comic magazine CLiNT - and Kick Ass 2 (starring the supervillain The Motherfucker) will debut in it. Charming. More »

Kick-Ass Loses Steam, The Losers Gets A Financial Ass-Kicking

Cyriaque Lamar — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:00:00 PDT

This ain't the weekend for comic-book movies. The Losers pulled in a paltry $9.6 million, and Kick-Ass garnered $9.5 million, a 52% drop from last weekend. The big winner? How To Train Your Dragon, with $15 million [L.A. Times]. More »

Impress Kick-Ass' Mark Millar And Win A New Job

Cyriaque Lamar — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Looking to break into the comic biz? Kick-Ass scribe Mark Millar is looking for one-page scifi comic stories to accompany his upcoming project. More »

Kick-Ass Deleted Scenes: Superhero Groupie Sex, Underage Violence, And Crazy Nic Cage

Meredith Woerner — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 PDT

Maybe if Kick-Ass kept in the Kick-Ass and Red Mist "groupie sex" scene, the film would have done a tad better at the box office? Find out what got left out, and how these teenage superheroes treat their greatest fans. More »

Dragons Kick Hit-Girl's Ass

Cyriaque Lamar — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:43:59 PDT

How to Train Your Dragon is tied with Kick-Ass for the #1 box office haul this weekend. Hey, with a name like Kick-Ass you won't see any confused parents dragging their tots to "that jazzy new superhero flick." [LA Times] More »

What Kind Of Unpowered Superhero Are You?

Cyriaque Lamar — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:11:15 PDT

With Kick-Ass in the theaters this weekend, you may be considering superheroics as a career yourself. But wait! What kind of superhero will you be - the neighborhood champion or the deodorant-eschewing, bloodthirsty lunatic? Find out now! More »

Important Easter Eggs To Look For While Watching Kick-Ass

Meredith Woerner — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:19:45 PDT

One thing we love about the bubble-gum slaughter epic Kick-Ass is the heaps of Easter Eggs and comic book references. We've made a list of the best moments, from jabs at The Dark Knight to subtle movie tie-ins. Spoilers ahead... More »

Kick-Ass Knows Superhero Fans Are Masochists

Charlie Jane Anders — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:00:00 PDT

The superheroes in Kick-Ass don't have super-powers or fantastical technology, but they're not regular people. They're psychopaths, severely damaged and mentally shredded. The same, Kick-Ass suggests, goes for the whole superhero genre and those who love it. Minor spoilers below. More »

Captain America's Love Interest Is Cast! Plus Green Lantern Set Pics, Iron Man 2 Posters And Tons Of Clips!

Charlie Jane Anders — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Green Lantern set pics include a mysterious structure. A British actor will play Captain America's girlfriend. There are clips from Doctor Who, Nightmare On Elm St., Lost and V. Awesome Iron Man Gwyneth/ScarJo posters. Plus Twilight, Kick-Ass and Star Trek. More »

McLovin Tells Us What'll Happen In Kick-Ass 2

Meredith Woerner — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:40:00 PDT

We sat down with Kick-Ass' Red Mist, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and talked blood masks, murder, and what's ahead in the sequel. Plus check out our exclusive behind-the-scenes Red Mist picture and a look at his limited-edition Kick-Ass shoes. Spoilers ahead... More »

Who's Playing Green Lantern's Daddy? Plus Your Clearest Look At The New Freddy

Charlie Jane Anders — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Discover who's playing Hal Jordan's dad, and your first look at Jackie Earle Haley's Freddy Krueger. Find out what the third Riddick film is called. Daleks help you understand electoral politics! Plus Kick-Ass, Resident Evil, Walking Dead and True Blood. More »

Hit-Girl Responds To The Outrage Against Her Teenage Ultra-Violence

Meredith Woerner — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Chloe Moretz's Kick-Ass character Hit-Girl has unleashed a flood of outrage from family groups, claiming the 11-year-old's mega-violent antics will encourage other children to follow in her footsteps. Moretz responds to the critics. Meanwhile, watch her in graphic new footage. More »

New Pics From Inception, Airbender And Iron Man 2. Plus A Possible Avengers Easter Egg And A Warehouse 13 Trailer!

Charlie Jane Anders — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Monday is for spoilers! Delve into photos from Inception, Iron Man 2, Last Airbender and Doctor Who. Investigate an Avengers logo. Learn how Transformers 3 will be different. Watch hair-raising Warehouse 13, Fringe and Supernatural videos. Plus heavy-duty Lost spoilers! More »

Hear The Big Daddy/Hit Girl Sing-Along That Was Cut From Kick-Ass

Meredith Woerner — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:30:00 PDT

We're already reeling from Nic Cage's Adam West impersonation in Kick-Ass. But when his movie daughter/superhero Chloe Moretz, aka Hit-Girl, told us Cage sang in one deleted scene, we couldn't believe it. Until she sang it for us. More »

Watch Nic Cage Kill Absolutely Everyone In New Kick-Ass Clip

Meredith Woerner — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:30:00 PDT

Nic Cage is lethal, devastating magic with his shotgun, knife and karate hands. See him murder a whole gang full of mobsters, in this exceedingly violent Kick-Ass clip. This is the real-life superhero violence we crave. More »

Autobots Going To Gotham City? Plus New Iron Man/Kick-Ass Posters And Revealing Doctor Who Pics!

Charlie Jane Anders — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Michael Bay plans to film Transformers 3 on the Chicago street that represents Gotham City. There are new images/posters for Iron Man 2, Doctor Who and Kick-Ass. Syfy talks Being Human remake plans, and Grahame-Smith talks the Abraham Lincoln movie. More »