Tuesday, December 20, 2022

How the Justice League Celebrates Christmas – With or Without Batman

 


I revisit the honest Christmas special this year -- the DCAU Justice League episode "Comfort and Joy." And there's a fun tie-in issue that works as a sequel, as well.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Image Comics' Masters of the Universe Reboot Was No Cartoon


 

At CBR this week, I revisit the second Masters of the Universe miniseries from the Image era of '80s cartoon reboots (and Mattel's first relaunch of the toyline). If you have any suggestions of other '80s reboots of the era, let me know...

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

The One Issue That Changed X-Men Stories Forever

 


At CBR this week, I look back at  how a last-minute story change inadvertently altered how readers perceived the most important X-Man forever...

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Superman Reborn: Christopher Reeve's Cancelled Return to Superman

 


Superman IV may have been a critical flop, but Christopher Reeve nearly made a big return as the Man of Steel on film. I examine the leaked script today at CBR.


Friday, November 4, 2022

The Saturday Evening Post Presents That '90s X-Men Guy

 


This would happen to be the big news I mentioned earlier...the illustrious Saturday Evening Post is running my piece "The Family-Friendly Radio Edit" as a part of its New Fiction Friday series. Check it out at this link and please pass it along...and of course let me know what you think!

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

When Doomsday Hit Justice League Unlimited

 


At CBR this week, I'm revisiting Doomsday's memorable role in the Justice League Unlimited "Cadmus" arc...and that time Mike Parobeck rendered him in an oft-overlooked DC publication.

Monday, October 24, 2022

TEMPTATION - A Free Short Story from Gene Kendall

 


Let's see if this works...I have a decent amount of new projects scheduled in coming months (and one big announcement in just a few days.) My mailing list is where I'll keep everyone updated, and give away freebies to thank you for signing up. So, click on this link to join the mailing list and receive a free short story that's appropriate for this Halloween season.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

The Retro-Cool '00s Fan Service of G. I. Joe vs. the Transformers

 


Hasbro's G. I. Joe and Transformers properties were destined to crossover, but could the story match fan expectations? I look at the first of these (many, many) 2000s crossovers today at CBR.

Monday, October 3, 2022

The Nixed Anime-Influenced Revamp of X-Men: the Animated Series

 


This week at CBR, I look at what that final-season revamp of  X-Men: the Animated Series could've looked like...and why early word of a Joe Mad influence wasn't just a rumor.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

The Many Lost (And One NSFW) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures


I revisit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures for the first time at CBR...sort of. It's a look at the various lost comics from the book, including an (ahem) adults-only version produced in-house at Mirage. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

The G .I. Joe Revival That Was Very '80s And Very Y2K

 


A small studio revived Hasbro's G .I. Joe series in the new millennium while never forgetting what made it one of the greatest hits of the '80s. I revisit at CBR this week...

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Fox's Iron Man Could've Launched a 1990s MCU

 


This week at CBR, I revisit the days when Fox felt they had too many of those superhero movies in the works. It's the Tom Cruise Iron Man that could've been -- and it's good!

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

War is Over, Cybertron (If You Want It)



This week at CBR, I continue my retrospective on Dreamwave's Transformers reboot from the 2000s. Is this possibly fan service done right? 

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

The Marvel & Archie Stars Cut From Tim Burton's Batman

 


This week at CBR, I examine Sam Hamm's history with 1989's BATMAN, including the two homages to Marvel and Archie cut from the script. 

Monday, July 11, 2022

Monday, July 4, 2022

Monday, June 27, 2022

Who is the Hidden Villain in the Batman: Arkham Asylum Graphic Novel?

 


Grant Morrison & Dave McKean's classic Arkham Asylum graphic novel introduced a new villain, but readers will have difficulty finding them. I examine this obscurity this week at CBR.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Why MTV Had To Cheat The Maxx’s Ending


MTV's cult adaptation of Sam Kieth's comic The Maxx had to wrap up its story long before the comic reached its end, resulting in an odd ending. I revisit the final episode this week at CBR.

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Did Spider-Man Lose His Virginity In Stan Lee's Film Pitch?

 


I'm revisiting Stan Lee's 1990 attempt to pitch a Spider-Man movie at CBR this week, which does indeed feature the deflowering of one Peter Benjamin Parker. And I feel vindicated now, guessing all those years ago, that the Stan Lee/Peter David story in the Ultimate Spider-Man anthology was in fact an adaptation of this treatment.

Monday, May 30, 2022

What Happened to Dreamwave's TMNT Reboot?

 


Transformers publisher Dreamwave hired a fan-favorite writer to reintroduce the Turtles…and there was one odd caveat. I continue my look at these early 2000s revivals of the 1980s this week at CBR.

Monday, May 23, 2022

How Batman Beyond Paved the Way for an Animated Justice League

 


Superman's legendary first team-up with Batman Beyond was a landmark moment for the show and character, but not so much in the tie-in comic. I look at both this week at CBR.

Monday, May 16, 2022

The Lost Scenes in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy

 


I revisit twenty years of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy this week, specifically the number of scenes that remain on the cutting room floor (including a 2002 appearance from Eddie Brock and Kirsten Dunst dancing in her underwear).


Saturday, May 7, 2022

BLIND CERULEAN - It's FREE (for the next few days...)



My genre-bending 80s inspired thriller BLIND CERULEAN is FREE at this link for the next few days! Check it out and let me know what you think (Amazon reviews are always a help...).

Monday, May 2, 2022

Chris Claremont's Shocking Choice in a Classic X-Men Love Triangle

 


The love triangle is now established lore, but when did Chris Claremont decide Wolverine and Jean Grey were a match made in heaven? I cover Claremont's views this week at CBR.

Monday, April 25, 2022

Iconic Animator Peter Chung Unveils Classic Ninja Turtles & Transformers Art

 


This week at CBR, I chronicle some of the valuable art Peter Chung is releasing from his lengthy animation career. Everything from April O'Neil's yellow jumpsuit to Optimus Prime's death to the Rugrats' design...even before Aeon Flux, Chung was a part of your youth.

Monday, April 18, 2022

Frank Miller's Early (And Raw) Attempt At Robocop 2

 


My CBR feature Page One Rewrite returns this week, looking at Frank Miller's earliest attempts at Robocop 2 (and here's come clickbait...I also reveal the comics legend who producers approached before Miller.)

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Friday, April 1, 2022

Top Cow's Battle of the Planets Ended With a Ridiculous Cliffhanger

 


Alex Ross and Top Cow united in 2003 to revive Battle of the Planets for the new millennium, but this week I examine why the story remains incomplete. And if you guys know of anyone else interested in these '80s revival comics of the early aughts, it never hurts to spread the links around...

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Friday, January 28, 2022

Before Zack Snyder, Before HBO...Sam Hamm's Watchmen

 


This week I look back at Sam Hamm's 1988 draft of a Watchmen film (even Alan Moore seemed...somewhat excited for it...)