A special five story preview of Shawn Speakman’s epic fantasy anthology Unfettered will be released at Phoenix Comicon this Memorial Day weekend. This week, we’re taking a look at all five stories, many featuring new glimpses of our favorite fantasy worlds.

“The Sound of Broken Absolutes,” Peter Orullian’s contribution to Shawn Speakman’s fantasy anthology Unfettered, is a story inspired and informed by the loss of a loved one. This loss is not specifically Peter’s and it’s not specifically yours, but the unique—and eternally frustrating—hallmarks of mourning and grief are what propel it to its conclusion.

It’s a story that has been told many times before, but before you let that color your impression of “Broken Absolutes,” ask yourself: What would you write if you thought your friend was going to die?

[Read more]

DC Comics recently debuted a prequel comic for the new Superman movie Man of Steel, in theaters on June 14, which focuses on Krpytonian society and its efforts to explore the galaxy and better itself as a species. It also offers some overt and thematic hints about what we might ultimately see in Man of Steel.

[Man of Steel prequel comic]

Tor.com’s ongoing pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey-esque attempt to define Neil Gaiman and/or his work has read his most well-known epic, made a mixtape out of another, and looked at his habit of creating his own world inside of the worlds of others. Now, we look at his penchant for constant collaboration with other artists, writers, and musicians. Collaborations that more often than not end up further honing the author’s unique style.

They say that behind every great writer, is that writer’s bro. And by “bro,” we mean an artistic equal whose work brings new definition to yours and a friend who otherwise has your back. A bro can be any gender and the bonds between you can feel like they were always meant to be. Neil Gaiman has a lot of bromances, and though we love the man and his writing, where would he be without these seven essential bros?

[Read more]

Even before Game of Thrones first season debut, fans of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series have quietly wondered if the author could have the final two books out by the time the HBO television adaptation caught up with him. Recent statements from HBO producers at this past weekend’s BAFTA Awards reveal that there is now a defnite timeline they’re expecting the story finished by, leaving us to wonder... will Game of Thrones reveal the ending of the series before it’s actually ended?

[Read more]

“The Name of the Doctor” is not a good episode of television, but it is a fascinating episode of Doctor Who.

The season seven finale re-frames the Eleventh Doctor’s adventures from the last two seasons as a journey that has always been leading to this point, and although the plot is shakier than a game of bar Jenga “The Name of the Doctor” nevertheless pulls this off successfully. This is mostly due in part to show runner and episode writer Steven Moffat putting the Doctor and his companions in situations that challenge the truth of their characters, even when some of those characters are anything but.

[The name you choose is more important. Spoilers ahead!]

The most recent season of Doctor Who has been one hell of a rollercoaster, dramatic within and without. First it was split in two, then Clara showed up early, then Amy and Rory left, then news about the 50th anniversary started overshadowing the season, then the show’s producer abruptly quit, then the Tenth Doctor came back, then the Ninth Doctor didn’t, then the final episode leaked early....

The quality of the episodes themselves has been markedly variable, as reflected in our own reviews, and it’s getting harder and harder not to feel so down about the show. But Doctor Who is still the best damn sci-fi show on television, so before the season closes we thought we’d get back in the spirit and comment on our favorite Eleventh Doctor episodes from the Moffat era.

[Come along, honorary Ponds]

Regardless of whether you’re a casual summer blockbuster moviegoer or a long-time Star Trek fan, you’ll find that Star Trek Into Darkness pitches straight down the middle. You can jump into it not knowing anything about Trek and still fully enjoy the characters, environments, and story, although there are elements within that story that will resonate deeply with Trek fans.

But just because the gang’s all here doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s Star Trek.

[A spoiler-free review of Star Trek Into Darkness]

“...trying to forget something very sad that had happened to me long ago.”—Jay Gatsby

I’m sorry, but I think we have to discuss the elephant in the room here. While Baz Luhrmann’s movie adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby looks gorgeous, and probably brings the novel to life in a wonderfully larger-than-life manner, at no point have I seen anyone discussing how Leonardo DiCaprio’s Gatsby is obviously Jack from Titanic. And how the movie is obviously an alternate timeline where he survived the sinking of the ship and went on to build a life for himself in America in an attempt to reunite with Rose.

Not only that, but no one is discussing how this is the sixth Leonardo DiCaprio movie depicting an alternate timeline where Jack survived.

[It's not just me, right? We all feel this way?]

Now that Iron Man 3 is in theaters a lot of rumors and news are flying around about Robert Downey, Jr.’s involvement in future Iron Man movies and the Avengers franchise as a whole. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has already stated that the Iron Man actor can be as ever-changing as James Bond has proven. But Marvel will forgive fans if we can’t imagine anyone but RDJ in the role. To my mind when Tony Stark says “I am Iron Man” I believe that of the actor and the fictional character he portrays.

Aside from the issue of who would play Iron Man in further movies is the question of just where Tony Stark’s story can go following the events of Iron Man 3. I think there’s a way to tackle both of these issues, though, while staying true to the character and utilizing elements from one of the character’s best storylines.

[What Iron Man 4 should be about]

The very first trailer for the Lion’s Gate movie adaptation of Ender’s Game has debuted and... it leaves me uneasy. And that’s perfect.

[Watch the first trailer for Ender’s Game]

The pervasively magical stories of Neil Gaiman are everywhere these days, which often makes us wonder if hundreds of years from now he won’t be regarded in mythical, legendary tones, like Hans Christian Andersen, or the Grimm Brothers. Just like those guys, Neil Gaiman was inspired by existing stories, too, but interestingly enough, when Gaiman plays in other sandboxes, he frequently employs a kind of “bubble universe” where his unique sensibilities are free to roam, relatively unconstrained by the rules of the world he’s visiting.

Here are four instances of Gaiman setting up shop in a familiar world and making it his own.

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A lot of Whovians around the net have noticed that Clara Oswin Oswald has something in common with a previous Doctor Who character we may have forgotten about!

Click below the link for a possible, totally speculative spoiler.

[Read more]

Doctor Who episode “Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS” recently gave us a look inside the Doctor’s infinitely-sized ship, a look that viewers had been waiting almost 50 years to see. And while the events of the episode would defy any sane cartographer’s efforts, the attempt nevertheless must be made.

[Maps of the interior of the TARDIS]

Or perhaps that headline should read “I think Nintendo could make a Legend of Zelda series with Zelda as the hero,” because while I was playing Skyward Sword earlier this year in preparation for my review of the Hyrule Historia, I noticed that the game had left an interesting back door open that no one seemed to catch. A back door that, probably unintentionally, allows Nintendo to create an entire Legend of Zelda series of games featuring Zelda as the heroine.

[Onward. Spoilers for Skyward Sword]

This week, Vulture has a great article on David J. Peterson, the man tasked with taking the various cultures within Game of Thrones and creating usable languages for them. There are a lot of great tidbits in the piece, including the revelation of a language he created but which the show hasn’t yet used, how Peterson’s work is changing The Wind of Winter, and how we’re all pronouncing “khaleesi” incorrectly!

[Read more]

Devoted fans of any television show can often go for months waiting for an episode like Neil Cross’ “Hide,” a story so well-suited for Doctor Who that I feel confident ranking it among the very best episodes in the revived* show’s eight-year history.

*A revival that will be 100 episodes long in only two weeks, with Mark Gatiss’ “The Crimson Horror.” Some days it still feels like the show just started.

[Read more. Full recap ahead.]

Star Trek Nemesis
Story by John Logan, Rick Berman, Brent Spiner
Screenplay by John Logan

Directed by Stuart Baird
Original release date: December 13, 2002
Stardate: 56844.9

Captain’s Log: In the Romulan Imperial Senate, the military is arguing for the merging of Romulan military forces with Reman forces headed by Shinzon. The Praetor doesn’t accept this recommendation, based partially on Shinzon’s instability and partially on long-standing prejudice between the Romulans and the Remans. Senator Tal’aura excuses herself once the discussion is over, leaving behind a device that activates shortly afterwards, spilling a green mist over the entire Senate and turning them all into stone.

[“Why does the tall man have a furry face?”]

The promotional build-up to the release of Iron Man 3 has left a lot of clues about Marvel’s “Phase 2” slate of movies, giving us a better idea about the state of our favorite Avengers leading up to the 2015 release of Avengers 2. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has already leaked plans about what happens in “Phase 3” after 2015, and this week a new casting development and an interview with Captain America: The Winter Soldier screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely inadvertently revealed what Captain America 2 will focus on.

[New story tidbits on Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy]

On Tuesday of this week, Image Comics and comics writer Brian K. Vaughan reported that this week’s issue of Saga, the star-faring fantasy series written by Vaughan and drawn by Fiona Staples, has been banned from being sold “through any iOS apps” over two background depictions of gay sex in the issue.

Update: Comixology released a statement on Wednesday taking responsibility for the snafu, saying that their interpretation of Apple content policy was in error.

[Vaughan and Image on the ban]