Games

David Harbour reprised his role as the Red Guardian in *Marvel Zombies*, solidifying his place as a standout addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His character, Alexei Shostakov, gained superpowers through a Russian super-soldier program and previously worked with General Dreykov and Melina Vostokoff. He serves as a father figure to both Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova, a connection that was further explored in *Marvel Zombies*.

Certain long-running series continue to sell well and stay popular even without changing much. They rely on their established names, while newer or smaller companies are the ones truly trying new things – though they often get lost in the shadow of these bigger brands. Currently, three franchises particularly stand out as succeeding more on reputation than actual new ideas.

Combining the challenging gameplay of ‘Souls-like’ games with a ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ setting is a great way to create something fresh, and ‘Dark Sun’ is the ideal world for it. Originally released in the early 1990s, ‘Dark Sun’ is known as the most harsh and demanding setting ever created for ‘D&D’. Its difficult world and built-in challenges perfectly complement the ‘Souls-like’ style, making it a perfect match.

It’s unfortunate that DC Comics hasn’t found a consistent direction for the Red Hood character since his return. Jason Todd once represented a powerful idea – Batman’s biggest failure and a reminder of the vulnerability of even his closest allies. However, since being resurrected, he’s lost that impact and has actually hindered both Batman’s development and his own. While I believe Jason has a lot of storytelling potential, Red Hood was arguably a more compelling character when he was gone.

As a moviegoer, I live for those plot twists that completely knock the wind out of you – the ones that feel surprising, but also like they were cleverly hidden in plain sight all along, sending the story in a direction you never saw coming. Superhero films, honestly, don’t usually pull off truly great twists, given how many familiar storylines they fall into. But when they *do* manage it, wow, it really lands. I’ve been particularly impressed with the twists DC movies have given us – they’re the kind that stick with you long after the credits roll.

It’s typical for a hit show like this to announce a continuation soon after it finishes airing in Japan, but that hasn’t happened yet. The official social media accounts have only mentioned the season finale. While reliable but unofficial sources, like @MangaMoguraRE, suggest a special event is planned for November 1st, 2025, there’s been no official word. With the source material having over 160 chapters, there’s plenty of story left to adapt. Although a second season announcement might take a while, the show’s popularity suggests more seasons are likely.

Even though 2025 isn’t over yet, Supergiant Games has a lot to celebrate! Their game, *Hades II*, is currently the highest-rated new release of the year, scoring a remarkable 94 on Metacritic. We gave it a perfect 5/5 in our review, and it seems many others agree – no other 2025 release has reached that score. Interestingly, it’s even one point higher than the already highly praised original *Hades*.

James Gunn recently told *The Hollywood Reporter* he doesn’t plan to explore the fallout from Peacemaker’s actions in *The Suicide Squad*, specifically the tension with his former teammates who were angry about Rick Flag Jr.’s death. He explained that while fans often ask about that movie, it presents a challenge because it doesn’t fully fit into the new DC Universe. Most of *The Suicide Squad* is still connected to the DCU, but it raises more questions than it answers. Unlike the first season of *Peacemaker*, which is almost entirely DCU-based except for its ending and a few minor references, *The Suicide Squad* leaves a lot unexplained.

From the very beginning, Krakoa faced serious challenges. Bringing villains like Apocalypse and Mister Sinister into power was a risky move, as they didn’t abandon their harmful beliefs. Then there was Moira’s dangerous plan to use Krakoa to essentially eliminate mutantkind, ironically intended to save them. And the Quiet Council, particularly Magneto and Professor X, made some questionable decisions to maintain order. However, the biggest issue with Krakoa wasn’t any of these things – it was a fundamental shift in the X-Men’s purpose. Krakoa marked the moment mutants decided to reject their humanity.

I’m so excited! Netflix is adding a bunch of great movies this week. Sunday morning brings Idiocracy, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Sweet Home Alabama, which I’ve been wanting to rewatch. But the big drop is on Wednesday, October 1st! They’re adding classics like Casper, Beverly Hills Cop, Austin Powers, and even some thrillers like The Strangers and Training Day. Oh, and The Mask too! Definitely a good week for movie nights.