From Newsarama:

Jeff Lemire and Kim Jacinto are launching a new Sentry ongoing title as part of Marvel Comics' summer "Fresh Start" initiative.

...

At this stage of the game, I've seen enough LEGO movies to get the joke. Expect a level of silliness, everything unmade can be remade, bricks are the building block of the universe, and there's a somber lesson to be learned in there somewhere that will still end with a punchline.

And then there's THE FLASH -- which does all of that and more.

The story opens with the Justice League going up against The Joker (JASON SPISAK) who has targeted Metropolis since Batman (TROY BAKER) has been spending his time with all his super friends at the Hall of Justice. He's setting off laughing gas bombs that must be stopped, so the entire League -- including Superman (NOLAN NORTH), Wonder Woman (GREY DELISLE), Cyborg (KHARY PAYTON), Plastic Man (TOM KENNY), Firestorm (PHIL LAMARR) and newly-recruited member The Atom (ERIC BAUZA) set out to stop him. But none of them are fast enough, and all eventually succumb to Joker's attacks as Batman persistently grumbles, "Where is Flash!?"

From Marvel:

On June 20, Tony Stark returns.

He’s back, at last, having been the subject of a long and troubled search throughout the pages of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. Writer Dan Slott and artist Valerio Schiti will join forces to tell a entirely different kind of story in TONY STARK: IRON MAN.

From the cusp of tomorrow’s dreams to the forefront of imagination, one man always soars on the cutting edge of adventure.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s long-running weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Of the many things that are still visible in the rear view mirror of last weekend's Oscars, one of the items still being discussed is Frances McDormand's acceptance speech, where she closed with the following:

"I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: Inclusion Rider."

Is it the name of her next film? Is it the name of the next Kardashian baby?

Actually, an inclusion rider is a term applied to an actor's contract, as applied by the actor. When signing on to a movie and finalizing their contract for same, an inclusion contract is something added by the actor that forces the production company to hire cast and crew that reflects the demographics of the world. It stipulates there will be x percentage of men, y percentage of women, z percentage of this race and that race, and lgtbq percentage of LGBTQ.

We used to call this practice a "quota system."

New Line Theatre describes itself as “the bad boy of musical theatre.” Co-directors Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor certainly never shy away from edgy, sometimes uncomfortable material and have had great success with productions that were terrible flops on Broadway.  Why, then, would these two wild and crazy guys put Anything Goes in the middle of New Line’s 27^th season? Isn’t that the polar opposite of a New Line production? Heck, people bring their kids to the free seats at the Muny in Forest Park to see the big splashy tour shows of Anything Goes. Is Scott Miller finally mellowing out after all these years doing shows like Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Celebration, and Jerry Springer – The Opera?

From Marvel:

This June, writer Mark Waid and artist Jesus Saiz are set for a journey across the universe in DOCTOR STRANGE #1!

The Eye of Agamotto is closed! Doctor Stephen Strange has lost his connection to the Earth’s arcane power, and he can’t wait to recover while nightmares press against the seams of our reality. Tony Stark offers a 21st-century solution: when astral travel fails, try astronautical travel. Enter Doctor Strange: Space-Explorer Supreme!

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Critical Blast Bombshell, March 2018 - Cosplay Kitti

GOTHAM returns from hiatus, but doesn't really move its story forward all that much, as this season's overarching title is "A Dark Knight," which ostensibly means we're going to see more of Bruce Wayne (DAVID MAZOUZ) on the road to becoming Batman. And, indeed, early in the season we were seeing just that. But then he became a brat, which he remains to this point in the series, firing Alfred and living a life of drunken partying and debauchery.

When you see a chance, take it. That’s what the man said, right? And why wouldn’t you? The Fabulous Fox Theatre has been host to some amazing musicians with amazingly long careers in recent years. Gladys Knight was a delight, Paul Simon was sensational, Carlos Santana was super, and John Fogerty, well, his show was in a class by itself. Return to Forever, Chick Corea’s jazz super group, was the most inspiring and indescribably beautiful music performance I’ve ever seen. That’s a mighty collection of the best of the best right there, and to join that level of talent you’d have to be pretty special. A multi-instrumentalist, a career spanning more decades than I’ve been alive (and I’m getting old), a career began at the tender age of 14, when there were apparently no child labor laws applicable to piano prodigies in Britain in the 1960s. Yes, the man said when you see a chance, take it, and a full house took the chance to enjoy Steve Winwood live on February 28, 2017.

From CBR:

DC Comics and Neil Gaiman will celebrate 30 years of the Dreaming when they launch The Sandman Universe in late-2018, a line of four different comics based on the writer’s critically and fan acclaimed Sandman series.

From Comicbook.com:

This June, Marvel will launch Amazing Spider-Man #1 from writer Nick Spencer (Secret Empire), artist Ryan Ottley (Invincible), inker Cliff Rathburn & colorist Laura Martin. The new series comes hot off the heels of former writer, Dan Slott's, historic ten year run with the series.

...

Having attended my share of conventions, I can attest to the fact that cosplay is an intergenerational thing. From toddler Captain Americas to nonagenarian Harley Quinns, cosplay is something that everyone can get into.

I've also seen it become a family activity, with one of my favorite cosplays evern being a mom and dad with two kids play out a simple-yet-magnificent group of LEGO Batman characters.

This month's Critical Blast Bombshell is still barely getting started in the field, and is already gaining a skill level that will have her competing with some of the top talent in the hobby. With an assist from her mother, this high school student is bringing to life characters from manga and anime with her elaborate costumes and wigs. 

We could tell you more about her--but why, when she has already so eloqently done so? Continue on, gentle readers, as we are pleased and privileged to present to you the...

From Marvel

On Independence Day, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and artist Leinil Yu wield the shield.

Today, Coates made the announcement in The Atlantic, where he wrote about the challenge and opportunity of crafting such an iconic Marvel—and American—character.

After a brief hiatus that felt like an eternity, THE FLASH is back, in an episode that is both good and still very critiquable.

Having realized that the body-hopping Devoe (now played by SUGAR LYN BEARD) is targeting all of the metahumans  created on the bus that got swamped by dark matter, Team Flash has created a "buddy system" to keep tabs on Ralph Dibny (HARTLEY SAWYER), aka The Elongated Man. But that still leaves them with four more metahumans to track down.

When WRECK-IT RALPH came out in 2012, I am not sure anyone realized how big it would be.  Disney managed to make a real fun homage to video games with a lot of heart to it.  It took 6 years, but we are finally getting a sequel this November.  This morning, Disney posted up a trailer for WRECK-IT RALPH 2: RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET, and we've got your first look!

From Comicbook.com

Bruce Banner is returning as Marvel’s Hulk for the company’s fresh start, but this time he’s not just incredible, he’s immortal.

The Immortal Hulk will launch in May from writer Al Ewing (Avengers: No Surrender) and artist Joe Bennett. The series follows up on Hulk’s heavily teased return in the pages of Avengers: No Surrender.

From Comicbook.com:

It turns out you can’t keep a good Multiple Man down. Marvel Comics will launch a new Multiple Man miniseries starring Jamie Madrox this July from writer Matthew Rosenberg (New Mutants: Dead Souls, Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey) and artist Andy MacDonald (Justice League of America), featuring covers by Marcos Martin.

...

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s long-running weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!