February is the shortest month of the year. So to balance that out, we've made the farthest reach we can to find this month's Critical Blast Bombshell -- halfway around the world to Russia!

This month's Bombshell has been making a name for herself in the cosplay community through her Instagram photos of recognizable characters in natural, casual poses. She's also an object lesson in time management, as she has to juggle her considerable cosplay skills with the busy life of a full-time college student.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Дамы и господа, we are pleased and proud to present at this time...

Let’s do an experiment: when you’re finished reading this sentence, close your eyes, clear your mind, and then think of a cello….hear it playing in your mind…and then open your eyes and continue reading, because otherwise you’ll miss the point of all of this. (I’ll just take a quick nap while you listen to that lovely cello playing in your head….zzz…ready?) OK, now what song did you think of when I said to think of a cello? Was it “The Swan” from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns? Perhaps Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 or a cello concerto by Elgar or Dvorak?

Action Comics #1000 will be the biggest single comic book to hit stands since Superman #75 (Death of Superman).

As information is slowly revealed to build up hype for the highly anticipated book, writer Tom King revealed a page of art from the issue.

Drawn by artists Clay Mann and Jordie Bellaire, the page depicts Superman bathed in golden light, holding what appears to be a crystal of some kind. While there's no context or text included, the page displays some truly iconic imagery.

Picking up where things left off with the murder of Lawanda at the hands of The 100, a local pastor decides to lead 100 of his own parishioners in a march to take back their streets. For reasons unknown, Tobias Whale (MARVIN 'KRONDON' JONES III) decides to send a message to this march, rather than let the protesters finish their parade and disburse unrecognized, and sends a gunman to deliver this message.

Both Inspector Henderson (DAMON GUPTON) and Jefferson Pierce (CRESS WILLIAMS) try to talk the reverend out of holding the march, but he is adamant. The return of Black Lightning has given them hope, and inspired them to take back their streets. Of course, none of them realize that Jefferson is Black Lightning.

Actor Cameron Cuffe took to his twitter account to share the official poster for the upcoming SyFy series, KRYPTON.

"There's More to the Legend"

Due to arrive on March 21st, the highly anticipated series focuses on Superman's grandfather Seg-El. With an appearance from Adam Strange, the show integrates a time and space traveling element. The "House of El" has been disgraced and someone is attempting to sabotage Superman's arrival on Earth.

"Honey, I Shrunk Team Flash" is one of those episodes that is full of amusing action and heart-warming hope that ends on a seriously dramatic note for our hero that gut-punches you because you've had your guard down for the past hour.

The show opens with Cecile Horton (DANIELLE NICOLET) talking with Joe West (JESSE L MARTIN) about their pending baby, when it is discovered that she has developed a super-power: she can read minds. Caitlin Snow (DANIELLE PANABAKER) runs tests, and confirms there is no dark matter in the amniotic fluid, and Cecile was definitely not on the bus of people struck by the second dark matter wave unleashed by the machinations of Clifford Devoe. Her theory is that she had latent dark matter in her from the first explosion, triggered by the pregnancy, and that it will likely go away once the baby is born. We'll see.

From DC:

Have you ever wanted to visit Metropolis? That bustling City of Tomorrow, known to comic book fans worldwide as one of the biggest cities in the DC Universe and home to the high-flying Man of Steel. Well, in 2019, you’ll get the next best thing—a weekly live action TV series set in Metropolis before the arrival of its most famous resident.

With BLACK PANTHER coming in a few weeks, and AVENGERS INFINITY WAR likely going to blow the doors off of movie theaters, it's easy to forget that there is another Marvel Cinematic Universe movie coming out this year: ANT-MAN AND THE WASP.  This morning we gfnally got a trailer, which features some really clever uses of the shrinking gimmick. I don't want to spoil them, but the effects have definitely come a long way (and I thought the original was already pretty cool effects wise).

The original ANT-MAN was far more successful critically and financially than I think anyone expected, so I am actually looking forward to the sequel.  That said, it seems to be flying very under the radar.  ANT-MAN AND THE WASP will be in theaters July 6. 

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!

TOM ELLIS kills it in a smashing episode of the FOX series, LUCIFER.

"Til Death Do Us Part" finds Lucifer (ELLIS) pairing up with Lt. Marcus Pierce (TOM WELLING) to go undercover as a married couple in a suburban utopia in order to find a killer. But there's more going on than their partner, Detective Chloe Decker (LAUREN GERMAN) realizes, because this excercise in marital bliss is more than just a cover -- it's a means for Lucifer to get to know Pierce better, his strengths and, more importantly, his weaknesses. Because Lt. Pierce is an immortal -- Cain, cursed to walk the Earth as the first murderer. And Cain wants to die.

EDIT: January 29, 2018

It is with great sadness that we report on the passing of comic strip legend Mort Walker, who passed away on January 27, 2018 at the age of 94.

To remember his achievements, we are republishing this interview with Mort, as we talked about his most famous character, Beetle Bailey, on the 50th anniversary of the strip.

* * *

In 1938, while comic books were just entering the Golden Age, Mort Walker staked his claim on the newspaper comic strip pages. He was 14 years old. The most notable of Mort's creations is undoubtedly Beetle Bailey, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year.

I was privileged to speak with Mort about Beetle's comic and real-life misadventures, as well as a few other interesting tidbits you may not know about.

From IGN:

The conclusion of DC Comics event Dark Nights: Metal will bring about some big changes for the Justice League comic line, IGN has learned from DC.

Following the events of Metal, which ends on March 14 with Issue #6, there will be a four-issue weekly miniseries that kicks off on May 9 called Justice League: No Justice co-written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Joshua Williamson with art by Francis Manapul.

Speaking candidly during an interview for DirectTV, AT&T VIP event at the Sundance Festival, Peter Dinklage, who many know as Tyrion Lannister was asked his opinion about Game of Thrones coming to an end.

"It's time," he said.

Commenting that it's "bittersweet" but, for the lives of the people involved, he acknowledged that many of them are ready to move on. And while he enjoyed being a part of the long running drama, it was important to avoid hanging around for too long and "jumping the shark".

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

VOTE FOR THE BEST OF 2017!!!

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Avengers #677 - No Surrender Part 3

Written by: Mark Waid, Al Ewing, and Jim Zub
Art by: Pepe Larraz
Colored by: David Curiel
Lettered by: VC’s Cory Petiit
Cover by: Mark Brooks

Published by: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99

Warning! This review contains quite a few spoilers!

Hostiles, the new film by Scott Cooper, is not what the trailers I saw would lead you to believe. The clips make it look like it's an action-packed Tombstone-style romp. It is not. It's a thinking person's western, a parable about hate, xenophobia, and ultimately acceptance. It's about broken people just trying to survive. Hostiles (incidentally a terrible name for this film, as while there are indeed many hostiles in it, it’s not about them) is not an easy film to watch, but it's an emotional and gripping film that will have you dwelling on it for days afterward.

How much darker can the RIVERDALE writers take the beloved characters of our innocent youth? They've faced down a serial killer, beaten a date rapist, and joined gangs. What's left, really?

Well, for starters, we could take the girl-next-door and turn her into an Internet Cam actor. No, really. Betty Cooper (LILI REINHART) finds her brother, Chic (HART DENTON), and brings him to live with her family. Mother Alice is fine with it, but father Hal is decidedly put out, especially when he learns what Betty already knew -- and enabled: that Chic is a cyber-trick, an online gigolo. (Betty found out from her GBFF Kevin Keller (CASEY COTT), so I guess we know how Kevin spends his online time.) Hoping that Chic can help her deal with the darkness she feels within her own self, she allows herself to be mentored in the world of click-and-fap.

From WWE:

STAMFORD, CONN. – Professional football will be reimagined when the new XFL kicks off in early 2020, Vince McMahon announced in a live stream event today.

The XFL will deliver a fan-centric, innovative experience, including shorter, fast-paced games and a family-friendly environment, complemented by cross-platform viewing options and real-time fan engagement.

Plans for the XFL at launch include eight teams, 40-man active rosters and a 10-week regular-season schedule, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game.