The Iron Giant is returning to theaters on Sept. 30 and Oct. 4 of this year, deemed the Signature Edition. The visuals are getting a spruce up and they’re adding two extra scenes. If you know how great this is, then you know just how great this is. If not, please read this list:

• The Iron Giant was Brad Bird’s directorial debut, form that beautiful man who brought us The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and, to an admittedly lesser impact, this year’s Tomorrowland.
• Remember how, when Guardians of the Galaxy first hit theaters all the critics and all the tweeters were blown away by Vin Diesel’s nuanced voice performance as tree-thing Groot? Everyone who saw The Iron Giant wasn’t. Diesel also voiced the titular giant with almost the exact same balance of simplicity and emotion.
• The Iron Giant is Vin Diesel, Jennifer Anniston, Harry Connick Jr. and Brad Bird’s best film, hands down.
• The Iron Giant currently sits at a 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
• With a production budget of $70 million, according to Box Office Mojo, The Iron Giant proved a massive box office flop when it originally released in 1999. It made $23 million.

There is redemption to be had, and Brad Bird shall have it. He put up this poster on his Twitter account just following the announcement:

If you read that list simply nodding your head saying “yeah, man, I get it. We’re on the same page. The world owes Brad Bird and The Iron Giant a lot more money than it gave it,” then perhaps you should show your love in a different way while you cocoon yourself and await the fall. You should probably buy some awesome stuff from Mondo’s The Iron Giant toy line.

We should all be in a place where that last figure means something. Go see The Iron Giant on Sept. 30 or Oct. 4.

The Iron Giant is Returning to Theaters this Fall

Usually, when talking about new high-end figures and toys, we’re talking about companies ever in search of the shiniest, fanciest, most never-before-seen kind of presentation. That’s all well and good, it leads to some pretty nutty Star Wars and Batman figures, but I’ve been enlightened to another way.

Mondo, a studio best known for its limited-edition screen printed posters, is beginning its foray into collectible toys in a way both simple and remarkable at the same time. They’re recreating classic images of well-known properties in the three-dimensional realm. Here’s Leonardo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The design is pulled from the original Eastman & Lard Comic Book from the 1980s, according to Mondo. They’re debuting it at San Diego Comic Con 2015 (July 9-12) alongside parallels for the other three turtles.

Somehow, their original TMNT figure went back even further in time, when in 1982 the absolute first drawing of a Ninja Turtle went onto a napkin. Here’s Mondo’s interpretation of that:

It’s up for pre-order, itself and a colored version due out sometime in quarter four of 2015.

Also debuting for Mondo at San Diego Comic-Con 2015 is a Hellboy figure, another drawn from an original image of its character.

If you consider yourself a true fan of a property, I can’t imagine something like this doesn’t immediately appeal to you. Mondo also has a couple of Iron Giant figures in its store, promoting the almost cruel idea that the company just might pick up that one niche property you love more than everybody else.

Finally, Mondo will debut a Godzilla figure based on the following poster at Comic-Con. I may have to sell a Kidney.

For everything about Mondo’s San Diego Comic-Con plans, here’s the company’s own write-up. And check back soon, because I’ll most likely write a 500-3000 word essay about the Godzilla figure when they finally put it on their website.

Mondo is Debuting Some Amazing Classic-Style Figures at San Diego Comic-Con

It is truly the golden age of comic book cinema. Since 2000, nearly 50 major motion pictures have been based on superhero characters, including some very highly praised blockbusters like Spider-Man (2002), The Dark Knight (2008), Iron Man (2008), The Avengers (2012) and some less than well-received adaptations like Catwoman (2004), Punisher: War Zone (2008), The Spirit (2008) and Jonah Hex (2010).

But the pantheon of comic book superheroes is nearly as limitless as the stars, and as comic book movies mature into a second decade of computer-generated dominance at the cineplex, as-yet-untapped characters will need to step in to satisfy the audience’s hunger for more adaptations.

It’s become something of a parlor game in comic book and movie circles to speculate which superhero will get green-lit for their own big-budget treatment on the silver screen.

Here’s our list of 12 comic book superheroes (plus one bonus superhero) that we think deserve to be in the next big comic book movie. While some of these characters are household names and some are known only to comic book fans, they would all make for great movies.

#12 Alpha Flight

A movie version of Alpha Flight would delight the true comic book diehards. Essentially the Canadian version of The Avengers, Alpha Flight features a cool collection of superheroes, particularly the aptly named Puck and Sasquatch.

#11 Concrete

Back in the 1990s, Bill Murray was attached to star as this unusual Dark Horse superhero. Today’s CG effects would certainly do this award-winning character justice.

#10 Doctor Strange

The supernatural Doctor Strange would seem to be a great fit for today’s effects-laden summer blockbusters even if he’s not a well-known name beyond comic fans. Doc Strange is rumored to launch as a standalone movie as early as 2015.

#9 Luke Cage

Also known as Power Man, Luke Cage has frequently been targeted for cinematic adaption for a decade. This product of the 1970s has a raw, everyman quality distinguishing him from other superhero characters, which could give a movie version more depth and human interest.

#8 X-Factor

While the name of the movie may need to be changed to avoid confusion with the TV show, this spin-off of the X-Men seems like a natural extension of the ever-growing X-Men movie universe (seven in all if you include 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past).

#7 Nightwing

Nightwing is sometimes Robin and sometimes not, but he seamlessly inhabits both Superman and Batman’s worlds and could be a vehicle to keep those iconic characters in play. The aesthetic of Nightwing also fits in with Christopher Nolan’s movie world (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, anyone?).

#6 Aquaman (and Namor the Sub-Mariner)

True, DC’s Aquaman (left) is one of the most well-known superheroes to not get a full-fledged movie treatment, but really, that other aquatic superhero dude, Marvel’s Namor the Sub-Mariner (right), is way cooler. Unfortunately, nobody (who doesn’t read comics) knows who the Sub-Mariner is.

#5 Captain Marvel

Part of the problem is there are like 17 different Captain Marvels, which confuses everyone. However, the latest Captain Marvel (formerly Ms. Marvel) sports one of the cooler superhero outfits. That alone deserves some screen time.

#4 The Flash

Since his short-lived series in the 1990s, The Flash hasn’t seen much screen time, but he has a lot of fans, even if all he can do is run really fast. And, yes, he is slightly faster than Superman. So there.

#3 Batman Beyond

Basically Batman in the future. In 2039, an old Bruce Wayne passes on the mantle of Batman to a young kid named Terry McGinnis. A Batman movie with sci-fi elements could be another blockbuster.

#2 Black Panther

Kind of shocking that Black Panther hasn’t gotten his own major motion picture yet, although rumors abound that Marvel is developing it for release as early as 2014.

#1 Wonder Woman

Absolutely, unbelievably shocking that Wonder Woman hasn’t gotten her own major motion picture yet, but then you can probably thank the horrific Catwoman and Elektra for that.

12 Comic Book Superheroes That Should Get Their Own Movie

This year’s Comic-Con is underway, and it’s become a bigger and better event each year. The influence of comic books is felt everywhere in pop culture from summer blockbusters to toys to popular music.

While the styles and cover prices have certainly changed over the years,  the impact of comic books is as strong as ever. Here at The CheckOut, we’ve collected a small sampling of 10 classic superhero comic book covers from the past century, spanning over 60 years. This list could go on and on, so we’ll have to return to this subject again.

Some of the artists featured on these covers below read like a who’s who of comic icons, including Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, John Byrne, Michael Golden and others. Enjoy!

1938: Action Comics #1 (Joe Shuster)

1986: Watchmen #1 (Dave Gibbons)

1962: Amazing Fantasy #15 (Jack Kirby/Steve Ditko)

1986: The Dark Knight Returns (Frank Miller)

1993: Wonder Woman #72 (Brian Bolland)

1991: Detective Comics #626 (Michael Golden)

1983: Alpha Flight #3 (John Byrne)

1961: Fantastic Four #1 (Jack Kirby)

1999: The Amazing Spider-Man #633 (Chris Bachalo)

1985: The Spectacular Spider-Man #101 (John Byrne)

10 Spectacular Superhero Comic Book Covers Over The Years

With San Diego Comic-Con just around the corner (seems like it comes around faster every year!), comic books and graphic novels are now on everyone’s mind. To help gear up for the big event, I thought it might be fun to take a look back at some of the four-colored medium’s greatest achievements, chronicling ten of the most essential graphic novels and trade paperbacks (in no particular order).

These ten graphic novels are not only ideal gift ideas for any veteran comic book lover, but also equally enticing gateway gifts for those just starting their love affair with comics. As some of the best stories the art form has to offer, they prove that in addition to “BAMS!” and “POWS!”, the so called funny pages can also pack a super-powered literary punch.

1. Watchmen ($15, Amazon)

More than just the source material for that flashy Zach Snyder movie with that tall blue naked guy, Alan Moore’s Watchmen is an endlessly praised, brilliant deconstructionist work that still stands tall (and blue and naked) as one of the medium’s true masterpieces. Even beyond its groundbreaking reinvention of superhero storytelling, like Citizen Kane is to cinema, the book is essentially an encyclopedia of everything comics are capable of. And beneath all that artistic depth, is just a genuinely engaging superhero mystery full of fascinating characters — including some who actually do wear clothes.

2. Marvels ($22, Amazon)

A nostalgic trip through Marvel Comic’s golden and silver ages as seen through the eyes of a Regular Joe, Kurt Busiek’s Marvels is a stirring love letter to superhero wonder. Tracing several classic milestones throughout the company’s history, including the arrival of Galactus and the death of Gwen Stacy, the limited series offers a new perspective on the larger-than-life events — revealing the simultaneous fear, uncertainty, and awe of the everyman, as he is gradually surrounded by giants… in spandex. Featuring beautiful painted artwork by Alex Ross, the book is a perfect introduction to Marvel’s rich universe of characters.

3. Preacher ($14, Amazon)

From writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, this 66 issue series (collected in 9 trade paperbacks) is an irreverent explosion of pure comic book awesomeness. Subversive, controversial, blasphemous, disturbing, sexy, hilarious, and a whole lot of fun, the book is one of the medium’s most provocative works. Through the story of a Texas preacher possessed by a supernatural entity, Ennis creates a contemporary western like no other. While some might not take kindly to the series’ treatment of religious ideas, beneath all the defiant content is a genuinely affecting story about loyalty and friendship. Well, loyalty and friendship and drug addicted vampires, killer saints, absentee deities, and an imaginary apparition of John Wayne. Like I said, pure comic book awesomeness.

4. The Dark Knight Returns ($13, Amazon)

Frank Miller’s dark and violent reinvention of the Batman mythos is a truly defining piece of superhero fiction, tackling similar deconstructionist themes and subject matter as Watchmen, but this time with one of the industry’s most iconic characters. Highly influential, Miller’s decidedly grown up take on the Dark Knight has gone on to inform every subsequent version of the Caped Crusader. Also, the book finally answers that age old geek question: who would win in a fight, Batman or Superman?

5. Blankets ($20, Amazon)

Though this list is more geared toward superheroes and genre work, that’s far from all the medium has to offer. Blankets represents sensitive, honest, deeply personal storytelling at its best. Writer Craig Thompson’s autobiographical illustrated novel recounts the author’s coming of age into adulthood, chronicling family conflicts, religious crisis, first love, and dwindling faith. Delicate, raw, and graceful, the book proves to be universally relatable and emotionally resonant, revealing all the bittersweet pangs of youth. In other words, this is likely to make grown men cry.

6. Saga of the Swamp Thing ($16, Amazon)

Alan Moore’s legendary run on Swamp Thing (now collected in 6 trade paperbacks) brought new life into the fading monster and helped pave the way for DC’s Vertigo line of adult targeted comics. By reinventing a key component of the character’s origin, Moore added new layers of intrigue to the story, creating a gothic horror setting that would grow increasingly ambitious in scope as the series continued. Spine tingling and full of aching pathos for its tormented protagonist, the book features many techniques that Moore would later refine in works like Watchmen. But above all, Swamp Thing deserves a spot on this list for the sheer fact that it somehow turns a walking, talking mass of vegetables into a compelling and intimidating hero. The Jolly Green Giant, this is not.

7. Daredevil: Born Again ($15, Amazon)

Much like he did with Batman, Frank Miller also had a large hand in defining Marvel’s famous blind superhero. After a much celebrated stint on the book throughout the early 80s, Miller returned to the character in full force with this storyline, crafting one of the series’ most acclaimed arcs. When the villainous Kingpin discovers Daredevil’s true identity, he systematically attempts to destroy the hero’s life. Taken to new lows, Matt Murdoch is stripped of everything, leaving only a “man without fear.” Though most famous for Sin City and his Dark Knight Tales, this actually remains my favorite work from Miller as a writer — besides his cinematic classics RoboCop 3 and The Spirit, of course. 

8. The Sandman ($14, Amazon)

When people scoff at the notion that comic books can be viable pieces of literature, one of the first works I always point to is Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. First published in 75 issues (now collected in 10 trade paperbacks), the sprawling dark fantasy tale about the trials and tribulations of the lord of dreams features an endlessly rich tapestry of ideas — blending fables, history, and religion into a cohesive, all-encompassing mythology. Filled with lyrical beauty, Gaiman weaves an epic and intimate story about stories, celebrating the art of narrative through wonder, horror, and the most infectiously irresistible personification of death in all of fiction.

9. The Compleat Moonshadow (around $37, Amazon)

Though relatively obscure compared to many of the other titles on this list, J. M. DeMatteis’ bittersweet science fiction coming of age story is an incredible artistic achievement that deserves much more attention than it gets. Featuring beautiful illustrations by Jon J. Muth, Kent Williams, and George Pratt, the series offers a hauntingly affecting examination of adolescence and growth set amidst an appropriately bizarre sci-fi/fantasy backdrop. Tearfully melancholic, potently funny, and utterly heartbreaking, it just might be my favorite comic of all time. While the book sadly appears to be out of print, this is one title that’s definitely worth hunting down.

10. Maus ($13, Amazon)

Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize winning Maus has become the quintessential example of graphic storytelling as art, and for very good reason. A powerful recount of the author’s father’s experiences in the Holocaust, the comic examines unspeakable horrors with powerful insight and deceptively simple allegory, representing Jews as mice and Nazis as cats. A story about hardship and trauma, and fathers and sons, the book continues to be an enlightening and utterly devastating illustrated memoir, revealing the limitless versatility of the comic book medium to tell stories of all kinds, creating a world where Maus can sit comfortably on a shelf right next to a collected edition of Howard the Duck.

10 Essential Graphic Novels Worth Reading This Week