You guys asked for it, and I'm finally back in town, so it's time for The Week In CBM Comments! In the comments on the week two roundup, Feralwookiee wrote "I'm liking these recaps so far @NateBest. Keep up the good work! 👍" and 13 of you liked it. Puckaluck put it more plainly: "Keep doing these! It's fun to see people's comments discussed in an article."
I've been super busy working on some HUGE updates for the site that I want to roll out before the end of the year, not to mention I was out of town for the last two weekends, so while I haven't been as active writing on the site, I'M ALWAYS WATCHING!
From last Sunday through Saturday afternoon, 455 of you posted 3,270 comments across 148 articles. And one story had EVERYONE talking.
On Thursday, Josh reported that Steven Soderbergh is stepping in on The Batman Part II while Matt Reeves attends to what Warner Bros. called "an ongoing family matter." Per the studio's statement, Soderbergh approached Reeves and will "help the writer-director complete the final weeks of principal photography."
177 comments on that one, the busiest thread on the site this week!
Some of you compared it to Joss Whedon taking over Justice League. Reeves cleared that up on X the same day: "Just to be clear, I am not leaving The Batman Part II." James Gunn backed him up on Threads: "Matt is still the director of The Batman 2 and always will be." Josh rounded up both statements in a follow-up that drew another 53 comments. Shooting is reportedly about two-thirds done, and Deadline reports that Reeves is expected back for post-production. Nobody has said what the family matter is, and I'm not going to guess.
Madman had the most-liked comment in the thread, with 12 likes: "Not my first choice, but he's a competent director and if this meets Reeves's intention and keeps the crew from facing unemployment, then lets go."
And from RolandD: "Prayers for Reeves and his family."
It sounds like Soderbergh and Reeves have it all worked out and are on the same page… Hopefully it goes smoothly and is ready when Reeves hops back in the director's chair full time.
The Batman news kept coming all week. A fan on Threads asked Gunn whether the DCU's plans for Batman had changed since The Brave and the Bold was announced, and he answered "Yep." (54 comments). BiffDitko, who asked for the No-Prize in the first place, had a pitch ready: "Two Words: WORLD'S FINEST." Josh followed that up with five possibilities for the DCU's Batman (62 comments).
Earlier in the week, Ben Affleck told Josh Horowitz that Justice League was "so, so negative" for him, and it was a big part of why he walked away from his solo Batman movie. That one pulled 83 comments.
cyclopstb had the top comment, with 9 likes: "His Batman deserves better." For TheNewYorkerr, Ben "was the best live action Batman we've had."
That's 429 comments across those five Batman threads!
This week's No-Prize goes to asherman93, with an honorable mention for Patient2670!!!
In the Soderbergh thread, LoudLon listed Soderbergh's "terrific movies under his belt" as proof he's right for the job: Traffic, Michael Clayton, Erin Brockovich, Syriana, Out of Sight, Good Night, and Good Luck and The Limey. About 40 minutes later, asherman93 replied: "He's only an executive producer on Michael Clayton and Syriana." Patient2670 added, "George Clooney actually directed Good Night and Good Luck."
Both catches are correct. Tony Gilroy directed Michael Clayton, Stephen Gaghan directed Syriana, and Clooney directed Good Night, and Good Luck.
LoudLon came back the next morning: "Yeah, that's why I didn't specify 'as director.' As producer on those films, he was still a key factor in how they turned out." Soderbergh produced all three, so LoudLon has a point.
Coy Jandreau, a co-host of DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast, said in a Reel Rejects video that some Lanterns detractors "can choke on their own tongues." That story drew 116 comments, the second busiest thread of the week.
TheJok3r's comment tied for the second most-liked on the whole site, at 13 likes: "All these people do is push customers away; how they manage to keep their jobs is beyond me."
Then came the Clayface pre-sales numbers. Per a Box Office Theory forum thread, they're running 80% behind Supergirl at the same point, and Josh's story says the opening weekend could come in under $20 million (65 comments).
NOID got 8 likes for this one: "Checks notes… No Batman / Unknown actor / No Batman / Obscure villain origin story / No Batman / Shocking that ticket sales are low."
It opens Friday, so we'll know soon enough!
One batch of Man of Tomorrow rumors from unnamed scoopers says a lot of the movie happens off-planet (78 comments), and another says Matthew Lillard's role could set up a Justice League movie (71 comments). None of it is confirmed.
One reader complained the movie sounds more Lex than Superman, and Rpendo, who had the most-liked comment on the site in week two, pushed back: "Infinity War was Thanos-centric. Batman '89 was Joker-centric. X-2 basically had Magneto as the second lead behind Wolverine. If it's a good movie, who cares?"
Gunn's defenders showed up again when he addressed the rumors that Milly Alcock had been "fired" as Supergirl (58 comments). Nonameforme had the top comment, with 7 likes: "It's crazy how bad people want this to all fail. Shes not going anywhere. Why do all this?"
Vigor is staying patient: "There's bound to be some duds along the way but I trust Gunn has a grand plan."
Away from DC, Street Fighter debuted at 41% on Rotten Tomatoes when Mark posted the score on Thursday (59 comments), and PNW23 wasn't worried: "It’s street fighter, not citizen Kane. Will be watching this weekend."
Over on the Marvel side, VisionQuest star Ruaridh Mollica told Variety that Tommy Maximoff is bisexual in the MCU, even though the show doesn't explore it. That one pulled 86 comments, and it got heated.
Inktown03 tied for the thread's most-liked comment, with 12 likes: "Who cares about the sexual preference of fictional characters?"
One of my favorite exchanges managed to stay civil. WruceBayne: "I may be the minority by thinking this but I'm sure nobody tuned in to VisionQuest to see whom Tommy Maximoff shares a bed with. We tuned in to watch him run fast." TheVisionary25 answered, "I think it's fine for people to want representation too. It's ok if you don't care but there are others that do."
WruceBayne came right back: "I definitely understand representation and I also support it. What I'm saying is that his sexuality is such a small part of his character."
And LoudLon (yes, the same LoudLon from the No-Prize) pointed out that a lot of actors "create head canon and back stories for their characters that maybe we don't see on screen, but that inform their performance."
THAT'S how you agree to disagree!
And the most-liked comment on the ENTIRE site this week? Josh updated his ranking of every live-action MCU series by Rotten Tomatoes score, and Ms. Marvel came in at #1 with 98%.
Will44482's answer got 14 likes: "No one actually thinks Ms. Marvel is the best MCU show."
Catch someone getting their facts wrong this week, and the next No-Prize could be yours!
For the Batman fans: with Soderbergh finishing the shoot and Reeves expected back for post-production, do you think you'll be able to tell which scenes are whose?
Sound off in the comments below!
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