Conventions/Events
Blue Beetle star Xolo Mariduena Honored at the SAAHJ 25th Annual Scholarship Gala
In a little under two weeks, the next big, superhero film, Bluebeetle hits theaters around the world. It’s leading star Xolo Maridueña is notch part of the promotional campaign as he is striking in solidarity with these screen actors Guild, but that doesn’t mean his contributions to TV and film can’t still be celebrated.
Xolo was in San Antonio, TX at the SAAHJ Annual Scholarship Gala, and was honored with the Estrella de Esperanza Award. This award is meant to celebrate rising stars from the Latino community and there’s no doubt that he has seen much success and yet he is just getting started.
Xolo spoke highly of his mother and imagined the struggles and challenges. She may have faced in an industry that was underrepresenting Latinos at the time. His energy is infectious. When he wasn’t on stage, giving his award speech, he was taking the time to meet with attendees, taking selfies, or making calls to relatives for those who are in attendance.
Earlier in the event, he took the time to answer questions from the local press and spoke of the shifting environment in which we are seeing for the first time Latinos in lead roles in mainstream media, on a somewhat consistent basis, it’s an exciting time. He’s also discussed what it means to him personally seeing projects led by Latino writers and directors, and how having a crew with a large population of Latinos can help bring a level of authenticity to projects involving Latino stories.
One thing is clear, the future for Xolo is bright and his upcoming superhero blockbuster will have a major lasting impact on the Latino community. Go see Blue Beetle which is now in theaters everywhere. Hear our thoughts on it below.
Comics
Immortal Legend Batman Announced during C2E2
During his spotlight panel at C2E2, writer Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and fan-favorite artist Dan Mora (Superman, Justice League Unlimited, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest) announced and revealed covers and concept art for Immortal Legend Batman. Higgins and Mora will also be joined by Writer Mat Groom (Ultraman, Inferno Girl Red) and artist Erica D’Urso (Captain, Marvel, Inferno Girl Red) for this six-issue limited series launching under DC’s Elseworlds banner.

Available for preorder Friday, May 23, Immortal Legend Batman arrives at participating comic book shops and digital retailers Wednesday, August 27. This series combines the best elements of superhero storytelling with elements of the Japanese “tokusatsu” genre of entertainment, like the Western sci-fi/fantasy, encompassing everything from Japanese kaiju to manga. “In Immortal Legend Batman,Dan, Mat, Erica, and I are using elements of ‘superhero tokusatsu,’ so readers can expect to see cool and recognizable elements like mech/armor-style transformations, specifically named combat moves, a gradually expanding team, and more,” said writer Higgins.

Many centuries from now, humanity becomes a galactic civilization with capital megacities on multiple planets and smaller outposts on dozens more. To conquer the vast distances between solar systems, humanity tapped into dark matter to bend space-time around spacecraft, from hulking colony vessels to one-man mech suits. In accessing this dark power, humanity broke the barrier between their universe and their universe’s shadow. This resulted in the creation of “Shadows”: mindless, soulless apparitions craving nothing but violence and destruction. Due to the actions of these Shadow creatures, newly colonized worlds were brought to the brink of collapse. But three warriors found a way to access the energy that bound their universe to the shadow universe, becoming “immortal legends”: Immortal Legend Batman, Immortal Legend Robin and Immortal Legend Nightwing.

For more information on Immortal Legend Batman and the World’s Greatest Super Heroes, follow @DCOfficial on social media and visit the DC website at https://www.dc.com. A robust selection of classic new Elseworlds series is available to read with a subscription to the DC UNIVERSE INFINITE digital subscription platform (DCUI). For more information and a free trial, visit the DCUI website at https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com.
Conventions/Events
See photos from Paramount+’s ‘Happy Face’ SXSW World Premiere
On Monday, March 10th, Paramount+ hosted the SXSW world premiere of the highly anticipated drama series HAPPY FACE at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas. Guests viewed a special advanced screening of the new series, which premieres with two episodes March 20 exclusively on Paramount+.

Attendees included series stars Annaleigh Ashford, Dennis Quaid, James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Jennifer Cacicio (Showrunner),Melissa G. Moore (Executive Producer), Robert King (Executive Producer), Michelle King (Executive Producer) and Liz Glotzer (Executive Producer).

Earlier in the day, cast and executive producers also visited Paramount+’s ‘The Lodge’ – the ultimate fan experience, offering an unforgettable and immersive journey that lets guests engage with hit content, iconic franchises and beloved characters – including the special HAPPY FACE activation.

Don’t miss the two-episode premiere of the thrilling new drama Happy Face, streaming March 20 exclusively on Paramount+, with new episodes every Thursday. Inspired by a true-life story, Happy Face follows Melissa Reed (Annaleigh Ashford), daughter of Keith Jesperson, also known as “the Happy Face Killer” (Dennis Quaid). After decades of no contact, Keith forces his way back into his daughter’s life, and Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime her father committed. In the process, she faces a reckoning of her own identity.

Conventions/Events
ALIEN EARTH LANDS @ SXSW 2025
Maybe the most hyped show this summer is ALIEN EARTH and the Countdown City Geeks (Ted, Retro Ray, and David) got to be someone of the first people in the world to experience the SXSW Activation PoP up in downtown Austin and we learned a couple of new details plus got some really cool swag!

The name of the spacecraft that appears to bring the XENOMORPH(S) to Earth is the MAGINOT which in French means to imagine or contemplate plus is the last name of a French Minister of War. In English the name MAGINOT is pronounced MAH-G-NO and is spoken aloud at the ALIEN PoP up by the Actors on site.
Classic hatched ALIEN eggs along with unbroken and broken canisters of lime colored liquid where on full display.

Once you go through the experience with several actors deep in character asking if you have the proper credentials (badge you keep), have parasites, who is in your team, eventually being handed a pin style black light you also get to keep which is vital to your survival you are marched into a ship where your fate is determined by the quick actions of your teammates!

If you survive the experience you are met with a person that hands you more swag in the form of a nice two needle pin with mickey backings lol and a couple of PRODIGY CORP stickers which according to Xenopedia is an Earth-based corporation active around the year 2120! Plus Prodigy Corp recovered the wreckage of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation commercial vessel USCSS Maginot after it crashed on Earth with Xenomorph samples onboard.
Overall Countdown City Geeks and the fandom are very excited for the very talented Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion) lead series premiering this summer and we would also like to thank our contacts at SXSW for setting up our special appointment, FX and HULU for the RAD Pop Up and cool swag!
Keep it locked in to Countdowncitygeeks.com and all of our social channels for more coverage of ALIEN EARTH and everything you want to know about at SXSW 2025!

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