The longstanding sci-fi horror franchise, Alien, is going back to basics in the upcoming release of Alien: Romulus by highlighting just how fragile we squishy humans are compared to the indomitable alien nightmare fuel known as the Xenomorphs. How deadly you say? Well, you’d think being deadly was deadly enough, but since you asked, check out our video to learn all the terrible ways a Xenomorph can end you.

Check out Alien: Romulus when it hits cinemas on August 16th

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Erik Menendez has described the new Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story as a “dishonest portrayal” of the crimes he committed with his brother Lyle, accusing the show’s creator Ryan Murphy of “disheartening slander.”

The Menendez brothers were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty. They were arrested for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder outside their home in March 1990 and sentenced to life in prison in 1996. In 2024, new evidence emerged that has the potential to set them free.

The siblings are serving life sentences at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California.

Monsters stars Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny as José and Kitty, with Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as the brothers. The drama includes the harrowing sexual abuse that Lyle and Erik alleged to have been perpetrated by their father, but Erik Menendez has accused Murphy of distorting the truth.

Menendez responded to the series in a statement posted to X/Twitter by his wife, Tammi. It reads: “I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose.

“It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.

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“It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward – back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.

“Those awful lies have been disputed and exposed by countless brave victims over the last two decades who have broken through their personal shame and bravely spoken out. So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander.

He continued: “Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth. How demoralizing to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma. Violence is never an answer, never a solution, and is always tragic.

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“As such, I hope it is never forgotten that violence against a child creates a hundred horrendous and silent crime scenes darkly shadowed behind glitter and glamor and rarely exposed until tragedy penetrates everyone involved. To all those who have reached out and supported me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The Independent has contacted Murphy’s representative for comment.

Since the series arrived on Netflix on Thursday, viewers have been cautioning others on social media about the graphic nature of the violence depicted in the show.

For six years now, Hunt: Showdown has been delighting players with intense and action-packed bounty hunting gameplay. Thousands of players have entered Stillwater Bayou and the other locations to hunt down the big bosses and collect that sweet hunter’s fee. Now, Crytek is taking the hunt even further with Hunt: Showdown 1896, which brings a new map, new look, and new features to the game on August 15.

1896 shifts the story forward one year–into, you guessed it, 1896–while also moving the action west, leaving the Louisiana bayou behind for the crisp, clean air of the Rockies in Colorado. The new locale does not mean the feeling of the hunt will change, as 1896 will still provide the “supernatural-meets-dark-realism” aesthetic players have grown to love.

Take 1896’s first map, Mammon’s Gulch, as a prime example. The Gulch adds literal layers of ground to work with during each hunt, as it will take you over the massive mountains of the Rockies, as well as into the depths of the earth in mines dug deep below the mountaintops. Whether you’re deep below the ground or climbing the highest peak, be careful: you never know who, or what, is lurking in the shadows.

Enter the Hellborn, one of 1896’s new major enemies. This fiery creep stalks Mammon’s Gulch silently, though its movements can be heard by listening in Dark Sight–a bounty hunter’s primary mechanic for finding clues. When startled, the Hellborn explodes with molten menace and attacks, and while that’s bad enough, the noise it makes can call enemy hunters to your location to take one less competitor out of the game.

1896 still provides the first-person gunslinging PvPvE gameplay of the original Showdown, but it immerses you in the world of the hunt better than ever. That’s thanks to CryEngine 5.11, which offers heightened visual fidelity and a crisp 60 FPS frame rate on consoles, along with reduced loading times and more responsive input.

Hunt: Showdown 1896 begins with the Scorched Earth event, which runs from August 15 to October 7. Three Pacts will be available to players during this event, and details on each one are below:

• The Wilderness Pact offers Surefoot, which allows you to sprint while using a First Aid Kit or priming a throwable weapon; Beastface, which negates broken branches and animal triggers; and Frontiersman, which offers an extra Pledge Mark for the first 30 Event Points collected in a mission.
• The Lawful Pact unlocks two traits which enhance looting: Peacekeeper restores health after looting a dead hunter, while Packmule finds extra ammo from the looted loser. This Pact also unlocks the Vigilant trait, which doubles Dark Sight’s range.
• The Demented Pact boosts melee damage with the Berserker trait, temporarily increases speed when at critical health with the Adrenaline trait, and restores health with every successful hit on a target with the Ghoul trail.

Despite the name change and new setting, this is still the same Hunt: Showdown experiences players have come to love. Even though there are dangerous monsters running around trying to end your hunt before it even begins, this universe still has roots in realistic human behavior. The choices you make–how to hunt, who to help, and who to betray–all hold weight, and every action will hold dire consequences for you and your team.

Hunt: Showdown 1896 is out now for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. If you’re interested in the game grab yourself a copy so you can try your bounty hunting hand during the Scorched Earth event.

Nearly eight decades ago, The Adventures of Superman radio show pitted the Man of Steel against the forces of hate and white supremacy while exposing the inner workings of the Ku Klux Klan. Now, Fandom is releasing a new five-part serial podcast, looking at the creation and historical significance of Superman vs.The KKK, which is available now.

The podcast–which is partially inspired by author Rick Bowers’ book, Superman vs. The Ku Klux Klan–chronicles the way that the 1946 storyline, “Clan of the Fiery Cross” confronted the entangled history of the KKK in American life, and disavowed the reality of its racist violence; offering a new, powerful version of “The American Way” that would last for generations.

The podcast explores the inception and rise in popularity of both Superman and the Klan, how they each used the tools of the media to brand and sell their version of what it means to be “100% American,” and how the two became intertwined in this iconic story arc. In this series, we discover how the clash between these two versions of “The American Way”–and the ensuing battle for the heart’s of the United States citizens–developed, and why that fight has never been more relevant. It’s a fascinating exploration for anyone who is a fan of the Man of Steel, comic-book culture, and the complexities of American history.

Executive producer Roth Cornet hosts the podcast alongside celebrated journalist, writer, and podcaster Marc Bernardin.

“This story is an incredible mix of journalism, brand activism, and the power of pop culture to change the world,” said Cornet. “We live in an era where fans identify themselves by the things they love, so there is incredible power in harnessing this passion to make an impact.”

Even after 80 years, Superman remains a stalwart fixture at the forefront of pop culture as we await DC studios newest iteration of the iconic hero. Whether another version of Superman can ever again cross from his fictional universe to impact ours, remains to be seen.

Episodes of Superman vs. The KKK are available now on all podcasting platforms, including Apple, iHeartRadio, and Spotify.

Freelance writer for almost every major geek outlet, including Fandom!

The next chapter of Matt Reeves’ Batman Saga is almost here, and like an umbrella stand at the Iceberg Lounge, there’s a lot more going on than you’d expect. For one, it’s set in a grittier Gotham that brings Reeves’ noir vision to the small screen. But perhaps the most talked-about element of The Penguin is its immaculate casting for the lead role of Oswald Cobblepot. Colin Farrell is set to return as the ringleader of Gotham’s criminal underworld and while we got a peek into his life and approach to his work only briefly in The Batman, the series is set to offer us a chance to peel back the curtain and see the inner workings of the festering underbelly of the city, all through the lens of the man who intends to call the shots. What seems to be the greatest draw, though, is learning who exactly Oz Cobblepot is, and how Reeves intends to bring the kingpin to life. Here’s all you need to know about the quietly menacing Cobblepot, and exactly what Colin Farrell can bring to the role.

Oswald Cobblepot

We’re all familiar with the monocle-wearing criminal mastermind, Oswald Cobblepot, brought to life in cartoonish detail in the comics and transformed into a sewer-dwelling wretch in Batman Returns. But the Penguin we meet in The Batman is a new direction to fit with Reeve’s modernised and bleak Gotham. Oz has a peculiar charm about him that tells you he’s a bad person, but not necessarily a bad guy (or at the very least, a guy we’d want to keep an eye on). He meets Batman with grace and candour, and though he certainly has plenty to hide, he doesn’t resist the opportunity to resolve things quietly. His greatest power though, is his reputation: years of running the streets of Gotham and remaining a key figure in the criminal underbelly of the city have granted him incredible protection and a target on his back in equal measure. But it’s his deceit and ruthlessness – along with a willingness to get his hands dirty – that has made him so fearsome that few dare to test him.

In the Penguin trailer, we also see another side to Cobblepot when he comes face-to-face with Sofia Falcone; his facade slips away to reveal a paranoia and vulnerability which threatens to consume him. Oz certainly isn’t invincible, but his determination to give his mother a better life and dominate the drug ring that rules the city makes him vicious and unpredictable. And few actors are as well equipped to bring the complicated man to life as Colin Farrell.

Melancholy

Colin Farrell has played various roles throughout his career which have allowed him to connect with a range of personalities, from charming to terrifying. The Batman depiction of Oz carries the same polarising attributes and with Farrell’s repertoire of character portrayals, it will be interesting to see how he embodies Oz in The Penguin.

There is a sadness lurking in the heart of the crime boss, and it’s a melancholy that draws him to his determination. Penguin’s guilt over not being able to provide enough for his mother is a key driving force behind his ferocity and it’s safe to say that there will be more going on with the character than what has been revealed so far.

With roles like The Banshees of Inisherin’s Pádraic Súilleabháin and The Killing of a Sacred Deer’s Steven Murphy – in which both characters bury emotions they refuse to confront – Farrell has proven he can access the sadness buried beneath the rage of Oz. We’re likely to see The Penguin during his most vulnerable moments in this series, and this sadness is set to come tumbling through his devised smoke and mirrors.

Rage

Anger is key to Oz’s fearsomeness. When we see him let loose with a machine gun in The Batman, it’s his fury that he needs to thank for his murderous outburst. The Penguin is violently ambitious and Farrell’s experience as an unpredictable villain with no remorse will be an important asset as the series unravels Oz’s inner workings. The quietly ferocious Mister Graves of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and even Bullseye in the early 00s’ Daredevil has made Farrell fit to bring such a menacing figure to life in the most chaotic, frenzied way.

But it’s the barely suppressed desire for violent retribution that creates the uneasy feeling that you’re never safe around Penguin. Farrell’s recent stint as the terrifying Henry Drax in The North Water is the perfect example of how he – once known for being adorable Irish eye candy – has the range to bring a subtly horrific character to life.

Charm

A good handshake can go a long way in disarming potential foes, and The Penguin’s Oz has these in droves. He’s an incredibly charming man who would appear to be well-meaning if you perhaps didn’t know that he was king of Gotham’s underworld. Colin Farrell is more than charismatic enough to complement Oz’s charm, as well as bring a few laughs.

His work on In Bruges, Horrible Bosses, and even Scrubs proves that the snarky and humorous side of Oswald Cobblepot isn’t going to be set aside in favour of total moodiness. Though we certainly wouldn’t laugh in his face, we’re bound to get some precise comedic moments from the snide, sarcastic crime boss.

While this variation of Penguin is likely to go light on trick umbrellas and jaunty top hats, what we are getting is the most fleshed-out Oswald Cobblepot we’ve ever seen. He’s not just a fearsome crime boss but also a complex man who has used violence to shelter himself from misery. While Farrell might be visually unrecognisable under all those prosthetics, there’s no denying that Cobblepot wouldn’t have the same level of depth without him.

Watch The Penguin when it arrives on Sky and NOW on September 20.

Entertainment Journalist, author of Building A Universe, big Greta Gerwig stan