Which Superpower Would Make Someone Basically Unstoppable?

Fantasy and science fiction stories are full of people who have incredible powers — and yet, they’re not just ruling over the rest of humanity, or luxuriating in untold wealth and luxury. Which superpower would make someone basically an unstoppable ubermensch if you took it to its logical conclusion? Please include a picture, poster, clip,…

Even Lex Luthor Is Getting A New Look In DC Comics

It’s not just DC’s superheroes that are getting makeovers in the new post-Convergence comic books, dubbed “DC You”; the villains are too! Just as rumors have begun to swirl that Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor will don his iconic green and purple powersuit in Batman v Superman, the comic Lex is upgrading to look that’s a…

First Cooties Trailer Chronicles The Dawn Of The Tweenage Dead

Here’s a twist on the zombie genre we haven’t seen before. In the horror comedy flick Cooties, only those who haven’t been hit by puberty can be infected by the zombie virus, forcing the teachers of this school to take a stand against their once-adorable students. Prep your cootie shot and watch the first trailer…

Peter Dinklage Teams Up With Coldplay For Game Of Thrones: The Musical!

For Red Nose Day, Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage is singing a hilarious blues jam about the fact that he’s “Still Going Strong” after Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon and so many other great characters have died. Basically, he’s paid the cost to be the boss. [h/t Frank!] Contact the author at [email protected].

Honor Harrington’s Cat Has Its Own Adventure In This Final Comic Prequel

The third and final comic prequel ahead of Honor Harrington’s return to comics is here — but this week, it’s all about Honor’s faithful companion, Nimitz the Treecat. io9 is proud to present the finale of Facets of Honor, The Deep Woods! Set between Honor’s recent return to comics in the Free Comic Book Day…

A Webcomic About A Disgruntled Mars Researcher You Need To Start Reading

Der-shing Helmer, creator of The Meek, is back with a new webcomic, and it’s set on Mars. In Mare Internum, an entomologist arrives at an isolated Mars research station just as another researcher has been fired. But before he departs, these two scientists will learn a great deal about each other’s troubles. Quick content warning:…

Laibach Explains Why Science And Fiction Are Such A Powerful Combination

The Slovenian avant-garde rock band Laibach references science fiction a lot in their music, from Margaret Atwood to Kurt Vonnegut — and they did music for the science fiction spoof Iron Sky. In a new interview, they explain why science fiction is such an important dialectic for them. Talking to Westword, Laibach explains: Science fiction…

Grad Student Accused Of Faking Data In Gay Marriage Study

The lead author of a study claiming that short conversations can dramatically alter a person’s view on same-sex marriage has issued a retraction upon learning his co-author may have forged the data. The study in question, titled “When contact changes minds: An experiment on transmission of support for gay equality,” was published in Science back…

How To Do Justice To The Suicide Squad’s Mighty Amanda Waller

Amanda Waller is both one of the most original characters in the DCU and one of the hardest to get right. With the Suicide Squad movie on the horizon, we’ll be seeing a new version of the Wall. Here’s what it takes to get her right. Respect the Icon In a medium that gives nearly…

A Princess Once Dueled A Countess Over Floral Arrangements… Topless

When we think of historical duels, we may tend to imagine two men handsomely dressed wielding pistols or swords over some offense to one party’s honor. One particular duel, however, presents a very different picture of honor battles. Not only was it between two women; it was between two women fighting topless. Atlas Obscura has…

Mad Max‘s Imperator Furiosa Gets The Unbreakable Theme Song She Deserves

Females are strong as hell, whether they’ve lived most of their lives in a bomb shelter sequestered from humanity or are driving a giant war-rig across the post-apocalyptic wasteland. So it makes sense that someone would modify The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s theme song to suit Fury Road’s star. Correction! The amazing song was composed by…

8 D-List Characters Who Tried And Failed To Replace A-List Superheroes

With a woman taking on the mantle of Thor and a new, heavily armored Batman in Gotham, the idea of a “replacement hero” — where a new character is introduced to take up a legacy hero’s name — is back in style. But more often than not, these shake-ups don’t workout. Here’s eight of the…

Here’s What Countries Whose Hunger Problem Is Improving Do Differently

Hunger is a problem all around the world, but in some places,that problem is getting better, and in some places it isn’t. So what are the improvers doing differently than the rest of the world? There’s one big difference. The USDA takes a regular look at the state of countries with hunger problems around the…

Russian App Trawls Social Media To Predict and Prevent “Mass Disorder”

A new computer program developed by a pro-Kremlin political center mines social network sites for chatter about unauthorized protest rallies — and then reports its findings to the local authorities. As Isvestia is reporting, the project was launched by the Center for the Study of Legitimacy and Political protest. Ominously, it’s named after “Laplace’s Demon”…

Hey Other Comic Book Shows, The Flash Finale Just Kicked Your Ass

The Agents of SHIELD can stand down. Constantine can go to hell. Daredevil got the crap kicked out of it. And Arrow? You just got outshot by your little brother. The Flash finale wasn’t quite perfect, but it showed exactly why it’s the best comic book show currently on TV. I know I’m frequently guilty…

The Deadly Chemical Scavengers In Our Atmosphere Are Saving Our Lives

Our atmosphere is crawling with things called “chemical scavengers.” Inside our body, they can be deadly. Out in the sky, they do very good work. Here’s why you want do chemical scavengers in the atmosphere and you don’t want them anywhere near you. Chemical scavengers aren’t sentient, but that doesn’t keep them from being voracious.…

This Is Where Space Tourists Should Make Their First Stop

To travel to space you need a lot: gear, funding, a ship, years of prep time, not to mention serious training in math, engineering, and science. But eventually, space travel will be available much faster and to more people, and then travelers will need something else — they’ll need an itinerary. Tell us 1) where…

This Rare Advancing Glacier Is Set To Transform An Alaskan Fjord

Glaciers around the world are in retreat, but not Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier. It’s steadily advancing into Disenchantment Bay, threatening to block the entrance to Russell Fjord and disrupt life in the nearby town of Yakutat. Top image: Hubbard Glacier, July 22, 2014. Scientists have been tracking the growth of Hubbard Glacier since 1895, and since…

Could Supergirl Bring An Iconic — And Weird — Comics Villain To Life?

Batman and Superman duke it out in some totally insane Batman v Superman artwork. Phil Lord discusses how the Flash movie will stand out from the TV show. Star Trek 3 gets a title. Chris Pratt quashes the latest casting rumors. Plus, clips from Inside Out, and what to expect next year on The Flash.…

An Australian is suffering a rain of spiders. The phenomenon, called “Angel Hair” for the dusting of webs that covers the area, is the result of the combination of a mass hatching of spider and the babies taking to the wind on silk parachutes in perfect weather conditions. [ABC News]