Green Lantern Gay, Halo 4 Rumors, and the Zombie Apocalypse: This Week in Pop Culture

Culture

This might have been the strangest week ever: rumors of the Zombie Apocalypse, a winner in the republication nomination battle (finally), and Mark Zuckerberg booted off the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list. With so much going on, it’s no surprise you may have missed some of the week’s biggest pop stories. Just to keep you up to speed, here’s a look at all the pop you need to get started on your weekend. 

 

 

 

1) TV

We’re smack dab in the middle of that horrible lull between spring finales and summer premieres. So what’s filling the airwaves these days? Reality TV.  While most of it is of the singing-talent-contest variety, this weekend make room for a little good-old-fashioned fun watching the Miss USA pageant. Since 1952 this contest has been crowning pageant beauties, who knew that 60 years later America would still be hooked? Tune in to NBC this Sunday night at 9pm to see what all the hoopla is about. My money is on Miss New York … state pride.

2) MOVIES

This weekend’s biggest release is looking like it might not make bank at the box office. Starring Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart, Snow White and the Huntsman is a gritty version of the fairy tale with today’s favorite type of heroine – princess/tough girl … a la Katniss Everdeen. A Universal Pictures production arriving close on the heels of the massive flop Battleship, (anyone see it?) the biggest drama surrounding Snow White might be whether or not they break even. 

And what, may you ask, can we look forward to at the movies beyond this weekend? Aaron Sorkin (of The Social Network fame) is on board to write the Steve Jobs biopic. Excellent.

 

3) LITERATURE

The biggest news in books this week is not of the ultra-literary varierty but instead from comic books. DC Comics is coming out with a story line depicting Green Lantern, one of their oldest heroes, as openly gay. The change is revealed in the pages of “Earth 2” to be published next week. Backlash is sadly inevitable and One Million Moms is once again on the rampage to keep gay characters out of their comics. That said, One Million Moms is gaining a lot of enemies on their quest. 

4) GAMES

I'm going to lay it all on the line and tell you I am not much of a gamer ... that said, I hear murmers that Halo should be on everyone's radar. New details should be released about the forthcoming Halo game next week at the annual E3 gamers conference. Not a lot hase come out about Halo 4, just some screen shots.

 

Microsoft has charged 343 Studios with running the franchise (instead of Bungie, which created the series), and it is expected that 343 will re-imagine the Halo universe as grittier and more realistic. The game play is said to be going “back to its roots,” and will be based off of the first game, Halo: Combat Evolved.

The game continues after the events of Halo 3. The story of Halo 4 will be focused less on the Halo series' traditional straightforward first person shooter genre, instead relying more on mystery, exploration and discovery. 

Having been lost in space in the finale of Halo 3, Master Chief and Cortana, are adrift aboard the wreckage of the UNSC frigate Forward Unto Dawn, and find themselves near a mysterious Forerunner planet. Developers also suggested that the game will reveal how humanity and the UNSC have adapted to the galaxy after the end of their war with the Covenant, particularly how they have co-opted Forerunner technology. Halo 4 is actually the start of a new trilogy.

Developers have intended that Halo 5 will be a much darker title before the conflict is resolved in Halo 6. There will be more character development. The overall tone will be more mature. 

And on that note, to all a good Friday night.