Latest news with #TimesSquare
Geek Tyrant
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Hid a Heartfelt Tribute to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby You Probably Missed — GeekTyrant
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is packed with all the superhero spectacle and cosmic chaos fans could hope for, but nestled within all the intergalactic drama and action is a touching tribute to the two legends who started it all: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The film takes place in Earth 828, a stylish, retro-futuristic world modeled after the swinging 1960s and it's inspired by Kirby's birthday, August 28. In this alternate reality, The Fantastic Four are cultural icons. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are plastered on everything from cereal boxes to a Saturday morning cartoon and even star in their own officially sanctioned comic book, courtesy of the Future Foundation. The tribute hits front and center during the film's Silver Surfer moment. As Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) descends in a blaze of cosmic glory to warn of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), she arrives outside the fictional Timely Comics building in Times Square. Watching in awe are two Timely employees, played by Martin Dickinson and Greg Haiste, who bear a striking resemblance to a young Kirby and a pre-mustache Lee, which is a fun nod to their early Marvel days. Timely Comics was the precursor to Marvel, and it's where Lee and Kirby first teamed up to unleash The Fantastic Four onto the world in 1961. That debut issue pitted the team against the monstrous Mole Man and his pet kaiju, Giganto, who even gets a show-stopping moment in First Steps during a montage that recreates the iconic comic cover. Inside the Timely office, eagle-eyed fans will spot a treasure chest of Easter eggs. Kirby's drawing board features artwork echoing Strange Tales #79, a 1960 monster comic co-written by Lee, penciled by Don Heck, and graced with a cover by Kirby featuring a creature called 'The Thing.' There's also an uncolored panel from Tales of Suspense #27, titled 'Oog Lives Again!' and a finished page from Fantastic Four #13 showing the first appearance of Uatu the Watcher, from a segment titled 'The Watcher Appears.' Kirby and Lee have had some comic cameos, whether it was Doctor Doom visiting the Marvel Bullpen in Fantastic Four #10 or the duo being hilariously denied entry to Reed and Sue's wedding in Fantastic Four Annual #3, their self-aware sense of fun lives on in this film. 'He's a visionary,' director Matt Shakman told 'We would have no Marvel Studios today without Jack Kirby. He created so many of these amazing characters, and he built this world along with Stan Lee. So many of our heroes launched from his mind and his pen, and we wanted to honor that. We wanted to honor his distinctive style.' The creative team described their visual inspiration as 'When Kirby Meets Kubrick,' referencing the sci-fi visionary Stanley Kubrick. Kirby famously adapted 2001: A Space Odyssey into a Marvel Treasury Special in 1976, blending cosmic art with bold storytelling. Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president and producer, explained the significance further: 'We wanted it to be more than just a passing tip of the hat. There are direct lines from his pencil that he drew with at his drawing board by himself, pouring his universe-spanning imagination on to the page. 'There are direct lines from there into this film.' He continued, '[We wanted] this movie to be an unabashed celebration of Mr. Kirby, who I think should be spoken in the same breath as Stan Lee at every moment. 'He was never as vocal or as at the forefront as Stan was. He also passed away long ago, and he didn't get to see any of what his work would inspire.' The film ends on a powerful note, not with a post-credit tease, but with a quote from Kirby himself: 'If you look at my characters, you will find me. No matter what kind of character you create or assume, a little of yourself must remain there.'
Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Arkay Beverages Launches Its Times Square Billboard, Showcasing Zero-Proof Innovation Worldwide
Arkay Beverages, the pioneer of alcohol-free spirits, has unveiled its Times Square billboard to competitors, inviting zero-proof brands from around the world to join forces in promoting a smarter, healthier way to drink. Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2025) - In the latest record, Arkay Beverages announces the launch of its Times Square Billboard to showcase zero-proof innovation on the world's biggest stage. Located in the heart of Times Square, Arkay's massive digital billboard rotates every two minutes and is viewed by over 300,000 people daily. This initiative offers zero-proof beverage companies the opportunity to feature their products alongside Arkay's own in one of the most iconic advertising spaces on the planet. "At Arkay, our mission has always been to revolutionize the drinking experience," said Reynald Vito Grattagliano, Founder of Arkay Beverages. "This isn't about competition - it's about collaboration. The more brands we showcase, the more consumers understand that zero-proof is not just a trend - it's the future." Moreover, Arkay's mission is to redefine what it means to enjoy a drink. With its patented formula and alcohol-free molecular structure, Arkay has helped millions of consumers around the world experience the pleasures of social drinking without compromising their sobriety, health, or values. "We are on a mission to help people stay sober - to become better individuals, better fathers, and better human beings," added Grattagliano. "Arkay is about more than what's in the glass. It's about giving people the freedom to enjoy life without compromising their health, values, or relationships." The offer is open to alcohol-free spirits, functional beverages, and any brand that promotes conscious, responsible drinking. Interested companies are invited to contact Arkay directly to book a featured time slot and receive advertising specifications. This initiative reflects Arkay's commitment to leading the global conversation on mindful consumption, inclusivity, and innovation in the beverage industry. About Arkay Beverages: Founded in 2011, Arkay Beverages is the world's first company to create alcohol-free spirits that look, feel, and taste like the real thing. With over a decade of innovation and presence in 35+ countries, Arkay continues to lead the zero-proof revolution with its extensive portfolio of alternatives to whisky, vodka, gin, rum, and more.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad for American Eagle is breaking the internet and the stock market
She's helping American Eagle go viral again—but not without controversy Sydney Sweeney is no stranger to the spotlight. But her latest campaign with American Eagle—featuring her in head-to-toe denim and little else—is drawing attention for reasons beyond fashion. Launched as the face of the brand's Fall 2025 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' campaign, the actress sparked a social media firestorm within hours. Supporters praised her nostalgic styling and laid-back confidence. Critics, meanwhile, pointed fingers at the messaging, the marketing tone, and the not-so-subtle wordplay. A campaign that caused whiplash online The American Eagle campaign debuted July 23, accompanied by massive 3D billboards in Times Square, interactive Snapchat filters, and behind-the-scenes content showing Sweeney styled in everything from denim maxiskirts to low-rise flares. The vibe was Y2K-meets-modern-girl-next-door, leaning into Sweeney's known off-screen preference for casual jeans and sweats. But it wasn't the styling that grabbed people—it was the slogan: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.' Within hours, social media erupted with debates over the double meaning, especially as 'jeans' sounded suspiciously close to 'genes.' The result? Viral traction for sure—but also backlash, some of it sharp. A pun that many didn't find funny At face value, the campaign reads as playful—a reference to denim and Sweeney's long-standing relationship with American Eagle. But online commentators quickly flagged a deeper issue: the slogan's similarity to 'great genes' carried uncomfortable echoes of eugenics-era language, especially when paired with a thin, white, conventionally attractive actress as the face of 'greatness.' Publications like Salon and B&T Australia highlighted how certain language, even unintentionally, can reinforce damaging ideals about physical superiority. One Reddit thread accused the ad of being 'racist, sexist, and eugenics-coded.' Others pointed out the tone felt dated and out of sync with American Eagle's past inclusive branding. While some fans dismissed the criticism as overblown, others couldn't unsee the problematic implications. 'It's not that she doesn't look great in denim,' one viral tweet read. 'It's that the campaign implies she's the standard for it.' Denim, donations, and a stock market surge Controversy aside, the campaign had tangible impacts. American Eagle's stock surged between 15–18% in the days following the launch, with online chatter from Reddit and Stocktwits framing the company as a new 'meme stock.' Sweeney's influence extended beyond social media. She helped co-design 'The Sydney Jean,' a limited-edition butterfly-stamped style with proceeds going to Crisis Text Line, supporting survivors of domestic violence. American Eagle confirmed that 100% of profits from the jeans will be donated. Fashion critics applauded the butterfly motif as a subtle nod to growth and transformation, but the campaign's tone remained polarizing. Some praised Sweeney's ability to blend style with cause-driven work, while others questioned whether the messaging matched the mission. A viral win or a marketing misstep? There's no question the campaign succeeded in getting attention—but not all press is good press. American Eagle positioned the collaboration as a bold return to pop culture relevance. What they got was a national conversation on race, beauty standards, and brand responsibility. Despite the backlash, the campaign has boosted engagement and brought new eyes to the brand—especially Gen Z shoppers nostalgic for early 2000s fashion but keenly aware of social impact. Whether that leads to sustained sales or deeper scrutiny remains to be seen. As for Sydney Sweeney, her image continues to dominate timelines. But this time, the question isn't just what she's wearing. It's what her presence represents—and what brands are really saying when they try to be clever.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Will the ghost of Epstein finally bring down King Trump?
Brrrr. Brrrr. Brrrrrrr. That's the sound of Donald's Trump's distraction machine, which has been running at full power as the president tries his best to stop us all from talking about Jeffrey Epstein. Or, to be more specific, from talking about just how chummy he was with the dead paedophile. Though he's usually a master of controlling the narrative, none of Trump's normal distraction techniques seem to be working now. Indeed, at this point we should probably rename the Streisand effect the Trump-Epstein effect because the president's repeated insistence that there is NOTHING TO SEE HERE EXCEPT A VERY NASTY WITCH-HUNT only has people scrutinizing his dealings with Epstein more carefully. From South Park to Scotland to billboards in Times Square, Trump can't escape his past association with Epstein. Over the past couple of weeks, a lot of new information has come out about just how close Epstein and the president were. On 17 July, for example, the Wall Street Journal reported Trump allegedly sent Epstein a 50th birthday card in 2003 with a drawing of a naked woman and a message which said, in part, 'may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump denied writing the card and filed a $10bn lawsuit against the rightwing paper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, a day after the outlet published the story. Trump's lawsuit clearly didn't scare off the Journal because, on Wednesday, it published a new report stating Trump's name appears 'multiple times' in justice department files about Epstein. On Wednesday CNN also published newly uncovered photos and video footage of the two men together, including one of Epstein at Trump's wedding to Marla Maples at the Plaza hotel in New York in 1993 and footage from a 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion event. Then, on Thursday, the New York Times confirmed that Trump's name appeared on a contributor list for a book celebrating Epstein's 50th birthday, as the Journal first reported, along with a number of other well-known Epstein associates including Leslie Wexner, then the owner of Victoria's Secret. The Times further reported that in 1997 the president had written a note calling Epstein 'the greatest!' in a copy of Trump: The Art of the Comeback. While none of these new bits of information are evidence of criminal conduct on Trump's part, the president's furious reaction to anything Epstein-related, along with his administration's sudden U-turn on its promise to release damning evidence related to possible Epstein clients, certainly makes Trump look like he's got something to hide. And it's not just Trump, of course. The sudden flurry of reporting about Epstein means that a lot of powerful men, including Bill Clinton, who the Journal says also sent a birthday letter to the disgraced financier, have been having a bad couple of weeks. The big question now is this: will the renewed interest in Epstein blow over in a few more weeks or could this deal a serious political blow to Trump and his lackeys? Trump is nicknamed the 'comeback kid' for good reason: the man has an uncanny ability to shake off scandal. Still, nobody is completely untouchable; could the ghost of Epstein be the thing that finally topples King Trump from his throne? While that's obviously an impossible question to answer, there are a few ways this could all play out. The first, and the best-case scenario for Trump, is that interest in Epstein organically fizzles out. That seems unlikely to happen given how furious the president's base are; more than a third of them disapprove of how he's handled the Epstein files, according to a poll from Quinnipiac University. The New York Times calls this 'perhaps the most intraparty discontent Mr Trump has experienced as president'. The Democrats have also seized on the issue as a way to fight Trump and will probably do their best to keep it in the news. While the Democrats are normally placid, they have been very much been on the offense with the Epstein files. Another way (perhaps the most likely way) this could go is that the Trump administration brokers some sort of deal with Ghislaine Maxwell, the only person involved with Epstein who is in jail right now, in which she releases enough carefully curated information about the sex-trafficking case for Trump's base to be satisfied, allowing the president to move on from the matter. The deputy US attorney general has met with Maxwell twice this week to see if she might have 'information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims'. While Maxwell's lawyer has said Trump's Department of Justice has not offered clemency, Maxwell is rumored to be seeking a pardon. One can certainly imagine a situation in which she 'cooperates' in a way that is mutually beneficial to her and Trump. The third scenario, which may be wishful thinking, is that Trump can't contain the fallout over the Epstein files and the scandal massively hurts the Republicans in the midterms. One GOP senator has already warned that 'this is going to be an issue all the way through next year's election.' Another possibility is that Trump continues his distractions until one actually sticks. The gen Z Democratic congressman Maxwell Frost has joked that the 'White House is about to drop proof of aliens' to stop people talking about Epstein. Joke or not, there's certainly a non-zero chance of that happening. And if it's not aliens, maybe Trump will start a nuclear war to shut us all up. Whatever happens with Trump and Epstein, however, I think it's worth stressing that this case is about far more than the president. It's about scores of vulnerable girls who were exploited by powerful men and let down by the justice system and parts of the media, which didn't pursue the story for years. I can't help but notice how many Democrats only seemed to develop a passionate interest in the Epstein files when it became politically expedient for them to do so. Epstein's countless victims deserve far better than that. In 1965, 18-year-old Choi Mal-ja fought back against a man who she said was trying to rape her and bit off part of his tongue. Guess who prosecutors thought was in the wrong? Choi was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, while her alleged attacker got a lighter sentence. After being branded a criminal for 61 years, Choi, now 80, has finally received a formal apology from South Korean prosecutors. Surrogacy is booming and, thanks to many celebrities using surrogates to build their families, it feels like it has become normalized. However, surrogacy is an incredibly complex ethical issue and we should not minimize the physical and mental health risks that it entails. 'Washington rejected offers from the United Nations and family planning organisations to buy or ship the supplies to poor nations,' sources told Reuters. Instead the US government will spend $167,000 to burn them all. Sign up to The Week in Patriarchy Get Arwa Mahdawi's weekly recap of the most important stories on feminism and sexism and those fighting for equality after newsletter promotion A new study 'suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be a promising, low-cost strategy to support brain development while reducing racial disparities', according to a write-up in The Conversation. This gender-based preference feature was first introduced in Saudi Arabia in 2019. Competitor Lyft introduced a similar option in 2023. I keep seeing this ridiculous obfuscatory 'stalking' language across multiple different media outlets. Let's be very clear here: Palestinians are being deliberately starved by a US-backed Israel. They are not being 'stalked' by anything except US-funded drones. In a recent Instagram post the kids' entertainer and all-around good egg, wrote: 'To anyone asking to work with me who hasn't spoken out about Gaza: Thank you for the request. I'm not comfortable working with anyone who hasn't spoken out about Gaza.' This follows a huge harassment campaign by pro-Israel extremists against the entertainer. The likelihood of this happening is slim, but the whole charade shows you how many lawmakers think their job is to suck up to Trump rather than serve their constituents. Meet Leonardo da Pinchy: a New Zealand-based cat who can't stop purr-loining people's underwear – along with the occasional cashmere sweater. Leo da Pinchy's owner, Helen North, now spends a lot of time on a neighbourhood WhatsApp group and Facebook page asking people: 'Are these your undies?' North told reporters she hopes her cat burglar grows out of his dastardly ways soon: 'I don't want to do this for like, 15 years. This is a lot of admin.' Good thing da Pinchy is so cute, because he sounds like a real mew-sance. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Will the ghost of Epstein finally bring down King Trump?
Brrrr. Brrrr. Brrrrrrr. That's the sound of Donald's Trump's distraction machine, which has been running at full power as the president tries his best to stop us all from talking about Jeffrey Epstein. Or, to be more specific, from talking about just how chummy he was with the dead paedophile. Though he's usually a master of controlling the narrative, none of Trump's normal distraction techniques seem to be working now. Indeed, at this point we should probably rename the Streisand effect the Trump-Epstein effect because the president's repeated insistence that there is NOTHING TO SEE HERE EXCEPT A VERY NASTY WITCH-HUNT only has people scrutinizing his dealings with Epstein more carefully. From South Park to Scotland to billboards in Times Square, Trump can't escape his past association with Epstein. Over the past couple of weeks, a lot of new information has come out about just how close Epstein and the president were. On 17 July, for example, the Wall Street Journal reported Trump allegedly sent Epstein a 50th birthday card in 2003 with a drawing of a naked woman and a message which said, in part, 'may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump denied writing the card and filed a $10bn lawsuit against the rightwing paper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, a day after the outlet published the story. Trump's lawsuit clearly didn't scare off the Journal because, on Wednesday, it published a new report stating Trump's name appears 'multiple times' in justice department files about Epstein. On Wednesday CNN also published newly uncovered photos and video footage of the two men together, including one of Epstein at Trump's wedding to Marla Maples at the Plaza hotel in New York in 1993 and footage from a 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion event. Then, on Thursday, the New York Times confirmed that Trump's name appeared on a contributor list for a book celebrating Epstein's 50th birthday, as the Journal first reported, along with a number of other well-known Epstein associates including Leslie Wexner, then the owner of Victoria's Secret. The Times further reported that in 1997 the president had written a note calling Epstein 'the greatest!' in a copy of Trump: The Art of the Comeback. While none of these new bits of information are evidence of criminal conduct on Trump's part, the president's furious reaction to anything Epstein-related, along with his administration's sudden U-turn on its promise to release damning evidence related to possible Epstein clients, certainly makes Trump look like he's got something to hide. And it's not just Trump, of course. The sudden flurry of reporting about Epstein means that a lot of powerful men, including Bill Clinton, who the Journal says also sent a birthday letter to the disgraced financier, have been having a bad couple of weeks. The big question now is this: will the renewed interest in Epstein blow over in a few more weeks or could this deal a serious political blow to Trump and his lackeys? Trump is nicknamed the 'comeback kid' for good reason: the man has an uncanny ability to shake off scandal. Still, nobody is completely untouchable; could the ghost of Epstein be the thing that finally topples King Trump from his throne? While that's obviously an impossible question to answer, there are a few ways this could all play out. The first, and the best-case scenario for Trump, is that interest in Epstein organically fizzles out. That seems unlikely to happen given how furious the president's base are; more than a third of them disapprove of how he's handled the Epstein files, according to a poll from Quinnipiac University. The New York Times calls this 'perhaps the most intraparty discontent Mr Trump has experienced as president'. The Democrats have also seized on the issue as a way to fight Trump and will probably do their best to keep it in the news. While the Democrats are normally placid, they have been very much been on the offense with the Epstein files. Another way (perhaps the most likely way) this could go is that the Trump administration brokers some sort of deal with Ghislaine Maxwell, the only person involved with Epstein who is in jail right now, in which she releases enough carefully curated information about the sex-trafficking case for Trump's base to be satisfied, allowing the president to move on from the matter. The deputy US attorney general has met with Maxwell twice this week to see if she might have 'information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims'. While Maxwell's lawyer has said Trump's Department of Justice has not offered clemency, Maxwell is rumored to be seeking a pardon. One can certainly imagine a situation in which she 'cooperates' in a way that is mutually beneficial to her and Trump. The third scenario, which may be wishful thinking, is that Trump can't contain the fallout over the Epstein files and the scandal massively hurts the Republicans in the midterms. One GOP senator has already warned that 'this is going to be an issue all the way through next year's election.' Another possibility is that Trump continues his distractions until one actually sticks. The gen Z Democratic congressman Maxwell Frost has joked that the 'White House is about to drop proof of aliens' to stop people talking about Epstein. Joke or not, there's certainly a non-zero chance of that happening. And if it's not aliens, maybe Trump will start a nuclear war to shut us all up. Whatever happens with Trump and Epstein, however, I think it's worth stressing that this case is about far more than the president. It's about scores of vulnerable girls who were exploited by powerful men and let down by the justice system and parts of the media, which didn't pursue the story for years. I can't help but notice how many Democrats only seemed to develop a passionate interest in the Epstein files when it became politically expedient for them to do so. Epstein's countless victims deserve far better than that. In 1965, 18-year-old Choi Mal-ja fought back against a man who she said was trying to rape her and bit off part of his tongue. Guess who prosecutors thought was in the wrong? Choi was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, while her alleged attacker got a lighter sentence. After being branded a criminal for 61 years, Choi, now 80, has finally received a formal apology from South Korean prosecutors. Surrogacy is booming and, thanks to many celebrities using surrogates to build their families, it feels like it has become normalized. However, surrogacy is an incredibly complex ethical issue and we should not minimize the physical and mental health risks that it entails. 'Washington rejected offers from the United Nations and family planning organisations to buy or ship the supplies to poor nations,' sources told Reuters. Instead the US government will spend $167,000 to burn them all. Sign up to The Week in Patriarchy Get Arwa Mahdawi's weekly recap of the most important stories on feminism and sexism and those fighting for equality after newsletter promotion A new study 'suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be a promising, low-cost strategy to support brain development while reducing racial disparities', according to a write-up in The Conversation. This gender-based preference feature was first introduced in Saudi Arabia in 2019. Competitor Lyft introduced a similar option in 2023. I keep seeing this ridiculous obfuscatory 'stalking' language across multiple different media outlets. Let's be very clear here: Palestinians are being deliberately starved by a US-backed Israel. They are not being 'stalked' by anything except US-funded drones. In a recent Instagram post the kids' entertainer and all-around good egg, wrote: 'To anyone asking to work with me who hasn't spoken out about Gaza: Thank you for the request. I'm not comfortable working with anyone who hasn't spoken out about Gaza.' This follows a huge harassment campaign by pro-Israel extremists against the entertainer. The likelihood of this happening is slim, but the whole charade shows you how many lawmakers think their job is to suck up to Trump rather than serve their constituents. Meet Leonardo da Pinchy: a New Zealand-based cat who can't stop purr-loining people's underwear – along with the occasional cashmere sweater. Leo da Pinchy's owner, Helen North, now spends a lot of time on a neighbourhood WhatsApp group and Facebook page asking people: 'Are these your undies?' North told reporters she hopes her cat burglar grows out of his dastardly ways soon: 'I don't want to do this for like, 15 years. This is a lot of admin.' Good thing da Pinchy is so cute, because he sounds like a real mew-sance. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist
