Green Lantern: Beware My Power is available on Blu-ray and digital on July 26, 2022.

DC Comics have filled the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps with a large and diverse roster of humans and aliens serving as intergalactic peacekeepers, but adaptations have mostly centered on the Silver Age Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Green Lantern: Beware My Power, the latest film in DC’s Tomorrowverse animated movie continuity, aims to formally pass the mantle to Marine Corps veteran John Stewart (Aldis Hodge) — a natural choice given the character has been part of comics canon since the ‘70s and was a core member of the Justice League animated series. Unfortunately, the film fails to live up to its own lofty ambitions, delivering a muddy moral message and a story bogged down by far too many other characters.

Jeff Wamester, who also directed the Tommorowverse film Justice Society: World War II, introduces Stewart as a sniper struggling with PTSD after his time in Afghanistan. He initially thinks he’s losing his mind when he encounters a dying alien in a crashed spaceship — a riff on Hal’s classic origin story — and is granted the immense power of a Green Lantern ring. Unable to connect him with the Green Lantern headquarters on Oa, the helpful ring sends John to the Justice League headquarters for more information on what his new job means.

This triggers the first of many sequences in the film where the heroes initially fight to show off their powers and relative strengths before realizing this is all a big misunderstanding. Wamester and writers Ernie Altbacker and John Semper seem to assume viewers have a knowledge of DC characters that extends well beyond the current DC animated film continuity, introducing Martian Manhunter (Ike Amadi), Vixen (Keesha Sharp), and Green Arrow (Jimmi Simpson) with relatively little explanation before sending John and Green Arrow into space to investigate what happened to Hal Jordan (Nolan North) and why his boss Ganthet (Jason J. Lewis) needed to hand-deliver John’s ring.

The investigation, which starts out satisfyingly twisty, puts them into the middle of a war between the planets Thanagar and Rann, a retelling of a 2005 event by Dave Gibbons. This isn’t the only extremely dense comics event that the writers are trying to jam into a film that clocks in at less than 90 minutes and also seems to be setting the stage for a future meta-gene-focused plot. The overstuffed story does a disservice to John, stealing his spotlight in favor of introducing a constant stream of new characters that have to awkwardly recite their backstories. Powerful comics villains are reduced to nameless minions for the assembled heroes to fight or are dispatched far too easily so that the plot can swiftly move onto the next phase of the rapidly escalating stakes.

Woven throughout is a clumsily executed philosophical question about what it means for a soldier to become a superhero. Superhero comics and media have spent decades grappling with the ethics of killing, but Green Lantern: Beware My Power adds nothing to that debate, basically concluding you probably shouldn’t kill people but it’s OK if you really have no other choice.

John Stewart was one of DC’s first Black heroes and the handling of that aspect of the character is even worse. When Green Arrow — who spends much of the film mentoring John based on his time spent with Hal — explains that a Green Lantern power ring won’t work on the color yellow, John replies “I’ve been up against that kind of barrier my whole life.” It’s an extremely awkward way to address racism, made even sillier by the fact that the restriction never winds up posing a problem for John. It’s also bizarre that Green Arrow seems to know more about what a power ring is capable of than the former Green Lantern Sinestro, who should really know better.

All that said, there are some good ideas here. The writers understand that space opera is the best genre for a Green Lantern story, even if they don’t give that story enough time to breathe. In what feels like a nod to fans of the Justice League series, the film introduces John to both of his love interests from the show — Vixen and Hawkgirl (Jamie Gray Hyder). Thanagarians take on the role of Klingons here, which makes for some funny conflicts with the much more laidback Green Arrow as Hawkgirl constantly picks fights and opines on the value of an honorable death. The facial expressions and fights are well animated, filled with creative uses of constructs.

Unfortunately that’s not enough to make up for the groan-inducing dialogue and generally sloppy and cluttered narrative. While there are nods to the plots of the Justice League series, Beware My Power doesn’t offer the same tight writing. It also failed to learn from the strong Green Lantern: The Animated Series, which did a much better job at explaining the dense mythology behind the Green Lantern Corps.

Sometimes you just need a good cry, and what better way to encourage that than by watching some really, really sad anime? As fans of Japanese animation know, these devastatingly upsetting films and movies have been around for decades. Whether you need a refresher, are in the mood for something dark and moody, or just love heartbreak; this list is for you.

From sibling sadness to tragic romance, strangely melancholy sci-fi all the way through maudlin murder-mysteries, we've got a special kind of sadness for every taste. So grab a box of tissues and get ready to watch some really upsetting anime, because somehow heartbreak feels good in a list like this.

10. Flavors of Youth

Where to watch: Netflix

Nostalgia can be the most melancholy of feelings and Flavors of Youth captures that perfectly. This charmingly animated anthology is all about those exact vibes as the loosely interconnected stories explore the power of nostalgia through the lens of food. Clips from the first entry, The Rice Noodles, have been used in many-an-aesthetic TikTok post and will absolutely make you cry. Not to be outdone, though, the following two just build on the power of The Rice Noodles, offering up thoughtful, emotionally driven, and bittersweet tales to jerk your tears.

See our list of the best anime on Netflix for more like this.

9. Mirai

Where to watch: Netflix

Mamoru Hosoda is a beloved anime director and Mirai showcases his immense talent. This 2018 time-hopping family drama was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe, and it follows a young boy named Kun who begins to feel displaced by his baby sister, Mirai. After running away and stumbling upon a magical garden, Kun meets both his mother and Mirai at different stages in their life, allowing him to explore the world and his family in a new way. An inventive and thoughtful take on the family drama, Mirai is a sentimental fantasy that'll make you weep.

8. Your Lie in April

Where to watch: Hulu

Coming of age stories that deal with the realities of growing up are far more common in manga and anime storytelling, and Your Lie in April is a great example. A group of friends traverse growing up and all the struggles that come with it after one of them has a nervous breakdown. Each episode of this slice of life anime series offers ample crying time, especially as you grow to care about the characters and their journey into young adulthood. Moving and authentic, this is the sort of show we wished we had when we were teenagers. But at least we have it now!

7. Clannad

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Tomoya Okazaki is a disillusioned 17 year old. After losing his mother at a young age, his upbringing became abusive, making him unhappy with his life and hometown. Clannad follows him throughout his teenage years into young adulthood as he changes his life by helping a series of young women. This is the sort of tragic slice of life that'll keep you crying and make you want to look after its young cast with your life. Very big "I would die for them" energy here.

6. Your Name.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

One of the most well known sad anime of recent years, Makoto Shinkai's Your Name. took the world by storm when it was released in 2016. A romantic anime story about fate, this epic blockbuster tells the story of two teens who begin to mysteriously swap bodies. Fantastical in the best way, this is a twisty tale that'll pull at your heartstrings. Plus, Shinkai is a master of the visual landscape, so this is a truly astonishing feat of animation too.

5. Garden of Words

Where to watch: Apple TV

This sentimental story centers on the ups and downs of an unexpected friendship. When a teenager, Takao, skips school in order to work on his true passion – becoming a shoemaker – he bumps into the beautiful 27-year-old Yukari. Both head to the stunning Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, hoping to find solace. But instead they seem to always keep meeting on rainy solitary days. This is another pure vibes anime that's super easy to rewatch and will keep your emotions flowing through your tear ducts as you explore the strange and unexpected relationship between them.

4. Erased

Where to watch: Hulu

It's hard to make a tearjerker that's also an engaging murder mystery, but Erased does just that. Satoru Fujinuma has a secret. He wields a unique power that allows him to travel back to precise moments in time, but only in connection to life or death moments. When Satoru suffers a great personal tragedy, his powers kick into overdrive, sending him back to childhood where he must stop a horrific set of crimes that upended his life so many years ago. Grief, love, loss and friendship all come into play as this twisty time travel mystery unfurls before us.

3. Weathering With You

Where to watch: HBO Max

The second entry on our list from Makoto Shinkai, Weathering With You may not have replicated the global phenomenon of Your Name, but it's an incredibly worthy successor. And as you might have guessed by our ranking, it's also even more emotionally devastating. Escaping from his abusive home, Hodaka Morishima ends up on the streets of Tokyo. Soon he builds a found family including the enigmatic Hina, a girl with strange powers. This romantic coming of age tale is an enchanting climate change fable with some of the best animation you've ever seen.

2. A Silent Voice

Where to watch: Netflix

When it comes to contemporary anime there is likely none more emotional than A Silent Voice. This heart wrenching tale traverses bullying, suicidal ideation, and making amends all through the eyes of kids growing up and coming of age. When a young Deaf girl, Shoya, joins Shoko's sixth grade class, she quickly becomes the target of his bullying. But the tide turns after his treatment of Shoya is revealed, she's transferred, and he becomes a social outcast. Years later the pair cross paths again as Shoko tries to make amends for his cruel past.

1. Grave of the Fireflies

Where to watch: Vudu

Grave of the Fireflies might just be the most heartbreaking film ever made, so there was no other choice to top our saddest anime list. Isao Takahata's 1988 masterpiece is an affecting treatise on the horrors of war, told from the perspective of a pair of siblings in Japan during World War II. Suddenly alone after a nightmarish firebombing attack on their hometown, sincere and sweet Seita does his best to look after his younger sister Setsuko as the pair try to survive the wreckage of war with no adults to guide them. Their journey is one of love, grief, and devastating emotional heartache. Just as relevant and real as it was on release, this is a must watch, though many viewers can only take a single viewing because it's just that sad.

Although this movie wasn't directed by Miyazaki, it remains one of the best Studio Ghibli films of all time.

Rosie Knight is an Eisner-winning journalist, author and comics writer. She co-hosts Crooked Media’s X-Ray Vision podcast, discussing pop culture from superhero movies to prestige television to the best fantasy novels and, of course, comics.

The first trailer and poster for John Wick 4 were revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 and they tease some of the exciting battles Keanu Reeves will get into when this fourth entry arrives in theaters on March 24, 2023.

The trailer was shown after Keanu Reeves crashed Collider's Directors on Directing panel that featured John Wick 4 director Chad Stahelski.

John Wick, at the beginning of the footage, is asked by Hiroyuki Sanada's Shimazu if he has "given any thought to where this ends?" We are then treated to glimpses of Clancy Brown's currently unknown character that may serve as the main antagonist, Lance Riddick's Charon, Ian McShane's Winston, Bill Skarsgard's Marquis, Shamier Anderson's Tracker, Donnie Yen's Caine, and Laurence Fishburne's Bowery King.

He is then told that, "no one, not even you, can kill everyone." Clearly, Shimazu hasn't seen the previous three films.

The trailer follows the first-look image that shows John Wick amid a blur of candles, and now we have even more of an idea as to what this entry will look like.

Fans were also treated to the first poster for John Wick 4 that puts Keanu Reeves' John Wick, also known as Baba Yaga, front and center.

John Wick 3 – Parabellum was released in 2019 and, in our review, we said that it "pushes its title character to his breaking point and back while offering fresh information about his backstory. The action is bloody and over-the-top and the emotional throughline remains solid as we follow John Wick on his journey to either save his skin or die trying."

For more on San Diego Comic-Con, check out our roundup of everything announced so far!

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

When you think of legends in the field of animated movies, the ground-breaking aesthetic of the Japanese animation film studio, Studio Ghibli, likely tops the list. Its trademark hand-drawn, detail-oriented artistry and stories centering real world social and/or environmental issues constantly redefined what it means to create a delicately immersive animated world. Whether you’re in the mood for the magically whimsical, the strange and supernatural, or a heartfelt, introspective coming of age story, Studio Ghibli’s got you covered with some of the best anime of all time.

I've put together a list of the top eleven Studio Ghibli feature films. Trust me, you’ll find yourself coming back for a re-watch again and again because each and every one holds up.

11. The Cat Returns (2002)

Where to Watch: HBO Max

When you’re in the mood for a weird but more family-friendly tale, director Hiroyuki Morita’s The Cat Returns is the perfect uncomplicated romp. Showcasing a grittier, more cartoonish style and a more realistic world, this story revisits the world of feature Whisper of the Heart and marks the return of Muta, the grumpy fat cat, and Baron von Gikkingen, a magicked statue.

High schooler Haru rescues a cat only to discover that the cat is really a prince named Lune. A grateful cat king asks Haru to marry Lune. After traveling to the Cat Kingdom, Haru’s features start turning feline. When she’s prevented from leaving the kingdom, Baron and others assist Haru in escaping. The Cat Returns never takes itself too seriously, offering instead hijinks and adventure to build its tale of an average teenager’s life magically turned upside down.

Read our review of The Cat Returns.

10. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

Where to watch: HBO Max

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya’s based on the 10th-century Japanese narrative prose, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter about a nymph found growing a bamboo stalk by a bamboo cutter. The cutter and his wife take the child in and raise her as their own. The child rapidly grows into a beautiful and highly desired woman. Sent away to court, to make a favorable marriage by her adopted father, the homesick Kaguya sets her suitors (princes and the Emperor alike) impossible tasks to avoid being forced to pick a husband.

Directed by longtime Miyazaki collaborator and Studio Ghibli co-founder, Isao Takahata, relies on a soft palette of watercolors to infuse the scrolling narrative of his adaptation with a life. As the story of Kaguya’s origins and ultimate otherworldly fate unfolds, prepare to run the gamut of emotions from joy, compassion, love, sadness and a deep sense of longing. This Ghibli project wasn’t not done in partnership with Disney. So, prepare yourself for heartbreak because Takahata turned this thematically heavy fairytale into a melancholy wonder.

Read our review of The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

9. Ponyo (2008)

Where to watch: HBO Max

Hayao Miyazaki’s tenth film, and eight directed for Studio Ghibli, Ponyo follows the story of a goldfish princess who desperately wants to live in the surface world and the five year-old boy she befriends. With heavy Little Mermaid influences and metaphors about ocean pollution and preservation, Ponyo is anything but a kitschy retelling. Featuring Miyazaki’s signature hand drawn animation presented in a vibrant, fluid style, Ponyo is a sweet and extremely engaging magical adventure.

Read our review of Ponyo.

8. Porco Rosso (1992)

Where to watch: HBO Max

Porco Rosso turns the story of an Italian World War I ex-fighter ace Marco Pagot transformed into an anthropomorphic pig by a curse. The freelance bounty hunter makes a living chasing down air pirates becomes known to the world as "Porco Rosso", which in Italian is for ¨Crimson Pig.¨ Offering up breathtaking, yet still accessible feeling, animation, Miyazaki blends fact and fantasy into a comedic highflying adventure. There are gritty themes just below the surface making Porco Rosso a masterful bit of bittersweet storytelling about identity, star-crossed lovers.. Porco Rosso is quite possibly Miyazaki’s most underrated film for Studio Ghibli.

7. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Where to watch: Vudu

Grave of the Fireflies adapts Akiyuki Nosaka semi-autobiographical short story of the same into a profoundly moving anti-war film and Studio Ghibli gem. Grave of the Fireflies tells the story of two children’s struggle to survive in harsh wasteland in the aftermath of Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. It’s a story of innocence, loss, devastation and hope. The unique mix of animation techniques Takahatemployed to bring this somber tale to life creates an achingly realistic portrayal without ever crossing the line into tragedy porn. It’s eye-opening, startlingly beautiful, and an inescapable clarion call for peace. Grave of the Fireflies is a meditation on the human cost of war and hands down Isao Takahata’s masterpiece.

Due to an ownership arrangement, Graves of the Fireflies isn’t included in any of the Studio Ghibli licensing deals but it's well worth the rental price.

Read our review of Grave of Fireflies.

6. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Where to watch: HBO Max

This twitchy-witchy adventure may be light on plot but it’s full of delightful energy. Brought to life with a color palette just as vibrant as its lead, Kiki's Delivery Service follows young witch trainee Kiki and her snarky cat Jiji in a coming-of-age tale inspired by the children’s story by the same name. Its deeper themes, and subtle down with patriarchy vibes, balances out the sentimental edge of its animation, keeping this charming adventure from veering too far off track. With Kiki’s Delivery Service, Hayao Miyazaki proves there’s no limit to the ways he can blend magic and the mundane; perpetually reinvigorating the Studio Ghibli aesthetic. Kiki’s a loveable character perfect for bringing a story about confidence, loneliness, and risk-taking to life.

5. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Where to watch: HBO Max

Inspired by the novel of the same name by British author Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle follows a young milliner, Sophie, who befriends a wizard named Howl who lives in a magical castle. When a jealous witch curses Sophie with old age, Howl must use all his magical abilities to save her before time runs out. Howl’s Moving Castle is a masterful display of Miyazaki’s animation skills and ability to pace and interpret characters for dynamic storytelling. As the latter half of the film takes a darker turn, it becomes clear that Howl's Moving Castle is Hayao Miyazaki’s contribution to Studio Ghibli’s anti-war stories. Riddled with gorgeous imagery and appealing characters, Miyazaki's created a journey into pure imagination.

4. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Where to watch: HBO Max

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a post-apocalyptic science fiction adventure, follows skillful fighter and princess, Nausicaä, as she navigates life 1000 years after the war that destroyed civilization. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the story revolves around her attempts to save her community from an ecological disaster. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a timeless example of Miyazaki’s masterful word-building and one of the best science fiction movies, period.

Technically released before Studio Ghibli's founding, it’s jam-packed with all the complex themes and metaphors, it's considered the precursor of things to come from Studio Ghibli.

3. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Where to watch: HBO Max

One of Studio Ghibli’s most well known (and oft misunderstood) title, Princess Mononoke tells the epic story of a forest princess who mobilizes to combat mechanization and encroachment that threatens her people and their home. This blend of myth, legend and fantasy painstakingly constructed of lush hand-drawn art, evocative music and a mix of monsters, magic and charismatic characters. Telling a dynamic tale ahead of its time. Hayao Miyazaki perfectly balances his desire to engage in flights of intense fantasy that serve as weight allegories producing epic that will never be forgotten.

2. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Where to watch: HBO Max

My Neighbor Totoro centers two young girls who befriend the spirit-monsters near their new home. Hayao Miyazaki’s classic is a sweet trip into childhood. Its pastoral scenes of tranquil summer afternoons, playful cast of characters, fill My Neighbor Totoro with an enticing charm and warmth.Miyazaki’s created a near-perfect story of innocence, hope, fun and the joys of being a kid (or young at heart). If Studio Ghibli has a mascot it's definitely the titular character, Totoro.

1. Spirited Away (2001)

Where to watch: HBO Max

Spirited Away put Studio Ghibli on the map internationally. It’s an enchanting tale made of light, magic, mystery and monsters. It’s a meditation on the natural world, the spirit world and how they interact with the mundane. Spirited Away centers on 10 year-old Chihiro who inadvertently ends up in a world of gods and monsters while moving to a new neighborhood with her parents. Chihiro ends up stranded in this netherworld after her parents get transformed into pigs and the river floods. Chihiro must learn to navigate the spirit world and how to escape before she forgets her name and is trapped forever. Hayao Miyazaki’s signature artwork and heartfelt storytelling come together in a gorgeous and immersive fairytale that remains unmatched.

Read our review of Spirited Away.

Need more anime in your life? Take a look at our guide to the best vampire anime for more.

While the Star Wars franchise doesn't have a major presence at Comic-Con this year (outside of the Lucasfilm Publishing panel), there is one welcome treat in the form of a display featuring a number of costumes used in the various Disney+ series. And it turns out some of them even tease plot points in the upcoming Star Wars: Andor series.

We snapped some photos of this most impressive Star Wars display, which includes the Darth Vader suit worn by Hayden Christensen in Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Mandalorian armor of characters like Din Djarin, Boba Fett and Bo-Katan Kryze. See them all in the slideshow gallery below:

Alongside the familiar costumes from past Disney+ series, this display includes costumes worn by Genevieve O'Reilly's Mon Mothma and Diego Luna's Cassian Andor in the Andor series. The display plaques even include some intriguing plot details about the show.

Mon Mothma's plaque reads, "The Imperial senator from Chandrila, Mon Mothma carefully navigates the dangerous shadows of Coruscant politics in her efforts to build a rebellion."

Meanwhile, Cassian's plaque reads, "As part of his entry into the growing rebellion, Cassian Andor must undertake a dangerous mission on Aldhani."

No Star Wars series is truly complete without at least one new droid character, and it's clear Andor won't disappoint on that front. This display includes a spot for B2EMO, a scrap-collecting droid who has apparently been serving the Andor family for many years.

Star Wars: Andor was first announced in 2018 and will follow Andor, the thief-turned-Rebel spy, leading up to the events of Rogue One where the plans for the Death Star are stolen. The series could also feature some previously cut characters. Andor debuts with its first two episodes on Disney+ on August 31, 2022. Be sure to check out the trailer and our breakdown of everything we saw in it.

There's tons of news for all your favorite shows, films, games, and more coming out of San Diego Comic-Con 2022, and we've got the full schedule to guide you through the weekend of panels, announcements, trailers, and surprises.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.