Category: cultura-pop

**Counter-Strike** dominated the Twitch audience in 2025, consolidating itself as the most-watched esport of the year with overwhelming numbers. Meanwhile, League of Legends secured the silver medal but shone with the highest peak concurrent viewership in history during the World Championship. However, the biggest surprise on the list was the unexpected entry of Rainbow Six Siege into the Top 5, unseating heavy hitters that many took for granted.

According to the latest data from Esports Charts, the competitive scene remains concentrated on veteran titles that set the pace for the global market. Furthermore, the gap between the elite group and the fifth-place finisher is still abysmal, with a distance exceeding 150 million hours watched. Therefore, Ubisoft’s achievement with Siege takes on the character of an overcoming victory within the platform.

## The top 5 most-watched esports on Twitch in 2025

– **1. Counter-Strike:** 372 million hours watched
– **2. League of Legends:** 307 million hours watched
– **3. Dota 2:** 213 million hours watched
– **4. Valorant:** 185 million hours watched
– **5. Rainbow Six Siege:** 34.76 million hours watched

## Records and what to expect from 2026

Although CS leads in total airtime, LoL Worlds 2025 was the largest single event of the year, reaching an impressive peak of 166 million concurrent viewers. Due to this success, Ubisoft is already preparing the Six Invitational to start this Monday, February 2, 2026. The company plans to distribute exclusive rewards via Twitch Drops at all stages of the tournament to try and maintain its ranking position.

Thus, the 2026 scene promises to be even more competitive with the arrival of new competitions, such as the Esports Nations Cup. It remains to be seen whether Rainbow Six can hold its spot at the top or if other titles will strike back by the end of December.

**Netflix** officially confirmed the renewal of the Danish crime series **The Asset** for a second season in early February 2026. The plot follows a young undercover agent who tries to get close to a drug dealer’s wife to dismantle a criminal scheme. Due to the impactful finale of the first year, the sequel promises to raise the stakes and place the cast in even more extreme situations.

The announcement comes after the production broke viewership records upon its debut in late 2025. In just one week, the series reached number one in 52 countries and appeared in the Top 10 of 90 nations, totaling 11.3 million views. For this reason, the streaming giant acted quickly to ensure the continuity of the story, which became a global phenomenon in record time.

## What to expect from the new phase

Concept director Samanou Acheche Sahlstrøm stated that the new season should turn everything upside down. While the worlds of Tea and Ashley collide again, new challenges will take the characters to their physical and emotional limits. Filming begins in Copenhagen later in 2026, maintaining the urban and tense aesthetic that established the original title.

## Technical Details and Cast

The production maintains the powerhouse team that ensured the success of the first season. Check out the names confirmed for the series’ return:

– **Cast:** Clara Dessau, Maria Cordsen, Afshin Firouzi, Nicolas Bro, Soheil Bavi, among others.
– **Producers:** Jacob Jarek, Marta Mleczek and Matilda Appelin.
– **Main Writers:** Frederik Ringtved and Samanou Acheche Sahlstrøm.
– **Episode Writers:** Johanne Algren, Oscar Giese and Christian Bengtson.

The cyberpunk universe of **Ghost in the Shell** is about to gain new life at the hands of the acclaimed studio Science SARU. With its premiere confirmed for July 2026, the production has just received its first official trailer, promising to finally erase the memory of the controversial live-action film released nearly a decade ago. This new adaptation seeks to recapture the essence of Masamune Shirow’s original manga, presenting a look that is already exciting the franchise’s most demanding fans.

While the 2017 film, starring Scarlett Johansson, divided opinions and failed to capture the depth of the work, this animated version bets on the prestige of the studio responsible for hits like *Dandadan* and *Scott Pilgrim Takes Off*. Due to this impressive track record, expectations are that Major Motoko Kusanagi’s journey will receive the philosophical and visual treatment that made her a global icon. Furthermore, the trailer highlights an aesthetic much closer to the classic 1989 illustrations than any other recent attempt.

## The triumphant return of Section 9

The franchise, which served as the basis for classics like *The Matrix*, is now trying to distance itself from the “black sheep” label left by Western adaptations. On the other hand, the recent success of other productions shows that the audience is eager for fidelity to the source material, which puts Science SARU in a privileged position. In this way, the new anime not only celebrates the legacy of Section 9, but also modernizes the dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence and identity for the technological reality of 2026.

Despite the mixed reviews that some seasons of *Stand Alone Complex* received in the past, interest in the brand remains extremely high. Therefore, the choice of a studio known for visual innovation seems to be the right move to revitalize the saga. With a release scheduled for the middle of this year, the reboot promises to be the definitive milestone that fans have been waiting for since the original 1995 film.

**Adult Swim** has just released a new way to consume its chaotic catalog with the premiere of ‘Shut Up and Watch This’ this weekend. The 30-minute block arrived on **HBO Max** and the linear channel on January 31, 2026, bringing an acidic curation of classic content and rare productions. Therefore, if you like the brand’s bizarre style, you already have a monthly appointment on your calendar from now on.

The proposal focuses on a fast and direct experience, mixing clips from famous series with shorts from independent artists and striking soundtracks. Additionally, the show features a guide voice that leads the viewer through this experimental journey without unnecessary interruptions. As a result, the audience gets a dynamic showcase to discover the best of the label without having to scour the entire streaming catalog.

## Where to watch and what to expect

With monthly releases planned, the new feature is not restricted to just pay TV or subscription services. The first full episode was published on the official Adult Swim YouTube channel right after the official premiere, allowing anyone to experience the format for free. However, the full experience with the extended library remains exclusive to subscribers of the Warner Bros. Discovery platform.

## Featured Series in the Catalog

For those who want to go beyond the 30 minutes of curation, HBO Max maintains the full seasons of the house’s big hits that you can check out now:

– **RICK AND MORTY**
– **SMILING FRIENDS**
– **SOCIETY OF VIRTUE**

In this way, the new block serves as an ideal appetizer for Brazilian fans of adult animation and absurd humor. The content promises to be constantly updated, ensuring that independent productions get the same space as the studio’s big hits.

**Prince Vegeta** is today one of the most beloved heroes in Dragon Ball, but his journey in Dragon Ball Z was marked by unforgivable crimes. While in February 2026 we celebrate his evolution as a father and ally of Goku, we cannot forget that the warrior walked a path of blood and arrogance. His obsession with surpassing Kakarot led him to make disastrous decisions that nearly annihilated Earth and other planets.

Since his triumphant arrival in the Saiyan Saga, Vegeta has shown absolute contempt for the lives of others. Even after beginning his transition to the side of the good guys, his wounded pride often spoke louder than his morality. Below, we list the character’s darkest moments that defined how cruel he could be before his final redemption.

## The 5 worst actions of Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z

– **1) Extermination of a village on Namek:** In his frantic search for the Dragon Balls, Vegeta massacred an entire village of innocent Namekians, including the elderly and children. The cruelest detail is that these victims were never resurrected, as the wish made to the dragon balls only covered those killed by Frieza and his soldiers — and Vegeta was already acting on his own at the time.
– **2) Massacre of civilians at the Martial Arts Tournament:** To force Goku to accept a duel, Vegeta allowed Babidi to dominate his mind and fired an attack at the tournament stands. The blow killed hundreds of innocent spectators in cold blood, just to satisfy his wounded ego.
– **3) Helped Cell reach his Perfect Form:** Out of pure arrogance, Vegeta ignored Future Trunks’ pleas and allowed Cell to absorb Android 18. He wanted to test his new powers against a worthy opponent, but the result was the birth of a monster that nearly destroyed the solar system.
– **4) Became Majin Vegeta by choice:** Although he could resist Babidi’s mind control, the Prince accepted the Majin mark just to obtain a power boost. This selfish decision released enough energy to awaken Majin Buu, the villain who would later exterminate almost all of humanity.
– **5) Total contempt for family at the beginning:** Shortly after Trunks’ birth, Vegeta showed no affection for Bulma or the baby. He neglected both for years, focusing only on his training, and it took almost a decade for him to give his own son his first hug.

Despite these terrible acts, Akira Toriyama’s writing allowed Vegeta to transform into a three-dimensional character. Currently, he carries the weight of his past actions while fighting to protect the universe, proving that even the proudest of villains can find the light.

Some **anime characters** receive royalty treatment from writers, while others carry the emotional weight of the story only to be discarded in a cruel way. In this month of February 2026, it is still common to find heated discussions in Brazilian forums about figures who deserved a day off or a happy ending, but received only tragedy and a sad piano soundtrack. These characters became symbols of how Japanese narrative can be merciless, transforming what could be redemption into pure pain for the audience.

Below, we list the 10 figures who most left fans outraged with their fates, keeping all technical details and justifications that fuel this indignation to this day.

## 10. Maes Hughes – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Hughes functioned as the beating heart of the series, which is why his death caused such a devastating impact. The writers used his departure strategically to shake the protagonists, which many consider a waste of a soldier who genuinely believed in goodness. While the tone of the work permanently shifted toward betrayal, fans lamented the loss of one of the few beacons of optimism in that brutal military world.

## 9. Kurapika – Hunter x Hunter

The young idealist from the Kurta clan turned into a cold weapon driven by obsession after the massacre of his people. Due to this relentless pursuit of revenge, his emotional development stagnated in a cycle of suffering that pulled him away from the lighter adventures of Gon and Killua. Even while achieving victories, Kurapika remains chained to the past, leaving a feeling that his story never reached the peace he so desperately needed.

## 8. Sasha Blouse – Attack on Titan

Sasha evolved from comic relief to one of the most human characters in the work, representing perseverance amidst total despair. Her sudden death seemed more like a cheap emotional punctuation than a necessary narrative evolution, serving only to reinforce the series’ nihilism. As a result, the audience felt she was punished precisely for maintaining her kindness in a world that had already forgotten the meaning of gentleness.

## 7. Jiraiya – Naruto

Jiraiya’s fall against Pain remains one of the hardest blows for Brazilians who grew up watching Naruto. Besides being a noble warrior, he was the teacher whose lessons carried real emotional depth. The master deserved to see his student’s triumph up close; however, he died alone, leaving only a prophetic hope and a void that no other sensei could fill.

## 6. Kamina – Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Kamina was the personification of momentum and leadership, but his flame was extinguished too soon by the writers. Although his absence propelled Simon’s growth, the loss of such a dynamic personality left a bitter taste for mecha fans. This narrative choice might even make thematic sense; however, emotionally, it was one of the most unsatisfactory exchanges in the history of animation.

## 5. L – Death Note

The world’s greatest detective represented morality and reason in a game of cat and mouse that defined a generation. His death didn’t just feel like a plot point, but a betrayal of the electricity that moved the show, as his replacements never reached the same brilliance. L deserved a worthy victory or a more robust closure, instead of being defeated by circumstances that many consider unfair.

## 4. Koro-Sensei – Assassination Classroom

Every lesson from this peculiar master came from a place of love and a search for redemption, but his final fate was sealed by tragedy. He guided his students toward humanity while the clock ticked down to his own end, creating a bittersweet atmosphere in every scene. He certainly deserved a peaceful resolution after so much effort to atone for his past; however, he was sacrificed to generate catharsis in the audience.

## 3. Lelouch Lamperouge – Code Geass

Lelouch played the game of the gods and paid the highest price for his plan for world peace. Although many see his fate as a necessary martyrdom, the tragedy lies in the absolute loneliness he faced at the end of his journey. He deserved the chance to rebuild the world he helped change, but ended up consumed by the very idealism he defended with such fervor.

## 2. Rem – Re:Zero

Rem stole the scene with a loyalty and courage that few supporting characters demonstrate. Unfortunately, her love was unrequited and, shortly after finding a bit of peace, she was brutally erased from existence. Fans still feel this narrative vacuum, as she deserved recognition and happiness after all the suffering she endured alongside Subaru.

## 1. Neji Hyuga – Naruto Shippuden

Neji’s journey was about breaking the chains of fate, but his death is considered one of the cheapest in the shonen genre. He fought for equality and identity only to end up as a human shield in a story that wasn’t his. Neji possessed extraordinary growth potential and deserved to complete his arc of liberation, instead of being written out of the plot just to shock the viewer.

**Gearbox Software** released a massive update for **Borderlands 4** this week that finally delivers the long-awaited Photo Mode and an ambitious roadmap for the entire year of 2026. Available since January 29 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, the patch ends a five-month wait for players who had been waiting for the feature promised even before the game’s original debut.

Due to the priority given to fixing technical issues shortly after launch, the development team held back the capture tool until now. With system stability guaranteed, the studio is now focusing on expanding the experience with new content and quality-of-life improvements that fans have been asking for since February of last year.

## New Photo Mode Features

– Complete camera controls: Field of View (FoV) and Depth of Field (DoF).
– Visual filters and time-of-day adjustments.
– Options to hide characters or damage numbers on screen.
– Full game pause (available only in single-player mode).

## 2026 Content Roadmap

In addition to the imaging tools, Gearbox detailed what is coming to the game in the coming months of this year. The development plan is robust and focuses on both new equipment and social features long-awaited by the community.

– **March 2026:** Launch of Pearlescent rarity items along with the first major expansion.
– **Second Quarter (Q2):** New endgame content and high-level activities.
– **New Features:** Implementation of cross-platform saves and level cap increase.
– **New Vault Hunter:** Debut of the character C4SH.
– **Confirmed Expansions:** Bounty Pack 2: Legend of the Stone Demon and Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned.

In this way, Gearbox tries to keep the player base active while resolving technical issues. Meanwhile, the current patch also applies a long list of interface adjustments and balance fixes that make the journey through Pandora much smoother and more enjoyable for bounty hunters.

The eternal discussion about **Wonder Woman** — whether she was molded from clay or is the biological daughter of Zeus — has once again set the comic book community ablaze this Sunday, February 1st, 2026. The debate topped the access rankings of the Bleeding Cool portal, reaffirming that the origin of DC Comics’ greatest heroine remains one of the most sensitive and engaging topics for current readers.

With nearly four decades of history covering the industry’s behind-the-scenes, the daily summary Lying In The Gutters recorded this phenomenon as the most-read news of the day. While veteran fans defend the purity of the classic creation by Queen Hippolyta’s hands, new narrative arcs reinforce the divine bond with Olympus. Additionally, the daily report compiled the main market movements, including casting controversies in Doctor Who and new details about Marvel’s next steps.

## The ten most-read stories from yesterday

1. Clay Or Daughter Of Zeus? The War Of Wonder Woman’s Origin Continues
2. Doctor Who: Curtis/Newton Casting Complaints Addressed in BBC Report
3. Explaining Exactly What Marvel’s Reborn: Ultimate Impact Actually Is
4. Hasbro Drops Target Exclusive Transformers Studio Series Megatron
5. Batman Makes A Case For Action Against ICE To Santa Clara City Council
6. Chip Zdarsky, Armageddon And Exclusive At Marvel For Another Two Years
7. DC Comics Gives Away All Of Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing For Free
8. More Milestone At DC And A New Teen Team Thanks To K.O. (Spoilers)
9. Mary Jane Vs Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral
10. SCOOP: Logo Covers For All-New All-Spectacular Spider-Man/Superman

## Other stories published recently

– Narrow Rooms & Mary Pains in Drawn & Quarterly May 2026 Full Solicits
– Transformers, GI Joe, Void Rivals – The Energon April 2026 Solicits
– Battle Beast on Comics The Magazine in Prana April 2026 Full Solicits
– Milo Manara’s African Adventure in Fantagraphics April 2026 Solicits
– Ralphie May And Fred Perry in Antarctic Press April 2026 Full Solicits
– Darkstalkers X Street Fighter in Udon Studios April 2026 Full Solicits
– Milestone Returns For DC’s K.O.- The Daily LITG, 29th Of January, 2026

## Highlights from one year ago: Black Mirror and Marvel controversies

1. Black Mirror Season 7: Netflix Clip Previews “USS Callister” Sequel
2. Amanda Waller’s Legacy & Power Shuffle in Today’s DC Comics (Spoilers)
3. Spider-Man, Daredevil & More Self-Inflicted PR Wounds for Marvel
4. IDW Cancels Issues Of The Hunger & The Dusk, Switches To Graphic Novel
5. Hosts, Boasts And Ghosts In Today’s X-Men Comics (XSpoilers)
6. Reacher Season 3 Preview Images: Neagley Always Has Jack’s Back
7. YFN Spider-Man Not Being “Annoying and Woke” Is “Great”: Hudson Thames
8. A Musical Adaptation Of Coraline Has Officially Been Canceled
9. Beware the Power of the Hulk with New Diamond Select Toys PVC
10. The Rookie Season 7: ABC Releases S07E05: “Til Death” Image Gallery
11. Shannon Eric Denton & David Hartman Unleash A Kraken From Titan Comics
12. Carmen Sandiego’s Kevin Shinick & Greg Lee Graphic Novel, Host Mortem
13. Boom Jumps To Penguin Three Months Early, After Diamond Bankruptcy
14. Alien: Earth Official Teaser in the Daily LITG, 29th January 2025

## Highlights from two years ago: Chuck Dixon and Dean Cain

1. Chuck Dixon And Dean Cain, Making Up Outrage For Clicks And Giggles
2. The Boys: Erin Moriarty Blasts Megyn Kelly, Trolls Over Body-Shaming
3. Still Penthouse Comics in the Daily LITG, the 29th of January, 2024
4. New Name For DC’s Hall Of Justice, Confirmed (Beast World Spoilers)
5. Guillem March On Penthouse Comics #2 Out In April
6. Some SNL Cast Members Not Happy with “Surprise Guest” Chappelle?
7. Penthouse Comics in the Daily LITG, the 28th of January, 2024
8. When Nightwing Offers President Joe Biden His Big Secret (Spoilers)
9. The Return Of Krakoan Resurrection For Dead X-Men (Spoilers)
10. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Anson Mount/Pike Hair Secret Revealed!
11. Aneurin Barnard Stars As Rogue Trooper, In 2000AD Movie Out Next Year
12. Darkstalkers’ Jedah Gets His Own Comic in Udon’s April 2024 Solicits
13. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book 2, 100,000 Fantagraphics Print Run
14. Rodriguez & D’Elia’s Wicked Tales #1 in Blood Moon April 2024 Solicits
15. Sandlin & Lima’s Bio-Mechs #1 in BlackBox’s April 2024 Solicits

## Highlights from three years ago: Rick and Morty and Dawn of DC

1. Rick and Morty Writer Clues Us In on Reason for Justin Roiland Silence
2. Warrior Nun Tweets Break 8M; Simon Barry Offers 10M Tweets Incentive
3. Batwing & Vixen, A New Series For Dawn Of DC? (Spoilers)
4. James Gunn, Amanda Waller: Our DCU Dumpster Fire of Random Speculation
5. Archer Star Chris Parnell Confirms Season 14 Recording Underway
6. Press Ad for Dawn Of DC Cyborg #1 Reveals a New Look For the Arm Gun
7. The Flash Season 9 Teaser Fast-Forwards Arrowverse Series’ 8 Seasons
8. Superman Gets Another Major Change To His Status Quo (Super Spoilers)
9. That ’90s Show: Mila Kunis Not Buying Jackie/Kelso/Fez Changes
10. Penguin Classics To Publish Fantastic Four, X-Men and Avengers
11. The Expansion of Archie Comics’ Riverdale Franchise, Up for Auction
12. Antioch To Skip 3 & 4, Go Straight To Image Comics Collection
13. Superman & Orson Welles Team Up on Mars in 1949, Up for Auction
14. First Appearance Of Danny The Street & Flex Metallo- Doom Patrol #35
15. Four Issues Of Uncanny X-Men, One Includes First Bishop Appearance

## Highlights from four years ago: David Tennant and Maus

1. How David Tennant Returning As Doctor Who Was Set Up By Steven Moffat
2. Art Spiegelman’s Maus Back In Bestseller Charts After Classroom Ban
3. Anyone Notice Peacemaker’s Opening Dance Number Is Space Invaders?
4. Marvel Declares That Mutants Are Deviants According To Eternals
5. CGC Asks Bad Idea To Stop Selling The Slabbed Invisible Comics
6. Royal Rumble: Predictions For Who The Surprise Entrants Will Be
7. Will Mary Jane Wearing The Black Cat’s Costume Be Be a Regular Thing?
8. Mjolnir Explains What It Means To Be Worthy – Thor #21 Spoilers
9. X-Men Phoenix and Jean Grey Maquette Debuts from Sideshow
10. Inhumans Leader Responds to Claims Group Are “Second-Rate X-Men”
11. Florida Polk County Schools Pull Raina Telgemeier’s Drama From Shelves
12. Dan Wickline & Carlos Reno Kickstart Graphic Novel About Models
13. Rian Hughes Curates Science Fiction Classic Cover Collection
14. Marc Guggenheim Writes Moon Knight Like Memento
15. Maus Is Now The Second And Fourth Best-Selling Book On Amazon
16. Jennifer Korsen Settles Lawsuit With Marvel Over Use Of Graffiti Art
17. Doctor Who Getting Another Repeat? Daily LITG 29th January 2022

## Highlights from five years ago: Boba Fett and Marvel Timeless

1. The Book of Boba Fett Viewers Have “Timely” E01 Complaint (SPOILERS)
2. Someone Made The Best Inventory Mod For Stardew Valley
3. The Biggest Reveal In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1 (Spoilers)
4. Brandon Routh Talks Legends, “Crisis” Superman, Spinoff Rumors & More
5. Frank Caliendo Pays Tribute to NFL Broadcasting Icon John Madden
6. McFarlane Toys Debuts Batman Arkham Asylum Titan Joker Mega Figure
7. Misgendering In DC Comics Today – Teen Titans Academy & Action Comics
8. Pete Davidson Keeps His NYE Promise & Miley Cyrus Shares Proof
9. Doctor Who Star David Tennant Supports NHS Renationalizing Efforts
10. Spider-Man: No Way Home: Mid-Credit Scene Shows Sony Doesn’t Get It
11. Patrick Gleason Puts Webhead Into Amazing Spider-Man #83 (Spoilers)
12. Kang Up Against Avenger Prime, Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1
13. Thanos And The Infinity Hammer Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1
14. The Return of Jack Of Hearts Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1?
15. The Death Of Captain America Teased In Marvel Comics Timeless #1
16. Black Panther and Spider-Man Future Teased- Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1
17. Iron Man’s Deity Destiny Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1
18. Andrew Vachss, Hardboiled Writer, Defender of Children, Passes Away
19. Young Avengers & Thunderbolts Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1
20. Orchis, Krakoa But No Rogue Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1
21. Reckoning War Opening Strike Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1
22. Gunless Punisher In Action In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1 (Spoilers)
23. New Iron Fist Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1 (Spoilers)
24. Ben Reilly’s Future Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1 (Spoilers)
25. The Twilight Sword, Teased In Marvel Comics’ Timeless #1 (Spoilers)
26. It’s All About Eddie In The Daily LITG December 29th 2021

## Highlights from six and seven years ago

1. Today’s Justice League #39 On Whether Doomsday Clock is DC Canon or Not
2. The Truth About Professor X, in Today’s Dawn of X Comics
3. The Return of The Children Of The Vault to Today’s X-Men #5
4. “Lucifer”: Neil Gaiman – “Sandman” Not Cause for Netflix Series Ending
5. How DC Screwed Up James Tynion’s Final Issue of Justice League Dark
6. Late Night Rumours – More Layoffs at DC Comics Coming Soon
7. Who’s Jean Grey Kissing in Age Of X-Man Alpha #1?
8. The Comic Mint Destroying Copies of Detective Comics #1000
9. Tomorrow, Flash Annual #2 Notices Wally West Died in Heroes In Crisis

## Industry birthdays for the day

– **Denys Cowan:** Milestone co-founder and artist of The Question.
– **Fred Hembeck:** comic book satirist.
– **Dann Maxx Thomas:** writer of All-Star Squadron and Avengers West Coast.
– **Guy Gilchrist:** artist of The Muppets and Nancy.
– **Link Yaco:** comic book researcher and co-creator of Metacops.
– **Dirk Manning:** author of Nightmare World.
– **Rik Offenberger:** Editor-in-Chief of First Comics News.

Valve surprised **Deadlock** players in early February 2026 with the official release of Graves. The new heroine arrives with a stylish necromancer look and mechanics that strongly resemble Undying from Dota 2. Unlike other classic summoners, she focuses on long-duration fights and the progressive weakening of opponents while draining life to stay alive on the battlefield.

Graves’ primary weapon is a severed lich hand that fires a short-range beam with native lifesteal. Meanwhile, the Essence Theft ability enhances this attack, allowing her to steal up to 25% of weapon damage and 10% of the target’s spirit resistance after four seconds of contact. Because of this, she becomes an unstoppable threat in prolonged engagements, especially if you equip items like Split Shot to hit multiple targets simultaneously.

## Graves’ Abilities in Deadlock

– **Beam Weapon:** Short-range shot that drains life and has slight target tracking.
– **Essence Theft:** Steals up to 25% weapon damage and 10% spirit resistance (scales with spirit).
– **Jar of Dead:** Collects souls from the ground to summon four ‘Deadheads’ (floating skulls) that attack the target.
– **Grasping Hands:** Creates a wall that immobilizes and damages enemies who pass through it.
– **Borrowed Decree (Ultimate):** Places a tombstone that generates explosive Ghouls. Each explosion deals 150 damage (1.5x spirit scaling) and 80% slow.

For those who enjoy summons, Jar of Dead allows Graves to collect souls across the map to create Deadheads. These small floating skulls chase and strike enemies repeatedly, causing constant spirit damage. Additionally, the heroine features Grasping Hands, an excellent tactical wall for cutting off narrow lanes and preventing victims from escaping while their strength is drained.

The highlight of the kit is Borrowed Decree, her ultimate ability. Graves places a giant tombstone that continuously generates Ghouls to attack adversaries. However, players need to be careful, as enemies can destroy the tombstone with just two heavy melee attacks. Thus, the correct positioning of the structure determines whether Graves will dominate the fight or lose her greatest asset quickly.

HBO Max has confirmed the **Rouge** documentary series for this year, 2026, but the behind-the-scenes reveal a series of contractual demands that almost stalled the project. While fans await the return of the 2000s pop phenomenon, individual negotiations exposed old wounds and specific conditions for the singers to agree to open up their intimacy before the cameras.

Luciana Andrade was the name that caused the most trouble during the signing process. She demanded that the script not address internal fights nor portray her as a villain, something that was also requested by the other members. However, Luciana”s late entry into the project caused discomfort for Fantine Thó, who lives in the Netherlands and had already organized her entire recording schedule believing that her former colleague would not participate in the documentary.

## Agreements and Forbidden Themes

Despite the tensions between the two, Karin Hills and Aline Wirley were the first to accept the invitation without imposing major obstacles. They only agreed to preserve the group”s image as much as possible in individual testimonies. On the other hand, one name is strictly forbidden in the recordings: Elisabetta Zenatti. The group”s former manager is now Netflix”s vice president of content, so HBO prefers to avoid any direct conflict with the competitor, especially after Warner Bros. was purchased by the streaming giant.

## One Member Out of the Project

Unfortunately, the documentary will not feature the full quintet in February 2026. Li Martins dropped out of the production following the tragic death of her husband, JP Mantovani, in a motorcycle accident that occurred in September 2025. Even though she had initially signed the contract and made her own demands, the singer chose to step away due to grief. Consequently, HBO maintained the original schedule without her presence, which prompted some hints from Fantine Thó on social media about commitment to the project.