Comic Booked

Dynamite Entertainment Announces Dark Shadows/Vampirella!

Rob The Wrecker — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:49:19 +0000

Still reeling from seeing Dark Shadows in theaters? Are you anxiously awaiting the announcement of a sequel? While I can't make any promises on that front, I can help stay your appetite by telling you about Dynamite Entertainment's Dark Shadows/Vampirella! Coming this August from the creative team of Marc Andreyko and Patrick Berkenkotter, Dark Shadows/Vampirella will bring the two iconic vampires together in New York City, each investigating their own mystery. Will they solve them before they kill each other? Who knows? For more information see the press release below!

VAMPIRELLA MEETS DARK SHADOWS' BARNABAS COLLINS IN DARK SHADOWS/VAMPIRELLA #1 FROM DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT! IN COMIC STORES EVERYWHERE THIS COMING AUGUST! May 16th, 2011, Runnemede, NJ - This coming August, Vampirella and Barnabas Collins meet for the first time EVER in Dark Shadows/Vampirella #1! Written by the acclaimed Marc (Manhunter) Andreyko and drawn by Patrick Berkenkotter, with a cover by Fabiano Neves, this will be a cross-over to remember! Be sure to pick up Dark Shadows/Vampirella #1 this coming August! In Dark Shadows/Vampirella #1, when the disappearance of a family friend brings Barnabas Collins to New York, he is ill-prepared for the seedy underworld of clubs that awaits him! And Vampirella's quest to find the "Big Apple Butcher" sends her on a collision course with the vampire of Collinsport! Will Vampirella and Barnabas uncover the shocking identity of this madman before they kill each another? "Barnabas Collins and Vampirella are two classic characters in vampire lore, so getting the chance to pen their first meeting is a blast," says writer Marc Andreyko. "I remember watching Dark Shadows reruns and sneaking peeks at the Vampirella magazines when I was just a wee lad, so getting to do this book seems like fate! And I'm not going easy on Barnabas or Vampi in this series, either! They are going to be put through a gauntlet of terror before this book is through!" Jim Pierson, spokesman for Dark Shadows rights owner Dan Curtis Productions, adds, "It's fun to further expand the reach of Dark Shadows and hopefully expose the classic characters to new fans who might just be discovering Barnabas with the new Johnny Depp movie." "Cross-overs get a bad rap when they're not done right, or they feel forced," adds Dynamite editor Joe Rybandt. "But this one felt like a natural the moment we had the idea. The setting, the characters, the bad guys...the whole thing has come together so naturally, and Marc and Patrick are the perfect pair to make it happen." Become our fan on Facebook at facebook.com/DynamiteComics! Join the conversation on Dynamite Entertainment's twitter page at http://twitter.com/DynamiteComics! To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit www.comicshoplocator.com For art and more information, please visit www.dynamite.netAbout Dynamite Entertainment:

Try and ESCAPE The Walking Dead!

James Victor Von Halstead — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:43:23 +0000

Holy crap this is amazing! Skipping the pleasantries I am so prone to, this has to be one of the coolest attractions out there! For those lucky souls in San Diego, or those jawsome people attending Comic Con this year, make sure to head over to Petco Park for one of the coolest obstacle courses of all time, The Walking Dead Escape! Head over to their site to sign up and purchase tickets. It is a limited time, from July 12-14 and tickets are $70. The Walking Dead, of course, for those who shun comics and TV (why are you reading this?) is the award winning comic from Robert Kirkman, which has since become one of the highest rated TV shows on cable.I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead and am kicking myself for not being able to attend this amazing event. You can be a survivor and try to live through the event, or have some of the finest make up artists in the business turn you into one of the living dead. And for those who are two scared for either, you can watch as the fools fall to the damned and decaying. The event will be very physical as you will need to use all your skill to evade the shambling corpses. There are also special prizes for those who attend.I must say this sounds incredibly epic.There are several events like this popping up all around the country, heck even world wide. We have Zombie Walks popping up in different cities, we have the zombie runs organized by Runforyourlives.com, which have been huge successes. I am personally attending an event in October that will be in San Diego. There is even a legendary zombie training camp in England that prepares you for the ultimate zombie apocalypse! It shows you how to use firearms (airsoft guns) and sets you loose in a mansion or mall where you must band together with other survivors and live through the day.I urge anyone who will be in the area to check out this amazing event, or any zombie related event for that matter. As many of my faithful readers know(all two of you), I am a huge zombie fan, and could never pass up the opportunity to report on zombie sauce.

Brian K Vaughan’s Saga #3 Reviewed!

Rob The Wrecker — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:37:31 +0000

Anyone who has read an independent comic in the past ten years is probably familiar with the name Brian K. Vaughan. From his Eisner Award winning Y: The Last Man, to his work writing J.J. Abrhams' Lost, there are few things Vaughan has touched that haven't turned fans ravenous. If you have checked out his work on Image's new comic Saga, you know exactly what I am talking about. In addition to Vaughan's unparallelled writing, Fiona Staples is handling art duties. Staples art has been a perfect compliment to Vaughan's storytelling.For those of you who may not have discovered the awesomeness that is Saga yet, it takes place in the classic Romeo and Juliet setting of two star-crossed lovers who happen to be soldiers on different sides of a never-ending war. The story starts at the birth of the couple's first child, Hazel. Hazel becomes the narrator as her mother, Alana, a winged alien from the technologically advanced Coalition of Landfall, and her father Marko, a ram horned magic user from the planet Wreath, flee from their respective commanding officers. Hazel's birth and subsequent escape takes place to the exotic and highly dangerous planet of Cleave. The family's quest to escape the grasp of their oppressive governments they run through the planet's jungle praying that they don't encounter "The Horrors." While the forest protects them from being followed by their own people, it soon becomes apparent there are others interested in finding them who aren't so easily deterred. The second issue ends with the inevitable introduction of our heroes to the Horrors.The third issue of Saga (yes this is where the spoilers start) begins with Alana continuing to interact with "The Horrors" while trying to find the required items for a spell Marko needs to do to prevent a catastrophe. The journey takes them into the heart of a mountain in the middle of the jungle. One of the Horrors, a little girl named Izabel, becomes her guide. This doesn't come without a price though. In order for Izabel to become a guide to the family, she wants something in return: a ride off the planet. This simple price of a ride turns out not to be as simple as it seems. In order for Izabel to leave the planet she needs to be bonded to a native of Cleave. The issue ends with a surprising revelation.This is the end of the section with spoilers.This issue in particular was really fun to read. The character development of Izabel was a lot more then I expected, as was the development of some of the other individuals that are after the family. The revelation at the end of the issue has me incredibly interested in what's going to happen. Such an interesting personal revelation during such a volatile point in the story could severely change the course of the book. If you haven't begun reading Saga I highly recommend tracking down all three issues. While the first issues had sold out first and second printings, all three of them are available online in our digital store!.

Toonami Returns From The Grave

Jordamus Prime — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:28:32 +0000

Yes, you read that right! After teasing fans on April 1st with a one night only screening of Cartoon Network’s classic Toonami block, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim have announced today via their twitter feed that they will be bringing back the animation block starting next week on May 26th, 2012! This news comes after just over a month of Twitter campaigning by fans using the hash tag #BringBackToonami. This campaign was led by renowned voice actor Steve Blum, who was instrumental in bringing back the animation block by uniting fans over on Twitter and Facebook.Toonami started out as a two hour long block of action and anime oriented cartoons that aired on weekday afternoons beginning in 1997. As it’s popularity grew it expanded to take over a few hours each evening with it’s more adult oriented Toonami Midnight Run programming (which contained more violent, graphic and generally unedited content) and a three hour block every Saturday morning with Toonami Rising Sun. The block of shows was for the most part hosted by the now infamous robot T.O.M. (as voiced by the equally infamous voice actor Steve Blum) from the bridge of his ship The Absolution. Toonami ran for eleven years from 1997 through September 20th 2008 when it aired it’s final broadcast.Toonami introduced legions of American fans to hit anime series like Dragon Ball Z, Trigun, Cowboy Beebop, Outlaw Star, Tenchi Muyo, Mobile Suit Gundam and more! While the new lineup has yet to be announced or confirmed by Cartoon Network, a TV Guide listing reveals that the new Toonami will likely be a nice blend of new shows and the classic Toonami shows that fans love! Below is the current TV Guide listing set for May 27th, 2012-

12:00 a.m. - Bleach 12:30 a.m. - Fullmetal Alchemist 1:00 a.m. - Durarara!! 1:30 a.m. - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 2:00 a.m. - FLCL 2:30 a.m. - Cowboy Bebop 3:00 a.m. - Bleach 3:30 a.m. - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG 4:00 a.m. - Bleach 4:30 a.m. - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 5:00 a.m. - Durarara!! 5:30 a.m. - Cowboy Bebop

In an official press release from Cartoon Network it was revealed that Toonami will in fact be airing on a weekly basis starting on May 26th 2012 and will air for six hours every Saturday night (well, technically Sunday mornings).

Beginning Saturday, May 26, Adult Swim brings back Toonami, the network's popular block of anime programming. Airing weekly from midnight to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), in addition to the return of previous series featured in Toonami, Adult Swim is also developing new original anime programming for fans.

If the promotional images released and the animation block we saw on April 1st are any indication of the Toonami we’re getting back, it looks like robotic host T.O.M. has reverted from his ’Toonami 4.0’ model back to his old ‘3.0’ model. The ‘4.0’ model was a shorter more cartoony-looking robot introduced in the final year of the original Toonami’s run. T.O.M. 4.0 hosted Toonami from a jungle fortress of sorts, but the T.O.M. Adult Swim looks to be promoting is the fan favorite sleek and stylish T.O.M. version 3.0 who is once again performing hosting duties from the deck of the now classic spaceship The Absolution. This writer for one is really excited to see the T.O.M. 3.0 back in action every week! The entire #BringBackToonami movement has proven just how powerful social networking sites like Twitter are, and how much can be achieved if enough people stand together. Together, fans were able to bring back an old friend that they thought they would never see again, and that’s something incredibly special. Be sure to tune in to Toonami on Cartoon network on May 26th, 2012! Until then, in the immortal words of T.O.M., Stay Gold.

Unpainted Lead: Miniature Wargame History Video

Richard Wilcox — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:18:30 +0000

Some might be wondering what happened to this week's regularly scheduled Unpainted Lead. Some probably didn't even notice... *sigh*. Regardless, this week is a special treat as much as it is an experiment in the attention span of the average web surfer.This weeks Unpainted Lead is brought to you in stunning 2D Video Format!...For some reason I expected a louder applause.Anyways, this is my way to give everyone out there a fresh look at the tabletop game industry and perhaps spark up some new conversations. Who knows?! You could be Unpainted Lead's first You Tube troll!This week we cover a brief history of tabletop wargames and the effect they have had upon the gaming scene.Enjoy the video give me your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to Comic Booked's channel if you want to see more of this sort of content.

Check out Unpainted Lead every week for more of your tabletop hobby fix!

Time for Tea and Toast with Dynamic Forces and The W.B.!

Rob The Wrecker — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:11:55 +0000

Well, probably just toast unless these are some really incredible toasters. Warner Brothers has announced that it will be launching a line of toasters through Dynamic Forces which will feature many of its properties. Now every morning you will be able to see your favorite characters from The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Story, Where the Wild Things Are, The Goonies, Gremlins, Little Shop of Horrors, Watchmen, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Mad Magazine, and Friends, among others, right in the middle of your toast (or, presumably, other toasted breakfast item)! While a release date for these toasters has not been announced, one would assume they will be available in time for the holiday season, as they would make great (gag?) gifts!

WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS ANNOUNCES ICONIC IMAGES BRANDED ON TOASTERS ONLY FROM DYNAMIC FORCES IN 2012 May 15th, 2012 - Runnemede, NJ - Dynamic Forces is proud to announce our newest license with Warner Bros. Consumer Products for a line of collector toasters! The new toaster collection will showcase iconic imagery featuring Warner Bros. properties ranging from classic movies to hit television series. The license includes such properties as The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Story, Where the Wild Things Are, The Goonies, Gremlins, Little Shop of Horrors, Watchmen, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Mad Magazine, Friends, AND MORE! The first toaster is scheduled to be on sale September 2012. These collector toasters will imprint iconic images from your favorite Warner Bros. films and television series onto slices of bread to make a fun impression on your breakfast, lunch or midnight snack! The extra-wide slots allow you to not only toast bread, but also bagels and more. UL tested and approved, it includes illuminated function buttons for cancel, reheat and frozen. The toaster design is a beautiful glossy black finish featuring the logo from the film or television series, and is a compliment to any counter top. This makes a great gift for any fan of these classic films and TV shows! Once the timer dings, it's all fun with your Warner Bros. favorites right in the middle of your morning slice of toast. Collect them all, starting September 2012! "Dynamic Forces is excited to work with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to release these collectible image toasters that capture the spirit of some of Warner Bros.' most admired properties and timeless brands," states President of Dynamic Forces, Nick Barrucci. "We're thrilled to give fans the opportunity to interact with their favorite brands and characters in a new way." ABOUT DYNAMIC FORCES Dynamic Forces is the comic-book and collectible industry's top producer of limited-edition and autographed memorabilia, including comic books and lithographs. DF functions as a packager of comics, ranking as high as one of the top five suppliers of Diamond Comic Distributors. It is also a premiere comic and entertainment supplier for the United States and international multimedia retailers. DF continues to set the pace in the comic collector and comic memorabilia markets. Recent product line expansions includes: action figures, vinyl and poly resin statues, trading cards, lithographs, giclees, apparel and much more. For updated information on Dynamic Forces specialty merchandise, product art, exclusive creator interviews, columns and upcoming product releases, please visit the Dynamic Forces website at www.dynamicforces.com.

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Webcomics Wedneday – The Outdoorsman

Brian Vo — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:26:26 +0000

If there's one thing that I don't see enough in webcomics, it is crusty old men as protagonists. In a world swarmed with ne'er do well college to young working adult aged anti heroes with a somewhat alternative outlook on life, it is refreshing to see that Patrick Hoover has opted to go old or go home. And to top it all off, he does it with style in The Outdoorsman.

Let's get the nitty gritty out of the way first. There's graphic man-on-monster violence, blood and guts, and a bit of nudity, so this strip isn't for everyone, but for everyone else, it is definitely worth a look from both the young and the world weary.

So what does The Outdoorsmanhave to offer to readers exactly? A neatly episodic package of strips featuring a unique tale, that of one man named Danny, taking on the world of the supernatural with his trusty guns, anti monster know how, and some good old fashioned grit and moxie.Interesting concept aside, what really shines is the understated way in which Danny takes things in stride as he deals with everything on his hunts, which appear to be both motivated by a desire to do good deeds, but more from the thrill of the hunt, with which he seems to take great pride in his skills and abilities. He has good cause to given the caliber with which he is able to hold himself up to taking on his prey.His prey so far includes the classic, vampire and werewolves, along with some other interesting regional choices.Coming back from a bit of a hiatus, Patrick has reentered the webcomic game as of March 2012 with a regular publishing every Wednesday since then. Here's to hoping he keeps it up, because I'm really curious where this latest tale will lead!

Dark Horse Comics goes Pre-Code

Jenna D. — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:38:06 +0000

Dark Horse Comics will be releasing more vintage restored comics. The release of these formerly impossible to find comics will hopefully attract new readers to the world of vintage collectibles. The comics will be released over the next few months and will have forewords by Dan Nadel and Michael T. Gilbert.

DARK HORSE COMICS GOES PRE-CODE!DARK HORSE PUBLISHES RARE & OUT-OF-PRINT ARCHIVES! May 16, MILWAUKIE, OR—With a jaw-dropping selection of well-known titles, accurate color restoration, uncoated off-white paper, and an impressive roster of foreword writers, Dark Horse Archives is hitting another peak season this year with a lineup of pre-Code collections! This heavy-hitting year will see more volumes in the Crime Does Not Pay Archives series, with engaging forewords from Greg Rucka and Howard Chaykin. Adventures into the Unknown Archives will feature a series of essays by Bruce Jones, focusing on the long-running horror anthology and the climate that led to the Comics Code Authority. Historian Dan Nadel will provide enlightening introductions for Forbidden Worlds Archives—a true “grab bag” anthology where anything strange, fantastic, or horrific can happen—and writer/artist/historian Michael T. Gilbert will write a series of information-packed foreword pieces for Silver Streak Archives Featuring the Original Daredevil. “The comics found in these collections are incredibly hard to find, expensive, and full of freewheeling, pre-Code fun (and sometimes viscera). It’s a joy to be able to handle these comics and work on these collections—but a bigger joy comes from being able to bring these stories to new readers and to finally assign credits to some creators who have been uncredited for decades!” said Dark Horse editor Philip Simon. The comics in these anthologies are seen as revered and influential—but they’ve been impossible to find. Now Dark Horse is making these gems available in affordable collections for discussion, dissection, and inspiration! Adventures into the Unknown Archives Volume 1 is on sale May 30, 2012.Silver Streak Archives Featuring the Original Daredevil Volume 1 is on sale June 27, 2012.Crime Does Not Pay Archives Volume 2 is on sale July 11, 2012.Forbidden Worlds Archives Volume 1 is on sale December 12, 2012.

Review: Mega Man #13

Andrew Taylor — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:34:44 +0000

Spiritus Ex Machina Part One (Written by Ian Flynn, Drawn by Jonathan Hill, Published by Archie)After going through a series of titles that consisted of shootings, stabbings, and other forms of grievous bodily harm, it's a nice change of pace to be able to sit down to an all-ages comic. So, naturally, it's an issue of Mega Man where the Blue Bomber deals with terrorists putting a convention center on lockdown so they can blow up a bunch of machines whose A.I. have developed to the point of having distinct personalities, with maybe a few people as collateral damage. Totally different thing.What surprised me most about this series has been the earnestness it brings to the story. The previous arc, The Return of Dr. Wily, was at its heart an adaptation of Mega Man 2, but rather than just being about Mega Man fighting the Robot Masters and Wily, Ian Flynn threw in a subplot about a computer virus corrupting the hero to raise the stakes, and artist Ben Bates put in a lot of little touches to accentuate that, such as heavy shading over glaring eyes when Mega Man blasts a defeated opponent in the face. Flynn and Bates take the attitude that just because Mega Man was meant for kids doesn't mean the audience consists of idiots: this issue sees Mega Man's creator Dr. Light get into a debate over advanced A.I., and the debate doesn't shy away from the question of why, to quote Light's counterpoint, "should we strive to make the calculator think about the meaning of its numbers?" More importantly, Flynn doesn't shrug off the philosophical and ethical ideas behind making computers behave more like people; in fact, Light comes across a little demented in referring to Mega Man and Roll as his "children," or at the very least overly sentimental, though, even that presents an interesting argument that giving machines a "soul" can help restore our own humanity when he talks about how he had "the same fears and joys of any parent, no nameless, lifeless tool can do that!"This arc doesn't appear to be a direct recreation of any of the games, though Mega Man 4's Pharoah Man pops in and Rush made his debut last issue, as there's none of the screenshot recreations or various platformer elements that Bates had charmingly woven into previous issues, as if doing a more commercial version of Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim graphic novels. Not a bad thing, mind you, since the previous issue also ignored that device because it no longer fit into the story, and I'd rather that creators be free to break from formula rather than try to emulate it (which might have hampered Chris Samnee's work in Daredevil #12). Jonathan Hill adequately steps in for Bates, and even shows an inspired touch when it comes to setting up Light's debate opponent/possible love interest Dr. Lalinde: when she first appears, the background consists of hearts (the only other hint at romance between the two is another colleague stating she had been "looking for [him] since the doors opened"), but when it's revealed she will be debating against him it becomes a gray field with white dots.That the creators allow the readers to piece together details like this, when so many comics are all about being as explicit as possible, gives me more and more reason to be impressed with this comic. The biggest trend among mainstream comics these days is to feign "maturity" by having their brightly-colored characters scowl and brutalise each other with every emotion bluntly stated (see also: Geoff Johns), but hilariously enough it's an "all ages" comic that comes across as more mature.

Board Games We Want As Movies

Michael Wirth — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:30:34 +0000

Hollywood will look almost anywhere for its golden goose, the source of endless ideas that they can use to squeeze the last dollar from every movie goers. For a while they felt adapting old television shows was the way to go, from Charlie’s Angels to Starsky and Hutch to Leave It To Beaver. Once interest in those began to wane, Hollywood looked to the reboot, updating everything from Arthur to The Wicker Man. However, with the release of Battleship just days away, it’s evident that Hollywood has found a new source of material; Board Games!At first, I doubted the idea. But then I stumbled upon the cleverly made fan poster for Hungry Hungry Hippos and I really saw the possibility in what could be done. With that in mind, I turned to my fellow Comic Booked writers and asked what they would like to see in a big screen board game adaptation. Here are a few of the responses I received. (And a big thanks to James Victor Von Halstead for not getting mad at me for bastardizing his article title.)SolitaireWhen a gold-prospector goes far off-course on the Klondike river, he winds up wandering the barren lands of the Yukon, struggling to stay alive and find a way home. But he gets more than he bargained for when he finds himself in the middle of a territory war between the Black bears of the north and the red wolves of the east. Finding food proved difficult enough without having to watch over your shoulder for a possible attack from a half ton raging bear. The Bourne Identity’s Matt Damon is… Solitaire!--Michael WirthCandylandTwins Clover and Ginger (Alicia and Annie Sorell) and their older brother Willy (Jared Padalecki), were born into a happy family of bakers and life was sweet. One day, Clover and Ginger find an old untitled board game and accidentally opened the gate to another world, taking away their parents. Now it’ up to Clover, Ginger, and Willy to brave the dreaded Candy Cane forest, fight off the menacing gingerbread people, defeat Count Licorice and his army of plump giants, and find the missing King Kandy in order to save their parents and restore order in the once prosperous Candyland, having fallen into chaos under the corrupt rule of the jealous Frost Queen. From the director of Alice in Wonderland, comes the story of fantasy and survival, filled with bittersweet battles and colorful characters.Starring Angelica Huston as the Frost Queen, Mia Wasikowska as Princess Lolly, Julie Walters as Gammie Gooey, Tom Hiddelston as Mr. Mint, Hugo Weaving as Count Licorice, Donald Sutherland as King Kandy. Directed by Tim Burton.--Yenny CollSorryFrom the creative geniuses that gave us Battleship, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Extreme Connect Four, comes an incredible story of redemption and forgiveness.Mark Castle, former Extreme Sorry! Champion, steps out of retirement and back into the multi-colored battlefield for one last shot at redemption. Standing in his way is current champion Kelly Stevens, who relishes the opportunity to defeat the one opponent he never got to face. Although Mark's passion for the game has been restored, he must overcome mental and physical risks which put him at a disadvantage. In the game, as it is in life, you must avoid being bumped backwards and can win by beating your opponent home in.....Extreme Sorry!--Troy J-Koi DreilingMonopolyDuring a massive business take over one average joe (Will Smith) gets the chance to take on the big industry tycoons, led by the devious Guy Pearce who, for whatever reason, is constantly surrounded by a multitude of large-breasted women. With a long series of police reports that include racketeering and money laundering there is only room for one top cat in this city. The question isn't whether he can avoid the dark side of business, but can he survive being honest and playing fair?In this game, winners take all.--Nick TaylorConnect FourWith December, 2012 quickly approaching, two archeologists (Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman) discover a legend of a group of ancient Mayan artifacts foretold to ward off the apocalypse. The pair travel to Central America in search of these artifacts, hoping to use them to save the world as we know it. However, trudging through the ruins of an ancient civilization is a lot more treacherous than they realize as they traverse booby traps left by a people long since gone. But they press on, knowing that in order to save humanity, they must… Connect Four!--Michael Wirth So Hollywood, when you’re ready, let us know. We’ll talk.

The Hunt For Hope Begins In Avengers VS X-Men #4

Michael Wirth — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:29:14 +0000

Are you one of the millions of Marvel fans following Avengers VS X-Men closely? Did you pick up your copy of AvX #4 yet? If not, Marvel has released a few pages from the issue to really taunt you into getting your butt to your local comic shop and getting a copy. But more than just the sweet pages of Thor facing off against the Phoenix Force itself, Marvel has a few variant issues that look just as good as the interior pages. Besides the killer cover featuring Hope Summers done up by Jim Cheung, you can be on the look out for the Spider-Man VS Iceman cover by Ultimate Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley or the Jerome Opena featuring the god of thunder staring down the face of the Phoenix. If you haven’t yet, make sure you get yourself a copy of this issue. It’s bound to be awesome.

The war is here! Today in Avengers VS. X-Men #4, by the blockbuster creative team of Jonathan Hickman and John Romita Jr., both the Avengers and the X-Men have lost Hope! With Wolverine out of commission, and fights breaking out all across the Marvel Universe – do the X-Men have the upper hand to find the Mutant Messiah? And can Thor’s team in space stop the Phoenix Force? Plus! Join the Marvel ReEvolution as Marvel brings fans a new comic reading experience! Every issue of Avengers VS X-Men comes packaged with a code for a FREE digital copy on the Marvel Comics app and Marvel Digital Comics Shop. And that’s not all! Take the Avengers VS X-Men enjoyment even further by unlocking access to exclusive behind the scenes extras utilizing special augmented reality technology with the Marvel AR app powered by Aurasma. This is exciting bonus content that you cannot access anywhere else! Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX! Here comes the pain as all your favorite super heroes enter the fight—and only one team will emerge victorious! Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime comic event in, Avengers VS X-Men #4, on sale now in comic shops everywhere, on the Marvel Comics app, and the all-new Marvel Digital Comics Shop!For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #4 (MAR120534)Written by JONATHAN HICKMANPencils by JOHN ROMITA JR.Cover by JIM CHEUNGRated T+…$3.99ON SALE NOW!

Concrete Park Returns to Dark Horse Presents

Jenna D. — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:05:23 +0000

Tony Puryear's Concrete Park will be retuning in Dark Horse Presents issue 14 and will have a run through issue 17. Readers can look forward to the new story arc when the comic is released on July 18.

With overwhelming fan support, Tony Puryear’s Concrete Park is slated for a new story arc in Dark Horse Presents #14–#17! Concrete Park’s return in Dark Horse Presents #14 brings us dark visions for Isaac and an event that will rock all the inhabitants of Scare City, human and non-human. This ongoing sci-fi series, written and drawn by screenwriter Tony Puryear (Eraser) takes you to a far-off planet where Earth’s poor youth have been exiled, and where they now must make a new world. “Working with Dark Horse, getting to appear in DHP alongside great new work by Mike Mignola and Neal Adams is a terrific honor,” Puryear says. “I’m gratified that the reviews have been so positive, and more importantly, that the fans are finding and following Concrete Park. And on a personal note—we got the cover!” Praise for Concrete Park:“The visuals on Concrete Park are a highly graphic style that is incredibly appealing.”—Comic Book Resources “[Puryear’s] art . . . instantly grabbed my attention. His thick, heavy inks are striking, forming his characters with a great deal of confidence and force. Through his art, you instantly get a feel for this near-future [city]; the swagger of his characters and their surroundings just bursts off of the page.”—Read About Comics “Concrete Park is no longer the unexpected surprise of Dark Horse Presents. Now that we are three chapters into the story, I expect it to be good. And it is. Screenwriter Tony Puryear is making his debut in comics with this series, and he is doing damn fine double-duty as writer and artist. Every time I think I know what is going on in Concrete Park, Puryear throws me for a loop.”—Comics Bulletin Dark Horse Presents #14 is on comic stands July 18, 2012! About Tony PuryearTony Puryear is the first African American screenwriter to write a $100 million summer movie blockbuster. His 1996 hit Eraser catapulted him into a career writing pictures for A listers Jerry Bruckheimer (Buck Rogers), Will Smith, and Oliver Stone. Puryear’s adaptation of the Ray Bradbury classic Fahrenheit 451 for Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson has circulated in Hollywood for years as a legendary unproduced script. His latest script is Lady Scarface for the new RKO Pictures. A talented artist and designer, Puryear was recently honored when his official campaign poster for Hillary Clinton’s historic 2008 presidential run was added to the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress and Concrete Park cocreator Erika Alexander. About Dark HorseFounded in1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, Guillermo Del Toro and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

Take Aim at Bloodshot!

David "The Exile" Vandervliet — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:24:31 +0000

The Summer of Valiant just keeps getting hotter.Now Valiant is looking to get your blood boiling this July with Bloodshot #1 from writer Duane Swierczynski and artists Manuel Garcia &Arturo LozziLike X-O Manowar before it, this book takes one of Valiant's biggest hits of the 90's and updates it for today, while keeping everything that made the character a success.Bloodshot goes on sale on July 11, but you won't have to wait until then to get a peek! Harbinger #1, Valiant's next series, by New York Times bestselling author Joshua Dysart and Harvey Award nominee Khari Evans (on sale June 6th) will have a full preview!Are you so amped up that your heart can't wait that long? Check out the full colored art from Bloodshot's premiere issue below! Also don't forget to ask your retailer about Mico Suayan's Bloodshot #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant, (art at right) available only at your local comic shop.

From Valiant:

VALIANT Takes Aim With BLOODSHOT #1
Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Bloodshot #1 from acclaimed writer Duane Swierczynski and the lethal artistic tag team of Manuel Garcia and Arturo Lozzi! On July 11th, in the wake of X-O Manowar, find out why fans and critics agree – the Summer of Valiant simply can't be stopped!
Your name is Angelo Mortalli. Your brother is trapped behind enemy lines and on the verge of — no. That’s not right. Your name is Raymond Garrison. You’ve retired from the dangers of the field, but a desperate plea from your oldest friend plunges you into a vicious firefight that — no. That’s not right, either. You are Bloodshot. You are the shade of gray that freedom requires. The perfect confluence of military necessity and cutting-edge technology. A walking WikiLeaks that is a powder keg of dirty secrets waiting to explode. But now you’ve just been captured, and you're about to find out once and for all what's more deadly: you or what's inside your head?
This July, every mission is a suicide mission and even death won't stop your tour of duty. Go back behind enemy lines with one of comics' all-time bestselling heroes when Valiant unleashes Bloodshot #1 – on sale July 11th

X-O Manowar. Harbinger. Bloodshot. Archer & Armstrong. This summer, the story starts here.

BLOODSHOT #1 – ON SALE JULY 11th! Written byDuane Swierczynki Art by Manuel Garcia & Arturo Lozzi

Cover by Arturo Lozzi Pullbox Exclusive Cover by Mico Suayan Variant Cover by David Aja Variant Cover by Esad Ribic

Wizard World Philadelphia 2012 Schedule

Jenna D. — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:15:40 +0000

You've seen the amazing lineup and here we have it, the packed schedule for Wizard World Philadelphia 2012! The convention starts on May 31 and ends on June 1, you won't want to miss one bit of it!

Chris Hemsworth, Stan Lee, 'Star Trek' Captains Q&A's, Screenings, Comedy, Evening Parties To Highlight Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con ProgrammingPacked Schedule Includes 20-Year “Buffyfest” Reunion, Sessions With James Marsters, WWE® Superstar CM Punk™, Costume Contests, Kids' Activities, Sci-Fi Speed Dating, Jedi Master Classes and More, May 31 – June 3 at Pennsylvania Convention Center Interactive Q&A sessions with top stars like Chris Hemsworth, Stan Lee, William Shatner and three other “Star Trek” captains, WWE® Superstar CM Punk™ and more than a dozen others, movie screenings, evening parties, kids activities, comedy and costume contests are among the wide variety of programming offerings at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, May 31 – June 3 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Panels are scheduled for all four days, spanning the entire pop culture spectrum.Highlight programming at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con includes:
Individual celebrity Q&A's featuring Hemsworth, Lee, WWE® Superstar CM Punk™, Sam Witwer, Hayden Panettiere, Bruce Campbell, Jeri Ryan, Dean Cain and more
Four “Star Trek” captains reunite as Shatner (“Captain Kirk”) Scott Bakula (“Captain Archer”), Avery Brooks (“Captain Sisko”), and Kate Mulgrew (“Captain Janeway”) compare stories of their respective times at the command
James Marsters and Juliet Landau, known to most of the geek world as “Spike” and “Drusilla” from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” share the stage in an entertaining discussion of their Joss Whedon experiences and other roles
The Boondock Saints trio of Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus and David Della Rocco rekindle memories of the popular 1999 cult movie and sequel 10 years later
Screenings of the 2009 film The Loved Ones and last year's Lloyd the Conqueror
Party with fellow Wizard World revelers at the Drink & Draw on Friday at the Convention Center and the GeekNation Launch party at The Field House (1150 Filbert St.)
Love is in the air with Sci-Fi Speed Dating, for those looking to “Terminate” their single lives
Kids Day on Sunday, with a full slate of activities specially designed for the youngsters
Laugh out loud (but hide the kids from this one) when Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling brings his unique brand of comedy – forged by many years on “The Howard Stern Show” and “Jackie's Joke Hunt” on Sirius XM Radio
It wouldn't be Wizard World Comic Con without cosplay and costume contests – adults on Saturday night, kids on Sunday
Unless noted, programming events take place in designated rooms at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Many are included as part of standard Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con admission; VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities. Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first come first serve basis and each room will be cleared between panels. Programming subject to change; attendees should check the schedule board on site for updates.Programming at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-pa.html, and scheduled as follows:Thursday 5/31 5-9 p.m.: Superhero Pub Crawl 7-8:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena – Show Floor) Friday 6/1 Noon-12:45 p.m.: How To Fail In Comics: Big City Comics (Room A) Chalk Talk With Mike Deodato Jr (Room B) Noon-1:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena – Show Floor) Noon-8 p.m.: Superhero Pub Crawl 1-1:45 p.m.: Batman And Psychology: A Dark And Stormy Knight (Room A) James Hong (Room B) 2-2:45 p.m.: Funky Winkerbean’s 40th Anniversary (Room A) Dean Cain Q&A 2-3:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena – Show Floor) 3-3:45 p.m.: Vampire Lore And Other Urban Myths And Legends (Room A) Star Wars Q&A (Room B) 4-4:45 p.m.: James Marsters And Juliet Landau Q&A (Room A) Philadelphia Ghostbusters (Room B) Knife Demonstration (Show Arena – Show Floor) 5-5:45 p.m.: Sam Trammell Q&A (Room A) Sci-Fi Speed Dating (Room C) Behind The Magic With Jeff Menges, Winona Nelson And Phil Foglio (Room B) 6-6:45 p.m.: Sam Witwer Q&A (Room B) 6-6:45 p.m.: Stan Lee Meet & Greet (Room C) * Paid Event Cosplaying Costuming And Fan Films (Room A) 7-7:45 p.m.: Wizard World Cosplay Photo Shoot Meet Outside Of Room A The Dos And Don’ts Of A Career In Comics (Room B) 7-9 p.m.: The Loved Ones Screening (Room A) 8-11 p.m.: Wizard World Drink & Draw (Room B) Saturday 6/2 11-11:45 a.m.: Stan Lee Q&A (Theater Room) Greg Capullo Workshop (Room A) Torchwood Q&A (Room B) Noon-12:45 p.m.: Hayden Panettiere Q&A (Room A) Troma Entertainment (Room B) Noon-1:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena – Show Floor) 1-1:45 p.m.: How To Create Comics - Breaking In With Dave Campiti (Room B) Dualing Superheros (Show Arena – Show Floor) 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Chris Hemsworth Q&A (Theater Room) 2:00-2:45 p.m.: The Vampire Diaries Q&A (Room A) Comic Con Costuming With The 501st (Room B) Stan Lee Meet & Greet (Room C) *Paid Event 2-3:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena – Show Floor) 3-3:45 p.m.: Bruce Campbell Q&A (Room A) Comics To Ca$H With Mile High Comics (Room B) Knife Demonstration (Show Arena – Show Floor) 4-4:45 p.m.: Star Trek Captains Q&A (Theater Room) Evil Dead Q&A (Room B) 4-5 p.m.: Cosplay Photoshoot Meet Outside Of Room A 5-5:45 p.m.: Breaking Into Comics: International Invasion (Room B) Boondock Saints Q&A (Room A) Sci-Fi Speed Dating (Room C) 5:30-6 p.m.: WWE® Superstar Cm Punk® Q&A (Room B) 6:30-9 p.m.: Wizard World Adult Costume Contest (Room A) 9:30-11 p.m.: Jackie “the Joke Man” Martling Comedy Show (Room B) 9 p.m.: Geeknation Launch Party Presented By Wizard World (Field House) Sunday 6/3 10-10:45 a.m.: Georgia Ball Strawberry Shortcake Reading (Room A) Shannon Elizabeth Q&A (Room B) 11-11:45 a.m.: Jeri Ryan Q&A (Room A) Theater Group (Roomb) Noon-12:45 p.m.: Buffyfest 20th Anniversary Q&A (Room A) Red Rocket Farms (Room B) Noon-1:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena – Show Floor) 1-1:45 p.m.: Quantum Leap Q&A (Room A) Wizard World Kids Costume Contest (Room B) 2-2:45 p.m.: Melissa Joan Hart & Joey Lawrence Q&A (Room A) Writing And Editing In Comics (Room B) 2-3:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena – Show Floor) 3-3:45 p.m.: Spartacus And Legends Of The Seeker Q&A (Room A) 3-4 p.m.: Sci-Fi Speed Dating (Room C) 3-3:15 p.m.: Federation Fitness(Room B) 3:15-4 p.m.: Wrestling Panel (Room B)Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages and dozens of celebrities and industry professionals to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. For more on the event, including hours, celebrities, creators, vendors, VIP and photo opportunities, programming schedules, evening entertainment, autographs, sponsorship and volunteer information and more, visit http://www.wizardworldcomiccon.com/home-pa.html. About Wizard World: Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworldcomiccon.com.***** SAVE THE 2012-13 DATES ***** May 31 - June 3 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con August 9-12 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con September 29-30 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con October 26-28 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con November 30 - December 2 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con TBD 2013 – Wizard World Toronto Comic Con

Australian Comics Legend Glenn Lumsden joins The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo

Jenna D. — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:05:25 +0000

The Australian digital comic The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo is about to get bigger, Glenn Lumsden will be the guest artist in Episode 1: Part 14 of the series, leading up to the explosive Episode 1 finale. The weekly releases of The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo are availible for free download at www.spacelordmofo.com.

Ironclad Imagineers is thrilled to announce the return to the comics world of Australian comics legend, Artist - Glenn Lumsden. Glenn's work on Marvel's The Phantom, DC's Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight and Cyclone Comics', The Southern Squadron and Dark Nebula paved the way for a generation of aspiring Aussie comic artists to come. We've lured him back with our game-changing digital comic series, The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo. Glenn will be making a Special Guest Artist appearance in the upcoming Episode 1: Part 14, as we blast our way towards the explosive Episode 1 finale. A word from Glenn - “I can't wait to help out the guys on Spacelord Mo Fo. When Dave first showed me what they were doing, I fell in love with the new medium. Comics and computer combining beautifully to create a whole new story telling experience. The visuals are fabbo, it's exhausting to think Dave's been drawing this solo. Then I read Pat's screenplay and was totally sold on the whole thing. Believe me, the story is NOT what you expect! It's going to be a lot of fun helping Dave to at least one of the many grueling weekly deadlines the guys have committed themselves to.” Launched in January 2012 by Ironclad Imagineers, Pat McNamara and David G. Williams', The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo is leading the charge across the digital comics frontier alongside celebrated pioneers, Mark Waid of Thrillbent's Insufferable and Marvel's Infinite, Kurt Christenson and Reilly Brown of Power Play, and D.J. Coffman of Hero by Night. About The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo-It's a post-apocalyptic, space-western, dramedy, with anime influences and a shot of that dark and sexy HBO stuff, so yeah, it's for a more mature audience... well, not for 'kids' anyway, not sure about the 'mature' part. We follow the misadventures of Bran Mak Foo and Honey Pott, a just-married couple scrounging a living in their dilapidated deep-space freighter, the Qupid, on the Edge of Endspace; a vast region of space where no semblance of civilization has reemerged after a galactic apocalypse... or three. The Edge is a place where heroes are few, villains are plentiful, and the rest are just trying to survive... ...oh, and as if life weren't tough enough already for our heroes, Bran just so happens to be the most wanted man alive - Spacelord Mutha... well, we'll say Mo Fo because we're in polite company. The Mo Fo's said to be a one man army who walked into a bar and let loose a hell that destroyed a city. Of course, the truth behind that tale is something else, but that's a truth for another telling. At its heart The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo is a rock-em, sock 'em tale of love and guns, with Bran and Honey fighting the good fight against the galaxy, and sometimes each other, but always finding a way through... together... mostly... we hope... How the digital comic works-You may have seen or heard of a 'little' game-changing comic that debuted in March 2012, Marvel's Infinite by Mark Waid and Stuart Immonen?... Well, the Mo Fo's like that. The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo is a serialized, full-color, digital comic, written and illustrated specifically for the digital storytelling medium, and presented panel by panel in a cinematic widescreen format we call, Cinegraphic. Episode Parts are released weekly, and are available FREE, Online, for Download, and by Subscription, with completed Episodes to be released for sale as Ebooks and Apps, in Full HD, with a host of cool behind the scenes bonuses included. Where to find the Mo FoRead, Download or Subscribe to the Mo Fo @ www.spacelordmofo.comFollow our developers blog @ www.spacelordmofo.blogspot.comShow the Mo Fo some 'like' @ www.facebook.com/spacelordmofo Buzz for The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo-“...blazing a trail in the world of digital comics unlike any you've seen before.” - “Pulpy sci-fi goodness at its best.” - Stewart Cook. Writer, Dave - Zombie Hunter “I give big hairy kudos to McNamara and Williams...” - “I’ll definitely be checking back for episode updates for The Legend of SpaceLord Mo Fo. So should you.” - Captainhardshell, International House of Geek "Guns, explosions and psychotic villains make an epic love story." - Nathan Tan. I Got Superpowers "Natural Born Killers meets Mad Max in space." - "If you haven't checked it out yet, you should!" - Brian LeTendre. Secret Identity Podcast “...one of the smoothest openings I've seen in digital so far! Nicely done!” - Josh S. Henaman. Writer, Bigfoot - Sword of the Earthman. "Awesomeness!" - Joe T. Velikovsky. Transmedia Writer Glenn Lumsden is a Comic & Cartoon Illustrator and Commercial Artist with over 25 years experience in all types of art, illustration and design including cartoons & comics, book illustration, poster & flyers and magazine publications. During his life as an artist and illustrator, Glenn has drawn Phantom and Batman comics for Marvel and DC Comics, worked with authors such as Paul Jennings, Magazines such as Ralph, Penthouse, Mad, Financial Review, Qantas In flight and Record Companies including EMI. He has won the Australian Cartoonist Association award for Best Comic Book Artist in Australia several times. http://glennlumsdenillustrator.com/ & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Lumsden & http://www.comicvine.com/glenn-lumsden/26-20222/ Ironclad Imagineers is David G. Williams, Artist (Catwoman, Phantom, Wolverine: Doombringer, In Flesh and Spirit), and Pat McNamara, Writer (Angelwitch Book 1: Dragonscarpe & Book 2: Triumvirate). Ironclad's mission is not to replace traditional comics, rather, we want to take what we love about comics, telling kick-ass, but sensitive, stories through sequential art, into the frontier of hereto unimagined narrative and visual storytelling possibilities offered by the digital medium. The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo is our first.

Peter Serafinowicz to Announce First Comic at KAPOW!

Jenna D. — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:45:30 +0000

Peter Serafinowicz will be announcing his first comic book and the famous artist he's collaborating with at KAPOW! this Sunday.

EXCLUSIVE PETER SERAFINOWICZ TO ANNOUNCE FIRST COMIC-BOOK PROJECT AT KAPOW!British comedian, actor and writer Peter Serafinowicz (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead), will be heading to Kapow! on Sunday 20 May to announce his first-ever comic-book collaboration. Working with an artist famous for his work on Batman, who will be revealed on Sunday morning, this is Peter’s first foray into comic-books. Kapow! www.kapowcomicconvention.com is taking place at Business Design Centre, London on 19^th & 20^th May 2012, and visitors to Kapow! will be amongst the first in the world to get an exclusive sneak peek at upcoming comics, movie blockbusters and hit TV shows from the biggest publishers and studios in the world. In addition to comic-book panels with the world’s biggest publishers Marvel, DC, Image, 2000AD and Millarworld, other film, TV and gaming events taking place include:
An Audience with Nick Frost
Q&A with Gareth Evans, British writer and director The Raid
Noel Clarke Q&A with exclusive footage from Storage 24
The creative team behind Batman: Arkham City from Rocksteady Studios
Directors Panel with Gareth Edwards (Monsters) and Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes)
Hot TV panel with Russell Tovey (Being Human) and Doctor Who writer Tom MacRae, plus Adam Garcia (House), Lucy Brown (Primeval) and comedian Tom Allen
Jimmy Carr interviewing Frankie Boyle live about his love of geek culture
Much loved TV personality and comic-book writer Jonathan Ross talking America’s Got Powers
Live interviews with huge film, TV and comic stars will be taking place all weekend at the Total Film, SFX and Comic Heroes stage plus the massive cosplay competition. Tickets for Kapow! are only available in advance and through the website www.kapowcomicconvention.com. Tickets for Kapow! 2011 sold out ahead of the event, so get your tickets now.

Exclusive “The Amazing Spider-Man” Footage at KAPOW!

Jenna D. — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:30:45 +0000

KAPOW!, which will be taking place in London this weekend, will be showing exclusive footage from The Amazing Spider-Man. The exclusive footage, which will be played on Sunday May 20, will help to raise the hype even more for the July 3 release of The Amazing Spider-Man.

EXCLUSIVE ‘THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN’ FOOTAGE AT KAPOW! Visitors to KAPOW!, taking place over the weekend of 19 & 20 May at London’s Business Design Centre will be treated to a sneak peek of exclusive footage on Sunday 20 May from one of this summer’s most highly anticipated movies, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, ahead of nationwide release on July 3^rd. The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Michael Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero In addition to comic-book panels with the world’s biggest publishers Marvel, DC, Image, 2000AD and Millarworld, other film, TV and gaming events taking place include:
An Audience with Nick Frost
Q&A with Gareth Evans, British writer and director The Raid
Noel Clarke Q&A with exclusive footage from Storage 24
The creative team behind Batman: Arkham City from Rocksteady Studios
Directors Panel with Gareth Edwards (Monsters) and Nacho Vigalonda (Timecrimes)
Hot TV panel with Russell Tovey (Being Human) and Doctor Who writer Tom MacRae, plus Adam Garcia (House), Lucy Brown (Primeval) and comedian Tom Allen
Peter Serafinowicz announces his first comic-book project
Jimmy Carr interviewing Frankie Boyle live about his love of geek culture
Much loved TV personality and comic-book writer Jonathan Ross talking America’s Got Powers
Live interviews with huge film, TV and comic stars will be taking place all weekend at the Total Film, SFX and Comic Heroes stage plus the massive cosplay competition. Tickets for Kapow! are only available in advance and through the website www.kapowcomicconvention.com. Tickets for Kapow! 2011 sold out ahead of the event, so get your tickets now. For more information on Kapow! please contact press@kapowcomicconvention.com

Amy Meets Abed? Cool Cool Cool!

David "The Exile" Vandervliet — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:10:34 +0000

In the mother of all Meta-referenced pop culture tasty goodness, actress Karen Gillan, the redheaded star of the BBC's sci-fi hit Doctor Who, has recently discovered Inspector Spacetime, the pastiche/homage to the British series that appears on NBC's Community.Gillan, who's character, Amy Pond, will be leaving the series in the upcoming seventh series, (airing this fall on BBC One and BBC America), along with Rory (Arthur Darvill) her character's husband.She recently talked about her discovery of Community with BBC America. She discusses her new found fondness for the ratings challenged American series, and how she would love to appear on the series with the series. (That's one way to get a job on TV, just ask for it!)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtEW3dAAF7M[/youtube]

Now what I would love to see is Karen as a love interest for Abed, as a Greendale exchange student from England who believes she is character on Inspector Spacetime. Imagine all the crazy meta referencing that could lead to!

For those of you who do not watch Community (SHAME ON YOU!) Inspector Spacetime is Abed's favorite program, which he discovered because of a long hiatus of Cougar Town. To help get through the wait, his friends show him a British series that the Courtney Cox series was based on, Cougarton Abby, but he was then devastated to find out there were only 6 episodes made. They then showed him an episode of Inspector Spacetime, which has been running since 1962.

"This is the best show I have every seen in my entire life" was Abed's reaction.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRPeqaZiQ-M&feature=related[/youtube]

If you would love to Karen appear on Community - tweet her (@KarenGillan2) and the cast and creators of Community, (@NBCCommunity, @DanHarmon, @Dannypudi) with the hashtag #AmyMeetsAbed

Shadowflame #1 and #2 Review

Yenny Coll — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:57:58 +0000

Creator, Writer, Penciller: Joe MartinoInker: Peter PalmiottiColorist: Dash Martin (#1) Ian Sokoliwski (#2)Letterer: Johnny LowePublisher: Arcana Studios Like most of you, I made my way to my local comic book store for Free Comic Book Day, and while there I met and chatted with triple-threat comic book creator, writer and penciller, Joe Martino, the mind and talent behind Shadowflame and Ripperman.A four part series, Shadowflame follows the story of New York City cop Tom Wyatt and his transformation into the superhero known as Shadowflame. The story starts with Wyatt’s emotional decline after losing his wife during a burglary while he was out working late. Broken, guilt ridden, and ashamed that he couldn’t even protect his own wife, Wyatt points a gun at his head and pulls the trigger. He opens his eyes, and instead of heaven and eternity with his late wife, he finds himself transported into outer space by a species of alien that call themselves the Holy Men of Zakraan. They are a peaceful society and holders of the flame of Isht. Their long dead planet was destroyed by the corrupt and violent ways of a third Holy Man, Maldestrak, who believed himself to be a God whose destiny it was to rule over the weak. As pacifists, the Zakraan Holy Men would not fight Maldestrak; instead, they sought a warrior that came from a long line of noble fighters to be gifted with the flame of Isht. Tom is that warrior, and after a painful transfusion, he gains the power of flight, super strength, and invincibility. “You are a force of nature. A force of good. Now and forevermore, you are Shadowflame.”Embracing his new power and his new identity, Tom dedicates his time to keeping the streets clear of muggers and punks. On his first night, Shadowflame severely ticks off the nephew of a mafia boss after prying him off a young woman he was harassing. As punishment, said mafia boss Don Baltenetti sends the Electrocutioner after Shadowflame. Before Tom could knock out Electro, the battle is intervened by government agents Cyberine and Agent Napalm, old friends of Bobby Barnew before the accident that gave him his powers and transformed him into the Electrocutioner. Cyberine and Napalm take in Electro, freeing Shadowflame to go after Baltenetti. Tracking down some of Baltenetti’s thugs, he takes them out, sending word to the boss of Electrocutioner’s failure and Shadowflame’s beef with him. Issue two ends with Baltenetti’s announcement to go ahead with Project Atomico and Shadowflame receiving a kiss from the young lady he saved from Baltenetti’s crude nephew.Although contemporary and filled with original characters, Shadowflame really captures the spirit and tone of well-known superhero comics in a city we all know and love. Despite Wyatt’s abilities, he doesn’t consider himself a hero… yet. He’s a likable character who’s tough as nails but doesn’t lack heart. The art of Shadowflame is not just impressive, but also nostalgic of the golden age of superheroes and comic books, sporting men in colorful tights (excluding Shadowflame) with light shows displaying their powers and witty banter during their fights.Look for a review of #3 and #4, Shadowflame’s finale, and stay Comic Booked!

Before Watchmen- Silk Spectre #1 Variant Cover

Yenny Coll — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:49:24 +0000

DC’s announcement of a prequel series to Alan Moore’s Watchmen was met with mixed review; some of us excited at the prospect, others outraged, some conflicted with curiosity but dubious to the series’ legitimacy due to Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbon's non-involvement in the project. In less than a month, Silk Spectre #1 will hit stores and we’ve been given a sneek peek at the variant cover artwork.Dave Johnson Jim Lee Amanda Connor Jim Lee, I love you, but I gotta go with Amanda Connor's cover art (see the snow globe?). Silk Spectre #1 will be available on June 13th, written by Darwyn Cook and writer/ artist Amanda Connor. Look for Silk Spectre #2, available July 18th.

“Oh sweetie, you’re too young to hate. Wait until you’re older and the world gives you a good reason. Trust me, it won’t let you down.”

Bullet Reviews #57

Skott Jimenez — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:23:35 +0000

Every week we take a look at a selection of recent releases that, we hope, are still available at your local comic shop! This week: Dark Shadows #5, Fairest #3, Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends #15, Journey Into Mystery #637, Marvel Zombies Destroy! #1, Supercrooks #2, Supurbia #3, and The Walking Dead #97!DARK SHADOWS #5 (Dynamite Entertainment) *Click on the cover to get a special look at Dark Shadows #5 from Dynamite Entertainment!*Well, it's been well established how much I'm enjoying this series, even with it being on the 5th issue, but this one is, by far, the issue I've been waiting for! You always hear about Barnabas Collins being the 'reluctant vampire' but rarely is there any emphasis on it. This issue is mainly about Barnabas' guilt as he's forced to face the people he's killed over the years, along with a few that Angelique has done in, and how he tries to deal with it without putting more guild on his shoulders. It's one of the few times to actually see how this curse has weighted on his very soul. While being chased through Collinsport by the spirits of his victims he comes face to face with his more vicious side, the side he tries to control so that more people don't fall victim to his thirst. But we soon learn that the spirits, among which the love of his life, Josette is numbered among, don't wish to haunt or even harm him, no, they have something far more important in mind. Important and simple. By far my favorite issue so far, this one goes a long way to firmly establishing the direction and feel of this series! I'm certainly on for the long haul now! (Check out J.R. Snyder's review of the Dark Shadows movie!-Skott JimenezFAIREST #3 (Vertigo) The Fables sister title is getting better with every issue! First, let me once again compliment Phil Jimenez on yet another issue full of stellar art! This book takes me a while to read because I get lost in so many of his panels. I'm going to be sad to see him leave after this story wraps up but I'm hoping his return to this series is very soon! This issue continues the origin of Briar Rose: Sleeping Beauty. It's a tale we are mostly familiar with while writer Bill Willingham puts his own Fables spin on things to keep it interesting and feeling more fresh than rehash. In this story things are much bigger and there are more Godmothers, each giving her a gift, which we are familiar with. What makes it interesting is Briar's comments during this part of the story. Especially the 'sings like a nightingale' part. Beyond Beauty's origin there seems to be some betrayal heading our way. A certain Bottle Imp seems to be planning to switch sides, offering his story telling services to the Snow Queen who, apparently, loves stories, a lot. Overall, this series, while still just getting started, has been fully embraced by this fan of Fables. This series really represents the level of excellence in story telling and artwork that's been the hallmark of the Fables universe since it's inception. Jack Of Fables lasted for 50 issues, I can see this series lasting far longer than that if this is how it's starting! I also need to mention the cover. Yet another bar setting cover by Adam Hughes. Seriously, just take a moment and look at this cover... it's gorgeous! I cannot wait until the next issue! -Skott JimenezGRIMM FAIRY TALES: MYTHS & LEGENDS #15 (Zenescope) The themes of anger and revenge are powerful in the genre of fiction, and ever present in comic book stories. Take the Hulk for example. Sometimes these themes go hand in hand, as in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, while there are examples of these being separate, like the Hulk’s immense rage but desire to be left alone. There are a number of ways that anger and revenge can be tackled when telling stories and Grimm Fairy Tales Myths and Legends writer Raven Gregory handles them both extremely well in the newest issue. Jenna Washington comes home to find her parents lifeless on the floor, a razor-toothed beast standing over them. She shoots the beast but he continues to advance on her, taunting her, telling her that her family is dead because of her inaction. She realizes that this man is the brother of her dead lover, Drew, who recently killed himself rather than facing life without Jenna. But Gregory includes a twist at the end, one that draws Jenna to seek revenge, also revealing that she has rather impressive powers and may actually succeed in her lust for blood. Deivis Goetten and Fabio Jansen share art duties on the issue and really drive it home. The issue takes place at night so the majority of the action is cast in shadows, and Goetten and Jansen take advantage of this, using it to create many creepy and haunting panels. It also allows the colorist Steve Downer to do wonders with a few lighting effects, such as muzzle-flare from gunshots and the revolving blues and reds of police lights. I’ve read a few issues of Grimm Fairy Tales in the past but it was never a title that struck a chord in me. However, Myths and Legends seems to deviate slightly from the formula of the main title, allowing for enough fresh writing to really make a difference. It manages to maintain the fairy tale legends that made the original series popular but grounds it closer to reality. It’s an angle that I really enjoyed, and will likely be checking out more often in the future. -Michael WirthJOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #637 (Marvel) Exiled, Part 2: The fearsome Disir have escaped Mephisto's Hell after recognizing something called 'The Final Portion' and head to the mortal city of San Francisco where they come face-to-face with first the New Mutants then the Asgardians. This leads up to the revelation that the Mutant's new neighbor is actually the legendary Asgardian Sigurd! A brief confrontation is ended when Sigurd reads from a scroll and everything changes! And what changes they are: this is now a world where our Asgardian heroes live normal lives: Thor is now a mechanic, Volstagg is a baker, Loki, now called Luke, is brother to Leigh who's name isn't really that different. The Mutants try to fix things, first by restoring Loki's memories in hopes that he can fix this and they better work fast: the Disir have lost their curse! This is, so far, a highly entertaining crossover and that's saying a lot considering how little I actually like Marvel's Merry Mutants! I'm actually looking forward to checking out next week's New Mutants installment because this little crossover is big on fun! -Skott JimenezMARVEL ZOMBIES DESTROY! #1 of 5 (Marvel) I love the Marvel Zombies franchise. So far, of the 40 or so issues put out across numerous miniseries and one-shots, the only ones that I didn't like were the Marvel Apes crossover and the Supreme story. This line has evolved from zombie superheros in one universe to the zombie plague infecting different universes in different ways. This was established in Marvel Zombies 5 when Howard The Duck, Machine Man and others went from reality to reality to try to learn more about the different manifestations of the zombie plague in an attempt to stop it all. Marvel Zombies Destroy! continues this thread as Howard puts together a squad he calls the Ducky Dozen to put an end to a particularly nasty group of zombies. In this world the Nazis won WWII because they turned themselves into zombies. After taking over their world they are turning their sights on other realities, the 616 included! It's Howard The Duck and his second in command Dum Dum Dugan from S.H.I.E.L.D. (who better to have at your side when fighting any type of Nazi?) against a whole world full of undead flesh eaters! What makes this one particularly interesting is Howard's mention of sister realities joining the fight. Of course, I'm still not used to Howard being a pro-active hero and not smoking cigars anymore. Sometimes Marvel's 'anti-smoking' policy really sucks. But, overall, this book looks like it may be highly entertaining! -Skott JimenezSUPERCROOKS #2 (Marvel/Icon) Millar has to be the best in the game. This is only a 4 issue series and I can't seem to find a reason why it should ever end. Issue two starts off right where issue one ends, just the way it should be. We are introduced to our team of underground scum who will be joining Johnny in Spain to "Take the House". Yu adds so much to this series it is hard to put into words. The artwork is absolutely mesmerizing. During this whirl of introductions we are also introduced to what powers each character has and what they have been up to since "getting out of the game". Pretty amazing how charming Johnny is that he gets all these retired criminals to come back to the fold and do one more big heist. No big heist ever works out the way its supposed to so it will be interesting to see how these plays out. But Johnny has an ace up his sleeve. I won't ruin it for ya, but lets just say some very crude pictures just put a superhero on their team. *Supercrooks is the best comic you can buy right now. Period.* -Nick FuriousSUPURBIA #3 (BOOM! Studios) The first two issues of Grace Randolph’s Supurbia showed how super heroes act while in the comfort of their own homes. The interaction with their spouses and children, shining a light on the way they have similar problems as regular people, though maybe on a very different scale. However, the third issue illustrates how the families of super heroes react when their loved ones go off to battle. Imagine having to sit in front of the television as your loved one battles a giant, unyielding robot, their very lives on the line at every second? Randolph continues to provide plenty of depth to her characters. While some of the heroes are able to keep their head in the game, Night Fox and estranged wife Alexis Fritsche allow their feelings to come to the surface as Night Fox faces off against a rampaging robot. Though the issues of having a torrid affair are tough to push to the side, when one’s life hangs in the balance, it tends to put things in perspective. This issue also introduces Hector Hunt, the evil super villain who is supposedly responsible for the current attack. Readers get the chance to see just what kind of person he is and a short sample of his powers. He also sheds some insight into the relationship between the Meta Legion’s resident alien, Sovereign, and his new wife, Helen. I’ve been enjoying the series so far and issue 3 doesn’t disappoint. The fears of the heroes’ spouses are very real and it’s the kind of things that normal super hero stories don’t delve in to, but is an important part of being a hero. Saving the planet is vitally important, but what does it cost the person you love the most? This series was meant to only last 4 issues but luckily it was announced to be an ongoing, which is wonderful news considering all of the story lines that Randolph has placed throughout the issues. She set up a number of plots that haven’t seen fruition yet, and given there’s only one issue left, may seem forced once they do see the light. Was this Randolph’s intentions from the beginning or did she slowly evolve into this when she learned she’d have more time to tell her story. I guess we’ll see in a few weeks when issue 4 hits stores. -Michael WirthTHE WALKING DEAD #97 (Skybound/Image) Something To Fear, Part 1: We are now a skull's throw away from the historic 100th issue of The Walking Dead and things are heating up! On their way back to their own community after making plans with the Hilltop to protect them from someone called Negan, Rick, Glenn, Carl, Michonne and Andrea are confronted by some of Negan's men demanding half of their supplies for protection. Rick responds in the only way he can and the walkers in the area have a feast. Not all of them are zombie food though, he sends one back to Negan to tell him Rick and company are taking over. This may not have been a good idea. Later, after returning home, Rick explains the situation and Glenn gets some very good news from Maggie while Abraham and Eugene head out to gather supplies to start making bullets and such... but they aren't alone! Something To Fear is supposed to lead to the darkest moment in Rick's life. If this is how this is starting I think we're about to see a whole new level of emotional horror in this series, something we've never seen before. We are now on the road to The Walking Dead #100, all we can do is hang on and hope we survive! -Skott Jimenez

Uncanny X-Men Needs Your Help!

Nick Furious — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:46:10 +0000

Last time we talked to Eric, he gave us some hints of what we can expect in Season Two. This time around we wanted to ask a few more questions about the series, and of course find out what the fans can do to help. The series has become quite the YouTube hit, earning thousands of views with each new episode and eliciting a desire from actors and actresses to be part of something amazing, to say nothing of the crew members who want to get in on the action. This season will actually see a budget, so look for things to improve in every category, including the number of episodes. But most of all, look forward to some brand-new X-Men episodes!Comic Booked: Is it true some of the roles had to be recast?Eric Green: Yes, this is true. No one is contracted to do anything as far as doing multiple seasons go. Going into making this series I already knew there would be some actors who couldn't keep coming back. We have over fifty years of X-Men stories, I don't expect any of the actors to stick around that long! (laughs) We do, however love - and I mean love - our new Jean Grey and Storm. The actress Erica Gray (Storm) is one of the biggest Storm fans ever, so she did not need to be caught up on anything; she already knew the character head to toe. Our new Jean Grey is awesome, when you see her this season you will fall in love with her. You can see excellent chemistry between Jean and Cyclops, a more natural feel.Comic Booked: I have also seen the side projects you have been a part of. How is the Luke Cage project going?Eric Green: Luke Cage was just a trailer. Not an actual film or series. If the response is good, then we may think about making a short film for it. This year there will be lots of fan trailers, just trailers, not films/series. But who knows?Comic Booked: How many people have stepped up to make Season Two compared to last season?Eric Green: After filming the first season, we have heard all feedback from the fans, what they would like to see and what changes should be made. I look at Season One like a test pilot. What would the feedback be, how would the audience respond? Well, here is some of the changes we made. We gave Nightcrawler a makeover; he had the X-Men Evolution look before, now we have given him the classic Nightcrawler look, which I loved. The Sickhouse Sisters along with Jevocas Green did an amazing job. The actor, Tyler Sutherland grew his hair out as well, so we don't even need a wig. He is amazing and we love the guy. Cyclops had a pair of sunglasses he wore, and he pulled off the look, but we have now upgraded him to a sleeker look. His visors now look perfect! Colossus now has his traditional top that all fans will love. Wolverine has a unique hairstyle that's similar to the iconic look. No point in messing with the hairstyle from the comics, because that could be a mistake. When you see Wolverine's hair on film, you will see the same style. And speaking of Wolverine, he is a lot calmer this season. No more zero to a hundred in two seconds! As for Storm, she will be taking on the role we all love her in, which is the mother figure of the team, the leader we all know her to be. You will love all the scenes she has with Jubilee. Side note: Jubilee is an awesome addition this season, the actress is perfect! Last time we had a month to prepare, this time we have had five months to prepare, so you will see a drastic change this season.Comic Booked: We know that Season Two will be origin-based, but will the story continue from the Dark Phoenix Saga? Or will we start at different time frames each episode?Eric Green: Yes it does, we actually will revisit the ending of the Phoenix story again. The ending last season could have been a little better, so this time we are recreating that scene with more emotion behind it. We will then shift to a year later when the X-Men have actually left the team. From there, we'll focus on each character and go into their back stories. This will lead into a reunion and then more group stories.Comic Booked: This time around you are asking for funding. How much are you looking for and what are the perks?Eric Green: We are asking all fans to help with any donations they can. This does not necessarily have to be money, it can be gift cards or donations of props. Our goal is to have fun. We all hate waiting three to five years for a new X-Men film, cartoon, or video game. With more help from our peers, we can achieve excellent quality and keep feeding the fans. We can't afford the million dollar special fx, or the head to toe costumes for each character. Right now we have it set at just $750 because even that would be a huge help. If we had a lot more money we could do almost anything. So any help would let us bring to life the best X-Men ever. So please help by donating here. In return you will receive DVD, photo, T-Shirt, even the opportunity to come aboard as a producer.Comic Booked: Have any concept ideas for Season Three surfaced during all those writer meetings?Eric Green: I won't say what the big story arc will be because that may give away Season Two's big ending! But we will see the Savage Land in its ultimate form, and there are other stories, but they mesh together with the main story arc.Comic Booked: Last time we talked, you said we would see Sentinels this season, can we hear more about that? (Check out the concept art above!)Eric Green: Yep, the Sentinels are still happening as planned, though we have not filmed anything yet.Comic Booked: Is the show going to have a new opening theme for the second season?Eric Green: Absolutely, a new intro and music. I was thinking of mimicking the X-Men animated series intro from the 90's, but nothing in stone just yet.Comic Booked: What is your favorite thing about Season Two? What do you think is the most exciting thing you are doing this season that is going to blow people away?Eric Green: Hmm this is a tricky question because there are so many big things happening. Season One was just one story, Season Twos is many, many stories. The Weapon X episodes are going to be awesome! The Ms. Marvel and Rogue scene is very intense! Anything that comes out of Professor Xavier's mouth will leave fans saying "Now that is Professor Xavier"! He sounds just like the Xavier from the video games, I love it! The whole season actually, with six directors crafting their episodes, has been excellent work so far.

There you have it! You've had your first look at Sentinels, learned a little more about Season Two and the chemistry between Scott and Jean. Don't forget to help out Uncanny X-Men by giving what you can to keep this amazing series alive. Like their facebook page and check out their videos. Stay tuned to Comic Booked for more updates on Season Two and any breaking news on the Uncanny X-Men Webseries.

Dynamite Comics Presents Pathfinder

Rob The Wrecker — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:54:17 +0000

Fans of Pathfinder rejoice! Dynamite Comics has joined forces with the creative team of Jim Zubkavich and Andrew Huerta to bring us Pathfinder! Due out this August, Pathfinder will bring all of our favorite heroes from the game to life for the first time. For more information about this exciting new series check out the press release below:

PATHFINDER, THE BEST-SELLING RPG, IS NOW THE ULTIMATE FANTASTY COMIC BOOK!CREATIVE TEAM OF JIM ZUBAVICH AND ANDREW HUERTA ANNOUNCED!COMING OUT IN AUGUST FROM DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT!May 14, 2011, Runnemede, NJ - Paizo's incredible award-winning, best-selling fantasy world, fiction line and tabletop RPG is now the ultimate fantasy comic from Dynamite Entertainment, hitting stores in August! Dynamite is proud to announce that the ongoing series is written by Jim Zubkavich with art by Andrew Huerta, with covers by Lucio Parillo, Matteo Scalera, Dave Dorman, and Erik Jones!!!The iconic heroes at the core of the Pathfinder's world are brought to life for the first time in a brand new story full of charm and high adventure that will please fans and entertain new readers alike. Issue 1 clocks in at 40 pages (and remains $3.99) and includes over 10 pages of character profiles and Pathfinder RPG game statistics, plus an EXCLUSIVE removable, playable tactical map and poster. Be sure to pick up Pathfinder #1 from Dynamite, coming this August to comic stores everywhere!In issue #1, Valeros can rely on only his sword arm and his friends, the mysterious and beautiful sorcerer Seoni and silver tongued quick-witted elven rogue Merisiel, but nothing can prepare him for the dangers that lurk ahead. The scattered and chaotic goblin tribes of Varisia are changing, growing in power and unifying in ways no one has ever seen before. At the heart of this strange evolution is an ancient evil looking to establish itself anew."Pathfinder has blazed new trails in gaming and fiction, winning over thousands of fans all over the world. I'm absolutely thrilled to add to its mythology and flesh out the iconic characters at the heart of the Galorion world," says writer Jim Zubkavich. "Sword and sorcery adventure pumps through my veins and I can't wait for readers to experience what Dynamite and I have planned.""I am thrilled with the work Jim Zub and Andrew Huerta have put into the Pathfinder comic book," adds Paizo Publisher Erik Mona. "Jim and I go way back to my time as Editor-in-Chief of Dragon Magazine, and his experience with fantasy and gaming make him the perfect writer for the series. Andrew's pencils are absolutely amazing, and bring an exciting and fresh new look to the characters, monsters, and lands of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.""From day one of when we were awarded the license for the Pathfinder comic we knew we had only one chance to make a great first impression for Pathfinder and comics fans - Jim and Andrew are the perfect team for the series. It is great to finally have the opportunity to publish these wonderful comics," adds Dynamite Entertainment President and Publisher Nick Barrucci. "I also finally get the chance to work with Jim Zubkavich, a writer whom I have the upmost respect for, and Andrew's art is nothing short of breathtaking. And these covers by Lucio Parillo, Matteo Scalera, Dave Dorman, and Erik Jones are just astounding!"Become our fan on Facebook at facebook.com/DynamiteComicsJoin the conversation on Dynamite Entertainment's twitter page at http://twitter.com/DynamiteComicsTo find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit www.comicshoplocator.comFor art and more information, please visit:www.dynamite.netAbout Dynamite Entertainment:DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Shadow, The Boys, Green Hornet, Vampirella, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, Game of Thrones and more!In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and best selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Michael Avon Oeming, Mel Rubi, Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Sadowski, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Jae Lee, Matt Wagner and a host of up and coming new talent!Dynamite recently won the Diamond Gem Award for Best Publisher Under 4% of market share for 2011!DYNAMITE is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's PROJECT SUPERPOWERS - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. Several of their titles have also hit The New York Times Best-Sellers list: The Boys, Vampirella Archives, Robert Jordan's New Spring and Wheel of Time graphic novels. In 2005 Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%). The company has also been nominated for several industry awards, including the prestigious Eisner Award.About Paizo Publishing:Paizo Publishing®, LLC is a leading publisher of fantasy roleplaying games, accessories, board games, and novels. Paizo's Pathfinder® Roleplaying Game, the result of the largest open playtest in the history of tabletop gaming, is currently the best-selling tabletop roleplaying game in hobby stores. Pathfinder Adventure Path is the most popular and best-selling monthly product in the tabletop RPG industry. Paizo.com is the leading online hobby retail store, offering tens of thousands of products from a variety of publishers to customers all over the world. In the nine years since its founding, Paizo Publishing has received more than 50 major awards and has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the hobby games industry.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” Movie 4-Minute SUPER PREVIEW!

Robb Orr — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:54:09 +0000

Damn. Marvel Entertainment/Sony Pictures has gone and laid the proper smack-down upon us! The Amazing Spider-Man film, starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Dennis Leary, and many others, is on the near horizon. Today, just over four minutes of new, unadulterated movie trailer “SUPER PREVIEW” goodness has been released for our viewing pleasure. This is unprecedented! Wow. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is “must watch!”The scope of the set-pieces is completely massive and dynamic! At this point it looks as if the Spidey-suit could use a little shadowing, vectoring, and post production to completely “sell it” and bring it home; but you won't be hearing us complain. This is obviously an early cut, but it looks as if Marvel is going for the gusto! Don't believe me? Just watch for yourselves.

So there you have have it. What did you think? We REALLY want to hear your comments below! The Amazing Spider-Man is scheduled to hit theaters on July 3^rd, 2012! Do we have chills, or are our Spidey-senses tingling?

Rob The Wrecker Presents: My 10 Favorite Uncommons From Avacyn Restored!

Rob The Wrecker — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:25:15 +0000

With the official release of Avacyn Restored still fresh on everyone’s minds we have all heard a lot recently about the amazing cards in the set. Whether the buzz is about Terminus or Tibalt, Tamiyo or Avacyn herself, we have all heard about the game changing cards this set brought with it. The thing is, all the buzz we hear about tends to revolve around the rares and even more frequently the mythic rares. While rares and mythics are great, they tend to be too expensive to make up the bulk of your deck with the exception of the most serious of players. Sure the rest of us may spurge on a play set of Terminus when giving our standard decks an Avacyn Restored facelift, but what about the rest of the set? All too often we get so caught up in the bells and whistles of the money cards in a new set that we forget about the plethora of useful uncommons! I give you Rob the Wrecker's favorite uncommons from Avacyn Restored!

#10 Commanders Authority is a good way to counter pesky cards like Call to the Grave which make you sacrifice creatures every turn. If a card like that doesn't happen to show up during the course of that match, it generates lots and lots of little blockers. Regardless of the context this card gets played in, I see it as a wonderful defensive card.

#9 Kessig Malcontents is a great addition to any Human deck. When playing Kessig Malcontents you essentially get two cards for the price of one. You get the creature itself and a burn card because of its ability.

#8 Nearheath Pilgrim While Nearheath Pilgrim has the ability to give itself and any other creature lifelink. While the pilgrim itself may be nearly useless with lifelink, it can be soul bonded with It That Betrays or some other monstrously large creature.

#7 Blessings of Nature This spell is only great because of the new miracle mechanic. Paying five for four plus one plus one counters is a little pricey but with its amazing miracle cost of one this card is well worth it. One mana to turn a measly little 1/1 into a hefty 5/5 is unheard of!

#6 Defy Death To fit with the theme of the current set, Defy Death most benefits angels and humans. While it may benefit some creature types in particular, it still has the ability to bring some of your bigger threats back later in the game. The high cost is something of a turn off but it usually won't be needed until you have more then enough mana at your disposal.

#5Banishing Stroke This is yet another card that benefits greatly from the miracle mechanic. For just one mana you can effectively eliminate a threat from the game by having it placed on the bottom of your opponents deck. Standard seems have many more cards that allow you bring things back from the graveyard then to search your deck so this actually seems more effective in my mind.

#4Ghostly Touch As far as uncommons in Avacyn Restored go, Ghostly Touch is the top of the pile for control decks. Allowing you to tap and untap things as you please is a power that rivals gods in this game. Tap your opponents creatures to prevent them from blocking or untap creatures you had attack to free up some blockers.

#3 Falkenrath Exterminator Falkenrath Exterminator is another of those wonderful cards that gets bigger the longer its in play. In addition to getting bigger, it has the option of acting like a burn card, over and over again in a single turn. This creature can end a game in a single turn with enough mana out.

#2Thunderous Wrath Yet another card that benefits nicely from the miracle mechanic is Thunderous Wrath. In fact, that's the only way it should be used. At a staggering normal cost of 6 mana Thunderous Wrath is almost laughable but for a measly one mana you can use it to do a staggering amount of damage to a foe or their most dangerous creature.

#1Rain of Thorns This is probably one of the most potent removal cards in standard. While it may not remove creatures it can set your opponents back by removing vital lands, annoying enchantments and artifacts that create tough situations all at once. While it may be expensive to play for one of those reasons, removing two or three of those make it well worth the cost.

Well, there you have it, my favorite uncommons from Avacyn Restored. You may not agree with them or think there are other uncommons that should be on this list and that’s fine. I never said they were the best cards in the set, simply the ones I believe I will enjoy using the most. If you think I overlooked a card, let me know in the comments, I’ll be glad to discuss it with you. Make sure you check out my top 10 list of favorite commons too! As always thanks for reading!And for those of you living in or visiting the Hampton Roads area, please join us for weekly tournaments and Friday Night Magic at 859 S. Lynnhaven Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Get Directions