Sunday, May 31, 2015

Movie Review: Patch Town


Starring: Zoie Palmer (“Lost Girl,” Sex After Kids), Rob Ramsay (“Blue Mountain State”) and Julian Richings (Cube, Wrong Turn). OPENS FRIDAY JUNE 5, 2015 in New York at Cinema Village with a national release to follow.  Also available day and date on iTunes and other digital platforms on June 5th.

Story Line: In North American folklore the stork delivers babies, but in Russian folklore, babies are born in the cabbage patch. Inspired by the award-winning short film of the same name, PATCH TOWN tells the story of Jon (Rob Ramsay), who has lived a sad life as an oppressed worker at a factory where hundreds of cabbage babies are born. Work on the assembly line is a thankless task of shucking, picking, and processing newborns to go out into the world and to their new adoptive mothers. But when Jon discovers the awful secret that he and all the indentured workers are actually grown-up and discarded toys, he’ll have to take on a villainous corporation to reunite with his long-lost mother, protect his new found family, and finally find freedom.


My Thoughts: Movie starts with the main character Jon at the Patch factory. He is opening the cabbages and taking out the babies. CREEPY!!! He breaks into song as he walks out due to his shift ending and one of his friends is beat by security for trying to steal one of the cabbages (babies). I did not realize that this movie was a musical. The creepy back story of the babies being made into the cabbage dolls gives you chills. The dolls would go to little girls but the dolls were aware and the dolls would be collected back once the girls grew out of playing with them. The doll maker would turns the kids back. 


The movie has a Labyrinth feel to it. It has the evil overlord and the hero who is just looking for their happiness. The singing really cinches this movie and I am amazed to be saying that as I am not huge on musicals.

This movie is great and has the perfect making for a cult classic. The pace is just right. There are moments that make you laugh and you are happy when Jon is finally reunited with his "mom". You cheer for Jon to be successful in the real world. Overall I look forward to hearing how others have enjoyed this movie.




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NEXT ACTIVE TIME REPORT SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 4


SQUARE ENIX® announced its next Active Time Report, a fully subtitled program that focuses on delivering development updates from the FINAL FANTASY® XVdirector Hajime Tabata, directly to the Square Enix community. Tabata and Akio Ofuji, the global marketing manager, will be hosting the program as usual.

The broadcast will cover various topics and take place Thursday, June 4th at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) / 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

The Active Time Report can be viewed on YouTube and Twitch at the respective links below:

http://youtube.com/squareenixpresents
http://www.twitch.tv/squareenixpresents

Fans are invited to visit the FINAL FANTASY Facebook Page for more details:

http://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy.


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Thursday, May 28, 2015

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Launching Winter 2015


The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo announced today the upcoming release of the Pokémon S ...

Latest Chapter in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Series Coming to Nintendo 3DS. The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo announced today the upcoming release of the Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, the latest installment of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series that has sold more than 13 million units worldwide. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon will be available in North America in winter 2015.

Players can look forward to even greater, randomly created dungeons that change each time they enter. InPokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, players will battle alongside Legendary and Mythical Pokémon to save the world in a sweeping tale of adventure and mystery.

About Pokémon:

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.


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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Newark Comic Con: Arlen Schumer


Tell me a little bit about yourself and your brand?

I combine expertise in graphic design and illustration with knowledge of comic book art history to create works that stand out from the crowd of conventional graphic design and illustration. I’m a member of The Society of Illustrators and a comic book art historian—my book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art won the Independent Publishers Award for Best Popular Culture Book of 2003. I lecture on this and other pop culture subjects, like Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone, at universities and cultural institutions nationwide.

What made you decide to get into your field?

I’ve been drawing superheroes since I was three years old, always knew I was going to be an artist, seas the “class artist,” and ended up going to Rhode Island School of Design to major in illustration because a great comic book illustrator had recently emerged from there (the DC and Marvel Comics artist Walt Simonson)—except once I got to RISD, I learned the graphic design department was the best in the school, and the idea of studying verbal/visual communication appealed to me more; because weren’t comics, after all, a combination of verbal and visual, words and pictures?


What is the vision of your field? What do you hope to achieve?

I’ve spent my entire illustration career working to bring great comic book art into the commercial art field, just as the Pop Art painter Roy Lichtenstein brought comics into the fine art world; at the same time, I’ve been working to get comic book art appreciated and treated seriously in the academic and cultural worlds as an indigenous American art form with a rich history, via my comic book art history lectures and verbal/visual essays.

What is your favorite design? Why?

Well, if you mean who are my favorite artists, I’d answer all the comic book artists I cover in my comic book art history book,The Silver Age of Comic Book Art; from other fields, Saul Bass (graphic design), Stanley Kubrick (film) and Edward Hopper (painting).


What do you hope to achieve by bringing your work to Newark Comic Con?
I’m trying to be the Johnny Appleseed of comic book art history, spreading the love of The Silver Age (a.k.a. The 1960s), the period that produced the artists whom I believe are our great Renaissance masters; the same way we look back 500 years ago on those masters of the human figure—like Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Raphael—so too will future art historians judge the great artists of The Silver Age—like Kirby, Adams and Steranko—the same. And they’ll look back on my book and lectures as the source for their judgments.


Tell us more about your work? What do you have coming out soon?

I just designed an exhibit for the Type Directors Club of NY of the works of Ira Schnapp, the DC Comics letterer for 30 years (1938-68), who not only designed the Superman logo (and every DC logo you can think of), but also designed the Roman letters engraved atop NYC’s Public Library and Penn Station Post Office (“Neither snow nor rain…”); the exhibit’s up untilSeptember 25. My comic book art history book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, is available in hardcover and e-book editions via my site, http://www.arlenschumer.com; I’ll be lecturing on both Schnapp and Silver Age at various comic conventions all summer, including the San Diego Comicon in July. And this fall I’ll be presenting my lecture on “Jews & Comics”—an overview “from the Golem to Ben Grimm”—at the 92 Street Y in Manhattan on September 24.

What is your website? Contact information?

Website: http://www.arlenschumer.com/home.html; e-mail: arlen@arlenschumer.com



Thank you to Arlen. We look forward to seeing more from you and look forward to your work. Arlen Schumer will be at Newark Comic Con on September 12th, 2015. He will be presenting a panel on the Silver Age of Comics. Make sure you come by to listen to this great speaker.  Please take a moment and check out the website at www.newarkcomiccon.org. Buy a ticket and we will see you there.


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NEED FOR SPEED RETURNS IN AN ACTION DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT UNITES THE CULTURE OF SPEED


Deep Customisation, Authentic Urban Car Culture, Open World, and Immersive Narrative All Feature in the Reboot of the Famed Need for Speed Franchise. Ghost Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, announced the return of Need for Speed™ in a full reboot of this storied franchise. The game delivers on what the fans want, and what Need for Speed stands for - deep customisation, authentic urban car culture, a nocturnal open world, and an immersive narrative that pulls you through the game. “Need for Speed is one of the most iconic names in gaming, and we're returning it to greatness in this reboot,” said Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer at Ghost Games. “Pulling on our 20 years of history, and then taking a year out from releasing a game, we are making the game we’ve always wanted to. We're listening to the fans and delivering an experience that will capture their imagination and unleash their passion for cars and speed.”


Fuelled by EA's own car culture community, Speedhunters (www.speedhunters.com ), Need for Speed will deliver an experience that's grounded in authentic car culture by diving into the rich world of past, present and emergent trends of the urban car scene. This collaboration with Speedhunters in the research and development of the game means the level of detail and real-world authenticity will envelop gamers in an exciting world to discover and enjoy in a way that only Need for Speed can deliver.

See the Need for Speed announce teaser trailer now athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPZPmfE_1Co , and subscribe www.youtube.com/NeedforSpeed to see the first full trailer on June 15, 2015.

Need for Speed will launch worldwide in Autumn 2015 on Origin™ for PC , PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. To join the Need for Speed conversation please visit https://www.facebook.com/NeedforSpeed , follow us on Twitter® at https://twitter.com/NeedforSpeed.


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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

8 Best Buy Locations Set for Nintendo World Championships 2015 Qualifying Events




Nintendo has chosen eight Best Buy locations across the country to host qualifying events on May 30 for the upcoming Nintendo World Championships 2015. Nintendo invites video game fans of all skill levels who are United States residents ages 13 and up to take part in the qualifying events for a chance to compete in the Nintendo World Championships 2015 on June 14 in Los Angeles during the week of the E3 video game trade show.

The qualifying competition will feature the Championship mode of the Ultimate NES Remix game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. In this mode, players will take on a series of three score-based challenges in Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3and Dr. Mario. Games and systems will be provided at each location, althoughUltimate NES Remix is available now in stores and in the Nintendo eShop for anyone who wants to start practicing for the competition. The top scorer from each of the eight regional competitions will move on to the final event in Los Angeles, which will be a multi-round competition with a variety of Nintendo games. An additional eight competitors selected by Nintendo will also compete in the Nintendo World Championships 2015. Nintendo will reveal these competitors in the near future.

The qualifying events will take place from10 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at Best Buy stores at the following locations:
  • 1717 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA
  • 3675 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA
  • 10760 NW 17th St., Miami, FL
  • 900 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL
  • 12905 Elm Creek Blvd. N, Maple Grove, MN
  • 5001 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, NY
  • 9378 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX
  • 2214 S. 48th St., Tacoma, WA

For more information about the Nintendo World Championships 2015, including the Official Rules for the qualifying events, visit http://e3.nintendo.com/.

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Monday, May 25, 2015

DARK HORSE DEBUTS NEW CHARACTERS IN POPULAR LINE OF GAME OF THRONES FIGURES


Dark Horse is now revealing new additions to their successful ongoing line of figures based on the hit HBO® series Game of Thrones®! “We have been floored by the response to these figures,” Dark Horse product development head David Scroggy noted, “and these will give fans the new favorites we have come to know as the epic saga unfolds." Sansa Stark, the oldest Stark daughter, fled King’s Landing to the Eyrie with Littlefinger’s assistance after Joffrey’s murder and now travels alongside him. The figure measures 7.75” in height. The fine detailing of her black and midnight blue dress is exactly as seen in the HBO series.


Jorah Mormont, an exiled Northern lord, originally joined Daenerys’s company as a spy on behalf of King Robert, but ultimately became committed to her cause. He followed Daenerys, providing counsel, but was banished when she learned of his betrayal. The Jorah figure measures 7.85” in height, with the paint application reproducing the nuances of his likeness and costume. Sandor Clegane, the former Kingsguard better-known as The Hound, abandoned King Joffrey and his post during the Battle of Blackwater. After encountering Ayra Stark at the Riverlands, he held her captive while travelling to the Eeyrie in hopes of collecting a ransom. The Hound’s formidable proportions are reflected in this 8.4” figure. He is shown wearing his signature helmet, which is hinged so that it opens and closes.



Brienne of Tarth, warrior of House Tarth and vassal to House Baratheon, is a skilled fighter. After serving as the Kingsguard for Renly Baratheon and the sworn sword of Catelyn Stark, she bonds with Jaime Lannister while escorting him back to King’s Landing, where he gives her a new suit of armor and a Valyrian steel sword reforged from Eddard Stark’s great sword, Ice. This armor is reproduced on our 8” tall figure, with all the impeccable details accounted for.

Slated for a Fall 2015 release, these four new characters join four other Dark Horse Game of Thrones figures making their on-sale debut this spring:
  • Tywin Lannister, former Hand of the King and head of House Lannister and Lord of Casterly Rock, was one of the most powerful lords in Westeros.
  • Joffrey Baratheon, former King of Westeros before his untimely murder at his wedding, was over-indulged and cowardly. He exhibited a cruel streak toward the vulnerable.
  • Petyr (“Littlefinger”) Baelish, the eyes and ears of King’s Landing, left his role as master of coin in the Small Council to secure the Vale by marrying Lysa Arryn.
  • Hodor and Bran are practically inseparable since Bran was pushed from a tower in Winterfell and lost the ability to walk. In this figure, Hodor carries Bran Stark on his back, immortalizing the close bond the two characters share. This special “double figure” is larger than others in the line, measuring a Hodor-sized nine inches, including the base.

These Game of Thrones figures have a suggested retail price of $24.99-$39.99 and are presented in deluxe window box packaging.


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Sunday, May 24, 2015

Teen Titans (Gone to Soon Series)

 
 
Teen Titans (Tv Series) July 19, 2003 (2003-07-19) – September 15, 2006
 
 
Wikipedia (Premise)
 
Teen Titans centers around the five main members of the superhero team: Robin (Scott Menville), the intelligent, capable leader of the Teen Titans who has romantic feelings for Starfire; Starfire (Hynden Walch), a quirky, curious alien princess from the planet Tamaran who has feelings for Robin; Cyborg (Khary Payton), a half-human/half-robot who is known for his strength and technological prowess; Raven (Tara Strong), a stoic girl from the parallel world, Azarath, who draws upon dark energy and psionic abilities; and Beast Boy (Greg Cipes), the ditzy, good-natured prankster of the group. They are situated in Titans Tower, a large T-shaped structure featuring living quarters as well as a command centre and variety of training facilities, on an island just offshore from the fictional West Coast city of Jump City.


 
The team deals with all manner of criminal activity and threats to the city, while dealing with their own struggles with adolescence, their mutual friendships, and their limitations. Slade, their main enemy, is a newly designed version of the DC villain Deathstroke. The team encounters several allies throughout the series; including Aqualad in the first season; Terra in the second season (who is integral to that season's story arc), as well as Speedy, Hotspot and Wildebeest; Bumblebee and Más y Menos in the third season (who join Aqualad and Speedy to form 'Titans East') and numerous other heroes adapted from the DC universe in the fifth season to aid in the battle against the Brotherhood of Evil.

 
 
Season /
Season-centric Titan
EpisodesOriginally airedDVD release dates
1Robin132003February 7, 2006
2Terra132004September 12, 2006
3Cyborg132004April 10, 2007
4Raven132005November 20, 2007
5Beast Boy132005 – 2006July 22, 2008
 
Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo2006February 6, 2007



 

Mack's Thoughts
The original Teen Titans was one of the best animated shows on Cartoon Network. Season 5 was by far the best season especially  the end in which appeared to be going in the direction of Justice League Unlimited or Young Justice Invasion.  Season 5 was critically acclaimed and had a dark under tone which  was refreshing and familiar with DC Comics. A season 6 was a sure thing and should have been based on Star-Fire but instead execs replaced the show with the kiddie age appropriate Teen TItans Go which continues to air on Cartoon Network.

 
Comments Welcomed Below
 
-Mack Nichols
 

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Nintendo Defeats Patent Case Involving Wii Balance Board


On May 18, 2015, Nintendo defeated a patent case in Seattle federal court. In May 2013, non-practicing entities Ithaca Ventures and Ithaca Development sued Nintendo, alleging that Nintendo’s Wii Balance Board accessory infringed its patent. Nintendo responded by seeking sanctions for filing a meritless case. Ithaca then withdrew its case in Seattle following a finding by a German court that Ithaca’s European patent could not cover the Wii Balance Board and that Ithaca must pay Nintendo’s attorneys’ fees.

“Nintendo will vigorously defend its innovations against patent lawsuits, and will not pay to resolve meritless accusations, no matter whether the case is filed in the United States or elsewhere,” said Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Richard Medway of Nintendo of America.

For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.


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Friday, May 22, 2015

Nintendo Launches Two Gigantic Puzzle Games for Nintendo 3DS

Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition will challenge gamers to drag and ma ...

Nintendo is doubling down on puzzle gaming with two adventures for Nintendo 3DS – so big and so immersive that they have room for dragons and Mario – in one power-packed game package. Puzzle & Dragons Z +Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition will challenge gamers to drag and match colored orbs to create combos and take down enemies. And Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition will delight them with the chance to befriend Mario baddies across multiple worlds to rescue Princess Peach. Both games will be available on a single game card in stores and as a game download at Nintendo.com and in the Nintendo eShop on May 22 for one suggested retail price of just $29.99.

“The drag-and-match fun of these games will attract fans of puzzle games,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Then it will surprise them with a much deeper and richer experience than they expected.”

Mushroom Kingdom devotees will feel at home navigating the familiar overworld map of Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition as Mario. But in a unique twist, players can assemble a team of Mushroom Kingdom baddies, like Koopa Troopas or Goombas, and recruit friends like Toad and Yoshi to work together on a mission to rescue Princess Peach. Players must drag and match colorful orbs to create chains of three or more orbs to launch an attack. By chaining multiple combos together, players can deal massive amounts of damage to their foes. The game’s unique depth unfolds over a variety of worlds filled with more than 80 classic enemies, most of which can join the player’s team.

A free special demo of Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition is available in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS to let players sample the drag-and-match game play.

Puzzle & Dragons Z, a sensation in Japan, also makes its North American debut in this two-in-one puzzle RPG adventure pack for Nintendo 3DS. Puzzle & Dragons Zsets the engaging drag-and-match game play against an even richer storyline. On a quest to save their hometown and rebuild the fantasy world of Dracomacia, players will hatch, collect, battle and evolve more than 250 Monsters to unlock powerful skills to customize their team. Players will need all the strength they can muster to harness the power of the Orbs to battle the five legendary Skydragons and defeat Lord Dogma’s evil group, Paradox.

For more information about Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition, visit http://puzzleanddragons.nintendo.com.. Nintendo 3DS owners can pre-purchase Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition directly from the Nintendo eShop, on Nintendo.com at https://checkout.nintendo.com/#/item/CTRNAZGE/billing or by purchasing a download code for the game from participating retailers. Players can use the download code right away to pre-load the game to their systems and then begin playing as soon as the game launches.


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Nintendo World Championships Headline Nintendo’s Expanded Lineup at E3 2015

The Nintendo World Championships return after a 25-year hiatus. (Photo: Business Wire)
Nintendo reaches out directly to gaming fans, media and partners with a dynamic lineup for E3 2015, starting with the exciting return of the Nintendo World Championships after a 25-year hiatus. At select Best Buy locations around the country, consumers can vie for a coveted spot in the tournament finals set in Los Angeles to kick off E3 week on Sunday, June 14. Separately on Tuesday, June 16, online viewers can score the latest Nintendo news as it breaks by tuning in to the Nintendo Digital Event, followed by Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3, daily live-streamed game demonstrations from the Nintendo booth. Finally, Nintendo will deliver a piece of its E3 experience to consumers nationwide, with two hands-on sampling days of the upcoming Mario Maker Wii U game at participating Best Buy stores. This year, Nintendo will go beyond the show to deliver the E3 spirit and inside scoop to a bigger audience than ever via http://e3.nintendo.com and Nintendo’s social media channels.

“Whether you’re tuning in online or joining us at the show, we want to include fans of all ages this E3 with an innovative and nostalgic focus on fun,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “I’m especially eager to bring back the Nintendo World Championships and to crown the 2015 Nintendo World Champion.”

The E3 2015 video game trade show takes place June 16-19 in Los Angeles. Nintendo’s main events taking place during E3 include:

Nintendo World Championships 2015
  • On May 30, select Best Buy locations in major cities around the country will host qualifying tournaments for the Nintendo World Championships, which were last seen in 1990. The winners from each regional event, plus competitors invited by Nintendo, will meet on June 14, at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles for a multi-round Nintendo game competition. In the end, one player will be crowned the 2015 Nintendo World Champion. Fans in Los Angeles will have the opportunity to attend the tournament, while others can watch online. More details about the qualifying tournaments will be shared in the coming weeks.
Nintendo Digital Event
  • Once again Nintendo will deliver its main news via an online video program. The Nintendo Digital Event will start at 9 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, June 16. Viewers will be treated to detailed information about the various games and experiences Nintendo has in store for its systems.
Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3
  • Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3 2015 is ready to bring fans even more in-depth coverage of Nintendo products directly from the show floor. The unscripted action delivered by the gaming experts in the Nintendo Treehouse and various game developers will be live streamed. More information about the specific times will be announced closer to E3.
Nintendo Access: Mario Maker at Best Buy
  • On two days during the week of E3, participating Best Buy locations will open their doors to let fans try out the upcomingMario Maker game for the Wii U console. The game lets players have fun with friends as they enjoy playing through levels in a variety of Super Mario Bros. styles. The events will take place 4-9 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 17, and noon-5 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 20. Attendees will receive a sweet 30th anniversary Super Mario Bros. pin while supplies last.
More information about the Nintendo World Championships, events at select Best Buy stores and other Nintendo events during E3 will be announced shortly. Keep an eye on Nintendo’s social media channels, or visit http://e3.nintendo.com.


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Thursday, May 21, 2015

Epic. Widescreen. Hitch. Are You Ready?


Superstar comic artist Bryan Hitch writes and draws new tales of the world’s greatest heroes in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA – first issue hits shelves June 17th! It’s massive widescreen JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA action and adventure from legendary writer/artist Bryan Hitch! In the extra-sized debut issue, the League comes up against an armada of aliens heading for Earth that claims to be a peaceful religious tribe. But something sinister is lurking under the surface... Something with ties to ancient Krypton!

This amazing kick-off issue is available with seven different variant covers by Bryan Hitch, each spotlighting one of seven core members of the JLA, plus an incredible seven-panel foldout variant cover that presents all seven covers together into one giant panoramic battle scene! All seven of the variant covers just made their debut today. Check out our gallery at DCCOMICS/BLOG/PRESS for a look at the entire 7 character gatefold cover!

Are You Ready for JLA?


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Halo 5: Guardians #HuntTheTruth - Has the Master Chief Gone AWOL?


The latest episode from the #HuntTheTruth podcast posed some serious questions for fans, as the Master Chief – beloved hero of the Halo universe – is accused of atrocities, calling his allegiance into question. Did he turn his back on those he swore to protect? What could have pushed him over the edge to turn his back on his lifelong duty? Where does Halo Nation go from here? Hear it for yourself.

In just over a month, the #HuntTheTruth campaign has risen to be the second most talked about ad campaign online and the number one gaming podcast on iTunes. With an interactive teaser, mirror-image TV commercials (1 & 2), an engrossing podcast series, a crowd-sourced online puzzle to reveal the game’s cover art, and a new Augmented Reality Game (ARG) causing havoc on screens worldwide – Halo is challenging its fans to rethink what they know about the franchise and its iconic characters.

In just 11 days, “Halo 5: Guardians” became one of the most discussed advertising campaigns in March (Source: Sysomos English mentions). Additionally:
  • Total listens have hit 2.15 million across iTunes and Soundcloud – and counting!
  • The three separate announce trailers for “Halo 5: Guardians” have been viewed more than 217 million times total on television and online.
  • More than 250,000 fans have visited websites for the “Halo 5: Guardians” ARG.
  • To-date “Halo 5: Guardians” has been referenced nearly 960,000 times across social media since the start of the campaign.
The #HuntTheTruth podcast has been central to 343 Industries’ quest to involve the community more deeply in the Halo universe. Fans around the world joined journalist Benjamin Giraud on his quest to discover the truth about the Master Chief, UNSC and everything previously assumed about the decade-long Halo story. An all-star voice cast, including Cobie Smulders of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Keegan-Michael Key of “Key and Peele,” Kumail Nanjiani of “Silicon Valley” and legendary actor Stacy Keach, to name just a few, has helped bring the narrative to life for Halo fans old and new alike (full cast list below).

If you haven’t tuned in yet, it’s not too late. Stay tuned to #HuntTheTruth and Xbox Wire for even more “Halo 5: Guardians” reveals, and head over to huntthetruth.tumblr.com to catch up on the first eight episodes. New episodes release every Sunday, with more twists and turns in store right up until the two-part season finale on June 14.


#HuntTheTruth Podcast Cast
  • Petra Janecek, Journalist – Cobie Smulders 
  • Benjamin Giraud, Journalist – Keegan-Michael Key
  • Deon Govender, John’s boxing coach – Phil LaMarr
  • Ellie Bloom, John’s childhood friend – Tara Strong
  • Thomas Wu, Internment Survivor – Phil LaMarr
  • Gabriella Dvørak, ONI Vice Admiral – Jennifer Hale
  • Mshak Moradi, Conspiracy Theorist – Kumail Nanjiani
  • Anthony Petrosky, ODST – Troy Baker
  • Michael Sullivan, ONI PR – Jerry Trainor
  • Jakob Walker, UNSC Marine – Steve Blum
  • Ray Kurzig, Ben’s Research friend – Phil LaMarr
  • Franklin Mendez, Senior CPO who trained MC – Stacy Keach
  • FERO, Rebel Leader - Janina Gavankar
  • Katrina, Ellie Bloom’s Friend – Laura Bailey

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DC Entertainment welcomes JORGE CORONA to WE ARE...ROBIN



Spinning out of the pages of BATMAN! The teenagers of Gotham City have adopted the “R” and made it their own. A new Robin? No, HUNDREDS of new Robins! And they finally meet Batman himself…but is it everything they imagined it would be? And what will the Dark Knight think of them?

The new ongoing series WE ARE…ROBIN, written by Lee Bermejo (JOKER, SUICIDERS), will now feature art from Jorge Corona, Rob Haynes and Khary Randolph. You'll see the first of Corona's work on WE ARE… ROBIN in the Sneak Peek on May 27th, and then stay tuned for WE ARE…ROBIN #1 on June 24th. Corona was recently nominated for Comic-Con International’s Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award. Please help us welcome Jorge to the new series!

Check out the first three covers by Lee Bermejo, including the official reveal of the cover to Issue #3 on the blog.


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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Xbox One Special Edition “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” Bundle Comes to the U.S.



For a limited time, Xbox fans in the U.S. can get their hands on an Xbox One Special Edition Halo: The Master Chief CollectionBundle featuring a sleek, Cirrus White Xbox One console and wireless controller. The bundle also comes packed with a digital download code for Halo: The Master Chief Collection – the essential Halo fan experience that features the Master Chief's complete story through four free Halo games: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4. Best of all, it’s all available for ERP $349 in the U.S.

The bundle is only available in limited quantities while supplies last. Please visit Xbox Wire for more information.


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Movie Review - Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max:Fury Road: The Best Big Budget Movie of 2015, to This Point, is a Cultural Parable Hidden in a Cinematic Feast for the Senses


As I sat watching Mad Max, all I could think was, “it's not that The Fast and The Furious movies are essentially long car chases, which makes them a bore. No, it's not that at all. It's that beyond the massive explosions and mind bending “auto-batics”, The Fast and The Furious movies are disjointed, without purpose, relegated to high-school-level acting, and most importantly, void of heart.” Mad Max, while also essentially being one long car chase, most definitely is not either of these attributes. And after having had to sit through Furious Seven, I felt a cinematic baptism of the soul when I left the theater of the George Miller church of road glory.

The term “action heavy” gets thrown around a lot to describe a film, but Mad Max barely gets through its first two minutes before cars are hurling, people are chasing, and all bets are off. This is done with so much gusto and splendor that it nearly turns into sensory overload. I was looking for my seat belt, but could only find my popcorn and Coke. I kept waiting for a moment to catch my breath, but there would be none until nearly an hour into the movie. The drum beating and guitar screams, of the incessant Junkie XL score, only drove the action further, deeper, more profoundly into Madness.


Some have complained about the lack of dialogue in the film, but there was no time for these characters to chat, they were on the run from everything, including themselves. The only option Miller afforded us was to hitch on the ride or risk being stranded in the desert dunes. When there was the eventual pause, it wasn't the usual action movie cliched "let's get to know our heroes" dialogue. It was quick and pressing, it was verbalization of what we already knew ... there was no Hope, there was no Redemption, not in real terms, but only as a means to stave off madness and survive. The director makes it clear from the start that this is a lost world, where instinct and raw emotion is king. There are actions and there are reactions, in the purest sense. The lack of dialogue reinforces this, as each character acts in relation to their motives, thus telling us who they are. On a visceral level this works as a mirror to ourselves and the current “quick fix” culture, which spares nobody but the self in order to achieve a final goal.


It is important to note that though Tom Hardy does a fine job filling Mel Gibson´s role of Max, it is Charlize Theron, who plays Furiosa, which makes this movie tick. She is tough, for tough´s sake. At no time does she come off as a “woman doing a man´s job”. She is fully herself and not another Hollywood attempt at creating an über-female/male hybrid trying to fit into the boys club, like a Lara Croft of Tomb Raider or Alice from Resident Evil.

There are very few female characters who have managed to cross into this realm seamlessly: characters that we understand as women, who are comfortable in their feminine role of mother and caretaker, who are even fragile at times, yet are adept at blowing people´s heads off with precision. Furiosa is from the lineage of Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor: fully women, and fully in charge of themselves. The doors that were opened by Ripley and Connors, Furiosa walks proudly through, only to blast her way past some more, in the process. My strong positive feelings for the character were only heightened when I thought of how long it had been since I had last seen a female action character portrayed so fully and elegantly on screen; Quentin Terrantino´s The Bride probably being the last notable entry. Joss Whedon could learn a few things from Mr. Miller next time he gets around to writing for The Black Widow.


The movie´s plot is simple, Immortan Joe, played frighteningly by Hugh Keays-Byrne, is lord over a colony of survivors of the great apocalypse. His wives are stolen and now he wants his property back. This is primal, this is just. The world of Mad Max, going all the way back to the very first film, has always been one of Newtonian grace – there must be equal reactions to a person´s actions. The only variable is the level of insanity each lost generation holds, how further away from human, how distant from previous realities.

In an action film universe filled with Zombies and Superheroes, it is refreshing to see a movie that still believes that humans can indeed be the most cruel and creatively sinister foes. Each character is driven by their absolute pursuit of righteousness. Immortan Joe and his gang, unlike most trite movie villains, are not motivated by power, lust, or greed. They act as they do because they are truly children of the world in which they reside; they believe they are acting in accordance to the new laws of the land. Revenge is even too big a word, or madness – for in a world where everyone is mad, who is to say what is sane? Immortan Joe simply wants his property back, and wouldn´t you?


This reactionary behavior is a more profound evil than all other motives combined; it is the evil of the possibility of what we can become if we allow the dystopia of the world to take hold. It is the horror of The Lord of The Flies, and a theme that Robert Kirkman craftily toys with all the time in his epic The Walking Dead graphic novel series. Fury Road, however, takes this theme and gives us the full scope: it is the aftermath of the aftermath of the aftermath. It is a land of hopelessness where survival can only exist if it is both an internal and visible external force, where the physical world of the senses is more pertinent than the metaphysical world of the heart and spirit, where there are no happy endings but only temporary conquests, but where courage and honor can still find a place in the desert-heart of man. That George Miller was able to translate this and so much more, and what is essentially a two hour car chase, only proves the greatness of his art.

Post by Phillihp Ray 5/18/2015

SUBMIT YOUR OWN FAN ART FROM THE WORLD OF ‘THE WITCHER’ FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN a PS4


Are you a Witcher superfan? Before delving into the seven islands of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, now’s your chance to prove your fandom in a special art contest presented by Dark Horse Comics and CD PROJEKT RED. In celebration of the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Dark Horse’s The World of the Witcher source book, Dark Horse will run a special art contest through Facebook from May 5 to May 27 that gives dedicated fans a chance to win a PlayStation 4, copies of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The World of the Witcher, autographed original concept art from the game, and much more.

Whether it’s a drawing, sculpture, painting, digital design, or something else entirely—enter your artistic vision of The Witcher for consideration! For eligibility, fans must submit a piece of original fan art via the dedicated contest tab on the Dark Horse Comics Facebook page or the dedicated contest website by May 27.

One grand-prize winner will receive:
  • PlayStation 4
  • Collector’s edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, signed by the CD PROJEKT RED developers, with statue
  • Autographed original art from the game
  • The Witcher skateboard
  • The World of the Witcher limited edition art book
  • The Witcher Adventure game (physical and digital editions)
  • The Witcher T-shirt
  • Volume 1 of The Witcher comics
  • The Witcher digital comic collection
One first runner-up will receive:
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the platform of their choice, signed by the CD PROJEKT RED developers
  • Autographed original art from the game
  • The World of the Witcher
  • The Witcher medallion
  • The Witcher Adventure Game digital edition
  • The Witcher T-shirt
  • Volume 1 of The Witcher comics
  • The Witcher digital comic collection
One second runner-up will receive:
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the platform of their choice, signed by the CD PROJEKT RED developers
  • The World of the Witcher
  • The Witcher medallion
  • The Witcher Adventure Game digital edition
  • The Witcher T-shirt
  • Volume 1 of The Witcher comics
  • The Witcher digital comic collection
For more details and contest rules, see the Dark Horse Comics Facebook contest tab or the dedicated contest website.


Post by Vikki
Twitter: ProfessorWhite
Facebook: Fangirl Review

Newark Comic Con: Pop Wasteland


Tell me a little bit about yourself and your brand?

Pop Wasteland is run by my brother Timothy and me. Timothy writes short stories, and poems. I handle all the design work for our t-shirts, buttons, stickers, greeting cards, and prints. Timothy came up with the Pop Wasteland name in 2010. It is reflective of our interests in high, and low brow culture as well as a blurring of the distinction between the two. It's also a nod to T.S. Eliot. Our first shirt was a design I made of Edgar Allan Poe. Since then we've come up with a variety of shirts, prints, stickers, and buttons. My designs are zany, scary, trippy/psychedelic, funny, sick, and sometimes socially critical.


What made you decide to get into your field?

I've been obsessed with drawing since I was a very little kid. Influences are artists such as Joe Coleman, Mike Diana, Crumb, S. Clay Wilson, Mort Drucker, Grosz, Dix, Ensor, Bosh, Breughel, Dali, and others. My chosen field has much to do with my discontent after having been through two art schools (BFA from Pratt Institute, MFA from The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts). I observed fellow artists schlep their work around the gallery system to little or no avail. $700.00, $1,000, $2,000, $50,000 a painting. Who the hell has that kind of scratch to throw around? Nobody I know. Some of these artists were working on huge canvases too! Where the hell does one store all those murals?! (Personally, I've always been interested in smaller, highly detailed, intimate paintings). I plopped my own work in a scant few gallery spaces, and went along with the absurdly-high-price-tag routine. Damn, I thought. Art does not necessarily have to be priced out of access to people who love cool stuff. I kinda gave up painting, and returned to cartooning like a maniac. I see cartoon characters in my head 24-7.


What do you hope to achieve?

I hope people will enjoy the art, laugh it up, and wear it around. I love it when they visit my table, and crack up. Life's too short for one to not nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

What is your favorite design? Why?

Of my own? Perhaps my Krampus shirt. Krampus was meant as an adjunct to Christmas, but has become an alternative for many Halloween enthusiasts who dig a spooky December. Devils are cool. In addition, I'm very proud of my Pussy Riot drawing. They are modern outlaws, true to the punk spirit.


What do you hope to achieve by bringing your work to Newark Comic Con?

I'm always seeking new audiences for my stuff. I enjoy chatting it up with people at events. One of the great things about events is that my art is out of the cave, and on the way to walls, notebooks, denim vests, hats, and laptops. My t-shirts make it to the sunlit world. The comix make it to coffee tables, and book shelves. It's damn groovy. Although, you know you've really accomplished something in life when you find out someone has read your book while sitting on the crapper.


Tells us more about your work? What do you have coming out soon?

I self-published The Heaven of Hell around 2013-14. It's chock full of my bat shit crazy drawings, and comix. My art can be seen on the merch of Texas punk band Kallohonka, and upcoming merch for Jeff Stewart's youtube comedy series Paranormal Adventure Hunters Supreme (approved by The Hoff himself, I hear). I'm currently finishing up edits for the very first issue of Pop Wasteland magazine. It will feature the comix artists Aaron Lange, Aleksandar Zograf, Rich Hillen Jr., Jim Ether, and myself. Illustrations by Brian Spies, and Joshua Borden. Poems by Timothy Allen, Lora Bloom, Bonnie MacAllister Elizabeth Stelling, and Roy Smith. Pop Wasteland will hopefully be available to the masses as soon as June rolls around. My brother Timothy, and I also collaborate on Crime Time Comix which are various stories about organized crime, corrupt police, and killers. Timothy self-published his book The Dust Storm: a collection of poems and a short story. In it are twenty poems and one short story. The poems are about various topics and are inspired by the author's experiences and perceptions. "The Dust Storm" is a short story about a young couple and one afternoon spent inside the area of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. He is currently working several science fiction stories. In addition to Newark Comic Con on Sept. 12, we will be vending at Asbury Park Punk Rock Flea Market on May 30th, and Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market on August 16th.


What is your website? Contact information?

www.jonfallen.com
https://instagram.com/pop_wasteland/
https://www.facebook.com/popwasteland
https://www.facebook.com/jonfallenartist

Additional Comments? Thank you, Victoria, for the opportunity!


Thank you to Jon of Pop Wasteland. We look forward to seeing more from you and your company. Pop Wasteland will be at Newark Comic Con on September 12th, 2015. Please take a moment and check out the website at www.newarkcomiccon.org. Buy a ticket and we will see you there.


Post by Vikki
Twitter: ProfessorWhite
Facebook: Fangirl Review

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

The Flash Season 1 Finale



 

SPOILER ALERT SPOLER ALERT SPOILER ALERT
Season 1 has come to an end but do not fret FLANS not only did we get easter eggs but we also got renewed for a highly anticipated Season 2; hence the cliff hanger or should I say sky danger. The episode before the finale saw our Scarlet Speedster at Ferris airfield base, shut down after a pilot mysteriously disappeared which has to be a Hal Jordan/Green Lantern reference. That episode also saw the Flash receiving aide from Green Arrow and Firestorm. (who are  real life cousins) Flash forward to the finale and Dr. Wells/ Eobard Thawne /Reverse Flash mentioned that Cisco was affected by the Particle Accelerator explosion which is responsible for activating the metahuman gene in heroes and villains alike. Was this an early confirmation that Cisco will become the superhero VIBE like his comic book counterpart with sonic powers that enable him to create shocks waves strong enough to disrupt the speedforce and shatter concrete and steel (Watch out Skye/Daisy/Earthquake from Marvel Agents of Shield)? Only time will tell which did tell us and showed us a glimpse of Killer Frost; the ice generating villain/ heat vampire that only someone like Firestorm can satisfy. Subsequently, the two got married in the finale. Hmmm maybe thier offspring will be called ICYHOT…. who knows we can only wait and see. So a helmet shot out of the warmhole which looks seemingly like helmet of the speedster Jay Garrick or possibly the original speedster Hermes of Mount Olmypus.






So after the butt kicking in the last episode by The Flash, Arrow & Firestorm, Dr. Wells was locked up by the Scooby Gang in their metahuman prison. Who was able to broker a deal in which Barry would travel back in time to save his mother and wells would get to travel back to the future. Fortunately or Unfortunately Future Barry convinced Present Barry in the past (Brain Freeze) to not alter the time stream so Barry instead took the opportunity to say goodbye to his mom before her untimely demise. Heartbroken Barry (Still present Barry…. KEEP UP) decided to stop Dr.Wells from traveling BACK TO THE FUTURE. Outraged, Dr. Wells goes Reverse Flash and is out for blood threatening to murder the entire Scooby Gang. Eddie Thawne, the great-great-grandfather of the Reverse Flash defeats him by killing himself so the Reverse Flash could never be born much to the heartbroken surprise of Iris, Joe, the FLANS and this writer. Due to instability, the worm hole becomes a black hole in which the gang including Iris have to vacate the area leaving Eddie’s lifeless body to be sucked into the unknown. The episode ends with Barry running around in circles (as usual) trying to use his manipulation of the speedforce to close the black hole before all is lost leaving FLANS on the edge of their seats as we must wait for Season 2 to learn the fate of the Scooby Gang and Central City.  It was bittersweet to see Dr.Wells cease to exist because even though Dr.Wells despised the Future Flash; he conflicting loved the Present Flash and the Scooby Gang. He viewed Cisco as a surrogate son. A 2hour series finale would have been better.Overall this series has been a FLAN favorite and a runaway hit for geeks worldwide. I look forward to Season 2 but Season 1 can be caught up on via binge watching on popular streaming sights.

Wikipedia
After witnessing his mother's supernatural murder and his father's wrongful conviction for the crime, Barry Allen is taken in by Detective Joe West and his family. Allen becomes a brilliant but socially awkward crime scene investigator for the Central City Police Department. His obsession with his tragic past causes him to become an outcast among his peers; he investigates cold cases, paranormal occurrences, and cutting-edge scientific advancements that may shed light on his mother's murder. No one believes his description of the crime—that a ball of lightning with the face of a man invaded their home that night—and Allen is fiercely driven to vindicate himself and to clear his father's name. Fourteen years after his mother's death, an advanced particle accelerator malfunctions during its public unveiling, bathing the city center with a previously unknown form of radiation and creating a severe thunderstorm. Allen is struck by lightning from the storm and doused with chemicals in his lab. Awakening after a nine-month coma, he discovers he has the ability to move at superhuman speeds. Dr. Harrison Wells, the disgraced designer of the failed particle accelerator, describes Barry's special nature as "metahuman"; Allen soon discovers that he is not the only one who was changed by the radiation. Allen vows to use his gifts to protect Central City from the escalating violence of metahuman criminals. He is aided by a few close friends and associates who guard his secrets.

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-          Mack Nichols