Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Nintendo Adds New Online Multiplayer Game Mode for Kids and Squids in Splatoon


Tower Control, a new game mode, will soon be added to the already available multiplayer modes in Splatoon. This mode will be added to Ranked Battle, which also includes Splat Zones. The objective of Tower Control is to ride a single floating tower into the enemy’s base. Both teams rush toward the tower, which is initially placed in the center of the map, and the tower will start moving automatically once a player climbs aboard. But beware: Riding the tower will increase the chances of being splatted, as every player has his or her target on the tower. Riding the tower alone is pretty tough, encouraging randomly selected teams of players to team up to accomplish their goal. Just like in Ranked Battle and Turf War, players will be rewarded for working together as a team. Surrounding the tower and protecting the player riding the tower, using each stage’s features to gain an advantage, and supporting each other are the keys to victory. Tower Control will be available at 7 p.m. PT on July 1.

The Splatoon game also features themed events called Splatfests that let players choose their allegiance in a popular argument and then compete against the opposing side in online battles. The first Splatfest for players across the Americas takes place all day on July 4 and asks players to choose which is better, dogs or cats, one of life’s great debates. Right now, players can already choose their allegiance in-game and receive a special in-game T-shirt showing support for their side. As players battle in Splatfest, they can rank up and earn in-game Super Sea Snails, which can be used to further customize and improve their gear. The winning team at the end of Splatfest will also receive bonus Super Sea Snails. Stay tuned for information about additional Splatfests.

Since Splatoon launched exclusively for Wii U on May 29, Nintendo has added a variety of new content, including new maps and weapons. The game will continue to be supported through new downloadable content, including an update in August that has more robust matchmaking options. Follow the Splatoon Tumblr page, http://splatoonus.tumblr.com/, to get the latest information about new content.

For more information about Splatoon, visit http://splatoon.nintendo.com.

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Publishers move to Madefire's Motion Book Publisher



Madefire Launches Cutting-Edge Visual Books Platform ‘Motion Book Publisher’
Leading Comics and Manga Publishers, IDW and Kodansha, embrace Madefire’s best-in-class technology. Madefire set a new standard in digital comics and books with the launch of the Madefire app and Motion Book format. The award-winning Madefire app is the #1 featured and best-rated App in Apple's App Store Books category. Today Madefire announced the launch of Motion Book Publisher - the cutting-edge publishing platform that enables publishers to build their own storefront, apps and books across multiple platforms and products. The move to eBook formats has been fraught with complexity and a broken end-user experience. Motion Book Publisher allows publishers to master one library and deliver it to multiple platforms and formats. The result is a benchmark end-user experience that takes full advantage of a digital-first approach and ensures libraries are future-proofed for any screen.

IDW announced the move of their IDW Comics app and digital library to Motion Book Publisher. IDW migrated 3,500 digital books across to their own Motion Book Cloud, allowing them to manage their own IDW Premier app as well as world-class individual apps for IDW’s premier brands including; Star Trek, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the newly added My Little Pony Comics app. "Madefire is enabling us to make unique changes in the way we deliver content and build a relationship directly with our readers cross-platform. At IDW we pride ourselves on the quality of our books, Motion Book Publisher underpins that with a best-in-class user experience" Said Jeff Webber, IDW's VP of Digital Publishing & Business development.

Also joining IDW is Kodansha Advanced Media, the new U.S.-based digital arm of the world’s leading publisher of manga, Kodansha. Alvin Lu, KAM’s General Manager, added, “Reading manga on mobile through Madefire couldn’t be easier, and it’s backed by the assurance of an established, robust platform. It was natural to partner with Motion Book Publisher for the unique ‘Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches’ app we’re releasing to celebrate creator Miki Yoshikawa’s appearance at this year’s Anime Expo.”

Motion Book Publisher is designed for the digital distribution of all types of visual books; including comics, graphic novels, children’s books, manga and illustrated books. Motion Book Publisher enables publishers to manage digital book creation and ingestion, it also provides storefront and book series management, pricing including in-app purchase or subscription, as well as merchandising. Motion Book Publisher provides the publisher with one central Motion Book Cloud of digital books mastered in high resolution for delivery into multiple resolutions and file types including ePub, PDF, Flash, Video and Motion Book formats. In terms of distribution Motion Book Publisher takes full advantage of digital platforms with native readers for iOS, Android, Windows and web browsers. Motion Book Publisher is also the first books platform to publish to television via Android TV (includes Sharp, Sony and Philips TVs) with further gaming console and headset partnerships due to be announced later this year.

"Motion Book Publisher enables publishers to manage the relationship to their fans, to control their revenues and build their brand. There is a lot of complexity in the digital landscape that we've simplified. We're also entering a new era where taking a digital-first approach enables a far greater audience reach from phone to headset. It’s a new chapter in reading!" Ben Wolstenholme CEO & Co-founder, Madefire. "In the move to digital people expect a digital-first experience - something native to the fast-moving world we live in. We've built the Motion Book Publisher platform from first-hand experience of creating the award-winning Madefire App, alongside input from over 40 publishers, and literally thousands of creators."Eugene Walden CTO & Co-founder, Madefire


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The Doctor Is In! DOCTOR STRANGE #1 Is Coming This Fall!



The Sorcerer Supreme returns for his first ongoing series in nearly twenty years! And he’s making house calls! Marvel is pleased to announce DOCTOR STRANGE #1 – a new ongoing series from blockbuster creators Jason Aaron (Star Wars, Thor) and Chris Bachalo (Uncanny X-Men, Avengers)! Prepare for a side of the Marvel Universe you’ve never seen before as the magical, mystical and all things weird lie at every turn. And if it’s bizarre enough, and you don’t know where to turn – call the Doctor. From inside his Sanctum Sanctorum – the strangest place in this or any universe, the Master of the Mystic Arts protects this realm from the supernatural.

“Get ready for a brand new Doctor Strange for a brand new Marvel Universe,” says Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso. “Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo have rebuilt Marvel’s ’Sorcerer Supreme' from the ground up with an excitingly original take that redefines the character going forward.” A dark new power is rising. One that will have repercussions for all magic users. The threat is growing, and Strange knows he won’t be powerful enough to stop it. If he is to have any kind of hope, it will take a different kind of Sorcerer Supreme. Because all magic comes with a price, and it’s high time Stephen Strange balanced the scales.

“None of Marvel's other heavy hitters walk the same beat as Dr. Strange,” says Jason Aaron in an upcoming interview with Marvel.com. “None of them have to face the same sorts of repercussions whenever they use their powers. Being the Sorcerer Supreme is a unique responsibility. And it's one that Stephen Strange embraces. Even though there's no doubt that his job is one day going to leave him dead, damned or insane. So I want to celebrate all the weirdness that is Dr. Strange, while having him face a challenge unlike anything he's ever faced before. One that rewrites the rulebook for what it means to be the Sorcerer Supreme.”

The epic adventure begins this Fall as the Marvel’s mightiest magician takes a battle axe straight to evil in DOCTOR STRANGE #1! For more on Doctor Strange #1, check out Marvel.com for the full interview with writer Jason Aaron!

DOCTOR STRANGE #1
Written by JASON AARON
Art & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
Coming Fall 2015!




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Monday, June 29, 2015

iZOMBIE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON on DVD in Sept!


From executive producers Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars, 90210, Party Down) and Diane Ruggiero-Wright (Veronica Mars, The Ex List), Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment brings iZOMBIE: The Complete First Season to DVD on September 29, 2015. iZOMBIE, the new hit series that nearly 3 million people are tuning in to weekly on The CW, stars Rose McIver (Once Upon a Time, Masters of Sex), Malcolm Goodwin (Breakout Kings), Rahul Kohli (Eastenders), Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill) and David Anders (Once Upon a Time, The Vampire Diaries). The 3-disc DVD set includes all 13 episodes from the first season, plus deleted scenes and Comic-Con panel. iZOMBIE: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $39.98 SRP.

iZOMBIE stars Rose McIver as Olivia “Liv” Moore, a medical resident on the fast track to a perfect life … until she’s turned into a zombie. Now stuck between half-alive and undead, Liv transfers to the city morgue to reluctantly access the only thing that allows her to maintain her humanity — human brains. But there are side effects to Liv’s new diet. With each brain she consumes, she experiences flashes of the corpse’s memories — including, at times, clues as to how they were killed. Her boss, a brilliant but eccentric conspiracy theorist, encourages her to embrace this gift and to work with an unproven homicide detective to help solve these murders … and quiet the voices in her head.

iZOMBIE is based upon characters created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint. The series was developed for television by Thomas & Ruggiero-Wright, who executive produce along with Danielle Stokdyk (Veronica Mars) and Dan Etheridge (Veronica Mars). iZOMBIE is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Spondoolie Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

13 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

1. Pilot
2. Brother, Can You Spare a Brain?
3. The Exterminator
4. Live and Let Clive
5. Flight of the Living Dead
6. Virtual Reality Bites
7. Maternity Liv
8. Dead Air
9. Patriot Brains
10. Mr. Berserk
11. Astroburger
12. Dead Rat, Live Rat, Brown Rat, White Rat
13. Blaine's World

DVD BONUS FEATURES
  • Deleted Scenes
  • iZombie: 2014 Comic-Con Panel
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Sunday, June 28, 2015

Squid Invasion: Nintendo’s Splatoon Game for Wii U Crosses 1 Million in Sales



Nintendo has hauled up its nets, tallied its catch and crossed another milestone. Sales of Splatoon, the new squid-based game for Nintendo’s Wii U home console, have crossed 1 million worldwide, according to Nintendo’s internal figures. That figure includes more than 476,000 physical and digital units sold in the Americas, more than 368,000 sold in Japan, more than 230,000 sold in Europe and an additional 20,000 sold in Australia and New Zealand.
“Ever since Splatoon launched on May 29 in the United States, we’ve seen thousands of people go online to have fun in this colorful, chaotic competition,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “This milestone puts us in a nice position as we prepare to launch 11 more exclusive Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games before the end of the year, plus amiibo, digital offerings and games from our third-party partners.” Splatoon multiplayer pits teams of four online players against one another as they try to splatter a majority of the playing area with their team’s colorful ink. Players can transform into squids and swim through pools of their own ink to move faster or maneuver up walls to access hard-to-reach areas.

Note that broadband Internet access is required for online play. Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu.

For more information about Splatoon, visit http://splatoon.nintendo.com.


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Sparks Fly on the 4th of July with Nintendo


This year, Nintendo fans can celebrate Independence Day by playing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and the New Nintendo 3DS XL as Mario dressed in an American flag outfit from the original game NES Open Tournament Golf. Dubbed "Uncle Sam Mario" by Super Smash Bros. enthusiasts, playing as Mario is a fun way to celebrate the holiday. Fans can also celebrate July 4th this year at the beach, poolside or while traveling with new on-the-go titles from Nintendo including Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition, Stretchmo (available on the Nintendo eShop) or Code Name S.T.E.A.M.on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the New Nintendo 3DS XL. In Code Name S.T.E.A.M, Abe Lincoln recruits a range of characters from across fictional literature to form a group with one task: to protect a Victorian era world from an alien menace. And from7/2/2015 to 7/6/2015, players can see how their squad stacks up in the online tournament with the perfect name - Independence. This engaging, online tournament will use the Medal Battle ruleset.

Families can also have fun at home with Splatoon for Wii U. The first-ever North American Splatoon Splatfest will take place on July 4th at midnight PST and feature in-game fireworks in celebration of Independence Day. Splatfest, which runs for 24 hours, has players compete in online Turf War challenges - just pick a side and battle it out to earn points (in this case, team cat or dog)!

And what better way to celebrate our country's independence than with fireworks? Everyone loves fireworks as they dazzle the sky with colors and texture, even your friends at Nintendo. Fireworks have even been long been incorporated into Nintendo games since the beginning, like at the end of the first level in the original Super Mario Bros. after Mario jumps on the flagpole, which is also included in the upcoming Super Mario Maker for Wii U launching this fall. Fireworks have carried through appearing in other recent titles like Mario Kart 8.


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Friday, June 26, 2015

MIRROR’S EDGE CATALYST IS COMING FEBRUARY 26, 2016


Experience the Rise of an Iconic Heroine and the Future of Action Adventure Games in First Person. DICE™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, today announced that Mirror’s Edge™ Catalyst will be available February 26, 2016 in the United Kingdom (February 23, 2016 in North America and starting February 25, 2016 in Europe). Mirror’s Edge Catalyst immerses players in the origin story of Faith, and her rise from a careless young woman to a heroine who opens the eyes of an entire city. Featuring fluid movement and combat in a massive city where you can run free and explore, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst adds a new level of immersion to action adventure games by putting you in the first person perspective. You are not just watching Faith’s fight for freedom, you will experience it through her eyes. To watch the reveal trailer from E3 2015 for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, please visit :http://www.mirrorsedge.com/en_GB/ .

“When we set out to bring Mirror’s Edge to a new generation of gamers, we knew we wanted to deliver on the potential of the first game – building an iconic heroine in Faith, bringing a beautiful, stylized world to life, and delivering fluid first person action,” says Sara Jansson, Senior Producer at DICE. “In Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, you will get to feel what it’s like to glide across the skyline of the city. You will get to know what it feels like to be a projectile who plows through your opponents. And you will get to experience Faith’s story.”


In Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, you will experience the rise of Faith, a daring Runner who uncovers a hidden truth within the walls of the city of Glass. Through her journey, Faith will explore every corner of the city, from the highest, most pristine skyscrapers, to the dark and gritty tunnels that lie beneath. Players will need to master the environment, using their momentum and timing their combat to fight the oppression of the ruling elite, uncovering the dark secrets behind the city’s beautiful façade.Mirror’s Edge Catalyst gives players the freedom to explore the entire city, discovering a variety of new activities, like ‘Dash’, races from point A to B, environmental puzzles and story missions to complete at their own pace.

For players that want to show off their perfect technique or how well they’ve mastered the city can pre-order Mirror’s Edge Catalyst to receive the Combat Runner Kit or Speed Runner Kit*, respectively. The Combat Runner Kit includes unique in-game items including a combat-themed Projection Shader, changing how a player appears in their friend’s game world, a Runner Tag to stand out in the leaderboards, and a unique background to customize a player’s Screen Hacks. The Speed Runner Kit also comes equipped with a Projection Shader, Runner Tag and unique Screen Hack background, but the features are more themed to the speed of their skill.


Mirror’s Edge Catalyst will be available at retail and for digital download on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Origin™ for PC. To join the conversation on Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, please visit www.facebook.com/mirrorsedge or follow us on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/mirrorsedge .


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Thursday, June 25, 2015

JANE THE VIRGIN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON on DVD SEPT 2015



Named AFI Top 10 Program of the Year 2014,
2014 Peabody Award Winner,
Winner Of The 2015 Golden Globe® Awards For Best Performance By An Actress (Gina Rodriguez) In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical,
2015 People’s Choice Award Winner For Favorite New TV Comedy


Just in time for the season two premiere on The CW, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings the critically acclaimed series from show runner Jennie Snyder Urman and Emmy® and Golden Globe-winning executive producer Ben Silverman (The Office, Ugly Betty, The Biggest Loser) to DVD on September 29, 2015. Based off of the Venezuelan telenovela Juana La Virgen, the series stars Golden Globe Winner Gina Rodriguez (Filly Brown, Go for It! Our Family Wedding), Andrea Navedo (Remember Me, Washington Heights), Yael Grobglas (Reign), Justin Baldoni (Everwood, Spring Break Shark Attack), Ivonne Coll (Teen Wolf,Switched At Birth) Brett Dier (Ravenswood), and Jaime Camil (Qué Pobres Tan Ricos). The 5-disc DVD set includes all 22 episodes from the first season, plus hilarious never-before-seen bonus features. Jane The Virgin: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $49.99 SRP.

Set in Miami, Jane The Virgin follows the surprising and unforeseen events that take place in the life of Jane Villanueva. Jane (Rodriguez) is a 23 year old hard-working, religious Latina woman, whose family tradition and vow to save her virginity until marriage to a long time boyfriend and detective, is shattered when her doctor mistakenly artificially inseminates her during a checkup. And to make matters worse, the biological donor is a married man, a former playboy, and cancer survivor who is not only the new owner of the hotel where Jane works, but was also her former teenage crush.

Jane The Virgin is produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Brothers Television in association with Electus.

22 ONE-HOUR EPISODES:
  • Chapter One
  • Chapter Two
  • Chapter Three
  • Chapter Four
  • Chapter Five
  • Chapter Six
  • Chapter Seven
  • Chapter Eight
  • Chapter Nine
  • Chapter Ten
  • Chapter Eleven
  • Chapter Twelve
  • Chapter Thirteen
  • Chapter Fourteen
  • Chapter Fifteen
  • Chapter Sixteen
  • Chapter Seventeen
  • Chapter Eighteen
  • Chapter Nineteen
  • Chapter Twenty
  • Chapter Twenty-One
  • Chapter Twenty-Two

DVD BONUS FEATURES
  • Jane the Virgin: Immaculate Creation
    • Go behind the scenes and get a peek into the creation of the show.
  • Getting to Know the Cast of Jane the Virgin
    • How well do the cast know each other? We’ll find out with this fun featurette as the co-stars get an opportunity to ask each other questions and guess each other’s answers.
  • Gag Reel
  • Deleted Scenes

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BookExpo America/Book Con 2015 Review


BEA Review

This year was my first year going to BookExpo America/Book Con. The Book Expo was located at the Jacob Javits Center which is the home of New York Comic Con. As I am familiar with the location I knew what to expect. However my jaw dropped to the floor when I walked into the convention center. The Javits center was turned into a home for book lovers filled with plush carpets and extravagant booths. Frankly I am now a bit disgusted with NYCC; now that I see what the Javits center can become. There were even nice carpets at the lower levels so you were not sitting on that cold hard floor.

The Book Expo allowed for great contacts. I met a lot of upcoming and authors and publishers that you will be seeing reviews of products on the site soon. 


Panels:

There were a plethora of panels to be seen on the main stage as well as a great information at the Bloggers Conference. One panel that I sat in on was "Marvel Presents: Star Wars". The speakers fro this panel were Alex Maleev, Charles Soule, and Jordan White. Soule shared a lot of great information about the Lando series that has been developed. Frankly Lando is one of my favorite Star Wars characters because he was just so smooth. A lot of great covers were shown from Marvel. I look forward to seeing how this is tied into the upcoming Movies. 


Book Con Review 

The Book Con while separate is part of the Book Expo. The Book Expo is more for those in the industry while Book Con is more for the fans. The Authors came out for their fans and there were lines everywhere for the book signings. Book Con was smart in letting people bring their own books or if need be buy the books while there.

 

Panels:

The Panels at the Book Con were more fan related. I checked out the New Adult & Romance Panel which featured Abbi Glines, Coleen Hoover, Elisa Verna, and K.A. Tucker. The ladies discussed the new adult world and what it means to them. The ladies discuss how step-siblings romance is really hot right now and how writing the younger stories of people falling in love is just more fun. I also enjoyed the panel with Felicia Day. She has written a book on her life called, "You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost). In the book she discusses her acting, LARPing, her college years, growing up in the south, overall the book is not just giggles but also touches on series topics. Day was a great speaker and was very inspirational in talking about the problems she faced when trying to get roles. One great quote that she had was, "Everyone has a box [Black guy, skater girl, etc] that they are put in after they cast the White People".  After that statement I look forward to hearing more from Day. 


The other panel that I truly had a great time in was the Rainbow Rowell. I have read a few of her books now and really enjoy it. I will admit that I was rendered speechless listening to her. She was by far the best speaker. She was funny and inspirational. She gave just overall great talk. I would listen to her speak at any future engagements. She said if she could sit down with the young girls today and watch television with them and tell them that is not how real people look. She was the highlight of the Book Con. 

Overall I enjoyed myself at the convention. I met great people and even had a chance to meet the iconic R.L. Stine. He was a bit kooky but fun to talk to and made my inner tween happy recalling the time when she would read Fear Street. I would recommend checking out this event to all avid readers.

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EA ANNOUNCES UNRAVEL, A BEAUTIFUL PHYSICS-BASED PUZZLE PLATFORMER


Coldwood and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), announced a partnership on the development of a new puzzle platformer game titled, Unravel™. Unravel introduces Yarny, a tiny, new character made from a single thread of yarn, who embarks on a seemingly larger than life journey through the breath-taking, lush environments of Northern Scandinavia. Using Yarny’s small thread and big heart, players will traverse nature’s obstacles in this unique physics-based puzzle platformer. To watch the first gameplay trailer and learn more about the game, please visit www.unravelgame.co.uk .

“The idea of Unravel was created from a very personal place. We didn’t start out by saying we’re going to make a puzzle platforming game. We started by thinking more about our lives, and the things we hold meaningful. We wanted the game to have a heart and the gameplay could always be designed to represent that,” says Martin Sahlin, Creative Director at Coldwood. “The tale of Unravel is about love, and the bonds between people. And the yarn is a representation of that. Yarny’s red thread is the tie that connects everything in the game, from the gameplay mechanics to the story, and the people in it.”


Unravel is a game all about overcoming obstacles, both big and small. Some challenges are simple, like using Yarny’s thread to swing across a gap, or rappel down a tree. Sometimes things get more complex, and players will need to use Yarny’s thread in clever and creative ways to find the path forward. Whatever the case, no feat is too big for Yarny. Along the way, witness him unlock a heartfelt story about love and longing, and the ties that bind. The tale is told completely without words and Yarny is the red thread that runs through it all.

Unravel will be available for digital download on Origin™ for PC, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft.



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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward Available Now



SQUARE ENIX, Inc. launched FINAL FANTASY® XIV: Heavensward™ in North America, the highly anticipated first expansion pack for the popular MMORPGFINAL FANTASY XIV®, which has already captured the hearts of more than four million adventurers worldwide. Players can adventure together with seamless cross-platform play on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Windows PC, and for the first time, Mac®.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward features a new story that plunges adventurers into the heart of the Dragonsong War, the bloody thousand-year conflict between the knights of Ishgard and the dragons of Dravania. Adventurers can enjoy an increased level cap from 50 to 60 for all disciplines, a new playable race, new dungeons and raids, new primal battles, and new mounts that allow players to take to the skies—flying black chocobos, single-rider airships, dragons and more.

“FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward marks the beginning of the second season of our journey through the vast FINAL FANTASY XIV universe,” said Naoki Yoshida, producer and director of FINAL FANTASY XIV. “Having laid a strong foundation in A Realm Reborn®, we are extremely excited that Heavenswardwill build upon this with new and diverse gameplay and content that continue to be the hallmarks of the online FINAL FANTASY experience.”

Key Features
  • · All the hallmarks of the FINAL FANTASY® franchise, including genre-leading graphics and real-time cut scenes, an all-new soundtrack, and an immersive story experience
  • · Level cap increased from level 50 to level 60
  • · New player race, the Au Ra – with unique curved horns and scaled skin, the Au Ra hail from the eastern continent of Othard
  • · New jobs: dark knight, astrologian and machinist – players will be able to master three FINAL FANTASY jobs such as dark knight (Tank) who wields a two-handed greatsword and the power of darkness, astrologian (Healer) who use a divining deck and star globe to call on the powers of the stars to heal allies and support party members, or machinist (DPS) who deals damage from afar by using a combination of firearms and mechanical turrets that can be deployed on the battlefield
  • · High-end raids, includes a new raid dungeon series within the mechanical colossus “Alexander,” based off the legendary boss in the FINAL FANTASY series
New beast tribes and powerful primals – players will encounter the Vanu Vanu and their primal, Bismark, and the Gnath, and their primal Ravana, allowing players to form new allegiances
Flying mounts – Accompanying the vast new areas that feature floating islands are flying mounts for players to pilot such as the flying black chocobo and single-rider airships· New gear, recipes and more

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward is available now for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 systems, Windows PC and Mac for $39.99. The physical Collector’s Edition is available for $129.99 and the digital Collector’s Edition for $59.99. FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, the new all-in-one bundle that includes both A Realm Reborn and Heavensward, is available for $59.99. A free 30-day trial is included for new FINAL FANTASY XIV accounts, with monthly subscriptions starting at $12.99.


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Critically-Acclaimed 'Tales from the Borderlands' Continues in Episode 3, 'Catch a Ride'



Leading and award-winning developer and publisher of digital entertainment Telltale Games, in collaboration with award-winning developer Gearbox Software, creator of the beloved Borderlands franchise, and publisher 2K, today announced the release of 'Catch a Ride,' the third of five episodes for Tales from the Borderlands: A Telltale Games Series. The episode is available today on PC and Mac from the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, and on the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. The episode will be available Wednesday, June 24thon the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One® and Xbox 360, and will be available for compatible iOS and Android-based devices via in-app purchase starting on Thursday, June 25th.

"Our collaboration with Gearbox and 2K kicks into high gear with this third episode in a story that dives even deeper into the Borderlands universe," said Kevin Bruner, CEO and co-founder of Telltale Games. "The humor is some of the best in the season so far, and choices are more important than ever. We wouldn't want to spoil too much, but fans can expect to see even more intense action, more faces they'll recognize from Pandora, and one core character in particular that holds the key to the group's big score."

Set on the unforgiving world of Pandora after the events seen in Borderlands 2,Tales from the Borderlands is a five part episodic game series full of Borderlands' trademark humor following two adventurers on their quest for greatness. In Episode 3, after a dizzying escape from a very-near-almost-certain-death scenario (involving statuesque buttocks), Rhys and Fiona find themselves looking for another piece of the puzzle that will lead them to the untold riches of Vault key ownership. Lost in the mysterious jungle of an Atlas terraforming facility, Fiona finds help from an unexpected mentor, Rhys continues to share brain-space with the disembodied mind of a dead dictator, and love is in the air. Pursued by the ruthless criminal 'Queenpin' Vallory, and with very little help from Vaughn's accountancy skills (or stellar abs), getting anywhere near the Vault will be entirely up to you.

GamesBeat awarded the season premiere of Tales from the Borderlands a96/100 score, calling it, "A hilarious knockout," adding, "Zer0 Sum stands tall as the ultimate point-and-click science project: combine the beloved Borderlands lore and setting with the shining vision of an artistic studio, crank up the heat, and enjoy."GameSpot awarded the episode a 9 out of 10 score, calling the episode, "...a beautiful new twist on the Borderlands experience with loveable leads and breathless action sequences." Destructoid also awarded the game a 9 out of 10score, saying, "Telltale really knocked it out of the park with this one," later adding,"...this might be the funniest Borderlands game to date."

Tales from the Borderlands: A Telltale Games Series - Episode 3: 'Catch a Ride' is rated 'M' (Mature) for Violence, Blood and Gore, and Language by the ESRB. The series is published digitally by Telltale Games in partnership with Gearbox Software and 2K.

For more information on Telltale Games, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter. For more information on Gearbox Software, visit the official website, follow Gearbox Software on Twitter, and like Borderlands on Facebook. For more information on 2K, visit the official website, follow 2K on Twitter, and like 2K on Facebook.


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Rising Storm 2: Vietnam Officially Announced!


While appearing onstage at the inaugural E3 2015 presentation of The PC Gaming Show, Tripwire Interactive and Anti-Matter Games revealed that Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, the sequel to 2013's critically acclaimed Rising Storm, was officially in development for the PC. To accompany the announcement Tripwire released a teaser trailer for the game that shows the popular FPS series moving to the Vietnam War, where American and Vietnamese forces square off in a whole new generation of warfare. Tripwire's military shooter series featuring Red Orchestra and Rising Storm has been widely heralded as one of the most authentic and realistic multiplayer FPS experiences since the award winning original game, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, debuted in 2006. 2011's Red Orchestra 2 came next and won PC Gamer's award for "FPS of the Year (Multiplayer). Rising Storm then moved the action to the Pacific conflict and won PC Gamer's 2013 Multiplayer Game of the Year. Rising Storm 2: Vietnam looks to once again raise the bar and move the series into a new era of combat.


"We're bringing our gritty and realistic military shooter gameplay forward to a time when assault rifles ruled the ground, choppers ruled the skies, and every tunnel could hide an ambush," said Tripwire Interactive President, John Gibson, "The iconic setting of Vietnam opens up so many opportunities for exciting asymmetrical gameplay."  Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is being developed by Anti-Matter Games and Tripwire Interactive and published by Tripwire Interactive for the PC. This title has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

To view the new Rising Storm 2: Vietnam Announcement Trailer on YouTube please visit: https://youtu.be/yBYMluk3R4s. For more information on Rising Storm 2:Vietnam as it becomes available, please visit http://www.risingstorm2.com/


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Marvel Entertainment Renews Exclusive Single Issue Digital Comics Agreement with ComiXology, and Expands to Amazon




Marvel, comiXology and Amazon announced an expanded and renewed exclusive relationship to distribute and sell Marvel’s digital comic books across the comiXology, Amazon and Marvel Comics platforms. This newly expanded relationship will continue Marvel’s single issue digital comic books exclusive on comiXology’s worldwide platform and also expand the exclusive deal to the vast universe of the Amazon Kindle readers for the first time in history.

“After Amazon’s acquisition of comiXology in April of 2014, we collectively saw a great opportunity to expand our relationship and create more ways for fans to access Marvel’s vast library of characters as well as leverage comiXology’s technology, together with Amazon’s incredible consumer focus and reach,” said Peter Phillips, EVP of Interactive and Digital Distribution at Marvel Entertainment.

“Marvel, comiXology and Amazon are committed to bringing Marvel’s amazing stories to current and future Marvel fans across the globe,” said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “And this historic extension of our relationship with the expansion of Marvel’s single issues to Amazon’s Kindle platform is an enormous opportunity to reach more fans.”


Under the new agreement, comiXology will continue to distribute Marvel’s English language single issue, trades and graphic novels via the comiXology apps on Fire tablets, iPhone, iPad, Android devices and the web at comixology.com. ComiXology will also continue to power the Marvel Comics app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices as well as the Marvel Digital Comic Shop. What’s new for fans and readers is that over 12,000 single issue digital comic books will become available for sale on the Amazon Kindle Store on June 18, 2015 and will be available on the Amazon Kindle platform around the world.

“Amazon, comiXology and Marvel share a passion for expanding the audience for comic books and graphic novels worldwide,” said David Naggar, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “With the ever-increasing number of devices in consumers’ hands and the growing popularity of Marvel’s extensive catalogue of familiar Super Heroes we see this as the perfect time to create a whole new generation of comic book readers.”

Since Marvel and comiXology first worked together to create the Marvel Comics app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, the Marvel apps for these platforms have had a combined 15 million downloads. The Marvel Comics app has been the #1 grossing book app for iOS in 2015 and the #1 grossing app in the Comics Category in the Google Play app store for 2015. New fans, across all demographics, attracted to Marvel’s amazing characters through top-grossing movies, critically-acclaimed TV series, and ground breaking new publishing series have driven titles like Daredevil, Spider-Gwen, and Rocket Raccoon to record sales, alongside perennial favorites likeUltimate Spider-Man and Avengers.



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New Plants vs. Zombies Battle Coming in Spring 2016


The battle for suburbia grows to crazy new heights. PopCap Games, creator of some of the world’s most beloved video game franchises and a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA ), announced Plants vs. ZombiesTM Garden Warfare 2, the outrageous new adventure set in the Plants vs. Zombies universe. For the first time in franchise history, zombies have taken over Suburbia and plants are on the attack. Each faction has enlisted new characters from the past, present, and future to join the fight. Play your way through all new modes, discover unique gameplay features, and explore all-new maps. Launching Spring 2016 on Xbox One, the all-in-one gaming system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment systems and Origin™ for PC, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 taps into the heart of what fans loved about the original and goes above and beyond to deliver the funniest, craziest and most over-the-top shooter – and that’s only the beginning. Garden Warfare 2 will also deliver free content updates to ensure Zomburbia stays fresh and action packed.

To see this crazy new world, watch the Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 E3 Announcement Trailer

“We’re incredibly excited to announce this new Plants vs. Zombies adventure,” said Jeremy Vanhoozer, Senior Creative Director, Plants vs. Zombies franchise. “The first Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare was a simple idea, and we were humbled and amazed by how much players loved it. With Garden Warfare 2, we’ve continued to listen to our fans to deliver the craziest experience yet – packed with more of what they loved about the original and even more of the crazy, weird and unexpected that makes this franchise so special. ” Fans have played a huge part in the development of Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2. As a thank you, all players of the original Garden Warfare will have the ability to transfer almost every one of their unlocked characters into Garden Warfare 2 right from launch, so they can jumpstart their new adventure with their favorite plants and zombies.


Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 reaches new levels of depth and fun. With fresh lawn-inspiring modes featuring plants on the attack, players can go on the offensive as the plants in an all-new 24-player Herbal Assault mode, or rally the zombies together and defend against the plants in the 4-player co-op mode, Graveyard Ops. Garden Warfare 2 also introduces six new character classes including Super Brainz, a zombie super hero who thinks he’s an 80’s action movie star, and Citron, a bounty-hunting orange from the future, for a total of more than 100 playable character variants. Each new character class offers outrageous powers and abilities that will provide an added layer of strategic depth to battles. All this takes place across 12 new immersive maps that are bursting with personality and humor, spanning everything from a Time Travel Theme Park to the final frontier.

Gamers can also play Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 their way. They can play multiplayer with or against friends or enjoy Garden Warfare 2 playing solo. For the first time, we’re introducing a unique solo play experience where fans can play every single game mode either by themselves against AI, or with the help of a friend in local split screen. Solo play will also offer a new twist on how gamers experience this universe with more details to come soon.

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver and has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI; visit www.esrb.org and www.pegi.info for more information. Become a fan of Plants vs. Zombies on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Book Review: THE INCREDIBLE THREE AND A HALF SUPERHEROES - Fun for everyone!


BY FRANK SCHMEIßER
ILLUSTRATED BY JÖRG MÜHLE
TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN BY DAVID H. WILSON

(January 2015) The Incredible Three and a Half Superheroes by Frank Schmeißer and illustrated by Jörg Mühle (April 2015; $19.95; Ages 8 and Up) tells the top secret, totally true adventures of the child superhero team, the Incredible Three and a Half. Most superheroes hide behind masks as they battle against injustice in the world and, for their own protection, their true identities are kept top secret. But for reasons beyond his control, incorrigible sixth grader Sebastian Appleby-Krumble is forced to write down his exploits as part of the superhero team the Incredible Three and a Half. The Incredible Three and a Half Superheroes is a humorous, behind-the-scenes tale of the action-packed adventures of Sebastian, otherwise known as the Brain, and his friends Barbara “Action Barbie” Bakewell, Martin “the Chameleon” Koslowski, and Martin’s imaginary friend Dickie, “the Chicken.” Young readers will find out why Aunt Boadicea’s birthday ended in disaster; why Dolittle, the class hamster, wound up wearing camouflage; and how Sebastian was almost arrested while wearing a giraffe costume. Most importantly, they will discover why everyone must protect the secret identities of the Incredible Three and a Half to save the world from terrible danger!

About the Author: Frank Schmeißer lives in Cologne, Germany and is the author of several children’s books in German. Superheroes is his first book published in English. Schmeißer enjoys reading printed books rather than digital ones, although ever since several of his books sunk while he read them in the bathtub, he would rather listen to audio books there. If he had a superpower, he would want it to be endless patience.

About the Illustrator: Jörg Mühle studied at the Offenbach University of Art and Design and the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Since 2000, he has worked as a freelance illustrator. His hobbies include listening to music, reading, horses, and playing the recorder.

My Thoughts: I recently had the chance to check this book out. I must say that it was a fun quick read. It was filled with great illustrations that only added to the story though I must admit that when I would flip to the next page and see the picture I could not help but stare at the picture and try to figure out what was going on. My eyes would constantly stray to the picture and I had to force myself to read the text and I always ended up giggling at the picture once I knew the premise behind it. The book explores the trials and tribulations of the three and a half superheroes and I know you are wondering about the half but you have to read the book to understand it. We get to read about the main character, Sebastian, who is faced with trying to save his favorite teacher from being fired as well as his dignity when dealing with a mean great Aunt. The book is well written and and easy to read for the audience. It reminds me a bit of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and if you liked those books then you will like this book. Frankly it could easily be made into a movie or television show. My only concern with the book was that there was a bit too much cursing for my tastes. Overall it is a great book to read for the aspiring superhero.


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Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition Available Now!


The time has come and so has Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition! The game is available to download now (06/23/2015) across North America and tomorrow (06/24/2015) across Europe for an MSRP of $24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99 on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. The PC release is available globally today. 

The Special Edition includes all of the dynamic stylish action introduced in the original 2008 release and adds three new playable characters, plus Legendary Dark Knight Mode, Turbo Mode, new costumes, 1080p support with a smooth 60fps, and a rebalanced combat system that improves game tempo and gameplay balance. In addition to the return of Nero and Dante, now Vergil, Trish and Lady are playable with each their own completely unique playstyles. With a total of five playable characters, this game has the largest roster of any Devil May Cry game to date!

Devil May Cry 4 tells the story of Nero, a young knight from the Order of the Sword, a mysterious group committed to the extermination of all demons. Nero is tasked with finding Dante, the mysterious assassin who murdered the head of the Order of the Sword. At the same time, more demons begin to appear throughout the city. Nero will soon come to discover the motives behind Dante’s appearance and the truth behind the intentions of the Order of the Sword.


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DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED EXTENDED GAMEPLAY TRAILER NOW AVAILABLE


Square Enix® and Eidos Montréal® have released the extended 25 minute gameplay demo for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Originally shown behind closed doors at this year’s E3, the video is now available to the public. The E3 demo offers an extensive dive into the dark world of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, revealing multiple new features, characters, augmentations and weapons in the game, alongside commentary from Executive Audio Director Steve Szczepkowski. It showcases various stealth and action options that Adam Jensen can utilize in his mission to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy.

The 25 minute gameplay demo can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh-iX2bxOjI

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided launches in early 2016. Stay up-to-date throughout the game’s development via the official portal and social media channels.

Related Links:
Official Portal: deusex.com
Official Facebook Page: facebook.com/deusex
Follow @DeusEx on Twitter®: twitter.com/deusex
Twitter Support: #CantKillProgress
Instagram: https://instagram.com/DeusEx
Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/deusex
Tumblr: http://deusex.tumblr.com


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Book Review: Dead Ice


Amazon: Anita Blake has the highest kill count of any vampire executioner in the country. She’s a U.S. Marshal who can raise zombies with the best of them. But ever since she and master vampire Jean-Claude went public with their engagement, all she is to anyone and everyone is Jean-Claude’s fiancée. It’s wreaking havoc with her reputation as a hard ass—to some extent. Luckily, in professional circles, she’s still the go-to expert for zombie issues. And right now, the FBI is having one hell of a zombie issue. Someone is producing zombie porn. Anita has seen her share of freaky undead fetishes, so this shouldn’t bother her. But the women being victimized aren’t just mindless, rotting corpses. Their souls are trapped behind their eyes, signaling voodoo of the blackest kind.

It’s the sort of case that can leave a mark on a person. And Anita’s own soul may not survive unscathed . . .

My Thoughts: This is the 24th book in the series. I have been an Anita fan for quite some time and I am happy that these books have gotten back on track however I felt as though there was not much movement in terms of the storyline in this book. We have heard of the concept of zombie porn before and so some things from that past story is brought to light again. It appears as though the story lines of those in the background progressed forward. We learned more about them and see what is happening to those around Anita. I enjoyed that part of the book. Learning what her friends and lovers are doing when they are not doing her is always good. Overall I would say pick it up. Once you are this deep into a series you have no choice but to keep going. At least its not another Janet Evanovich book.


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EA SPORTS FIFA 16 Available Now For Pre-Order


Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that EA SPORTS™ FIFA 16 delivers Innovation Across the Entire Pitch in gameplay, helps all fans Compete at a Higher Level with FIFA Trainer, and brings New Ways to Play by introducing Women’s National Teams to the franchise. At the heart ofFIFA 16, innovative gameplay* features will deliver a balanced, authentic, and exciting football experience that lets fans play their way. The new trailer Play Beautiful can be seen here.

Confidence in Defending - Defenders and attackers are balanced, creating a realistic and enjoyable experience when trying to regain possession of the ball.
  • · Defensive Agility brings balance in movement between attackers and defenders, driven by more than 25 gameplay feature changes to defender locomotion.
  • · Defend as a Unit injects intelligence and positional-awareness into players so they can better decide between marking an opponent and covering dangerous space.
  • · New Tackling Fundamentals offers new behaviors like fake and standing tackles, as well as full-body challenges and the ability to bridge out of sliding tackles when caught out of position.
Control in Midfield - In midfield, two game-changing features make the battle in the middle of the pitch as important as it is in real football.
  • · Interception Intelligence gives players the smarts to close passing channels and shutting down options.
  • · Passing with Purpose offers a new driven pass to play sharp, incisive passes so you can find teammates with precision.
Moments of Magic - FIFA 16 gives fans the tools they need to create thrilling moments in attack.
  • · No Touch Dribbling gives players the option to let the ball run to buy time, create separation, feint, and blow by the defender in the final third. A feature inspired by the motion capture of Lionel Messi, it changes the way players attack.
  • · Clinical Finishing provides variety in shooting and more exciting goals than ever before. 

“This year we’re looking at every single role on the pitch, evaluating where we wanted to innovate with all the feedback from fans, and setting out to develop the most balanced and exciting football game in the long history of the EA SPORTS FIFA franchise,” said David Rutter, VP and GM, EA SPORTS FIFA. “Whether fans prefer short and precise passes through the middle, or getting it outside and whipping in crosses, the beauty ofFIFA 16 is that it offers fans the freedom to play their way and find success on the pitch.”

Compete at a Higher Level
Regardless of skill level, everyone will have a chance to Compete at a Higher Level by utilizing the EA SPORTS FIFA Trainer, a ground-breaking in-game training system which uses the context of the game to recommend options to the player. Fans can now learn as they play with an optional graphic overlay (HUD) which prompts them with gameplay options depending on their position on the pitch and Trainer level. The trainer recommendations will progress as the level of the trainer increases, which can be set to automatic or controlled manually. Basic commands get you started, while deeper hints will improve the game of the most skilled fans.

New Ways to Play
With all New Ways to Play, FIFA 16 will feature 12 Women’s National Teams for the first time in franchise history. Teams from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of America will all represent their respective federations in several FIFA 16 game modes including Kick Off, an Offline Tournament, as well as Online*** Friendly Matches. To see Women’s National Teams in the game, visit https://www.easports.com/uk/fifa/women .

A New Way to Play On the Go
For those who want an authentic football experience on the go, EA SPORTS announced a brand new mobile game in development – EA SPORTS FIFA. Launching later this year as a free download on the App StoreSM and Google Play™, the next generation FIFA for mobile harnesses the increased power of new devices to deliver stunning console-quality gameplay to phones and tablets. Fans will enjoy authentic football on their phone or tablet devices, with enhanced hybrid touch controls, new skill moves, and for the first time ever on mobile, player celebrations. See more at https://www.easports.com/uk/fifa/mobile .

Have Your Say
Fans will have a chance to decide who joins superstar Lionel Messi on the cover of FIFA 16 in select regions. On a website launching soon, fans can cast their votes until July 5, 2015, in the FIFA 16 Cover Vote. For details, click here.

FIFA 16 Pre-Orders
Fans who pre-order** FIFA 16 can choose from Standard, Deluxe, and Super Deluxe editions. The Super Deluxe edition offers up to 40 FIFA Ultimate Team™ Jumbo Premium Gold Packs, three FIFA Ultimate Teamloan players for five games each, and two brand new celebrations from the EA SPORTS Football Club catalogue. For more details visit https://www.easports.com/uk/fifa/buy/UK .

FIFA 16 will be available on September 26, 2015 in the UK on Origin™ on PC, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems. For more information about EA SPORTS FIFA 16 visit www.easports.com/uk/fifa or join the EA SPORTS community a thttp://www.facebook.com/easports fifa. Follow us on Twitter @easportsfifa and use the hashtag #FIFA16. The game is not yet rated by the PEGI.



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Monday, June 22, 2015

Graphic Novel: Conan: The Avengers #15 Review


Conan: The Avenger #15

XUTHAL OF THE DUSK PART III

Entering this story’s third chapter of current arc, I had some major anticipation built up within me. First off, Eric Powell (The Goon) gives us an awesome cover. Conan in a hot blooded murdering rampage, fighting an awesomely wicked monster that seems too big to fit on the cover itself. The cover gives the reader the right amount of action you would expect from a Conan story without giving away too much away and is colored in a way that matches classic pulp hero stories. In part, Eric knows how to do an image that grabs your attention that will make you pick a story up off the rack. He’s an ideal cover artist for Conan hands down.

Past the cover, the creative team assembled to greet us in this adaptation of Conan is the always awesome Fred Van Lente (Marvel Zombies) as the writer of the story and the ever talented Guiu Vilanova (After the Fire) who is the story’s artist and man, are they ever fitting for the Conan universe. The way Fred scripted the story to match the panel layouts with dialogue for the characters and captions to be given by an ever invisible narrator, gives this adaptation a sweet classic feel to it. The story reads just like a Robert E. Howard novelette, in the way it builds the tension for the reader within its pacing within the narrator's captions. Fred not only knows how to build the tension perfectly, but, he knows how to not drag it on for too long as the pay off moments in the story come just at the right time. Leaving the reader satisfied and wanting more.

Further more, the story is delivered with the perfect letters and captions done by Richard Starkings & ComicCraft. I mean, this issue gives true testament why Richard is sought after so much in the industry for lettering books. He again proves to the comic fans that lettering a comic is a true art form as he matches the words written by Fred Van Lente to the story seamlessly.

As for Guiu Vilanova, he knows how to make Conan feel classic and yet, new at the same time. What I mean is, for those readers following this story in this issue, Guiu doesn’t disappoint. He knows how Conan moves and breaths. How he would react within in a fight. And when it comes to the women of Conan, Guiu knows how to make them both attractive yet, deadly without making them look manly. Which in many action comics today, seems to be a hard feat to accomplish. I don’t understand why that is in this industry, but, rest assured, Guiu knows how to make a deadly women look both beautiful and dangerous.

Now, for the few downsides of the comic. You should be warned, if you are a person who is faint hearted, this story isn’t for you. The reason I say this, in keeping with the classic Conan feel, this story is not at all P.C. and has adult content in it not meant for young readers. Though it is a great read and I would recommend it to other comic fans new and old, this story is a Conan story. Meaning, women can both be deadly and cannon fodder while being barely being dressed or completely nude . And in this story we get all of this. We get a woman who is manipulative and savagely malevolent, while the other is just a love interest victim for the hero to save.

Also there are a couple of continuity errors in the story, that once I caught them irked me. The one was easily forgiven because it was sacrificed for the sake of the story, so I won't go into detail about it. However, (spoiler alert) the knife scene just felt off. From its delivery to its dialogue. It didn’t feel like the rest of the story but, it was needed. It helped propel the story forward, it just felt rushed.

So in closing, on the comic epicness scale what do I rate Conan The Avenger issue 15?
  • Craptastic
  • Die Hard Fans Only
  • Awesome Sauce
  • Brilliantly Fantastic
  • Epic...

Awesome Sauce! (with a side order of caution)


Thanks for reading Fangirl Review on Conan: The Avenger # 15. Hope to entertain you soon,


Sincerely,

FLIP Knox


Marvel Creators at Baltimore Comic-Con 2015

VIP and General Admission Tickets are now available for the 2015 Baltimore Comic-Con, taking place the weekend of September 25-27, 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to welcome Marvel talent to our 2015 show: John Beatty, Greg Pak, Tom Raney, Jim Starlin, and Mike Zeck.



Starting his art career at the early age of 15, John Beattyfirst began inking at AC Comics. After hunting down Marvel Editor-in-Chief (at the time), Jim Shooter, at a convention, he was offered the opportunity to come to New York and get a paid try-out. Fortunately for Beatty, this worked out well, as he went on to spend 20 years working at DC and Marvel Comics on titles like Batman, JLA, The Adventures of Superman, Captain America, The Punisher, and Secret Wars. His recent work includes The Remaining original graphic novel by Kingstone Comics, and contributions to Hero Initiative projects including The Uncanny X-Men 100 Project and The Hellboy 100 Project.


Comics writer (and Rhodes Scholar) Greg Pak has been responsible for much-lauded runs on titles like Marvel'sIncredible Hulk ("Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk"),Incredible Hercules, X-Men: Magneto Testament, andRed Skull, Dynamite Entertainment's Battlestar Galactica, Valiant's Eternal Warrior, and Aspen's Dead Man's Run. He has been named Wizard Magazine's Breakout Talent of the Year, and his stories and characters have won numerous publication accolades as well. You can read Pak's latest work on Marvel's Storm, DC Comics' Action Comics and Superman/Batman, and Dynamite Entertainment's Turok, Dinosaur Hunter.


Tom Raney has spent much of his career working for the mid- to large-size publishers in the comics industry. A graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, he has contributed to Marvel's Ultimate Universe, Valiant's relaunched titles, and Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars among many other titles and publishers. In recent history, his artwork can be seen within the pages of DC Comics' Threshold, Marvel's Incredible Hulk, and Titan Comics' Monster Massacre hardcover collection, and you can find his current work on Marvel's Avengers Vs., and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Inferno, and DC's Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Four.


The multi-talented Jim Starlin has worked on both writing and creating art for some of the most noteworthy creations since his entry into the field of comics in the 1970s. The mind behind the Marvel character Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, he is also responsible for a number of noteworthy cosmic characters in the Marvel Universe, including Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and the villainous Thanos, all of whom were featured Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy feature motion picture. He developed noteworthy runs on Marvel's Captain Marvel, Warlock, and Silver Surfer, Marvel mini-series Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, and Infinity Crusade, and DC Comics' Batman,The Weird, and Cosmic Odyssey. His Death of Captain Marvel was the first Marvel graphic novel to be published. More recently, he has provided writing and art for DC's Stormwatch and writing on Green Lantern: Mongul #23.2, and he returned to his classic villain with Marvel's Thanos: The Infinity Revelation and Thanos: The Infinity Relativity.


Mike Zeck began his storied career in comics with Charlton Comics with their animation-related line of titles before moving to Marvel Comics to leave an indelible mark. Zeck provided art to unforgettable characters and titles such as 1987's "Kraven's Last Hunt" in the Spider-Man titles, "Circle of Blood" in The Punisher, and the classic Secret Wars featuring Zeck's design on the classic black costume for Spider-Man (and later adopted by Venom). Zeck's work has graced the pages and covers of Aquaman, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Green Lantern, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe: Special Missions, Lobo, Deathstroke The Terminator, The Eliminator, and too many titles to mention here. His creator-owned project Damned recently appeared from BOOM! Studios, and his work is featured in IDW'sMike Zeck's Classic Marvel Stories Artist's Edition.

"We are so privileged to have all five of these creators joining us this year," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Beatty and Zeck are touring together in honor of the 30th anniversary of Secret Wars, Starlin's characters have come to life in a big way on the big screen with Guardians of the Galaxy, and Pak and Raney continue to contribute in a huge way to Marvel and other publishers as well. It's Pak and Beatty's first year with us, we're thrilled to have Zeck back a second year in a row, and we know our fans won't want to miss this entire group of talent!"

TICKETS: General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Harvey Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!


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