Search TV Series Now on DVD

Now, I’ve never heard of this series, but last month I watched the first season of the classic Twilight Zone, and I’ve always enjoyed the original Star Trek, and am currently building my collection of Star Trek: The Next generation on Blu-ray. I do like the unique storytelling flavour of classic sci-fi shows.

Search is a 1970s TV show that is now available on DVD, thanks to the efforts of the folks at the Warner Bros. Archive. All the info you need is below.

Search: The Complete Series

Available for the First Time from Warner Archive Collection

Look no further: You can now find SEARCH: THE COMPLETE SERIES at Warner Archive Collection.

One of the coolest series ever to grace the airwaves, the 1972-73 thriller starred Hugh O’Brian, Doug McClure and Tony Franciosa – as rotating leads – playing elite high tech espionage operatives for Probe Division of World Securities Corporation.

For the very first time, Warner Archive Collection has made Search: The Complete Series available via WBShop.com as a six-disc, 23-episode collection.

The spy-sensational, Sci-Fi-flavored actioner was the brainchild of Leslie Stevens, creator of The Outer Limits, and Robert Justman, producer and one of the guiding lights of Star Trekand Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In the series, each agent – dubbed a “Probe” – is wired for worldwide surveillance thanks to a Scanner (miniature video camera) and dental/ear implant. Tracking their telemetry and giving real-time mission advice is a team of specialists at Probe Control, and directed by the brilliant, irascible V.C.R. Cameron (Burgess Meredith). O’Brian plays ex-astronaut Lockwood, aka Probe One; McClure is brilliant beachcomber goofball CR Grover, aka Standby Probe; and Franciosa plays street savvy ex-New York cop Nick Bianco, aka Omega Probe, who is tasked with organized crime capers. The Probes hunt stolen moon rocks, missing agents, a deadly Probe defector and more alongside a luminous list of special guest stars. Three very different agents, one very out-of-this-world show.

The guest cast includes the likes of Stefanie Powers, Bill Bixby, Mary Ann Mobley, Sebastian Cabot, Barbara Feldon, Mel Ferrer, Joanna Cameron, Cheryl Ladd, Anne Francis, Capucine, Wally Cox, Dabney Coleman, Bert Convy, John Vernon, Robert Webber, Larry Linvile, Annette O’Toole, and three-time Grammy Award-winning singer Nancy Wilson.

The talent behind the camera has an equally impressive pedigree. Directors on the series include popular Star Trek directors Marc Daniels & Joseph Pevney, Rockford Files favorite William Ward, Green Hornet veteran Allen Reisner and Magnum P.I./Kojak regular Russ Mayberry. Nicholas Colasanto, “Coach” on Cheers, directs a Doug McClure-based episode entitled “In Search of Midas” that features guest stars Barbara Feldon and George Gaynes.

Emmy and Golden Globe-winning composer Dominic Frontiere did the music for the series. Fred Harpman (Deliverance, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze) was the art director.

Search-Complete Series box art

SEARCH-PROMO SHOT

Hugh OBrian-JoAnna Cameron

Brooke Bundy-Doug McClure

 

Watch Max Bemis Build an Evil Empire

Or, read about it actually. Lowdown, and gorgeous covers from BOOM!’s new mini-series below, which debuts on March 5.

BOOM! STUDIOS ANNOUNCES ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ PRINT PROMOTION

FOR MAX BEMIS’ ‘EVIL EMPIRE’

Evil Empire Cover A by Jay Shaw

Evil Empire Cover A by Jay Shaw

Award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is proud to announce the March debut of EVIL EMPIRE, the political thriller that asks: What would happen if modern society crossed the line and became the megalomaniacal force we’d always fought against? Instead of a story that picks up when this so-called “evil empire” is already in place, Say Anything lead singer Max Bemis (POLARITY) and artist Ransom Getty (Guarding the Globe, Suicide Squad) take us to the very beginning and show the devolution of society through the eyes of an outspoken, female hip-hop artist named Reese.

 

To add to the anticipation surrounding Bemis’ first long-form series, BOOM! has added a pre-Final Order Cutoff (FOC) incentive promotion for retailers. Similar to the DAY MEN #2 promotion, the publisher will have 50, limited-edition, screen-printed, and numbered prints created of one of Jay Shaw’s iconic cover images for EVIL EMPIRE. The “We The People” print promotion means that each one of the 25 top-ordering retailers will receive one print. Additionally, in keeping with the democratic nature of the series, 25 additional retailers, chosen at random, will receive one print each. Retailers have until the end of the day on Monday, February 10th to finalize their orders for EVIL EMPIRE #1.

 

“Max has created a provocative thriller in EVIL EMPIRE,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “At BOOM!, we want our comics to resonate beyond the page, and EVIL EMPIRE is the kind of explosive storytelling we love to get behind. We saw with POLARITY that Max is a bold new voice in the industry, and we were eager to work with him again. EVIL EMPIRE is an intense vision of a society’s dark transformation. It’ll turn some heads.”

 

WHY WE LOVE IT: After POLARITY, we just had to work with writer (and Say Anything lead singer) Max Bemis again, and his thrilling take on how a modern society could evolve into an evil empire is absolutely terrifying.

 

WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT: Every fan of fiction is aware of the trope of the “evil, sinister empire” i.e. the Empire in “Star Wars.” Oftentimes, when we are introduced to these totalitarian establishments, they are already fully in power and it’s up to our hero to bring back order and peace. However, in EVIL EMPIRE, we explore how that would unfold in a real-world setting. How close to the precipice are we right now in the world we live in? Would we let it happen? More specific to this tale: Would we secretly WANT it to happen?

 

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Told through the perspective of an underground rapper named Reese, Max Bemis’ gripping story explores a scenario in which we watch modern society gradually evolve (or is it devolve?) into an evil empire.

 

 

Evil Empire Cover B by Robbi Rodriguez

Evil Empire Cover B by Robbi Rodriguez

 

Evil Empire Cover C by Jay Shaw

Evil Empire Cover C by Jay Shaw

 

 

Dark Horse on YALSA List

What’s YALSA? A youth-targeted salsa? Nope. It’s the Young Adult Library Services Association. Every year they release their best comics list, as do lots of other sites and organisations. I’ve only read The Massive Volume 1 and Hellboy: Midnight Circus, but both are fantastic.

DARK HORSE TAKES HOME SIX

SPOTS ON THE 2014 YALSA

GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS LIST!

Last week, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) committee published their much-anticipated 2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, adding, for the first time, a top-ten list. Not surprisingly, given the tremendous success of Dark Horse’s 2013 publishing line, the publisher landed six titles on this year’s list, with two making it into the top tenThe Adventures of Superhero Girl and MIND MGMT!

This year’s Dark Horse selections are as follows:

“Dark Horse has always considered librarians to be essential to the cause of bringing graphic novels to a broader audience, just as we feel visionary writers and artists push the boundaries of the medium,” said Dark Horse’s VP of book trade sales, Michael Martens. “With the selections of these titles to the 2014 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, the boundaries will be pushed and the audience broadened! Thanks to both YALSA and our authors for making this happen!”

Dark Horse congratulates the editors, writers, and artists who worked on each of the above titles, and thanks the Young Adult Library Services Association for recognizing these works!

The Massive TPB

 

Hellboy- The Midnight Circus

DC’s Animated Shared Universe

Thanks to what Marvel Studios have been doing with their films since Iron Man debuted on the silver screen, the concept of a “shared universe,” is now in fans’ minds. Of course, comics have been doing that for decades, and it’s called “continuity. It’s a lot harder to do on film though, and now that with the Man of Steel sequel and its myriad DC Comics character cameos is underway, they can focus on unifying the animated films.

Since Warner Bros./DC Comics released their first animated film based on their massive library of comics tales in 2007 focused on The Death of Superman tale, they’ve been producing about two such films a year. They have varied greatly in terms of tone and cast, but with Justice League: War and the upcoming Son of Batman, that looks set to change.

“This will definitely be the first salvo in doing new movies that are in continuity with each other,” producer James Tucker told Comic Book Resources. “Our next movie is going to be Son of Batman, and that Batman will be the same Batman that you see in Justice League: War. Basically, we’ll have two concurrent series of Justice League movies and Batman movies, and they’ll be in continuity with each other. So it’s kind of world-building.”

The new continuity will not be limited to adapting storylines from the current New 52 line of DC superhero books, according to Justice League: Wardirector Jay Oliva. “We can do original content, we can do New 52 stuff,” he said. Indeed, Oliva’s next animated project will be Batman: Arkham Asylum, based on the successful Batman: Arkham video games.

Warner Bros. plans to put out two home releases each year based in this shared continuity, with an additional DC animated project every year as a stand-alone, continuity-free project (Batman: Arkham fills that spot for 2014), although Tucker told CBR that such plans are “always subject to change.”

You can read the whole story at The Hollywood Reporter, and below is the Sneak Peek from Justice League: War showing a glimpse at the epic Son of Batman film.

Wolverine & The X-Men #42 Preview

February 26 sees the release of the final ish of Wolvie & The X-Men from Marvel. Below you’ll find the official synopsis, plus some wordless preview pages. The cover is a tribute to probably the most copied comic cover of all time – Uncanny X-Men #141 from 1980, which was the first part of the Days of Future Past storyline.

School is Out! Your First Look at WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #42!

This February, close out the school year in style with a Graduation Day to remember in WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #42! They’ve fought monsters, aliens, the Hellfire Club, and even their own school building – but now, the inaugural class of the Jean Grey School prepares to leave their hallowed halls behind. That is, if they survive that long! Fan favorite writer Jason Aaron ends his critically acclaimed run with one last bombastic issue – and he’s bringing some friends! Wolverine & The X-Men artists past and present return to school for one last tearful goodbye, including Chris Bachalo, Nick Bradshaw, Ramón Pérez, Pepe Larraz and Steve Sanders. And if that’s not enough Shawn Crystal (DEADPOOL) and Nuno Alves (MARVEL FAIRY TALES) join in on the fun! Plus, a surprise taste of the new volume of Wolverine & The X-Men #1 from new series writer Jason Latour that will have you begging for more! Where do the graduates go from here? Who stays? Who goes? And who survives? Find out this February as Jason Aaron brings his blockbuster series to a close inWOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #42!

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #42 (DEC130749)

Written by JASON AARON

Art by NICK BRADSHAW, PEPE LARRAZ, RAMON PEREZ,
STEVE SANDERS, CHRIS BACHALO, NUNO ALVES,

SHAWN CRYSTAL, & JASON LATOUR

Cover by NICK BRADSHAW

Wolverine_&_The_X-Men_42_Cover

 

Continue reading

Cap, Spidey and Transformers Trailers

The Superbowl is done for another year. One team won and one team lost, but what I’m interested in are the new trailers!

Opening April 4 is the Captain America sequel, The Winter Soldier. It looks darker than the original. Oh yeah!

Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the longest and by far, most intense trailer of the three released today, with a focus on the villains. It opens on May 2 from Sony, withe original main cast and director. Electro reminds me of The Riddler in Batman Forever, as a loser who idolises the superhero and then goes nutty.

Finally, the Transformers sequel (that nobody really asked for), with a new human cast  is the shortest and less revealing. Lots of pointy, shiny robots, explosions and humans running. Oh, and also Optimus Prime riding a dragon-like (rather than T-Rex) Grimlock. I’m not sure if that’s cool yet.

 

Dungeons & Dragons is 40

Yep, D & D is four decades old! The pioneering role-playing debuted in 1974, created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and it’s still going strong. It’s had multiple editions, comics, a cartoon and live action films, computer games and novels. I used to play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in my high school days, and it was great fun, and every now and then I think of revisiting it.

Happy birthday D & D!

dndrules

Vandroid #1 Preview

Ah, the ’80s. The best music. The bets cartoons. The best fashion. Um..maybe not that last one, but it was a magical time, and on February 26 we can return.

Vandroid is a new 5 issue mini-series from Dark Horse, with the unique premise that it’s based on a lots film from the 1980s. The website is worth checking out too, with more preview pages, and a great, oh-so-80s score sample. It’s obvious this is a nostalgic, radical labour of love for the creators.

When Palm Springs Entertainment studios burned to the ground in 1984, the most definitive motion picture of a generation was lost before its time. Thirty years later, the extraordinary talents of Tommy Lee Edwards, Noah Smith, and Dan McDaid unite to resurrect this lost epic.

* Complete the Vandroid experience with the remastered soundtrack from Ed Banger Records and the unearthed 1984 movie trailer at Vandroid.com!

Vandroid1

Cheap Captain America Comics

There’s good synergy going on lately between Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios. Now if only DC/Warner Bros. could do the same. Opening in April is the Captain America sequel, The Winter Soldier, which means now is a great time to get to know the characters from the comics, such as Black Widow, The Winter Soldier and of course, Cap himself. I haven’t read most of these on-sale collections, but I can recommend The Longest Winter story.

All of the comics on sale at Marvel’s digital comics shop are collections, (otherwise knows as Trade Paperbacks), which means you get a few issues of a monthly series together, to tell one, complete story. Check out the 4 options below, or here.

Captain America Sale

Prepare for Cap’s return to the big screen with incredible savings on Captain America and Winter Soldier digital collections!
Now through February 3rd, purchase select digital collections for just $3.99 each!*Head to the Marvel Digital Comics Shop now for savings on: Captain America By Ed Brubaker Vol.1, Winter Soldier, and more!

Screen shot 2014-02-02 at 5.28.14 PM

Screen shot 2014-02-02 at 5.28.39 PM

ComiXology in France

Digital comics shop are currently in France for the annual comics festival, and have uploaded some pretty cool pics from the experience on their Tumblr, including some great journalling from Jeremy Nguyen (check out Craig Thompson’s Carnet de Voyage for a similar, excellent, arty journal), and a look at the demographics of comics readers in France.

More fun stuff from comiXology coming out of the Festival de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême 2014.

Angouléme keeps rolling on and we keep on having a great time here in France. ComiXologist Jeremy Nguyen, who not only is one of the many people behind transforming each week’s comics in to Guided View but is an accomplished illustrator himself, has joined us this year and is doing a journal of the experience. Here are two spreads from Jeremy’s Angouléme journal.

Jeremy Nguyen

Jeremy Nguyen 2

French Comics Fans

Spidey and Cap Superbowl Teasers

Yep, teasers for trailers! That’s how impatient we are, and the studios know it.

Sunday’s Superbowl will see many cool new trailers, at the costly sum of $4 million for 30 seconds, but until then, we have two teasers for two superhero sequels. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 teaser is the most action packed one yet, and the even shorter Captain America: The Winter Soldier shows some new footage, including a cool flying Falcon.

Expect full trailers to go online in the next day or two, if you happen to miss them during the Superbowl.

There’s also some new pics of the Cap sequel, and yes, that last one is French bad guy Batroc the Leaper! You can see more posters here, spotlighting Nick Fury, Cap and Black Widow, the latter of which has been criticised for some obvious Photoshop editing.

Captain America 2 poster

 

Jeremy Alfred and Jesse Lex

The casting for the Man of Steel sequel (now delayed until May 6 2016) has just announced a couple of big names. The rumoured Bryan Cranston from TV’s Breaking Bad will not be classic Superman bald baddie Lex Luthor, but The Social Network’s Jesse Eisenberg will. Some are saying he looks too young, although he’s also 30, just like Superman actor Henry Cavill.

Eisenberg was menacing and crafty in Network, and also cocky in Now You See Me. I think he could pull this off.

Jeremy Irons is a good choice for Bruce Wayne’s butler/confidante Alfred Pennyworth. There aren’t too many well-known British actors of that age. I guess they could get an American actor to do a Brit accent, but Irons will certainly bring the gravitas. Here’s what director Zack Snyder had to say about the casting.

“Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”

The director added, “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”

Lex-Luthor-Man-of-Steel

Alfred Pennyworth