Batman vs Terminator Fan Film

This is a good week to be a Terminator fan. It’s an even better week if you’re a Terminator team-up fan. Announcement below from Dark Horse Comics about their classic Robocop vs Terminator deluxe collection.

And underneath that is a 5 minute animated short film set in a Skynet driven future, in which The Dark Knight Returns-era Batman does what he does best. It’s almost dialogue free, but has great visuals and direction. Well done to Tony Guerrero and Mitchell Hammond for crafting this beauty.

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES TWO ALL-NEW EDITIONS OF FRANK MILLER AND

WALTER SIMONSON’S CLASSIC

ROBOCOP VS. THE TERMINATOR SERIES!

Nearly twenty years after its first publication, the classic four-issue miniseries that teamed two great characters with two great creators, Frank Miller and Walter Simonson’s RoboCop versus The Terminator, returns to print in two formats: a hardcover graphic novel and a gallery edition!

Comics’ greatest creators pit the supreme machine killer against the ultimate cybernetic cop in one of the most celebrated crossovers ever! When fate reveals that the technology that built RoboCop will lead to the creation of Skynet, Alex Murphy must engage in time-twisting battle against both the murderous computer network and the human resistance fighters out to destroy him! This newly restored collection features remastered colors from Steve Oliff and an introduction by 2 Guns writer Steven Grant!

The super deluxe RoboCop verus The Terminator Gallery Edition ushers in Dark Horse’s new gallery series format—reprinting Walter Simonson’s original art at full size, exactly as it appeared on his drawing table! Relive Simonson and writer Frank Miller’s seamless blend of the RoboCop and Terminator worlds while marveling at the sheer virtuosity of Simonson’s draftsmanship in all its original glory.

In addition to the full story, the gallery edition provides the greatest insight available into Simonson’s process, with pages of his original pencils and promotional art faithfully reproduced, along with a revealing foreword by the artist himself!

“When Frank first sent me the story for the series, I loved it. And it was both a treat and a challenge to try to bring it to life in pictures,” said Walter Simonson. “I couldn’t be more pleased to see RoboCop versus The Terminator back in print after all these years. I can only hope that a new generation of readers will take as much delight in discovering the series as we took in creating it.”

The RoboCop versus The Terminator hardcover graphic novel collection arrives on sale at finer comic shops everywhere on July 2, 2014, for $24.99. The gallery edition will be available on July 9 for $125.

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Beware the Batman: Shadows of Gotham Release

Another DC Comics/ Warner Bros. cartoon that ended too soon, much like Green Lantern, and Young Justice, is getting a Blu-ray and DVD release next week. Beware the Batman never aired here in Australia, but I’m certainly intrigued by this latest take on The Dark Knight.

BEWARE THE BATMAN

SEASON 1 PART 1 AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 18, 2014

ON DVD FROM WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT,

AND ON BLU-RAYTM FROM WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION 

The caped crusader continues to conquer Gotham City’s villains with the Blu-ray™ and DVD release of Beware The Batman: Shadows of Gotham, Season 1 Part 1 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. Batman and his trusted friends Alfred and Katana band together in the series’ first 13 episodes to face the twisted machinations of Gotham City’s criminal underworld.

Beware the Batman Season 1 Part 1 is available for the first time on both Blu-ray™ and DVD next Tuesday, February 18, 2014. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment offers a two-disc DVD set ($19.97 SRP), while the single-disc Blu-ray™ is available from Warner Archive Collection for $19.95 via shop.warnerarchive.com and wbshop.com.

Batman swings into an exhilarating new age, teaming with a powerful allies old and new for a thrilling new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise in Beware the Batman: Shadows of Gotham, Season 1 Part 1. The new action-packed detective thriller incorporates Batman’s core characters with a rogue’s gallery of criminals as the Caped Crusader faces some of Gotham City’s most despicable villains. Through the show’s first 13 animated adventures of this two-disc collection, ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana join Batman to takes on an array of evildoers including the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. This thrilling series redefines what we have come to know as the “Batman show” and is sure to excite fans with cutting-edge CGI visuals. 

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is delighted to begin this exhilarating animated Batman series with the release of Beware The Batman: Shadows of Gotham, Season 1 Part 1,” Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. “Fans will be excited to see their favorite super hero up against a whole new set of villains from the DC Universe to continue the expansion of the Dark Knight franchise!”

Episodes:

Beware the Batman Season 1 Part 1

  1. Hunted
  2. Secrets
  3. Tests
  4. Safe
  5. Broken
  6. Toxic
  7. Family
  8. Allies
  9. Control
  10. Sacrifice
  11. Instinct
  12. Attraction
  13. Fall

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Beware the Batman Pyg and Mr Toad

 

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.

Son of Batman Animated Film Trailer

Well, this is a surprise. DC Comics/Warner Bros. release about two animated films based on classic, and new, DC series every year, but this one came from nowhere. Usually there’s a press release with a few details, but not this time. Bam! Here you go internet, thanks to TV Guide. What a nice surprise it is though.

Son of Batman is based on the awesome and highly recommended 2006 Batman and Son comic written by Grant Morrison with art by Andy Kubert. It was a great story arc, and notable for having introduced Damian Wayne, Bruce’s son with Talia al-Ghul, Ra’s al-Ghul’s daughter. Voicing Batman is Jason O’Mara, who also voices him in next month’s Justice League: War animated film. It looks to be fairly close to the comics, including Man-Bat, but also throwing in Deathstroke who was absent from the original tale, but I guess he’s popular now, thanks to TV’s Arrow.

The film will premier at California’s WonderCon in April, and then hit Blu-ray and DVD, and a new edition collecting the comics goes on sale on January 29.

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Free Aus Shipping At Madman

Madman are an Australian company offering manga, anime and foreign films, and just general pop culture greatness around the country. Well, the world really. One look at their website and you’re bound to find more than a few things you’ll like, or have never heard of.

Now they’re offering free shipping for all purchases within Australia! Yay!

You can also go The Screening Room on their site to watch some anime series for free, such as the new Space Dandy, and Attack on Titan, which is crazy popular, but I have only just begun watching, right from the beginning. Thanks Madman! You’re so nice.

Madman Free Shipping

Justice League: War Clip

DC Comics/ Warner Bros. have been making great animated films for the last few years, at the rate of about two a year it seems. These are always accessible to those new to comics, and are always based on some classic and recent tales, and come with entertaining and informative bonus features. Since DC have a hit (Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and miss (quickly cancelled Beware the Batman!) ratio when it comes to their cartoons on TV, these animated films are a much safer bet.

Their next one is called Justice League: War and is based on the first few issues of the 2011 comics tale told by writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee about how the League first met. Below is the first official clip, which seems to follow the comic pretty closely, and a description.

When the powerful Darkseid and his massive, relentless forces invade Earth, a group of previously unaligned super heroes – misunderstood and, in some cases, hunted by the authorities – discover the only way to fend off the attack will be to work together as a cohesive unit. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Shazam and, in his origin story, Cyborg combine their respective talents in an all-out battle to save the planet. Based on the 2012 graphic novel, “Justice League: Origin,” by Geoff Johns & Jim Lee, Justice League: War provides a glance into the world before the Justice League was created, and offers the initial animated incarnation of DC Entertainment’s “The New 52.”

“Justice League: War” arrives via Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digitial HD on February 4, 2014from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

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Brave and the Bold Season 1 and JL: War

Finally! There’s no mention of any special features, and putting B’wana Beast on the cover seems an odd choice, but one of the funnest and funniest animated shows of recent years is now on Blu-ray. Official details below.

Courtesy of Warner Archive comes the complete first season of “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” on Blu-ray this Tuesday, November 5. This 2-Disc, 26-Episode collection presents the series’ inaugural season in all its crisp and clear 1080p High Definition, as it was meant to be enjoyed.  A galaxy of Bat-tastic team-ups await as they face any peril including other heroes OUTRAGEOUSLY stealing the show ­in their relentless pursuit of justice. And fun.
Under the aegis of producer James Tucker, Batman: The Brave and the Bold” bravely challenged modern fan conceptions of The Dark Knight while boldly utilizing the richness of the entire DC Comics universe. The result is a sly and skillful blend of Dick Sprang’s Batman, TV’s timeless 1966 incarnation, Bruce Timm’s animated series and scores of others which creates a unique show that appeals to fans both new and old. Lead voice actor Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show, Office Space) uses his crack comic skills to channel Kevin Conroy’s Caped Crusader, making his Bats the ultimate straight man in the world’s funnest cape cartoon. And he’s aided by a legion of vocal acting titans (and directed by legendary voice director Andrea Romano) that includes John DiMaggio (Aquaman), Paul Reubens (Bat-Mite), James Arnold Taylor (Green Arrow), Will Friedle (Blue Beetle), Tom Kenny (Plastic Man), Grey Delisle (Black Canary) and Neil Patrick Harris (The Music Meister).
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In related DC Comics animated news, the trailer for the latest film, Justice League: War has been released. It’s based on the first few issues of the title’s relaunch in 2011, and features Wonder Woman in an unpleasing costume, and the first meeting of the JLA. It’s also the first animated film of the New 52 approach, but I hope we still get pre-New 52 films in the future. DC/Warner Bros. have a great success rate in their frequent animated films, and with all their bonus features, they serve as a great entryway to the DC Universe. Official details, trailer and box art below.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will distribute JUSTICE LEAGUE: WAR as a Bu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and for Digital Download on February 4, 2013.When the powerful Darkseid and his massive, relentless forces invade Earth, a group of previously unaligned super heroes – misunderstood and, in some cases, hunted by the authorities – discover the only way to fend off the attack will be to work together as a cohesive unit. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Shazam and, in his origin story, Cyborg combine their respective talents in an all-out battle to save the planet. Based on the 2012 graphic novel, “JusticeLeague: Origin,” by Geoff Johns & Jim Lee, JUSTICE LEAGUE: WAR provides a glance into the world before the Justice League was created, and offers the initial animated incarnation of DC Entertainment’s “The New 52.”

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, JUSTICE LEAGUE: WAR features the voices of Jason O’Mara (Vegas, Terra Nova), Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs), Justin Kirk (Weeds), Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory), Serenity, Firefly), Michelle Monaghan (Mission Impossible III), Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds), Sean Astin (LOTR films), Bruce Thomas (Army of Darkness) and Steve Blum (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox). Producer is James Tucker and director is Jay Oliva from a script by Heath Corson.

 
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Superman 74 Years Animation

I could watch this all day! To celebrate 75 years of Superman this year, animation legend Bruce Timm, and Man of Steel director Zack Snyder have teamed up for this excellent, two minute summary of Superman’s storied past, noting the major events and media portrayals over the years. It’s not on YouTube yet, but you can watch it here.

It kicks off with a bang with his first appearance on the cover of Action Comics #1 and ends (of course) lingering on the latest film version, with fights with classic enemies such as Doomsday (who killed him), Braniac and even the fight with Muhammad Ali, and many of the varied artistic styles which have graced Superman in those decades. This short will also be included in next month’s release of the Man of Steel on Blu-Ray.

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Kaiju Movie Sale

Kaiju is a Japanese word that means, “strange beast,’ so Wikipedia tells me. It’s also a buzzword at the moment, thanks to this week’s release of Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim. As a refresher to what Pacific Rim is, check out the latest trailer and featurette, and get excited!

If you like what you see on the big screen and want to see more of giant monsters fighting other giant monsters (and robots), then you might want to see the sale that Madman has on now, featuring some great films such as Big Man Japan, Troll Hunter, Monsters, and Godzilla classics, and anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Gigantor.

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Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Clip

After seeing the featurette on DC/Warner Bros’ latest animated film, Flashpoint on the just released Superman: Unbound Blu-Ray I’m eagerly awaiting its release, which we know now is July 30. Very soon! Official details below regarding the dark, alternate version of the DC Universe, as based on the great 2011 mini-series from Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert. A few screenshots, and the first clip from the film is also below, in which Cyborg (who I think has a metallic sounding voice for the first time, which makes sense) attempts to recruit Batman.

The film will have its World Premiere at Comic-Con in San Diego on Friday, July 19 from 7:30-9:30pm in Ballroom 20. The premiere/panel description with anticipated participants is below. Panelists are
subject to change (which could include additions!)

Fans can also meet and get autographs (on a Comic-Con exclusive mini-poster) from the panelists on Saturday, July 20 from 11:00am-Noon at the Warner Bros. Booth.

“Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox” will be released as a Blu-Ray Combo Pack and DVD on July 30, 2013.

Here is the premiere/panel description:
Friday, July 19
7:30-9:30 World Premiere of Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox –
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation invite you to be the first to experience Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the highly-anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. When time travel allows a past wrong to be righted for Flash and his family, the event’s temporal ripples prove disastrous, creating a fractured,
alternate reality where the Justice League never formed, and even Superman is nowhere to be found. Amidst a new world being ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman’s Amazons and Aquaman’s Atlanteans, Flash must team with a grittier, more violent Batman and government agent Cyborg to restore the continuity of Flash’s original timeline.

Come for the film, but stay for the star-studded panel that features Grey’s Anatomy stars Justin Chambers and Kevin McKidd as Flash and Batman, respectively, along with C. Thomas Howell (Southland), Cary
Elwes (The Princess Bride), Sam Daly (The Daly Show) and a few surprise voice cast members, plus the filmmaking team of producer James Tucker (Superman: Unbound), director Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark
Knight Returns), dialogue director Andrea Romano (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), screenwriter Jim Krieg (Green Lantern: The Animated Series) and character designer Phil Bourassa (Young Justice).
Moderator Gary Miereanu will add to the fun with a special announcement of the 2014 DCU movie slate, as well as exclusive, cast-autographed prizes for a few lucky fans. Based on the landmark mini-series by Geoff Johns & Andy Kubert, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox will be available as a digital download on July 19, 2013 and a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack on July 30, 2013.

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Cyborg

 

Flash

 

Lois Lane

 

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Above are Batman, Cyborg, Flash, Lois Lane, Reverse Flash and Wonder Woman.

Great ’80s Animated Intros

There’s a great post at i09 showcasing some diverse intros from ’80s cartoons, leading with probably the best – ThunderCats, and followed by a few I’ve never heard of before.

Superman: Unbound Clip With Lois And Supergirl

After the first clip from next month’s animated film, comes this new one focusing on the ladies.

This is shaping up to be one good looking film and by that, I mean the style of animation, although the characters are cute too. I’m glad they went with Supergirl’s pre-New 52 costume. It’s much better than her current duds.

Supergirl and Lois Lane — voiced by CASTLE stars Molly Quinn & Stana Katic, respectively — take the spotlight in an all-new clip from SUPERMAN: UNBOUND, the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies.The film also features the voices of Matt Bomer (“White Collar”) and John Noble (“Fringe,” “The Lord of the Rings” films) as Superman and Brainiac, respectively.

Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, SUPERMAN: UNBOUND arrives May 7, 2013 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand and for
Digital Download.

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Superman’s Birthday And Flashpoint Box Art

 

It’s Superman’s 75th birthday today! He debuted in Action Comics #1 from DC Comics this week in 1938. There are a few celebratory articles online, but this BBC documentary from 1981, with rare footage of Superman’s creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster is one of the best. I hope there’s some mainstream coverage of the Man of Steel’s milestone too.

Also below are two official breakdowns from two upcoming animated, Superman related projects. The first is a clip from next month’s Superman: Unbound film, which looks to feature much darker and more detailed animation than the last couple of DC toon films, and there’s also the first look at the cool box art from the film adapted from the alternate universe Flashpoint comics storyline.

The clip features Superman’s first encounter with Brainiac, a destructive force who has been devastating planets across the galaxy – with Earth next in his sights. Matt Bomer (“White Collar”) provides the voice of Superman opposite John Noble (“Fringe,” “The Lord of the Rings” films) as the voice of Brainiac. The film also features the voices of “Castle” stars Stana Katic as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn as Supergirl.

Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, SUPERMAN: UNBOUND film arrives May 7, 2013 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand and for Digital Download.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX features an amazing cast of its own — from the Grey’s Anatomy duo of Justin Chambers and Kevin McKidd as the voices of Barry Allen/Flash and Thomas Wayne/Batman, respectively, to Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale, Friday Night Lights, Chronicle) as Cyborg, C. Thomas Howell (Southland, The Outsiders) as Thawne/Professor Zoom, Nathan Fillion (Castle) as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Ron Perlman (Hellboy) as Slade and Deathstroke, Dana Delany (Body of Proof) as Lois Lane, Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride) as Aquaman, Danny Huston (Magic City) as General Lane, Sam Daly (The Office, The Daly Show) as Superman, and Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Batman.

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The Deep Cartoon Trailer Premiere

Cool, arty things happen in Melbourne. Cool things also happen in my hometown of Perth, but I hope we get to see this trailer online soon.

AUSTRALIAN GRAPHIC NOVELS BY BESTSELLING MELBOURNE AUTHOR TO BECOME INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SERIES.
PREVIEW SCREENING AND BOOK LAUNCH THIS SATURDAY.

His recent publications sit atop the bestseller lists on Amazon and iBooks among others, and he has written adventures for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Luke Skywalker and Boba Fett — however, for Melbourne born and bred comic book author,Tom Taylor, nothing excites him more than crafting tales of the Nekton family in his creator-owned graphic novel series, The Deep. 

After receiving the 2012 Aurealis Award for ‘Best Graphic Novel’ for the first volume of The Deep series, Here Be Dragons, Taylor and artist James Brouwer return to the seas for the second volume, The Vanishing Island, published by Gestalt Comics.

The Vanishing Island
 continues the adventures of a multi-ethnic family of daring Aquanauts who live on a submarine — and will receive its official launch on the 23rd March 2013 at Melbourne’s All-Star Comics.

Written by award-winning writer Tom Taylor (DC’s InjusticeStar Wars: AdventuresStar Wars: Blood Ties) and illustrated by the incredible James Brouwer (Justice League Beyond), The Vanishing Island sees the Nektons, a family who have been exploring the seas for generations, investigate an island that was “completely not hit by a tsunami.”

Book Launch Details
The launch of The Vanishing Island will be held at All Star Comics Melbourne, Level 1, 410 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, on Saturday the 23rd March 2013, from 1pm-3pm, and will feature the first public preview of the upcoming TV series based on The Deep graphic novels.

Upcoming Animated TV Series

A new CGI series is in the works based on the The Deep graphic novels, with Paris-based animation studio Technicolor developing and producing 26 half-hour episodes of The Deep targeting viewers 6 years and up.
The Deep: The Vanishing Island and the previous volume in the series, Here Be Dragons, are distributed by Madman Entertainment in Australia & New Zealand, with an RRP of $19.95 aud.

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