I have a feeling this new TV series starring the Amazonian superhero (from David E. Kelley) will receive more criticism than the Spider-Man Broadway show. Here’s the logo and here’s a brief look at a day’s shooting, with Elizabeth Hurley, and no she’s not the titular heroine.
Made for the recent SXSW Film Festival by Ian Albinson is this 2 and a half minute montage of opening titles from the history of cinema. It starts with 1916’s Intolerance and ends with last year’s French film Enter The Void. In between there’s obvious unforgettable examples like Star Wars, Superman and some classy Hitchcock openers, and a few surprises.
Last year’s first teaser for this highly anticipated sequel dropped a few hints, such as Joker’s sickness and the fact that the Arkham inmates are now running the asylum, or rather, Gotham City. This new trailer shows the first gameplay footage of the world that looks even bigger than the first one, and reveals Hugo Strange and Catwoman.
The awesome looking game is out on October 18 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
I don’t remember seeing the comic that this is based on, but Thor has had more exposure than Charlie Sheen lately. Details below for the latest Marvel animated fare and it seems like these motion comics are getting more fluid.
THOR & LOKI: BLOOD BROTHERS – Download The Trailer and Pre-Purchase The Season Pass !
Now available on iTunes and XBox Live, download and watch the debut trailer of the hotly anticipated Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers! Inspired by the acclaimed graphic novel from Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic, no Thor fan can miss this four-episode series spotlighting the troubled and often volatile relationship between Thor & Loki. While you’re watching the trailer, don’t forget to pre-purchase the Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers season pass only on iTunes by clicking here!
“The response to the Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers trailer has been tremendous! The best is yet to come as the first episode releases on March 28th,” says Ruwan Jayatilleke, lead producer. “A huge thank you to our fans, fanatics, our distribution partners, and friends in the media for believing in this content. Marvel Knights Animation is taking it to the next level because of you!”
Don’t miss any of the pulse pounding action when the series kicks into high gear, March 28th!
After moving house on the weekend, and not having the internet at the new place just yet, I am relying on a pre-paid wireless dongle thingy. It’s been somewhat freeing to have no net access for 3 days though, but when you see stuff like this, it makes you thankful for the joys of the web. All pics below are covers from DC’s June releasing Batman related comics and the last one is J.H Williams III’s cover for April’s Batman Inc. #5.
To see all of DC’s June products go here. There’s heaps of goodies coming up in 2 month’s time including 20 Flashpoint tales, consisting of one-shots (like Grodd of War, and Green Arrow Industries) and 3 ish minis (like Lois Lane and the Resistance, and Deadman and the Flying Graysons). The titles alone have me giddy with Elseworlds-like flashbacks.
No, it’s not the name of a new superhero team, but an old film format. This first official trailer for Super 8 looks like Cloverfield, with a cast a decade younger, with an E.T vibe thrown in for good measure. From the brainchild of J.J Abrams (Lost, Star Trek) it certainly seems intriguing and has enough old school charm to counteract the “yet another alien invasion film” hesitation.
It opens on June 10.
70 mins. One of our most fun episodes yet, filled with rambling asides and pop culture recollections. Our brief theme this week is all about buying habits, ie, how, where and why we buy our comics. It’s more interesting than it sounds. Also – Jerry Maguire, singing actors and the street cred of How I Met Your Mother.
LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE OR ON ITUNES
3:13 NEWS
Charlie Sheen gets his own biographical comic.
Amazing Fantasy #15 solds for a record $1.1 million.
Not the Spider-Man musical again?! Yep, director Julie Taymor has left the show.
Rombies, from Perth publisher Gestalt, is just about to launch and your face can feature in its pages!
21:00 WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Thorgal, and The Chimpanzee Complex Volumes 1 and 2 from Cinebook
The disappointing All-Star Superman animated film
35:30THEME – BUYING HABITS
Mladen and I have different comic purchasing habits. We look at how ours, and others, have changed over the last few years and talk about digital distribution.
It’s Captain America’s time at the moment. Thor’s too. Fair enough, as both will hopefully wow us on the big screen in the coming months. Below is a text-free preview of yet another Steve Rogers adventure. (He can’t really call himself Captain America anymore, as his former sidekick Bucky has taken that mantle).
Your First Look at STEVE ROGERS: SUPER-SOLDIER ANNUAL #1
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at the second cataclysmic chapter of “Escape From The Negative Zone,” from writer James Asmus and artist Ibraim Roberson in Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier Annual #1! The X-Men have been marked for execution by King Blastaar but luckily, Steve Rogers is on his way into enemy territory to save them! Can the original Sentinel of Liberty take on the entire Negative Zone alone?
Spinning directly into next month’s Namor: The First Mutant Annual #1, the senses-shattering crossover event of the spring continues in Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier Annual #1! With their biggest threat still a mystery, can Steve and the X-Men make it out of the King Blastaar’s realm alive?
Plus don’t forget to see how this epic story begins in Uncanny X-Men Annual #3 on sale next week!
Escape From The Negative Zone: Part One
UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #3 (JAN110796)
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Penciled by NICK BRADSHAW
Cover by BLACK FROG
Rated T+ …$3.99
On Sale – 3/16/11
STEVE ROGERS: SUPER-SOLDIER ANNUAL #1 (FEB110542)
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Penciled by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by BLACK FROG
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 3/21/11, On Sale – 4/13/11
NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT ANNUAL #1 (MAR110712)
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Penciled by MAX FIUMARA
Cover by BLACK FROG
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 4/25/11, On Sale – 5/18/11
The film mag Empire is the only monthly mag I buy regularly. Filled with good reviews, interviews and just excellent writing, it’s always entertaining. I’ve written them two letters, or rather emails, recently to correct their comics info, and my most recent one has now been published, complete with a sarcastic response! Having read it again, I laughed at how nerdy I sound, but I’m right! Us fanboys have to educate the greater public, or else, who will?
Yes, the scan on the left is hard to read, so here’s my original, unedited, geeky letter:
Over at famed blog The Huffington Post is a great article on the surprising (and based on actual research!) qualities of creative people. Fascinating reading to be sure. Check it out right here.
Fear Itself is the upcoming 7 part Marvel event, which focuses on the new god of fear from Asgard (Thor’s magical land) and a new look Sin (the daughter of Nazi baddie Red Skull). You may be bale to pick up a Fear Itself Sketchbook for free from your LCS. It was released as a promo from Marvel last week and is worth a look for some pretty art and insider info.
FEAR ITSELF: BOOK OF THE SKULL #1 (JAN110692)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils by SCOT EATON
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA
Rated T+ …$3.99
On-Sale—3/16/11
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) (FEB110500)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—3/14/11, On-Sale—4/6/11
FEAR ITSELF Strikes The THUNDERBOLTS!
As the Serpent’s deadly Worthy run rampant throughout the Marvel Universe obliterating everything in their path, the fury of Fear Itself strikes the Thunderbolts! In Thunderbolts #158, from the acclaimed creative team of Jeff Parker and Kev Walker, panic strikes the superhuman prison facility – known as The Raft – when one of the mysterious Worthy shows up to reduce the Thunderbolts’ headquarters to rubble. The team must act fast and fight faster if they plan on making it out of Fear Itself alive!
“Not that it’s ever calm and stable in the world of Thunderbolts, but now with Fear Itself we blast into catastrophic,” explains writer Jeff Parker. “The job of the team just got several times harder– I’d say we’re going to need TWO teams to deal with what happens when one of our people become Worthy”
This June, the Thunderbolts learn the true meaning of terror when one of their own loses control and unleashes the God of Fear’s unrelenting wrath on the team. Can the Marvel Universe withstand the destruction of the Raft and the surge of its most dangerous criminals back onto the streets? Find out in Thunderbolts #158!
THUNDERBOLTS #158
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by KEV WALKER
Rated T+ …$2.99
ON SALE THIS JUNE!
Seeing the cover below in the latest Previews catalogue brought back memories from the classic Arnie film in my youth. Great special effects for its day and witty dialogue like, “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your afce around here.” Plus, Arnie as a woman, with an exploding head and a robot taxi driver. Oh, and an acrobatic Sharon Stone. Classic! Now Dynamite are continuing the film’s story. I guess they didn’t want the rights to the original Philip K. Dick novel, but that makes sense as the film’s probably more well known. I wonder if any of this will be seen in the upcoming remake, starring Colin Farrell.
Text-free preview pages of the debut issue below, which is out in May but can be ordered now.
CONTINUING WHERE THE MOVIE LEFT OFF, TOTAL RECALL #1 HITS STORES THIS MAY!
Shipping this May, Dynamite Comics, inspired by the hit 1990 science fiction movie TOTAL RECALL starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, presents the story of what happens next in its new comic series: TOTAL RECALL.
The series begins with the death of the Mars mining colony chief, Cohaagen, and the creation of an atmosphere for the planet. Douglas Quaid, the undercover agent known as Hauser, and the man responsible for releasing the colony from the grips of Cohaagen, simply wants to live happily ever after with Melina the woman of his dreams. But with Mars in chaos, new enemies invading the red planet, and a mysterious stranger in their midst, will Quaid have his happily ever after? Check out issue TOTAL RECALL #1 to find out!
“Being given the opportunity to create a sequel to one of the coolest action films of the 1990s was too great pass up,” says first time comics writer Vincent S. Moore. “Resonating with one of the themes of the original movie, this is a dream come true and a great benefit for me. In order to fulfill my dream, I simply had to turn around and make the happy ending for Douglas Quaid on Mars into a new nightmare and show him to be the hero once again. It was easy and tons of fun. I threw everything I could think at Quaid, keeping with the flavor of the movie. I hope all of the readers enjoy the ride. My thanks to the folks at Dynamite for giving me this chance. And to all those fans of the original film, I hope you like what we came up with enough to give it a shot. Just remember: get your asses to Mars!”
Total Recall is an original Sci-Fi Carolco Pictures thriller, released in 1990. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone and is based on the Philip K. Dick short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.” Directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill, and Gary Goldman, TOTAL RECALL won a Special Achievement Academy Award for its visual effects. The Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack earned the BMI Film Music Award. The rights to publish a TOTAL RECALL comic book series were obtained from StudioCanal S.A. under a licensing agreement negotiated by The Licensing Group Ltd.
The story line is centered on an unsophisticated construction worker, Douglas Quaid (Schwarzenegger), and the aftermath of his visit to REKALL, a company offering vacations for the mind. The Rekall vacation triggers a mind plant in Quaid’s brain, leading him to discover that he is a freedom fighter from Mars who has been relocated to Earth. Quaid attempts to restore order, and reverse the corrupt influence of commercial powers, despite multiple challenges, not the least of which are his wife’s multiple attempts to kill him, attacks from thugs who want him dead; and his own confusion as to who he really is. Quaid conquers the corrupt hold of the Mars based mining company restoring order to the Mars community.
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The quality and quantity of Christian comics has been steadily increasing over the last few years, and this little gem can be added to the growing list.
Heaven Forbid Volume 1: Not Getting Religion is a collection of writer/artist Dan Conner’s web comics which poke fun at the day to day adventures of average Christians, and let’s face it, if there’s one thing we don’t do enough of at times, it’s look at ourselves through humorous eyes. Collected from his Crazy Good Comics which Conner updates with new material every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
This volume begins with a guy and girl discussing an upcoming church potluck dinner and although it’s not necessarily a hilarious introduction, it does ease the reader into the narrative flow. The storytelling is very charming and smooth, making the whole volume easy to digest all in one sitting. There are cute asides that reveal what the characters are really thinking, and although in the potluck dinner, we don’t get proper introductions until about a third of the way in, it does work well as a realistic representation of formal gatherings. The dialogue is never mean, but is youthful, sometimes thought provoking, and often humorous.
As one of the men says in perhaps the book’s funniest line, he’s a bachelor who lives by himself, so he “shouldn’t have the same expectations as everybody else.”
At times the dialogue and zany conversations even reminded me of nerdy sitcom, The Big Bang Theory. After the potluck-centered story, the next few pages are filled with mainly shorter multi-page gags that range from Christianity’s hijacking of pop culture for its own ends, as seen in the great Transfarmers: Farmers in Disguise ad for a Bible school, to a discussion of mythical creatures from Scripture to wearing merchandise of Marvel Comics superhero Thor. There’s even a strip that explains the title of this collection, plus a look at the power of forgiving a pet cat, conversations about the phrases, “Ask Jesus into your heart,” and “Jesus is my co-pilot,” the point of nativity scenes, and more. It’s a great reminder to us Christians that we sometimes do exist in our own world, and hopefully amusing reminders like Heaven Forbid, will wake us out of our occasionally insular thinking.
The main group of characters, such as the aforementioned Charles, and Chelsea and the guitar novice Carter (who joins the delightfully named band The Turkish Delights) are the focus of this book, but there are extras, such as one which focuses on Chelsea’s pet cat and mouse, Purby and McDeermid.
Conner’s art is simple, to be sure, but that’s what gives it its charm. Rendered in black and white, the faces are always expressive, and although it’s a dialogue heavy comic, the difficult comedic rhythms of sequential art are splendidly achieved in these pages. It’s real, relatable, and funny.
Seeing as this is Conner’s first solo comic, after working on Pirates vs Ninjas for Antarctic Press and Graphic Horror: Dracula and Graphic Shakespeare: The Tempest, for Abdo Books, he can only improve in his storytelling abilities.
Connor has a unique, and strong, voice and I hope to see more of it in print.
Heaven Forbid is a 112 page collection and is 3available from Lamp Post Publishing and Amazon.
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