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Here's an Press Conference with the cast & crew of SHERLOCK HOLMES.
SHERLOCK HOLMES opens in theatres Christmas Day.
Read more... Read More
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Movie News: SHERLOCK HOLMES Interview with the cast and filmmakers
Here's an Press Conference with the cast & crew of SHERLOCK HOLMES.
SHERLOCK HOLMES opens in theatres Christmas Day.
Read more... Read More
Comic News: TOP COW PREVIEW: Tracker #2
Top Cow is pleased to offer a preview of Tracker #2, which goes on sale next Wednesday, December 23, in stores.
Tracker #2
(W) Jonathan Lincoln (A) Francis Tsai (Cov) Francis Tsai
The first property from Top Cow and Heroes and Villains Entertainment is here! Alex O'Roark, the FBI's top tracker, is on a crash course through Hell. He's been infected with the werewolf virus. The FBI is suspicious. His partner, Jezebel Kendall, is falling for him. His fiancé, Tory Reyes, is worried sick. And, he must keep his horrific secret from everyone as he hunts down Herod, the world's most dangerous serial killer. Why? Herod has answers. He's the werewolf who infected Alex!
Full Color 32 pages $2.99 limited series
Comic News: ARCHAIA AND RODDENBERRY ANNOUNCE DELUXE ‘DAYS MISSING’ HARDCOVER
GRAPHIC NOVEL COLLECTS ALL FIVE ISSUES PLUS A HOST OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN EXTRAS
Combining Archaia’s longstanding commitment to producing high-quality hardcover graphic novels and Roddenberry’s goal to produce sophisticated, intelligent and entertaining science fiction in the tradition of Star Trek, the companies announced today they will publish a deluxe Days Missing hardcover that collects all five issues of the critically acclaimed mini-series plus a host of extra features, available in February 2010.
The Days Missing hardcover is available for pre-order now through comic retailers (Diamond Item Number DEC09 0662) and online outlets like Amazon.com (ISBN 1-932386-84-X). (To find your nearest comic shop, visit www.comicshoplocator.com.)
Days Missing tells the stories of a mysterious being known as “The Steward.” His ability to literally “fold” days of time has allowed him to secretly remove critical days from our shared history that have forever changed the course of mankind…or so he thinks. In these missing days, The Steward battles Frankenstein, the Spanish conquistadors and artificial lifeforms, among other history-shaping forces.
Archaia and Roddenberry Productions brought together four all-star creative teams to each work on standalone, reader-friendly issues of Days Missing that tie into the overall mini-series story arc. The writer/artist teams include: Phil Hester (Firebreather, The Darkness, Green Arrow) and Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin, Seven Soldiers of Victory) for issues 1 and 5; David Hine (Batman: Battle for the Cowl) and Chris Burnham (X-Men: Divided We Stand) for issue 2; Ian Edginton (Stormwatch) and Lee Moder (Legion of Super-Heroes) for issue 3; and Matz (The Killer) and Hugo Petrus (Wolverine: First Class) for issue 4. The legendary Dale Keown (The Incredible Hulk, Pitt) provided the main covers to each issue.
The extra features in the Days Missing hardcover include:
• A foreword written by the legendary Warren Ellis, award-winning creator of graphic novels such as Fell, Ministry of Space, Planetary and Transmetropolitan.
• A gallery featuring all 16 covers of the five issues.
• A collectible poster on the reverse side of the dust jacket, joining together all of Frazer Irving’s complete chase covers to Days Missing.
• Interviews with all of the writers and Roddenberry Productions’ Trevor Roth , creator of Days Missing.
• Revelation of the secret code contained in the Days Missing logo.
• A stat sheet of The Steward, plus a tour of his library.
• The evolution of a comic page, from script to pencils, inks and colors.
Here is what the critics are saying about Days Missing:
“One of the best things that came out this year.”
– Blair Butler, G4’s Fresh Ink Online
“Innovative and cool.”
– Brendan McGuirk, Newsarama.com
“A rare treat.”
– Christopher Baggett, TheHomeWorld.net
“Poetic…beautiful…impressive.”
– Sara Lima, ComicVine.com
Comic News: Pilot Season: Murderer #1 Sells Out
KIRKMAN & SILVESTRI’S KILLING SOLD OUT AT DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL
Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that the first installment of the 2009 Pilot Season, Pilot Season: Murderer #1, has sold out at the distributor level.
”We knew that both Robert and Marc were going to deliver in spades with this year’s Pilot Season, but I think both retailers and fans were caught off guard by what a complete package Murderer was,” said Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik, “Nelson Blake, Sal Regla, and Dave McCaig really brought their ‘A’ game to this project and it showed in the end product. We aim to make each of the remaining four Pilot Season projects as good as this one and expect them to each be a brisk sellout.”
Pilot Season: Murderer #1 is 32 pages of moral torment in a character study conjured from the minds of Image Comics partners Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible) and Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri (X-Men/Dark Avengers: Utopia, The Darkness). Artist Nelson Blake II (Magdalena) performs the artistic duties to flesh out the story of a man trying to use his powers for good. Jason Sparks is a man cursed to spend every waking moment being bombarded by the thoughts of strangers around him. The only way to silent the voices, the only thing that buys him a moment of respite…is murder.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. plans to digitally release the comic through channels set up with partnered digital content producers for fans to catch up.
Up next for Pilot Season 2009 is Pilot Season: Demonic #1, set to hit stores January 6, 2010. Written by Kirkman and featuring art from Top Cow alumni Joe Benitez (Soulfire, The Darkness), Pilot Season: Demonic #1 centers on the story of Scott Graves and his inner demon—only his demon manifests itself in his real life. Providing him strength, the demon is only satiated when Scott kills. In a conflicted Faustian bargain, Scott will continue to kill as long as the demon promises not to make him kill his wife and daughter. Stalking the night as Demonic, a vigilante known for savagely slaughtering the wicked, Scott must asks himself how long he can continue living this way and if the demon is in fact real.
Pilot Season has been an annual Top Cow tradition since 2007 that give fans the power to choose the next Top Cow series based on a selection of one-shot Pilot Season “pilot” issues through online voting. The inaugural Pilot Season initiative garnered more than four million votes from fans across the globe.
Pilot Season: Murderer #1’s success joins three other recent sold-out Top Cow titles, The Darkness/Pitt #1, The Darkness/Pitt #2 and Tracker #1.
Comic News: IDW Enters the Nanosphere
New graphic novel based on Smith & Tinker's online digital monster game, Nanovor, includes code for free in-game items
Inspired by Smith & Tinker’s new digital battling game, IDW Publishing will release the graphic novel Nanovor: Game Day in February 2010. In Nanovor, ancient silicon monsters have resurfaced in our computers to battle it out online and in handheld gaming devices called Nanoscopes. The game’s back-story sets the stage for a unique graphic novel that follows teenager Lucas Nelson and his friends through a fantastic battle all their own. Plus, hidden inside each issue of Nanovor: Game Day is a code that unlocks in-game content, including a new Nanovor.
Lucas Nelson, a Hanover High student, accidentally discovers the Nanovor living inside his computer while looking for dust mites. Together with his best friends, whom he calls the Lab Rats, and his science professor Mr. Sapphire, Lucas quickly learns all about the oldest living creatures on Earth. These silicon-based life forms require immense amounts of adrenaline to survive in our oxygen-based atmosphere, and must battle each other constantly. In order to help the creatures stay alive, Lucas and Mr. Sapphire invent a device, the Nanoscope, that allows humans to observe and interact with the Nanovor.
In Nanovor: Game Day, IDW and Smith & Tinker offer gaming fans another exciting way to enjoy this great new property. In the graphic novel, Lucas and the Lab Rats are gearing up for a weekend of Nanovor battles until another crew, the notorious Snake Pit, tries to take over. Nanovor: Game Day also features a hidden code that can be redeemed online for free in-game items, including a Nanovor.
“Nanovor: Game Day has easily been one of my favorite books to edit since I’ve been at IDW,” said IDW editor Tom Waltz. “The creators, across the board, have taken a fun new property, ripe with imaginative possibilities, and hit a grand slam. Tons of action, real drama, and plenty of laugh-inducing humor from start to finish. I really believe readers are going to be as pleasantly surprised as I’ve been by this great comic book story.”
Writer Erik Burnham (Nick Landime) and artist Felipe Torrent, along with colorist Jon Alderink, team up to bring Nanovor: Game Day to life, expertly shaping the story of these amazing creatures and the precocious humans they interact with. Cover art comes courtesy of Anton Bogaty, with an art gallery from German Torres and Torrent.
Nanovor: Game Day ($11.99, 104 pages) will be available in February 2010. ISBN: 978-1-60010-602-6; Diamond order code DEC09 0941.
DVD News: NEWSARAMA & NEW YORK COMIC CON SPONSOR PLANET HULK EVENT FEATURING AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW SCREENING OF THE UPCOMING ANIMATED FEATURE
In Association with Marvel Animation and Lionsgate Home Entertainment, The Paley Center for Media Will Host Top Film and Publishing Talent In Bicoastal Event in NYC and LA On January 14th, 2010
New York Comic Con (NYCC) and Newsarama.com have today announced a bicoastal event to take place on January 14th, 2010 at the Paley Center for Media's NY and LA branches centered around Marvel Animation’s critically lauded and top-selling Planet Hulk saga that originally debuted to comic book fans in 2006. The event will feature an exclusive first screening of the upcoming animated film of the same name from Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Marvel Animated Features as well as an opportunity to meet the talent behind both the popular comic book and the animated film during an evening that will also include limited-edition giveaways and creator signings.
Two of the architects behind the red-hot Fall of The Hulks Marvel Comics event, Jeph Loeb and Greg Pak, will attend the screenings to interact with fans and talk about major upcoming changes to the Hulk Family! For fans in LA, meet the Eisner-winning, Emmy-nominated Jeph Loeb as he reveals what’s in plan for the popular Red Hulk and talks about the shocking twists ahead for Hulk. Meanwhile, in NYC, you can meet author Greg Pak, whose acclaimed work on the Planet Hulk comics inspired the animated feature! And just what’s next for Hulk’s son Skaar? Greg has the answers!
Planet Hulk is the highly anticipated animated feature scheduled for DVD and Blu-Ray Disc release on February 2, 2010 that follows the Incredible Hulk as he's sent into exile on a strange alien world after being banished from Earth. But will he be the champion of this new planet .. or the destroyer of it?
Taking place at the prestigious Paley Center for Media in both New York and Los Angeles, Newsarama and New York Comic Con will present Planet Hulk in its entirety at 6:30 PM local time, followed by panel discussions and signings with special guests at 8:30. The NYC premiere will focus on the talent and creative process that first brought the Planet Hulk story to life in comics, while the LA event will showcase the cast and crew of the new Planet Hulk Animated Feature.
There are a limited number of tickets available to both the New York and Los Angeles Planet Hulk events. Tickets are free and will be distributed via Newsarama.com, NewYorkComicCon.com, and select comic book retailers beginning on December 23rd, timed to the comic book release of Fall of the Hulks: Gamma, the next legendary chapter for Marvel’s Incredible Hulk. Details about online and in-store ticket distribution will appear shortly on Newsarama.com and NewYorkComicCon.com.
Fans should also keep their eyes on Newsarama.com and NewYorkComicCon.com for announcements including guest moderators, exclusive clips from the upcoming film, inside interviews with the panelists and more.
For more information about the upcoming animated film, please go to http://www.planethulkdvd.com Read more... Read More
DVD News: Retail Exclusive: Family Guy: Something Something Something Dark Side Gets Exclusive only at Best Buy on December 22nd!!
FAMILY GUY LIMITED EDITION MERCHANDISE GOES RETRO WITH COLLECTOR’S SET INSPIRED BY STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STIKES BACK
“Family Guy” fans and Star Wars aficionados alike, promise to have a very special holiday with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s limited edition “Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side” Blu-ray Disc Collector’s Set – only available at Best Buy. The farce is strong for fans with this exclusive set as it includes a new specially created Lucasfilm-approved lunchbox - based on the original 1980’s fan-favorite The Empire Strikes Back box and featuring the Griffin gang – Peter as Han Solo, Lois as Princess Leia, Chris as Luke Skywalker and Brian as Chewbacca. The set also comes with a t-shirt emblazoned with “Family Guy’s” ever-popular character Ernie the Giant Chicken as Boba Fett and a Blu-ray Disc of the new feature.
“’Family Guy’ and Star Wars are two franchises that continue to have fans with shared enthusiasm that is unrivaled. We wanted to create something special for them in honor of “Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side,” said Mary Daily, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
The “Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side” Blu-ray Disc Collector’s Set is available December 22, just in time for the holidays, exclusively at Best Buy.
The follow up to the Star Wars spoof Blue Harvest, the saga continues in “Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side.” Luke, Leia, Han Solo and Chewbacca have evaded the dreaded Imperial Starfleet led by the cunning, conniving and curiously short evil lord Darth Vader (Stewie), setting up a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth. With the rebellion in trouble, young Skywalker must take the advice of his late, and rather lascivious, mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (Herbert) and learn the ways of the “farce” under Jedi Master Yoda (Carl) to save the galaxy once and for all.
DVD News: Rising anime director Toshiyuki Kanno discusses "The Babysitter" episode within Halo Legends
Toshiyuki Kanno, one of the rising stars in anime, brings his distinct action style to the world of Halo with an innovative, yet uniquely familiar approach to the episodic film “The Babysitter,” one of the seven stories within the upcoming Halo Legends.
Warner Home Video will distribute Halo Legends on February 16, 2010 as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™, as well as single disc DVD and available On Demand and Digital Download. The DVD anthology of episodic films based within the mythology of the popular game Halo is produced by 343 Industries, a unit within Microsoft Game Studios.
Kanno worked with Studio 4oC (and producer Eiko Tanaka) to create the Halo Legends episode, “The Babysitter,” which focuses on the intense rivalry between the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) and the Spartans. When given an assignment to assassinate a high-ranking Covenant Prophet, a four-man team of ODSTs must accept a Spartan Sniper to their strike force. Each discipline learns something important about the other as the mission progresses into hostile territory - and old rivalries must be reexamined if the mission is to succeed.
The episode emphasizes the differences in ability and style between the two soldier types, and features a few familiar faces – Dutch from Halo 3: ODST and his teammates Private O'Brien, Master Sergeant Cortez and Corporal Checkman. The Babysitter was first previewed for Xbox Live subscribers on November 7, 2009.
Kanno has rapidly established himself as a force within the anime industry, building a reputation for directing stylish action anime in such productions as Black Lagoon, Fighting Spirit, Aquarian Age and Zone of the Enders. He also worked on special effects for Digimon: The Movie.
Kanno provided some further insight into the production of “The Babysitter” via the following Q&A. Read on …
Question:
How does Halo lend itself to anime/animation?
Kanno:
Halo is a property filled with so many exciting characters and detailed story settings with a very vast/huge background, and I believe that the property has a lot of room to create episodes. Thus, I think that various ways in anime development can suit the property in whatever style the creators employ.
Question:
What was the inspiration for your artistic vision in your episode of Halo Legends?
Kanno:
What inspired me the most are the "ruins of an unconfirmed space alien.” Of course, we had a premise that the ruins are Forerunners, and Microsoft/343 Industries provided us with a good deal of leeway to create new elements. We have tried to incorporate a Japanese taste as much as possible to the buildings, costumes, and other visual things to try to add greater depth and expand the Halo realm.
Question:
Were there any particular images within the Halo realm that helped shape or drive your creative vision?
Kanno:
We found inspiration in all of the art books provided by Microsoft, especially the beauty of the nature shown in the image boards as well as in the game itself. I tried to incorporate a similar beauty in my episode. In addition, the costume and the weapons of various characters such as the Brutes, Elites and Prophet provided me with inspirations in creating the characteristics of this episode.
Question:
Why were you the right person to direct/design/write this episode?
Kanno:
The original script describing a story relating to the relationship between Spartans and ODST was been provided by Mr. Frank O’Connor. I discussed with Ms. Tanaka, the producer of the episode, that we needed to brush up the story to make it more understandable and impressive, and proposed the new script to Microsoft. I believe that the script has become better suited to animation.
We had a very strong design and animation team. I was in charge of character designs and focused on creating designs to easily express emotions of each of them. I employed Mr. Hayashi and Mr. Suzuki to design mechas, such as those involving the Spartan, ODSTs and Covenant. They have been very good in creating mechas that are simple but very cool designs.
Mr. Sasaki was in charge of background designs, and his ideas helped realize a very distinguished world of “The Babysitter” – giving our anime sensibility, but retaining the Halo taste. He has created an original UNSC spaceship and the design seemed to please the Microsoft staff.
Both Ms. Miyuki, who was in charge of coloring, and Mr. Watanabe, who headed the CGI as well as the screen plan, focused on keeping a balance throughout the entire episode. I believe that they contributed a lot in accomplishing a profound screen play.
Question:
What did you set out to accomplish in this episode, and why do you think you achieved or exceeded your goals?
Kanno:
The most distinguished characteristic of this episode is that this is the only episode in Halo Legends where ODST characters appear. During the production of this episode, a new Halo game “Halo 3: ODST,” featuring ODST characters, was released – and our episode has some common characters with the game. Thus, we felt an intense pressure to make the episode very enjoyable to the newcomers to the Halo world and, more over, to ensure that the episode would not betray the trust of the game fans.
I, myself, was a quite a newcomer to Halo at the beginning of this project, and it was a very hard process to understand the vast realm of Halo and to create new things out of it. Consequently, I have found out that the episode has become very exciting and much better than I had originally expected. I believe that this result comes from the efforts of each and every member of our production staffs. This was a very collaborative effort.
Question:
How important was having Halo gaming experience to bringing the world to life in anime?
Kanno:
I am not at all good at playing video games, and I have not played that much. But my staff played a great deal, and both myself and my staff spent a lot of time viewing the long-playing movie many times to ensure we understood the Halo realm as well as the details of its settings.
Question:
Are there any hidden images or behind-the-scenes “Easter eggs” – special little things you included for the devout Halo fans – that appear within your episode?
Kanno:
It was simply tough enough for me to understand the Halo universe during such a short period of time, so I did not have time or room to create such “hidden images” etc. However, I strongly believe that every viewer will feel the enthusiasm of all of our creative staffs in the episode. Read more... Read More
TV News: X(-Men) Mark The Spot For The Super Hero Squad Show
The show that has everyone from People to MTV raving is back with an all-new episode as the X-Men join The Super Hero Squad Show!
This Saturday at 7:30pm Eastern on Cartoon Network, Wolverine takes the Squaddies back to Xavier’s School to earn his remaining credits and graduate—but nothing’s ever simple for ol’ Canucklehead! The Ringmaster hypnotizes the X-Men and it’s up to the duo of Wolverine & Reptil to save the day! Film star Shawn Ashmore voices the incomparable Iceman, who joins a bevy of guest-stars including Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Kitty Pryde, Colossus and more!
Fans and critics can’t stop raving about the most action-packed, family-friendly show in the universe! People Magazine named The Super Hero Squad Show one of the year’s best new shows for kids, raving it’s “The best of the bunch”. Meanwhile, MTV.Com gave the show two thumbs up, calling it “great fun” and “equally enjoyable by kids and adult comics fans alike”!
Plus, don’t miss the new Marvel Super Hero Squad series, jam-packed with your favorite Marvel heroes and all-ages action, in comic shops now!
Tune into the Cartoon Network at 7:30 PM on Saturday to “Hero Up!” with your favorite characters in the Marvel Universe—or any other—in an all-new episode of The Super Hero Squad Show!
To learn more about The Super Hero Squad Show, please visit www.superherosquad.com and www.marvel.com!
Comic News: The Last Days of American Crime #1
Radical Publishing presents The Last Days of American Crime #1, which will be on sale on sale December 23rd.
THE LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME #1 (1 of 3)
(Mature Readers Only)
Creator and Writer RICK REMENDER
Artist GREG TOCCHINI
Letterer RUS WOOTON
64 pages, Full Color for only $4.99
From Rick Remender, the critically acclaimed writer of Punisher and Fear Agent.
In the not-too-distant future, as a final response to terrorism and crime, the U.S. government plans in secret to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts. To keep this from the public, the government creates a distraction, installing a new currency system using digital charge cards.
Enter Graham Bricke, a career criminal never quite able to hit the big score. In a grand scheme, Graham intends to steal one of the charging stations, skip the country and live off unlimited funds for the rest of his life. But the media has leaked news of the anti-crime signal one week before it was to go live... and now Graham and his team have just a few days to turn the heist of the century into the last crime in American history.
Featuring covers from Alex Maleev and Greg Tocchini
Diamond Code – Maleev cover: OCT091056
Diamond Code – Tocchini cover: OCT091057
Comic News: ASTONISHING X-MEN MOTION COMIC BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO
Marvel is proud to debut the latest Astonishing X-Men BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO #5.
Get a behind the scenes look at the chart-topping Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic with this all new video! Based on the acclaimed story by superstars Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and John Cassaday (Captain America), the X-Men are faced with a mysterious new villain and a possible cure for the mutant gene! Now Cyclops, Wolverine and all your favorite mutants must face the greatest threats of their lives and, before it’s all done, experience one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Marvel history!
Toy Review: Justice Legue Unlimited 6 Packs Reviews.
Mattel is releasing two new 6 Justice League Unlimited 6 packs. Attack From Thanagar and Eclipsed.
We were fortunate enough to get a closer look at them.
The first one up is the Attack from Thanagar 6 pack. This is based off the 3 part Starcrossed episode.
The set includes Hro Talak, Paran Dul, Lt. Kragger, Hawkgirl in a Thanagaran uniform, and of course Batman & Green Lantern.
Next is the Eclipsed 6 pack. This is based off the 2 part episode of the same name.
The set includes Eclipso, the Flash, and Eclipso controlled versions of Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern.
Both sets are recommend for the Justice League Unlimited fan in your family. Read more... Read More
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