Resident Evil Archives Makes the Classics New Again!
Series 2 features Jill Valentine, Hunter and a Labcoat Zombie!
Capcom's original Resident Evil might be the greatest horror game of all time. It's a cultural milestone -- the one that started it all. In June 2009, Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil was released on Nintendo Wii, and as more landmark RE titles are set for release this Fall, NECA is proud to present this collection of classic characters with improved decoration detail in Resident Evil Archives Series 2!
Jill Valentine is among the most memorable videogame heroines, and she appears in two different versions in Series 2, along with a vicious mutant Hunter and -- because you always need one -- a zombie in a labcoat (or, as we like to call him, Labcoat Zombie! These icons all come with multiple accessories and articulation and deluxue packaging with a display stand, and are on a zombie-blasting/brain-eating 7" scale
Resident Evil Archives Series 2 is available for preorders now. They'll be hitting shelves in May and of course will be featured on our Amazon storefront.
Keep it tuned to necaonline.com for more info on Resident Evil and other lines from your favorite games and movies.
The second season of Clone Wars continued Friday night in good form with the new episode "Cat and Mouse" which pits Anakin and Obi-Wan against a cunning new enemy, Admiral Trench. One of the great things about the series is that there is a kind of anthology vibe to the show as it jumps around in character focus, style and even time.
"Cat and Mouse" feels a lot like a tense submarine thriller, along the lines of The Hunt for Red October or Crimson Tide, with Anakin, Admiral Yularen, and their clones in the dark and claustrophobic confines of a small stealth ship attempting to outmaneuver their better-armed opponent. While it doesn't have the awe factor of some of the better episodes this season, "Cat and Mouse" is a strong piece of Star Wars storytelling.
Continuity is a difficult thing to nail down in The Clone Wars, as episodes are not necessarily aired in their chronological order, although there is apparently some sort of timeline present. "Cat and Mouse" seems to represent the earliest events in the series and take place prior to the events in The Clone Wars theatrical movie with served as a pilot to the series and introduced us to Ahsoka and the Battle for Christophsis. Last season's episode "Traitor" was set immediately before the movie, and "Cat and Mouse" is set even before "Traitor."
This episode introduces us to a great new villain, Separatist Admiral Trench, a member of an arachnid species that I believe has not been seen in Star Wars before and who sounds like a cross between Darth Vader and John Rys-Davies. Like any villain who is worth his salt, Trench is smart and competent and the episode is built around his search for Anakin and the stealth ship. Since Anakin is also (tactically) smart and competent, it makes for an interesting story to see these two worthy adversaries take each other on. Trench is also built up nicely by the normally cool Yularen's fearful reaction to him based on a previous encounter. Sadly, it is almost entirely certain that Trench is killed off at the end of the episode. But since the series does jump around a lot in time, perhaps we can see an episode based around his first encounter with Yularen.
Speaking of Yularen, it was nice to see him off the bridge for once and that he was given something to do other than standing around and being uptight. Pairing him up with Anakin for a mission was a nice touch.
Overall, "Cat and Mouse" as a solid-if not spectacular-entry to The Clone Wars as season two races toward its conclusion next month. You can check the episode out online at starwars.com.
Hey there True Believers, here’s your official list of comic books, collections and posters arriving in comic stores on March 31st, 2010.
For more information on any of these titles, and on upcoming mighty Marvel releases, please visit http://marvel.com/catalog/?date=2010-03-31 or contact your local comic book retailer at 1-888-comicbook. Stay tuned each week for a brand new list of Marvel releases so that you’ll never miss your favorite heroes in action!
Comics On-Sale: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #627 (GNTLT) CLOAK AND DAGGER #1 DARK WOLVERINE #84 (S) DOOMWAR #1 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT FANTASTIC FOUR #577 INCREDIBLE HULK #607 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (FOTHS) MARVEL PREVIEWS #80 NEW MUTANTS #11 PRELUDE TO DEADPOOL CORPS #5 PUNISHER #15 PUNISHER MAX MGC #1 REALM OF KINGS: INHUMANS #5 SHE-HULK: SENSATIONAL THUNDERBOLTS #141 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (S) WOLVERINE ORIGINS #46 X-FORCE #25 (XN) X-FORCE #25 CRAIN VARIANT (XN) X-MEN FOREVER #20 X-MEN: SECOND COMING #1 X-MEN: SECOND COMING #1 FINCH VARIANT
Collections On-Sale: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY JMS ULTIMATE COLLECTION: BOOK 3 TPB CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER ULTIMATE COLLECTION TPB ESSENTIAL RAMPAGING HULK VOL. 2 TPB GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3: WAR OF KINGS BOOK 2 TPB IRON MAN & THE ARMOR WARS GN-TPB IRON MAN: EXTREMIS HC MOVIE COVER IRON MAN: EXTREMIS GRANOV COVER IRON MAN: I AM IRON MAN! TPB IRON MAN: TALES OF THE GOLDEN AVENGER GN-TPB NOMAD: GIRL WITHOUT A WORLD GN-TPB OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z VOL. 13 PREMIERE HC SPIDER-MAN: THE COMPLETE CLONE SAGA EPIC BOOK 1 TPB SPIN ANGELS PREMIERE HC WOLVERINE ORIGINS: ROMULUS TPB
Posters On-Sale: SIEGE BY JOE QUESADA POSTER WOMEN OF MARVEL POSTER
*FOTHS= Fall of The Hulks tie-in *GNTLT= Amazing Spider-Man: The Gauntlet tie-in *S= SIEGE tie-in *XN= X-Necrosha tie-in
Marvel Entertainment, LLC. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics). Marvel's strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online. For more information visit www.marvel.com.Read more...Read More
It has been over 25 years since the A-team has premiered on television. The A-team has survived history through reruns. Coming soon to theaters is a new movie with new actors filling these roles of our childhood vigilante heroes. The A-teams premiers on the comic book shelves and in this issue B.A. Baracuss stars in his own story.
This is a one shot story of our Mohawk wearing anti-hero, B.A. Baracus. This is the tale of his downfall as a soldier in the military. The story is simple and not to compacted for the reader. The story has just the right amount of violence and plot to cover the 32 pages. This is a great little story to tide a person over until the movie premier within the next few months.
The artwork is surprisingly good for this story, it is similar to the current G.I Joe artwork in their comic books. If you are a fan of IDW military stories you will not be let down by this short story of B.A. Baracus. There will be two covers on your local news stands. One will be a picture of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and the other will be a portrait drawing of him as B.A. Baracus.
Ever wonder what heaven would look like on Supernatural? Take a peek this Thursday, April 1 at 9pm EST. Don't miss it.
“SUPERNATURAL” — (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) “Dark Side of the Moon” (TV-14, LV) (HDTV)
SAM AND DEAN ARE KILLED AND GO TO HEAVEN — Ambushed by angry hunters, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) are shot and killed and sent to Heaven. Castiel (Misha Collins) warns Dean that Zachariah (guest star Kurt Fuller) is looking for them in Heaven so they need to lay low while searching for an angel named Joshua (guest star Roger Aaron Brown) who can help them since he talks directly to God. While searching for Joshua, the brothers run into some old friends and family members. Jeff Woolnough directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin (#516).
MAN OF ACTION, creators of BEN 10 and GENERATOR REX, to appear with Image Comics at WonderCon 2010
MAN OF ACTION, the creative collective behind the animated series BEN 10 and the upcoming Cartoon Network series GENERATOR REX, will be joining Image Comics for WonderCon 2010! All four members of MAN OF ACTION - Joe Casey, Steve Seagle, Duncan Rouleau, and Joe Kelly - can be found at the Image Comics booth (#407) throughout the show. In addition, they will make several exclusive announcements of upcoming MOA projects to be published through Image.
"We're psyched to attend WonderCon -- all four Man of Action partners under one roof -- and we're looking forward to seeing everyone while we're camped out at the Image booth all weekend," says Joe Casey. "Let the madness begin!"
Individually, the partners of Man of Action have written, worked on or developed various popular comic book titles for Image, DC Comics and Marvel. Their creation of the mega-popular BEN 10 animated series has led directly to the new GENERATOR REX show, which is based on Image Comics' M. REX and will debut in late April on Cartoon Network.
Don't miss your chance to see all four members of Man of Action - Joe Casey, Steve Seagle, Duncan Rouleau, and Joe Kelly - at Image Comics booth #407 during WonderCon 2010!
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com. Read more...Read More
Party at The Comic Art Museum benefiting Ed Hannigan Sponsored by Comic Outpost
Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that helps comic creators in need, is hoppin’ up to San Francisco’s WonderCon at the Moscone Center South Easter weekend April 2-4. Original art from a variety of artists will be for sale at the booth, and a huge party benefitting Ed Hannigan will take place the Cartoon Art Museum, sponsored by San Francisco’s own Comic Outpost!
The Cartoon Art Museum, The Hero Initiative and The Comic Outpost proudly present the museum’s Annual Wonder-Con Weekend Party, which will be held on Friday, April 2, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from this special event will go to comic book artist Ed Hannigan, whose work is featured in the Cartoon Art Museum’s current exhibition Ed Hannigan: Covered.
Tickets for this event will be sold at the Cartoon Art Museum booth on the floor at WonderCon, and at the door at the museum, 655 Mission St., just three blocks from WonderCon. Ed Hannigan, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis, will receive a portion of the proceeds. Tickets are available for $20-$35, with those who donate $35 or more receiving a special gift bag courtesy of the Cartoon Art Museum. A silent auction will be held at the party, and all proceeds from the auction will go directly Hannigan.
Many of the top talents from DC Comics, Marvel Comics and more will be in attendance at the party as special guests of the Cartoon Art Museum and the Hero Initiative. Confirmed guests include Arthur Adams, Amanda Conner, Sergio Aragones, Joyce Chin, Jimmy Palmiotti, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Jen Van Meter, and more to be announced. Food and beverages will be provided. Please visit www.cartoonart.org for a list of additional sponsors as they are announced.
Hero Initiative president Jim McLauchlin and Cartoon Art Museum curator Andrew Farago preview the Gallery's Ed Hannigan: Covered exhibit Friday, from 2p.m.-3p.m. at a WonderCon panel. See some of the great art that will be up for auction at the party, and catch the world debut of the Ed Hannigan video, celebrating the works of the great artist. Room 232/234.
Come by Hero’s booth, #637, and check out original art available for sale by Tim Sale, Darwyn Cooke and more. Adam Kubert will be at the booth and will draw four, only four sketches the whole weekend, exclusively for Hero! And last but not least, Hero is proud to offer an exclusive, limited edition print of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64, one of Ed Hannigan’s most famous covers. The print is a limited edition of only 150 pieces, and each one will be hand-signed by Ed. Prints are available at $25 each, and are sure to go quickly, go get to the booth fast!
Hero Initiative booth schedule as Follows:
Friday April 2: 1 p.m.-2 p.m.: Gail Simone 2 p.m.-3 p.m.: Ed Hannigan Panel room 233-234 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m: Bill Morrison
Saturday, April 3: 11 a.m.-12noon: Matt Wagner 1 p.m.-2 p.m.: Rev. Dave Johnson
Sunday April 4: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Bill Morrison 1-2 Rev. Dave Johnson
About The Hero Initiative:
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strict to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.Read more...Read More
What happens when you mix Wes Anderson, George Clooney, and Roald Dahl? Something wonderful. Fantastic Mr. Fox delivers a poignant story that is well-acted and handmade.
If you've seen any of Wes Anderson's other films, you know what to expect: quirky characters, a fun soundtrack, and a heartfelt story that is funny and sweet without being heavy-handed. This time he's adapting Roald Dahl's children's novel (Anderson and fellow indie scribe Noah Baumbach wrote the screenplay). If not for the stop-motion menagerie of forest creatures, I would have thought this was a Wes Anderson film. George Clooney's Mr. Fox reminds me of his work on O Brother, Where Art Thou, as a family man trying to live on the up and up. Felicity, his wife, is beautifully voiced by the multi-talented Meryl Streep. She plays Mrs. Fox as a savvy vixen who just wants her family to be happy and her husband to keep his promise to stop stealing chickens.
Anderson movie staples Bill Murray (Badger), Owen Wilson (Coach Skip), and Jason Schwartzman (Ash Fox) lend their voices to the film. Schwartzman shines as the Foxes' awkward son, who is always living in the shadow of his cousin Kristofferson. Ash is described throughout the film as different. He just wants to be an athlete. I am a huge fan of Schwartzman as an actor, a musician, and now as a fox.
The first thing you notice about this film is its beauty. As a fan of stop motion animation, I am always mesmerized by the painstaking detail and handmade look it entails. In one of the extras on the DVD about the animation, we learn that Wes Anderson took his inspiration from the original King Kong film. So much so, in fact, that Anderson wanted the fur on the creatures to "boil", or move from frame to frame. The humans in the film are beautiful as well, but the most impressive screen presence is with the animals and their underground world. I loved the autumnal color palette Anderson used--it set a warm tone for the film that complemented the story.
As with most animated films, there's an element of adventure, but again, it's very Wes Anderson action. Anderson's action usually begins with a lot of dialogue (see Bottle Rocket or The Royal Tenenbaums). And that makes it better. Sometimes when I watch an animated film, I can appreciate it for what it is (a kids' movie), but the story doesn't really grab me. This film made me laugh, almost made me cry, and made me wish it was a half-hour longer. Like Coraline or Up, Fantastic Mr. Fox had an adult element to it but is totally accessible to the kiddos. I think for younger children it would be more about seeing the cute animals, but for more mature kids (and kids at heart), this is a phenomenal movie experience. One of the things that made me laugh was Anderson's use of the word "cuss" in place of curse words (like "What the cuss was I thinking?" or "Are you cussing with me?").
This film is a definite buy for Anderson's fans, but it would be a bright spot in any film collection. Its depth and handmade look make it one of the best films of 2009 and one of the best animated films I've ever seen.
Adventure reigns supreme in the second issue of Radical Publishing's three-issue miniseries, Aladdin: Legacy of the Lost. Though I wasn't blown away by the first issue in terms of action, Ian Edginton's story did keep me engaged enough to see if this issue would deliver. This issue delivered in so many ways.
The story so far, if you missed the first issue, follows Aladdin, who has escaped after being betrayed by the sorcerer Qassim and discovered a magic lamp. Now he lives in an opulent palace outside his hometown of Shambhalla as a "Golden Prince" with the Djinn of the Lamp beside him. This issue opens with Aladdin parading through Shambhalla, creating a spectacle that has piqued the interest of King Rhokari and awakened the ire of Princess Soraya. After a visit as the Prince, Aladdin reveals himself to Soraya. He returns to help the king regain his love, and is once again betrayed by Qassim. Through the fray, Soraya is captured, and the adventure begins. The next 40 pages bring Aladdin (and us) on an adventure you'd expect from a tale of Aladdin. Part Arabian Nights, part Ray Harryhausen, we see creatures, magic, action, and so much more.
Just like with the first issue, Patrick Reilly and Stjepan Sejic outdo themselves with the lush paintings that accompany Edginton's story. From the Shambhalla city streets to the lands above and below, we are treated to a feast for the eyes that never leaves the reader wanting.
With films like Clash of the Titans and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, I'm sure stories like this will be in high demand. Readers should pick up this series to get a dose of classic adventure and beautiful sights.
The Darkness is one of those characters that I feel like I know something about, even though I've never picked up a Darkness book. With all of the reading I do about comics, that happens to me all the time. When I found out there was a book about the character's origins, I decided it was something I needed to read. Though this is not normally my cup of tea in art style or in story, I'm glad I took the time to read it. Garth Ennis and Marc Silvestri have put together an epic origin story that is a good jumping on point for anyone who is curious about this indie icon.
For the uninitiated, here's the basic info you need to know about the Darkness: Jackie Estacado, on his 21st birthday, learns that he has inherited dark powers from his father. These powers allow him to do pretty much whatever he wants, as long as he gives in to the darkness that holds them. Jackie is a mob hitman and a playboy. His new powers help him with the first part. The second? Well, that's another story. The curse of having his new powers is that if he conceives a child, he will die, passing along the power to the child. Oh yeah, and there's Angelus--the light being determined to destroy the Darkness in the hopes of ruling with light, law and love (for her, of course).
About the only other Ennis I've read is his work on Punisher a few years ago, so this makes the second time that Ennis brought me to a character I wouldn't have otherwise had any interest in. He mixes gritty mob violence with supernatural violence and sometimes witty dialogue. (My favorite line was when someone describes the Darkness' power as "the Force on crack".) Reading this book, I got the impression that inheriting this power is actually going to make him a better person, which is saying a lot, considering he's essentially a demon. Lucky for us, he only makes bad things happen to bad people.
Silvestri is best known to me as one of the guys who helped start Image Comics, and for that I am eternally grateful to the guy. Though I didn't really read a lot of early Image, I am fully supportive of their current titles (I'm looking at you, Walking Dead, The Sword, the currently on hiatus Madman Atomic Comics). Silvestri's art has that '90s feel to me: a lot of lines, lots of girls in thongs and metallic looking bras, and lots of little monsters with sharp teeth. It's not a knock against the style at all. Silvestri is a great artist and very successful at what he does; it's just not my style. That being said, I think it works here. The Darkness got its start in the latter part of the '90s, so you get that same feeling from this book you might have back then.
This book was definitely something that should be on a required reading list for anyone interested in comics. If you're like me and it's not something you'd normally pick up, I encourage you to give it a try.
For those of us following Mattel's great but frustrating Masters of the Universe Classics line, there has been tension from the beginning over how much influence the 2002 cartoon and toy series would and should have on this new "Classics" line.
MOTUC obviously takes its visual cues from the classic 1980's action figure line, with its chunky aesthetic, and is deeply nostalgia-based. But at the same time, the inaugural figure was a MYP character, King Grayskull. Other 2002-exclusive characters have been released or are scheduled to release such as Zodak, Keldor and Count Marzo. There have been lots of other nods to the 2002 series in the form of accessories, deco, or bonus heads. This is not to mention the fact that the bios are largely straight from the 200X series and its associated comics. While we understood that this was a "Classics" line we were also told that it would draw from the entire spectrum of Masters of the Universe, including 200X, Princess of Power and New Adventures. Surely, there must be a happy medium?
Since the reveal of Keldor and his infamous swords, there has been controversy and a regular back and forth between Toyguru and the fans. Keldor and Skeletor in the MYP pilot, was depicted as using a pair of ornate short swords that connected together to make a double sword. In some early versions of the 2002 show, these were meant to be analogous to the old mini comic half-swords but this idea was later discarded (as were the swords themselves). The bottom line, toyetically speaking, was that the swords were very cool-looking. Cut to MOTUC Keldor, who will be released with a pair of purple half powerswords. You know, those same half-swords that have been released with every other character in the line. The ones that don't fit together.
When he has been asked about this, Toyguru invariably goes into a tortured explanation about how the 2002 Keldor swords were originally meant to the powerswords so the half swords are actually the "classics" versions of the Keldor swords. And that the anime "hyper-detailed look of 200x has been retired. That's all very interesting but whatever the design lineage, the half-powerswords just do not look good. Keldor looks kind of silly dual-wielding a pair of half-broadswords. Now, I think Keldor is an amazing entry into the series and that he comes with a good deal of new tooling for a bonus MOTUC figure. I appreciate that the reality might have been that there was not tooling for a pair of new swords, so it became necessary to plug in the half-swords, but why close the door on the possibility of simplified 200X-inspired swords in the future? Why stubbornly insist that the half-swords are "correct" because they happen to be based on a discarded idea from the 2002 show, which technically is not even "canon" in MOTUC anyway. If you are talking about continuity in MOTUC, what is Keldor doing with two halves of the powersword anyway?
Recently, the increasingly snippy Toyguru replied to a post on He-Man.org with a long message about the Classics design versus the "anime" design of the 2002 figures, specifically regarding the possibility of of a MOTUC He-Man inspired by his 200x appearance. Personally, I think this is a weak case because, apart from the leaner proportions, 2002 He-Man is not that different from classic He-Man. A He-Man with a 2002 style harness and a new head-even just longer hair-would do the trick, because according to Toyguru having a pouch on the loincloth constitutes "hyper-detail." Apparently, when you walk around in cargo pants, you are super ultra hyper detailed, and you should not expect to be made into a MOTUC figure.
When fans say that they want more 2002 influence in MOTUC, that doesn't mean that we want to go back to the exaggerated style of that line. I'm not talking about Man-At-Arms with a huge and ridiculous Metroid ball on his shoulder, or a Battle Lion that is a foot tall, or Trap-Jaw with a weapon arm that is longer than the figure is tall, I'm talking about touches that are integrated into the Classics style that would look good with the figures that we already have like we've already come to expect based on figures like Webstor, Tri-Klops and Whiplash. I'm talking about a Skeletor that doesn't look like he is wearing a rain bonnet. I'm talking about a Trap Jaw that does not have a cup holder as one of his arm attachments. I'm talking about a He-Man that doesn't look like he's trying to pass a stone.
Putting aside the idea of the style in which they were presented, some design elements were better in vintage and some were better in 2002. I just want the ones that make for better looking action figures. So, Mattel, please start looking for a character to package the 2002 Keldor swords with. I think 200x decoed Evil-Lyn would be a great choice.
This has to be one of the saddest books I've read in a long time. The Justice League one shot takes place right after the end of Cry For Justice. Cry For Justice was a 6 part series DC put out right around the time Blackest Night was hitting. The last 2 books being the most powerful of the series, paints the picture for these books.
As Rise And Fall begins, we start with some flash backs from Green Arrow. One of which was him putting an arrow threw Prometheus' head. At the end of Cry For Justice he does the same but with good reason. He literally had to pull his granddaughters body out of a collapsed building that Prometheus caused. Now I ask you, what would you do in his place? The Flash (Barry) and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) learn the truth and set out to confront GA on the murder of Prometheus. Face to face with his friends and wife he starts to explain why he did it, but just as he does he uses a device to escape, to hunt down the man that planted the device for Prometheus.
Green Arrow #31 picks up right where Rise And Fall leaves off. With GA on the "run" trying to finish what he started. Green Lantern and the Flash are trying to find him before he kills again. The Flash comes off as a bit of a jerk throughout the book. We all know Barry is a Cop but to see him be so cold took me back a little bit. After a little bit of searching GA finds his man but unfortunately he gets away. These books are a must read if your a fan of the DCU or just a fan of powerful stories. This one is a bit of a tear jerker, I'll tell you that.
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