PENDRAGON'S POST

Monday, June 22, 2009

Availability for The Flash at SDCC and TRU.com

Hey Flash Fans!

A quick update on availability for The Flash…

If you're heading to San Diego Comic-Con 2009, you'll find him only at the Toys 'R Us booth (he will not be sold at the Mattel booth). But if you miss him at SDCC, you can still get one at ToysRUs.com after the show.

Until then, here's your first look at the complete figure! You'll want to pick one up ASAP, because he's so awesome, he's bound to be gone in a… well, you know…
—Matty

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On Friday at Wizard World Philadelphia, a panel to discuss the current state of the Toy Industry.

The panel consisted of:
Jesse Falcon - Director of Merchandising for Marvel Comics
Randy Falk - Director of Product Development for NECA Toys
Eric Treadaway - Four Horsemen Studios
Eric 'Cornboy' Mayse - Four Horsemen Studios
J*Rock - Owner Jailbreak Toys
Tim Buckner - Sculptor, currently working with DC Direct
Chuck Terciera - Diamond Select Toys

It was moderated by Justin Aclin of Toyfare Magazine.

I was able to capture the audio of this panel

Big Toy Industry Panel

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That Sinking feeling

I was given the opportunity recently to review Fall of Cthulhu #3, by Boom Studios. Being the type of comic I don’t usually read, I must admit I am a fan of the style of H.P Lovecraft. The main plot of this book deals with the power struggles between two brothers who rule the hearts and minds of Atlantis.

One brother, King Levin, wonders why his sibling the D’harin, high priest of Vesh, does little to quell the chaos brought upon the capital by the worshipers of the cult of Nyarlathotep. King Levin seeks more power than one man should hold. He sees himself as both the king and the D’harin, ruling unquestioned over the spiritual and material needs of his subjects.

The D’harin, on the other hand, has plans for the Nyarlathotep cult. With the intent of converting them by force, the D’harin will use these newly reformed cultists to annihilate the rest of this faction elsewhere in the Atlantean realm.

The main drama of the issue unfolds in a public confrontation over a burning temple. The D’harin dare defies an order of the king on grounds the temple being set ablaze would be a religious matter, one for the high priest to deal with and not the king. At first glance, The D’harin’s disregard to his brothers orders may have more to do with his own heinous plans for the cult, and that includes them not being massacred. At any rate King Levin, embarrassed by this defiance, plans to show his brother that a challenge to the king’s authority means death to those involved.

Somehow I feel all of this reminds me of the petty tribal squabbles and lax attitude the Romans had towards the eve of destruction, concerning their own empire. If this is true, and these are truly the last days of Atlantis which we are seeing, then this cult will surely be the catalyst which invokes the wrath of the Gods to crush the mighty Atlantean empire, and send it to the bottom of the ocean.

Although I did like the book, it did not make me want to go back and read the first two issues. I am vaguely intrigued by the story and wonder what may become of the characters, but my main issues with the book are the storyline needs to be beefed up more, and the art doesn’t feel quite right for this kind of story.

7/10

John H
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Glu Mobile Inc. (Nasdaq:GLUU), a leading global publisher of mobile games, today announced the worldwide launch of TRANSFORMERS™ CyberToy for iPhone and iPod touch.

This entertainment application represents the third title that Glu has developed and published based on the TRANSFORMERS franchise, under license from the Hasbro (NYSE:HAS). The TRANSFORMERS CyberToy is launching in conjunction with the upcoming TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen movie from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Hasbro, due out June 24th.

“The Glu team is excited to launch this unique entertainment application based on characters from the renowned TRANSFORMERS toy line and movie series,” said Jill Braff, senior vice president of global publishing, Glu. “TRANSFORMERS CyberToy is a completely new type of application from Glu, allowing players to transform characters from vehicle to robot by utilizing the touch screen to interact with their favorite TRANSFORMERS in a virtual environment.”

TRANSFORMERS CyberToy is the latest Glu Snax release, a category specifically designed for iPhone and iPod touch that combine polished graphics with an addictive interactive experience at a low price point. Glu Snax titles deliver iPhone consumers a quick, engaging and affordable mobile experience.

Features Include:

* Action Figure Mode – choose different poses, play sounds and animations, and deploy their signature weapons
* Challenge Mode – change from robot to vehicle and back as quickly as possible by a series of taps, touches, shakes and tilts
* View Tech Specs – see details of each mighty TRANSFORMERS robot, including OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, MEGATRON and STARSCREAM—application launches with BUMBLEBEE, and other characters will be added via updates over time

TRANSFORMERS CyberToy is now available worldwide for an introductory price of $0.99 from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. For more information, go to www.glu.com. For live updates, follow Glu on Twitter at www.twitter.com/glumobile or become a Glu Mobile fan on Facebook.

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Adam's Adventures: The Invincible Iron Man #14 (Marvel Comics) by Adam P.

Watch as Iron Man Goes from Point A to Point B

The Invincible Iron Man #14 is your standard Dark Reign tie-in. Norman Osborn is up to no good, and wants to capture Iron Man so that he can spread his tentacles even further in the Marvel Universe. The reason for this is Iron Man knows the secret identity of every super hero on the planet, and is going from armory to armory in order to gradually erase this information from his brain. However this process also impairs Tony Stark's intelligence, forcing him to pilot increasingly simplistic versions of the Iron Man armor.

Sounding like a fun concept, even with the issue being hailed as an ideal jumping on point for new readers, unfortunately the issue unfolds as if it was right in the middle of a chess match. Basically nothing really happens. Iron Man heads to his next armoury... Crimson Dynamo lends a hand... Norman Osborn gets rebuffed... Pepper Potts, a sort of female Iron Man, meets up with Tony... Madame Masque closes in on her prey... These are all just chess pieces being moved around the board in preparation for what will happen in future chapters. For me, this issue will be a lot more interesting in whichever trade paperback it will one day find itself, but right now this isn’t terribly compelling when read as a slice of something much larger. There aren't any surprises; everyone acts pretty much how you'd expect them to, along with an aura of predictability and status quo to the proceedings.

For me, the only high point was the art. Iron Man speaks to the essential human dream of flight, and seeing him streak across the Russian skies conveys a sense of liberty, beauty and power. The art really projects this. I mean who wouldn't want to be in that suit? Well, that is unless there are missiles coming after you...

7.5/10

Adam P.
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I.M.O Review: Power Girl #2 (DC Comics) By Eddie R

Putting the Human in Ultra Humanite.

I like seeing a new twist on old Villains. This situation usually falls in one of two categories. Either a writer will gives us more background into the origin of character, or they ramp up the powers to compensate for a lack of one. In this case we get both.

Power Girl #2 mainly deals with the telling of the tale of how the Ultra Humanite came to be. And I must say it’s quite graphic in detail.

The origin of Ultra Humanite begins with a young boy genius named Gerard Shugel, who is on a personal quest to slow down a degenerative disease which was eating away at his body. The only possible solution to his predicament is to find the means to transplant his brain into a healthy body.

While at college Shugel meets up with a woman named Satanna, who shares both a mutual attraction to Shugel, and also panache for unethical experiments involving human/ animal hybrids. Eventually these experiments get them both kicked out of college, forcing them to go underground where they eventually end up in the Congo, and befriend a group of rebel military forces, all the while continuing their forbidden experiments.

Years passed, and as Shugels health continued to fail, Satanna eventually transferred his brain into the body of a rare white albino ape, but only as a temporary measure until a suitable body could be found. And apparently, that long overdue body is Power Girl's.

I gotta say I like the general feel this book has to it. While staying both true to the characters origins, but continually adding increments of new and very well referenced details, the book seems to be on the right path to becoming a very successful series.

The one thing I really do enjoy is the mature, bawdy tone which this book sometimes takes, never shying away from tossing in some graphic and suggestive situations, peppered with witty dialogue occasionally. All of this makes the series feel well suited for Power Girl’s Personality.

Let’s hope the third issue is just as good as the first two.

8.5/10

Eddie R.
Review Co- Editor
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A Look At Teela From Mattel

This weekend at Wizard World, the Four Horsemen had the Master of the Universe Teela figure on display.

The Four Horseman, Cornboy, was nice enough to let me take some pics of it.

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In the past, Action Comics annuals have been the place writers offer story fodder or had given into editorial gimmicks (Superman as an ape, Superman meets ethnic heroes which are never seen again etc.) but Greg Rucka used this issue as an opportunity to not only showcase the origin of the new Flamebird and Nightwing team but tell the story of two people in love.

Thara Ak-Var has known tragedy. When Brainiac's invasion of Kandor, Krypton's capital city, happens both of Thara's Military Guild parents are led into battle by their commander Ursa-Zod only to be slaughtered before their daughter's eyes as their commander flees in terror. Orphaned but not hopeless Thara is placed into the Military Guild with the faith that one day she can succeed where her parents failed and give Kandor its freedom. When Argo City, a city that was blasted free when Krypton exploded, is captured by Brainiac and integrated into Kandor Thara is reunited with Alura Zor-El and her husband, the parents of her childhood friend Kara Zor-El who had been rocketed to Earth like her cousin Kal-El, easing the burden of loss from each of their shoulders.

Lor-Zod, the boy who would one day become Christopher Kent, knows pain. Conceived and born in the prison of Fort Roz in the living death of the Phantom Zone to Geral and Ursa-Zod, Lor is unique in the way of being raised around cruelty and insanity yet when it fell to him to prevent the inmates from escaping he was willing to pay that price for a world he barely knew. Abandoned back in the Zone he finds his way to the fort and General Zod's stockade of Brainiac technology and data. When Lor takes one of Brainiac's headpieces to himself he awakens his connection to the entity of Nightwing as Flamebird burns within Thara's being at that same moment. When that moment subsides, Lor is shackled by his parents for the inmates to torture as they please while Thara knowing the man whom she shares this connection to is trapped in the Phantom Zone has only his rescue in mind. Thara Ak-Var has experienced as much tragedy as Lor-Zod has pain but the legend of Flamebird and Nightwing has always been a story in which tragedy and pain play a central part.

Rucka's writing answers a lot of burning questions like Christopher's recent age spikes, escape from the Phantom Zone and how he'd even met Thara prior to Flamebird and Nightwing's first appearance. The equal time given to both stories which met in the end didn't detract from the over all effect which can sometimes be the case. And the fact that Superman showed up on two pages at most in a nearly wordless appearance wasn't felt as negative at all as the central story was so captivating.

8/10
Rudy T.
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Before you read this review I recommend you read Supergirl #41 as this issue deals with the ramifications.

General Sam Lane is a man who not only lost a soldier but a daughter as well. Major Lucy Lane had been operating as a spy in Kandor under the mantle of Superwoman and in a battle with Supergirl her suit was compromised which caused her to explode. General Lane is someone who does not handle defeat well and not only plans to kill Supergirl but also intends to make her suffer just as much as he is. His first step in that direction is to free and enlist Reactron, the man who killed Supergirl's father.

But Supergirl is too preoccupied with explaining the situation to Lois Lane, whose reaction isn't just bubbling anger but a reporter's curiosity as well. Lana Lang, Supergirl's roommate and confidant, does her best to comfort the Girl of Steel but receives some grim news of her own.

Gates writing is fluid and engaging, something not seen in a Supergirl title for quite awhile and Jamal Ingle's is a breath of fresh air in its ability to show well defined emotions in each character's facial expressions in the story's quieter moments.

8/10
Rudy T.
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Marvel is pleased to announce that the Halo Uprising HC has debuted at number one on the New York Times Graphic Books Best Seller list!

From the Eisner-winning team of writer Brian Bendis and artist Alex Maleev, witness the stunning limited series exploring the important events bridging the blockbuster Halo 2 and Halo 3 video games! As the Master Chief battles to defend Earth from the Covenant, forces of good and evil will be drawn to the mysterious Key. Fans won’t want to miss this red hot hardcover filled with the enthusiasm that makes the Halo series so compelling!

“Bendis and Maleev are at their finest in quieter, ground-level moments … Those who dig the series’ untold tales, though — the kind of stuff seen in 2006’s awesome Halo Graphic Novel — will enjoy this gripping new chapter.” -- Corey Cohen, Official X-Box Magazine, July 2009

"Bendis and Maleev bring you a side of HALO that you haven't seen before: more human than alien, with enough heart and action to satisfy all tastes."—Rene Rosa, UGO.Com

“Halo Uprising has turned out to be a pretty great damn comic… [it] will stand as a really stellar work of fiction in the Halo Universe,” exclaims Benjamin Birdie of ComicBookResources.Com. “Just as gripping as any great summer blockbuster.”

Plus, click over to www.marvel.com/halo and get an in depth look at the Halo Uprising HC and find out how to secure your copy today, along with a chance to check out Halo Uprising #1 for free courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited!

And for more Halo action, check out the new 5-issue limited series Halo: Helljumper, kicking off this July from the fan-favorite creative team of Peter David and Eric Nguyen.

To check out more books on the New York Times Graphic Books Best Seller list click here http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/graphic-books-best-seller-list-june-13/#more-19647.

HALO: UPRISING HC (MAR092489)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by ALEX MALEEV
Cover by ALEX MALEEV
17 & Up …$24.99
ON SALE NOW!

HALO: HELLJUMPER #1 (MAY090414)
Written by PETER DAVID
Art & Cover by ERIC NGUYEN
17 & Up …$3.99
FOC – 7/2, On-Sale – 7/22/09
ON SALE NOW!

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Bumblebee: Now with Squishy Human Buddy!

The Sam figure isn't squashable like in the movie. The jointed plastic person is one of two nifty characters in the Transformers ROTF Human Alliance Bumblebee with Sam! This larger-than-normal Bumblebee figure has opening doors and, for the first time ever, seats specifically designed for Human Alliance figures. Others are sold separately and will be announced soon, but you can (and should) start your collection here.

Transformers ROTF Human Alliance Bumblebee with Sam
Description:

* Best buddies forever!
* Transforming Bumblebee robot from the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie.
* Includes Sam Witwicky Action Figure as the driver.
* Seating for 2 humans inside.
* Bumblebee's battle mask slides into place!

Best buddies forever! From the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie, this detailed pair includes a Sam Witwicky Action Figure and a Bumblebee robot-to-vehicle Transformer that features a flip-out cannon with launching "plasma pulse" and converts to a Camaro concept car in vehicle mode. And Sam interacts with Bumblebee! The Sam figure rides on the robot's arm or shoulder in robot mode, and inside the Camaro in vehicle mode. This is a great item for the older collector and the kid who wants a toy with more moving points and a lot of detail! Ages 5 and up.

Bumblebee: Now with Squishy Human Buddy!

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Last fall I watched my first episode of Doctor Who. It was "The Christmas Invasion" when London finds itself in the shadow of a Sycorax ship and the recently-regenerated Doctor is powerless to stop them. I had borrowed the complete 2nd series from the library and flew through the episodes in less than a week. I was obsessed. I borrowed Series 3, tore through that one, too, and caught up with Series 4 on CBC. I eventually got my hands on Series 1, plus several vintage Tom Baker episodes, but there was nothing for it. The 10th Doctor was my Doctor. So, of course, I was rather heartbroken to discover my whirlwind affair with David Tennant's quirky Time Lord would end when he left the role in 2010 after a few specials.

This has led me to other outlets for my Doctor Who fix. After ploughing through several audiobooks, a Pendragon's Post colleague fired a couple Doctor Who comics my way. IDW Publishing has put out several series, stand-alones, and even a monthly, that continue the 10th Doctor's travels in time and Space. The most recent offering is Doctor Who: Autopia, a one shot story written by John Ostrander and illustrated by Kelly Yates.

In the story, the Doctor and Donna, his companion from the 4th television series, travel to Autopia, a planet where robots labour away allowing their masters to achieve mental perfection. The citizens of Autopia have shielded themselves from outsiders: when a mission was sent to invite the Autopians to rejoin the universe they were never heard from again. The Doctor and Donna make their way to a building, passing robots at work. Upon arriving at what appears to be a dwelling the Doctor requests to see the master or mistress of the house, resulting in a logic battle with the robot butler. Unable to find answers to the Doctor's questioning, the robot (named Sam by Donna) takes them to the mistress, Ixtalia. Believing her world perfect, she is angered when the Doctor calls it stagnant, and reveals she was the one that had the mission members destroyed. She orders the robot to take the Doctor and Donna away to meet the same fate. Earlier, when the Doctor was arguing with Sam, he had noticed a conflict in the robot, and he now used this conflict to convince Sam to free them. It turns out that the robots of Autopia are on the brink of sentience, and with a few adjustments the Doctor is able to make Sam and all the robots aware. But this has consequences that he hadn't bargained for.

The story is classic Doctor Who, new world, new races with familiar issues. I can definitely hear the Doctor saying the lines, and the illustration catches the familiar nuances of the Doctor's relationship with Donna. While it's not the same as seeing it on TV, it definitely bridges a gap while I wait for the next special.
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First look! Dexter in a box!

Pre-Order Now

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Mezco's award-winning 3.75inch Hellboy line continues with the addition of the highly anticipated Golden Army Soldier!

The Golden Army Soldier stands approximately 7 inches tall (in scale next to the other figures in the 3.75inch series) and features eight points of articulation. He comes packaged with a 3.75inch Hellboy, who comes complete with a base, and his legendary sidearm, the Samaritan.

The Golden Army Soldier/ Hellboy 2 pack will be available at Mezco's SDCC booth, # 4145, or can be ordered online at http://www.mezcotoyz.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=729