PENDRAGON'S POST

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Toy News: EXCLUSIVES! Only at Comic-Con 2009

PLAN YOUR MUST HAVE SHOPPING NOW! Take a look at all of the great EXCLUSIVE items from some of your favorite manufacturers that will be available only at Comic-Con 2009!

Currently, we've got items from AFX (Action Figure Xpress), Avatar Press, Diamond Comics, Entertainment Earth, Funko, Gentle Giant Studios, Graphitti Designs, Hasbro, IDW, Mattel, Mezco, Mindzeye Studios, Peanuts, PopFun Merchandising, Scott Tolleson, Shocker Toys, and, of course, Sideshow Collectibles. And we're sure there will be more to be announced before the show, so visit our pages regularly to find out what's new. In fact, you can even let your friends know with our handy Social Networking links on each item!

SDCC Exclusives

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John Layman and Rob Guillory's cannibalistic crime thriller, CHEW, faces yet another sell out on its first and second issue!

Immediately upon release John Layman and Rob Guillory's CHEW has experienced an immediate sell out for both issue #2 and the second printing of issue #1.

I'm shocked, pleased and flabbergasted by the enormous positive response we've gotten from CHEW," Layman said. "I can't put into words how gratified I am for the readers and retailers who have helped spread the word about this strange and unique little book. I'm also grateful to Image for taking speedy action to help get this book into as many readers' hands as possible. Thanks, everybody! The best is yet to come!"

CHEW's star, Detective Tony Chu, is a cop with a secret. As a Cibopath, Detective Chu gets a psychic impression from whatever he eats. While it means he's a hell of a Detective if he can stomach the evidence, once his secret gets out the government makes plans for him, whether he likes it or not. CHEW blends horror, mystery and the strangest ability of them all in an ongoing series of horrific crimes solved in the most horrific way possible. Since its release, the book has been receiving an immense amount of buzz, with many retailers directly contacting Image for as many copies as they can spare in light of the first issue's now multiple sell outs. Even Layman's fellow creators continue to talk up the book.

CRIMINAL writer Ed Brubaker said, "CHEW is one of the most original and intriguing new comics I've seen in years."

Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson added, "The last time we saw such a tremendous response to an all-new title was when we launched THE WALKING DEAD. By all indications, CHEW is on its way to becoming the next monster hit from Image Comics."

CHEW #1 Third Printing, #2 Second Printing and #3, all 32-page comic books for $2.99, will see a simultaneous release on August 5th, 2009.

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As this year's epic San Diego Comic Con approaches, we've created this handy SDCC reference guide featuring the hottest exclusives from DST, Toys R Us and Action Figure Xpress plus the latest convention panels and info! So get ready for a non-stop, action-packed weekend July 22-26th as we review what makes the San Diego Comic Con so great!

Diamond Select Toys - Booth #2607:

Ghostbusters Angry Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man Bank
From the finale of the first Ghostbusters film, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man reacts in hostile fashion to being hit with the laser-powered force of the Ghostbusters’ proton packs! Tasty flavor meets mass destruction in the form of this eight-inch bank, dedicated to the sailor-suited confection of terror. $20.00 limited to1,000 pieces.

Marvel Minimates Dark Avengers #2 Box Set
Ripped from the best-selling Dark Avengers comic, this Marvel Minimates box set features Dark Reign’s Dark Avengers as never before! Including Ares, Sentry, Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye, this set is perfect for fans of the villainous Avengers. $16.00

Star Wars Holographic Darth Vader Bust Bank
From a galaxy far, far away comes this exclusive Star Wars Bust Bank featuring one of the most dangerous Sith Lords ever to wield a light saber, the menacing Darth Vader! Depicting the Dark Side's favorite son in long-distance Hologram mode, this San Diego Comic Con exclusive bank is the safest way to bring Darth Vader into your collection without risking his legendary Force Choke! $20.00

Ghostbusters Minimates Peter & Glow-in-the-Dark Stay-Puft
Dr. Peter Venkman (as seen in Ghostbusters 2) battles the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man - except this time the delicious demon glows in the dark! Only available at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con, each Minimate stands 2” tall with 14 points of articulation and accessories from the timeless Ghostbusters movies! $8.00.

Dawn Red Skirt "School's Out" PVC Statue
The goddess of birth and rebirth gets a modern makeover! Based on the art of award-winning Dawn creator Joseph Michael Linsner, this 7” tall PVC statue celebrates Dawn's 20th Anniversary with a unique variant! $40.00 limited to 1,000 pieces.

Transformers G1 Animated Megatron Bust
From the classic animated series to your statue shelf, this is the ruthless Decepticon leader Megatron exactly as you remember him. Standing six inches tall and featuring a highly detailed sculpt, this bust is the perfect companion piece to the 2008 SDCC exclusive G1 Animated Optimus Prime Bust! $60.00 limited to 600 Pieces.

Toys R Us - Booth #2343:

TRU Dark Avengers
Marvel Minimates Dark Avengers #1 Box Set
Ripped from the best-selling Dark Avengers comic, this Marvel Minimates box set features Norman Osborn as the Iron Patriot, Daken as Wolverine, Venom as Spider-Man and Marvel Boy. Fans can purchase this exclusive set by visiting Entertainment Earth's booth (#2343) on the show floor. $16.00

Action Figure Xpress - Booth #4045:

Marvel Minimates Champions Box Set
This highly anticipated boxed set includes four of the original Champions team members! Collect Angel in his classic red and yellow outfit, Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider, the debut of the seductive Black Widow, and the first-ever Hercules Minimate! $16.00

Marvel Minimates Thunderbolts Box Set
Dark Reign is THE story in today’s Marvel Universe yet it remains to be seen how these key Thunderbolts members can adjust to the new status quo. This boxed set includes Norman Osborn with two contrasting looks, the debut of Mac Gargan as Venom, the tortured Penance with removable armor, and the unsurprisingly radioactive Radioactive Man! $16.00

Terminator 2 Cyberdyne Assault Minimates Box Set
Arnold shrinks down as never before in this boxed set containing Sarah Connor in full S.W.A.T. Gear, the T-800 Terminator in muscle shirt (complete with skinned hand), the brilliant Miles Dyson and a deadly Scorched Terminator Endoskeleton! $16.00

Transformers Battle Armor Jetfire Bust
This exclusive Battle Damaged Jetfire Bust features a new interchangeable head and hand - both showcasing Jetfire's dedication to the Autobot cause and belief in scientific and technological advancement - the only way in which victory over the Decepticons can be achieved. $60.00 limited to 600 pieces

ShopAFX Fan Boy Minimate Key Chains
Stop by the AFX booth each day for your chance to pick up these free Fan Boy Minimate key chains! 500 of each color will be given away, including black, blue, red and green!

Minimates In 2010 Panel:
Also join Diamond Select Toys director Chuck Terceira and the rest of the Minimate creators for a glimpse at what’s to come for the number one block figure brand in the world. Ask your questions, make your requests and get a sneak peek at future Minimate designs during this must-see panel discussion. We'll have an update soon with the full panel description, time and location - PLUS full info for two more DST panels!

Also debuting during this year’s show will be the all-new Minimates.com web site, designed to give fans the latest Minimates info and entertain kids of all ages with hours of Minimate entertainment! Expected to launch on Wednesday, July 22nd, fans can visit www.minimates.com during the show for a look at the future of the Minimates brand!
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Latest news from Hasbro

G.I. Joe Fans:
As if celebrating the 4th of July weren’t cause for enough excitement, imagine having early access to a slew of G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra figures and vehicles. Well, your wish is our command.

Hasbro is pleased to announce that the first wave G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra toys are going to begin to hit shelves ONE WEEK EARLY, starting Monday, July 6th.

Beginning this Monday and rolling out throughout next week, your favorite retailers will be adding G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra figures and vehicles to their stores. This is your opportunity to be the first to get your hands on these highly anticipated toys.

If you could help us spread the word to other G.I. JOE fans, that would be great.

Thanks and have a terrific 4th of July weekend! Yo Joe!

Marvel Fans:
There's a new wave of Marvel Legends 2 Packs on the way in 2010 and you help to decide who's in them. The basics are simple - six total characters, you pick three and we pick three. Sound like fun? Voting for this all new Fan's Choice will start on July 22nd when we reveal all of the possible choices at San Diego Comic Con. Some of them you might expect to see, some of them might take you by surprise, but you can bet your Sweet Aunt Petunia that they all could make a great addition to your Marvel Legends collection! We've sent along three images to give you a small taste of what's in store. Enjoy!

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Comic Review: The Muppet Show Robin Hood #2 (Boom! Kids) Review by Adam P.

Classic show translates poorly to comics

At the back of The Muppet Show: Robin Hood #2, the publisher and writer talk about the series, and it's very telling. The publisher talks about how a lot of fans of The Muppet Show are showing interest in the comic. Unfortunately, anyone who isn't a rabid fan of the classic 1970's comedy show won't find much to appreciate here. So much of the show’s humor is based on voices, timing, interactions... and it is extremely difficult to replicate this to the same effect in a comic book.

Secondly, the writer talks about how a Muppet Robin Hood movie would be too expensive to produce, but that the same story is easier to make as a comic book. In fact, this tale would be far more entertaining as a movie than a comic book. As a comic, it's very wordy, fairly confusing and not all that funny. The issue generates a few smiles, and maybe a half-chuckle, but no genuine guffaws like you'd expect from the classic Muppets.

The art is nice, but the individual Muppets sometimes don't look exactly like they should, which is a shame. I mean, I understand updating the characters for modern times, but there are just some things which are really key to the Muppets being who they are. And without those special features, it just feels wrong.

All in all, the book should only appeal to Muppet purists or Robin Hood aficionados. Otherwise there are far better and far funnier books in the Boom! Kids stable.

6.5/10

Adam P.
Review Co-Editor

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To promote the Blu-ray and DVD release of “Green Lantern: First Flight” on July 28, a sweepstakes has been created to get fans involved and give them a chance to win cool prizes.

Green Lantern fans can enter the sweepstakes and learn more about the fifth entry in the popular DVD series of DC Universe Animated Originals through a Facebook Power Ring widget.

Once the Facebook Power Ring widget has been added to a fan’s page, they can “recharge their ring” continuously to keep it powered to 100% and automatically submit additional entries into the sweepstakes. Additional features of the widget include:

• Personality Quiz – Fans can take the “Which Green Lantern Are You?” personality quiz which will result in the character being added to their Facebook page and a message that announces which character they are.

• Green Lantern IQ Test – This test will lead fans through a series of trivia questions resulting in a Green Lantern IQ score which can be posted to their Facebook page with a prompt for others to take the test.

• News and Updates – This feature of the widget shows the latest news about the movie including weekly Q&A’s from the talent and movie makers as well as any breaking announcements.

• Video – The widget will feature an embedded player with trailers and video clips from the movie. Video clips will include EC pieces as well as feature clips from the movie.

• Downloads – This feature will be available with wallpapers, icons and other downloads and special content for Power Ring holders.

• Links – The widget allows fans to stay connected with all things “Green Lantern: First Flight” through links to the official website, Myspace and Twitter pages.

The sweepstakes runs from June 30, 2009 through August 11, 2009 and can be accessed through the Power Ring widget, the official sweepstakes site, www.GreenLanternSweeps.com or the official “Green Lantern: First Flight” website, www.greenlanterndvd.com. Prizing for the sweepstakes include, one grand prize winner who will receive a package consisting of a PlayStation 3, a 40” LCD HDTV and “Green Lantern: First Flight” on Blu-ray. Five first prize winners will receive the Complete DC Universe Animated Movie Collection on 2-Disc DVD or Blu-ray including “Green Lantern: First Flight,” “Wonder Woman,” “Batman Gotham Knight,” “Justice League: The New Frontier” and “Superman Doomsday.” Ten second prize winners will receive a standard edition of “Green Lantern: First Flight” on DVD.

“Green Lantern: First Flight” will be available on July 28 as a special edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-ray™ for $24.98 (SRP) and $29.99 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP).

Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) leads the cast as the voice of Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern. The cast includes Emmy® Award nominee Victor Garber (“Milk,” “Titanic”), Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Michael Madsen (“Reservoir Dogs”). Produced by animation legend Bruce Timm, “Green Lantern: First Flight” is directed by Lauren Montgomery (“Wonder Woman,” “Superman Doomsday”) and scripted by four-time Emmy® Award-winning writer Alan Burnett (“The Batman”).

When pilot Hal Jordan accepts a mysterious, powerful ring from a dying alien creature, it transforms him into a Green Lantern, one of an elite force of heroes who patrol the universe to ensure peace and justice under the leadership of the “Guardians of the Universe.” Unsure of their newest recruit, the Guardians assign Hal to their most-honored Green Lantern Sinestro for training, unaware that Sinestro wants to overthrow the Guardians and create a new order he’ll control.

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Dabel Brothers Publishing is pleased to provide a 5pg preview to Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files: Storm Front vol 2 #1. Adapted to comics by Mark Powers with art by Ardian Syaf.

In this issue:

The bodies are piling up in the Windy City and Harry's key witness is one of them! How will he prove his innocence and find the real killer now?
The Dresden Files: Storm Front continues to grab readers with the gripping mix of mystery and adventure that have made of Jim Butcher's bestselling Dresden Files novels a hit!

Look for the book to hit stores everywhere July 22nd, with a regular cover and special wraparound Diamond PX cover.

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The Re-packaged Line, Slated for November 2009, Includes the First-Ever
COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET™ Featuring All Four Out-of-This World Seasons

Fans Invited to Attend Panel Featuring Executive Producer Brian Henson,
Creator Rockne O’Bannon and Stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black
This July at Comic-Con International 2009

When a freak accident during an experimental space mission catapulted Astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield, a cult classic was born with the epic, adventure-filled TV series Farscape. The award-winning fan favorite show, which ran from 1999-2003 on Sci Fi and was named by TV Guide as one of television’s best cult shows ever, is about to blast off again on DVD courtesy of a pact between A&E Home Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company.

Blasting off in November 2009, as the show marks its 10th Anniversary, the treasure of the newly re-packaged DVD line will feature a Farscape home entertainment first: THE COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET™. Never before available in one package, A&E Home Entertainment brings together all four out-of-this-world seasons with countless hours of absorbing bonus programming featuring multiple commentaries, interviews with cast and crew, behind-the-scenes featurettes and much more! Single season collector’s sets will also be released, offering genre fans of all walks the opportunity to sample this superlative sci-fi classic.

To launch this eagerly-anticipated re-release, there will be a Farscape panel convening at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego. Executive producer Brian Henson, creator Rockne O’Bannon, and stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black (Officer Aeryn Sun) will be in attendance to discuss their favorite moments from the series and the DVD re-release.
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DALE KEOWN’S CLASSIC HERO RETURNS TO COMICS

THE DARKNESS/PITT #1

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that Dale Keown’s classic hero, Pitt, will make his return to comics in the long awaited crossover event The Darkness/Pitt. The three-issue mini-series reunites Pitt creator and artist Dale Keown (Hulk: The End) with writer Paul Jenkins (Captain America, Mythos), who worked together on the second volume of The Darkness. The first issue of The Darkness/Pitt is scheduled for release in August 2009.

First published by Image Comics in 1993, Pitt is a human-alien hybrid genetically engineered to serve as a killing machine for an alien race known as the Creed. Dale Keown continued self-publishing Pitt under his own company, Full Bleed Studios, in 1995. After publishing twenty issues, Keown put Pitt on hold to work for other companies, drawing The Darkness with writer Paul Jenkins for Top Cow Productions and The Hulk for Marvel Entertainment. Since the regular series ended in 1998, fans of the character have had to make do with limited appearances by Pitt as a guest star in other books.

The story behind The Darkness/Pitt follows Pitt and his human half-brother Tim on their mission to New York to track down those infected by an alien virus. But mob boss and current bearer of the mystical power of The Darkness, Jackie Estacado, doesn’t permit anything to go down in his neighborhood unless he knows about it. When the two forces attract the unwanted attention of the Federal Government, mayhem ensues!

”Darkness/Pitt has been a labor of love but it has been well worth it. As always, I’m excited to work with Dale on Jackie Estacado, a character we’re so familiar with, and I’m gratified he’s allowed me the opportunity to work with characters so near and dear to his heart in Pitt and Tim,” commented writer Jenkins, “The book looks as beautiful as I always hoped it would, and I trust fans will forgive me for bringing a voice to some of Dale’s most beloved creations.”

“Fans have waited patiently for Darkness/Pitt and good things come to those that wait,” added Filip Sablik, Top Cow Publisher, “It’s great to see two great creators like Paul and Dale return to characters they know inside and out. These guys are packing this series with action, horror, humor, and jaw-dropping art from the top to bottom of every page.”

The first issue of The Darkness/Pitt will offer two cover variants: one by series artist Keown and another by Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade).