PENDRAGON'S POST

Thursday, March 25, 2010

COMIC NEWS: Marvel Announces IRON MAN: EXTREMIS Motion Comic!

MARVEL KNIGHTS ANIMATION BRINGS IRON MAN TO LIFE IN GROUNDBREAKING STORY FROM WARREN ELLIS & ADI GRANOV

Marvel Knights Animation (www.marvel.com) is proud to announce their newest motion comic epic: Iron Man: Extremis, available April 16th! Adapting the critically-acclaimed storyline by superstars Warren Ellis and Adi Granov, Tony Stark (AKA Iron Man) faces his greatest threat ever—a terrorist transformed into an unstoppable force with the powerful bio-engineered Extremis super-soldier serum! Now Tony Stark redefines Iron Man’s mission for the 21st century, setting the Armored Avenger on a new direction that’ll alter his life forever…if he can find a way to defeat a modern day nightmare! Featuring groundbreaking animation and special effects never before seen in a motion comic, Iron Man: Extremis will leave your jaws on the floor! Each of the six episodes are only $1.99, with an extra sized premiere running nearly 20 minutes long, and a can’t miss season pass priced at $9.99! Iron Man: Extremis will be available for download on iTunes, Zune, and Xbox, with new episodes available bi-weekly through June.

“Iron Man: Extremis is one of the pre-eminent Iron Man stories, thanks to the amazing work of Warren Ellis and Adi Granov,” explained Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada. “Just as the Iron Man: Extremis comic book forever changed how we see Iron Man, the motion comic adaptation represents the next evolution of the medium.”

The worldwide leader in bringing super heroes to life, Marvel redefined the motion comic medium with their first two releases—Spider-Woman (from Brian Bendis & Alex Maleev) and Astonishing X-Men (from Joss Whedon & John Cassaday). Staying true to their source material, Marvel Motion Comics utilize each story’s original art and scripts while adding seamless motion, dynamic voice acting, and stunning special effects to deliver a whole new way to experience some of the greatest storylines in Marvel Comics’ history.

“Having the chance to work on something created by Adi and Warren has been a dream come true,” exclaims Ruwan Jayatilleke, Marvel Senior Vice President, Development & Planning, Print, Animation and Digital Media explained, “As the lead producer on this motion comic, I am thrilled with all the effort and energy that Magnetic Dreams, Edge Studio, Underground Music, and NYAV have thrown into this project—creating an incredibly compelling series of animated content! I don’t want to give away any of the surprises, but once you see Tony Stark suit up and Iron Man take flight, you’ll know just why I am so excited.”

You can get your first look at the Iron Man: Extremis right now at www.marvel.com/extremis

Please note that Iron Man: Extremis is intended for mature audiences only.

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.
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JOIN THE HERD AT THREE DAY COMIC AND POP CULTURE EVENT IN SAN FRANCISCO

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that they will be joining Image Comics at WonderCon 2010. The three-day event will open to the public on Friday afternoon, April 2nd and run through Sunday, April 4th, at the Moscone Center South. Fans are encouraged to stop by the Image Comics booth (#407) to meet their favorite creators and shop for limited edition convention exclusives as well as their favorite Top Cow comics.

Among the creators appearing at the booth will be pencilers Michael Broussard (The Darkness, Artifacts), Nelson Blake II (Pilot Season: Murderer, Magdalena), Sheldon Mitchell (Pilot Season: Stealth, Witchblade Annual) and inker Rick Basaldua (Witchblade Annual). Stop by the Image Comics (#407) booth for signing times.

WonderCon 2010 kicks off at noon on Friday, April 2nd and runs to 7PM. The convention will be open Saturday, April 3rd from 10AM to 7PM and Sunday, April 4th from 10AM to 5PM.

About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games. Read more...

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Killers are everywhere. Some of my favorite stories are about those who have dedicated their existence to wiping others off the face of the earth (see Kill Bill, Kick-Ass, and The Professional). And now I add Archaia's The Killer to that list. Matz and artist Luc Jacamon have crafted a story that incorporates stealthy action and emotional depth, along with beautifully complementary artwork.

This is the second volume of the title and collects three parts: The Debt, Blood Ties, and The Killer Instinct. Each follows the Killer through a complex job that includes working with Colombians, living with his girl, and making new alliances. Part inner monologue, part Luc Besson flick, Matz's writing keeps you engaged as the Killer sets up his jobs, travels from exotic locations to Paris, and learns the importance of human connection. I was impressed with this story. As much as I enjoy action-driven books, it's refreshing to read a book that has a lot of action but also has a lot of substance.

Luc Jacamon's art is beautiful. I knew I was going to like this book when I saw the title pages introducing each part. When you see them you almost expect words to flash across the page like "Paradise! Action! Romance! Intrigue!" Jacamon skillfully draws conversations as well as action sequences, which is a feat many artists cannot achieve. The lush colors switch between dynamic and monochromatic to set the mood for each part of the story.

This is a truly gorgeous book in word and in art. Pick up this beautiful book, and while you're at it, pick up a copy for a friend who doesn't read comics. Chances are, this Archaia book could be the book that converts him or her to the medium. (And Hollywood, if you're listening--option this book. It would make a fantastic film.)

Stacey Rader
Review Editor Read more...

COMIC NEWS: I'M A MEMBER OF THE GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE

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HERO INITIATIVE AND ARCHIE COMICS TEAM UP FOR
“ARCHIE COVERS: FIFTY TIMES AN AMERICAN ICON”

50 new Archie covers by 50 great artists will benefit Hero Initiative

Archie and the whole Riverdale gang certainly are heroes. Now they’re joining forces to aid cartoonists in need.

Archie Comics is teaming up with the Hero Initiative, the charity dedicated to helping comic creators in medical or financial need, for an amazing artistic extravaganza involving the premier issue of the world-renowned Archie wedding series, Archie #600. Archie Comics has printed 50 blank-covered copies of the landmark book, and Hero will have 50 stellar artists do original Archie covers on the special edition books. The originals will be auctioned off at a later date to benefit Hero, and a book will be published, collecting all 50 covers.

Superstar artists such as Neal Adams, Darwyn Cooke, Sam Kieth, Jerry Ordway, George Pérez, John Romita, Tim Sale and more are all contributing to the project, “Archie Covers: Fifty Times an American Icon.” More artistic surprises are yet in store, as artists from the animation world and even underground comics will be making contributions as well!

"Hey, Archie Comics is one of the very few companies I've never worked for and any opportunity to draw the lovely Betty and Veronica is one I can't possibly pass up, especially as it also benefits the Hero Initiative. “ , said legendary Marvel/DC artist and Hero board member George Pérez. “And, considering my reputation as a super-team artist, how could I resist drawing the Riverdale gang in their superhero persona?"

“Archie Comics is committed to supporting those who have spent their lives as the cornerstone of the comics industry. We are thrilled to be working with the Hero Initiative on this project,” remarks Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “The covers have been remarkable and we can’t wait to see what the remaining artists have in store for their edition of the Hero covers for Archie #600.”

Each original cover will be auctioned off via eBay.com at a future date. A release date for the book is also pending. Stay tuned! You will not want to miss out on these amazing once-in-a-lifetime covers!

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.

Archie Comics
The Archie Comics line of comic books is one of the most successful, longest running brands in the history of the comic industry. Archie Comics has sold 1.5 billion comics and is published in a dozen different foreign languages and distributed all over the world. Archie Comics has spawned characters whose popularity has spilled over into other media and who have become part of popular culture. SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH and JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS are just some of the many legendary franchises that are part of the Archie Comics library. Read more...

Get a look at Iron Man like you’ve never seen him before! Marvel is proud to unveil even more of the stunning Iron Man By Design variant covers by some of the top artists of today!

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on these hotly-anticipated variant covers, as Iron Man continues to garner mainstream media buzz! No Marvel fan can miss April’s Iron Man By Design variant covers!

DARK WOLVERINE #85 (FEB100573)
DARK WOLVERINE #85 IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT (FEB100574)
Written by DANIEL WAY & MARJORIE LIU
Pencils & Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Parental Advisory …$2.99
FOC—3/25/10, On-Sale—4/21/10

X-MEN LEGACY #235 (FEB100561)
X-MEN LEGACY #235 IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT (FEB100563)
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by GREG LAND
Cover by ADI GRANOV
Variant Cover by DAVID FINCH
IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT by DAVE JOHNSON
Rated A …$2.99
FOC—3/25/10, On-Sale—4/21/10

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #47 (FEB100575)
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #47 IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT (FEB100576)
Written by DANIEL WAY
Penciled by WILL CONRAD
Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Parental Advisory …$2.99
FOC—4/1/10/10, On-Sale—4/28/10

Get your Grove on at Wizard World’s Official Party at
The Social
Sponsored by Hero Initiative

Join Hero Initiative and thousands of fellow fans as they converge in Canada at Toronto Comic Con, March 26, 27 & 28 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. Hero Initiative, the non profit organization helping comic creators in hard times, will be celebrating the best in pop culture by bringing special guests for signatures and sketches.

In addition, we are proud to sponsor the Official Wizard World party! Saturday evening from 9pm to 2am at the Social, 1100 Queen Street West in Toronto. Come get your grove on with the folks from Wizard, your favorite comic creators and actor guests. Fifteen dollars at the door will get you to this most exclusive party of the weekend. The first lucky100 party-goers will receive a bag of exclusive goodies, and you can bid on art donated by many of the guests! You won’t want to miss out on this bash!

Our Wonderful guest line up is as follows:

FRI., 26 MAR, con hours 1200-800:
300-400: Marcus To
600-700: Gail Simone

SAT., 27 MAR, con hours 1000-700:
1030-1230: Ken Lashley
1230-230: Leonard Kirk
230-430: Richard Isanove
300-400: Marcus To
430-630: Phil Jiminez

FRI., 28 MAR, con hours 1000-500:
1230-230: Leonard Kirk
300-400: Marcus To
230-430: Richard Isanove

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.
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A sighting of the elusive Moss Man, last seen briefly on March 15th.

Who would have thought that poor mellow Moss Man would be involved in so much drama? From the very beginning there were problems. We were first shown a knockout fully-flocked prototype of the character. Then we were told the flocking would present problems and we were given the option of several levels of flocking, and even shown a fairly hideous non-flocked version of the character. Once the decision was made, we were informed that Moss Man would be only partially flocked. When we were next shown the character, he was almost entirely flocked but he was a dingy brownish green and his ears were flocked over. We were told he was too far into production to make changes. Mattel then told us they were, in fact, making the change and that there would be two versions of the character sold, with and without the flocked ears. When Moss Man finally went on sale, both versions of the character sold out in under five minutes, which is a record even for Masters of the Universe Classics, especially considering that Moss Man is hardly an A-list character. Sadly, many fans did not get their figure, which is sad because so far Moss Man is easily my favorite figure released in the line this year.

Use Moss Man in the stinkiest parts of your house.

Like his vintage counterpart, Moss Man is largely a flocked and repainted Beast Man. Being that he is based on Beast Man, he lacks the lateral calf articulation of the booted figures and has his right hand sculpted open. Unlike his MOTUC body double, Moss Man has the longer preternian loin cloth first introduced on King Grayskull.

Moss Man says, "Go flock yourself."

The flocking is done quite well on the figure and covers most of Moss Man, with the exception of the areas around his joints. Luckily, he avoids the diseased mangy look he could have had. The only place that is noticeably bald are the shoulders but the exposed darker shoulders give his skin a bark-like appearance which actually works for the character.

The Moss Man Redemption.

Oddly, Mattel chose not to fully flock the figure because they were afraid the flocking would come off the joints...leaving the character looking like the version which they released. Maybe it would have been better to have flocked the joints for people who don't open their figures or handle them a lot. I'm just sayin'.

Looks like Moss Man needs a bit of a pedicure.

Although not as vivid a green as was first shown, the flocking is actually quite nice and has a few different shades of green and brown in it. Even with the limited flocking on the figure, it still manages to hide some of the joints quite nicely. When Moss Man is posed with his ab crunch bent down, the joint pretty much disappears into the flocking. Like the original toy, the flocking gives the character a different tactile element and he is literally fun and pleasing to handle. I find myself taking him down from the shelf to touch.

Amazing what a shave and little blue eyeshadow will do, no?

Moss Man includes an alternate head. The second head is said to be inspired by the 2002 cartoon but really doesn't look much like that version of the character. He is packaged using his Beast Man head, with its screaming Klingon expression. The alternate head is much nicer, with its stern simian gaze and pupil-less metallic green eyes. Moss Man's new headsculpt is really one of the nicest headsculpts of the line so far, he really has tons of character.

"Get off my lawn!"

The figure is packed with an updated version of his classic mace and Matty really went the extra mile with the detail on this weapon. The could have just given us a flat brown mace but instead it is sculpted with all kinds of really nice woody details as well as a curling vine painted in a different shade of brown. Moss Man also comes with an over the shoulder satchel with a built in knife holder.

How much do you want to bet that there is weed in that bag?

The satchel has lots of nice botanical details. The knife is a simple obsidian-looking blade with a stone handle which does not quite fit in Moss Man's weapon hand, although it fits snugly in its sheath next to the pouch.

Why isn't this mace flocked?

As a throwback to the 1980's figure Moss Man is pine scented, although it is apparently not the exact same scent that you remember from the original. Some people online have been saying that it is overpowering or that it smells like Pinesol but I don't think so. It's strong but not overpowering, and certainly not unpleasant. There is a somewhat spicy quality like eucalyptus but to me it smells a lot like walking past a Christmas tree lot.

On the quality control front, my Moss Man has some loose joints. This is a collector line that has been around for over a year now, so I have to wonder why these figures are still shipping with loose joints. Are they shipped to a preschool between their production and the time in which they are packaged? Mattel, the only thing you have going for you in this line is the quality of your product, everything else has been screwed up at every opportunity. Please fix this, it is inexcusable.

Moss Man asks you to give him a little privacy.

Although I would have preferred a less articulated, fully-flocked, figure, I am happy to say that Moss Man ended up being a standout figure in Masters of the Universe Classics, and well worth all of the drama that surrounded his development and release. Due to his cool flocking, his excellent alternate headsculpt and accessories, and his enjoyable pine scent Moss Man has quickly become one of my favorite MOTUC figures. Sadly, due to his shockingly fast sellout, a lot of collectors were not able to pick him up on the 15th but Matty assures us that he will be re released early in 2011.

Patrick Garone
Creative Director Read more...

Finally, Masters of the Universe makes its return to retail. This month, exclusively at Toys R' Us, a pair of special two packs featuring DC Universe and Masters of the Universe Classics figures were released. Each pack features a reprint of a classic 1980's crossover comic. I'm going to be taking a look at the Skeletor figure from the Skeletor vs. Lex Luthor 2 pack.

This is a simple repaint of the re-released Skeletor figure with the tighter left hand, with an eye towards capturing his bolder comic appearance. While the paint on the head is less detailed than the other versions, the paint on the armor features a richer purple color and new metallic highlights. The crossbones are painted in a metallic purple, similar to the paint scheme on the Faker armor. This is a great detail that should have been implemented on the very first release of the character. Another difference in this figure is that there seems to be a pronounced gap in the area around the ab joint near the waist whereas this is much tighter in my original Skeletor.

The hood is also painted the same richer purple as the armor and the loincloth. Instead of the yellow and green face deco on the original, this new Skeletor features a uniform yellow face and unpainted eye sockets that give him a more Filmation look. The teeth are also outlined in black paint which is a little sloppy on my figure. The two pack Skeletor also includes an exclusive yellow and gold version of the powersword, previously seen at the recent art exposition.

I highly recommend this new Skeletor. It represents major improvements over the two previously versions of the character. I particularly like the new purple color used throughout and the great metallic paint on the bones. This is my definitive version of the character until Keldor comes out and I can kitbash a new, more cartoon-based version of the character.

Patrick Garone
Creative Director Read more...

COMIC NEWS: Welcome Back to Jurassic Park

IDW partners with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to develop
all-new comics based on blockbuster property

IDW Publishing is pleased to announce a publishing agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to create an entirely new series of comics based on the always-popular Jurassic Park franchise. Launching in June, IDW’s Jurassic Park comics will bring all of the oversized action and prehistoric adventure that fans love in a brand-new story. Plus, IDW will also reprint all the original Topps Jurassic Park comics in a trade paperback collection, most of which have never before been reprinted. Fans attending WonderCon 2010, one of the country’s leading comics and pop culture conventions, held April 2nd through the 4th in San Francisco, can get a sneak peak of the new series at the IDW booth #519 and at the Jurassic Park panel on Friday.

“I’ve been a fan of Jurassic Park since we first published it at Topps back in the 90’s, and it’s exciting revisit and reinvigorate the property after all these years,” said IDW chief operating officer, Greg Goldstein. “There’s so much potential for interesting stories, and we have a great team in place to bring them to life.”

Available in both print and digital, IDW’s Jurassic Park comics kick off with a five-issue story arc, written by IDW Senior Editor and comics veteran Bob Schreck. Nate Van Dyke provides interior art, while comics’ legends Tom Yeates and Frank Miller offer their awesome and gory covers to the first issue, with Arthur Adams, Paul Pope, and Bernie Wrightson also providing variant covers for the first storyline. IDW will be giving away a Jurassic Park poster at WonderCon, featuring Frank Miller’s cover art for issue #1. Schreck, Van Dyke and Yeates will also all be on hand throughout the weekend to sign autographs.

“Having been born in the Jurassic Era myself, I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity,” Schreck commented. “I was raised on a strict diet of Willis O’Brien and Ray Harryhausen movies and adore the Jurassic Park films. I can’t begin to convey the thrill of bringing this tale to life with so many old (and new) super-talented friends and fellow dinosaur lovers.”

The first five-issue story arc in IDW’s new Jurassic Park series, Jurassic Park: Redemtion, takes up thirteen years after the very first Jurassic Park motion picture and finds John Hammond’s grandchildren, Tim and Lex Murphy, as well-to-do young adults. While Lex is working with the UN to continue keeping people off of both Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna -- her brother Tim has other ideas about how to get their grandfather’s name back in good standing.

Each issue in the arc will feature a cover by Yeates and a variant by another major artist. For issue #2, fans can expect great things from Arthur Adams, followed by Paul Pope on issue #3, Bernie Wrightson on issue #4 and the hugely popular dinosaur connoisseur Bill Stout on issue #5.

Jurassic Park: Redemption #1 (32 pages, full color, $3.99) will be available in stores in June.

About the Jurassic Park franchise 
Since Universal Pictures and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment first joined forces to unleash an adventure over 65 million years in the making, Jurassic Park has become the “premier” and “authentic” dinosaur brand the world over. When Jurassic Park was released in 1993, it became an instant phenomenon. In the years that followed, two additional films were released – The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III – bringing the trilogy’s worldwide box office total to more than $2 billion. The franchise continues to resonate with consumers worldwide via consumer products, popular attractions at Universal Studios Theme Parks and annual airings of the three films on a multitude of television networks.

About IDW Publishing 
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro's The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; the BBC's Doctor Who; and television's #1 prime time series CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; YOE Books, a partnership with YOE! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.

IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.

About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
UP&L oversees Universal’s consumer product licensing, film and home entertainment promotions, and all corporate alliances for Universal’s theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks and stage productions. This dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the studio’s vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding and marketing opportunities. UP&L is part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi. Read more...

Warner Home Video presents an animated clip and three images, from "The Lord Of The Rings Remastered Deluxe Edition" coming April 6, 2010.

This original animated classic from acclaimed director Ralph Bakshi and Academy Award Winning producer Saul Zaentz has been remastered with pristine New Dolby 5.1 audio and picture quality and will be distributed as a single disc DVD and Blu-ray combo which features a Blu-ray, DVD and bonus digital copy. The film will also be available for Digital Download. This film is rated PG.

One of the great visionary animation directors of the modern era, Bakshi went to artistic extremes to meticulously bring the legendary world of J.R.R. Tolkien to animated life – adding yet another stunning title to the director’s canon of ground-breaking films. Bakshi’s animation accomplishments include Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, American Pop, Wizards and Cool World.

All the magical adventure of the fantasy classic comes to life in Bakshi’s brilliantly animated tale of the enchanted land of Middle-earth – and the brave band of hobbits, heroes and wizards who set out to protect it. When a dangerous and powerful gold ring falls into his hands, a courageous hobbit named Frodo embarks on an epic adventure. Along with the mighty wizard Gandalf and some daring elves, he defends his homeland from the Dark Power who would destroy it. Set in a mystical age of magic, monsters and unlikely heroes on incredible journeys, The Lord of the Rings will cast its spell over the entire family!

The deluxe edition also features a never-before-seen, 30-minute in-depth interview with legendary director Ralph Bakshi entitled "Forging Through The Darkness: The Ralph Bakshi Vision for The Lord Of The Rings." This special feature explores his concept for creating an illustrated film, his pioneering rotoscoping process, and inspirations for his visual storytelling. Read more...

The Earth’s Mightiest Retailers assemble on May 19th for the inaugural,
first-annual, Avengers Day!

This historic event marks an all new era for Marvel’s greatest heroes as the Avengers come together to usher in The Heroic Age. Mark your calendars and be the first person on your block to score great Avengers Day commemorative items like exclusive limited edition print featuring John Romita Jr.’s “I Am An Avenger” images, door hangers, mini-posters and more! Plus, fans can’t miss the chance to add their own heroes to the Avengers roster by sketching on the Avengers #1 I Am An Avenger Blank Variant and purchase the stunning Avengers Poster by John Romita Jr!

Plus, Marvel would like to thank participating retailers with a special advance screening edition of Avengers #1! This limited edition comic, featuring a letter from Brian Michael Bendis, won’t be made available to the general public or retailers not participating in May 19th’s historic events.

Retailers, check the Marvel Mailer for information about how to acquire festive party invitations, and all the other special edition party favors. Additionally, the Marvel Retailer Resource Center and Diamond Retailer Site will feature special marketing items—such as customizable press releases, shelf talkers, cake toppers and flyers—exclusive to Avengers Day!

Participating retailers will be mentioned on Brian Michael Bendis’ own message boards as well as Marvel.com, so register now!

On May 19th, fans and retailers from across the globe will come together and unite for Avengers Day!

AVENGERS #1 (MAR100516)
AVENGERS #1 ROMITA JR VARIANT (MAR100517)
AVENGERS #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT (MAR100518)
AVENGERS #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (MAR100519)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Heroic Age Variant by GREG LAND
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 4/21/10, On Sale – 5/19/10

SECRET AVENGERS #1 (MAR100566)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by MIKE DEODATO
Rated A …$3.99
FOC – 5/6/10, On Sale 5/26/10

NEW AVENGERS #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by STUART IMMONEN
FOC – 5/27/10, On Sale 6/16/10

AVENGERS ACADEMY #1
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Pencils & Cover by MIKE MCKONE
FOC – 5/13, On Sale 6/3/10

AVENGERS PRIME #1 (of 5)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—5/13/10, On-Sale—6/3/10

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Brace for another exciting issue of Battlefields, from the legendary writer Garth Ennis!

Dynamite Entertainment's hit series, Battlefields, continues its bold march as it reaches the conclusion of "The Firefly and his Majesty". In issue #6, written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Carlos Ezquerra, Sergeant Stiles' hatred of the Nazis has got him right where he wants to be: sitting behind a high-velocity cannon with a mighty German tank in his sights. But Tigers are never more dangerous than when they're cornered, and the Panzer crew will be only too happy to take their enemies with them. The cat and mouse battle is fought to the finish, as the second Battlefields arc concludes with a bang.

The Battlefields series began as three self-contained mini-series of three issues each, all of which are set during WWII. The first mini-series, with artist Russell Braun, titled The Night Witches is set on the Eastern front and concerns a women-only Soviet bomber regiment. The second series, with artist Peter Snejbjerg, titled Dear Billy concerns a British nurse, who had survived rape and execution by Japanese soldiers in Singapore, and her relationship with a decorated flying ace. The third series, Tankies, with artist Carlos Ezquerra, is about an inexperienced British tank crew of Londoners in a Churchil Tank led by a Geordie veteran as they attempt to catch up with their company, enduring attacks by Nazi Tiger tanks as the Battle of Normandy rages on. (All these series are now available in trade and hardcover.) And now the war adventure continues in Battlefields #6 (of 9): The Firefly and his Majesty Part 3 in May!"!

"The last part of ‘The Firefly And His Majesty' was one I'd been looking forward to writing for a long time," says writer Garth Ennis. "It's a real cat-and-mouse story, two experienced and intelligent opponents doing their best to outwit and destroy each other. The climax, as Sergeant Stiles' Firefly comes face to face with the German King Tiger, can only be described as shattering."

BATTLEFIELDS #6 (of 9): THE FIREFLY AND HIS MAJESTY PART 3
Written by GARTH ENNIS
Art by CARLOS EZQUERRA
Cover by GARRY LEACH
32 pages $3.50

ABOUT DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT, the publishing division of DYNAMIC FORCES, INC., was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including Red Sonja, Project Superpowers, The Boys, Army of Darkness, Battlestar Galactica, The Lone Ranger, Zorro and more!

In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and best selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Michael Turner, Jim Lee, Michael Avon Oeming, Brian Reed, Mel Rubi, Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Sadowski, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner and a host of up and coming new talent and fan favorite creators!

DYNAMITE is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their more recent launches - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's PROJECT SUPERPOWERS - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005 Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%). The company has also been nominated for several industry awards, including the prestigious Eisner Award.

Aside from their monthly periodical comic book series, DYNAMITE also produces new and classic material, including Tim Truman's SCOUT, Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso's BORDERLINE and TALES OF TERROR, Jim Starlin's DREADSTAR, as well as well as reprint editions of classic RED SONJA material. Read more...

Dear B.P.R.D. member,

Thank you for joining this elite team of dedicated men and women. Your service is a valuable asset to our organization, and we are proud to have you aboard. Membership, however, is merely the first step. There will be times when we will call on you to perform certain duties to enlarge the scope of the B.P.R.D., but know that your efforts will not go unrewarded. Service in the B.P.R.D. has its benefits.

Within a week, you will be sent an invitation to become friends with our founder, Trevor Bruttenholm, on Facebook. Trevor Bruttenholm's Facebook profile is a private profile for B.P.R.D. members only. We will release exclusive news, interviews, sketches, preview pages, and more via the social network. We ask that, unless explicitly stated, you keep all information and assets secret.

We will be contacting you with more information. Look for your friend request from Trevor Bruttenholm soon.

Your first assignment:

Send a letter to the editors of Hellboy and B.P.R.D. by e-mailing hellmail@darkhorse.com. Questions, comments, concerns -- any letter is valid. If we receive word that fifty letters have been sent by March 29, 2010, at noon PST, then we will release sketches only available in the pages of Hellboy: The Wild Hunt to members everywhere via Trevor Bruttenholm's Facebook page.

This is only the beginning.

--The B.P.R.D. Team Read more...

SOTA Toys is proud to announce the Humping Robot! This rascal will be arriving in fine retailers early in the 3rd quarter.

“We've got it! We've done it! Robot Chicken's Humping Robot is on its way! This Articulated* Humping Robot Keychain/Action-Figure can be dangled from keys, purses, backpacks, or whatever you darn well please. And when he's not dangling you can pose him however you like. We've collected a few images of him doing what he does best. You should be seeing him in fine retailers in the 3rd quarter of 2010.

*(That means he has joints that allow you to pose him in compromising positions)”
Bullet Points!

• The Humping Robot Articulated Keychain/Action-Figure is SOTA Toys first product released under the Robot Chicken license.
• Humping Robot free-stands at approximately 5-inches.
• Many more images of the Humping Robot Articulated Keychain/Action-Figure are available here and here.
• Humping Robot Articulated Keychain/Action-Figure will ship early in the 3rd quarter 2010.
• MSRP $12
• Pre-Orders will be available within 30 days of the ship date. (We’ll make another announcement when that date approaches.)