Wednesday, April 30, 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Reveals The Sinister 6...Sort Of...

As we spiral toward Friday and the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, eagle eyed readers keep watch of the internet for additional viral drops linked directly into the film, and more importantly, news on after credit sequence reveals. At our New York press screening, all our waiting through the credits was for naught as the lights came on and we were left with nothing but the actual film to talk about. MONSTERS!! I suppose we've come to expect these extra sequences on the end of any Marvel super hero film now, and why wouldn't we? Even  the first Amazing Spider-Man film had one! Fellow journos in attendance told us the extra bits on the European release of ASM2 were for the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past film, further confounding fans. Now it seems those flashes of CG designs during the credits may have been all we will get. Sony suggests the following course of action...

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Announced

The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.



 Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

The Asian Godzilla Trailer


Monday, April 28, 2014

Emi's Adventures at Monsterpalooza 2014

We head back over to the West Coast where Emilie Noetzel wrestles monsters, both imagined and real on the floors of conventions year round!

As your guide in nerdventures, we travel to the annual event known to California monster fans as MONSTERPALOOZA..aka; the place to be in March.  Only a couple of hours from my home, Monsterpalooza consistently proves to be a haven for die hard fans of creature features, providing endless isles of hand made masks, makeup application demonstrations and all manner of creature displays from massively popular films to undiscovered indies. After joining a couple of LA friends  already waiting in line for tickets, the fun began with a small but impressive parade of amazing costumes.

Quake in Fear at the Amazing Spider-Man 2 Collector's Edition Blu-ray Set

The film is almost upon us, so what better time to start pre-orders for the Blu-ray collector's edition set?! Feast your eyes on one of the ugliest Blu-ray cases to date. I say "one of" because some companies don't really set the bar high when it comes to the sculpting and painting of these things. Well..most companies. This particular abomination includes a horrible actor likeness (Jamie Foxx must be weeping), features that probably came from an early, practical FX test for the character's movie look (which I will add, is not how he looks in the film) and subtle, sculptural details super-fans will appreciate...like what is left of Electro's toasted ears after his "fatal" accident and powered up re-birth. I can't imagine a set more unappealing than this. I suppose they couldn't get the rights for a "slowly dying Norman Osbourne" head sculpt.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Takashi Murakami's Debut Feature Film JELLYFISH EYES

Looks like this is the closest we'll ever come to a live action Pokemon film!

Kaikai Kiki Co. and Blum & Poe have announced that world-renowned visual artist Takashi Murakami's debut film JELLYFISH EYES will tour nationwide, screening at cultural institutions in eight US cities. JELLYFISH EYES transforms the classic cinematic trope of the new kid on the block into a genre-defying adventure set in a post-Fukushima world.  The film follows young Masashi who, after his father's death, moves with his mother to a small city in the Japanese countryside. But when he discovers that their new apartment is already inhabited by a pint-sized, gravity-defying creature, Masashi begins to pull back the curtain on this sleepy town and finds that very little is what it appears to be.  As a connoisseur of Japanese popular culture, from children's manga and anime to classic monster movies, Murakami packs his film with a delirious abundance of ideas and imagery.

Anovos Unveils 'Star Wars' Replica Costumes

The Force will be strong with STAR WARS fans this spring when ANOVOS Productions LLC unveils its first line of STAR WARS replica costumes designed to be both displayable and wearable.

Pre-sales begin on May the 4th for these licensed replica costumes.  The collection of STAR WARS replica costumes by ANOVOS will premiere with three extraordinary creations based on the unforgettable adventure of STAR WARS: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back.  Pieces from the collection will premiere during the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo from April 25 to 27.

“Our new Star Wars collection goes way beyond simple costumes – they’re based on the original costume designs and patterns used in the production of these classic movies,” said ANOVOS CEO Joe Salcedo.

First Look at Walt Disney Animation Studios' New Short FEAST

Making its world premiere at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival June 10, 2014, is “Feast,” a new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation, “Paperman”) and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The story of one man’s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share. The short will open in theaters in front of WDAS' new action-packed, big-screen adventure "Big Hero 6" on Nov. 7, 2014.




Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Wondercon 2014: Pop Culture Shock Collectibles: Robocop, Bravest Warriors, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Masters of the Universe and More!


Follow the long, incredible career of Jerry Macaluso and you'll find cult horror film favorites, expansive lines of action figures collectors still battle to posses, and some of the greatest quarter scale statues we've ever seen. With his latest crew (Pop Culture Shock Collectibles), Jerry and company are making geek dreams come true daily with mixed media statues we never thought we might own one day and amazingly fun, smaller scale collectibles from the hottest animated properties. PCSC took to Wondercon this weekend to show off their latest and greatest creations and Emilie Noetzel was there to snap many a picture! Here's the skinny...

Monday, April 21, 2014

The Quiet Ones Arrive This Friday

WOOOO! What an amazing time to be a geek...and if you're a Horror Geek, you've got 3 times as much to celebrate! Hollywood and other film making engines across the globe have been churning out a steady stream of QUALITY horror films including original concepts and genuine creeps our readers aren't soon shaking off. This Friday, we get a brand new film to add to that collection. On this night…THE QUIET ONES will be quiet no more....

"Batman Beyond" - Darwyn Cooke's Batman 75th Anniversary Short

For Mega-Batfans, these DC 75th Anniversary of Batman animated shorts are only succeeding in one thing....TO MAKE US SCREAM FOR A NEW BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES THAT DOESN'T SUCK!!! Our first taste of Anniversary Batman came from the father of Batman the Animated series, Bruce Timm. Watch that slice of retro Batman-Amazing HERE. Now, Darwyn Cooke takes us back into the dark future of Batman Beyond where our long lost friend Terry McGinnis takes on BATMAN alongside....BATMAN! Are there more Batmen waiting in the wings? Dive in to find out...

Dark Horse Releasing "The Art of the Venture Bros." Book

As rumored at San Diego Comic-Con 2013, Dark Horse Books proudly announces it will publish The Art of The Venture Bros.!

This massive coffee table book includes original artwork, character designs, storyboards, painted backgrounds, and props from every episode of The Venture Bros. to date, with accompanying commentary on the development of the series from cocreators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer!

Check out the earliest sketches of all your favorite Venture Bros. characters and the genesis of the ideas that became some of the show’s funniest episodes.

To top it off, comedian Patton Oswalt pens a very special foreword!

The Art of The Venture Bros. is on sale October 22! Click HERE to pre-order for 32% off!

IDW's Wondercon Announcements: A "Wormwood" Animated Series, Star Trek, Silent Hill, Transformers & More

At this year’s Wonder Con in Anaheim, IDW unleashed an impressive array of announcements, bolstering its lineup through the fall of 2014 and beyond. Brand-new titles, miniseries featuring fan-favorite characters, new Artist’s Editions, new television deals, and a first-of-its-kind exclusive creator deal rounded out the action-packed weekend.

IDW has secured the amazing talents of Locke & Key co-creator Gabriel Rodriguez by signing him to an exclusive deal. His work has appeared in IDW comics since the very beginning, and will continue to do so exclusively, with his next project being the hotly anticipated Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland with Eisner Award-winning writer, Eric Shanower.

Whedon Releases "In Your Eyes" Film Via Online Streaming

The man who broke new ground in film distribution with "Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog" returns to the interwebs with his newly penned and produced film, "In Your Eyes". Though the master of our geek universe garnered mega-success with "The Avengers" and has just begun filming on "Avengers 2", Whedon still returns to independent film when he's got a second to breathe!

At the Tribeca Film Festival last night, Joss Whedon and Kai Cole’s Bellwether Pictures made an unexpected move with its latest feature, IN YOUR EYES, giving instant access directly to fans around the world with a digital release immediately following its world premiere at the Festival. Whedon announced the plan in a surprise post-screening video message...

Friday, April 18, 2014

Son of Batman Premiering at WONDERCON This Weekend

"Son of Batman," the 20th DC Universe Animated Original Movie, will have its World Premiere as the featured event at WonderCon on Friday, April 18 in the Arena starting at 6:00pm. The premiere will be followed by a panel discussion amongst voice cast and filmmakers, including several members of the stellar voice cast -- Jason O'Mara (Batman), Sean Maher (Nightwing), Xander Berkeley (Langstrom), Stuart Allan (Damian) -- and filmmakers James Tucker (producer), Ethan Spaulding (director), Phil Bourassa (character designer) and Andrea Romano (dialogue director).

The Exclusive Comic Book Prequel for Marvel Universe LIVE

I don't know about you, but whenever these companies use the word LIVE! on the end of a title, I picture two things....Sesame Street On Ice and the Waterworld water show at Universal. Both...are silly..and aren't striving to be much more. Batman LIVE entered our lives with much hype in the pre-release months, then virtually disappeared as the tour rumbled through like a ninja who is super quiet and doesn't really bother anyone as he runs past. Did that show even happen?? Apparently it came through the states in 2012. The official website site suggests you buy tickets now. Here's the trailer for that insanity. WARNING: Stuff of nightmares ahead...

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Mondo's Special Marvel Show

Mondo announces "Mike Mitchell x Marvel x Mondo" a comics-themed show featuring artist Mike Mitchell's iconic portraits of Marvel's huge stable of heroes and villains, running from April 25th through May 17th. The characters of The Avengers, X-Men and Spider-man will be represented along with many others from Marvel's incredible library. The opening night event will be Friday, April 25th from 7 - 10pm at the Mondo Gallery, located at 4115 Guadalupe St. in Austin, TX. Artist Mike Mitchell will be in attendance.

"My love for Marvel Comics was an integral part of growing up. Not just the comics, but the action figures, video games and cartoons. My intention with this show was to take those characters out of their action-oriented world and give them a moment of silence to catch their breath. There's a humanizing quality to that which I find extremely interesting. This has easily been the most ambitious project I've ever taken on, and it's due in part to my love for their universe; which is fictional by definition, but real in my mind and in the minds of others," said Mitchell.

Hot Toys Amazing Spider-Man 2 12 inch Spider-Man Collectible Figure

The amazing Spider-Man is swinging back onto the silver screen this season! It is great to be Spider-Man, but it also comes at a big price and Spider-Man will find his greatest battle is just about to begin!

In anticipation to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 hitting the theaters, Hot Toys is excited to introduce the new 1/6th scale Spider-Man Collectible Figure (click to pre-order!) The movie-accurate Spider-Man collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Spider-Man in the film. It features a newly developed Spider-Man suit, highly detailed accessories, and figure stand with flexible pillar for dynamic posing. A special edition that is available for selected markets will include an additional 1/6th scale plutonium canister and a specially designed Spider-Man artwork cover for dynamic figure stand.

The "Final" X-Men: Days of Future Past Trailer

One month. ONE MONTH! We just got out of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and are still basking in that afterglow and before we know it, we will be knee deep in Marvel super heroes once again. IT'S A BRILLIANT TIME TO BE A GEEK! Though one month does seem like a long time to wait, FOX is hoping this new X-Men: Days of Future Past trailer will tide you over...until the onslaught of incessant TV commercials and insta-play mini trailers on websites reminds you to watch daily. Dive right in for the newest look at our returning "First Class" favorites and the re-united X-Men Alum!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Our Earmarked Films for the Tribeca Film Festival

As we head into another excellent Tribeca Film Festival deep in the heart of New York City, we thought we'd take a moment and outline all the films that caught our eye on this year's schedule. Let's jump right in...

A Brony Tale - Born of internet mecca 4chan, the “Brony” phenomenon is a flourishing community of adult, mostly straight, male fans of the children’s cartoon My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Brent Hodge’s funny and illuminating documentary surveys the members of this surprising subculture, framed by the journey of Ashleigh Ball, one of the show’s voice actors, embracing her unexpected fan base.

Friday, April 11, 2014

An Exclusive Captain America Figure for MarvelStore

With Captain America: The Winter Soldier number one at the box office, interest in the star-spangled Avenger is at an all-time high! The action-packed thriller sees Captain America teaming up with the Falcon and the Black Widow for one of the toughest battles of his career, and now Diamond Select Toys is teaming up with MarvelStore.com to create an exclusive battle-damaged figure of the hero, available May 19!

Starting on May 19, MarvelStore.com will be the only place to order the Marvel Select Unmasked Captain America figure, featuring an exclusive head sculpt of Steve Rogers, as well as a battle-damaged version of his stealth uniform. An exclusive battle-damaged version of Cap's shield will be included in the packaging, as well as an interchangeable masked head and a diorama display base modeled after the SHIELD helicarriers seen in the film. All will come packaged in the distinctive Marvel Select packaging, suitable for display and featuring spine artwork for easy shelf reference.

Oculus Reviewed

The horror machine seems to be taped to the "on" setting these last few years with no signs of stopping any time soon! (and for that, we say, yay) Food of choice for spookhounds seems to be heaving helpings of ghostly creeps and a steady stream of demonic possessions, but one sub-genre has also been enjoying a steady stream of titles dedicated to its preservation while seemingly keeping under the radar...and that is the realm of the CURSED OBJECT!! Of course, all this will change when James Wan tells the tale of Annabelle, the cursed doll that will have you sleeping with the lights on for months after viewing..and every studio begins the hunt for a cursed something-or-other movie. I, personally, would love to see cursed housewares. Sure, "Maximum Overdrive" came close, but I feel they really didn't pull the trigger there. Demonic housewares is where it's at, mark my words. Now comes Oculus; a mean spirited tale of a mirror with a taste for chaos...and plants..and dogs...and Scifi starlets. Can Amy Pond and Starbuck prevail against an unseen horror that would bring their minds to the very edge of sanity? Let's discuss.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Watch "Batman: Strange Days" by Bruce Timm

You can't possibly celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The Batman without Bruce Timm contributing some astounding piece of art. True to form, Timm has created an animated short called "Strange Days" where "the Dark Knight tracks a strange giant to the mysterious lair of Dr. Hugo Strange". Of course, there is a damsel in distress, and so The Bat must save the day! The art style is unmistakably Timm, giving us instant flashbacks to our treasured youths and the veritable golden age of super hero cartoons, led by "Batman: The Animated Series". To up the ante, Timm takes us back to a Fleisher-esque era, delivering a Batman flying a prop plane, sporting taller ears and left without 100 different high tech devices to pull from his pouches. Point of fact...NO POUCHES!! When facing a creepy giant on a mountainside, jumping out of the fog with a big stick is your best defense. ANYWAY...prepare to fall in love all over again...

Stephen Colbert Steps In for David Letterman on “The Late Show”

...And to think...I knew him when he was only 2 dimensional.

The CBS Television Network today announced that Stephen Colbert, the host, writer and executive producer of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning “The Colbert Report,” will succeed David Letterman as the host of THE LATE SHOW, effective when Mr. Letterman retires from the broadcast. The five-year agreement between CBS and Colbert was announced by Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation, and Nina Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment.

Letterman, the legendary, critically acclaimed host of the CBS late night series for 21 years, announced his retirement on his April 3 broadcast. Colbert’s premiere date as host of THE LATE SHOW will be announced after Mr. Lettermen determines a timetable for his final broadcasts in 2015.

New Battle Royale 15th Anniversary Releases

VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint commemorates the 15th Anniversary of the original debut of one of the most controversial works of modern Japanese literary fiction with the release of BATTLE ROYALE: REMASTERED and the BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK: Essays on the Cult Classic Novel by Koushun Takami.

BATTLE ROYALE: REMASTERED features a brand new translation of the smash hit near-future dystopian thriller along with new cover art by Tomer Hanuka and an afterword by author Koushun Takami. The BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK presents an insightful collection of essays by some of the most important writers of popular fiction on the impact of the novel, related films and manga series on pop culture and the controversy and continuing social debate that has surrounded BATTLE ROYALE ever since its release.

Star Trek: Live in Concert

One of pop culture’s most iconic franchises is about to be seen and heard in a brand new way. CBS Consumer Products, Paramount Pictures, 21st Century Symphony Orchestra, IMG Artists and the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency will launch Star Trek: Live in Concert featuring the Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness films. The events will celebrate the extraordinary collaboration between film and music as Michael Giacchino's scores are brought to life on stage with J.J. Abrams’ blockbuster films shown simultaneously in high definition on the big screen.

The Dead Rise for Texas Frightmare Weekend

Texas Frightmare Weekend is teaming up with The Alamo Drafthouse Dallas to screen five classic Frightmare-themed films during the week leading up to this year’s jam-packed 2014 weekend… culminating with a star-studded screening of George Romero’s zombie opus DAWN OF THE DEAD the night before Frightmare begins!

 In 1968, George A. Romero created what would go on to be the modern zombie genre as we know it with Night of the Living Dead. Ten years later, he redefined it with what is widely considered as the zenith of the genre with Dawn of the Dead. Now, almost 40 years since, it remains just as groundbreaking and influential a film, as does Romero's contribution to horror and filmmaking in general.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

A Look Inside X-Men: Days of Future Past with Bryan Singer

Entertainment Weekly get's the exclusive tonight with a video featuring Bryan Singer talking about the appeal of returning to the directors chair for an X-Men film. Remember how badly the 3rd X-Men movie went over? Erase that. Remember how in shock we were when "X-Men: First Class" turned out to be pretty darn bad ass? Hell, even the Wolverine sequel succeeded in washing that mess of a first installment from our very sensitive geek palate. SO!  Now...clean slate with high expectations. We take everything (and everyone) you loved in "First Class", throw in Wolverine and our favorite New York tourists (namely Sir Patrick and Sir Ian), and, at the very least, you can prepare yourself for one hell of an opening day box office smash! Jump right in for the eye candy...

The Summer/Fall Diamond Select Lineup

The new Previews catalog from Diamond Comic Distributors is in comic shops now, and it's chock-full of upcoming items from Diamond Select Toys! Marvel, TMNT, Kill Bill, Batman, Godzilla, Universal Monsters and the films of Kevin Smith all make their debuts this month, with products ranging from figures to banks to silicone trays! Check out the new offerings, and pre-order them today at your local comic shop, favorite online retailer, or from DiamondSelectToys.com!

Friday, April 4, 2014

Watch the Community G.I. Joe Opening Title Sequence!

No explanation needed. Just awesome. Now do one for me and my friends with Thundercats....OO or Samuai Pizza Cats!!!


Marvel Infinite Series Action Figures: Wave 1 Reviewed

Marvel Universe is BACK! ...well...sort of. The return of the Marvel Legends 6 inch scale to the pegs in force sent up many a cheer among the toy buying hordes, but the deep sobbing from those who had come to love the 1:18th scale figures could be heard as well. Would the line continue? Would they pick up right where they left off or reboot the whole darn thing in favor of a "simplified" figure design for the kiddies who have just discovered the mighty Marvel Universe via The Avengers. The arrival of pre-orders for Marvel Infinite Series Wave 1 action figures ended all speculation...AND NOW THEY ARE HERE. Good..Bad...Dan Curto is the guy with the camera...and many opinions. Take it away Dan!

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Game of Thrones Premiere Party: Dark Horse's Map Marker & Map Set


The time of the walkers is over til October dawns once more. Now is the time of the WHITE WALKERS...and though the tulips are just starting to poke through the ground in the real world, on your TV, WINTER IS COMING! We celebrate the return of Game of Thrones (our next favorite obsession for the forseeable future) with a series of articles showcasing killer collectibles from the realm.

FIRST UP...is probably the best Game of Thrones collectible on the market...short of a life size iron throne you can slip over your toilet. ......holy damn. I'm copyrighting that. TMPaulNomad. Dark Horse has been intensely enthusiastic about creating the best GOT collectibles from day one, and the Game of Thrones Map Markers and Map Set (click to pre-order!) is the perfect example of their love, eye for detail and dedication to above-and-beyond geekery.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man Meets Baby Spidey

Hey, even Spider-Man could have an Ally McBeal moment. ~crickets~ SOMEONE OUT THERE remembers Ally McBeal!! It was the show about a young, hot, female lawyer who was neurotic to the bone..so much so her anxiety driven thoughts often manifested in imaginary moments that seemed real to her...like a baby beckoning her to come and dance. It's kind of sweet to think, since Peter Parker had a tumultuous upbringing, there would be be a piece of him longing to run outside and play..you know..if swinging in between buildings in New York City on bungee-like webbing ever stops being FUN! Evian recognized Spidey's often mopey, overly responsible nature and cooked up this ad campaign with the catch phrase "Live Young"....or they just thought it would be awesome to watch Spidey goof around with a little Chibi Spidey for a bit. Either way..win. Hit the jump to watch...

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Marvel Character Themed Episode of Project Runway Coming April 3rd

Lifetime’s newest fashion competition series, Project Runway: Under the Gunn (#UnderTheGunn), will be “making it work” the Marvel way this Thursday, April 3rd at 9 PM ET/PT as Tim Gunn presents the remaining contestants with a ready-to-wear challenge that ask the designers to create a look inspired by some of Marvel Comic’s most iconic heroes.

Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Falcon, Hawkeye, The Guardians of the Galaxy and many more Marvel heroes will be the muses for these exceptional looks to come down the runway this Thursday at 9 PM ET/PT on Lifetime.

CHALLENGE! The Game of Thrones 60-hour Marathon

In celebration of the highly anticipated fourth season premiere of Game of Thrones, HBO gives audiences the best way to catch up on the series when the show takes over HBO2 for a weekend-long marathon that will allow fans and newcomers alike to watch all three previous seasons consecutively. In addition, HBO.com will launch the all-new Game of Thrones Viewer’s Guide, the ultimate online companion – delivering exclusive content for every episode of the series, now on every platform including tablet and mobile.

Beginning on Friday, April 4 at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT, HBO2 will reign when all three previous seasons (10 episodes each) of the epic series are played back-to-back, twice, for 60 straight hours.  The final play of Season 3, episode 10, will end at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, April 6, just in time for the Season 4 premiere on the HBO main channel at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.