Secret Wars #1 Review

Image Credit: Marvel Comics

Hey O&G fans, today Marvel's long awaited Secret Wars starts and the Marvel multiverse is coming to an end! Previous events that ran through the Avengers: The Incursions,The Avengers World, The Great Society, Avengers: Time Runs Out, Avengers: The End of Everything, led up to these events and this series is the end result of Hickman's work on Avengers Vol. 5 and New Avengers Vol. 3 (both of which concluded last week). Hickman has been busy weaving a massive saga about the death of Marvel's multiverse and the failure of the Avengers to protect their world.

The issue opens with Ultimate Universe's  Nick Fury leading an all-out assault on the Marvel U., various other factions seek their own ways of cheating death and surviving the coming apocalypse. (After the events of Original Sin I think this Nick Fury may survive). The battles in this issue are epic! 616 Universe and Ultimate Universe going head to head. Superior Ironman unleashing his arsenal against the Avengers only to be knocked back by the Hulk, Colossus, and Captain Marvel. There are alot of geek-out moments, fans can see some of their favorite heroes and some they may have forgotten about back in action.

This first issue was great and although it seems the Marvel universe as we know it may be coming to an end, it looks like it might be one hell of a story. My hope is that this epic event doesn't start strong and disappoint as it comes to an end.

Secret Wars #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Esad Ribic and Ive Svorcina
Lettering by Chris Eliopoulos
Published by Marvel Comics

by Sean Tucker

NYCC 2015 Announces it's first Guest

Image Credit: NYCC and Reedpop
 

Press Release

LEGENDARY MANGA ARTIST MASASHI KISHIMOTO TO MAKE FIRST INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCE AT NEW YORK COMIC CON AND
NEW YORK SUPER WEEK

Creator of Naruto to Participate in Two Panels and Multiple Autograph Sessions at
East Coast’s Biggest Pop Culture Convention

NORWALK, CT – May 5, 2015 – ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events and producers of New York Comic Con, today announced that renowned manga artist Masashi Kishimoto, creator of Naruto, one of the most successful manga properties on the planet, will be appearing at New York Comic Con and New York Super Week. In what will be his first ever international appearance outside of Japan, Kishimoto will take part in two panels and multiple autograph sessions, giving fans unprecedented access. His panels will take place on Thursday, October 8 and Saturday, October 10 during New York Comic Con. He will also host autograph sessions at Kinokuniya Bookstore and Barnes & Noble as part of New York Super Week. Masashi Kishimoto is appearing at New York Comic Con with the support of VIZ Media.

Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in the world. The series spawned multiple anime series, movies, novels, video games and more. Having concluded the series in late 2014, he has kept himself busy with the sidestory Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring and with writing the story for the latest Naruto movie, both of which will focus on the title character’s son, Boruto. Naruto is published in North America by VIZ Media.

“Kishimoto is one of the biggest names in manga and a major influence on artists across the globe,” said Lance Fensterman, global senior vice president of ReedPOP. “We’re thrilled to have him added to our lineup this year and think fans are going to love the chance to get close to an icon.”

New York Comic Con, the crown jewel of New York Super Week, will take place October 8-11 at the Javits Center. The show is the East Coast's biggest and most exciting popular culture convention with the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television. The show’s panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators, while screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either big or small screens. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City.

Additional exciting details about New York Comic Con and New York Super Week events, talent and sponsors will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, please visit www.NewYorkComicCon.com and www.NewYorkSuperWeek.com.

ABOUT REEDPOP
ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture world. ReedPOP is dedicated to celebrations of popular culture throughout the globe that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime, East, South and Australia, Emerald City Comicon, BookCon, Oz Comic-Con, Comic Con India, Paris Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration, TwitchCon, Shanghai Comic Convention and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to serve those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, India and Australia. (www.reedpop.com)

My Little Pony Characters at Comic Shops This Week!

This week, your local comic shop is turning into a regular rodeo, as two new banks based on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic are galloping into stores! Released by Diamond Select Toys, these vinyl banks of Fluttershy and Rarity join the previously released Applejack, with even more characters on the way!

Each vinyl bank measures approximately 7 inches tall, and features a different pony atop a sculpted base: Rarity stands on a giant jewel, Fluttershy canters through a field of flowers, and Applejack stands on a haystack with a bucket of apples. Each base has a coin slot in the side and an access door underneath, so you can store your loose change under each pony’s feet! Each bank comes packaged in a clear polybag, to protect the display-quality paint and sculpting, and is available to order through your local comic shop, your favorite online toy retailer, or at diamondselecttoys.com.

Later this summer, two more banks will join the stable, as Pinkie Pie rides in on a giant cupcake, and Rainbow Dash soars to stores on a fluffy cloud. Both are available for pre-order now, and stay tuned later this month, when we reveal the sixth pony (and first boy pony) in the line!

AVAILABLE NOW:

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Fluttershy Vinyl Bank (SRP: $22.99, item #AUG142284)

http://www.diamondselecttoys.com/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-fluttershy-vinyl-bank

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Rarity Vinyl Bank (SRP: $22.99, item #SEP142257)

http://www.diamondselecttoys.com/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-rarity-vinyl-bank

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Applejack Vinyl Bank (SRP: $22.99, item #JUL142032)

http://www.diamondselecttoys.com/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-applejack-vinyl-bank

COMING SOON:

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Pinkie Pie Vinyl Bank (SRP: $22.99, item #MAR152064)

http://www.diamondselecttoys.com/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-pinkie-pie-vinyl-bank

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Rainbow Dash Vinyl Bank (SRP: $22.99, item #APR152305)

http://www.diamondselecttoys.com/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-rainbow-dash-vinyl-bank

Martin Freeman Joins Civil War

Martin Freeman
 

Marvel announced Wednesday that actor Martin Freeman has been cast in an unknown role in 2016's Captain America: Civil War. There are many wild guesses as to who it will be, Hopefully our curiosity will be satisfied soon.

 "From his roles as Bilbo Baggins and Doctor Watson to Tim in The Office, Martin's range from the dramatic to the comedic has consistently impressed us," said Marvel Studios' president, Kevin Feige. "We couldn't be more honored or excited to have such a talented actor join the Marvel Cinematic Universe."

by Sean Tucker
 

John Wick 2 Announced

Lionsgate  has confirmed plans to produce a sequel to 2014’s critically-acclaimed breakout hit “JOHN WICK,” it was announced today by Rob Friedman and  Patrick Wachsberger, Co-Chairmen of the Theatrical Motion Pictures Group.  Keanu Reeves along with directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski as well as screenwriter, Derek Kolstad are set to return for the sequel. The film will be released through Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment and will be produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk, who produced the first film.

In the follow up to last year’s adrenaline-fueled revenge and redemption thriller, legendary hit man John Wick is back.   

“With such tremendous fan and critical support for ‘John Wick,’ we knew that there was still so much more of this story to tell,” said Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions. “We are thrilled that Keanu, David and Chad have re-teamed with us and promise to bring audiences even more excitement the second time around.”

Jason Constantine and Eda Kowan at Lionsgate will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. 

Lionsgate International will be selling the picture internationally at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

8BitDrum.com Launches Videogame Podcast "Game Cast"

Our good friends at 8BitDrum.com have launched their podcast show which is now on Itunes entitled Game Cast. In episode 1 "We Got Our Podcast Name." The staff talk about the recent cancelled Silent Hills, WWE games and many more. You can subscribe to the show on Itunes using the following link here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/game-cast-8bitdrum/id989652831?mt=2

SUBLIME DEBUTS NEW SERIES LOVE STAGE!!

SuBLime is proud to announce the launch of the romantic comedy LOVE STAGE!! on May 12th.

The yaoi manga series by noted creators Eiki Eiki andTaishi Zaou will be released in print and digital and is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers. Individual print volumes will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

A digital version of LOVE STAGE will also be available for an MSRP of $5.99 U.S.  each and will offer fans digital access to all volumes in two ways onSuBLimeManga.com – a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer as well as via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

Though his family is packed with famous celebrities, Izumi Sena is just your average guy. Currently a college student, he is a huge otaku with aspirations of becoming a manga creator. But one day he gets roped into filming a TV commercial and meets hot young actor Ryoma Ichijo. Could this be the same boy he starred in a commercial with over ten years ago?!

LOVE STAGE!! has been adapted into a drama CD as well as a popular 10-episode anime series that is available both on DVD and via streaming in the U.S. The creators of the manga also publish doujinshi(independent comics) under the name "Kozouya.” Fans can find out more about Eiki Eiki and illustrator Taishi Zaou at their website, http://www.kozouya.com/.

“Fans have been very excited for this release ever since we first announced during our manga panel at last year’s YaoiCon plans to publish LOVE STAGE!!,” says SuBLime Editor Jennifer LeBlanc. “The series’ creators, Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou, are renowned among legions of yaoi and shojo manga fans for their collaborative works and we are thrilled to debut their first title for the SuBLime imprint!”

Eiki Eiki is the creator of numerous yaoi and shojo manga. Her previous English-language releases includeTrain★Train, Millennium Prime Minister, and The Art of Loving.

Manga illustrator Taishi Zaou’s works have been published in English, French, and German. Her previous English-language releases include Green Light, Fevered Kiss, Living For Tomorrow, Mysterious Love, and Electric Hands.

Snoop Dogg Gets Animated in Nickelodeon’s "Sanjay and Craig

Music sensation Snoop Dogg guest stars as Street Dogg, a rap icon who moves in next door to Sanjay and Craig in the special half-hour premiere of Emmy nominated series, Sanjay and Craig, “Street Dogg,” Sunday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.  Street Dogg is a cool, funny, friendly guy who is always eager to rhyme with the kids. He’s come to town to escape the bright lights of LA, chill out, make some new music and live a quiet suburban life.

 During the special, Sanjay and Craig discover that Street Dogg was once part of a rap duo with none other than Remington Tufflips, the boys’ action-movie idol.  They set out to reunite the former pair, but their failed efforts only lead to a town divided—and the mother of all rap battles! Check out the stills below.

Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 3: Friendship is Magic

Image Credit: Robot Chicken

Press Release

Robot Chicken is teaming up with DC Comics again for a third rendezvous with villains and heroes in the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Friendship Is Magic. The special and season eight of the Emmy Award®-winning series will premiere this fall on Adult Swim.

          The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Friendship Is Magic surrenders DC Comics multitude of Super Heroes and Super-Villains to the demented whims of the award-winning Robot Chicken for a triumphant third time. This time around, Batman and Superman’s bromance takes a competitive turn and the fate of the universe somehow hangs in the balance! The all-star cast includes Seth Green, Matt Senreich, Breckin Meyer, Alfred Molina, Nathan Fillion, Weird Al Yankovic, Alex Borstein, Giovanni Ribisi, Jonathan Banks, Mae Whitman, Hugh Davidson, Dee Bradley Baker, Zeb Wells, Kevin Shinick, plus Adam West and Burt Ward.

          The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Friendship Is Magic is executive produced by Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich and their Stoopid Buddy Stoodios partners, John Harvatine IV and Eric Towner, along with DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, and President, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series Sam Register. The special is directed by Tom Sheppard (Annoying Orange) and Zeb Wells. Head writers/co-executive producers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root and co-executive producer Kevin Shinick are joined as writers by writer Mike Fasolo, as well as Hugh Davidson (Mike Tyson Mysteries), Green, J. T. Krul, Breckin Meyer, Senreich and Sheppard.

          Robot Chicken uses stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format. The award-winning series began airing in February 2005 and remains among the top-rated original series on Adult Swim. Robot Chicken is executive produced by Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich and their Stoopid Buddy Stoodios partners, John Harvatine IV and Eric Towner. Green and Senreich also write, voice and with Tom Sheppard, direct the multiple Annie Award-winning series.  Robot Chicken head writers/executive producers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root are joined by season eight writers Deirdre Devlin, Jeff Eckman, Mike Fasolo, Shelby Fero, Joel Hurwitz, J.T. Krul, Jason Reich, Mehar Sethi, Sheppard, Erik Weiner and Brian Wysol. 

          Robot Chicken season eight has begun production with plans to get eight times the normal number of superstar actors to provide their voices for the show. (Correction: The previous sentence is financially impossible. Robot Chicken will feature our normal number of famous voice actors, which is a lot.)

DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. 

          Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, producing and developing both CG and traditionally animated projects for multiple platforms, both domestically and internationally. For TV, WBA produces series such as Teen Titans Go!, The Tom and Jerry Show and the upcoming Be Cool Scooby-Doo! and Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production for Cartoon Network as well as Mike Tyson Mysteries for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. As the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries, WBA also produces highly successful animated films — including the DC Universe Animated Original Movies — for DVD. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has won six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios is an artist-friendly collective that houses some of the finest talent in all of animation. The company has a knack for creating unique visuals and telling character driven stories with an uncanny sensibility. The company’s two-building campus and state-of-the-art facility located in Burbank, CA, makes it the largest studio specializing in stop-motion animation in California. The company’s work covers the animation gamut, ranging from charming hand-crafted animation all the way to high-end feature quality animation.

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering of original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network and is seen in 96 million U.S. homes.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Image Credit: Robot Chicken

Batman: Arkham Knight Season Pass & Premium Edition Announced

Posted by Nathaniel Huggins 

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced the Season Pass and Premium Edition for Batman™: Arkham Knight, the epic conclusion to the award-winning Arkham trilogy from Rocksteady Studios.  Both the Batman: Arkham Knight Season Pass and Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition are now available for preorder from participating retailers. The Season Pass is priced at $39.99 and the Premium Edition, which includes both the Season Pass and the main game, is priced at $99.99.  

The Batman: Arkham Knight Season Pass will deliverregular new content for six months post-launch including new story missions, additional super-villains invading Gotham City, legendary Batmobile skins, advanced challenge maps, alternative character skins, and new drivable race tracks. The Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition includes the main game and the Season Pass.

Stan Lee School of Cameo

Released by Audi of America today, discover the hidden talents of comic book legend Stan Lee as he teaches a very unique acting class to Kevin Smith, Michael Rooker and Tara Reid: the art of cameo. Stan’s notable cameos in Marvel films, from being a beauty pageant judge in Iron Man 3 to a mental ward patient in Thor: The Dark World, are part of comic legend. The video directed by Kevin Smith, also features cameos by Lou Ferrigno, Jason Mewes and the Audi S8.

This was very cool to see. Over the years Stan Lee has become the king of cameos. Not just in Marvel films but in television, books and more.  I would like to see this as a ongoing thing. 

New Dragonball Anime Series Coming in July

It's been 18 years, since a Dragonball series came to the small screen. Otakus today I'm happy to tell you, Dragonball Super will be coming in July. The series will take place a few years after the Buu Saga. Fans in the states will get a taste of the new film Resurrection later this year. The new series will debut in Japan in July on Sundays at 9:00 am on Fuji TV. More details will be announced as the premiere approaches. My question is this going to erase Dragonball GT since many consider GT not cannon.

CM Punk Takes on a Guardian of the Galaxy for DRAX #1 This Winter!

This Winter – the “Best in the World” takes on the baddest in the galaxy! Announced at C2E2, CM Punk will return to Marvel forDRAX #1! Fresh off his thunderous Marvel debut in February’s Thor Annual #1, the wrestling superstar is blasting off into outer space for Drax’s very first ongoing series! Exploring Drax’s time outside the Guardians of the Galaxy, prepare for an ongoing series unlike anything you’ve read before!

“CM Punk has proven that he’s the best in the world in the wrestling ring and now he’s out to prove he’s the best in the Marvel Universe. How could you not want to read this book? I couldn’t be more excited for readers to see what Punk has in store for Drax the Destroyer!” – Jon Moisan, Editor

What does Drax do when he’s not saving the universe alongside the likes of Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon and Groot? DESTROY! Obviously. From inside the intergalactic octagon to the far reaches of outer space – experience the bone-crunching solo adventures of the galaxy’s most fearsome guardian as he makes his way through the Marvel Universe! And demolishes anything and everything in his path!

New Naruto Manga Series Debuts in Weekly Shonen Jump

The brand new, limited-run series by NARUTO creator Masashi Kishimoto depicts a new generation ofshinobi and will appear in the English incarnation of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP on the same day as its premiere in Japan.

After a short break, NARUTO is back! And the story picks up right where the series finale left off. As the newest Hokage, Naruto's face now adorns the mountain behind the village. The same one he used to paint on as a prank when he was an attention-seeking kid! After his legendary feats, Naruto has gained the respect of everyone in the ninja world...except his own son. Boruto is as bratty and stubborn as Naruto used to be! How will these two ever see eye-to-eye?!

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is published digitally each week by VIZ Media and features the latest installments of some of the world’s most popular manga series released to English readers across North America on the same day as the magazine’s general print release in Japan. Currently featured series include BLACK CLOVER, BLEACH, BLUE EXORCIST, FOOD WARS!, GAKKYU HOTEI, MY HERO ACADEMIA, NISEKOI, ONE PIECE, ONE-PUNCH MAN, SERAPH OF THE END: VAMPIRE REIGN, TORIKO, WORLD TRIGGER and YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL. More info is available at: ShonenJump.VIZ.com.

In addition to the U.S. and Canada, WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is available to readers in the U.K., Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand at ShonenJump.VIZ.com and through the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP App for iOS and Android devices. Additionally in North America, the free WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP issues are available via the VIZ Manga App and WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP App for iOS and Android devices.

Annual 1 Year Memberships to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP are available for only $25.99 (USD). Members receive 48 weekly digital issues as well as special premiums such as Yu-Gi-Oh! Collectable Trading Cards, rare one-shot manga releases, digital-only promotions, and access to additional subscriber-only content including creator interviews and insightful promo videos. (*Note: Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are only available to annual subscribers in the US and Canada.) Current subscribers can access their accounts viaVIZManga.com, the VIZ Manga App, and shonenjump.viz.com or with the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP App on iOS and Android devices.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and exclusive subscriber offers, please visitshonenjump.viz.com.

Marvel’s Mightiest Women Assemble! Your New Look at A-FORCE #1!

An all-new era begins this May as Marvel’s Mightiest Mavens assemble for an explosive new series launching during Secret Wars! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your new look inside the blockbuster A-FORCE#1 – from the creative team of G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel), Marguerite Bennett (Angela: Asgard’s Assassin, James Patterson’s Max Ride: First Flight)and Jorge Molina (X-Men)!

As the Secret Wars begin, the Avengers as you know them are no more – and a new team will lead the way! In a secluded corner of Battleworld lies Arcadia, an island nation fiercely protected by a team of Avengers the likes of which has never been seen before!

So who are the Marvel powerhouses taking center stage? “She-Hulk, Dazzler, Medusa, Nico Minoru and other fan favorites, will take charge,” says series co-writer G. Willow Wilson. “We've purposefully assembled a team composed of different characters from disparate parts of the Marvel U, with very different power sets, identities and ideologies.”

And there came a day unlike any other, when Earth’s Mightiest Heroines found themselves united against a common threat. Fighting to protect the small sliver of their world that’s left, they stand tall, shoulder-to-shoulder, ready to take on the horde. Ushering in a new day with a rallying cry heard across Battleworld –A-FORCE ASSEMBLE!

Heed the call, and don’t miss the start of a comic series that will have the world talking when A-FORCE#1 hits comic shops and digital devices this May! 

Call Of Duty Black Ops 3 Official Trailer

Hey O&G fans, today Treyarch released the official trailer for Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3. Set in the year 2060, black ops 3 explores technology's advancements and how its giving human being the ability to become far more than they ever dreamed.

Here is a look at some screen shots:

Set to Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones, the trailer gives us a first look at Black Ops 3 gameplay and offers some story context about how soldiers are becoming less and less human.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is a dark, gritty future where a new breed of Black Ops soldier emerges and the lines are blurred between our own humanity and the cutting-edge military robotics that define the future of combat. See you on November 6, the new Black Friday.

If you pre-order Black Ops 3, you'll get access to a multiplayer beta on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. No start date was given.