DEATH OF X PREVIEW

Image Credit: Marvel

A first look at October's Death of X #1 has been released, coinciding with Thursday's press conference with writers Jeff Lemire and Charles Soule

DEATH OF X #1 (of 4)
JEFF LEMIRE & CHARLES SOULE (W) • AARON KUDER (A/C)
Wraparound Variant COVER by AARON KUDER
SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY AARON KUDER
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER A BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
• What happened eight months ago that set the Inhumans and X-Men on a collision course? Find out here!
• The Inhumans travel to Japan where one of the Terrigen Clouds creates a shocking new Inhuman.
• The X-Men travel to Muir Island where the second Terrigen Cloud causes something truly terrible.
• When these two events collide, a war of catastrophic proportions explodes!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Black Lightning lands pilot commitment at Fox

image credit: cully Hammer DC

Greg Berlanti's proposed Black Lightning TV series has landed a pilot commitment through FOX according to Variety. Berlanti will produce the pilot along side Sarah Schechter, with husband and wife duo Salim and Mara Brock Akli writing.

The story is said to focus on an older retired Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning, who is pulled out of retirement when his unnamed daughter starts seeking Justice.

Fox also committed to a pilot based on Marvel's X-men Universe and airs Gotham based on the world of Batman as well as Lucifer based on the Vertigo Title. No release date or cast has been announced for the title.

source: Newsarama and Variety

VIZ Media Announces Release Date For THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY

VIZ Media announced today that the new book The Art of Castle In The Sky will be released on October 18th 2016. This beautiful hardcover edition joins VIZ Media’s highly commended series of art books showcasing Studio Ghibli films. THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY’s debut also coincides with the 30th Anniversary of the original release of the film. THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY will carry an MSRP of $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky was the first feature film produced by the legendary Studio Ghibli. Sheeta, a girl who has the power to defy gravity, is on the run from pirates when she meets the young inventor Pazu. Together they explore the secrets of Laputa, a flying city constructed by a long-lost race of people. All of Miyazaki’s major themes – the power of flight, the bravery of young women, and a world wrecked by change – are captured with beautiful animation and joyous storytelling.

“We are proud to release this gorgeously illustrated book that celebrates the extraordinary artwork of Hayao Miyazaki’s groundbreaking film,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “This comprehensive edition is packed with the film’s art, from conception to final release, as well as commentary and insights from Miyazaki himself. It makes a fitting addition to our extensive Studio Ghibli library.”

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. His first feature, The Castle of Cagliostro, was released in 1979 and his critically acclaimed film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which was based on his own manga, was released in 1984. In 1985, Miyazaki cofounded Studio Ghibli, through which he directed the box office smashes Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), which won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival and the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) received the Osella Award for technical achievement at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival. In 2005, VIFF awarded Miyazaki the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Miyazaki’s other acclaimed films include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Ponyo. Miyazaki's essays, interviews and memoirs have been collected in STARTING POINT: 1979–1996 and TURNING POINT: 1997–2008. His final film, The Wind Rises, was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award®. In November 2014, Miyazaki received an honorary Academy Award® at the academy's sixth annual Governor's Awards.

Batman: Return to Arkham Release Date Set for October 18, 2016

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that Batman: Return to Arkham will be available beginning October 18, 2016 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. The bundle includes remastered versions of Batman: Arkham Asylum andBatman: Arkham City, as well as all of the Game of the Year edition bonus and downloadable content ever released.

The newly revealed Official Batman: Return to Arkham Side-by-Side trailer showcases the game’s improved graphics, upgraded models, environments, lighting, effects and shaders. Batman: Return to Arkham is being remastered by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 4, and will be available for a suggested retail price of $49.99/€49.9/£39.99.

AkibaFest Relaunches Website With Ticket Info And Event Details

Aniplex of America today revealed the second phase of the AkibaFest website. AkibaFest will take place in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles, on October 15th and 16th in 2016, bringing with it the fun and festivities typically associated with the famous Akihabara sector of Tokyo.

The revamped 2.0 version of the AkibaFest website introduces the event’s cat-like mascot, which will be the subject of a naming contest to be revealed soon. Additionally, the site makeover details AkibaFest’s special guest appearances, as well as the weekend’s extensive film offerings showcasing over a dozen films, including the North American theatrical premiere of KIZUMONOGATARI PART 2: NEKKETSU, the highly-anticipated second installment of the KIZUMONOGATARI trilogy. AkibaFest will be the first time many of these films will see a North American theatrical release, offering anime fans a unique opportunity to see their favorite anime franchises on the big screen.

Between now and October 15th, additional details will be added to the site, including news updates, the full schedule of events (including AkibaFest’s maid café and cosplay contest) and a comprehensive list of exhibitors. DJs will be playing popular theme songs and remixes of enduring anime series throughout the weekend, while other special surprises will be revealed at the event itself.

Hideki Goto, President of Aniplex of America said, “AkibaFest is one of the ways of saying ‘thank you’ from the anime industry to all the loyal fans that have supported us throughout the years. The notion of bringing ‘Akiba to you’ stems from our core belief that anime, J-Pop, Japanese fashion and culture are alive and well in North America because of the powerful bond and passion our fans have for each of these things.”

Video Interview: Gamer Girl kicks it with Pump It Up Prime at Otakon 2016

Interview by: Young Jeohn

I found Bree being perfect... perfectly good at playing Pump it up Prime, a five foot panel game where you have to coordinate your feet with the arrows as they scroll up the game screen. What we have here is a true Gamer Girl, a gem in a haystack!

Lenni Reviews: "Iron Goddess" by Dharma Kelleher

(Image Source)

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reformed ex-con Shea Stevens has left a family history of crime behind her. Now the owner of Iron Goddess bike shop, Shea is content to build custom bikes, run her business, and enjoy her new relationship with her girlfriend. Things get complicated when not only is her shop robbed; an employee is shot, and her sister, Wendy, shows up after a decade of estrangement begging for help because her daughter has been kidnapped. Old ties come back to cause Shea much more trouble than just a couple stolen bikes.

I gotta say, this book was badass. There are straight, gay, and trans characters and they are people first. Their gender or sexuality are not used as tools to advance the plot, it is simply part of who they are as a complete character; not sterotypes at all.

Even though the motorcycle gangs were over the top with their racism, sexism, and at times an overt lack of logic, I'm not going to claim any knowledge of gang culture to call the book out on its portrayal of them. Overall, Shea was a believable character making the best of a shitty situation and everything works out as best she can manage without getting killed. A non-stop ride from start to finish, I give this book a 4 out of 5.

For more of Lenni's writing, check out Haunting Hypatia.

Lenni Reviews: "Like Heaven on Earth" by Jaime Samms

(Image Source)

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+.

Cobolt Winslow is involved in an unhealthy, long-distance relationship with Calvin Denvers. Calvin infected Cobolt with HIV, which cost Cobolt his dancing career in their ballet company as his body became too weak to put up with such strenuous activity. The only stable person Cobolt has come to rely on Malory Preston; a driver who works for Cobolt's brother, Azure. As his health takes a turn for the better, Calvin comes back into the picture and Cobolt is faced with choosing between dancing and his growing attraction to Preston.

I cannot go any further without mentioning the naming conventions in this book. Yes, they are a little odd (at least for me) because it was like reading characters from a fantasy novel but this isn't fantasy. I did get used to it as the book went on.

The relationship between Cobolt and Preston works and makes sense the way those characters are written; even if there are times where I felt Cobolt needed a swat of sense on the back of his head. If a character can frustrate you, he/she is well written.

Other than that, this book is short, sweet, sultry when it needs to be, but standard. Cobolt and Calvin's HIV status is handled with maturity and not used as a crutch or a lame gimmick to make the characters act a certain way. The dancing was immersively written and the subtle nuances of stage culture were there but not as dark as something like Black Swan. I enjoyed it and by the end I was cheering for Cobolt but - and it's likely my personal bias here - the attempts to make Calvin a sympathetic character failed miserably. It would take MUCH more than 204 pages for an abusive cheater to redeem himself in my eyes but this is certainly not the book's fault. I'm betting since this is the third in the "Dance, Love, Live" series (and yes, this novel can totally stand on it's own), I'm sure Calvin has or will get an entire book to himself to work out his issues. As for this book, a happy 3.5 out of 5.