Interview With Danielle McRae

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Marvel fangirl, Voice Actress, Singer, Artist, Gamer, Otaku, Danielle Mcrae pretty much has everything cover. Check out our interview with the voice of Skullgirl "Painwheel." Danielle talks her geeky origins, voice acting, upcoming projects, gaming, anime and more.

Visit Danielle McRae Official Website
http://www.daniellemcraevo.com/

Follow Danielle On Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/DanielleMcVO

Like Her On Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Danielle-McRae-VO-Artist/257517404288230



Epic Games 20th Anniversary

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Epic game 20th Anniversary Original Soundtrack

Hey people Jeff here and wanted to pass this info to you all. I just found out today it has been 20 years since the creation of the developer of Epic game. 20 years is a lot so Epic is doing something special not just their fans but for everyone and release 20 hand picked tracks from their most popular games going all the way back to 1992 with Jill of the Jungle to now with 2011 Gears of War 3. All this is for free people so stop reading and getting to downloading.

Link: 

EPIC GAMES 20th ANNIVERSARY ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

JACKSON RATHBONE (“TWILIGHT”) TO STAR IN SECOND SEASON OF HIT ONLINE SERIES “AIM HIGH”

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Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, Dolphin Digital Studios, Inc., and Wonderland Sound and Vision today announced a second season of the hit online series “Aim High” has been green lit and shooting will commence in the Los Angeles area later this month.  Jackson Rathbone, best known for his role as “Jasper Hale” from the “Twilight” film series will return as government operative “Nick Green.”  Additional casting information will be announced in the coming weeks. 


Directing the second season of “Aim High” is Ari Sandel who won the Academy Award® for his live-action short film “West Bank Story.”  Writer Daniel Mackey, having previously collaborated with Wonderland on other projects, penned the script.


“The first season of ‘Aim High’ was well received by online audiences and fans will be blown away by what we have planned for season two,” said McG, Producer of “Aim High.”  “I am thrilled to be working with a filmmaker as talented as Ari Sandel.  His proficiency in storytelling and ability to connect with a discriminate audience are second to none."
“I’m very excited to be working with McG and Warner Bros. on ‘Aim High’,” said Ari Sandel. “When I saw the production quality of the first season I was truly impressed.  Warner Bros. is really taking digital storytelling to new levels and I think fans will love what we have planned for season two.” 


“Aim High” is the story of a young man leading a double life - juggling his studies by day and serving as a government operative by night.  Season one of the series chronicled the life of Nick Green and his junior year of High School while working as one of the country's 64 highly trained teenage operatives.  Fans can view the entire first season on Aim High’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/aimhighseries.   



Anime OST's That You Can't Miss (Part 1)

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If there is one thing I really love about Anime is the music that comes with it. Anime has some of the best background music and opening/closing songs in any medium. After listening to tons of Anime OST over the years I have come up with a list of Anime OST that you must have. These OST you can't miss out on. The OST's are this list has some of really emotional music, epic battle themes and amazing opening and closing songs. Here is part 1 of the list.

Venus Wars OST By Joe Hisashi - Venus Wars OST is wonderful, great action themes and a wonderful piano composition that is simply classic. The best tracks from this OST is "Love Theme (For Maggie) and Shakunetsu No Circuit. Here are the standout tracks.

Love Theme (For Maggie)


Shakunetsu No Circuit


Windaria OST By Satoshi Kudakura - Windaria is one emotional OST. Composed by Satoshi Kudakura, his use of strings and piano bring this heartbreaking Anime to life. The track that really stands out the most is "Theme For Druid" it's a sad romantic theme, but also heartwarming.


Theme For Druid

Now & Then, Here & There By Taku Iwasaki - This soundtrack is another emotional one, the music is dark. Tons of themes with that dark mood feel, but there is one theme that has a combination of all the emotions of the Anime in one. It's my favorite track on the OST called "Standing In The Sunset Glow."

Standing In The Sunset Glow

Gundam Wing By Yasuo Uragami - Gundam Wing OST is something I rarely even say, but I truly believe this OST is a masterpiece. From the battles, to the emotional scores, this OST is worthy to be on the cinematic level. Don't believe me check out three of my favorite tracks.

Who Will Give Their Life (Burn)
I Believe We Would Meet Truth Figure Of Truth

Stay tuned for part 2. In the meantime let us know what is your favorite Anime OST.




Mari0 Or Mario With Portals

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Before I start watch this video from Dorkly the maker of fine video game parodies.






Now that you have seen that, I have to ask you, wouldn't that make an awesome version of Mario? But then again adding Portal to anything would make it better. Here is another video I think you all would love.






The people over at Stabyourself.net turn dorklys video and not just turn it into a real game but it isnt just a flash game, but a full remake of all of Super Mario Bros with a portal gun. The portal gun also follows all the rules of portal the game, you know like "Speedy thing goes in, Speedy thing goes out" which is just a simple way of talking about the law of gravity, but to get to the point, the faster you go into one portal the faster you come out of the other one, which as you seen in both videos you can get to the top of the flag pole easy. To point out this is not a Indie game, but this is more of a remix. I say that because its not an original I.P. but like GUNPOINT but this is a unlicensed game, because we all know Super Mario is owned by Nintendo.  With that being said download it now and I mean RIGHT NOW because Nintendo can tell them "Hey you didn't ask for our permission, so take it down right now or feel the wrath of our lawyers." I am not saying they did but hey with games like this it is best to get it as soon as possible.

Game-play:

I don't know how to say it but its Mario, you platform jump, but you can move not just right but left and back too. The real change is the portal gun you can use. The gun changes how you platform completely you can choose to really find a way around Browser, or use the gun to find a good spot to get around him, because of the gun you now have options which changes the game a lot. There is not just multi-player but 4 player simultaneous co-op and each one will have their own portal gun... that's 8 portal holes to use in a level at once.

Graphics:

Once again they didn't do anything special outside of the portal gun, when it comes to the core game so its in all of the simple 8-bit goodness. No need to say any extra about that if you dont like it well tough but its awesome that they didnt change it, its Mario.

Extras:

BUT WAIT......... THERE'S MORE!!!! I just love saying that but there really is, Stabyourself not only remade the whole game but they included DLC(its not really cause its already in there when you download it), Level packs and a level editor too. If you don't want to play the normal stuff, then make your own level or download ones made by other people that are in the game, not sure about how to get other more outside of what the game comes with but its still sweet as hell. Not only that but there are hats that each of the Marios wear, you can customize the color of your Mario(skin, hat and outfit) and your portals too. This all can be done to each and every one of the 4 player Mario's. Finally there are a bunch of other game play modes in it too that you can turn on and change the way you play it.


Final Grade: A or 10/10 or 5/5

I don't like to give grades, they are nice but really for all this you can't go wrong getting it also its free to download right now. This is a truly complete package. Put this on a big screen with 3 U.S.B. controllers, grab 3 friends and go nuts with portals. If you really want a grade A or 10/10 or 5/5 its damn prefect but really it's enough for you guys to just try it out.


Its out for all major operating systems, Windows,OSX(apple) and Linux.


P.S. 
If you want use a fire flower just press the L-shift button if you didn't change around the default settings.

Links:

Stabyourself.net: Web Site

International Superheroes (Mexico)

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It's been a long time since I did an International Superheroes post. Well it's back and this time we travel to Mexico to see some of there Superheroes.

Meteorix


















Meteorix tells the story of a young teenager named Aldo. When a meteor is heading towards the Earth expecting to hit Mexico City, several Governments try to prevent it from falling to the planet by sending nukes to destroy it. They succeed but tiny fragments of the meteor still reach earth, little to Earth knowledge this meteor is composed of alien compound. When Aldo chases the girl he likes Eva, she is attack by one of the Alien fragments which transformed due to radiation. He accidentally swallows one of the fragments and becomes Meteorix. Meteorix powers consists of Super Strength, the ability to throw bolts and cover his body in armor.

La Llanera Vengadora


















La Llanera Vengadora tells the story of Flor Silvestre she is what some would call Mexico's "Lone Ranger." She is armed with a gun, a lasso and her motorcycle.

Los Superfrios



















Los Superfrios follows the story of Quintin and his four friends that are un-dead. Carita, Borromeo, Count who is a vampire and Gardino. Each un-dead friend is missing a body part. Carita is missing lips, Borromeo has no skin on his arms, Gardino has no eyeballs, Count is just a vampire. Together they hunt evil that threatens the city or people hunting them.

Tinieblas


















Tinieblas takes place in a realm known as Shibalba. It's a world filled with Gods and other type of creatures. The focus of the story is on two brothers, Vurub Kame and Hun Kame. Every 52 years these two compete for the throne to rule the realm of Shibalba. Vurub has been victorious most of the time, so Hun decides to choose a mortal from Earth to be win for him, granting him powers unlike any other he becomes Tinieblas.

Cerdotado



















Cerdotado follows the story of Anacelto Kal-el Pacheco. Having his father killed by a butcher, Anacelto seeks revenge and inherits his father's gift of Superhuman strength, X-Ray vision, speed and armor protection. He is more of an anti-hero.



Fertang Review (Mobile App)

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"Fertang" is a new Mobile App board game available for the I-Phone and Android App from Anderson Games. It's a little style of Checkers, with the strategy of Chess. Is this new board game app addictive? Or should you head somewhere else?

If I can describe "Fertang" in a few words is addictive, unique, and bold. "Fertang" was designed for people who are tired of Checkers, and find Chess to complicated. The game is simple to play and easy to learn after a few tries. You have the option to play against the CPU or with a friend. Each player is giving 16 pieces which is divided into Triangles, Squares and Circles. The goal is to capture as much of the players pieces as possible. Similar to Checkers, but with a twist of Chess. Each piece moves in a different directions. Triangle can only go diagonally, Circle can move any direction and Square can move in straight lines horizontally. Like Chess and Checker style each player gets one turn and can only move one piece at a time. One a piece is capture, the player who capture it controls that piece, until the other player captures it that is. Once the stack reaches 5 or more that piece is no longer in use. The first player to build up three of the five stacks is the winner. The game is challenging and thinking of new strategies to win the day is fun. "Fertang" doesn't come with much features, but it does give you the option of selecting different gameboards such as the original Chess board. The graphics are  standard for your typical board game app, and the colors work well. The only complaint about the App is the loop music, but thankfully you have the option to turn it off.

Final Grade B+/8.5: "Fertang" is a nice take on Checkers and Chess. It's easy to learn and after a couple of tries you'll be hook. The graphics are good, the gameplay fun and with a price of .99 it's worth a look. Give it a shot.


Fertang Game App Download Links














Dark Horse Announces Free Comic Book Day Signings

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DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY SIGNINGS
May 4, MILWAUKIE, OR—In support of Free Comic Book Day, Dark Horse is pleased to announce signings on Saturday, May 5, in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Portland!

Felicia Day (writer of The Guild), the cast of The Guild, and Andrew Chambliss (writer of Buffy) will be signing for Buffy/The Guild at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.!

Zack Whedon (writer of Star Wars/Serenity) and Georges Jeanty (artist for Buffy) will be signing at Flying Colors Comics in Concord, CA, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.!

Steve Lieber (artist for Alabaster) will be signing throughout Portland, Oregon:
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Things From Another World Hollywood (also featuring Jonathan Case, artist for The Guild)
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Cosmic Monkey
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Bridge City Comics

All events will have great Dark Horse giveaways: Buffy wristbands, lanyards, and Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi patches, in addition to Free Comic Book Day issues (while supplies last).
Free Comic Book Day is a single day—the first Saturday in May each year—when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores.
Make sure to head to your local comic shop to pick up Dark Horse’s Free Comic Book Day 2012: Buffy/The Guild and Free Comic Book Day 2012: Star Wars/Serenity!

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit ComicShopLocator.com.
About Dark Horse
Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.



Dark Horse Digital May The Fourth Be With You Sale

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DARK HORSE DIGITAL: MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU SALE!
A GALAXY OF STAR WARS COMICS FOR $99.99!
MAY 4, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Comics is joining in on the May the Fourth madness with a very exclusive limited offer to their digital comics readers.
Get blasted into a galaxy far, far away with this amazing May the Fourth Be with You MegaBundle!
May you pay a fourth of the regular listed price for these digital comics? Why, yes! This is the MegaBundle you’re looking for, but only here for a limited time, it is.
This collection places 3,600 pages of Star Wars goodness right at your fingertips, including some of our most popular Star Wars series, such as Knights of the Old Republic, Blood Ties, Star Wars Tales, Rebellion, and Dark Times, as well as some of our newest series, such as Dawn of the Jedi, Agent of the Empire, and Crimson Empire III.
Star Wars fans can also check out a free, exclusive preview of Darth Maul: Death Sentence #1 on Dark Horse Digital!
And for May 4th only, Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color™ will have Star Wars: The Old Republic Volume 1 available for $4.99 in the NOOK Comics™ store.
Dark Horse Digital is available through all modern web browsers and as an app in both the Android and iTunes stores. 
The May the Fourth Be With You Sale ends Sunday at midnight.   Stop by Dark Horse Digital and get all the Star Wars comics you could want and more! 
About Dark Horse Digital
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has grown to become the third-largest comics publisher in the United States and is acclaimed internationally for the quality and diversity of its line. In 2011, the company that revolutionized the comic industry proudly presented its groundbreaking digital-publishing program, Dark Horse Digital.
Dark Horse Digital offers its most popular titles at an unprecedented value, while providing the highest-quality reading experience possible. Single-issue comics are priced as low as just $0.99, and there is also an extensive list of free introductory #1 issues. Additionally, DH Digital’s “bundles” group together story arcs spanning multiple issues into affordable packages, allowing readers to get all the issues that comprise a complete narrative, starting at just $3.99 and up. And through cloud-based technology, Digital Store purchases can be read and enjoyed on your laptop, desktop, mobile browser, and Dark Horse Bookshelf app, available now on iTunes.
To get started, simply log on to Digital.DarkHorse.com or download the app to create an account, and begin building your collection today.



The Asylum Sessions Review

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Hiyoko wants to become an artist like her mother, but her father would prefer that she took a different career path. Enraged when she notices that he took all paintings done by her mother from the house, she decides to run away. Unable to find a place to sleep among her acquaintances, she ends up at Asylum Stadium, an abandoned field that is shelter for many homeless, but that is about to be torn down by the government. There she meets Akira, a strange individual capable of flying. Here is our review.

The Avengers Review

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It has been years in the making since the first "Iron Man" film. It has been hinted in other Marvel films such as "Thor", "The Incredible Hulk", and "Captain America: The First Avenger." At last "The Avengers" has arrived and the biggest question is, does it work? Does it live up to the hype? Check out the review. 


Story - Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army. The Avengers story works for the most the part, it's your typical summer superhero plot line, that's not a bad thing at all. The real drive that makes The Avengers story move is the interaction of the characters. While the basic plot is simple, Loki trying to take over the Earth and control the unlimited energy source Earth has in their possession. It's the subplots of the characters that really bring you into the film. For example Captain America struggling to fit into a modern world was a big focus and one of the keys that drives the movie. Seeing the movie unfold mainly from Captain America's perspective was a smart move and it made sense. Captain America is the leader of The Avengers after all and seeing it unfold from his eyes works well. This doesn't mean the other heroes get the back burner. Director Joss Whedon did a wonderful job of balancing screen time of all the characters. Whedon manage to show struggles of Thor and Loki relationship, Bruce Banner struggle of still being The Hulk and Tony Stark's suspicion of S.H.I.E.L.D intentions. While the character interaction work really well, there is a few problems with The Avengers. 


We still don't get a decent backstory on Nick Fury. With a couple of cameo's under his belt, I expected The Avengers to let us in on who is the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. How did he get there? What is his struggles? A little story on Nick Fury would have been nice for those not familiar with the comics. Another character who wasn't explored too much was Hawkeye. Hawkeye is just guy with the arrows, you do see the relationship he has with Black Widow, but that's mainly it. Speaking of Black Widow she gets more backstory and more time in this film, we get a little glimpse of who she is, why she join S.H.I.E.L.D and her relationship with Hawkeye. Other than that and a few pacing problems in the first act, this is a great first movie and a wonderful way to kick off the summer. There is even little hints on what's to come in The Avengers 2, pay attention to what Thor says. Overall the story is a good with a couple of flaws, somethings are explored more than others, but it all comes together in the third act which will make any Avenger fan scream for joy.


Acting - The acting is superb! I would say these actors were born to play these roles. Chris Evans is at the top of his game as Cap and I really loved a certain emotional scene he has. Robert Downey Jr. always is a delight to watch as Tony Stark. Chris Hemsworth shines as Thor. Mark Ruffalo played a very good Bruce Banner, fans will miss Edward Norton, but Mark Ruffalo nailed Bruce just as good or even better, it does help that he looks like he can become The Hulk. Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, it's Samuel L. Jackson nothing more to say. To finish up Cobie Smulders was great as S.H.I.E.L.D agent Maria Hill. Scarlett and Jeremy play their roles of Black Widow and Hawkeye very well. The real show stealer is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Loki was menacing, bone chilling at times and his interrogation scene with Black Widow will show you how amazing Tom really is as Loki. Everyone plays well off each other and there is great chemistry all around, especially with Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. The acting is solid and packs a punch.


Music & Filmmaking - The music works well. It was composed by Alan Sivestri, he did a great job with "Captain America: The First Avenger", the score shines during the action scenes and a couple of emotional scenes. It feels tense and does a great job of building you up for the final act. The action scenes are mind blowing, especially in the final act. Comic fans don't worry Cap leads, Hulk Smashes and Iron Man does his thing. The CGI on The Hulk is actually way better than "The Incredible Hulk" movie. Motion capture on Ruffalo's face makes his transformation of The Hulk more believable. Joss Whedon has done a wonderful job with his camera shots, the action is not too close for us not to understand what's going on. Everything was planned and executed very well, from the designs, the costumes to the settings. This is a beautiful movie to watch.


Final Grade B+/**** Out Of 5 Stars - The Avengers is a great start what looks to be a promising summer. This movie has it all for a superhero movie, a great villain, great cast and action pack sequences. Some key characters weren't explored as much as they should have been, the first two acts might drag a little, but the final act makes it all worth while. Geeks all over the world it's time to assemble!



IMAGE AND TOP COW CELEBRATE FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

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Something for every reader in IMAGE 20 and WITCHBLADE: UNBALANCED PIECES

This annual Free Comic Book Day, Image Comics will be celebrating 20 years of success in revolutionizing the comics industry with two new comics. Both provide great examples of what Image excels at providing: a diversity of genres and styles —something for everyone.

Both IMAGE 20 and WITCHBLADE: UNBALANCED PIECES will be available to the public at comic book stores on May 5, 2012, and they're absolutely free!

IMAGE 20 is jam-packed full of exciting stories from new, upcoming comics and returning favorites. Titles include G-MAN from Chris Giarrusso, Robert Kirkman's GUARDING THE GLOBE from Phil Hester and Todd Nauck, Mike Allred's IT GIRL AND THE ATOMICS from Jamie S. Rich and Mike Norton, CRIME AND TERROR by Steve Niles and Scott Morse, NEAR DEATH by Jay Faerber and Simone Guglielmini, and REVIVAL from Tim Seeley and Mike Norton.

In "Witchblade: Unbalanced Pieces," new and lapsed WITCHBLADE fans will get the perfect chance to try out the brand new creative team, Tim Seeley and Diego Bernard, and a fresh new direction of Top Cow's flagship title. Since the events of ARTIFACTS, Sara Pezzini's entire life has been altered in immeasurable ways, not the least of which is she's living in a new city and has a new career. But one thing remains constant — the Witchblade. For fans who get hooked, "Unbalanced Pieces" continues in WITCHBLADE #155 — and they can pick up the WITCHBLADE: REBIRTH VOLUME ONE trade paperback for only $9.99.

Many Image Comics creators are making special appearances for FCBD signings and events across the country, including but not limited to:

ALABAMA
Afua Richardson (GENIUS)Sho'Nuff Comics - Tuscaloosa, AL


CALIFORNIA
Ed Brubaker (FATALE)Collector’s Paradise - Pasadena, CA
Gerry Duggan (THE INFINITE HORIZON)The Comic Cellar - Alhambra, CA11 AM-1 PM
Joshua Hale Fialkov (ECHOES, THE DARKNESS, THE LAST OF THE GREATS)Collector’s Paradise  - Canoga Park, CA
Shane & Chris Houghton (REED GUNTHER)Pasadena Public Library,  Central Branch, 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena, CA 9110111AM-1 PM
Collector’s Paradise - Pasadena, CA2-4 PM
Jim McCann, Rodin Esquejo & Sonia Oback (MIND THE GAP)Collector’s Paradise - Pasadena, CA
Derek McCulloch (PUG)The Escapist Comic Bookstore - Berkeley, CA10:30 AM-1 PM
Comic Ink - Dublin, CA2-6 PM
Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE)Black Cat Comics - Milpitas, CA
Jeff Roenning, Dana Shukartsi, Jean-Paul Bonjour & Robert Love (ALPHA GIRL)Illusive Comics & Games, Santa Clara, CA10 AM-2 PM
Richard Starkings (ELEPHANTMEN)The Comic Bug, - Manhattan Beach, CA10 AM-4 PM


ILLINOIS
Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH, WITCHBLADE)CHALLENGERS Comics + Conversation - Chicago, IL
Mike Norton (IT-GIRL AND THE ATOMICS)CHALLENGERS Comics + Conversation - Chicago, IL


INDIANA
John Tyler Christopher (WITCHBLADE, ARTIFACTS)BlueMoon Comics - Lafayette, IN


IOWA
Phil Hester (THE DARKNESS)Daydreams Comics - Iowa City, IA


MARYLAND
Filip Sablik (LAST MORTAL)Cards, Comics & Collectibles - 100 Chartley Dr., Reisterstown, MD11 AM-2 PM


MICHIGAN
Michael Moreci & Steve Seeley (HOAX HUNTERS)Comics & More - Madison Heights, MI12-5 PM


MINNESOTA
Mitch Gerads (THE ACTIVITY)Comic Book College - Minneapolis, MN12-5 PM


NEW ENGLAND (MA and NH)
Justin Jordan & Tradd Moore (THE STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE)Larry's Comics - Lowell, MA9:30 AM-12:30 PM
Jetpack Comics - Rochester, NH2-7 PM


NEW JERSEY
Mark Poulton (AVENGELYNE)Adventureland Store - Voorhees, NJ


NEW YORK
Ron Marz (WITCHBLADE)Excellent Adventures - Ballston Spa, NY11 AM-1:30 PM
Comic Depot - Saratoga Springs, NY2:30-5 PM


NORTH CAROLINA
Chris Burnham (OFFICER DOWNE, ELEPHANTMEN)Ultimate Comics - Durham, NC
Chris Giarrusso (G-MAN)Acme Comics - Greensboro, NC
Kevin Mellon (HEART)Heroes Aren't Hard to Find - Charlotte, NC


OREGON
Steve Lieber (UNDERGROUND)Cosmic Monkey - Portland, OR2:30-3:30 PM
Things from Another World (Hollywood Branch) - Portland, OR12-2 PM
Bridge City Comics - Portland, OR4:30-6 PM
Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner (WITCH DOCTOR)Things From Another World (Beaverton Branch) - Beaverton, OR2-4 PM


TEXAS
Joe Eisma (MORNING GLORIES)Zeus Comics - Dallas, TX10 AM-5 PM
David Marquez (MAGDALENA)Austin Books & Comics - Austin, TX


CANADA
Tyler Jenkins (PETER PANZERFAUST)Alpha Comics - Calgary, Alberta12-4 PM


UNITED KINGDOM
Christian Ward (INFINITE VACATION)Gosh Comics - London, UK12-4 PM

HEROES GO INDEPENDENT

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CREATOR OWNED HEROES anthology debuts in June

"American Muscle": a race against nothing across a post-apocalyptic America. "Triggergirl 6": the perfect assassin — except for her conscience. These are the first two titles showcased in the new Image Comics anthology, CREATOR OWNED HEROES, edited by Jimmy Palmiotti.

"Creator-owned" isn't just a business model — it's also a publishing philosophy that focuses on creators of comics, who retain the ownership and all the rights to their creations, rather than on "properties" that are corporate property. CREATOR OWNED HEROES was created not only as a vehicle for creators' creativity but emphasize the importance of this model to the reading public.

"With Creator Owned Heroes we wanted to not only have a place to introduce new ideas and concepts, but to give the reader a place to come each and every month to interact and explore the world around us," said Palmiotti. "This is a personal project that will continue to grow with the support of our readers and I for one am looking forward to its evolution. "

In "American Muscle," written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) with Kevin Mellon (HEART) on art duties, a group of rebels break off from the last stronghold of human civilization in search of a fabled paradise on what used to be the West coast of the United States. What they find, however, is something much different...

"Triggergirl 6," by Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, QUEEN CRAB), Justin Gray (Power Girl, Jonah Hex) on the writing side and art by Phil Noto (Avengers: The Origin, THE INFINITE HORIZON) offers a very different kind of future, one where a woman designed to be a perfect killer can be created in a tank and then let loose on the world.

The first issue of the monthly anthology also includes interviews with comics and literature superstar Neil Gaiman and with cosplaying twins Juli and Alex Abene, who created a Triggergirl costume based on an incentive cover of the first issue.

CREATOR OWNED HEROES #1 is a 40-page, full-color comic book for $3.99. It is available now for pre-order from the April issue of Previews (cover A: APR120420, cover B: APR120421, cover C: APR120422) and will be in stores on June 6.

VIZ Media Launches WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA Trivia Sweepstakes

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Everyone Is Invited To Enter Contest For A Chance To Win A Pair Of 4-Day Passes To 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

VIZ Media invites manga fans to test their knowledge of the nation’s leading digital manga magazine with a just-announced new online SHONEN JUMP ALPHA Trivia Sweepstakes Contest, running exclusively at http://www.sjalpha.com/sja-trivia-contest through May 23rd, 2012.  No WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA membership is required to enter the contest.

Contestants simply have to correctly answer 3 trivia questions on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA to be entered into the sweepstakes drawing. The Grand Prize winner will receive two (2) 4-day show passes to the 2012 Comic-Con International, the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction and pop culture event. Comic-Con takes place July 12th-15th at the San Diego Convention Center, CA. (**Note: Prize package includes show passes only; winner is responsible for hotel, transportation, and other ancillary costs). The Second Place winner will receive an annual Membership to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA, North America’s premier digital manga magazine.

Winners will be selected by random from all valid entries on May 24th and notified by email following the drawing.

Each new digital edition of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA treats manga fans across North America to the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular manga series only two weeks after they debut in Japan’s massively popular WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine. Don’t miss the latest installments of hot series such as BAKUMAN｡, BLEACH, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, NARUTO, ONE PIECE and TORIKO as well as access to special editorial features and an extensive online fan-supported community.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA is available through an annual membership that provides 52 weeks of digital access to 48 weekly issues for just $25.99. Single issues of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA can be read for four weeks for only $0.99. Each issue may be read on VIZManga.com/sj-weekly, and also on the VIZ Manga App for iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod® touch. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA members also receive an annual collector’s yearbook and access to exclusive content, including creator interviews and exclusive videos.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit SJAlpha.com. 



Matt Kindt's MIND MGMT: SECRET FILES Unlocked! Free Digital Prequel

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MIND MGMT’S SECRET FILES UNLOCKED
MATT KINDT RELEASES EXCLUSIVE FREE DIGITAL PREQUEL!
 
May 2, MILWAUKIE, OR—Can’t wait for the new series from visionary Super Spy and 3 Story creator Matt Kindt? Well, lock up your dolphins, shield your brain, and don’t believe anything you see, because MIND MGMT is here! 
Leading up to the debut of MIND MGMT #1 in print and digital May 23, Dark Horse Originals presents three weeks of original—and free—stories available only on Dark Horse Digital. MIND MGMT: Secret Files introduces the Mind Management program of psychic spies, its most infamous defector, and Meru, the journalist who stumbles upon their incredible secrets! 
In the first installment, available right now, Meru’s investigation begins with the story of “the Bear,” a Soviet mind operative on a mission to eliminate MIND MGMT’s top agent. Don’t miss this electrifying intro to Matt Kindt’s bold new espionage series! This is Akira meets Heart of Darkness by way of 100 Bullets!
Check back for two more exclusive, free chapters on May 9 and 16! 
Praise for Matt Kindt:
“I’ll read anything Kindt does.”
—Douglas Wolk, author of Reading Comics
“Matt Kindt’s work blows my mind. The elegance of his art, juxtaposed with his rich character work and complex narrative—is nothing short of genius.”
—Jesse Alexander, producer and writer of Heroes, Lost, and Alias

About Dark Horse Digital
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has grown to become the third-largest comics publisher in the United States and is acclaimed internationally for the quality and diversity of its line. In 2011, the company that revolutionized the comic industry proudly presented its groundbreaking digital-publishing program, Dark Horse Digital.
Dark Horse Digital offers its most popular titles at an unprecedented value, while providing the highest-quality reading experience possible. Single-issue comics are priced as low as just $0.99, and there is also an extensive list of free introductory #1 issues. Additionally, DH Digital’s “bundles” group together story arcs spanning multiple issues into affordable packages, allowing readers to get all the issues that comprise a complete narrative, starting at just $3.99 and up. And through cloud-based technology, Digital Store purchases can be read and enjoyed on your laptop, desktop, mobile browser, and Dark Horse Bookshelf app, available now on iTunes.
To get started, simply log on to Digital.DarkHorse.com or download the app to create an account, and begin building your collection today.



WITCHBLADE’S REBIRTH COLLECTED

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First Five Issues Offered in Introductory-Priced Trade Paperback

 
Image Comics and Top Cow Productions are offering fans an opportunity to catch up on the first five WITCHBLADE issues, hot off the Top Cow Universe-altering events of ARTIFACTS #13 and WITCHBLADE #150, with WITCHBLADE: REBIRTH VOLUME ONE trade paperback!

With an introductory price of $9.99, readers can easily discover the series that has everyone buzzing. The collection, by the passionate new creative team of Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH, BLOODSTRIKE) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name), along with Top Cow’s new REBIRTH continuity, provide an ideal jumping-on point for new readers.

Additionally, Top Cow’s Free Comic Book Day features WITCHBLADE: UNBALANCED PIECES, a prologue to the story in REBIRTH VOLUME ONE — and readers will want to know how it unfolds!

In the wake of Top Cow's REBIRTH, Sara Pezzini has relocated from New York to Chicago and struggles to adapt to her new job as a private detective. Pezzini quickly discovers that a change of scenery and occupation hasn't changed one thing... the Witchblade is still a magnet for the supernatural. Quickly drawn into a conflict between two mystical gangs, she must once again balance her responsibility as bearer of the Witchblade with her personal life.

Seeley and Bernard’s bold new direction for Top Cow's flagship character coupled with a stunning painted cover by John Tyler Christopher  (ARTIFACTS), a complete cover gallery alongside a host of bonus content and extras make this entry-level priced collection a must for anyone curious about Top Cow's REBIRTH.

"Witchblade 151 is exactly the kind of book you need to create if you are looking to hook new readers." - Panel Patter

‎"Diego Bernard, much like Tim Seeley, is a fantastic fit for the series." - Horror Haven

"...great story and gorgeous art..."  Geeks of Doom

"Consider me hooked." - Geekadelphia

WITCHBLADE REBIRTH VOLUME ONE is a full-color, 144-page trade paperback that collects issues #151-#155 retailing for $9.99 and will be in stores May 16th, 2012.

Carla Speed McNeil Wins LA Book Prize

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CARLA SPEED MCNEIL WINS LA BOOK PRIZE!
 
MAY 1, MILWAUKIE, OR—Finder: Voice continues to be one of the most talked about books of 2011, and word of its story and artwork has spread far and wide. So far, in fact, that Carla Speed McNeil has been awarded the prestigious Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the Graphic Novel category for Finder: Voice!

Praise for Carla Speed McNeil’s Finder:
 
“I love Carla Speed McNeil’s Finder, and I imagine the reason I love it is the same reason it doesn’t get more attention in the comics press: it’s simultaneously straightforward and labyrinthine, genre-based and uncategorizable . . . For me, and for other readers who have gotten pulled into McNeil’s weird and woolly far-future world, Finder is one of those comics.”—The Comics Journal
 
“It’s been entirely too long since we were able to experience Carla Speed McNeil’s unique brand of sociological science fiction with its emphasis on character, class and culture. Once again McNeil immerses you in her meticulously detailed world and you’re immediately caught up in a beautifully drawn and deftly written story.”—ICv2
 
“You’ll keep turning the pages in Voice to put the pieces of the puzzle together and to see what Grosvenor does next. It is an intricate tale, and Carla Speed McNeil is a master storyteller—with her words and art.”—ScienceFiction.com
 
“McNeil conveys more emotion and depth through the slick line of a raised eyebrow than most can with an entire book, played out in a world that is unquestionably familiar and unshakably alien.”—Bleeding Cool
 
“McNeil excels at tying her many character and story elements together and anchoring them in the same increasingly familiar universe, making her fictional world, its inhabitants and their issues and experiences all the more real to the invested, gratified reader.”—No Flying No Tights
 
Awards and nominations:
 
Unshelved Book Club’s Book of the Month, February 2012—Unshelved
#1 on Comics Worth Reading’s Best Graphic Novels of 2011—Comics Worth Reading
#2 on Comics Bulletin’s Top 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2011—Comics Bulletin
#4 on Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2011, Comics—Publishers Weekly
#4 on ComicsAlliance’s 11 Best Comics of 2011—ComicsAlliance
#29 on Comic Book Resources’ Top 100 Comics of 2011—Comic Book Resources

About Dark Horse
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.



BioWare and Dark Horse Unveil New DRAGON AGE Comic Miniseries

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BIOWARE AND DARK HORSE COMICS EXPAND AND UNVEIL NEW DRAGON AGE™ COMIC MINISERIES 
MAY 1, MILWAUKIE, OR—BioWare, a label of Electronic Arts Inc., and Dark Horse Comics today announced Dragon Age™: Those Who Speak, a three-issue comic miniseries based on the award-winning Dragon Age™ fiction. 
Written by David Gaider, lead writer of the Dragon Age series, and Alexander Freed, senior writer for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, Those Who Speak expands on the story of King Alistair, as he travels to an empire of evil mages to uncover the fate of his lost father. Accompanied by the pirate captain Isabela and the underworld merchant Varric, King Alistair will stop at nothing to learn the truth, even if it means battling an army of cultists single-handedly. The first issue of Dragon Age: Those Who Speak will be available on comic book stands on August 22.
Additionally, Dragon Age™: The Silent Grove will be available in a hardcover edition on July 25. Previously available only in the Dark Horse Digital store, Dragon Age: The Silent Grove is the perfect companion to the Dragon Age universe.
To learn more about Dragon Age: Those Who Speak and Dragon Age: The Silent Grove, visit DarkHorse.com. To learn more about Dragon Age, visit DragonAge.com.