VIZ Media Announces Novel Tie In Release For Tom Cruise's Edge Of Tomorrow

VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint supports the upcoming release of the gripping sci-fi action film, Edge of Tomorrow with the release of an official movie tie-in novel on April 29th. The new EDGE OF TOMORROW paperback release will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN. The book features a cover with the official movie poster featuring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt in their title roles from the film. The EDGE OF TOMORROW novel was written by Japanese author Hiroshi Sakurazaka, and was previously published as ALL YOU NEED IS KILL.

The Haikasoru imprint has also announced the May 6th release of the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL official graphic novel adaptation. Written by Haikasoru editor and noted sci-fi author, Nick Mamatas, and featuring full-color artwork by popular comic book artist Lee Ferguson (Green Arrow, Miranda Mercury), the new graphic novel offers a single-volume retelling of the original ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel that inspired the EDGE OF TOMORROW movie. The graphic novel carries an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN, and features an oversized North American graphic novel trim size of 6 5/8" x 10 ¼”. An eBook edition will also be available worldwide for $8.99 (U.S. / CAN) for the Amazon Kindle, Apple’s iBooks Store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Book Store, and the Kobo eBooks Store. North American fans can also access the graphic novel digitally on the VIZ Manga App as well as through VIZManga.com.

The Edge of Tomorrow feature film is slated for U.S. release from Warner Bros. Pictures on June 6th, and will be presented in 3D and 2D in select theaters, and 3D IMAX. The movie is directed by Doug Liman and stars Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton.

The story is set in the future when aliens called Mimics invade. Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent out to kill. But he dies on the battlefield after only a few minutes, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally – the female soldier known as the Full Metal Bitch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death?

In 2009, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL served as the launch title for Haikasoru, a unique imprint developed by VIZ Media dedicated to publishing the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences. New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi declared ALL YOU NEED IS KILL to be a novel that, "reads fast, kicks ass, and keeps on coming," and it has proven to be one of Haikasoru's most popular titles. Sakurazaka's other novels include Characters (co-written with Hiroki Azuma) and SLUM ONLINE, which was published in English by Haikasoru in 2010.

“Live…die…repeat. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL / EDGE OF TOMORROW delivers a nightmarish, action-packed spin on reliving one’s own triumphs, and failures,” says Nick Mamatas, Editor, Haikasoru. “Catch the original story that inspired the gripping movie with the official movie tie-in edition and in the Western comic book mode with the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL official graphic novel. Both of these debuts are perfect reads leading up to the highly anticipated theatrical debut of Edge of Tomorrow this summer!”

"The ALL YOU NEED TO KILL graphic novel stays very true to the original source novel," says Joel Enos, editor for the new comic. "We made a conscious effort to create something unique that could stand on it's own away from both the original novel, the film and the upcoming manga, but would nicely complement and pay respects to all three! Lee's retro-futuristic art style especially puts ALL YOU NEED TO KILL as a comic into it's own orbit!"

Author Hiroshi Sakurazaka was born in Tokyo in 1970 and published his first novel, Modern Magic Made Simple, in 2003 with Super Dash Bunko, a popular young adult light novel imprint. There are now seven volumes in the series, and it was adapted as a manga in 2008 and became a television anime series in 2009. His 2004 short story, "Saitama Chainsaw Massacre," also won the 16th SF Magazine Reader's Award. Sakurazaka published All You Need Is Kill with Super Dash Bunko in 2004 and earned his first Seiun Award nomination for best of the year honors in Japanese science fiction. In 2010, Sakurazaka started an experimental digital magazine AiR with fellow author Junji Hotta. He remains one of Japan's most energetic writers of both light novels and adult science fiction.

Haikasoru’s Nick Mamatas is the author of several novels, including The Damned Highway (with Brian Keene) and Love is the Law. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Tor.com, Weird Tales, and numerous other venues. He's also written comics for Media Blasters and the Squid Works! Collective and has been nominated for the Hugo, World Fantasy, Bram Stoker, and Shirley Jackson awards.

Artist Lee Ferguson has worked in comics since 2001, when he broke in at Marvel on the 9/11 Heroes tribute book, followed by work on the company's X-Men titles. Since then, he's worked at DC, IDW, and Dynamite, while also putting out Freak, his creator-owned project from Image Comics. His newest book is The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury, co-created with Brandon Thomas and published through Archaia Comics. In 2012, Miranda Mercury was on YALSA’s Best Graphic Novels for Teens list and was also nominated for four Glyph Awards, including Best Artist.

For more information on EDGE OF TOMORROW / ALL YOU NEED IS KILL and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit www.haikasoru.com.


Amazing Spider-Man #1.1 Preview

From that fateful night he lost his Uncle Ben, a new life began. But there is more to the story of how Peter Parker became the Amazing Spider-Man.
“We all love a good ‘Year One’ story,” says Senior Editor Nick Lowe. “But this is so much MORE! Not only does this address Spider-Man’s past, but it sets up a new villain that will be a huge part of Dan Slott’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN plans moving forward.”
We all know how Peter Parker learned responsibility, but this series tells the story of how Spider-Man became the super hero we all know and love! Set within the first 60 days of his webslinging career,Learning to Crawl is an all-new tale set parallel to the character’s first appearance in 1962’s Amazing Fantasy #15 and 1963’s Amazing Spider-Man #1 - #3 that will blaze new trails for upcomingAmazing Spider-Man story arcs in Dan Slott’s new series!
“It’s one thing to know that with great power comes great responsibility, but what do you do with it?” says series writer Dan Slott, in an interview with Marvel.com.
 




 

Soundwall Combines Art With Sound

Remember the days of the stereo system where you use to insert your CD's or Casette tape? Do you remember how annoying connecting the wires were? What if you could have your favorite piece of artwork or photograph customized to also be a wireless sound system in your home and office? Now you can with Soundwall. Soundwall’s innovative design solves the problem of unsightly speakers, wires and cables in your living space. Simply hang up your framed Soundwall, plug it in, connect to your WIFI – then play music via AirPlay from any Apple device and UPnP for Android devices. I personally find this tech very intriguing. Imagine no stereo or surround sound all you need is a Wi-Fi or tablet and the Soundwall device. Every room can have there own Soundwall in the house. Soundwall has apparently capture the eye of celebrities like P.Diddy, as seen below he gave a customized Soundwall to his son Christian for his 16th birthday.


Soundwall In Action There are 3 ways to customize the look of your Soundwall:
Choose an image from our online Gallery (think Kandinsky)
Upload your personal image for us to Print (think last month’s Hawaii vaca)
Paint original art on a blank Soundwall (think your friend the starving artist)

Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie Teaser Trailer

Kevin Smith returns with an all new Jay & Silent Bob film. This time however it's animated with "Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groove Cartoon Movie." Stoners, Jay and Silent Bob, hit the lottery jackpot, and use their cash windfall to become crime-fighting superheroes. Check out the teaser trailer below.


Zach Braff's "Wish I Was Here" New Teaser Trailer

Director Zach Braff's follow-up to his indie breakout hit "Garden State" is a comedy telling the story of a thirtysomething man who finds himself at major crossroads, which forces him to examine his life, his career, and his family. Check out the trailer below. I love "Garden State" and this trailer looks really intriguing. It even features one of my favorite songs "Simple Song" by The Shins




Star Trek: Live In Concert Announced

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 launchStar 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.
 
Debuting in Europe this May with performances in the UK and Switzerland,Star Trek: Live in Concert will premiere in the U.S. this July in Houston and San Diego. The San Diego Symphony performance will coincide with Comic-Con International in July. The Philadelphia Orchestra also will performStar Trek Into Darkness at the Mann Center in Philadelphia in late July.

Star Trek: Live in Concert
makes its way to Canada in March 2015 at the Sony Centre in Toronto. Performances in additional cities and countries will be announced soon.
 
The current Star Trek: Live in Concert tour schedule includes:
 
May 24, 2014:
 Star Trek Into Darkness with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at the KKL Concert Hall in Lucerne, Switzerland
 
May 25, 2014:
 Star Trek Into Darkness with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at the KKL Concert Hall in Lucerne, Switzerland
 
May 29, 2014:
 Star Trek (2009) with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at Royal Albert Hall in London, UK
 
May 30, 2014:
 Star Trek Into Darkness with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at Royal Albert Hall in London, UK
 
May 31, 2014:
 Star Trek (2009) with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at Royal Albert Hall in London, UK
 
May 31, 2014:
Star Trek Into Darkness with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at Royal Albert Hall in London, UK
 
July 18, 2014:
Star Trek (2009) with the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall in Houston, TX
 
July 19, 2014:
Star Trek Into Darkness with the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall in Houston, TX
 
July 26, 2014:
Star Trek (2009) with the San Diego Symphony at Embarcadero Marina Park South in San Diego, CA
 
July 31, 2014:
 Star Trek Into Darkness with the Philadelphia Orchestra at theMann Center inPhiladelphia, PA
 
March 21, 2015:
Star Trek (2009) with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony at the Sony Centre in Toronto, Canada

Visit StarTrekConcerts.com for ticket information and the latest tour schedule.


 

Harajuku Kawaii Fashion Model Set To Celebrate The Launch Of Her Clothing Brand

The 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival, San Francisco’s annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film, joins with Japanese entertainment company, ASOBISYSTEM, to announce a special early treat for fashion and pop culture fans as it presents a personal appearance by Harajuku Kawaii model – Ayumi Seto – at NEW PEOPLE on Saturday and Sunday, April 12th and 13th. She appears for a special autograph session and personal fan meet-and-greet to celebrate the launch of her new clothing line “Aymmy in the batty girls.”
 
Ayumi Seto brings the debut of her colorful new fashion line, “Aymmy in the batty girls” to the Harajuku Kawaii Pop-up Shop located inside the MARUQ store on the Mezzanine Level of NEW PEOPLE. Photo and autograph sessions will be held at 3:00pm on April 12th and 13th. The first 50 customers each day that purchase any “Aymmy in the batty girls” products will receive a pass to attend the exclusive session. NEW PEOPLE is the renowned Japanese pop culture entertainment complex located at 1746 Post St. San Francisco, CA 94115 in the heart of the city’s Japantown district.
 
Ayumi Seto first captured the hearts of attendees with her distinctive style at last year’s J-POP SUMMIT Festival, which featured “Harajuku Kawaii!! in S.F.,” a popular fashion event that featured several renowned Japanese models, acclaimed designer and 6%DOKIDOKI founder, Sebastian Masuda, and a live concert by J-Pop superstar Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.
 
The 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 19th and 20th and will present a new edition of “Harajuku Kawaii!! in S.F.” featuring the return of Ayumi Seto and other notable models and fashion luminaries for a series of special live events presented in partnership with ASOBISYSTEM. Programming news and announcements of other events and appearances will be coming soon! Details on the 2014 J-POP SUMMITcan be found at: www.J-Pop.com.

“Aymmy in the batty girls” is an innovative line inspired by a unique mix of 60s and 70s Americana popular culture, punk and rock fashion. The brand concept is derived from the "old school" feel of diners, hamburgers, cherry cola, ponytails, mixed with influences from Aymmy’s big brother whose interests include cult classic horror films, video games and skateboarding. Official “Aymmy in the batty girls” website (Japanese) available at: http://www.aymmy.com.
 
“Kawaii aesthetics celebrate the essence of Japanese pop sensibilities, fashion and music and has reverberated internationally and made Harajuku the epicenter of J-POP culture, and these aspects are a major foundation of the annual J-POP SUMMIT,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-Pop SUMMIT Festival Committee. “As we prepare an exciting roster of programming for the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival, we are honored to give an early taste of what’s to come with this special appearance by Harajuku Kawaii model Ayumi Seto at NEW PEOPLE. We invite everyone to join in all the fashionable fun!”
 
Ayumi Seto is a Japanese model and designer who appears regularly in a number of Harajuku fashion magazines. Born 1993, she is known as one of the pioneers in a new style called “Kidz Rock,” and her unique fashion sensibilities and creative hairstyles have inspired legions of Harajuku devotees. Following the release of her first fashion book, “AyumiKidz,” in October 2013, Ayumi is preparing to launch her first clothing brand, “Aymmy in the Batty Girls” (“Aymmy” for short), in Spring 2014. The new label will offer a wide variety of girl’s apparel and accessories that reflect Ayumi’s colorful and edgy style.
 

Yoshiki (X-JAPAN)-​YOSHIKI CLASSICAL-​Additional Dates

International rock icon Yoshiki announced today that he will add three new concert dates across Asia to his highly anticipated YOSHIKI CLASSICAL TOUR. X-Japan's founder and leader will bring his first ever classical concert tour to Taipei,
Taiwan (June 13th), Tokyo, Japan (June 16th) and Osaka, Japan (June 17th). The newly added concert dates follow Yoshiki's recently announced Bangkok, Thailand date on June 10th.
Yoshiki, a classically trained pianist known best as leader of the globally renowned rock band X-Japan, will perform original, classical songs from his recent solo release YOSHIKI CLASSICAL, which debuted at the top of the charts worldwide. YOSHIKI CLASSICAL debuted at #1 on the iTunes Classical Music chart in 10 countries (along with 4 Top 10 debuts), and has been spotlighted by Billboard Magazine, MTV, Reuters, and AOL, among others.
Yoshiki will embark on the YOSHIKI CLASSICAL TOUR beginning April 25th in southern California at Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts before setting off across North America, Europe and Asia, culminating in Yoshiki's native Japan.
Tickets for the YOSHIKI CLASSICAL TOUR are on sale now via Yoshiki.net. A full listing of all concert dates is below:

TOUR DATES & LOCATIONS (Feel free to publish on your site; Tickets are and more information can be found at www.yoshiki.net)

DATE
CITY
VENUE
April 25th
Costa Mesa, CA
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
April 28th
San Francisco, CA
Davies Hall
May 3rd
Mexico City, Mexico
Auditorium Blackberry
May 21st
Moscow, Russia
Crocus City Hall
May 23rd
Berlin, Germany
Tempodrom
May 26th
Paris, France
Trianon
May 28th
London, England
Royal Festival Hall
June 6th
Shanghai, China
Oriental Arts
June 8th
Beijing, China
Beijing Exhibition Center
June 10th *
Bangkok, Thailand
Royal Jubilee Ballroom
June 13th*
Taipei, Taiwan
NK 101
June 16th*
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
June 17th*
Osaka, Japan
The Symphony Hall

Son Of Batman Animated Movie




 "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 Jason O'Mara (Terra Nova, The Good Wife) and Sean Maher (Firefly, Serenity), the voices of Batman and Nightwing, respectively. More panelists to be announced as confirmed.

The world is turned upside down when Batman – one of the world’s greatest Super Heroes – discovers he is a father in the newest DC Universe Original Animated Movie, Son of Batman. This all-new, PG-13-rated film arrives May 6, 2014 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD. The Blu-ray Combo Pack will also include Digital HD with UltraViolet.

Batman learns he has a son, Damian – and to further complicate matters, the mother is Talia al Ghul, daughter of one of his most dreaded enemies, Ra’s Al Ghul. When the odds quickly turn against Batman and Damian, Batman must become both father and mentor to the aggressive, agile new Robin. Together they form an uneasy alliance to try and thwart the criminal enterprise of Deathstroke and his army of ninja man-bats before there are international consequences. 



Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, Son of Batman is directed by Ethan Spaulding from a screenplay by Joe R. Lansdale, and based on a story by James Robinson. James Tucker is producer. Phil Bourassa is character designer. Sam Register (Young Justice, Teen Titans), Michael Uslan (The Dark Knight Rises) and Benjamin Melniker (The Dark Knight Rises) are executive producers.

Son of Batman has tons of exciting enhanced content including:

Featurette – “The Fang and the Demon Head: The League - of Assassins”
Featurette – “Strange Blood Tie: Damian Wayne”
A Sneak Peek at the next DCU Animated Movie - Batman: Assault of Arkham
From the DC Comics Vault – 4 Bonus Cartoons 






Images







Image source and Story: http://toynewsi.com

by Sean Tucker

15th Anniversary Of Battle Royale With New 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.

BATTLE ROYALE: REMASTERED is available now from Haikasoru as a print-only release for $16.99 U.S./ $19.99 CAN, while the BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK is offered in print for $14.99 U.S./$16.99 CAN, as well asan eBook edition for $7.99 (U.S. / CAN) for the Amazon Kindle, Apple’s iBooks Store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Book Store, and the Kobo eBooks Store.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

BATTLE ROYALE: REMASTERED, by Koushun Takami · MSRP: $16.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN · Available Now!
Koushun Takami’s notorious high-octane thriller is based on an irresistible premise: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan—where it then proceeded to become a runaway best seller—Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world. Made into a controversial hit movie of the same name, Battle Royale is already a contemporary Japanese pulp classic, now available in a new English-language translation.


BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK: Essays on the Cult Classic Novel by Koushun Takami · MSRP: $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN · Available Now! 
Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale is an international best seller, the basis of the cult film, and the inspiration for a popular manga. And fifteen years after its initial release, Battle Royale remains a controversial pop culture phenomenon. Join New York Times best-selling author John Skipp, Batman screenwriter Sam Hamm, Philip K. Dick Award-nominated novelist Toh EnJoe, and an array of writers, scholars, and fans in discussing girl power, firepower, professional wrestling, bad movies, the survival chances of Hollywood’s leading teen icons in a battle royale, and so much more!

“BATTLE ROYALE: REMASTERED delivers a new translation of the cult classic the occasion of its 15thAnniversary and presents a prime opportunity to revisit this gripping story, or dive into it for the very first time,” says Haikasoru editor Nick Mamatas. “The BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK is the first-ever English language release to examine the property’s cultural impact from an array of acclaimed writers. We invite readers to discover both of these riveting new releases from Haikasoru!”

Koushun Takami was born in 1969 in Amagasaki near Osaka and grew up in Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku (the fourth largest island in Japan), where he currently resides. After graduating from Osaka University with a degree in literature, he worked for a newspaper company, Shikoku Shinbun, for five years, reporting on politics, police reports, and economics. Also, he attended Nihon University’s liberal arts correspondence-course program and acquired an English teaching certificate for junior high and high school.

Battle Royale, completed after Takami left the newspaper company, was his debut work and his only novel published so far. With its publication in Japan in 1999, it received widespread support and became a best seller. Battle Royale was serialized as a comic, made into a feature film in 2000, and has been translated into more than ten languages. Since its initial release, Battle Royale continues to be a cult favorite in Japan and internationally.


Aniplex of America Launches New Aniplex+ Store

Aniplex of America has announced that two new and exclusive items will be available for pre-order in their newly re- launched Aniplex+ (Aniplex Plus) online store starting today. Originally known as the Aniplex Special Store, the new Aniplex+ gives fans in wider territories the same opportunity to own exclusive items produced by Aniplex Japan. Each item will only be available on a pre-order basis in limited quantities while supplies last. Aniplex+ is now live and features several items on sale. Aniplex of America will continue to add new items to Aniplex+ to provide as many opportunities as possible for fans to own the latest merchandise. Fans can access Aniplex+ at www.AniplexUSA.com/aniplexplus 

One of the current items featured on Aniplex+ is the Homura Akemi Japanese Kimono Figure from the highly popular title Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Featuring Homura Akemi wearing a beautiful Japanese kimono, this is an exclusive figure that would certainly be a great addition to any Madoka Magica collection. Pre-orders for the Homura Akemi Japanese Kimono figure will be available only for a limited time starting from today until May 7 Also featured is the Fate/Zero Saber Figure. Inspired by the official illustrations by Takashi Takeuchi (Original Character Designer), this figure features the title’s main heroine Saber wearing a black jacket while holding her “Noble Phantasm” Excalibur. The Fate/Zero Saber Figure will also be available for Pre-order for a limited time-slot starting today until April 22nd Both Figures are only available during this exclusive pre-order window and inventory can’t be guaranteed after the cut-off date. The Homera Akemi Japanese Kimono figure and Fate/Zero Saber Figure will be available in the following territories: North America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Ireland. About Aniplex of America Inc. Aniplex of America Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a group of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and a leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Aniplex of America has launched fan-favorite Blu-ray and DVD releases such as Bakemonogatari, Durarara!!, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the Garden of Sinners, Sword Art Online, Blue Exorcist, Fate/Zero, Blast of Tempest, Magi: The labyrinth of magic, Oreshura, and Vividred Operation. The company's ever-growing line-up of shows includes our most recent titles KILL la KILL, Mekakucity Actors, Mushi-Shi (The Sequel), Nanana’s Buried Treasure, Nisekoi, World Conquest Zvezda Plot, Magi: The kingdom of magic, Samurai Flamenco, The irregular at magic high school, Silver Spoon, and Oreimo 2.



J-Stars Victory Vs (Import Game) Review

J-Stars vs Victory is a fighting video game that combines the universes of several Weekly Shōnen Jump manga series, including former series and some that have been transferred to other magazines. It was released by Namco Bandai Games on March 19, 2014 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. 


New Clips from Frankie & Alice Starring Halle Berry

From Lionsgate and Codeblack Films and the executive producers of INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE and LACKAWANNA BLUES comes a mind-bending drama starring Academy Award® Winner and Golden Globe® Nominee Halle Berry (THE CALL, MONSTER'S BALL). FRANKIE & ALICE is inspired by the remarkable true story of an African American go-go dancer "Frankie" with multiple personalities (dissociative identity disorder or “DID”) who struggles to remain her true self while fighting against two very unique alter egos: a seven-year-old child named Genius and a Southern white racist woman named Alice. In order to stop the multiple voices in her head, Frankie (Halle Berry) works together with a psychotherapist (Stellan Skarsgard) to uncover and overcome the mystery of the inner ghosts that haunt her. It's Alright Paige's Wedding

Stellan Skarsgård and Halle Berry in Frankie & Alice

Phylicia Rashad and Halle Berry in Frankie & Alice


Chandra Wilson in Frankie & Alice

Lenni Reviews: The Walking Dead Fall of the Governor Part Two


In the continuing saga of some heretofore unknown desire to torture myself, it was with a heaving sigh that I picked up the fourth and final book in this "trilogy."

If you are just joining us, here is one, two, and three.

This last installment is the assault on the prison from the Woodbury resident's perspective. If you've read the previous books and/or the comics, it's pretty clear how The Governor has a stranglehold on the town and can get them to do whatever he wants so reading about how he got people from the prison, tortures Michonne, and Michonne getting her revenge but how The Governor manages to survive Michonne's attack is interesting. You get some more insights into Bob Stookey and Lilly Caul but even then, the whole thing falls flat. I still can't reconcile Lilly's transformation into The Governor's perfect soldier but this book does provide some back info as to why Lilly freaked out after (this should NOT be spoilers by now!) killing Lori and Judith. Personally, shooting unarmed women with babies is just wrong in and of itself but yeah, the back story is nice to know.

I don't want to give too much away but I will say the book does not end with the assault on the prison. You do get to find out what happens to Lilly and Woodbury in the aftermath of The Governor's death. It should not have taken four books to say what could have been said in a wicked cool side comic ("Re-Rise of Woodbury" perhaps?) and that is in the last 50 pages or so of just... Meh. All of it just feels like a deflated balloon. Things are wrapped up and explained but there's little punch to it. I will say, the writing stays on the level of Part One; to the point with plenty of gory zombie killin and 'splodin brains. If you don't like gore (then you're reading the wrong franchise) you may be turned off by all the muck here.

If I were to sum up all four, I would say the average fan could totally skip these and be just fine. If you're dying to know what happens to Lilly after the prison? Borrow book four and start at chapter seventeen. The books are jerky and boring. I didn't hate this one, I didn't roll my eyes, I'm even short on my usual biting sarcasm here; I just yawned a lot. Save your money for the comics.

Can't get enough of Lenni's writing? See more here.

Dragonball Z: Light Of Hope (Fanmade Web Series)

If you know anything about me at Otakus and Geeks, then you know I love Dragonball Z. One thing that always made me cringe is the attempt of DBZ live action. Let's be honest its like beating The Undertaker streak at Wrestlemania, it seems it can't be done. However an independent group of filmmakers called Robot Underdog is attempting to do just that. The group has launched an Indiegogo campaign for the web series which you can check here http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dragon-ball-z-light-of-hope-pilot. DBZ Light Of Hope will follow the storyline of the History Of Trunks. If you want to get a taste of what Robot Underdog has in store check out the trailer below. So far I like what I see.

Instagram: @robotunderdog

Lenni Reviews: Pokemon Visual Companion


I will be the first to admit I am not a Pokemon person. I stopped watching the show after season 2 or so (I can't even really remember), I've never played any of the games or collected the cards. My collective knowledge of the franchise probably couldn't fill a Poke Ball. I didn't even know there were different kinds of Poke Balls before I opened this book.

That being said, I feel much more comfortable holding a conversation with a fan after reading this book. It's a pretty comprehensive primer for the entire universe. Every character gets a blurb, every creature has a summary, and every location is covered. I wouldn't pass if you quizzed me on it (I read it not memorized it) but if a fan of the show started talking about it, I would understand what they were saying.

As to the content, most of the pictures are direct from the show so if there's something different in the card game or the video games, it's not here. That's fine by me because if you're looking for something just to dip a toe into this world, you don't want to bury someone with that much information. As a non-fan who is friends with fans, it's scary to see just how vast the entire Pokemon franchise is. This book is nice and simple: This is the show and the creatures in it. That's all. It's also NOT an episode guide. Chances are you won't see many spoilers in here.

My only complaint is that some of the stills taken from the show are a bit fuzzy but if that's the only obvious flaw I caught, this book has a lot going for it.

Except that the series came to the U.S. in 1998... This book made me feel old as hell.
Can't get enough of Lenni's writing? See more here.

Final Fantasy's Nobuo Uematsu Teams Up with Critical Hit

Critical Hit, the all-star videogame music tribute band led by composer Jason Hayes – best known for his work on the acclaimed World of Warcraft soundtrack – will co-headline Orlando Nerd Fest 2014 withFinal Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu and his band, The Earthbound Papas. Home to over 50 unique performances, the multi-day festival is aspiring to be the world’s largest nerd culture based music festival and will be held at the Orlando Airport Marriott from August 7-11, 2014.

Critical Hit is scheduled to perform live on August 9, 2014 at 10 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Stage A and will entertain attendees with electrifying original arrangements from the most celebrated videogames of all time, includingSkyrim, Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Halo, Metal Gear Solid,Pokemon, World of Warcraft, Tetris, and more. Following their performance, Nobuo Uematsu and The Earthbound Papas will take the stage to deliver another solid set list that includes exhilarating classic rock music fromFinal Fantasy and other popular Japanese games. This exciting collaboration between both all-star bands is credited to Shion Francois, Founder and President of Babel Entertainment.

"To represent the best from the East with The Earthbound Papas and the West with Critical Hit is a dream come true, but to have them both co-headlining on the same night is truly special," said Shion Francois, Founder and President of Babel Entertainment. "Expect something very exciting from both bands come Saturday night!"

"As a fellow fan of Nobuo Uematsu and his timeless scores, I am honored to co-headline our first Orlando Nerd Fest with his high profile band The Earthbound Papas," said Jason Hayes. "We cannot wait to share what we’ve been working on with gaming enthusiasts and music fans attending the show."

Today, Critical Hit is also pleased to release their third music video, featuring an original arrangement from the classic videogameTetris. Musicians in the video contribute to a staggering list of credits, including The Annual Primetime Emmy’s, Cirque Du Soleil, American Idol, and more.

Visit Critical Hit’s official website to purchase its debut album, Critical Hit Volume 1 and to subscribe to the mailing list for all the latest news and giveaways:http://www.criticalhitband.com

· Digital download (iTunes, Amazon, Loudr) on sale for $9.99

· Physical album on sale for $14.99

Album is mixed and mastered by Grammy award winning audio engineer Gustavo Borner and feature Musicians Hall of Fame inductee David Frank Paich, pianist of the legendary band Toto and co-writer on hit titlesAfrica, Rosanna, and Hold the Line.

For more information about Orlando Nerd Fest, visit:http://www.orlandonerdfest.com

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About Critical HitCritical Hit was founded in 2013 by videogame industry veterans Jason Hayes and Michael Gluck. Their passion for videogames, music composition, and live performance led to the formation of Critical Hit, a band featuring the best musicians in the industry. Their debut album, Critical Hit Volume 1, is currently available.

Learn more about Critical Hit on their official website: http://www.criticalhitband.com

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