Comic NEWS! BAT-MEN! NananananaNa

Hey gang!

Did you catch what co-editor in chief Dan DiDio said recently?

“Just as readers were getting comfortable with the idea of former sidekick Dick Grayson playing the role of Batman, along comes Bruce Wayne’s triumphant return to the Cape and Cowl. Is Gotham City ready for two Batmen? Is the world? And who’s to say the fun will end there?”

 That's right! As soon as Bruce Wayne's back in the comics, he won't take the mantle of the Bat from former-Robin Dick Grayson, instead we'll have twice more Batman around!

Grant Morrisson, since he's been on the Bat-books, loves playing with the status quo and the very foundation of Batman as a character.
He's played with Bruce and gave him a son.
Broke down Bruce.
Killed Batman.
Had Bats reborn in Dick Grayson.
And now he's having Bruce explore different eras before bringing him back!!

Dick will be the Batman, alongside Damian Wayne as Robin, of the following books: DETECTIVE COMICS, BATMAN and BATMAN AND ROBIN.

I gotta admit, his take on Batman really grew up on me.
He's fun, more acrobatic and has that very unique pulp touch (in plots and enemies encountered).

Bruce will be back as Batman in a yellow-Bat-symbol-ysh suit.
He'll star in Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s BATMAN INC. and David Finch’s BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT.
Check out the new suit!

I gotta admit, I really like the direction this is all going in!
It's like they recycling an old Chuck Dixon idea from a couple years back. When Blue Beetle was supposed to turn his identity into a corporate franchise with many Beetles around the world... Tim Drake was already going into that direction, supposed to become a successor to Ted Kord's Blue Beetle in Dixon's run. (true! the clues are all in the books! BB is Tim's favorite super hero and model)

Great move from DC Comics. Having Dick back at Nightwing could seem...like a step backwards. Plus having more Batman around can totally work with Bruce's ultimate agenda, right?
There's already Knight & Squire inthe UK.
Will Tim go back to being Robin to Bruce's Batman since the other Batman & Robin, D&D (Dick & Damian) are already a duo?
Will Tim become another Batman, maybe in a reconstructed city of Blüdhaven? Or in NYC?

Anyway, here's a preview of the new Morrisson's book, Batman Inc.
In which Bruce Wayne will team up with a different Bat-character each time:

First issue, classic Bats and Catwoman!

This has brought to me some questions...
Will Catwoman stay and represent Batman Inc. in Italy? (since Tim Sale & Jeph Loeb made so many connections between Selina and the mob?)
Will there be 2 Batgirls? You know, Cassandra Cain & Stephanie Brown? (there was some rumours about Cassie's returns lately)

TV NEWS! It's a MAD, mad world...in the Twilight Zone!

Here's some new stuff f'r the day~

It's that kid! From those parodies! You know, the ones that used to be funny!


First of all,remember when Warner Bros Animation announced their new shows?
I had voluntary "forgotten" one of them, thinking it would be canceled.
It was a cartoon TV adaptation of the long running MAD magazine!

Here's a sneak peak trailer:



This looks...bad. Plain bad.
Like the current MAD magazine! The classic, original MAD was good, genuinely funny.
Currently it is like a hollow blurry representation of the shadow of what used to be the former MAD "back in the old day".
Cheap parodies of current trends...
At least the Spy vs Spy segments look decent... and I like how some parts of this sneak peak imitates the art style of former MAD artists..

Anyway, this will air on Cartoon Network, and since all the good "modern" cartoons run on [adult swim] now and only anime re-runs and live shows are on that cr@p...


I'm a huuuuge fan of the Twilight Zone, in case you didn't knew!

Here's a geat interview of Rod Serling, from the 70s, that has been found back:





Great stuff!
Check that out kids, words of wisdom!

Random: the selective attention test

Here's a small random (funny) very serious test done by some professors and scientists and stuff:


Arf! XD

Comic NEWS! KNIGHT AND SQUIRE preview!!

Remember that Knight and Squire comic announced not long ago?
Well, thanks to DC's blog, we now can have a look at a very special preview...


For info, it is written by Paul Cornell with artist Jimmy Broxton. It will be about England's own Batma and Robin, simply called Knight and Squire.
They were created by Grant Morrisson and already appeard in a couple of Detective Comics and Batman issues.
Squire also appeard alongside Tim Drake a bunch of times.

Here's a word from the author:
“I think Knight and Squire is some of my best comics work. I’m getting the chance to wildly invent, and it turns out that whatever I invent, James can draw! It’s been huge fun. I think that comes over. I’m hoping The Milkman will get a solo ongoing.”

 

Loving the interior art and the concept sounds pretty fun!
One word: EXTRA-EPIC-AWESOME-FUN-LOOKING-BAT-TASTIC-British-super-heroic-ACTION!

Sonic NEWS! Cool Sonic figurines - bis

I do not like to being mistaken for a Sonic fanboy or something..
I'm more of a Sega fan, as a whole brand.
Alex Kidd, Shenmue, Virtua Fighter, the Sega Saturn, etc.. Sonic fanboys are mostly newbies who jumped out on the franchise when it went multi-console on the Gamecube *sorry guys, it's the thruth!*

Anyway, I cannot not like Sonic stuff when I see things like that:

Super happy fun Sega All Stars Racing action figure pack!!!

This looks like..Sega's finally putting out some merch'?
I always thought that the reason Americans were never as big fans of Sega as here, Europe, or South America because of the lack of cool cartoons (other than Sonic) and figurines.

And now, in 2010, finally, there's a toy combo pack of both Eggman & Metal Sonic:

And Vector and Espio!!! (from the 32x Chaotix game and Sonic Heroes)

Plus the guys at Jazzware, who made those, already answered:

"I know a lot of you have requested Mighty the Armadillo, Rouge the Bat,
and Omega. I have put all your requests in with the design team, and
will keep you posted! Thanks!!"

How cool is that?!
What?! I sound like a fanboy?! But...but... Mighty the armadillo! Anyone?! -sigh-

Gamin' NEWS! More Telltale gaming and Ezio's back for more

Here's some news about video games guys n gals!

Dun dun duuuuuuuuu~n!!

First of all Telltale games announced yet another game!
Not happy to already have a Back to the Future adventure game and a Jurassic Park acion-adventure game in the makin', they just released a teaser trailer...showing...this...



As you can see..it seems they're hinting some sort of crossover game...
Will it be another Vegas/card game like they already put out?
Will it be an adventure game?
Mini games?

We can already see it will have some Sam & Max content, from the looks of Max's shadow there.
Kids on the internet (mostly Gamefaqs and Gametrailers) are seeing a "mushroom from Mario", but my expert eyes see Strong Bad, which Telltales already adapted into several games.
The others seem to be...a character from the webcomic Penny Arcade... Which sounds weird BUT Telltale will be revealing the game at the PennyArcadeXpo (PAX), so...
And last we have in the middle what seems to be a Team Fortress character..
Now that's..random... Kids and fanboys will be screaming in joy...
What the eff is this game s'ppose to be about?!

I'll call it Random: The Crossover.
So Random: The Crossover will be revealed later this month!
Until then, write some crazy hypothesis and theories and go spam Telltale's forums!


And now here's some footage of the new side-sequel of the Assassin's Creed franchise, called Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.



Looks great and fun!
It's probably one of the very few modern gaming series I'm really enjoying and following~

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Abe

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Spidey and Cap © Marvel Comics
Abraham Lincoln © The U.S. of A.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The Animation

The Scott Pilgrim short cartoon has finally aired.
Now, you can check it out online for free thanks to [adult swim]

!WARNING! SPOILERS!!

Before watching this video, you might either check the movie or have at least read only the first 2 Graphic Novels (Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life & Scott Pilgrim vs. The World)


Scott Pilgrim vs. The Animation was done by the animation studio Titmouse Inc.
Bryan Lee O'Malley, the comic book author said "It's gonna be like a series of short animations".
So this won't lead to a cartoon series, well 'not like we need another adaptation of the story with the movie and cartoon out, but will instead be little shorts focused around some events.

This first short is based on the flashback of the beginning of Scott Pilgrim vs the World.
And it was dubbed by actors from the live movie~

I really like myself how this modern-ysh 2D animation matches the art style and brings it to life with its simple design :'3

Now, enjoy~

CBR Predator: Concrete Jungle

It's time for more Predator stuff!

Today's review, the comic book that inspired the name for that Predator game!

Comic title: Predator: Concrete Jungle
Art by Chris Warner & Ron Randall
Written by Mark Verheiden

Published by Dark Horse Comics
From 1990
Lineup Predator
Format: Trade paperback collecting Predator #1-4

Just after starting making comics about the Alien franchise in '88, 20th Century Fox launched a Predator line as well under the same publisher, Dark Horse.

It wasn't to adapt the movie, but to expand the franchise, to create a whole new original universe, which is in my eyes a better move, more creative in the end.

Concrete Jungle was the first story-arc that was created from '89 to 1990. It set the bar for future Predator comics as well as developed new concepts that would be kept in the movies later on...

Schaefer's brother is about to have one helluva week...

The story opens this time in New York City.
Detective Schaefer and his partner Detective Rasche are caught between turf wars between gang lords...
The city is havin' sort of a crisis, shoot-outs, war, high criminality... and a very hot summer time!

That is when our story's Predator decide to pick on the locals.

You probably guessed it, the story (which was in fact created before the movie) has a very familiar set-up.
Predator 2 might be an original sequel but does recycle lots of elements from this comic book!
As many as it almost seems like a comic book adaptation rather than the "original" sequel you thought it was!
But don't think the two follow the same path.
Predator 2 might share many similar aspects, Concrete Jungle doesn't share as much elements..for only the first of the 3 acts takes place in the city amongst gang wars...

This time around, the mano-a-mano fight takes place in the middle of the story...

The story follows this newly introduced brother to Schwarzennegger's character in the first Predator movie.
Schaefer follows the gangs... and meets his very first Predator in NYC in the first issue!
The fight it out...and Schaefer gets "tagged".

Is this monster connected to his brother disappearance?
What's the link with this mysterious conspiration and government guys?
What's General Phillips hidding from him about these creatures?

Schaefer tracks down the monster to South America, Columbia, where he ends face to face with it as well as a drug lord...
Big classic mano-a-mano combat against the alien...
Schaefer is now in possession of a Pred helmet..goes back to Big Apple...and...

It's an invasion!!

The final act brings the character back to the streets of NY...
And a Predator invasion!!

You see, Concrete Jungle isn't the same kind of story as the ones seen on theatres..
It's a lot more epic on a scale-aspect, more scifi-ysh and, even if written before P2, bridges the gap between those two kind of movies.
The first part of the movie, very much like Predator 2, tries to bring new elements and a new setting to the franchise. (unlike the movie, it's not in LA but New York)
The second part goes back to the jungle, much familiar, and has the big confrontation take place in the middle of the story...
The final act rather than trying to redo more "one on one" combats against the Predator or something of the same scope, goes wider, wilder and ends the story in a much climatic final.

The writing, as with most Dark Horse comics, is pretty consistent, well done.
Not incredible, but it works for this kind of movie/tv-to-comic adaptation.
The art is pretty nice, the new Predators are similar to the movie ones, yet kinda unique as well.
Only the color is sort of "moody". Like red-ysh in crisis, dangerous situations, yellow-ysh for dialogues, etc...

Overall, it's a great Predator entry in the franchise!

It would even work as a movie (I like to count it as the real 3rd movie, with the other Concrete Jungle game as the next one and Predators as the 5th "big Predator story").
It predates (arf :P) the 2nd movie, offers the same basis, yet could easily work in the franchise after that installment.

I really dig this comic.
Sure, there might have been better Predator comics later on, but this one set the bar and the foundations of future Predator works.
It introduced many aspects such as their "civilisation" aspect (a whole specie of alien hunters, which we only thought there was only one in P1), new weapons, their spaceships, and many more!
The story also partially uses the fact that the government knows about these monsters, which is one of the main plots of Predator 2.

Anyway, if you like the monster, the movies or are interested in checkin' some good ol' scifi comics from the 90s, you might wanna try Concrete Jungle!

I give it:

  2 / 3 Aaylas!

Happy Comic Book Day

Try to read some Jack Kirby stuff, will ya?~

Comic NEWS! Stan Lee stuff

Stan Lee will always be one of my favorite comic book authors of all time, alongside Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and a couple of others...
One of the comics cult creative minds.

In the last few years he has contributed to his favorite part of the super hero genre.
Creating characters.

He reimagined some DC heroes in the line Just Imagine Stan Lee's...
He created some Syfy movie characters..
He created, worked on and hosted the funny reality TV show Who Wants to Be a Superhero?...
And he even created Manga characters in association with mangakas!


Now, his studio, POW! Entertainment, will put up new comics in association with indie publisher Boom! Studios. (arf...well matched company names there!)
In fact, 3 new super hero characters.

 
In October we will have Soldier Zero by Paul Cornell and Javier Pina.
This will basically by a sort of Green Lantern-meets-Ironman kind of guy.
A guy in a wheelchair bonds with alien technology to fight the good fight with a bio-tech suit.

In November will be published the second book by Mark Waid and Chad Hardin, The Traveler.
This one will be about a time traveller hero who has to protect history, fightin' against a bunch of evil guys tryin' to mess the world.

And in December we'll have Starborn by Chris Roberson and Khary Randolph.
A person discovers his father was an evil super villain, and he will confront what has become of the heroes his dad used to fight against...

They all sound pretty interesting!
Soldier Zero looks like the winner here. But I can imagine the Traveler turning out the best in the end. The pitch sure intrigues me!

Stan Lee still love creating characters, more than directing his own comic book publisher or writing never-ending on-going series.
"The Man" said about the process of imagining and creating super heroes:

"What would I like to read? What hasn't anyone created yet?"

Here's the preview to the very first book you'll be able to check, Soldier Zero:

It sure has that Blue Beetle(Jamie)/Green Lantern-vibe to it!

Anyway, be sure to check at least one of those out~
Stan "The Man" Lee himself tells ya to!


Excellsior!

ComicPanelsOfTheWeek: Flatman's a nice guy

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From the pages of the GLA © Marvel Comics

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Deadpool in 3D

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The Punisher & Deadpool © Marvel Comics

THE GOODS

-PFUNK

ROBOTS ARE MADE OF METAL!

its been too long .... here is some metal for your weak fleshy ears.

howl will melt your face and girl on guitar shreds.
i saw these guys live opening up for one of my favorite bands ever BLACK(motherfucking)COBRA! here is some of their latest work.

-PFUNK

Random NEWS! Real modern Sonic sidescroller

See.
I said (if you check older posts about this so-called Sonic 4) that the new Sonic 2D isn't a real evolution! It's not a modern day retro Sonic or anything.. It's just a cheap easy cash-in.

It was made for almost nothing (no budget) and will make a ton of profit...

And don't you tell me "it's a modern 2D platformer! With HD graphics!" cause it isn't!
I'm not complaining like Sonic haters or fanboys. I'm just writing my own piece of mind on mah blog, yo!

A real Sonic 4 should have been either
- a real HD 2D game. Like Wario Land Wii or the new Boy and his blob. HD hand-drawn beautiful REAL sprites with tons of details, etc.. But I guess that would have been too expensive for a digital game.. (the reason most animated movies and modern games are all 3D/CGi)
- or a "next gen" sidescroller. Yes, with 3D graphics (and why not running on the "hedgehog engine"), kinda like the handheld Sonic Rush/Sonic Rivals game but on a console system!

Instead we got what I dislike the most "pre-rendered sprites", meaning 3D models used for making 2D sprites.. blah!

Anyway, I'm complaining a lot it seems... let's just check this fanmade (not playable) remake of a stage of Sonic & Knuckles like Sonic 4 should have been made:

Amazing what fans came make with no money and lots of motivation!

Gamin' NEWS! Shiny Megaman animation

I'm not sure I'll be interested in a game called Mega Man Online (which is a MMO being developed for the Asian market only anyway),
But I sure find the trailer/intro pretty kickass!

Mega Man fans, enjoy:



Lots of neat stuff from various parts of the Mega Man franchise! MM, MMX, etc..

Blog: Black Lanterns

I came back from work today...
And look what I found in the mail:

Looks like my Blackest Night Green Lantern comics finally arrived!

Yeah, I kinda prefer following my comics in trade than in issues. The stories seem more...unified that way~
And I decided to add some stuff I've missed in the past as well alongside these.

Should I put a review of the Black Lanterns on my blog one of these upcoming weeks?
Or some other GL comics, like Alan Scott, Kyle Rayner's run or others...?

TV News! ZOMBIIIIIIIEEEES!!

It's here!
It's finally here!

The trailer to the TV adaptation of the graphic novel The Walking Dead!



And it looks fun, great and pretty true to the comic spirit-wise!
Awesome!

What does National American Miss mean to you ?

     Get the inside scoop from NAM girls and find out just what NAM means to them !!!

Juliana Wynkoop California - "National American Miss is one of those events I look forward to the the day after state pageant is over. Having participated with NAM since 2005 in Northern California I have not only made lifetime friends, but have embarked on a continuous journey to follow my dreams. Before National American Miss I was not exposed to the world of volunteerism and most certainly didn't know what it meant to be a leader. I will never forget my first pageant: I was in the preteen division and had no idea what to expect. I was shy, afraid of public speaking, and did NOT feel comfortable on stage! I find it funny how I've flourished from that...into a confident leader involved in her community! I truly owe it all to NAM! They have motivated me to ALWAYS try my hardest in school, volunteer, be myself, and set goals! I no longer have a fear of public speaking...I even won the Spokesmodel title in 2009 at my state! National American Miss has given me the confidence to spread their message to girls around the nation. Thank you so much NAM for all you have done for me...you certainly have impacted my life for the better!"



Elizabeth Terrazas Texas - "NAM means a time to spend with your family and friends as you find sponsors or do fundraisers together. A time you get to have fun trying to prepare for all the different categories. While participating in NAM I learned that confidence is the key to success because every girl had her own confidence which made them shine in their own way. "

Kayla DaCruz  New Jersey-NAM means a chance to show others what I can do and the power that I hold as a confident young girl! NAM gives me a chance to be more out going and has given me more confidence. NAM has also taught me to DREAM and my DREAM is to be crowned. This will be my 3rd year competing and I have not given up on my DREAM to win the crown! I will make my DREAM come true by being the best that I can be, always! I have learned to never give up on a dream! NAM has tought me to be the best that I can be and to present myself with confidence always! Thanks NAM!



Shellye Echeverria -"NAM, it's about developing relationships, and having the best time of your life! I learned that I am capable of doing anything Iput my mind and heart into doing. If I have a dream, I should follow it, because I can do what ever I want because I am a girl with power, motivation, and poise. "

Tasia Davis Ohio - "National American Miss taught me how to be confident in myself and taught me how to make new friends. I can do whatever I want to if I just put my mind to it because of that pageant I can actually believe in myself and can put my mind to it and I'm going to do the pageant next year , because I liked this year. It may have been my 1st year but I loved it and it was so awesome! It helpd me with my own furture goals that want do when I get older and I'm going to keep doing pagents because I loved it ! Thank you very much for everything! "



Sidney Robertson Texas - "NAM means so much to me because, at first I was scared about being the first pageant and I didn't know what was going to happen. As I started to grow, I learned new things like not being nervous, to be yourself, and speaking skills. The next year, I wasn't shy anymore. I was brave enough to stand at the podium and speak about my dreams and what I believe in, then sitting in a interview answering questions from people I never met and the judges loved it, now that was amazing. As my life goes on and continues to change I finally know what NAM has done for me.......NAM has taught me how to be a lady and how to be a good volunteer with children and the elderly. That is something I do like to do as a young girl. It is important to me helping others in need. That is why one of my biggest dreams in life is to help our nation by protecting it by being apart of the FBI and making America a safe place to live. Thanks NAM for helping me continue to grow up and become the best at everything I want to be.

Sammi Mazza  New Jersey - "I first competed in NAM when i was 10 or 11... I  remember being a jr.preteen so nervous about what others thought of me. I wasn't very outgoing or confident in myself. As time went on that all changed. I am now your 2009 2010 National Cover Girl. Through this great oppurtunity, I realized that National American Miss is more then a pageant. It's a learning experience for girls of all ages. You don't walk into pageant week/weekend aiming for the crown, you walk in with your head held high and open arms. Through NAM i have made so many friends that will last a lifetime. The National American Miss System isn't just another pageant, it's a way of life, a place where dreams really do come true, and a place where miracles happen! "



Trisha Colwell (Mom of Contestant) Ohio  - As a parent , NAM means great strength and courage. The amount of change in one weekend (for the better) is amazing. The shy quiet girl walks away from NAM feeling confident and ready to face the world with courage thanks to an AWESOME Organization.I am soooo very Proud of My National American Miss Ohio Pre Teen Talent Winner, Mikayla Colwell. 4th Overall in Spokesmodel (that one makes me the most proud). 4th Overall in Actress. And the best part Top 20...Woooo Hooo. She walked away with even more confidence and she is already anxious to go back next year and see everyone and do better than this year.... She is learning more and more every year.

We are definately National American Miss Family for life! Thank you to everyone involved at NAM! You are all Truly Amazing!

Shelby Mcintosh Ohio- NAM to me means opportunity. NAM gives each and every one of us the opportunity to learn new things, experience new friendships and most of all the opportunity to dig deep and find out who we are as girls. My experience with NAM taught me soo many things. From how to present myself during interviews, taking volunteer work and turning it into work experience to just relaxing and being "me". NAM is for every girl...not just the "it" girl. NAM gives us all self-confidence and lets us be proud of who we are and our accomplishments giving us that little nudge of encouragement along the way. I am proud to be a 1st runner up for my State as well as my State Ambassador representing NAM