A dark ending for comics books in December 2009

Well... not really an ending to comic books. On a weekly basis, I'll go to www.diamondcomics.com to view new releases for the week so I can plan my weekly comic book purchases accordingly. Low and behold, the "new release" section was empty. Thinking they redesigned the site, I scrambled diamondcomics.com wondering why they had to re-shuffle things. Well, it turns out it was never there to begin with, it was never updated. Diamond Comics, the worlds largest and only distributor of comic books is taking the later half of December off. I just found this out today! I'm guessing it makes sense considering the holiday schedule. All will be well with the world come January 2010 when regular comic book shipments commence.

Marvel Comics Keyboards

I can't recall the last time I needed to peer down at my keyboard to type-up a quick email. Years f typing does that to you, where you can blindly strike hot-keys when needed. Now there's an incentive to look down at your keyboard. Marvel themed keyboards! They even have Star Trek! This will be a good excuse to finally get a keyboard for my PS3! I hope DC jumps on board (pun intended)! I would love to have a Batman themed keyboard!



You can purchase them here.

Batman needs braaains!

What could possibly be more bad-ass than Batman? Batman... as a ZOMBIE! Emerging from the Blackest Night mega series comes Batman in zombie form... and they're making an action figure out of it! While Batman's consciousness if somewhere in time, his dead body is being exploited thanks to the Black Lantern storyline.

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a fun film that is a decent balance of action, mystery and comedy. Just don’t expect to hear the word “elementary” throughout the movie. Sherlock Holmes is a refreshingly new and sexy take on the old 19th century.

I thoroughly enjoyed Robert Downy Junior’s neurotic portrayal as the world’s greatest detective, being unconventionally witty and socially awkward. Unfortunately, I couldn't help but think of Captain Jack Sparrow. Watson, played by Jude Law, was just as interesting. Not so much about his contribution to the film, but more so his portrayal. I always imagined Watson as Sherlock’s portly sidekick, but they managed to make him an English gentleman (not a far stretch from Law’s other performances). Most of the humor originates from Holmes and Watson’s interaction, a 19th century odd couple if you will. Holmes is the quirky slob while Watson is prim and proper. Rachel McAdams was the damsel in distress with a Catwomen-esque manner. Although hot by all means, I didn’t care much for her in this movie as Holmes' rogue love interest. She seemed wedged into the story line. In hind sight, I'm sure adding a hot female lead helps dispel any homo-erotic innuendos considering the two main characters are good looking men.

The story itself reminded me of an amalgamation of X-Files, CSI and Scooby Doo. The story centers on the premise of science versus magic, challenging Holmes’ disbelief of the supernatural and the unexplained. Lord Blackwell is the maniacal villain, hell bent on ruling the world, wielding his powers of magic and the dark arts. In the midst of all this, Holmes and Watson scientifically explain how they uncover each investigative clue to ultimately stop Lord Blackwell.

Overall, Sherlock Holmes is a good film and worth your theater dollars. I can see future films being made with this franchise.

Bryan Singer is back for more X-Men

Bryan Singer did a fantastic job bringing X-Men to the big screen before jumping ship to direct Superman Returns. However, fans lost on both ends here. Brett Ratner gave us X-Men: Last Stand, aka "Wolverine featuring the X-Men" and Bryan Singer decided that Superman shouldn't punch a single thing during the duration of the movie (I did like the Richard Donner homage though). In the end I don't blame Singer for making Superman Returns, after all, who in their right mind would pass up an opportunity as big as Superman? I do blame Ratner for killing Professor Xavier and making Cyclops a complete wuss (he's the leader of the X-Men for goodness sake!)

According to IGN, Singer will be coming back to direct a new X-Men flick, tentatively titled "X-Men: First Class" heavily suggesting another origins story. I'm glad Singer is in good spirit to bring us back into his X-Universe. If there's anyone out there to nail it, it would be him. In fact, he helped pave the way for Hollywood to start taking comic book movie adaptations seriously. My only request with this new X-Film... please give Cyclops his balls back!

Read the full story here.

Nic Cage in Kick Ass

Kick-Ass, written by Mark Millar, tells the story of superheroes in the real world. To be precise... teenage kids, as superheroes in the real world. Meaning no superpowers, mutant abilities or uber geniuses. If this film stays faithful to the comic book, which I'm hearing it will be, I think audiences will be taken back by the amount of violence.

Originally, this movie was self funded. Movie studios weren't thrilled about teenage heroes being subject to adult violence. But when buzz about the story grew like wild fire because of the comics' success, Lionsgate was quick to jump on board. Kick-Ass stars Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz and will be directed by Matthew Vaughn. Kick-Ass hits theaters on April 16th 2010. Here's a sneak peak at Nic Cage gunning for the "father of the year award!"

Bat-Limo-Mobile

Think owning your own Batmobile will make you the coolest kid on the block? How about a Batmobile Limousine! Where was this bad boy during my senior prom?




Read the full article here.

Iron Man 2: War Machine Teaser Footage

Wow... just wow! I don't know what to say other than this movie is going to kick so much ass in the box office! I can't seem to decide on who's performance I'm most looking forward to seeing, Don Cheadle or Mickey Rourke?

Arrest made in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

You know that blue screened federal government warning everyone ignores before your DVD/Bluray movie begins? Be warned that it's taken very seriously! It looks like an arrest has officially been made during the Wolverine Origins fiasco according to CNET.

FBI Agents arrested 47 year old Gilberto Sanchez (not pictured) for allegedly uploading the entire film online for the world to share. If he's convicted, he's looking at 3 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine. When X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released on May 1st 2009, it's commercial release was preempted by a premature (illegal) release over the internet, a month early to be exact.

Stunts like this potentially make-or-break box office numbers, not to mention perception of the movie by critics. Remember Ang Lee's Hulk? I don't recall how well it did in the box office (couldn't have been ground breaking because that movie was terrible to begin with), but the pre-rendered CGI didn't resonate well with those that didn't see the final product which carried over into the official release... classic case of judging a book by its cover.

Personally, I'm in no hurry to view movies prematurely before their original release dates. There is a "lack of quality" that diminishes the movie experience no matter how high-quality the illegal copy is. Hell, when it comes to movie trailers, I'd rather see an official release over an amateur recording from someone's cell phone.

Read the full article here.

Teaser Trailer for Batman Arkham Asylum Sequel

Arkham Asylum's official announcement for a sequel wasn't a surprise because of the games success. It was more comfort of confirmation than anything. Well, my jaw dropped dropped to the floor when I saw this, an official trailer immediately released after WBIE's announcement! It looks like the walls of Arkham have been broken wide open and the Dark Knight will be hitting the streets of Gotham!

By the way, I'm not sure if it will be titled "Arkham Asylum 2." You'll notice there is no title beyond a withering Bat symbol.

Batman Arkham Asylum - Sequel Officially Announced

Batman Arkham Asylum (a game I love like my own child) will be developing a sequel which was announced directly from Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment. Here is what Martin Tremblay, president of Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment, officially announced:

"We are thrilled to build a global game franchise from 'Batman: Arkham Asylum,' which is receiving an incredible response from gamers and Batman fans around the world... Rocksteady has taken Batman to a new level in the video game space and we are committed to delivering a sequel the fans will love."

Sefton Hill, game director of Rocksteady Studios:

"Getting the opportunity to create 'Batman: Arkham Asylum' and seeing its success has been a dream come true for the team... We are honored to create the next chapter in this compelling story and promise to deliver another game worthy of the Dark Knight."

This is the first game I picked-up during a midnight release, and was well worth it! It's no surprise B:AA is getting a sequel... it would be dumb of them not to develop one because of its success. This is also the first game I've seen purchased not just by die-hard Batman fans, but die-hard gamers, giving the game it's highest level of valid praise. The bar was set very high for this game, I can guarantee expectations for the sequel will match. What really captured my love for this game was the level of detail, even at its tiniest, that were placed in the world of Arkham Asylum. For example: Calendar Man's cell, Penguin's umbrella's, even the subtle musical tones paying homage to Christopher Nolan's Batman!

In the meantime, can we get more DLC for Batman Arkham Asylum? You can join B:AA's mailing list for updates here.

Batman Props for Sale

Toynami will be producing a limited number of Tim Burton's Batman prop replicas, which are going to be for sale in early 2010. The following descriptions are originally from BBTS.com:

"Introducing a new line of cinematic prop replicas with one of the most iconic masks in the superhero world: The Bat-Cowl from Batman Returns! Limited to a production run of only 500 pieces, the Bat-Cowl has been professionally crafted from the original prop worn in Tim Burton’s 1992 film. Composed of sturdy fiberglass, the non-wearable Bat-Cowl hangs on a utility-belt-styled display stand. Limited to 500 pieces worldwide. Listed retail price: $499.00US"

"The Batman Speargun is an exact replica crafted from the original. Its features include a folding handle and a light-up base. As with the Cowl, it is limited to only 500 pieces worldwide. Please note that the Speargun is not removable from the base. Limited to 500 pieces worldwide. Listed retail price: $399.00US"

Don't get me wrong, I think these collector pieces look great! However, for the price of the cowl, it should at least be wearable! As for the gun, why not let it be detachable from the base. I'm sure it's a way to deter people from replicating and reselling them for a fraction of the cost... but for honest collectors like myself, I'd prefer replicas to be as functional as possible.

Star Wears?

Star Wars New Era hats coming to you straight out of Japan. Actually, I don't know if these are going to be available in the US. I think the character hats are great, particularly Darth Maul!

Whiplash Poster from Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2's main villain Whiplash, played by Mickey Rourke, has emerged on a newly released poster. I wonder if Favreau plans on having Whiplash wear a mask like his comic book counterpart? None of the trailer images have indicated so. We'll just have to wait and see. Otherwise, great poster! I'm looking forward to seeing Rourke's performance if it's as high caliber as Sin City or The Wrestler. By the way, when are we getting a Black Widow poster?

Batman... a pirate?

Last I checked, Dick Grayson is Batman, Damian Wayne is Robin and Bruce Wayne is dead (physically). After Bruce Wayne's body was fried by Darkseid's omega beam in Final Crisis, last I saw of Bruce Wayne was him drawing a bat symbol in a prehistoric cave. Well, it turns out the original Dark Knight is alive and kicking... as a pirate! Bruce Wayne will be quntum leaping through time to find his way back to his beloved Gotham City, back to our current time line. Here are some preliminary drawings of our swashbuckling bat! If ninjas play any part in this storyline, we're in for one epic ride!

Adrianne Curry

If the name Adrianne Curry doesn't ring a bell, she was the first winner of America's Top Model in 2003. Still doesn't ring a bell? In 2005 she starred in VH1's reality show Surreal Life alongside Mini-Me (Very Troyer) and current husband Peter Brady (Christopher Knight) along with other b-list celebrities.

It looks like Adrianne Curry's fame is re-emerging, but on a geekier scale (not that I'm complaining). I recently discovered her on Twitter, not only is Adrianne Curry an active World of Warcraft player (happily providing proof in the buff seen below), she loves Watchmen and Star Wars. It's cliche for celebrities to proclaim themselves as nerds growing up but it's one thing to be a self-proclaimed nerd, and another to actually post pictures of your avatar leveling-up on WOW. I applaud you for that Mrs. Brady!

Hot-geeky-chicks isn't unfamiliar territory. In fact, Olivia Munn has built the majority of her career in this niche space, which is absolutely smart if you ask me. Is Adrianne Curry riding the coat-tails of Olivia Munn's fame? Probably not, but it's great to see hot chicks, however far and few in between they are, love the stuff I'm into!

By the way, Olivia Munn is still on the top of my list!

G4's X-Play - Best of 2009 Awards

I'd say ninety-percent of comic book based video games never cross the minds of video game enthusiasts out there, but Batman Arkham Asylum is first-in-class to break that mold. Batman Arkham Asylum is up for two nominations in G4's X-Play "Best of 2009 Awards." Not sure how prestigious this award ceremony is, but they've got other heavy hitters in their nominations list. Batman Arkham Asylum is, hands down, the best Batman game to date. I have a feeling future superhero based games will utilize the same game engine, and yes, superhero games have the potential to be awesome if made correctly. As far as I'm concerned, this should be game of the year! Here are the categories Batman Arkham Asylum is nominated for:

Best Action Adventure Game
Best Writing

Read the full list of nominees here.

War of the Supermen to be released on FCBD 2010

"War of the Supermen" will be one of the free titles for Free Comic Book Day 2010. This also means Superman will be DC's big crossover title for the summer. It's been sometime since I've picked up a Supe title, maybe this would be a good time to catch up on "New Krypton?" We'll see, for now, I'm enjoying CW's Smallville!

Superman/Batman Earth 1

Batman and Superman will be getting new titles in 2010 where the constraints of continuity may not apply. Batman and Superman Earth 1, will take a new perspective on DC's most iconic heroes within a multiverse platform. Meaning, this will be Bats and Supes from an alternate reality. Some of DC's greatest stories have emerged from such Elseworlds titles such as "Superman Red Son, Batman Darkest Knight, Kingdom Come, JSA Libery Files, etc." What I'm most excited about is that J. Michael Straczynski/Shane Davis and Geoff Johns/Gary Frank will be on Superman Earth 1 and Batman Earth 1 respectively. Here are a few images courtesy of Comic Book Resources:



Read the full article here.

Hot Toys: Tony Stark - Mech Tech Version

Hot Toys has done it again, another beautifully sculpted 1/6 Iron Man figure. However, Mr. Stark is stripped down to his bare essentials. An added bonus to this Hot Toys figure is that the backdrop is included, for more realism. In case you're wondering, my blog is not a running ad for Hot Toys. They are just producing top quality figures that I can't stop talking about! Now if only this thing could shoot real flames!

Image Comics makes a comeback with "Image United"

Nostalgic? Absolutely! Looks like Image Comics founders are returning to their early 90's creations. The all-star list includes Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It sounds like it's hit, because comic retailers are selling out fast, and Image is already putting together a second print. In all honesty, I can't remember the last Image book I purchased after 1995. If done right, I think this will breathe new life into the Image Universe... however long that may last!