TRIPLE SHOT DIGITAL: Comixology Submit Presents THE HAMMER OF ARGUS #1, LOVE IS A BURNING THING #1 and ROCKET QUEEN AND THE WRENCH #1

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There’s an easy to pronounce mighty hammer in this heroes’ book set in Greece with The Hammer of Argus, plus a bad boy super-soldier in Love is a Burning Thing. The Zoom Family hosts Jamie Baldwin for the summer, will he get his own armored adventures in Rocket Queen and the Wrench?

The leader in the digital comics space opened up the platform to indie creators back in March of this year. Writers and artists now have the chance to publish comics or graphic novels on the browser, tablet or phone using the Guided View technology. Comixologycurates the submissions and soon the comic is put into panel by panel production for the viewer. The comics appear right on the digital store alongside all of the major publisher’s books.

THE HAMMER OF ARGUS #1
Writer: Ernesto Lopez de Victoria
Artist: Christopher Nelson
Price: $1.99
Page Count: 27 pages
Imprint: Bearmoon Comics
Digital Release Date: 5/15/13
Age Rating: 17+ only
BUY IT HERE

Rendered on a computer in a unique and colorful CGI style is this great foray into mashing up mythology and comics—a tradition nearly as old as the medium!

The thief Brutus finds his way into the ancient forge of Argus the Cyclops.

For fans of Thor, Hercules, Percy Jackson and fun stories of the Olympian Gods. The art is the standout for this book, the 3D rendering makes for larger than life storytelling and great action.

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for July 31, 2013

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COMICS

 

ZOMG! Boston Comic Con is finally here. Check out our coverage in the paper and online at DigBoston.com! Friend of The League Jamal Igle celebrates 20 years in the industry with his successful YA Kickstarter graphic novel Molly Danger! Molly battles Supermechs! … Why do we keep picking Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerard’s spyfy action military procedural The Activity? It’s too good! The Activity #14 is out this week. … Cullen Bunn is making the best spider-stories every month, over in Venom, #38 stars the symbiote and Flash Thompson and snoopy reporter Katy Kiernan. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

Pass the Daily Dig along! Your friends can sign up here!

 

Boston Comic Con!
New Location - Seaport World Trade Center. SAT August 3 and Sunday August 4

 



SAT 8/3 - LUCKY’S LOUNGE (6-9PM):
LeaguePodcast Boston Comic Con After-Party 4.1
Facebook Event
 
SAT 8/3 - BOSTON COMIC CON PANEL - Neal Adams’ Secrets of The Silver Age - 12pm–12:45pm (MOD: Stefan Blitz, Forces of Geek)
Facebook Event
SAT 8/3 - BOSTON COMIC CON PANEL - Writing Comics - 5pm-5:45pm: Steve Niles, Frank Tieri, Tom Sniegoski  (MOD: Stefan Blitz, Forces of Geek)
SUN 8/4 - BOSTON COMIC CON - ALL AGES COMICS PANEL - Waterfront Room - All Ages Comics - 11am-11:45am Shelli Paroline, Don Rosa, Maris Wicks  (MOD: Clay N. Ferno, DigBoston)
SUN 8/4 - BOSTON COMIC CON - MIGHTY MARVEL PANEL - Marvel Comics - Mark Bagley, Mike Choi, David Mack, Brandon Peterson (MOD: Clay N. Ferno, DigBoston)

Thanks to you from your pals at LeaguePodcast, Forces of Geek and Boston Comic Con.

TUE 8/6 - @Musiquestria ‪#‎Brony‬ Musicians - All Ages - *NOTE: 5:30pm Doors ‪#‎MYLITTLEPONY‬ ‪#‎BRONIES ‪#‎MLP‬

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BLOGGERS: 

Picks of the week appreciated! Feel free to ask me any questions/requests. Thanks for your continued support.

Post- BOSTON COMIC-CON, brony meetup at Middle East. 

All Ages - *NOTE: 5:30pm Doors

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Musiquestria is a month-long pony music tour spanning the entirety of the United States. LEAGUE PODCAST presents this first ever tour of BRONY Musicians coming to the Middle East Upstairs on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. Early Evening All Ages Show.
Musiquestria is a month-long pony music tour spanning the entirety of the United States, from Everfree Northwest in Seattle, WA to cities in the New England area. During these four weeks we hope to visit as many major cities as possible across the country, bringing incredible live performances of some of the community’s most talented musicians to you.
Bronies have already infultrated so much of pop culture. This first-of-its-kind tour will take us to the next level! If this series of epic events are successful, this tour will become an annual event bringing up-and-coming brony musicians right across North America and into your home towns!
FAQ: What’s a Brony? http://whatisabrony.com

TUE 8/6/13 - MIDDLE EAST UPSTAIRS
EARLY EVENING SHOW: 
LeaguePodcast Presents: 
Musiquestria Tour - 8 Brony Musicians - All Ages $10 Advance / $12 Day Of Show *NOTE: 5:30pm Doors
Silva Hound
F3nning
Bejoty
Tarby
Poni1Kenobi
Replacer
Donn DeVore
Automatic Jack
TUE 
8/6/13 U: EARLY EVENING SHOW: LeaguePodcast Presents: Musiquestria Tour - 8 Brony Musicians - All Ages $10 Advance / $12 Day Of Show *NOTE: 5:30pm Doors
MIDDLE EAST UPSTAIRS
472 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge MA 02139
“Musiquestria is a month-long pony music tour spanning the entirety of the United States.”
Musiquestria is a month-long pony music tour spanning the entirety of the United States, from Everfree Northwest in Seattle, WA to cities in the New England area. During these four weeks we hope to visit as many major cities as possible across the country, bringing incredible live performances of some of the community’s most talented musicians to you.
Bronies have already infultrated so much of pop culture. This first-of-its-kind tour will take us to the next level! If this series of epic events are successful, this tour will become an annual event bringing up-and-coming brony musicians right across North America and into your home towns!
—
Publicity / Promotions - Cambridge, MA USA 
PRESS PHOTOS/GIVEAWAYS/MORE INFO:
[email protected]
617-864-3278 x224
mideastclub.com | zuzubar.com
@MidEastClub | @ZuZuBar 

 

 

SUN 8/4 HOMEBOY SANDMAN, @Mike_Eagle, @MegaRan @ChurchBoston #mm #hiphop @rockonconcerts

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BLOGGERS: Weekend Picks Appreciated! Feel free to ask me any questions/requests. Thanks for your continued support.

THIS SUNDAY 8/4 (post-Boston Comic Con)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
This Sunday at Church LEAGUE PODCAST in association with Rock On! Concerts presents THE DEAR HUNTER TOUR featuring Stone’s Throw artist HOMEBOY SANDMAN, OPEN MIKE EAGLE and RANDOM aka MEGA RAN with local talent Josh H.W., ELEMENTAL ZAZEN (with DRUMMER), newcomers CLINICAL and PRETENSILE.
NOTE: doors changed to 7:30PM

###

Homeboy Sandman’s new record All That I Hold Dear will be released August 6th. The 7-track joint was produced entirely by M Slago, who also produced this track “Easy Does It” featuring YC the Cynic & I Am Many. 
Sand will tour the US in August & September on The Dear Hunter Tour, with Open Mike Eagle and Random. Tour dates below. 
NEW: OPEN MIKE EAGLE 
A stand-out in Los Angeles hip-hop collective Project Blowed for almost a decade, Open Mike Eagle has spent the past nine years rapping and grinding hard. It’s paying off an he’s become the “it” indie-rapper of 2013.
“Open Mike Eagle is Suddenly the Hottest Thing in Indie Rap” - LA WEEKLY 

OPEN MIKE EAGLE On WTF? WITH MARC MARON: http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_406_-_mike_eagle
NEW: RANDOM (aka MEGA RAN) “Doubt Me” video - 
##

Sunday, August 4, 2013 

The Dear Hunter Tour with 

Homeboy Sandman (Stones Throw Records) - http:// www.stonesthrow.com/ homeboysandman/
Open Mike Eagle - http://mikeeagle.net/
Mega Ran (Capcom) - http://megaran.com/
H.W. - http:// longlivehw.bandcamp.com/
Elemental Zazen - https://www.facebook.com/ elementalzazen
Clinical - http://www.soundcloud.com/ clinicalmc
Pretensile
21+ 7:30pm doors
$10 Advance / $12 Day Of Show

[LeaguePodcast & RockOnConcerts Present!]

Tickets at http:// www.RockOnConcerts.com/
ON SALE NOW - http://ticketf.ly/18Wva1a 
http://is.gd/sandmanchurch
https://www.facebook.com/events/345904638870304/

Church (Church of Boston)
69 Kilmarnock St.
Boston, MA 02215
617.236.7600
http:// www.churchofboston.com/ index.html

‘THE DEAR HUNTER TOUR’

“Homeboy Sandman’s new record All That I Hold Dear will be released August 6th. The 7-track joint was produced entirely by M Slago, who also produced this track “Easy Does It” featuring YC the Cynic & I Am Many. “

https://soundcloud.com/ stonesthrow/ homeboy-sandman-easy-does-i t

********************

On the heels of the release of his critically acclaimed LP First of a Living Breed (Stones Throw) and in support of two new projects (Kool Herc Fertile Crescent EP and All that I Hold Dear LP, Stones Throw 2013), his national tour with Brother Ali (Rhymesayers Entertainment), and a headlining tour of Europe, Homeboy Sandman will headline a tour of the US this summer. Open Mike Eagle (Hellfyre Club, Fake Four Inc, Mush Records) and Random aka Mega Ran (officially licensed by Capcom) will support.

Sandman says of the tour, “The Dear Hunter Tour is in promotion of my latest Stones Throw release, ‘All That I Hold Dear.’ I’m blessed to join forces with two musicians also searching for substance, magic, brilliance, love, and truth. We’re going to find them too. When we do, we’re going to share them.”

Kool Herc Fertile Crescent EP (Stones Throw) vinyl/digital relase available now. 8-track release produced entirely by El RTNC (aka Rthentic). The record is an unapologetic homage to old school hip-hop in its bare-bones production, lyrical themes, cover art and even the title. With the blessing of DJ Kool Herc, one of the originators of hip-hop, Sandman pays respect to the pioneering DJ by proudly naming the release in his honor.

HOMEBOY SANDMAN

Homeboy Sandman is a musician. His genre is hip-hop. An emcee that prides himself on musical growth and evolution, he has adopted as his motto and creative mission statement, “Boy Sand like you’ve never seen him before. As usual.”

Before signing to Stones Throw he’d already been chosen as a coach on MTV’s MADE, featured in preeminent print hip-hop rags XXL and The Source, and perpetually championed on foremost online hubs. And since the signing, his accolades have extended beyond the realm of the hip hop specific. Rolling Stone has noted his “skill for wordplay that keeps you hooked.” NPR has highlighted his “artful, hysterical, disobedient hip-hop that you can dance to.” Pitchfork has straightforwardly dubbed him “one of the best pure lyricists around.”

OPEN MIKE EAGLE

“One of LA’s smartest young voices” says the LA Times…which the artist suspects, may just be a covert way of saying LA is dumb. “Open” Mike Eagle wouldn’t terribly mind, being born and raised in Chicago where the painful winters and his uppity grandparents kept him inside as a youth. He spent his formative years watching alternative music happen on MTV and hoping to one day be able to audition for the Native Tongues. As a young adult after graduating with a degree in Psychology, he did the next best thing and moved to Los Angeles,

joining the Project Blowed collective where he made music and toured with Busdriver, Aceyalone, Abstract Rude, Nocando and more. He’s also gained notoriety in the world of comedy by being invited by professional funny people (Paul F. Tompkins, Hannibal Buress, Matt Besser/UCB) to rap at their shows. He’d like to be rap’s Kurt Vonnegut

but recognizes that he’d first have to create something as iconic as the four-stroke illustration of an anus. He practices by releasing rap albums that delight, entertain, and confuse.

RANDOM aka MEGA RAN

If you put video games, the 80’s, hip-hop, soul music, jazz and standup comedy into a blender and hit “puree,” you’d have something close to The Random Experience.

The self-proclaimed “TeacherRapperHero” made waves by going way left of his backpack roots by combining 8-bit video game sounds and hard hitting hip-hop tracks, and has become a trailblazer in the budding genres of chiptune and nerd-rap. A Capcom cosign and admiration from the genre’s toughest critics has led to placements in TV, movies, university coursework, and of course, games.

Today, Random is no longer a teacher by title, but travels the world to entertain and educate through the gift of facemelting raps.

********************
H.W.

Boston rapper H.W. dumps his demons - By Martín Caballero | BOSTON GLOBE 

Last July, H.W. (short for “Hazardous Wastes”) released one of Boston hip-hop’s most literate, emotionally complex albums of the year in “Wall Papered Exit Wounds.” Delivered in the lyrically dense and raw personal style that has become his signature, the record quietly distinguished itself from the crowded local marketplace by vividly exposing its author’s titular emotional wounds for all to see, allowing listeners to eavesdrop on his internal struggle for peace of mind. It’s occasionally jarring and hardly uplifting stuff, but his gift for articulating pain is a rare one.
Yet there’s an important piece of context to note with “Exit Wounds”: The material was recorded six years ago, and the H.W. whose emotional turmoil fueled that record is not the same one who’ll be performing on June 5 at The Sinclair in Harvard Square.

“I hated that record,” H.W., born Josh DeCosta, says bluntly over a midday beer at a bar in Central Square. “The only reason I released it is because people told me it was good and I should put it out.”
Naturally, an intensely introspective album in which he struggles to find scraps of optimism within darkness would understandably be difficult to embrace in the same way that a detached listener might. But this isn’t his first release in that vein: “Exit Wounds” built on the foundation of 2009’s “A Year’s Worth of Worry,” where songs like “The End of the Line” established his reputation as a sensitive, emotional lyricist fueled by tumultuous romantic relationships that often ended in heartbreak. In 2013, that’s the reputation he’s working to change.

“It’s unbearable in a way,” says the Fall River native. “I was the guy who did songs about ex-girlfriends, and that’s all it was. And it got sickening being that person. It bothers me in the sense that there are so many more aspects of my personal life. If people talk to me they know that I’m not that person, I’m not that guy who goes home and cries every night and hates myself. I needed something to write about other than that.
‘In the studio I’m hyperly critical and constantly tweaking stuff, while on stage I don’t have enough time to think about it like that.

For someone whose creative output was so closely linked to his state of mind, shifting directions musically first necessitated a change in mentality.

“I based my worth on who I dated, and because of that every relationship was the end-all, be-all. So when those ended, it was devastating to the point that it destroyed by self-esteem. I eventually slowly realized that life doesn’t revolve around relationships. These girls, or these moments in time, as important as they may feel at the moment, are just that. It took a long time for me to understand what I cared about and how to write about what I cared about.”
“I’ve seen him grow and mature as a rapper and a performer drastically,” says longtime friend and DJ Emoh Bettah. “Most, if not all, of his earlier songs were about relationships gone sour or about friendships with ex-girlfriends, and I’d often joke with him about it but since then he’s been writing songs about other topics. His music may be too personal for some, but he does what he does well. All of his songs tell a story and he is just being himself, which is what I think people love about him.”

Yet for a rapper with a highly technical lyrical style and no shortage of things to say (“I think I’m way too personal in general, I’m just an over-sharer,” he admits), it’s surprising H.W.’s output isn’t more prodigious: case in point being the long gap between the recording and release of “Exit Wounds.” Rather than adhering to the modern rap marketing scheme of flooding the Internet with new material via social media in search of approval, he takes his work direct to live audiences.

“On stage, there’s something that clicks within me and I am the person who I am with my closest friends,” he says of his shows, which often find him performing unreleased or incomplete songs and interacting with the audience. “I love that feeling, maybe because it’s the sense of self-gratification that I’ve always sought from everything in life. In the studio I’m hyperly critical and constantly tweaking stuff, while on stage I don’t have enough time to think about it like that.”

That said, you’re more likely to hear H.W.’s musical evolution at an upcoming show before you can get it on iTunes. His next release will be the conceptual album “I Only Exist on the Internet,” targeted for late June release, which should show glimpses of the broader material he’s seeking to explore: topics like politics, environmental issues, and yes, maybe even a party jam. It’s not so much a rejection of the melancholic raps of the past, but an appreciation for their role in getting him to this new, more optimistic place in life and music.
“I’m not the best rapper ever,” he says. “I just would like to be able to display all aspects of myself. There are way more important things to talk about than my feelings on this one person I care about. The world is crumbling around me; there should be something else I’m able to share. A lot of this new album is about liking life, because I actually like life right now. ”
http:// longlivehw.bandcamp.com/

— 
http://ticketf.ly/18Wva1a 

TWITTER STUFF

http://www.twitter.com/ ChurchBoston 
http://www.twitter.com/ RockOnConcerts
http://www.twitter.com/ LeaguePodcast
http://www.twitter.com/ HomeboySandman
http://www.twitter.com/MegaRan
http://www.twitter.com/Mike_Eagle
http://www.twitter.com/joshhw


—
Clay Fernald / Clay N. Ferno
M: +1 (617) 30-COMIC (google voice)
Check out our comic book podcast, LeaguePodcast.com
Check out my comic book culture column at DigBoston.com - EARTH PRIME TIME: DigBoston
Pop culture & comics at Forces of Geek

Triple Shot: THE ROCKETEER & THE SPIRIT #1, ARMY OF DARKNESS VS. HACK/SLASH #1, THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #14

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Mark Waid continues his winning streak and takes to the skies by pairing up The Rocketeer and The Spirit;  we get our groovy on with S-Mart employee of the month—housewares, 1999—Ash as he joins the Hack/Slash universe written by Tim Seeley and witness an even more unlikely team-up of Superior Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson in this week’s Triple Shot!

THE ROCKETEER & THE SPIRIT #1
WRITER: Mark Waid
ART: Paul Smith
Publication Date: July 24, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: IDW Publishing / DC Comics
UPC: 82771400477900111
Buy it HERE

Have you also been watching The Aviator on a loop, quoting “Way of the future” and “show me all the blueprints” for the past month? Me neither, that would seriously harm the close relationships in your life. “Bring in the milk”.

A perfect companion (or welcome break) from the OCD Howard Hughes biopic would be the latest in Mark Waid’s take on The Rocketeer, co-starring Will Eisner’s The Spirit, subtitled “Pulp Friction”.


Alderman Cunningham is found murdered 3000 miles away in Hollywood from his home in Central City.

After The Spirit, Denny Colt makes his way to California to investigate, The Rocketeer, Cliff Secord and mentor, Peevy grow suspicious.

The Rocketeer picks up The Spirit for an amazing round of hand to hand combat hundreds of feet in the air, unlike anything seen before!

You’ll have to tune in next month to find out more, as Cliff’s Betty starts to fall for none other than The Spirit!

Mark Waid, ladies and gentlemen, teaming up classic characters and telling the best stories in monthly comic books on the shelves this year.

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

EARTH PRIME TIME: JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX

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ept-flashpoint


The most recent Justice League animated movie stars the Scarlett Speedster—The Flash against his most formidable foe, Reverse-Flash (Professor Zoom). Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (July 30, 2013 release date) is an adaptation of the Flashpoint graphic novel from 2011, the precursor to The New 52 reboot of the DC Universe. Barry Allen awakes powerless to find his world is different and there is a disturbance in the Speed Force. He seeks the help of an unfamiliar Batman to right the world. The question remains—is this movie the end of story adaptations for the old continuity? Signs are pointing to yes, as the sequel of sorts, a post-New 52 tale, Justice League: War has already been announced.

The Flash/Barry Allen (voiced by Justin Chambers) certainly has what it takes to star in his own animated feature. He’s even had a two-season archive of a ’90s live action show with an art-deco backdrop of Central City (complete with DC Animation favorite Mark Hamill appearing as Flash rogueThe Trickster). The Flashpoint Paradox sets up a key Barry Allen life event as the ‘Butterfly Effect,’ or as seen in 2009′s Star Trek, the nadir of a divergent timeline. Based on Geoff Johns’ (DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer) book of the same name, Flashpoint splits when Barry uses the speed force to go back in time to save his mother from a senseless murder after a break-in.

Confused? That’s OK. Flashpoint was set up from the company’s initiative to reset all of the DC heroes, and also rejuvenate the characters with familiar but new origins in The New 52.

In order to start fresh, they opted for this Reverse-Flash vs. Flash story, creating The New 52 continuity from quantum strings and vague memories from Barry Allen of the way things used to be.

The real meat of the story is in the divergent timeline, as Barry wakes up drooling on his desk at Central City Police Department, warned by his computer that the end is nigh. He runs outside to see his very much alive mother, with whom he has dinner plans with. Reverse-Flash Eobard Thawne is responsible somehow for traveling back from his time in the 25th century to create this new world.

Flash - Barry Allen from Flashpoint Paradox

Flash - Barry Allen from Flashpoint Paradox

The Flashpoint universe has some familiar faces, but they act very differently here.

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

TRIPLE SHOT DIGITAL: Comixology Submit Presents 51 SERIF ST. VOL. 1, DRONES #1, ZOMBIE SPOTLIGHT #1

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Enter the madhouse of 51 Serif St., party with the drone strike infidels ofDrones #1 and tuck in that shirt napkin for a delicious spotlight on zombies in Zombie Spotlight #1 this week at Triple Shot Digital!

The leader in the digital comics space opened up the platform to indie creators back in March of this year.

Writers and artists now have the chance to publish comics or graphic novels on the browser, tablet or phone using the Guided View technology. Comixology  curates the submissions and soon the comic is put into panel by panel production for the viewer. The comics appear right on the digital store alongside all of the major publisher’s books. 


51 SERIF ST. VOL. 1,
Written and Drawn by: Horatiu Radoiu
Price: $2.99
Page Count: 54 pages
Digital Release Date: 7/3/13
Age Rating: 17+ only
BUY IT HERE

Horatiu Radoiu’s 51 Serif St. is a dark portrait of a rehabilitation house.

In the style of David Mack, Ben Templesmith and Dave McKean, the artwork is dark and scary. Criminals inside the house have many tales of awful things that they have done, and we find out if crook Daniel Rosdower has what it takes to survive in this madhouse.

Part Arkham Asylum and part horror dreamscape, this book is worth checking out for the macabre storytelling and etherial artwork.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for July 24, 2013




COMICS

 

Grant Morrison caps off his Batman run with this final issue of Batman Incorporated #13. Talia, The Batcave, Damian still dead. Long live Batman and Son! Art by the amazing Chris Burnham. … Star Trek: After Darkness movie tie-in concludes in the producer Robert Orci-blessed Star Trek #23 as Spock is hot with Pon Farr! … Aw Yeah, Green Team Teen Trillionaires #3 by Art & Franco co-stars Deathstroke the Terminator! Being the 1% with a conscience is way hard! #BestFriends4Ever! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

 

Pass the Daily Dig along! Your friends can sign up here!

RED 2 (review) at FORCES OF GEEK

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Review By Clay N Ferno

 
Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Screenplay by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber
Based on Red by Warren Ellis, Cully Hamner
Directed by Dean Parisot
Starring Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lee Byung-hun, Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox, David Thewlis, Neal McDonough 
Summit Entertainment / Rated PG-13


Red 2 brings back Bruce Willis as Retired Extremely Dangerous black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses leading an ensemble which includes Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker.

While original cast member Morgan Freeman does not return to the sequel, we are fortunate enough to have Anthony Hopkins join the ensemble as well as action hero Lee Byung-hun (Storm Shadow in the G.I. Joefranchise).

The sequel is another non-stop action comedy with incredible performances which reassembles the team having to span the globe to stop a long-forgotten Cold War nuclear threat called Project Nightshade. 

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

Triple Shot: BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #18, BLOOD BROTHERS #1, G.I. JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #5 at FORCES OF GEEK

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This week’s Triple Shot gives us the Batgirl of the future in Batman Beyond Unlmited, a buddy vampire comedy adventure in Blood Brothers and the Dreadnoks return in G.I. Joe Special Missions.


BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #18
WRITER: Scott Peterson
ART: Annie Wu
Publication Date: July 17, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: DC Comics
UPC: 76194130753401811
Buy it HERE

Terry McGuinness isn’t the only one suiting up in Neo-Gotham in the future.

In fact, the Bat-Family is extended to a Batgirl and even the original Metal Men. In the current status quo of theBatman Beyond Unlimited series, the police commissioner is none other than original Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, about the same age (probably a bit younger than, actually) as Batman’s mentor Bruce Wayne.

In the Crown Point section of Neo-Gotham, the water supply has been poisoned by a super-steroid.

Current Batgirl Nissa Gibson and Babs team up to take down the Roake Corporation who is spiking the punch. Lots of good action here in this one, as plain-clothed Babs teams up with the high schooler for some big punches and hand to hand combat teamwork. New Batgirl handles herself well, in cocky Batgirl fashion, almost getting herself into too much that she can handle and figuring it out in the end. 

The backup story stars The Metal Men, who have been on ice for decades, after the passing of Doc Will Magnus. Bruce Wayne reassigns them as agents of the Bat-Family, as Bruce, Terry and Nissa take on the Undercloud network. It’s great to see The Metal Men in action, a delightful and anachronistic surprise in this story set in the future.
[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

TRIPLE SHOT DIGITAL: Comixology Submit Presents BANTAM #1, BROKEN #1, LLOYD AND THE BEAR #1

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Here at the digital ComiXology Submit is the first poultry-based Batman and Robin parody, a twist on the Crime Alley trope and wrapped up with a talking teddy bear.

No, not that one cursing thunder, LLOYD AND THE BEAR is an all ages book!

The leader in the digital comics space opened up the platform to indie creators back in March of this year. Writers and artists now have the chance to publish comics or graphic novels on the browser, tablet or phone using the Guided View technology. Comixology curates the submissions and soon the comic is put into panel by panel production for the viewer. The comics appear right on the digital store alongside all of the major publisher’s books.

BANTAM #1
Written and Drawn by: Lupi McGinty
Price: $1.99
Page Count: 22 pages
Digital Release Date: 7/10/13
Age Rating: 12+ only
BUY IT HERE

Do you like fart jokes like “pull my finger”?

How about pecker jokes and Batman?

We’ve profiled you as a male between the ages of 12 and 112, and this is the book for you!

The delectable duo face the evil Jerker and narrowly escape the Shake and Bake.

These chickens ain’t chicken enough to patrol the streets of Cockham City!

Funny stuffer-roaster!

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

EARTH PRIME TIME: BEWARE THE BATMAN

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Beware the Batman 2013
The new Batman television show Beware the Batman brings an animated Bruce Wayne and Batman back to the television screen. Historically, the Bruce Timm Batman: The Animated Series has been revered in the comic fan’s eyes, and the 2008 Batman: Brave and The Bold had a lighter, Adam-West feel to the caped crusader. The most recent incarnation is a huge paradigm shift from either of the previous series, moving from cell to computer animation, major character reinterpretations and a b-side rogue gallery. Quite possibly, this is the Man Of Steel for animated shows, driving classic fans away but perhaps appealing to a more general audience for The Dark Knight.

 

Comic fans fear change! From creative teams to character reboots to even the change of the paper being used on a book will spark endless debate online and at the very least fidgets and sighs. We had just gotten used to the campy and sometimes musical Batman: Brave and The Bold and even beaten the button mashing video game, all the while falling in love with that version of the swashbuckling and bearded Aquaman. In Beware The Batman there is a familiarity to the dark tones in both Batman: The Animated Series and The Dark Knight Trilogy.

There are stepping stones into another territory for longtime fans of The Bat in the new series that may endear you to it or have you check yourself into Arkham, driven mad by the seemingly infinite versions of Bruce Wayne and Batman.

 

The series is rendered in the same computer animation style as the cancelled Green Lantern Animated Series and Tron Uprising. If you can let the slick glass look of Gotham and complex architecture of Wayne Manor, The Batcave and the streets of the city wash over you (I watch on a retina MacBook) it leans toward an immersive experience. The fight scenes are well choreographed and fun to watch as the Batman clobbers the bad guys. The Batsuit owes a lot to the Nolan movies, all black, including the bat symbol, save his yellow or brass utility belt. It is a good but not great design of the Batsuit, which saddens me because I like to get excited when Bruce suits up.

Overall, the design and the computer rendering as a choice work for me withBeware The Batman, as I learn to let go of my nostalgia for cell animation and expect more of this from my heroes in the future.

Mr. Toad and Professor Pyg - Beware the Batman

Mr. Toad and Professor Pyg - Beware the Batman

The enemies in episode one are Professor Pyg and Mr. Toad, introduced by Grant Morrison in Batman and Robin. The masked freak and animal (respectively) are of the 99% and also environmental activists, seeking revenge a land deal signed by Simon Stagg and Bruce Wayne that forced many animals from their native wetlands. The Hitchcock-sounding Pyg uses kidnap and murder instead of words to resolve his issues. Toad has a sonic croak, used to break glass and knock his enemies to the ground. Batman gets involved when Alfred is kidnapped by accident (Toad mistakes him for Wayne).

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

Triple Shot: QUANTUM AND WOODY #1, THE SHADOW / GREEN HORNET DARK NIGHTS #1, BATMAN ’66 #1 and #2

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Looking for the hot stuff team-up and sidekick action this week? We’ve got just the thing for your collection. Summer of Valiant continues with Quantum and Woody #1, Batman’s savior Michael Uslan puts The Shadow and Green Hornet in harms way, and by golly, Gotham itself is in trouble again as the Riddler and Catwoman takes us back in time to Batman ’66 #1 & #2.


QUANTUM AND WOODY #1
WRITER: James Asmus
ART: Tom Fowler
Publication Date: July 10, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Valiant Comics
UPC: 85899200310900111
Buy it HERE

“The World’s Worst Superhero Team”

Bros! Just your typical white kid adopted by a black dad and raising his son along with the new kid.

Eric and Woody Henderson grew up together and hey, even stood up for each other on occasion. The boys got into some serious trouble of course, but were close.

Derek Henderson aka Dad was an energy researcher at Quantum Labs.

On his last day of work, he steals away his secret research files and heads for the door—only to be stopped by a large Russian with a hammer and sickle scar on his face! Not good, Dad met his maker and the boys must get together after years of growing apart. Eric joined the military to make his Dad proud, but Woody…became a grifter, stealing what he can to get by. While investigating their late father’s research, they’re caught in a nuclear accident, leaving them glowing and naked on Quantum Labs lawn!

And now, they are prime suspects in their own father’s murder.

Really great start to the series here, Tom Fowler’s art is amazing and fun, matching the quick and funny dialogue. This is really about the relationship between the brothers by way of adoption, and it is an interesting dynamic. I appreciate that, even by the current Valiant Universe canon, with Harbingers and nanite infected soldiers running around, a casual observer from the street calls these guys “the worst” as they fall from a building and it is caught on the news!

You could use the word silly to describe the book, but don’t think of this as a Deadpool type action story, breaking the third wall and dropping pop culture references.

This is more of a funny buddy cop story like Lethal Weapon or Cop Out. The second Summer of Valiant continues on, hilariously, with Quantum and Woody!
[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

EARTH PRIME TIME: IMAGE, BOOM! AND AMAZON COMIC INDUSTRY NEWS

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Image|Boom|Amazon|Comics|2013The comic market hashtag on twitter is really a discussion of the ever-changing landscape of opinions, cancellations, creator-owned titles tying to get off the ground, and musings on ComiXology and other digital formats. Two of the bigger independent companies, Image Comics and Boom! Studios have redesigned their digital presence and commerce leader Amazon steps in with a huge announcement this week, the launch of it’s own Jet City Comics imprint. Earth Prime Time re-introduces you to these websites and shows you what digital offerings they have to offer.

 

Scans and PDFs of comics have been in existence for years now, especially since digital files have been used to produce the books. Before the age of iPads/Kindles/smartphones, reading digital comic meant reading a poorly formatted .CBR/.CBZ archive file on your computer monitor. Likely, these files were scanned in by pirates or those wishing to give access to out of print books, and hosting the files on torrent sites. Our world has changed, and with it the comic market.

ComiXology offers a Guided View that animates panel to panel on your computer or your device, as well as the traditional full page layout. Amazon offers a similar experience to some of it’s graphic novel selections for reading on your computer or Kindle Fire, but the experience is not as great, but serviceable. After watching Man of Steel, I caught up with Mark Waid’s Superman: Birthright as the cheapest digital option on the Kindle app for iPhone and Mac. Not bad, but not great.

Though more expensive, ComiXology would have offered a better experience for my devices.

I do not have a color Kindle. Comics are also available on the Apple iBooks store, and are locked into the Mac ecosystem, but the store does provide an option for publishers. iBooks expands to the Mac from being tablet or phone exclusive with the next version of OS X, Mavericks.

Satellite Sam - Howard Chaykin Art

Satellite Sam - Howard Chaykin Art | Image Comics

IMAGE COMICS / imagecomics.com
Last week at Image Expo 2013, the publisher revealed a new website and web store for both it’s current and expanding back issue catalog. Image recently tapped Ron Richards, formerly of the comic book podcast iFanboy, as the Director of Business Development. Richards gave a great interview to Comic Book Resources last week that goes into Image Comics’ view on piracy and the digital comic market.

The creator owned and creator driven publisher has opened up a direct to the consumer store, at full cover price on Wednesdays new releases available in a variety of formats, with no copy protection.

.PDF, ePUB, .CBZ, and .CBR are all available for the taking when the book comes out. Image Comics even provides you with the resources to read your books. There is no restriction on the files, so you own these comics just like you are comforted by your collection in a longbox. Save ‘em, back ‘em up, let a friend borrow. Yours to keep. By not restricting the files or buying into a particular digital file ecosystem, Image has once again become an industry pioneer.

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for July 17, 2013

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COMICS

What’s that around the corner? Boston Comic Con August 3-4! All Ages Comic Panel artist Shelli Paroline Lamb will be there to sign copies of the TOTALLY MATH Adventure Time #18. … Ming Doyle and Brian Wood’s Mara comes to a conclusion as her powers fully manifest themselves in Mara #6. … Boom! Studios is making news by offering work from industry giants. This week we see the debut of Day Men #1 from Brian Stelfreeze and Matt Gagnon. Human servants of the mighty vampire masters face the day with a cup of coffee to do the bidding of the undead! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

 

Pass the Daily Dig along! Your friends can sign up here!

TRIPLE SHOT DIGITAL: Comixology Submit Presents MIDNIGHT TIGER #1, GARTH KIRBY AND THE COOKBOOK OF THE GODS #1, ORDER AND CHAOS #1 at FORCES OF GEEK

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ComiXology Submit titles for this week are action packed and ready to attack! Tigers, mummies, and mercs, oh my!

Set your pacemaker to turbo because the adrenaline won’t stop.


The leader in the digital comics space opened up the platform to indie creators back in March of this year. Writers and artists now have the chance to publish comics or graphic novels on the browser, tablet or phone using the Guided View technology. 

Comixology  curates the submissions and soon the comic is put into panel by panel production for the viewer. The comics appear right on the digital store alongside all of the major publisher’s books.

MIDNIGHT TIGER # 1
Plot & Script: DeWayne Feenstra
Plot & Pencils by: Ray-Anthony Height
Price: $.99
Page Count: 29 pages
Digital Release Date: 7/3/13
Published By: Write Height Media, LLC
Age Rating: 12+ only
BUY IT HERE

Midnight Tiger #1 is an excellent teenage superhero comic in in the Mighty Marvel Manner, but it is even better because Ray-Anthony Height’s book is Kickstarter funded!

The teenage superhero Gavin Shaw sneaks out to do his vigilante work at night while his new superpowers are developing.

Of course he’s balancing homework and his relationship with his dad as Infernus threatens the city.

Fans of Invincible, Amazing Spider-Man and Daredevil should read this book! Support the indie creators and get them hired by the big guns immediately! This is creator-owned superhero comics at it’s height—great story and amazing dynamic art. Can not say enough good things about this well crafted book. Literally a steal at $.99 on ComiXology.

GARTH KIRBY AND THE COOKBOOK OF THE GODS #1
Written by: Sal Crivelli
Art by: Viktor Bogdanovic 
Price: $4.99
Page Count: 45 pages
Digital Release Date: 7/3/13
Age Rating: 18+ only
BUY IT HERE

The first issue in the fun Garth Kirby series kicks off with a ton of action as ‘A’ mechanic Garth Kirby (of Garage-Mahal) gets caught up in a fight for the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Part Big Lewbowski and Army of Darkness, Garth and friend Aadesh take on a transforming Anubis and an army of mummies in the city museum. This is a really fun and funny book worth checking out.

There is a clean art style and cartooning mixed with wisecracking pals on a mission to figure out this unwanted Cookbook of the Dead that actually contains spells to open up a time vortex. 

ORDER AND CHAOS #1 (of 3)
Writer: Fred Boulus
Artist: J.C. Grande
Price: $2.99
Page Count: 32 Pages
Digital Release Date: 3/6/13
Publisher: Fred Boulus
Age Rating: 15+ Only
BUY IT HERE

An American boy tears his way through not just his, but everyone’s Christmas presents because he enjoys the chaos of it all, and the rush of destruction.

Fast forward to the present where the American is a mercenary in bed with a foreign rebel army to blast his way by assisting a coup.

Now a munitions expert, our man makes short order of the big tanks and forces in the way, but we get a feeling we don’t know which side our mercenary is on by the end.

For fans of The Punisher or strategy books like The Activity. The art is drawn in a looser style fitting for a war book, with plenty of action and explosions.


[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for July 10, 2013

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COMICS

Our second #SummerOfValiant is here and man are we excited for Quantum & Woody #1 written by James Asmus (Dark X-Men, Gambit) and art By Tom Fowler (Green Arrow, Venom). These guys are the worst, and we mean that in the best way. co-starring a goat, eventually. … Grace Randolph’s Real Housewives sendoff for superheroes is still going strong at BOOM!. Supurbia #9 starts a new story arc as the Meta Legion is in rough shape and Ruth really is turning into some bad news! … Our friends at First Second Books have a new graphic novel, Templar, a medieval adventure tale of love and loss, compiling the entire trilogy started in Solomon’s Thieves. Written by Prince of Persia and Karateka’s Jordan Mechner! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

 

Pass the Daily Dig along! Your friends can sign up here!

DON’T FORGET!

Thursday, July 11, 9:00 PM
CROSSROADS & LEAGUEPODCAST PRESENT:
REVENGE OF THE NERD TOUR 2


MC CHRIS http://mcchris.com/
With: Dr. Awkward http://www.drawkward.com/home.cfm
Jesse Dangerously http://www.dangerously.ca/
Tribe One - http://tribeone.bandcamp.com/

$18+ $13 ADVANCE

http://www.crossroadspresents.com/ | http://www.leaguepodcast.com/ | http://www.ticketmaster.com/


crossroadspresents.com | leaguepodcast.com | ticketmaster.com

THU 7/11 - BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL: CROSSROADS & LEAGUEPODCAST PRESENT: REVENGE OF THE NERD TOUR 2 with MC CHRIS - Dr. Awkward, Jesse Dangerously, Tribe One

pioneer of the nerdcore genre (of which he is proud to be a part,) mc got his start on adult swim as an animator, writer, voice actor and song writer on ATHF, The Brak Show, Sealab 2021, Welcome to Eltingville, Cheyenne Cinnamon and Tight Bros. Since leaving the Cartoon Network in 2004 mc has toured the US countless times as well stops in Canada, Scotland and England. He’s been on mixtapes with Childish Gambino and Kitty Pryde. Made soundtracks for Kevin Smith and even performed collabs with Andrew WK and Talib Kweli. For the past three years MC has been pitching “the mc chris cartoon” with a short animated clip made for 70 grand from fan donations. In 2012, it was finally picked up for development by a mystery network with plans to air in 2013. please ask the question on facebook or twitter, “where’s my mc chris cartoon?” feel free to put it in CAPS.

https://www.twitter.com/_mcchris
https://twitter.com/Doctor_awkward
https://twitter.com/rljd
https://twitter.com/TribeOneWon
https://twitter.com/leaguepodcast
https://twitter.com/CrossroadsPrsnt

Triple Shot: VENOM #37, SATELLITE SAM #1, DARK SKULLKICKERS DARK #1

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It was a pretty Happy Independence Day weekend for all of us at the Triple Shot headquarters, so let’s start off Monday right where we’re packing the explosive comic reviews like Venom #37 featuring war hero Flash Thompson, ‘50s Sci-Fi TV murder mystery Satellite Sam #1 from Matt Fraction and Howard Chaykin and eventually we’re kicked out of a dark bar with Jim Zub’s Dark Skullkickers Dark #1.

VENOM #37
WRITER: Cullen Bunn
ART: Pepe Larraz
Publication Date: July 3, 2013
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
UPC: 75960607565203711
Buy it HERE


It is hard to believe that symbiotic veteran and #1 Spidey fan Flash Thompson has been carrying this Venom book for nearly 40 issues.

That’s meant as the highest compliment to the writing efforts of Rick Remender and now Cullen Bunn.

The reimagining (though not in the traditional sense of the word) of the Venom character as both a government weapon and a way of empowering the disabled veteran with a black licorice suit and body armor has gone literally to hell and back.

The alcoholic Thompson struggles with his demons, the loss of his relationship to Betty Brandt and his father’s death with a geographical relocation to Philadelphia, where he has a job as a gym teacher and fights bad guys at night.

While reading the latest,Venom #37, it dawned on me as to what I find appealing in these stories. I’ve gone hot and cold but month after month (week after week!) continued to buy Amazing Spider-Man. Now with Peter Parker out of the picture in Marvel NOW!, Bunn is providing me with the fix that I was chasing with Spidey.

Cullen Bunn is telling the best Amazing Spider-Man stories right now in Venom. The ol’ Parker luck, the survivor’s guilt, the power, the responsibility, tangling with reporters—it’s all happening in the black suit book! I don’t mean for that to sound reductive or to frame Flash Thompson as someone with Peter’s same situations.

The Philly backdrop of the school, his barren apartment and the nosy Katy Kiernan (Daily Inquisitor) are not Spidey in NY. Venom’s own set of rogues give the settings a different flavor, a darker tone. If Peter ever comes back, please let Cullen write the book. There will be a time thatSuperior seems silly or another version for a video game, like Spider-Man 2099 (perhaps it does already to some). Peter Parker will have to be swinging around eventually. This is the guy to write it.


SATELLITE SAM #1
WRITER: Matt Fraction
ART: Howard Chaykin
Publication Date: July 3, 2013
Price: $3.50
Publisher: Image Comics
Buy it HERE (DRM FREE. Your format of choice.)


The newly designed Image Comics website is fortunate to have with it’s launch a delightful launch of a new title written and drawn by industry heavyweights Matt Fraction (Hawkeye, Invincible Iron Man) and Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!), respectively.

The book is set in 1951 on a live television set, as was the style of the time.

The star of the Sci-Fi show Satellite Sam hasn’t shown up at call time, and is in danger of ruining the bit. The space hero is supposed to enter the screenplay right at the end, and when he doesn’t show, the cast and crew improvise.

This is a sendoff to Golden Age television and the personalities that made up the new media era, post-radio. This is also a murder mystery with dark uncovered secrets hidden in the victim’s closet. Can the man that was murdered have been involved with a seedy underground sex and porn ring? Tune in next time!

Great stuff here from an unlikely, but perfect creative team. Like early television, the story is told in black and white with the signature Chaykin line and zip-a-tone. Some might disagree, but Chaykin uncolored by modern techniques services the look and is easier to read. G.I. Joe: Hearts and Minds by Chaykin was colored by the computer and therefore made the storytelling suffer.

Who knows what Fraction has up his antennae for this, but I look forward to a long story and getting to know more about the family and cast involved. Parts of the cast interaction off-screen called back to Silk Spectre scenes in Watchmen.

Going in too deep with this—is Fraction using ‘50s Satellite Sam as a metaphor for the comic book industry today? Is radio the floppy comic book of the past that will take a backseat to television? Are DRM Free digital comics and the like the future of our comic book entertainment? Can the digital marketplace exist alongside floppy comics like TV and radio exist? Drink your Ovaltine and find out next month in Satellite Sam! 


DARK SKULLKICKERS DARK #1
WRITER: Jim Zubkavich
ARTIST: Edwin Huang, Jim Zubkavich
Publication Date: July 3, 2013
Price: $3.50
Publisher: Image Comics
UPC: 70985300895802311
Buy it HERE


Good Ol’ Zub, at it again, encouraging retailers to boost hisSkullkickers comic with a new new new Number 1 that is not only Dark, but Dark Dark!

The issue number should actually be about….23. That was a good year for me. I got kicked out of a lot of bars, but never for not paying my tab.

The Dwarf, Kusia and Rex find themselves at a bar in the conclusion of the Eighty Eyes on an Evil Island story arc.

An Elf explains to Kusia that they are in a dimensional hub tavern, so when The Dwarf is picked up by the scruff of his neck and out into the snow for not paying his tab, he could wind up anywhere.

All of this happens over a backdrop of Rex and Red Haired Rex trashing the place and fighting goblins.

If this all sounds familiar, it should be, the moral of this particular issue is that of archetypes. Lots of poking fun at comics, Sci Fi and sword and sorcery in these books. And a ton of humor.

If you like your comics fun (we know you do) and want to pick up a new number one issue nearly every month, Skullkickers has what you need. 

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

MAN OF STEEL - Roundtable Discussion over at Forces of Geek (ft. Peter Briggs, Writer of Hellboy!)



Hi There,

Welcome to our second 2013 Summer Movie Roundtable series. This time we’re covering the reboot o of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel, written by David S. Goyer, produced by Christopher Nolan and directed by Zack Snyder.

There’s no question that the panelists were very passionate this time out.  Superman and his mythos are a unmistakable part of our culture and the reactions to the film have been extremely mixed.

Joining us this time are:

  • Vito Delsante, comic book writer/graphic novelist
  • Peter Briggs, screenwriter, Hellboy/upcoming writer/director, Panzer 88
  • Jess Nevins, bibliophile, writer, celebrated annotator and pop culture scholar of the 21st century
  • Todd Sokolove, FOG! columnist/co-host of Beware of the Babylon podcast
  • Elliott Serrano, Chicago’s Top Geek/comic book writer
  • Apathy Babcock, FOG! contributor/media maven/sommelier
  • Clay N Ferno, FOG! columnist/publicist & promoter/podcaster
  • Marvin C Pittman, FOG! columnist/mild-mannered news editor
  • Brian Saner Lamken, lapsed comic journalist/writer/artist
  • Frankie Thirteen, former FOG! columnist, filmmaker, RPS enthusiast
  • Elizabeth Weitz, FOG! Managing Editor/novelist
  • Steven Segal, FOG! columnist/former film critic
  • Rich Handley, author,  Timeline of the POTA, Lexicon of the POTA, A Matter of Time: BTTF Lexicon


Hope you enjoy, beware of spoilers and be sure to add your two cents to the comments.

Stefan Blitz 
FOG! editor-in-chief 



Do you think that in Man of Steel, the character of Superman represents “hope”? 

Vito Delsante: It does if you believe that hope can come in the form of rebuilding after a disaster. I think, if anything, the character that best represents hope is Zod. He’s got a higher purpose, one that almost makes him sympathetic. Ok, maybe Steve Lombard, who is pining after Lois…he has hope, too.

Peter Briggs: He does, because the filmmakers have Jor-El tell us he does. So it must be true.

Does he demonstrate it? A bit. Not much.

But, as Vito says, Zod better represents the embodiment of that. What’s interesting is that Zod wants to perpetuate the existence of the Genesis room thingie. Everyone else is banging on about being scared that Zod will only let the warrior bloodlines perpetuate. I didn’t hear Zod say anything to that effect.

Or maybe he did. Zod’s dialogue, third act especially, was so bland and “Wmah-Hah-Hah!”, I think I zoned out once or twice.

Jess Nevins: No, unfortunately. I felt like that was a dropped subplot, almost—the film made the point and never followed up on it, in either action (what represented hope in Superman’s actions and behavior?) or words.

Maybe they are setting it up for the sequel? 


Todd Sokolove: The S on his chest might stand for hope, but in this film he was sent to the wrong planet. Earth feels without hope in Man of Steel.

There’s no sense that Superman will be there to save the day, because he’s not yet really there for everyone. Any of his heroic feats in the movie are played off as part of his superpowers’ learning curve. There’s way too much tragedy in the film for hope. I agree with Jess that it’s set up for the more traditional Superman in the next installment. 

Elliott Serrano: I would like to say that “hope” is the ideal that Superman wants to embody but has yet to figure out how. The reality is that it was an idea that got lost between the script and the screen. I agree with Todd that there was too much tragedy in the film for it to be hopeful.

The audience is expected to be blissfully ignorant of the number of lives that were lost during the battle of Metropolis, so I guess Snyder had the “hope” that his CGI video game climax would provide the necessary distraction to keep them that way.

Apathy Babcock: I am going with Todd on this. I was really disconcerted while I was watching this movie and it took me a few days to let it really sink in that Superman lets people die.

And he kills someone.

We may not have identified all the people who died as characters, but with the mass destruction in the city, let’s face it, there was a body count. A casual body count. That Superman never really even took a moment to acknowledge or be sad about. And the messaging was crafted to him by his father felt less hopeful than it did a bummer. 

Clay N. Ferno: I’m with Jess — here’s to ‘hoping’ Superman will be more heroic in the next film, as he grows into the role. I did enjoy the movie, but thought that the “hope” line from Superman: Birthright (Mark Waid) was a great easter egg for Superman fans, though not an overarching theme of the film.

[Read more at FORCES OF GEEK]

EARTH PRIME TIME: ‘SUPER KNOCKED UP’ WEB SERIES SEASON 2 WITH JEFF BURNS

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Super Knocked Up Season 2

Last year we spoke with creator Jeff Burns of the webseries Super Knocked Up about super villain Darkstar bringing a child into the world after a one night stand with super hero Captain Amazing. Season 2 is a big hit and winning awards, so we check in with Jeff and the stars of the show as everyone ramps up for San Diego Comic-Con.

 

DIGBOSTON: Thanks for taking the time today, Jeff! First off congratulations on The Geekie Awards for Most Original Web Series. Things are going well?
JEFF BURNS: Things are going amazingly well!  We just won The Geekie Award for Most Original Web Series and swept all four categories in last week’s We Love Soaps poll (week of June 16—22).  We won Favorite Web Series, Favorite Couple for Jessica and Michael (Darkstar and Captain Amazing, Favorite Actress for Jourdan Gibson, and Favorite Actor for Mark Pezzula.

 

Super Knocked Up also screened at LA WebFest, where we won a Visual Effects Award for the awesome work of our Visual Effects Artists Daniel DeFabio and Christopher Vincelette. And we’re official selections at Marseille WebFest and Melbourne Web Fest.

Creator Jeff Burns and Jourdan Gibson (Jessica James/Darkstar) of Super Knocked Up

The most exciting news of all is that Jourdan and I got invited to be on a web series panel at San Diego Comic Con.  I’ve always wanted to go and to get to be on a panel there is a dream come true! It’s called Web Series Creators Assemble! and will take place Thurs. July 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 24ABC.  Katrina Hill and Alex Langely (Geeks and Gamers Anonymous) did an amazing job organizing the panel and they’ll be on it with us along with Jane Espenson (Buffy, Once Upon a Time, Husbands), Brad Bell (Husbands), Sandeep Parikh (Save the Supers, The Guild), and Tara Platt and Stephanie Thorpe (Shelf Life).

Besides YouTube, obviously, where else are you able to screen the show?
Outside of our own YouTube Channel, Super Knocked up is part of the online networks atKoldCast.tv and JTS.tv.  And we can be seen on the very popular MovieManiacs YouTube Channel.

There’s been a casting change for Darkstar – Jourdan Gibson now in the starring role as the new Mom. Were there any fan reactions to the switch?
I’ve been thrilled to see that the fan reaction to Jourdan taking over as Darkstar has been overwhelmingly positive. They really love her in the role and love the amazing chemistry she and Mark have together on screen. But we did a few things to really help the fans accept her and introduce her to them. I had her do VLOGs called Super Jourdy! after she was first cast to show her super-goofy and fun personality to the fans. And a couple of months before Season 2 premiered we started doing live Google Hangout shows called Super Geeked Up where Jourdan, Mark, and I talk about geeky stuff, answer fan questions, and have a guest from the web series world on each week. These live shows really let the fans see how amazing and personable Jourdan is and I think many of them fell in love with her before they even saw her in Season 2. And then even more so when they actually go to see her kick ass in the episodes. So doing all this stuff and gradually introducing the fans to Jourdan over time I think was really key.

It was much more effective than if we had just said, “Hey everyone here’s Season 2 and oh by the way here’s a new actress playing Darkstar.”

That would have been a lot harder to sell. So I’m really proud of the way we handled it. But a huge factor is just that Jourdan knocked it out of the park with her performance. She kicks ass as Darkstar!

 

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

 

Season 1 interview here!