‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ (review) at FORCES OF GEEK

Produced by Dan Lin, Roy Lee,
Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith,
Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers,
|Jared Stern, John Whittington
Story by Seth Grahame-Smith
Based on Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger,
Lego Construction Toys
Directed by Chris McKay
Starring Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis,
Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes

LEGO Batman is back and with even less parents than the last time!

That’s not exactly true, Batman (Will Arnett) has surrogate father Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) by his side and his trusty ward Robin (Michael Cera) this time around for a true Batman Family adventure.

Commissioner Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl (Rosario Dawson) rounds out the good guy cast.

Batman’s nemesis? Of course it is The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) and a slew of familiar rogues.

Robot Chicken veteran Chris McKay directs this hilarious animated feature that bridges the gap between the animated LEGO DC Universe and 2014’s The LEGO Movie.

The LEGO Batman Movie, while obviously riding the success of the first film, also sets itself apart and is more than a sequel. Primarily basing itself in DC locations Gotham and The Phantom Zone, this is a decidedly DC Comics Batman movie. When rattling off a list of super villains in his cadre: Bane, Clayface, Two-Face, Riddler, The Joker is asked if he was making some of them up! Maybe he was, but this movie does introduce Condiment Man to LEGO canon, armed with both a Ketchup and a Mustard gun! OOOH, it stains!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. February 8, 2017

COMICS

Torchwood 2 #1 from Captain Jack himself, John Barrowman puts you in the middle of the action with Station Zero. … Jessica Jones is still facing some tough choices with her baby and husband Luke Cage in Jessica Jones #5. … One of our favorite writers Steve Orlando takes over on Justice League of America Rebirth #1 and introducing — Lobo! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

5 Questions with PRIESTS (DC) at Do617

WE ASKED THEM ABOUT TRUMP, DC PROTEST CONCERTS, AND THE PERRENIAL QUESTION OF THE STOOGES VS. THE MC5!

Priests are: Daniele Daniele, Drums. Katie Alice Greer, Vocals. G.L. Jaguar, Guitar.

Taylor Mulitz, Bass.

HOW WAS YOUR NO THANKS! SHOW AT BLACK CAT D.C. ON INAUGURATION DAY?

T: It was great! And necessary on a horrific night, so a little bittersweet.

WHAT IS CASA RUBY & ONE DC?

T: Casa Ruby is an LGBTQ shelter in Washington, DC.

K: Homelessness is a problem in every major US city but people don’t consider how unsafe many shelters are for queer people. There is a necessity for shelter from the elements but also places where you will be respected, and cis and straight people might take that for granted sometimes.

G: ONE DC is a grassroots organization organizing around fighting displacement and supporting people who live in these communities in our area who are being displaced, their organizing principles enable people affected to speak for themselves.

[READ MORE AT DO617]

5 Questions with Lord Bendover of The Upper Crust at Do617

 

YOU MUST GET THIS QUESTION A LOT, BUT HAS ANY BAND MEMBER CURED THEIR ILLS BY LEECHING?

All the gentlemen of the Upper Crust are regularly bled as a kind of preventive maintenance, usually employing leeches; but in fact they often just bleed spontaneously as a result of hemophilia occasioned by good breeding, exacerbated by their natural clumsiness.

[READ MORE AT DO617.com]

Antony Johnston Discusses ‘The Coldest Winter’ on The Cosmic Treadmill at FORCES OF GEEK

New York Times bestselling author of comics and video games Antony Johnston (Wasteland, Dead Space, The Fuse, Daredevil) joins us today to talk about his latest graphic novel The Coldest Winter. This is the prequel graphic novel to the upcoming film, The Coldest City starring Charlize Theron (Lorraine Broughton) and James McAvoy (Percival) about MI6 agents in The Cold War.

The Coldest Winter is for fans of the action spy genre and a good murder mystery. Antony bravely sends agents behind the Iron Curtain with no certainty of returning and the loyalty of his characters and the mission is always at the forefront.

When you are a spy, you must always watch your back!

* * * * *

FOG!: Thanks for joining us to talk The Coldest Winter, Antony! Is it cold where you are right now?

Antony Johnston: I live in north-west England. It’s always cold here.

This is the volume that precedes The Coldest City (soon to be a major motion picture). Were the volumes meant to be released in this order?

That’s a bit of an odd question. If I’d wanted to tell the story of The Coldest Winter first, I would have written it first instead of The Coldest City. So yes, that was always the intention.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. February 1, 2017

COMICS

When it comes to Star Wars legends, the characters with the least screen time get a special place in the hearts of fans. And as Sith Lords are concerned, Darth Maul is one of the coolest looking! Darth Maul #1 fleshes out more background to this badass in a limited series. … Over on the Light side, Yoda is trapped with a mysterious race of crystal worshippers, can he escape? Find out in Star Wars #28! … Hawkeye #3 puts Kate cracking the case of the campus culprit! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. January 25, 2017

COMICS

Ra’s al Ghul hired Catwoman to steal a book, and only the Caped Crusader and the Amazonian Princess can get to the bottom of it in Batman ‘66 meets Wonder Woman ‘77 #1! … We’re not completely sold on the newest season of G.I. Joe, but issue #2 stars our favorite Dreadnok, Road Pig! … Jason Latour (Southern Bastards) is back with Loose Ends #1, a southern fried crime drama over at Image. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

‘Hype’ (review) at Forces of Geek

Last year, we talked to Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Painkiller Jane, Marvel Knights) about his Kickstarter project, Hype. After the project reached it’s goal, I couldn’t wait to get the full story in my hands. The superhero sci-fi action graphic novel is available next Wednesday, January 24th.

Hype is the story of superhero Noah Haller and behavioral genetics scientist Amanda Marr. What is special about Noah, and the story, is that when his body is activated to perform an essential mission, he’s only given an hour a day to perform that task before needing to recharge and regenerate his cells.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. January 18, 2017

COMICS

Your favorite vampire Angel is back for Angel Season 11 #1! Written by Corinna Bechko (Star Wars). Can he change his future by confronting his past? … Dr. Aphra #3, the Darth Vader spin-off is exploring the galaxy and Imperial encampments! 000 and BT-1 had better watch out! … Marvel reaches into it’s classic grab bag for Monsters Unleashed #1 written by Cullen Bunn and drawn by the legendary Steve McNiven! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

5 MORE QUESTIONS WITH GUSTER AT PARADISE ROCK CLUB - DO617

5 or so More Questions with Ryan Miller of Guster​ at Do617​. We headed to a VIP celebration of both Paradise Rock Club​ and Guster last night. Our interviewer really needs a tripod and a microphone but his arm remained (mostly) steady to hear Ryan talk about coffee, Boston and the music industry! Thanks, Ryan for coming correct!

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. January 11, 2017

COMICS

Supergirl faces Cyborg Superman with the help of Cat Grant in Supergirl #6! … James Robinson (Starman) takes on another ‘00’ agent in the James Bond Universe in Felix Leiter #1 from Dynamite! … Justice League/Power Rangers #1 combines two of the greatest superhero teams for the first time! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

Best of 2016: Part Two at FORCES OF GEEK

Clay N Ferno

FOG! Contributor
@ClayNFerno • leaguepodcast.com • do617.com

Best Movies: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Deadpool, Star Trek Beyond
Best TV Shows: Supergirl, The Crown, Mr. Selfridge, Divorce, Luke Cage
Best Video Game: Star Wars: Battlefront
Best Songs: Sad13 – Get a Yes, Whitney – No Woman
Best Albums: Whitney: Light Upon the Lake

[AND MORE at FORCES OF GEEK!]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. January 4, 2017

COMICS

This week’s return of Sherlock to TV coincides with another manga with Sherlock: Blind Banker #1. … There is a new Atom in town, Ryan Choi! Check out The Atom Rebirth #1 from Supergirl writer Steve Orlando! … Yo Joe! Cobra plans it’s next strike against the Joes in G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #235! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. December 28, 2016

 

COMICS

Luke reads from Obi-Wan’s journal for a lost Yoda tale in Star Wars #26! … Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder’s oversized After-Death #2 is out today! … Batman faces Psycho-Pirate and Bane in Batman #13! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. December 21, 2016

COMICS

Star Lord is getting ready for GOTG Vol.2 with a new #1 from Chip Zdarsky! …Following up last year’s crossover, Star Trek/Green Lantern Vol.2 #1 debuts this week! LLAP! … Fans of the procedural cop drama should check out Dead Inside #1 from Dark Horse. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

‘Patriot’s Day’ (movie review) at FORCES OF GEEK

April 15, 2013 is a day that will live in infamy for Bostonians and runners the world over.

On this day, three people lost their lives and 264 others were injured at the finish line of the world’s oldest marathon.

Days later, an MIT police officer by the name of Sean A. Collier was shot and killed in the line of duty as the bombers tried to steal his gun. Nearly a year later, Dennis Simmonds, a Boston Police Department officer died of complications from an ensuing firefight with the terrorists.

These cowardly acts continue to have an affect on the Boston community, and on the other side of it, the chant of “Boston Strong” made it to the lexicon as a symbol of resilience, strength, pride and inspiration in the face of adversity.

Director Peter Berg’s Patriot’s Day captures the city’s reaction to the bombing that spurred an unprecedented ‘shelter-in-place’ declaration as the murderers made more sinister plans and plotted their way to New York City for more destruction.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

‘D4VEocracy #1’ (advance review) at FORCES OF GEEK

Written by Ryan Ferrier 
Art/Cover by Valentin Ramon 
Published by IDW Publishing
In Stores January 25, 2017

The third arc of IDW’s D4VE starts in January, picking up when vacuum robot Roombo is assassinated and the world is left without a leader.

That’s where our hero D4VE steps in, hoping to fill in the roll as Earth’s (34RTH’s) savior once again.

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, D4VE has seen it all, from aliens to time travel to a big black hole threatening everyone’s existence.

In post-vacuum America, can D4VE be the one that makes everything great again?

Time will certainly tell.

The last volume, D4VE2, exalted D4VE to the Secretary of D-Fense. In his off-time, he’s struggling to maintain with his robot ex-wife S4LLY and raise his son, the mouthy and sexually fluid 5COTTY on the weekends. What we have here is Just your typical robot broken home. Why, you may ask, are robots ruling everything? They’ve taken over and beaten the meat puppet humans in an uprising (but not without learning human’s baser instincts and dank meme slang.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. December 14, 2016

COMICS

I’m noticing a trend here…but it’s not bad! New Hawkeye Kate Bishop stars in her own book, Hawkeye #1! … Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) has a new book, Motor Girl #2, that we have been enjoying lately! Starring aliens and a junkyard protected by a 500 pound gorilla! … Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber continue the bad cop/bad cop story in The Fix #7! Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. December 7, 2016

COMICS

TWIRL! Party like it’s 1977 with Wonder Woman and The Bionic Woman #1. … Thor and Beta Ray Bill are looking for a spot of redemption in The Unworthy Thor #2! … The Batgirl team of Brendan Fletcher and Babs Tarr hops over to Image for Motor Crush #1! Another great and strong female lead with a motorcycle and a baseball bat! W00t! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. November 30, 2016

COMICS

Ghost Rider is back in the form of Robbie Reyes, as evidenced by the latest season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,! Ghost Rider #1 is out today! … Optimus Prime stars in his own solo book, out today, Transformers expert John Barber pens Optimus Prime #1. … It’s Swamp Thing v Superman in Superman Annual #1! (Are they sure they have the numbering right? )… Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.