Category: Review

New Comics for August 15th 2018

Posted on by Juan Muro

New Comics Release for 8/815/18

Hey Everyone! Here we go heading midway into August! Lots of fun stuff out this week, some new books, some crossovers, some new event miniseries, so lets dive right in shall we?

From DC this week, Aquaman #39 continues the “Sink Atlantis” story arc! Guest-starring Task Force X, and continuing from SUICIDE SQUAD #45, also on sale this month! After Atlantis rises to the surface once more, Aquaman finds himself outnumbered and outgunned when Amanda Waller sends in the worst of the worst-the Suicide Squad-to send the Lost City straight to Hell in “Sink Atlantis!” part two!

Batgirl #25 also hits stands this week and sees Barbara returning to Gotham! Barbara must come to terms with her complicated feelings about the city that made her Batgirl and turns to her friend, Dick Grayson for help. Does Dick have time for a heart-to-heart while subbing as Batman when Bruce Wayne is out of action? This extra-sized anniversary issue also offers a look at the next arc of the series by Mairghread Scott and Paul Pelletier as the monstrous villain Grotesque returns to murder wealthy art owners and defile their bodies to create his own “art.” And since this is the issue that keeps on giving, also look for a special backup story by Harley Quinn co-creator Paul Dini and artist Emanuela Lupacchino.

Lastly, from DC this week, Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos team up for the first title in Bendis’ “Jinxworld” imprint called Pearl #1 (of 6). PEARL is the story of an exceptional tattoo artist and accidental assassin for one of the modern-day San Francisco Yakuza. She was born into one life, but another is calling to her. When Pearl accidentally meets one of her peers, her doppelgänger from another clan, she starts to dream of a better life. But Pearl has a very special ability that keeps pulling her back into the violent world she is desperate to escape.

From Image Comics this week, Chris Sebela and Ro Stein debut a new series with Crowded #1! Ten minutes in the future, the world runs on an economy of job shares and apps, including Reapr: a crowdfunding platform to fund assassinations. Charlie Ellison leads a quiet, normal life until she’s suddenly targeted by a million-dollar Reapr campaign. Hunted by all of Los Angeles, Charlie hires Vita, the lowest-rated bodyguard on the Dfend app. As the campaign picks up speed, they’ll have to figure out who wants Charlie dead before the campaign’s 30 days-or their lives-are over.

From Marvel this week, Edge of Spider-Geddon #1 (of 4 ) fires off its first salvo. Spider-Punk is back and better than ever. After SPIDER-VERSE, Hobie Brown was a Web Warrior, but that didn’t mean things back in his universe were solved. The writer of the SPIDER-PUNK story in SPIDER-VERSE is back and joined by VENOM’S Gerardo Sandoval! Spider-Punk’s Earth is under attack both on the ground and from space, meaning his responsibility seems to outweigh his power. Don’t miss this first shot of the SPIDER-EVENT of 2018!

Also from Marvel this week, another event kicks off with Extermination #1 (of 5). Cyclops. Iceman. Angel. Beast. Marvel Girl. The original team of teen mutants brought together by Professor Charles Xavier many years ago have been shunted through time to find a world they barely recognize but were determined to help. Now, finding themselves targeted for death, the future of mutantkind lies squarely in the hands of its past. Writer Ed Brisson and artist Pepe Larraz answer the biggest question of all: can the fate of the X-Men be changed?

PLUS Astonishing X-Men Annual #1, AND Cable Deadpool Annual #1, AND Star Wars Beckett #1 land from the House of Ideas this week!

  

From AfterShock this week Volition #1 makes its debut! In a not-too-distant future, artificial intelligence has spawned a race of robots that serve all of humanity. Robots are considered second class citizens, but a few in the A.I. community are fighting back in a constant struggle for equal rights. When a debilitating virus called “Rust” threatens all artificial life, salvation lies in the most unlikely of robotic heroes-not a warrior or an solider, but in an obsolete construction worker and a dedicated caregiver. Together, HALE-19 and AMBER-7T embark on a perilous journey in search of a cure that could potentially change the balance of power on Earth forever.

Here is your complete list:

Boom! Studios

By Night #3

Coda #4

Fence #9

Beneath the Dark Crystal #2

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #30

Ruinworld #2

Steven Universe Ongoing #19

WWE #20

Dark Horse

Incredibles 2 #2

Ether Copper Golems #4

Halo Collateral Damage #3

Terminator Sector War #1

Usagi Yojimbo #5

Witchfinder Gates of Heaven #4

DC

Aquaman #39

Batgirl #25

Batman #53

Batwoman #18

Cave Carson has an Interstellar Eye #6

Damage #8

Green Lanterns #53

Harley Quinn #48

Injustice 2 #32

Injustice Vs Masters of the Universe #2

Justice League #6

New Challengers #4

Pearl #1

Scooby Doo Where Are You #94

Teen Titans Go #29

Wild Storm #16

Dynamite

Game of Thrones Clash of Kings #12

Jeepers Creepers #4

Sherlock Holmes Vanishing Man #4

IDW

Sonic the Hedgehog #8

Star Trek TNG Terra Incognita #2

TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Hit the Road #3

TMNT Urban Legends #4

Walt Disney Showcase #6

Image

Analog #5

Coyotes #5

Crowded #1

Crude #5

Evolution #9

Flavor #4

Gideon Falls #6

Gravediggers Union #9

Ice Cream Man #6

Mage Hero Denied #11

Magic Order #3

Manifest Destiny #36

Proxima Centauri #3

Rumble #6

Skyward #5

Stellar #3

Weatherman #3

Wicked & Divine #38

Marvel

Astonishing X-Men Annual #1

Cable Deadpool Annual #1

Deadpool Assassin #5

Doctor Strange #4

Edge of Spider Geddon #1

Extermination #1

Hunt for Wolverine Claws of a Killer #4

Infinity Wars #2

Multiple Man #3

Peter Parker Spectacular Spider Man #308

Star Wars Beckett #1

Star Wars Poe Dameron #30

Thor #4

Tony Stark Iron Man #3

Weapon H #6

Weapon X #22

Aftershock Comics

Babyteeth #12

Lost City Explorers #3

Volition #1

Amryl Entertainment

Cavewoman Raptorellas Revenge #2

Antarctic Press

Gold Digger #255

Archie Comics

Archie Meets Batman 66 #2

Jughead the Hunger #7

Marvel Comics Digest #8

Aspen MLT Inc

Nu Way #2

Avatar Press

Cinema Purgatorio #15

Bongo Comics

Bartmans Spectacularly Super Secret Saga

Boundless Comics

Lookers Ember #10

Devils Due/1First Comics

Larks Killer #9

Fantagraphics Books

Tongues #1

Lion Forge

Catalyst Prime Summit #8

Catalyst Prime Superb #12

Wrapped Up #10

Magnetic Collection

Infinity 8 #5

Scout Comics

Shiver Bureau #5

Source Point Press

Rejected One Shot

Starburns Industries Press

Hellicious #2

Titan Comics

Girl Who Danced With Death Mill Saga #1

Rivers of London Water Weed #3

Robotech #12

Udon Entertainment

Street Fighter Summer Sports Special #1

Valiant Entertainment

Ninjak #10

Vault Comics

Vagrant Queen #3

Zenescope

Revenge of Wonderland #2

The Return Of Mego

Posted on by Juan Muro

So, for a generation of collectors that didn’t grow up in the 70’s an introduction to the Mego Corporation is in order.  In the 1950’s the Mego Corporation started as a purveyor of dime store toys, the kind of silly novelty that you would now see in a dollar store.  In 1971, son of original owners, Marty Abrams took over the company and took the Mego Corporation in a whole new direction.

So was born the classic Mego Toy.  An eight-inch action figure that could be a standard across all toy lines.  The toy could be changed into any property with a simple head and costume change, and Mego was buying up licenses like crazy.  Most notably were the DC and Marvel properties, but soon after there was everything from sports icons to the Micronauts.

With their popularity cemented with the license of the Planets of the Apes toys, Mego was on the ascent until the fateful moment that they decided to not take on a new sci-fi B movie license for a little movie called Star Wars.  While initially making plenty of money on their Micronauts line, Mego began losing ground to Kenner and their new line of action figures. Mego tried to adapt to the market but by 1982 they were filing for bankruptcy.

Between 1982 and today a lot has happened with the Mego line.  Companies like Figures Toy and Neca have been making their version of Mego toys with an incredibly wide array of characters.  Unlike Mego these toys are designed for collectors that are looking at having toys for specific properties. Neca has a heavy focus on horror and science fiction properties. Figures tends towards directly knocking off the Mego style.

This lack of original Megos in the market along with the rising of nostalgic and collector culture gave new life to the Mego brand.  Original Megos began to pop up on eBay selling for exorbitant prices. Pop culture taste makers like Kevin Smith and Chris Hardwick talked about their love of Mego toys publicly, and soon there was a desire for the Mego brand to return.

With the help of Paul Clarke (Doctor Mego), Marty Abrams has relaunched the Mego brand to a wide audience via a release in Target stores all around the country, and Mego chose the biggest stage in pop culture to roll out their toys: Comic Con International San Diego.

The show attended the panel with Paul Clark, Marty Abrams and football legend Joe Namath at SDCC and it was truly something to behold.  Not only was the entire room packed to the gills with fans of Mego, and “Broadway” Joe, but it was full of positive emotion. Often fans of a license or a product can be very negative around anything that they perceive as a cash grab or pandering, but this roll out is no that.

Abrams talked at length about his love for Mego, and the fan base that it has developed.  He also talked extensively about his desire for the toy to remain a toy. That he isn’t overly interested in the collectors or the secondary market, and therefore they have driven towards mass production and will be available in Target.

The crowd was lapping it up.  Add to the equation the fandom that comes with Joe Namath being on the panel.  Spry and witty, as would be expected from someone of his caliber and familiarity with being in front of people.  He was cracking jokes and having fun but was moved by the adoration that his fans were displaying in the Q&A segment of the panel.  Many people came forward to talk about how not only Joe Namath, but Mego both helped them through hard times in their life. One woman was moved to tears just to have the opportunity to talk to Namath, that woman received the thrill of her life when Joe Namath got up from his place on the panel, walked down to her seat and gave her a hug.

It is a gesture from celebrity to fan that you don’t see as often in sports as I think you do in pop-culture.  It seems to me that the separation between athlete and fan is much starker in that world, and our access to the people that create the comic books, movies, TV and even toys that we love is so much more open.  That is something that we as pop-culture fans often take for granted.

At the end of the panel I got to see something that I literally have never seen happen in a panel room.  As the end was being signaled by the moderator, and Adams, Namath and Clark were getting up, half of the audience was mobbing the front of the room.  Everyone in there was desperate for a chance to talk to one of their heroes. Whether it be the toy creators, or the sports icon people were hungry for a chance to just tell them how much they loved them.

The whole room felt that love.

You can see at their facebook page, Mego Corporation, what they are up to with the roll out in Target.  At www.target.com you can find a whole line of Mego toys ready to buy and play with!

Be sure to check out our interview with Marty Abrams and Paul Clark here at www.totlb.com or in you local podcast app.

DC Universe – Post Comic Con International

Posted on by Juan Muro

So there is currently a massive marketing blitz for DC’s new product DC Universe.  With trailers coming out at Comic Con International San Diego and constant Facebook ads, but what does your $75 a year really get you?  Let’s dig into what we know about DC Universe.

-TV-

Probably the biggest selling point that they are pushing is access to exclusive new television content.  With five featured shows in the DC Universe trailer including three that are are slated for live action and two that are animated.

Titans had its trailer released at SDCC (the now infamous “Fuck Batman” trailer).  Showing us a dark and gritty DC world that we have come to know from the movies and in a lot of ways the CW shows.  This could go either way as far as entertainment goes. Will it lean too heavily on violence and language than story?  Only time will tell.

Grant Morrison’s version of the Doom Patrol seems like the natural choice for source material for the proposed Doom Patrol show.  If you aren’t familiar with this IP than you are in for a treat. This strange group of Super Hero/Trauma Victims had a fantastic run under Morrison, and is currently enjoying a great run under Eisner winner Gerard Way.  Do yourself a favor and check it out, because that will get you excited for what a show can be.

The big question mark is the live action Swamp Thing series.  Very little has been said about this, and it could end up being anywhere between “horrible beyond belief” and “the best show of all time”.  James Wan (writer of Saw, and executive producer on Aquaman) is attached to the project and that is positive. Also attached to the show are writers Gary Dauberman (writer on It and Annabelle) and Mark Verheiden (writer and executive producer on Ash vs. Evil Dead, Daredevil and Constantine).  They have stacked this with some horror and comic heavyweights so this has the stink of good on it. It also isn’t lost in translation that Verheiden was a writer and executive producer on Constantine which could make for a great through line to relaunching Constantine on DC Universe.

Young Justice Outsiders and Harley Quinn are the two announced animated shows.  Young Justice Outsiders is going to be starting on the third season of the very popular show.  Where Harley Quinn will be a new animated show. Curious to see if this will be stylistically more like the animated series that the character was born from, or the newer version that has been presented over the last few years.

On top of the exclusive new shows they will also be streaming a lot of their classic content which could have and incredibly wide range.  I could have anything from a rebooted Powerless to bingeable streams of Batman 66 or Smallville. There is a lot of DC content out there and that is without even looking at the slate of CW shows.

-Movies-

So far the announcements for movies have revolved around the available DC content from the past.  Everything from the fantastic animated movies that have been coming out over the last few years, to the original Batman and Superman films.  There is a lot that they can draw on for this segment of the service.

It will be interesting to see what they do with newer properties like the latest of the super hero films to come out in the theatre.  Will they begin to have exclusive DC Universe releases? Will there be early streaming access for users? There hasn’t been much information about this other than the clips that are included in trailers for the service.  

-Comics-

There will also be a comics aspect to the service.  Claiming that this will be a “curated” list of some of the best that DC has to offer, on demand to your device.  By creating this segment the service becomes something more than just another streaming service. Much of the push has been to cross platform and cross reference content.  Read a Batman comic on your phone or tablet, then watch the movie or animated show that was inspired by the run of comics that you just read. This is a really interesting idea and it seems like it could be a really great way to convert the eyes that see video content into eyes that read comic books.  

-Merch/Social Media-

So the platform is also slated to have some interesting aspects to it that no other streaming platform has ever really included.  Access to exclusive merchandise, a social media platform that gives you direct access to DC creators and the chance to earn exclusives and prizes.  This rounds out what the DC Universe can be, but will it be to much? These have the potential to be the lurking place of super fans that constantly neg the service they are paying for (looking at you WWE Network), or it could be a really interesting new take on what a media company can do with their properties.

For the price of $7.99 a month or $75 a year this is on the same price point as streaming services like Hulu or Netflix.  Will it be able to produce the same level or amount of content? Will this be worth it for casual DC fans or will this only be for the mega fan?  What happens when Marvel announces its service?

There are a lot of questions going into the DC Universe but they are taking pre-orders right now at the DC Universe page!

Comic Con International – Day 1 – Make “Fuck You” Music

Posted on by Juan Muro

Comic Con International – Day 1 – Make Fuck You Music

I usually wake up at like four thirty in the morning to get ready for work, so waking up at 6am Pacific time was a little bit of a treat.  The sky was grey and dreary when I got up this morning, but man did that kind of visual mood pass away as the day went on.  

So I’m not going to give you a full rundown of the things that I did today.  There were a lot of interviews and a couple of panels but amongst all of that (that will come out on forthcoming episodes of Thinking Outside the Long Box) were these really big moments.

One of the first things that I did today was go to the From the Bridge panel.  The big takeaway was, “We win.” All those years of getting called a nerd or a geek, of getting beat up because you played D&D, or whatever.  That all paid off, because now we are the ones that are the dominant force for entertainment and pop-culture, and that is kind of a crazy thought. At that panel, Nichelle Nichols was awarded the Inkpot award, which has a list of recipients that is a who’s who of genre work.  This couldn’t go to a more deserving a wonderful person.

YouTube has some amazing original programing coming out with the shows Impulse and Origin, but at those panels I saw Tom Felton (one of the leads in Origin) take some time out of his day to be an amazing human being.  At the end of his panel a woman in a Rascal holding a Draco Malfoy Pop rode up to the little divider (that I had just been shooed away from) and started calling out “Tom, Tom.” He saw her, and much to his handler’s chagrin came over to sign her pop and chat with her for a second.  

Moments of kindness and humanness aren’t what celebrity are typically known for, but you would (well you probably wouldn’t but the average person would be) amazed how kind celebrity in this world are.

Got a chance to sit (poolside) with Pia Guerra and chat with her about her book of political comics coming out with Image called “Me the People.”  She and I have very similar politics, and it was refreshing to hear that people out there are still pretty angry about the direction this country has taken, but that they still manage to hold out hope that we can right the shit.  What a kind and empathetic person (surprise), Pia was.

Finally.  I got to sit in on a small press conference with Rick Remender about his upcoming show Deadly Class.  Our readers/listeners will obviously know this as the TV adaptation of Remender’s phenomenal comic book of the same title, and from the sounds of it the show is in good hands at SYFY…his. This conversation was about a lot more though.  It was about music, politics, and how we seem to have lost track of what rock and roll is all about.  It is about doing it all yourself and making music that just says fuck you.

So you have a task today!  Go find your favorite Fuck You music and play it loud.  It’s what Rick Remender would want you to do!

Road Trip – Preview Night

Posted on by Juan Muro

It all starts at 4pm two days ago.

Juan picks me up in a minivan with his wife and kids and we get on our way for the over night drive to California.  

As with most overnight drives it ends up being a crazy blur.  I know what happened, I know the places that we stopped, but holy shit that is a long drive.  When we made it to LA (our first stop to drop off Juan’s wife and kids to visit family) I crashed for a couple of hours.  Then I got treated to lunch at Clearman’s North Woods Inn. This place is old school steakhouse at its finest. I honestly loved their take on the chop salad with bleu cheese and could probably just eat bowl after bowl of it!

It was then time to make the trek from LA to San Diego.  What should have been a two hour drive turned into an ordeal at four, but with good music and good company it wasn’t that bad.  I love spending time with Juan, and I’m excited for what the the weekend will bring us.

We were running late for our first interview, and had to postpone them, but I got checked into my hotel room and then we made our way to the convention center.  Checking in was no big deal, and finding our way around just wasn’t that hard. Honestly the space just isn’t as complicated to get into and navigate as Denver Comic Con is.

Interviews were conducted with Sherrilyn Kenyon (an author of dark fiction)

and Rob Guillory who’s new book Farmhand just came out.  

Getting the first two under my belt kind of put me at ease, and now that I know I’ll be able to get around the convention pretty easy and that I still have the ability to interview people without cracking, I’m cranked.

Lost In Space: Countdown To Danger

Posted on by Juan Muro

Are you ready for some more Lost In Space!? The smash hit, emmy nominated Lost In Space crash landed on our TV screens recently!! Now, because of Legendary Comics, it will expand into the comic book world! Do you have a favorite “Lost” character? Well now you’ll get to delve a little bit deeper into their back stories, and take Jupiter 2 where it’s never been before!! Penned by writer Richard Dinnick (Doctor Who; Thunderbirds) and Brian Buccellato (Detective Comics; The Flash) with stunning artwork by Zid (Skull Island: Birth of Kong; Trick ‘r Treat: Days of the Dead), LOST IN SPACE: COUNTDOWN TO DANGER will feature all-new, untold adventures of the full crew of the hit Netflix Original show—including the Robinsons, Robot, Doctor Smith and Don West.

Robert Naptor, Senior Vice President of Legendary Comics, said “At Legendary Comics, we love the new television series, so we couldn’t be more excited to expand the world of show with previously untold comic book adventures” “What is exciting about comic books is that they are not limited by budget—only by the imagination,” said Executive Producers Kevin Burns and Jon Jashni. “This ‘Lost in Space’ comic is no exception. Legendary Comics has outdone themselves this time.”

Contained in here, is a small preview from the book, recounting a mission featuring Penny. The first of four volumes, will be available in October 2018, online, and at your favorite local comic book shop! The subsequent three volumes will come make their debuts throughout 2019!

For those of you who will actually be attending San Diego Comic Con, make sure you that you come out to show some support, by attending the Legendary Comics panel on Friday night, featuring “Lost in Space” comic scribe Richard Dinnick! Also make sure you keep an eye out, as Legendary is putting on various events, and signing throughout the weekend!!

Doctor Who Galore!!

Posted on by Juan Muro

Already made a post about some of the Doctor Who exclusives that would be making their way to San Diego Comic Con. This is going to be a straight up edition to that! Here are a bunch more items that are going to be at the BBC America booth!! I’m hoping to snag up one of the 13th Doctor Funko POPs myself!! Check out all the awesome items, and plan your trip accordingly!!

Exclusive to Comic-Con

·         Kawaii T-Shirt, Hoodie, & Mug

·         Alice Zhang T-Shirt

·         Thirteenth Doctor Superbitz

·         Thirteenth Doctor Funko POP!

·         Thirteenth Doctor Titan Figurine (6 ½”)

·         Thirteenth Doctor Kawaii Figurine (6 ½”)

·         Thirteenth Doctor Hillside Mug

·         Bioworld TARDIS Puffy Keychain

 Shop Exclusives

·         Doctor Who Stars Earrings

·         Doctor Who Insignia Earrings, Necklace, and Dog-tags

·         Rainbow Paint TARDIS Raglan

·         Kawaii Doctors T-Shirt

AQUABATS at the House of Blues

Posted on by Juan Muro

TV’S PUNK ROCK SUPERHEROES THE AQUABATS TAKE OVER HOUSE OF BLUES SAN DIEGO DURING COMIC-CON

Did you miss out on the Aquabats concert during Denver Comic Con? Well now is your chance to redeem yourself, OR to see them once more!! They will be taking over the House of Blues during San Diego Comic Con!!

Do you have an Aquabats uniform!? Make sure that you wear it to the show! All those in attendance that wear their uniforms, will be asked to participate in a secret mission AND a photo op after the show! The Aquabats are fast approaching their 25th anniversary, with big announcements to come, and they want to make sure that you join them on the journey! So, put on your tights, strap on the mask, and get ready to jam at the House of Blues!!

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2018

                        Doors:  11 a.m.

                        Show:    12 noon

                        Line Up: The Aquabats, Froggy Fresh

                        Purchase here Tickets

Lionsgate brings HELLFEST

Posted on by Juan Muro

I know that Gabe is especially excited for this announcement! CBS Films and Lionsgate team up to bring you HellFest to theaters, September 28th, 2018! Gregory Plotkin (Paranormal Activity, Get Out) and Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead, Terminator) bring you this chilling story about a masked serial killer! “If you dare, prepare yourself for unimaginable scares in the Green Band Teaser Trailer coming next week…”

 

College student NATALIE (Forsyth) is visiting her childhood best friend BROOKE (Edwards) and her roommate TAYLOR (Taylor-Klaus).  If it was any other time of year these three and their boyfriends might be heading to a concert or bar, but it is Halloween which means that like everyone else they will be bound for HELL FEST – a sprawling labyrinth of rides, games, and mazes that travels the country and happens to be in town.  Ever year thousands follow Hell Fest to experience fear at the ghoulish carnival of nightmares.

But for one visitor, Hell Fest is not the attraction – it is a hunting ground.  An opportunity to slay in plain view of a gawking audience, too caught up in the terrifyingly fun atmosphere to recognize the horrific reality playing out before their eyes.  As the body count and frenzied excitement of the crowds continues to rise, he turns his masked face to NATALIE, BROOKE, TAYLOR and their boyfriends who will fight to survive the night.

Amy Forsyth in HELL FEST to be released by CBS Films and Lionsgate.

It’s a serial killer in a theme park, come on, you know it’ll be entertaining! Plus, it’s made by Gale Anne Hurd, at this point don’t we trust her to entertain us with pretty much anything? Give it a try, and I’m sure we will release the trailer when we get it as well! For now, make sure to follow them (and us) on social media for any updates!!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Super7 x UNIVERSAL MONSTERS Boodega

Posted on by Juan Muro

Are you ready for San Diego Comic Con to get a little spookier!?

The Universal Monster Boodega is about to take over the Super 7 San Diego Store! Get ready for the horror feel, as the shop transforms into the ultimate horror experience! We are celebrating the brand new partnership of Super 7 and the Universal Monsters.

These exclusive items will be released ONLY at the Boodega event:

Wave 1 Universal Monsters 3.75″ ReAction Figures

Limited edition signed and numbered prints by legendary artist Ed Repka

Other items will only be available at the Boodega like extremely limited edition shoe collabs and apparel.