As we barrel head long into a chilly spring here on the east coast, we look forward to all the super hero throw downs the summer will bring and, we pray, the warmth. At the very least, Paramount lets things get a little toasty for all the ladies (and some of the boys) as they cozy up alongside Chris Hemsworth's abs.
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
Every year I tell all my friends about the NY/Asian film fest and every year, when its over, I retell the epic tales of our exploits with our favorite film makers and actors around NYC and I'm told "YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD US TO COME!!!" Consider this your first alert. Mark your calendar NOWWW. Not only will the NY/Asian film fest kick off with Yoshihiro Nishimura's HELLDRIVER (Thursday, April 28, 7:30 PM), but 50% of proceeds go to Japan Disaster Relief.
Your one chance to see the original director's cut of the film, with more action... and more gore!
The screening is also a very special launch event for our 5th Festival of Contemporary Japanese Film (July 7–July 18): Japan Cuts and for the New York Asian Film Festival 2011. It will be followed by a party for ye undead and proud, special announcements will be made revealing titles in this year's festivals, and prizes will be given away.
In a land where half of the population has become not-so-sexy flesh eaters and the economy gently withers away, all hope seems lost for Japan... until Kika (Yumiko Hara) arrives. A stunning high school girl armed with an artificial heart-powered chainsaw sword, she leads a motley crew of desperados on a secret mission into the zombie-infected wilds to exterminate zombie queen Rikka (Eihi Shiina from Audition and Tokyo Gore Police) and put an end to the plague of the living dead.
But the road is fraught with a thriving zombie culture that, with its own designs on the living half of Japan, refuses to just lay down and die.
Visionary filmmaker Yoshihiro Nishimura's first solo directorial effort since Tokyo Gore Police is an epic, apocalyptic road movie featuring non-stop, over-the-top splatter action. The long-awaited realization of his dreams, Helldriver is Nishimura's bid to create the ultimate zombie film.
The showdown for the future of Japan is at hand and no one, living or dead, may survive to see it!
With director Yoshihiro Nishimura and actress Eihi Shiina in person.Attendance gets you into the Japan Cuts/NYAFF "Be a Zombie" after-party!Buy tickets HERE and do it soon. This is sure to sell out!
Activision Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Entertainment, LLC today announced Spider-Man™: Edge of Time, where Spider-Man faces one of his greatest challenges ever - saving Spider-Man. Developed by Activision-owned studio Beenox, Spider-Man: Edge of Time challenges the player to take on the roles of both classic Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099 to correct a timestream gone awry and prevent a catastrophic future brought on by the early and untimely death of Peter Parker.
"The first Spider-Man entry by Beenox, Spider-Man™: Shattered Dimensions was touted as one of the wall-crawler's best Spider-Man games to date from both critics and fans," said Vicharin Vadakan, Director, Global Brand Management. "Beenox is once again taking a fresh and different approach to bring a fast-paced and high-octane adventure and unexpected story to life in Spider-Man: Edge of Time."
"At Beenox, we are constantly listening to the fans and looking for new and creative ways to innovate the gameplay experience for them," said Dee Brown, Studio Head, Beenox. "We want to create a totally distinct experience in Spider-Man: Edge of Time by working with Peter David on the story and creating this urgent, high-stakes experience where time is working against you and the fate of Spider-Man hangs in the balance."
Spider-Man: Edge of Time is a focused, action-packed adventure set in two connected and evolving timelines, from the contemporary times of the Amazing Spider-Man to the corrupted future world of Spider-Man 2099, against the backdrop of a rich, tightly crafted narrative by acclaimed Marvel veteran Peter David (co-creator of the comic book series Spider-Man 2099). The game features all-new "cause-and-effect" gameplay, where players will see how the immediate and sometimes unexpected effects of their actions as one Spider-Man changes the timeline of the other Spider-Man. Spider-Man: Edge of Time is slated for release this fall.
Attendees at WonderCon 2011 in San Francisco, CA, can get a sneak peek and learn more about the game on the Activision/Spider-Man panel on Saturday, April 2, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 103.
For more information on Spider-Man: Edge of Time tune in to the HeroHQ community on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/heroHQ.
Stanley Kubrick was one of the great filmmakers of our time and his profound influence on motion pictures continues to this day. His 1971 film, A Clockwork Orange, starring Malcolm McDowell, portrayed an oppressive lawless society where man was reduced to little more than a machine. The film introduced into popular culture the concept of “ultra-violence,” as singing, tap-dancing, derby-topped hooligan Alex (McDowell) has a “good time” – at the tragic expense of others. His journey from amoral punk to brainwashed proper citizen and back again forms the dynamic arc of Kubrick’s future-shock vision of Anthony Burgess’ novel.
This was a powerful film made by a director at the height of his artistry and its impact generated worldwide controversy. Forty years later, the world is a different place but the film’s power still entices, shocks and mesmerizes today.
On May 31, Warner Home Video will honor Kubrick and the film with A Clockwork Orange 40th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray($34.99 SRP, but click the link to get it for 25.99!). The two-disc release includes two newly-produced bonus features: Turning Like Clockwork, a 25-minute documentary about the film’s “ultra-violence” and its cultural impact, and a short documentary where Malcolm McDowell reminiscences on working closely with the legendary director. This two-disc edition will also contain the feature-length documentaries, Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures and O Lucky Malcolm! The 40th Anniversary Edition will be packaged in a 40-page Blu-ray book withrare photos and production notes.
McDowell’s Never Apologize will also be released on May 31 for the first time on DVD in the U.S. This spirited documentary pays tribute to British director Lindsay Anderson, who directed the actor in his films If and O Lucky Man and is based on his entertaining London and Edinburgh one-man stage shows. The film weaves McDowell’s experience of working with Anderson as well as tales of Sir Alan Bates, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Laurence Olivier, Bette Davis, Princess Diana, John Ford and Lillian Gish. Never Apologize will sell for $19.97 SRP.
This will be a big year for Malcolm McDowell and A Clockwork Orange. The prestigious Cannes Film Festival will launch the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the release of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece with a special screening of a digitally restored copy of the film, joined by McDowell, Kubrick’s widow Christiane and brother-in-law Jan Harlan, executive producer on several of Kubrick’s films. Anniversaryscreenings will continue with a special event May 25 at New York’s The Museum of Modern Art with McDowell participating in a panel discussion. In the early fall, Malcolm McDowell will be feted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences which will include a screening of A Clockwork Orange at AMPAS, Los Angeles.
McDowell stars in the upcoming film Vamps, directed by Amy Heckerling, opening later this year. And Franklin & Bash, the new TNT comedy-drama TV series debuting this summer features McDowell as the head of a buttoned-down law firm joined by two young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants street lawyers who cause a seismic culture clash within the firm. He will also be featured in the upcoming film Silent Hill Revelation, the sequel to the 2006 hit Silent Hill.
Continuing the celebration, WHV will also release the Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collection on Blu-ray ($148.95 SRP) May 31 -- an unprecedented 9-film, 10-disc collection, which contains every film the director made since1960. The collection features the film and bonus content from A Clockwork Orange 40th Anniversary Edition, the Blu-ray debuts of Lolita and Barry Lyndon, as well as the feature films Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut. The Blu-ray collection will be elegantly boxed in new book-style premium packaging and will include a 40-page hard-cover book that explores the breadth of genres and themes in Kubrick’s work. The same group of films will be available on DVD in Stanley Kubrick: The Essential Collection ($74.92 SRP), which also includes a 40-page book.
Disc 1:
· Feature Film
· New Bonus Features
o Malcolm McDowell Looks Back: Malcolm McDowell reflects on his experience working with Kubrick on one of the seminal films of the 1970s
o Turning like Clockwork considers the film’s “ultra-violence” and its cultural impact
· Plus
o Commentary by Malcolm McDowell and historian Nick Redman
o Documentary Still Tickin’: The Return of Clockwork Orange
o Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making A Clockwork Orange
o Theatrical trailer
Disc 2:
· Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (Produced and directed by Jan Harlan, the brother of Christiane Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick's widow). Kubrick’s career comes into sharp focus in this compelling documentary narrated by Tom Cruise. Fascinating footage glimpses Kubrick in his early years, at work on film sets and at home, augmented by candid commentary from collaborators, colleagues and family.
· O Lucky Malcolm! Documentary about the life and career of actor Malcolm McDowell produced and directed by Jan Harlan and edited by Katia de Vidas.
A Clockwork Orange 40th Anniversary Edition is also available On Demand and for Download from iTunes™, including bonus iTunes™ extra content. Additionally, Lolita, Barry Lyndon, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut, and Never Apologize will be available On Demand and for Download.
For further information log onto https://www.facebook.com/StanleyKubrickFilms
High Concept is a term we throw out there when a movie is so bat shit crazy and over the top but at the same time introduces the audience to heaping helpings of amazing eye candy, the likes of which may have you grinning like a 6 yr old boy seeing a Batman movie for the first time. Sometimes they work...sometimes they give you a brain aneurysm. Sucker Punch is one such movie, not unlike the sticky, fevered dreams of those who create Final Fantasy films and video games. Scantly clad, super powered ninja girls battle Kung Fu robots, giant Samurai wielding gatling guns, Goblins, undead steampunk Nazis and even a fire breathing dragon in a series of dreamscapes conjured by a girl named Baby Doll who is desperately trying to break free from her hellish human confines. Is there more story than this? Nope...but the colors sure are pretty!!
Check out more eye candy from the film HERE See the cast and crew talk about the film HERE Check out the character posters HERE Pre-Order the Amber Sucker Punch Statue from Gentle Giant RIGHT HERE
The one thing you will never hear any collector say these days would be "WHERE can I find awesome Marvel Comics toys and collectibles??!!" Marvel seems to give out licenses as if they were GoGo Dancer flyers on a NY street corner. This being the case, a lot of junk gets made, so when we hear a favorite company of ours has thrown their hat in the ring, we cross our fingers and hope for a little something different.
"Gentle Giant Ltd. is proud to announce a new partnership with Marvel Entertainment! In our ongoing efforts to bring new and uniquely special pop culture products to market, GGLTD has recently licensed several new categories of collectibles. Look forward to seeing Mini-busts, Bookends, Desk Accessories, beautiful Bronze items, Life-size pieces and character Statues featuring detailed vehicles and much, much more.
Coming soon are Deadpool on his Motorbike, interchangeable bookends allowing you to choose which hero battles which! And an ongoing line of mini-busts featuring all your favorite heroes like The Hulk, The Thing, Spider-man, Wolverine and many more, plus offerings from the Thor, Captain America and Avengers films! Make mine MARVEL!"
Gentle Giant gives us a taste with images of their 7 inch tall Black Cat and Thor busts as well as the most awesome Deadpool statue you've ever seen. I'm going to assume there is some scale difference between Cat and Thor, as GG tends to do things properly. DRINK IT IN!!
Here at Idle Hands, we are ever vigilant for signs of an oncoming apocalypse, whether it be from flesh starved zombies, semi-intelligent birds, the coming of Skynet or just the earth deciding its had enough of us and shaking us off its back. Today, we are made aware of a cautionary tale which hopes to school the public on the classic theories (and dangers) on living in a society which stagnates while technology evolves past us...sometimes to the point where it sees no further use for us. Thus, we enter the tale of Blinky to our lesson plan. He's here to help you with your chores, cook dinner, clean the house and may always be a heartbeat away from a killspree. Adorable.
Christina Radish takes us into the world of Parody Porn with Bree Olson:
When Bree Olson isn’t busy being one of Charlie Sheen’s “goddesses,” she has a very successful career as one of the most popular porn stars in the adult industry today. In the four and a half years she’s been in the business, she has made nearly 200 films and, even though it’s currently questionable as to whether she’ll make any more films, she has recently had a number of high-profile projects get released. A little while back, I got some time to speak with and photograph the busy starlet, during breaks from filming Superstar Showdown 3.
Superstar Showdown is a unique series featuring a pair of porn stars – this time Bree Olson and Courtney Cummz – competing against each other in various sex acts and judged by other porn stars who, no doubt, know what they speak of. “This is the American Idol of porn,” explains Olson. “At the beginning, we had to go and stare each other down, and that was hard because we couldn’t help but smile. We’re chill. But, we are basically doing a series of scenes that build up into regular sex scenes, and we have a panel of three judges – Kirsten Price, Joanna Angel and Raylene.”
Since her three-year contract with porn company Adam & Eve ended last year, the multiple award-winner has done a number of parody features, including Scooby-Doo, The A-Team and The Bionic Woman, which appeal to porn aficionados and fanboys alike. “I’m not under contract anymore, so I’m shooting with a lot of different companies,” the 24-year-old said, excitedly. “It’s cool. I enjoy doing all the different features, playing the different characters. It’s funny because, in features, we play that part until we do the sex scene, and then we switch right back into ourselves again. But, I usually get cast for stuff that’s pretty close to who I am anyways. For Scooby-Doo: A XXX Parody, I was Daphne, so I had to ding it up a little bit, but it was similar to me.”
Even though they ask her to research the roles that she takes on, she admits to not spending too much time doing so, since she feels that it distracts from her performance. “They’re like, ‘You should really go on this website and watch this movie, or 30 episodes of this show,’ and I’m always like, ‘Okay, I’ll be sure to do that,’ but I don’t because I feel like, if I do, I’ll be so focused and concentrating the whole time on trying to imitate that person that I’m not going to do a good job at the acting. I think that I get a pretty good vibe, just from reading the script. I don’t just read my lines. I’ll read the script front to back and get a general idea and a feel for the movie, and get a good idea of what the director wants.”
Over the last couple of years, porn parodies of popular television shows and movies have grown tremendously in popularity, which has allowed for the starlets to become sex symbols for fanboys who may not have ever been interested in porn before now. “I have a shirt that says, ‘I Heart Nerds,’ on it because I love my nerdy guys,” said the starlet, of her new fan-base. “I’m more attracted to them. I don’t want some bonehead with a completely shaven body, coming up to me and saying, ‘I just got done with tanning and the gym. Let’s go out.’ I went on a date once with this guy who is a fan ‘cause I thought he was just so cute. He wore little glasses and everything. I like guys where I can throw out numbers and they can multiply it off the top of their head. That’s so much hotter than some guy that just got done working out at the gym.”
Porn stars tend to enter the adult industry as young women wanting to get back at an ex, individuals who are looking to use their attention to attempt to cross-over into a mainstream career, or girls who just love sex. Bree Olson happens to be one of the latter, and freely admits to it. “I got into the business because I like to have sex. Honestly, I would have done the first few scenes for free. I just wanted to try it and see what it was like. Little did they know, they didn’t have to pay me because I would have done it anyway. I’m happy with just doing adult. I don’t really seek anything more, but if it comes, that’s cool.”
A porn star does not just star in films. They also do magazine layouts, feature dance at strip clubs across the country, and they make public appearances all over the world, and Bree Olson has made a name for herself in all avenues of the industry. “My heart is in the movies, but when I get to go feature dance, I’m terrified, every time I get on stage. I say a prayer before I get on stage. I’m not even religious, but I’m like, ‘Please don’t let me fall in these heels.’ I have big stage fright. And, meeting my fans is crazy. They come from all over the place, when I feature dance. They’ll buy a private dance with me, and some of them do it just ‘cause they want to talk to me. It’s so cute. I love that. There’s something I love about everything that I do.”
The starlet admits to getting most surprised by her fans when they come to see her at conventions. “There’s this huge line of people for me, just for having sex,” said Olson, sounding grateful for the adoration. “And then, there are guys that come up to me and want a picture with me, and I can feel their hearts beating so hard. They’re shaking and sweating, and they’re just so nervous. It’s so cool! That’s a big self-esteem boost. Every January, I have my nose up in the air a little bit and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m the shit.’ Then, I go back home and my friends are like, ‘Yeah, whatever. You’re no one special,’ and it goes back down pretty quick.”
For updates on all of her exploits, you can follow Bree Olson on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/BreeOlson .
The monstrous man-baby creation of Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer marches on, this time with an epic so mind churning...SOOO earth shattering for a geek's fragile psyche..they had to split it into two parts. This season (in my opinion) saw the most visible evolution of several characters in the series from central characters to those that were once introduced for a single episode, now thrust into more prominent roles. Point of fact, this has to be the thickest season as far as the number of characters used and their importance to each episode. That alone is something to be applauded! For the uninitiated, here's a brief overview...
Boy adventurer Rusty Venture is now a grown, pill popping super-scientist living in the colossal shadow of his world changing deceased father, struggling to keep money in the bank and raise two kids while expending as little effort as possible. Think Johnny Quest pushed into their far later years, not quite as agile of mind and body as they used to be, peppered with allusions to popular comic book characters and story lines and riddled with Hanna Barbera characters perverted and left to their own devices for far too long. Oh and penis jokes. Characters include Mother Fucking Brock Samson (yes, you say the whole thing..because I said so), the kill crazy family body guard, Billy Quizboy, the diminutive lisping genius with the extra large cranium, Shore Leave, sassy male agent of Sphinx, Dr. Orpheus, the necromancer next door, Sgt, Hatred, the reformed pedophile body guard and....David Bowie. Unfortunately, not the REAL Bowie, but it may as well be.
This season left me rolling on the floor in hysterics on more than one occasion with story lines that questioned the side kick/ boy adventurer dynamic and the traumatic mental damage that lifestyle leaves behind, the pure fun of going along with a film noir story line even though the kid acting it out is a little loopy and more important than all of this, the answer to a burning question. The Rusty Venture: slightly perverse sex act or blatantly disgusting, 2 girls and a cup worthy sex act? ALL QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED!! The show even takes you into the homes of the villains as they concoct their insidious, often asinine plots. If you are a fan of super hero comics, classic action cartoons or really awesome, slightly offensive sex jokes, this is the show for you. The show even strikes an oddly touching chord now and again before making your drink of choice shoot out your nose involuntarily. It's just an excellently crafted production through and through. Be warned though...some of the content is not for the faint of heart. One episode sees the Tarantino-esque lifespan of the most coveted comic in the history of Marvel Comics..and its inevitable demise at the hands of the Venture family. Sure, this is only a cartoon...a mantra you'll have to keep repeating to yourself as you witness the horror. Our friend Lori was shown this episode and try as she might to keep things in perspective, the visions still haunt her to this day. Observe...
I brought up this virtual torment at a Q&A session and was told to apologize on their behalf but to remind her that it is a cartoon, and therefore, never really happened. They'd "never dick around with it on camera if they actually owned it". They also thank you for being one of the 8 people to get that joke.
The REAL news with this release is the stunning BLU-RAY transfer! Cartoons look brilliant on Blu-ray with clarity miles ahead of the original broadcast. It's amazing that we live in a time when you can get a movie or TV show on Blu-ray and have it look better than the first time you saw it. As icing on the cake (that is the feast for your eyes) is the option to view the episodes, uncut, with all the dirty words plugged back in. My buddy Pete suggested that the bleeping might make the show funnier but after 2 episodes, you can't deny the comedy behind The Monarch continually shouting the word FUCK!! Its not the word itself but the inflection the character puts on it that makes it that much more enjoyable. ..And on that note..a Monarch keychain voice box with him saying a series of curses and maybe "But he's in Depeche Mooooode!!" would rule. You'll also get commentary for each and every episode from Doc and Jackson, though this is less "everything you ever wanted to know about this episode" and more "bits about Venture brothers and life that popped into our ADD addled brains during taping" sort of sessions. Still, they are extremely enjoyable and will be treasured by any fan of the show. BUT WAIT! That's not all!! You also get deleted scenes, some of which are merely vocal tracks set to story boards but others are fully realized bits of animation clipped from shows. The bulk of these are little jokes they probably cut for time, but there is one extra that provides a sort of alternate ending for some of the nastier characters in the show!
Venture Brothers Season 4 on Blu-ray is a must buy for even the casual VB fan. Top notch quality, hours of extras and all the dirty words your juvenile braincells can handle make this the perfect purchase on March 22nd. If you are just getting into the show, Season 4 may leave you with a small mountain of questions that can only be answered by back-tracking, but I could see why the story line, as a complete and individual performance would be highly enjoyable regardless. The bottom line...get it! Meet me back here this Tuesday and we'll celebrate the release with some VB interview bits I've never run before.
Check out the newest Venture Brothers toys from Bif Bang Pow right HERE! Buy Venture brothers Complete Season 4 on Blu-Ray RIGHT HERE! Pre-Order your !!
ScoobyDoo were rock stars of the cartoon world, so it comes as no surprise that people would try and replicate that chemistry with similar configurations. Speed Buggy was one, telling the tale of a little self aware car traveling from race to race with his three human friends, picking up detective work along the way. Of course, today, we know full well that Speed Buggy was less a Johnny 5 and more an early agent of Skynet, so he was destroyed in the early 90's preemptively. Odder still is the tale of the creature called Jabberjaw! This show is more like The Jetsons meet ScoobyDoo with a helping of Josie and the Pussycats tossed in to create the UBERTOON!!
"The year is 2076 and Jabberjaw is the star of the Neptunes, a teenage rock group. In his spare time, Jabberjaw, along with teens Biffy, Shelly, Bubbles and Clamhead, fight deep sea crime. But its tough down there for a shark. Jabberjaw must also contend with the robot force of “Shark Ejectors,” guards who prevent sharks from entering into underwater cities. All he wants is a little respect!" 2076 is clearly a future where the polar ice caps have melted and we are under water. GLOBAL WARMING!! YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED!! The Neptunes cram into a tiny future under-water-car and travel from gig to gig and upon arrival, get caught up in nefarious shenanigans that require them to help save the local populace. Not one member of the crew is spectacularly smart, but as a group, they manage to catch the bad guys. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a giant shark who can walk on land, breathe air and speak, even if he is cursed with the voice and ticks of Curly from the Three Stooges.
How Jabber got this way is not revealed, but we see some evidence that there MAY have been other, more violent land sharks before him, as every city is patrolled by shark ejector robots even though there are "normal" sharks swimming around outside that can't breathe air. (P.S. real sharks in the future growl like jaguars. It's a FACT!) The future is also packed with somewhat backward technology like a stenography device that takes down a customer's food order but writes it down on paper for you...with a pen. They've also got a machine that mops the floor, but you have to be the mop. Seems like things we Americans would make, and so totally believable. Maybe it's the "Idiocracy" future and they use electrolytes to power everything! It's what plants crave, you know.
Jabberjaw follows the typical format for mystery cartoons of its time, with the kids and their odd pal getting into trouble, trying to solve a crime with all the action culminating in an awkward musical number that plays while our heroes run in circles and flail their arms, ever pursued by a never ending supply of bald henchmen working for water themed ultra baddies. The story lines are simple enough for a 10 year old to follow, but little ones may be left scratching their heads at the machines used and plot lines that may be a bit too advanced for them. Those older than 10 will probably find the whole thing stale and remedial compared to the speed and random oddness of most modern cartoons. Then again, once we get into the teenage years, this cartoon may be so insane as to be cool, so there's hope! The ideal target for this set is you, the 20 to 40 yr old geek sitting among friends with tall drinks in hand. Hell, the subject matter seems created by those partaking of controlled substances, so get into the spirit and enjoy some Jabberjaw this weekend!
Catch the tidal wave of adventure, music and laughter in this 4-Disc, 16-Episode Series Collection, available at the WB Shop now!
NOTE: Some years back, Cartoon Network aired a series of music videos based on the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon lineup, one of which was a new take on Jabberjaw putting the "smart shark" in a struggling punk band with his human buddies. This idea is AMAZING and should be revived immediately for a live action movie; a cross between the ScoobyDoo and Josie and the Pussycats films. Tell me this doesn't rule...
Right now you may be thinking this is the long awaited animated project with Thor and Loki as little kids when they still loved each other BUT I SAY TO THEE NAY!!! and forsooth, because I like saying it. Go on, give it a shot. That project will probably surface just in time for the major motion picture release but for now, Marvel wants to assure all your money is going directly to Asgard.
Marvel Knights Animation is proud to announce Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers, an all-new four-episode series debuting on iTunes, Xbox LIVE, and PlayStation®Network on Monday, March 28th. Further episodes debut weekly on Wednesdays beginning April 6th, with each high-definition episode priced at $2.99 (standard definition is also available at $1.99/episode).
Inspired by the acclaimed graphic novel from Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic, Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers takes a powerful look inside the minds of Thor & Loki, brothers in the mythical land of Asgard and seemingly forever enemies. But just why does Loki hate his brother Thor? And could it be that this master of mischief isn’t really the villain he’s been branded? Loki's insatiable lust for power and his feud with Thor take on new meaning in this resonant epic.
"It's been an incredible experience developing and producing Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers," says Ruwan Jayatilleke, producer of Thor & Loki. "The source material by Robert and Esad is absolutely brilliant and works on so many different levels as a story for multiple mediums. To be honest it's been an honor--and a blast -- to work with the talented creatives of Magnetic Dreams, Edge Studio, Underground Music, and NYAV! What we've put together as a team will further define and push the boundaries of what Marvel Knights Animation can be as well as entertain comic book enthusiasts and mainstream fans with a very compelling piece of content."
He’s the Super Hero everyone’s talking about and before Marvel Studios’ Thor feature film debuts, experience one of Thor’s most popular stories in comic history through cutting edge animation. It’s Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers—and you’ll never see the world of Thor the same way ever again!
We, in the geek world, know many things at this very moment. Action figure prices are ridiculous, the convention season is starting, there are a lot of fucking aliens in theaters this year, Amber Benson is still awesome ...and OCTOBER is a very long ways away.
Batman: Arkham City, the highly-anticipated sequel to 2009’s Batman: Arkham Asylum, is now slated to arrive at stores in North America beginning Tuesday, October 18th, in Australia beginning Wednesday, October 19th, and in Europe and other global territories beginning Thursday, October 21st for the Xbox 360, PC and PS3. The new adventure has the Dark Knight soaring above Arkham City, the new maximum security “home” for Gotham’s most vile criminals. The game builds on the atmospheric world of Arkham Asylum while offering gamers an environment that is five times larger than its predecessor. FIVE TIMES.
We celebrate the news with new eye candy to enhance your anticipation and make the wait seem even longer. You're welcome.
Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City is the follow-up to the award-winning hit video game Batman: Arkham Asylum™ and delivers an authentic and gritty Batman experience. Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.
So far we've got confirmed sightings of Harley Quinn, The Joker and Two Face in this new installment, alongside rumors of The Riddler, Catwoman and Nightwing. We'll keep you posted as the news drops!
So you've been watching the trailers of Sucker Punch and thinking DAMN..I wonder why more people don't make more of ANYTHING with pretty girls slicing giants to bits with samurai swords, shooting up entire cities with gatling guns and blowing up scores of robots leaving nothing but scorched earth in their wake. Electronic Arts hears you and shares your love of the classic femme fatale...emphasis on the Fatal. Welcome to Alice: Madness Returns!
Eleven years ago a horrific fire took Alice’s family from her and left her terribly burned—and her mind terribly scarred. Afterwards she was confined to Rutledge Asylum, struggling to come to terms with her demons by slipping into her fantasy world of Wonderland. Now, after ten years, she has finally secured her release--yet she still bears the heavy psychological burden of that tragic event.
In Alice: Madness Returns, Alice is released from the asylum to a London psychiatrist’s care. As nightmarish hallucinations continue to haunt her and invade her reality, she seeks to understand her torment in order to recover herself. Her mind in tatters, she is unable to resolve the fear and neuroses prompted by her strange memories, dreams, and visions. Her relocation to London seems only to add to their number and intensity.
Perhaps she’ll do better in Wonderland. She always has. She travels there, seeking what the “real” world can’t provide: security, knowledge, and the truth about the past. But in her absence, Wonderland too has suffered. Something has gone horribly wrong, and now a great evil is descending upon what once was her beautiful refuge.
Can Alice save Wonderland—and herself—from the madness that consumes them both?
..and yes, this is the long awaited sequel to American McGee's Alice, so you go ahead and cheer now! June 14th is the release date. Be ready.
The toy industry is always watching for pop culture trends to convert into bobble heads and other shiny trinkets, but when it comes to characters for action figures, the vast history of video games reins supreme. Sure, they get their fair share of immobile statues as well since those gamer drones love their mini gods to pay homage to, but nothing beats an action figure of your favorite digitized action hero or monster. 2011 will see its fair share of arcade icons on the pegs, so here's a run down...
JAZWARES
Browsing the pegs of your favorite geekery, you'll be sure to notice Jazzwares Sonic the Hedgehog line of action figures. Jazwares will continue to push heaps of fuzzy fury in your direction through 2011, so let me just drop the whole damn list on your head indelicately...
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 5" Sonic 1991 - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 5" Sonic 2011
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 3" Classic Sonic with Motobug Badnik -Green Hill - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 3" Classic Tails with Grabber Badnik -Chemical Plant - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 3" Modern Sonic with Spiner Badnik -Speed highway - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 3" Modern Shadow with Mono Beetle -City Escape - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 3" Modern Knuckles with 1.5" Eggpawn Badnik -Seaside Hill - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 3" Modern Silver with Bitter Badnik -Crisis City - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 3" Modern Tails with Sandworm (Nal) -Planet Wisp
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 4" Modern Eggman with 2 Egg Fighter (Badnik)
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - Collector Tin with 2" Figure
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 10" Vinyl Modern Sonic - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 10" Vinyl Classic Sonic
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 7" Classic Sonic Plush - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 7" Classic Tails Plush - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 7" Classic Amy Plush - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 7" Classic Eggman Plush - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 7" Classic Knuckles Plush - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 7" Classic Metal Sonic Plush
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - Modern Comic Book (3" Shadow/3" Silver) - 20th Anniversary SONIC - Classic Comic Book (3" Amy/3" Sonic)
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 12" Modern Sonic Plush - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 12" Modern Shadow Plush - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 12" Modern Tails Plush
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 15" Classic Sonic Plush
- 20th Anniversary SONIC - 6" Super Poser Sonic - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 6" Super Poser Shadow - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 6" Super Poser Tails - 20th Anniversary SONIC - 6" Super Poser Knuckles
To this day, Jazwares are one of the few companies to tackle Mortal Kombat in a super posable action figure format. Now they get back into the battle with lines of 6 and 3 and 3 quarter inch action figures based on the new upcoming game (April 19, 2011) as well as some classic ninja characters.
It's been some time since Street Fighter has seen a decent amount of plastic love. NECA kept the license in the thoughts of collectors everywhere with a release of a Chun Li here or Ryu there, but there was never any full line to the extent that SOTA toys created some years back. Now Jazzwares steps up to change all that, and in collecting a whole new universe, you'll have to start from scratch in a whole new scale. 3 and 3 quarter!!! Yes..you six inch purists hate them but the toy industry loves it. You can fit more figures into what little real estate stores like Walmart and Toys R Us allow you on their pegs if your guys are pint sized. Jazzwares hopes to release an extensive collection in two packs covering modern and classic installments of the game kicking off with...
Super Street Fighter IV 2 pack- Modern Figures
- Abel VS Guile - El Fuerte VS Seth
Street Fighter 2 pack- Classic Figures
- M Bison VS Akuma - Ryu VS Sagat
SQUARE ENIX is also getting in on the World Warriors tournament this year with their own line of Street Fighter IV action figures in a 9.5 inch format. This series kicks off with Chun-Li and Ryu this summer. SE also premiered a new line of Deus Ex: Human Revolution action figures including Barret, Adam Jensen and Fedorova dropping this Fall.
Over toNECA who consistently pump out mind blowing action figures based on the hottest games blowing up your X Box. I realize that sounded dirty and I'm not ashamed. The denizens of Bioshock continue their march with a new wave of Splicers on the way in May/June including Crawler, Brute, a new version of Ladysmith Splicer (with a new deco, accessories and a new mask) plus a refresh of the Big Daddy Bouncer light up figure (3 way lights with red, yellow and green effect just like in the game!) Randy Falk of the NECA stormtroopers says "you can leave the light on one specific color, so leave the light on red if you're in a bad mood at your desk and hopefully everyone will leave you alone." See? They do God's work. NECA will also be handing figure duties for Bioshock Infinite in 2012.
Gears of War has its third installment dropping this fall and NECA will be there! They've had the license for three years now and I can say without hesitation they are the ONLY TOY COMPANY ON THE PLANET who would have made a figure at the exact moment his head is being blown off his shoulders...and for that, we applaud them. All of the characters you love are getting new looks with new armor (Dom has longer hair and a beard), so its a great excuse for NECA to go back in and update the crew. These are ALL NEW figures with all new parts and articulation. 30 POINTS OF ARTICULATION IN EVERY FIGURE!!!! I think I'm going to be collecting Gears of War figures now! Marcus, Dom, Cole and Baird and for the first time ever, Anya, all heading your way this fall with the third Carmine brother. You'll also see a Thrashball Cole statue around the same time! Since the game got moved to fall, there will be another Gears 2 lineup this Spring with Kantus Priest, Skorge, Cog Solider (with a new, more articulated body) and Boomer Mauler.
It's been 10 long years, but the man who steals his lines from Roddy Piper has returned. Duke Nukem Forever drops this April and his little plastic counterpart will be there to greet him. He'll be backed with is gun, a cigar "and his bad ass attitude." Claptrap from Borderlands will follow soon after this May.
GAMESTAR COLLECTIBLES appeared seemingly from out of nowhere and dropped a small scale line of action figured deep in the heart of Toys R Us. Their video game lines kicked off with Crysis 2 with a C.E.L.L. Assault Unit, Grunt Alien Infantry Unit, Alcatraz Nanosuit 2.0, Nomad Nanosuit 1.0, Heavy Alien Devastator Unit and a Stalker Alien Assault Unit. Upcoming lines include Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Red Faction: Armageddon and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.
At NY Comic Con 2010, DIAMOND SELECT premiered their Sony minimates with characters from Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, Resistance: Fall of Man and Uncharted. These will be Toys R Us 2 pack exclusives this April. DS follows this with a Jak and Daxter action figure 2 pack this July.
DC Direct/ Unlimited continue to crank out some high quality action figures, now tackling the insanely popular God of War franchise with figures of Hades, Kratos, Hercules and Zeus dropping this May. You'll also get new figures for Starcraft with Kerrigan and Tychus Deluxe Action Figures this December.
There are half a billion toys coming out for HALO, as usual, so we are going to give that its own article. Stay tuned!!
So you've got this friend. He's a good friend and a very nice guy, but he's a bit stubborn in his way of thinking. His reactions to situations are what cause people to describe him as having a "unique perspective." He can look completely bored standing in front of the great pyramid but stare, infinitely fascinated, at a baby cow trying to climb a ridge. More importantly, he's willing to try anything once, though he'll complain the whole time if he isn't liking the experience and describe in great detail why its dumb. Ricky Gervais has such a friend and delights in "pushing him into a corner and poking him with a stick" to see what happens next. This is the primary premise behind An Idiot Abroad on the Science Channel.
Ricky Gervais calls An Idiot Abroad, "The most expensive practical joke I've ever done." Ricky and longtime friend Stephen Merchant are sending their uncultured colleague, Karl Pilkington to visit the 7 Wonders of the World. Will it open his eyes or will he hate every second?
And now that you've been properly introduced, here's a sample...
If I'm still using the term Chavs correctly. I had an idea for a film like this about 2 years ago, but it was Brooklyn Vs Mega Giddrazilla in which the Earth was being attacked by a giant Godzilla like creature which quickly wipes out New York City and when it turns to Brooklyn, there is the greatest stand off ever seen in modern film....or the dumbest battle the creators of Jersey Shore could ever dream up...either way. Now, the producers of Shaun of the Dead bring you ATTACK THE BLOCK "From the producers of SHAUN OF THE DEAD and SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD comes ATTACK THE BLOCK, a fast, funny, frightening action adventure movie that pits a teen gang against an invasion of savage alien monsters. It turns a London housing estate into a sci-fi playground. A tower block into a fortress under siege. And teenage street kids into heroes. It’s inner city versus outer space." Who could lead this ragtag band of lovable, homicidal moppets completely desensitized by Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto? NICK FROST to the rescue! Who better, eh? Websites list the release date as May 11th, but that's most likely in the UK. Keep watching here and we'll let you know if and when it will reach American soil.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Oscar®-nominated actress Diane Lane will play Martha Kent, the only mother Clark Kent has ever known, in the new Superman movie to be directed by Zack Snyder.
Snyder stated, “This was a very important piece of casting for me because Martha Kent is the woman whose values helped shape the man we know as Superman. We are thrilled to have Diane in the role because she can convey the wisdom and the wonder of a woman whose son has powers beyond her imagination.”
Lane will star with Henry Cavill, who was recently announced as the new Clark Kent/Superman.
Lane earned an Academy Award® nomination for her performance in the 2002 drama “Unfaithful.” She most recently starred in the family hit “Secretariat.” She next stars in the HBO feature “Cinema Verite,” opposite Tim Robbins and James Gandolfini. Lane’s long list of film credits also includes “Nights in Rodanthe,” “Hollywoodland,” “Must Love Dogs,” “Under the Tuscan Sun,” “Perfect Storm,” “My Dog Skip,” “Chaplin,” “The Cotton Club” and “A Little Romance,” to name only a portion.
Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.
Slated for release in December 2012, the new Superman movie will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
My first thought? DAMN Superman's mom is hot. Obviously we are going to see Clark as a young boy, otherwise Lane is waaaay too young for the role. Then again, we did just have Winona Ryder as Zachary Quinto's mom in Star Trek, so Hollywood trickery will be afoot fo sho.
At Toy Fair 2011, I was continually asked if I thought the world of Anime is getting smaller or bigger. This year I'm voting bigger, as it seems a large percentage of kids are now the ones watching these shows and the companies have developed new ways to deliver their products right to the source. In the past you'd have to hit specialty shops for fan subs and order toys from importers at inflated rates. Now, your favorite Etailer can get their hands on all that you desire and it doesn't cost much more that retail. As for watching the actual shows, sites like HULU provide YEARS of content for the cost of your time watching a commercial here and there. A couple of companies have taken notice of this and will be dishing out some quality action figures for your favorite titles.
Just as their Indie Spotlight action figure line brings together great heroes from several different comic companies into one powerful series, Anime Spotlight will unite the legendary characters of VIZ, Toei and Funimation for the first time anywhere. Figures will be 6 inch scaled (according to their proper heights) and packed with articulation allowing your favorite characters to pull off the signature poses they are known for. We also wanted the Anime Spotlight action figures to be as unique as their animated counterparts, so we chose key facial expressions for standard and alternate heads that capture the attitude of each character perfectly. Anime Spotlight Series 1 will include…
- Naruto’s Kakashi Hatake (VIZ) with a variant swapping his head and hands to become Iruka Umino - Bleach’s Ichigo Kurosaki (VIZ) with a variant allowing for season 1 and 2 looks as well as battle damage - Death Note’s L (VIZ) - Doctor Slump’s The Monster (Toei) - One Piece’s Nico Robin (Funimation) - 2 pack with Naruto’s Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka (VIZ)
To clarify, Kakashi, the teacher from Naruto, will be his own figure. Shocker wanted to do some variants for their line and saw that Kakashi and Iruka have nearly identical outfits, so with a swap of his hands and head, they'll deliver the second teacher in the same wave. Each character will have their own accessories and be packaged individually, so if you're a MOC (min on card) collector, you'll be able to have both displayed next to each other. For Bleach's Ichigo, Shocker noted that everyone seems to like to do the Hollow variant for this character, so they took the opportunity to tweak his look so you can get a season 1 and two design in the same series. The only thing changing will be Ichigo's Zanpakuto (sword), sheath and the strap holding it all. Not to skimp out on those fans wanting to own both, Shocker will include different heads for the variant and touched on the fact we'll be able to make him look battle damaged! We asked about other possible accessories and were told we can expect L to have something to snack on, the Doctor Slump monster will come packed with a little ghost friend, Nico Robin will contain parts to display her powers and the Naruto crew will have an array of weapons straight from the show. Shocker also noted that the Naruto kids got their own 2 pack because they are scaled to be smaller and they thought putting just one in a package would be skimpy, so going forward they are looking to have all the kids packed like this. No hints at series 2 yet, but as always, if you love series 1, be sure to spread the word and buy as soon as you see them and there will be plenty more from these licenses and others to come.
Shocker Toys also has a stylized figure line called MALLOWS and Anime will be dropped on their extra round heads as well. These suckers must be selling like mad because their lineup is extensive...
- Naruto’s Naruto Uzumaki(VIZ) - Bleach’s Kon (VIZ) - Death Note’s Rem (VIZ) - Vampire Knight’s Kaname Kuran (VIZ) - One Piece’s Roronoa Zoro (Funimation) - Doctor Slump’s Arele-Chan (Toei) - Galaxy Express 999’s Conductor (Toei) - Saint Seiya the Hades’ Andromeda Shun (Toei) - Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo’s Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (say that 5 times fast) (Toei) - Fist of the North Star’s Raoh (Toei) - Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s Alphonse Elric (Funimation) - Dragon Ball Z’s Goku (Funimation) - Soul Eater’s Soul Evans (Funimation)
Shocker also mentioned they'll be making some American Greetings Mallows including Madballs’ Slobulous, Sushi Pack’s Wasabi and My Pet Monster. Eagle eyed readers will note some of the licenses above include Soul Eater, Dragonball Z, Galaxy Express 999, Vampire Knight and Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. This MIGHT be a glimpse into what Shocker has planned for the 6 inch line, but keep in mind companies give out specific licenses for scale and format, so what they do for Mallows may not necessarily be approved for 6 inch action figures. One can hope though. Bandai didn't show any Dragonball Z toys this year and I'd still love to see someone do 6 inch super posable figures!
Over to SQUARE ENIX who have always expressed their love for Final Fantasy and now brings their excellent skills to Bleach. Available now are Rukiya Kuchiki and Tochiro Hitsugaya, with Ichigo Kurosaki packed with Kon to follow soon after (May). There's no doubt that Square Enix makes amazing figures, but a $42 price tag makes my pockets hurt. This is comparable to prices we've seen directly from Japanese companies, though, so nothing new for Anime fans. I'll be curious to see what Shocker Toys charges for their figures, and, as a recent article suggested, if die hard Anime fans will turn their noses up at American Anime action figures at a lower cost. Looking at the secondary market for Mattel's Naruto line, I'd say its not the case. This same article also suggested that American toy buyers wouldn't be interested in scoring an Anime Frankenstein figure. To that I say HA! Who loves Frankenstein more than we do...and when is the last time you saw an Anime version of him??!! Never..that's when. Square Enix will also be releasing a killer Sculpture Arts statue this May with Ichigo surrounded by a flaming phoenix.
KOTOBUKIYA has always shown their love for the sexy ladies of Anime and this year was no different. This year's statue releases include Phantom Queen Ex-Xecty (available now) and Maxima (May) from Shining Hearts, Black Magician Girl (March) and a series of One Coin figures from Yu-Gi-Oh!, Tamaki Red Armor Samurai Version from Manaka De Ikuno!! (available now), Kasumi from Dead or Alive 4 (April) & Rei Ayanami and Shikinami Asuka Ballerina Style from Neon Genesis Evangelion (available now). Koto adds MEGAMAN articulated model kits to their lineup this year with Roll (available now), Proto Man and Megaman (available this summer). They've also got D-Style Model Kits including Aim for the Top!! Gunbuster (Feb), Griffon (Dec), AV-XA Zero (available now), AV-98 Ingram 2 Patrol Labor (available now), AV-98 Ingram 1 (July) from Patlabor the Mobile Police and Dancouga from God Bless the Machine (March).
Kotobukiya is also known for sexitizing the iconic female heroes of comic books in an Anime format. Their BISHOUJO statue series will deepen its ranks this year with releases of Supergirl (July), Catwoman (March) and Wonder Woman (May) for DC Comics and Black Cat (April), Invisible Woman (July) and Jean Grey (August) for Marvel Comics.
DC DIRECT also have a anime babe line of their own called Ame-Comi, also starring the ladies of DC Comics. This year's offerings include , mini figures series 2 Wonder Woman, Donna Troy and Cheetah in April, Power Girl, Supergirl, Hawkgirl mini figs series 3 TBA, full sized figures of Donna Troy as Wonder Girl Variant (March), Supergirl Black Suit Variant (March), Duela Dent as The Joker (March), Jesse Quick as The Flash (March), Raven (May), Mera (May), Batgirl Black Suit Variant (June), Catwoman v.2 Blue Suit Variant (June), Big Barda (August), Wonder Woman v.3 (August), Zatanna v.2 Halloween Show Variant (October) and Cheetah v.2 Leopard Variant (October).
Many strange things come across my desk in a day. Some are strange and weird and wonderful. Some are so odd they give me a nosebleed as I try to figure out what the fuck is going on. I'd put Axe Cop from Dark Horse Comics somewhere in between the two. They've sent over this vid trailer for their newest comic series Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth which plays out like some demented little golden book. It reminds me of that episode of Family Guy when Peter started writing Peterotica and came up with a gem called "The Hot Chick Who Was Italian or Maybe Some Kind of Spanish". Let's Watch!!
The amazing and hilarious comic is making its debut as an all-new Dark Horse miniseries this spring! Comics fans and fancy news blogs aren’t the only ones to take notice of Axe Cop; now the so-called “real” police know about him, too. And if there’s one thing police don’t like, it’s a guy with an axe who’s better than they are at catching and dispatching bad guys! Now Axe Cop and his partner Dinosaur Soldier are being treated like bad guys, not only by the police, but by the president and the army, too! But when a pair of nasty villains barge in from outer space and turn the army into actual bad guys, who gets the call to set things right? Axe Cop!
When the forces of evil are so overwhelming that no single hero can save the world… the Avengers assemble! Featuring Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Hulk, fans can now own the first 13 episodes of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! in two must-have, collectible DVD volumes, available April 26 from (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment?).
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Volume 1 includes episodes 1-7 plus an exclusive look at the evolving characters and storyline of Season 2, and Volume 2 includes episodes 8-13 plus another exclusive sneak peek at Season 2 that reveals what makes the Marvel Super Heroes and Villains so unique.
Featuring your favorite animated Super Heroes - Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Hulk - The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! sees planet Earth threatened by Super Villains, time traveling conquerors, alien invaders, mythical beasts and rampaging robots -- all bent on the total destruction of humanity. Unfortunately against these impossible odds, no individual hero has the power to save the world and just when all appears to be hopeless, the most skilled champions in the Marvel universe join forces to form the mightiest Super Hero team in history. The Avengers come to the rescue when the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! stars the well-known voice talents of Rick D. Wasserman (Planet Hulk, Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, House M.D.) as Thor, Brian Bloom (The A Team, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2) as Captain America, Fred Tatasciore (Tron: Evolution, Hulk Vs., “Wolverine and the X-Men”) as The Hulk, Wally Wingert ( “The Family Guy,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”) as Ant Man, and Phil Lamarr (“Mad TV,” “Futurama”) as Jarvis.
1. Iron Man Is Born! 2. Thor The Mighty 3. Hulk Versus The World 4. Meet Captain America 5. The Man in the Ant Hill 6. Breakout: Part One 7. Breakout: Part Two
Volume 2 Episodes:
8. Some Assembly Required 9. Living Legend 10. Everything Is Wonderful 11. Panther’s Quest 12. Gamma World: Part One 13. Gamma World: Part Two
Hot on the heels of the incredible All Star Superman comes Green Lantern: Emerald Knights; an all-new DC Universe Animated Original Movie that weaves six interlocking stories of the Green Lantern Corps’ rich mythology around preparations for an attack by an ancient enemy. As the battle approaches, Hal Jordan (voiced by Nathan Fillion, Castle) mentors new recruit Arisia (Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men) in the history of the Green Lantern Corps, telling tales of Avra (the first Green Lantern) and several of Hal’s comrades – including Abin Sur, Kilowog, Laira and Mogo. In the end, Arisia must rise to the occasion to help Hal, Sinestro and the entire Green Lantern Corps save the universe from the destructive forces of Krona. Penned by comic book luminaries Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Peter J. Tomasi, Eddie Berganza, Alan Burnett, Todd Casey and Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed June 7 by Warner Home Video as part of the build up to the release of the highly anticipated live action film, Green Lantern, in theatres June 17.
Quick Note! Some of this is going to read like the official press release, because I used it, but i peppered in all the info from the presentation and my jaded nerdy sarcasm, so I promise it won't make you snooze. Also, hit the links on the title of each section and dive into our Flickr pics for maximum eye candy exposure. Enjoy!
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) gives kids more ways than ever to re-enact the actions of their favorite Marvel Super Heroes with an extensive line of role play toys! MARVEL STUDIOS brings action and excitement to the theater with THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER and Hasbro brings the adventure, energy, and emotion from the films “to life” with a full array of toys that will immerse kids in the character experience. In addition, role-play toys in the IRON MAN and SPIDER-MAN lines will have kids powering up and web-slinging throughout the year.
Highlights from Hasbro’s 2011 Marvel line include:
THOR tells the story of the Asgardian THOR, who is cast out from the mythical world and sent to live among humans on Earth. Over time, THOR learns what it takes to be a true hero, and the powerful yet arrogant warrior uses his mighty hammer to become one of the planet’s finest defenders. In 2011, Hasbro brings an extensive line of THOR products for kids to become immersed in the THOR character experience. March 1st sees the first Thor product hitting shelves, thought we’ve got reports it is available in most stores now, and in some regions, has been for weeks.
THOR LIGHTNING HAMMER (Approximate Retail Price: $19.99; Ages: 5 & up) Kids can now pretend to be their favorite Asgardian and summon the power of THOR! Hasbro’s THOR LIGHTNING HAMMER delivers a great role-play experience, allowing fans to recreate the on-screen action of the upcoming film, THOR. The replica of THOR’S signature weapon is fully equipped with electronic battle sounds and a launching projectile. Requires three “AAA” batteries, included.
THOR HELMET (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages: 5 & up) Helping to complete the THOR role-play experience is Hasbro’s THOR HELMET. Styled after the Asgardian’s iconic wing-tipped helmet, the role-play toy lets kids pretend to be the mighty hero. This is a low end role play item just meant to be plopped on your head and does little more than spark your insane imagination.
THOR FOAM SWORD (Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Ages: 5 & up) If THOR role-playing fans are disarmed of their mighty hammer, it’s best to make sure that you’re also equipped with the THOR FOAM SWORD! The sword is 27 inches in length and crafted from soft, durable foam.
THOR FOAM HAMMER (Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Ages: 5 & up) The THOR FOAM HAMMER offers children who wish to role-play as the Asgardian commander of Thunder an item that’s perfect for smaller hands. The hammer’s head is crafted from soft, durable foam. The great thing about foam products from Hasbro? They are magically infused with NERF power!!
THOR SHIELD AND SWORD SET (Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Ages: 5 & up) Every aspiring Asgardian will want the THOR SHIELD AND SWORD role-play set, which features a soft, durable foam sword and shield that are great for younger children.
THOR 3.75” Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages: 4 & up) Over 20 figures seeing release this year. Wave 1: Battle Hammer Thor, Lightning Clash Thor, Sword Spike Thor, Secret Strike Loki, Shield Bash Marvel's Odin and Invasion Frost Giant Wave 2 (June): Harpoon Blade Fandral, Blade Battle Marvel's Hogun, Ram Smash Volstaag, Hammer Smash Thor, Fireblast Marvel's Destroyer Wave 3 (June): Mighty Thor, King Laufey, King Loki, All King Odin Wave 4 (July): Sif, Warrior Thor, Loki (Blue outfit), Battle Thor (Glow in the Dark), Destroyer (Light Up)
THOR 8 inch Collector Figures Rotocast figures with high detail and limited articulation Wave 1: Thor and a second Thor with a clear hammer Wave 2: Thor and Destroyer
THOR Electronic Figure – Lightning Power Thor (Approximate Retail Price: $19.99; Ages: 4 & up) The THOR ELECTRONIC FIGURE stands at an impressive 10” tall with its supremely sculpted and detailed design. Featuring electronic phrases and sound effects from the movie THOR, as well as a light up hammer, projectiles and additional battle accessories.
THOR SUPER HERO SQUAD 3-PACKS (Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Ages: 3 & up; Available: Spring 2011) The youngest THOR fans can collect their favorite MARVEL SUPER HERO characters from THOR with Hasbro’s line of THOR SUPER HERO SQUAD 3-PACKS. With a fun, unique style appealing to fans of all ages, each pack includes three SUPER HEROES from the film. In total, three all-new 3-packs will be available in the line, featuring characters such as THOR, ODIN, LOKI, FROST GIANT and THE DESTROYER. Each 3-pack sold separately.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER showcases Steve Rogers, a brave yet mild-mannered young World War II soldier who volunteers to undergo a series of experiments for a U.S. Army “Super Soldier” program. Adorned in his iconic red, white and blue helmet and indestructible shield, CAPTAIN AMERICA fights for his nation by battling his archenemy RED SKULL and, in the process, becomes THE FIRST AVENGER.
CAPTAIN AMERICA DISC LAUNCHING SHIELD (Approximate Retail Price: $19.99; Ages: 5 & up; Available: Spring 2011) Very few Super Hero symbols have transcended time like CAPTAIN AMERICA’S shield, his signature battle accessory. And now kids can have their very own! The CAPTAIN AMERICA DISC LAUNCHING SHIELD is the premiere role-play item for every CAPTAIN AMERICA fan. It fires miniature foam disks to defend against combatants! The shield has a diameter of 15 inches and comes with five foam discs. Requires four “AA” batteries, not included.
CAPTAIN AMERICA HERO MASK (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages: 5 & up; Available: Spring 2011) Kids can complete their CAPTAIN AMERICA role-play experience by “hiding” their identity, much like STEVE ROGERS when he battles foes as a Super Hero. The CAPTAIN AMERICA HERO MASK is designed in the style of the movie and crafted for comfort and durability.
CAPTAIN AMERICA THROWING SHIELD (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages: 5 & up; Available: Spring 2011) Throw your shield just like CAPTAIN AMERICA with the CAPTAIN AMERICA THROWING SHIELD! This lightweight disc is great for play with friends in fantastic CAPTAIN AMERICA shield styling!
CAPTAIN AMERICA 3.75” Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) Another 20+ figures will drop this year; the CAPTAIN AMERICA 3.75” Action Figures lineup is a little more rounded than the Thor line, featuring characters and designs straight from the film, inspired by the Marvel Comics and original concept designs to broaden your play action possibilities. Characters to be featured in the line include various iterations of CAPTAIN AMERICA, CAPTAIN BRITAIN, the villainous RED SKULL, and those menacing HYDRA SOLDIERS. Each figure sold separately. Wave 1: Ultimates Captain America, Classic Update Captain America (Heavy Artillery), Winter Soldier and Battlefield (World War 2) Captain America. Wave 2: Bucky Barnes (Heroic Age) Captain America, Captain Britain, Final Mission Captain America, US Agent and Crossbones Other figures coming are Special Environments Captain America figures with Desert Fatigues, Winter Gear, Jungle Fatigues and Night Landing. They also dropped that Red Skull and Hydra Agents reveal on us above, but no Hasbro reps mentioned them at the collector event.
CAPTAIN AMERICA DELUXE 3.75” Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) The CAPTAIN AMERICA DELUXE 3.75” Action Figures lineup includes heavily armed and outfitted variations of your favorite American Super Hero, featuring a wide variety of unique battle weapons and accessories. Each figure in the assortment includes snap-on weapons. Each figure sold separately. The first two in the line are a Paratrooper Cap with a real working parachute and a Air Assault Glider Cap with a jet pack.
SUPER SHIELD CAPTAIN AMERICA In the Super Hero Squad style - Team up with a mighty warrior and take on the forces of evil! Your electronic Super Shield Captain America figure is more that meets the eye—he can intimidate his enemies by saying heroic phrases like, “I’m Captain America!” and “Let’s go, troops!” Once they’re shaking in their boots, activate his glowing shield to show his foes that he means business! No villain is any match for you and your Super Shield Captain America figure!
CAPTAIN AMERICA HERO POWER 10" ACTION FIGURE (Approximate Retail Price: $19.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) The CAPTAIN AMERICA ELECTRONIC FIGURE stands at an impressive 10” tall with its supremely sculpted and detailed design. Featuring electronic phrases and sound effects from the movie, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, as well as Cap’s signature shield, this figure is a great addition to every fan’s collection!
CAPTAIN AMERICA STRIKEFIRE TRANSPORT (Approximate Retail Price: $29.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) It’s only fitting that the world’s greatest soldier be outfitted with the CAPTAIN AMERICA STRIKEFIRE TRANSPORT to take into battle against his enemies. This massive vehicle features launching-projectiles, a motorcycle, and a one-of-a-kind CAPTAIN AMERICA 3.75” ACTION FIGURE unique to this product. We’ll also see a Cap Hover Jet! As well as an “Off-Road Avenger” 4x4.
CAPTAIN AMERICA SUPER HERO SQUAD 3-PACKS (Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Ages: 3 & up; Available: Spring 2011) The youngest CAPTAIN AMERICA fans can collect their favorite MARVEL SUPER HERO characters from CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER with Hasbro’s line of CAPTAIN AMERICA SUPER HERO SQUAD 3-PACKS. With a fun, unique style appealing to fans of all ages, each pack includes three SUPER HEROES from the film. In total, two all-new 3-packs will be available in the line, featuring characters such as CAPTAIN AMERICA, BUCKY, RED SKULL and HYDRA SOLDIERS. Each 3-pack sold separately.
CAPTAIN AMERICA CRUISERS (Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) Speed away with the CAPTAIN AMERICA CRUISERS! Styled after Captain America’s classic motorcycle, this speeder is coupled with his shield and a 3.75” action figure.
ARMOR CHARGE IRON MAN and ARMOR CHARGE WAR MACHINE (Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) Storm into battle with Hasbro’s all-new ARMOR CHARGE IRON MAN and ARMOR CHARGE WAR MARCHINE. The 7” motorized, walking figures introduce kids to a new play pattern among their action figures. Each figure sold separately.
IRON MAN 6” Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) In 2011, Hasbro introduces an all-new IRON MAN 6” Action Figure assortment that will join forces with its wildly popular 3.75” figure lineup. The assortment will include a variety of figures throughout the year, featuring characters such as IRON MAN, WAR MACHINE, CRIMSON DYNAMO, TITANIUM MAN and WHIPLASH! Each figure sold separately. There’s actually two different War Machines coming in 6 inches; one being the classic movie look and another the “Initiative” version. Hitting right now are Iron Man Mark VI and Hulkbuster Iron Man as well. Price point is said to be a painful $17.99, so these initial releases will really tell Hasbro how much they’ll be able to charge for 6 inch Marvel Legends action figures in 2012.
IRON MAN 3.75” Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Now) In 2011, the line will include a wide variety of IRON MAN Action Figures, as well as supporting characters and villains. And not only do the figures feature excellent articulation, they also feature cool new weaponry. Each figure sold separately.
IRON MAN 3.75” ARMOR TECH DELUXE Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $12.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Now) The IRON MAN 3.75” ARMOR TECH DELUXE ACTION FIGURE lineup includes never-before-seen variations of IRON MAN characters, featuring hi-tech Stark Industries weapon “technology” that makes this super hero lineup more dynamic and versatile than ever before. Each figure in the assortment includes a variety of snap-on weapons. Each figure sold separately.
SPIDER-MAN STRING WEB SHOOTER (Approximate Retail Price: $16.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Fall 2011) Kids’ web-slinging role-play is swinging into a new, innovative age this year with the SPIDER-MAN STRING WEB SHOOTER! For the first time ever, kids will enjoy a SPIDER-MAN web shooter that offers a motorized string reload function for hours of play.
SPIDER-MAN HERO MASK (Approximate Retail Price: $8.99; Ages 5 & up; Available: Spring 2011) Kids can complete their SPIDER-MAN role-play experience by “hiding” their identity, much like PETER PARKER does when he takes to the streets to protect the citizens of New York. The SPIDER-MAN HERO MASK is designed in the classic Spidey style and crafted for comfort and durability.
SPIDER-MAN WEB BATTLERS (Approximate Retail Price: $10.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Spring 2011) New to Hasbro’s SPIDER-MAN line in 2011 are SPIDER-MAN WEB BATTLERS, an assortment of 6” action figures for kids to enjoy and play with friends. These figures each come with soft battering weapons that are activated into a swinging motion when their legs are squeezed together. Choose from SPIDER-MAN and VENOM. Each figure sold separately.
SPIDER-MAN ALL MISSION RACER (Approximate Retail Price: $29.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Fall 2011) The SPIDER-MAN 3.75” Action Figures line will get around town in style in 2011 with the SPIDER-MAN ALL MISSION RACER, a vehicle that features racer, hovercraft, motorcycle, jet and glider modes, as well as electronic sounds! The vehicle actually knows what mode it is in and will make the noises that go along with it. This is the only mode of transportation any SUPER HERO could ever need! Figures sold separately. Requires three “AAA” batteries, not included.
SPIDER-MAN 3.75” Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Now) Take on GREEN GOBLIN and VENOM with an all-new lineup of wonderfully styled SPIDER-MAN 3.75” Action Figures in 2011! This year brings great new adventures for our friendly neighborhood SPIDER-MAN on land, in the air, and under water! PETER PARKER has his work cut out for him! Each figure sold separately.
SPIDER-MAN 6 inch Action Figures Don’t get excited! These are geared toward kids with each one hiding an action feature. These have already hit stores and I can tell you, squeezing the legs together on a figure to make him spin his spider staff never gets old. Will there be any new characters we can add to our collections? Doesn’t look like it. Sorry!
SPIDER-MAN MEGA BLAST WEB SHOOTER (Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Now) This arm gauntlet puts the web in your hands! The SPIDER-MAN MEGA BLAST WEB SHOOTER comes with a web cartridge, web shooter and SPIDER-MAN glove. By simply pulling the trigger, you can sling “webs”, just like PETER PARKER!
WISECRACKING ELECTRONIC SPIDER-MAN (Approximate Retail Price: $19.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Now) The WISECRACKING ELECTRONIC SPIDER-MAN is the largest Spidey action figure offered by Hasbro in 2011. Featuring a variety of web-slinging sounds and fun wisecracks that will make kids laugh, this 12-inch-tall figure also offers great poseability and comes with a “web” and web projectiles. Requires two “AAA” batteries, included.
MARVEL UNIVERSE 3.75” Action Figures (Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Now) The MARVEL UNIVERSE 3.75” ACTION FIGURE line is continuing in 2011 with its exceptional articulation, poseability, and spot-on design. Fans can update their collections with the latest and greatest from Hasbro! New figures hitting now include a Jim Lee styled Cyclops, 1st Appearance Wolverine, Gladiator, Apocalypse and Cable with baby Hope. The Hasbro team mentioned that Hope will be available in great numbers, but as the line continues to ship, Cable will be packed without her. They also mentioned that new card art duties fall to Simone Bianchi handling wave 3 and 4 of 2011. Upcoming figures also include a Steve Rogers, Ultron (modern look), Scarlet Spider, Skaar (Hulk’s Son), Dr. Strange (with clear astral form variant), Falcon (detachable wings) with Redwing, Dark Hawk (with variant for modern and classic looks), Dr. Doom (modern look), X-23 in her X-Force costume and Namor in the classic green trunks. There was also a reveal of Rocket Raccoon with Groot accessory coming this year…somewhere…at some time.
MARVEL UNIVERSE 3.75” MULTI PACKS (Approximate Retail Price: $22.99; Ages 4 & up; Available Fall 2011) The MARVEL UNIVERSE 3.75” MULTI PACKS assemble your favorite SUPER HERO teams from the MARVEL COMICS universe. In 2011, Hasbro is introducing these new figure 3 packs, including THE CLASSIC AVENGERS with Gold 1st Appearance Iron Man, 1st Appearance green Hulk, 1st Appearance Thor, tiny little Wasp and Ant Man figures as well as a winged ant for Ant Man to ride into battle, THE UNCANNY X-FORCE with Wolverine, Warpath and Deadpool in their grey and black “stealth” costumes and THE FANTASTIC THREE with Thing, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman and Herbie the robot. You’ll also remember there is a Giant Sized X-Men 6 pack (Toys R Us exclusive) on the way with a variant set including a bamfing Nightcrawler as well as deco changed on Colossus and Storm. The set also includes Cyclops, Wolverine and Thunderbird. Seems like a missed opportunity not to put Professor X in his wheel chair in here! Do you think you’ll see him hanging on the pegs in Walmart any time soon? Bald guy in a wheel chair? I think not. This set will hit this summer.
MARVEL UNIVERSE COMIC 2-PACKS (Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Now) Leading off with Wolverine vs Silver Samurai and Deadpool vs Taskmaster. Each MARVEL UNIVERSE COMIC 2-PACK includes a reprint of an iconic MARVEL COMIC and two unique MARVEL UNIVERSE 3.75” Action Figures specific to that story. Look for QUICK SILVER and WONDERMAN, SPIDER-MAN WITH CAPTAIN BRITAIN (70’S COSTUME), WOLVERINE and SABRETOOTH, POWER MAN WITH IRON FIST, ADAM WARLOCK with the Infinity Gauntlet and THANOS and CYCLOPS and JEAN GREY in 1st Class themed comic style outfits (since no one seems to want to touch the new movie).
GIGANTIC BATTLES One super sized figure and a regular 3 and 3 quarter figure in a boxed set. The next sets include Goliath with Thor (there will be a Ragnarok Thor Variant) and Classic comic style Frost Giant with Loki.
MARVEL HANDFUL OF HEROES ASSORTMENT (Approximate Retail Price: $4.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now) The ultimate battle of good and evil are right in the palm of your hand! This set of micro-sized molded figures comes with eight heroes and one super secret figure that will be a mystery until you tear open the package!
MARVEL UNIVERSE – MASTERWORKS SENTINEL WITH WOLVERINE (Approximate Retail Price: $49.99; Ages 4 & up; Available: Fall 2011) This lumbering giant means business! One of the biggest, baddest villains in the MARVEL UNIVERSE is here and he’s ready to take out the X-Men! THE SENTINEL measures a monstrous 16 inches tall and is packed with electronic features including a huge bank of battle sounds. Also includes a 3.75” WOLVERINE figure so that you can stage the 1st battle as soon as you open the box! Requires three “AAA” batteries, included. At San Diego Comic Con, there will be a unique deco to the Sentinel (dark purple).
MARVEL LEGENDS!!!
The 6 inch figure line cut down before it’s prime, or rather just as Hasbro were getting a handle on the fact we’d like to see as much detail, paint and articulation in these figures as we see in their G.I.Joe and Star Wars lines..RETURNS!! Yay. I say it like that because this impending 17.99 price point is going to put a serious hurting on my wallet, so I probably will have to pick and choose my purchases even though the dreaded Build-A-Figure gimmick is returning as well. Collect all 17 figures and build..ANOTHER GUY!! Yay. I kid about the 17 figures, but the Walmart Giant Man wave came pretty damn close. Anyyyway, at San Diego Comic Con we’ll see the first release in a Modern Heroic Age Thor (numbered 0) with a special deco and poster art by Simone Bianchi in a special package Hasbro is keeping a secret. Spring of 2012 sees the actual release starting with Ultimate Hawkeye and Heroic Age Bucky Captain America, single packed with a BAF piece to make Terrax, our favorite evil herald of Galactus. They stated there is a lot more on the way, they are just going to make us cry for it til SDCC. EVIL!!
As we explained in the Star Wars article, the little pvc lines are pretty much toast, so the Super Hero Squad figures listed above are the last you'll see in that format in favor of Marvel Super Hero Adventures figures with limited articulation so they can hop in and out of vehicles and soak mommies for more money. Hoo ra.
As we barrel head long into a chilly spring here on the east coast, we look forward to all the super hero throw downs the summer will bring and, we pray, the warmth. At the very least, Paramount lets things get a little toasty for all the ladies (and some of the boys) as they cozy up alongside Chris Hemsworth's abs.
