Wednesday, June 10, 2009

1st Look - DC Universe Ultimate DVD Collection




Warner Home Video is releasing a box set of the ultimate DC Animated Universe DVDs.


Collection consists of Superman Doomsday 2-disc SE, Justice League New Frontier 2 disc SE, Batman Gotham Knight 2 disc SE, and contain slots to house the upcoming Wonder Woman 2-disc SE and Green Lantern 2-Disc SE.

Episodes:
Superman Doomsday 2-disc SE
Justice League New Frontier 2 disc SE
Batman Gotham Knight 2 disc SE

Street Date: 7/14/09

MSRP: $69.93


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IDW Releases The Veil #1



New series from El Torres and Gabriel Hernandez

Blurring the line between the living and the dead, IDW is proud to launch a new comic series from writer El Torres (Zombies!: Eclipse of the Undead) and artist Gabriel Hernandez (Clive Barker’s The Thief of Always).


The Veil, with the first issue available in stores today, chronicles Chris Luna, a private eye whose clients are all dead. Unable to make a living, she is forced to move back to Maine and confront the darkness lurking in her sleepy hometown.
“Gabriel showed us what he could do when he illustrated The Thief of Always, and it’s great to have him once again put his ability to convey otherworldly concepts to good use on The Veil,” said Chris Ryall IDW’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief. “Between his artistry and the great story telling of El Torres, we are very enthusiastic about The Veil.”
In the four-issue series, El Torres sets a truly eerie scene of ghosts wandering the streets of Crooksville, Maine and of residents slowly being driven insane by a supernatural force. Hernandez masterfully illustrates each nuance, including a malevolent presence known only as the Slug Man who threatens to rip the veil between the living and the dead.
In addition to covers by Hernandez, each issue will also feature a cover by award-winning designer/artist Ashley Wood.
“It’s said that humans only use ten percent of our brains, but we don’t think that’s true,” commented El Torres and Hernandez. “As you’ll see in The Veil, the other 90 percent is frantically trying to hide the horror of reality from us.”

The Veil #1 is now available in stores. Diamond order code APR09 0872.

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CHEW #1 BITES ITS WAY INTO A SELL OUT



The cannibalistic crime thriller, CHEW, sells out with a second printing on the way!

CHEW, the all-new crime series with a cannibalistic twist from writer John Layman and illustrator Rob Guillory, debuted to a near immediate distribution-level sell out despite a significant overprint, resulting in a second printing.


"I've been insisting for years that the comic book industry has been clamoring for more books with double page spreads of non-costumed characters eating soup, and it's gratifying to see there indeed is a robust market for such a book," Layman said. "Big thanks to everybody --retailers, readers and reviewers-- who came out in such shocking numbers to check out something new and different, and more than a little bit weird. Rob Guillory's amazing art certainly played a big part in attracting people's attention, so I want to thank him for his great work as well."

CHEW's star, Detective Tony Chu, is a cop with a secret. As a Cibopath, Detective Chu gets a psychic impression from whatever he eats. While it means he's a hell of a Detective if he can stomach the evidence, once his secret gets out the government makes plans for him, whether he likes it or not. CHEW blends horror, mystery and the strangest ability of them all in an ongoing series of horrific crimes solved in the most horrific way possible. Since its release the book has been receiving an immense amount of buzz with many retailers directly contacting Image for as many copies as they can spare. Even Layman's fellow creators have been talking up the book.

CASANOVA and Uncanny X-Men Writer Matt Fraction commented, "Of all the times John Layman has made me want to throw up, this was the best. CHEW is disturbed and disturbing and warped and grotesque and hilarious and horrifying-- in short, exactly the kind of book we were all afraid John Layman had hiding inside of him somewhere. Now when they find the bodies, we can all hold up copies of CHEW and say SEE? WE TOLD YOU THIS WAS COMING. Oh, and Rob Gullory is going to helllllllllll."

CHEW #1 2nd Printing (APR098373) and CHEW #2 (MAY090346), both thirty-two page full color comic books for $2.99, will be in stores July 1st, 2009.

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Adam' Adventures: Batman & Robin #1 (DC Comics) Review by Adam P.



For Batman’s 70th anniversary, this is what readers get?

Take a piece of paper and photocopy it. Then take the resulting photocopy and use that to produce yet another copy. Repeat this process enough times and you'll end up with a blotchy and unintelligible document. That's what Batman & Robin #1 feels like.




Writer Grant Morrison has produced something that manages to combine different elements of the Batman mythos in the worst possible way. It has extremely unrealistic comic book elements with attempts at horrific seriousness—for example, oscillating between half-serious amphibian villains and disgusting scenes of torture. Quitely’s artwork is very wispy and although this conveys a certain realism, it makes the book seem limp and weak, a far cry from the strong lines of Mark Bagley or Ed McGuinness.

For a comic that is clearly meant to have major sales (there’s a special 1 in 250 variant and lots of promotion), the entire concept of a new Batman and Robin is never clearly explained for readers who have no foreknowledge of current goings-on in the Batman Family. The book would have benefited from a few introductory paragraphs before the tale begins.

One of my major dislikes of this book is the new Robin. He is a total pest—an arrogant child who is the most irritating character I’ve had the misfortune of meeting in a long, long time. Although I didn’t grieve the death of Jason Todd, I would be even less mournful if the Joker were to terminate Damian Wayne—the kid is an absolute nightmare. He’s what my dad used to call “a snot-nosed brat”.

The only thing I appreciated about the book was the honest exchanges between Dick Grayson and Alfred where we see the new Batman earnestly expressing how his greatest fear had been realized—having to don the cowl in place of Bruce Wayne.

This issue seems like a custom-made dream team gone awry. On paper it seems attractive. Someone, somewhere, surely didn’t have any trouble pitching the idea. However, the issue is an example of the whole being much less than the sum of its parts. Sorry folks, but I prefer my Batman to be a campy Adam West or Frank Miller’s broody Dark Knight… but not both at the same time!

6/10

Adam P.
Review Co-Editor
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Read The Immortal Weapons Sketchbook For Free!



This summer, there’s only one place for the most Kung-Fu packed, chi-fueled, “oh my gawd” thrill ride—and it’s Immortal Weapons!


Now, Marvel is proud to debut the Immortal Weapons Sketchbook, featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the series, courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited! What’s next for Danny Rand? Where do his Immortal Weapons fit in this new world? We’ve got bios for every character, plus an exclusive nine page, full color, fully lettered preview of Immortal Weapons #1! Click http://marvel.com/digitalcomics/titles/IMMORTAL_WEAPONS_SKETCHBOOK.2009.1 to check out Immortal Weapons Sketchbook now!

And don’t miss the extra-sized Immortal Weapons #1, in stores July!

IMMORTAL WEAPONS #1 (of 5) (MAY090505)
IMMORTAL WEAPONS #1 AJA VARIANT (MAY090506)
Written by JASON AARON & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Penciled by MICO SUAYAN & TRAVEL FOREMAN
Cover and Variant Cover by DAVID AJA
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 7/2/09, On-Sale – 7/22/09

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Hot Toys 1/6th scale Batmobile- "BEHIND THE SCENES"







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Look out for the Dark Avengers Packaging!




For your eyes only, the exclusive Toys R Us Minimates Box Set, The Dark Avengers!




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Final Fantasy IX Vivi Orunitia Play Arts Action Figure


The Black Mage from Final Fantasy IX. Finally!


We're thrilled to see a new Final Fantasy IX Vivi Orunitia Play Arts Action Figure. There was one roughly 10 years ago, but this new one is bigger, better, and slightly more expensive.


The good thing about this is that the latest version has more articulation, better paint applications, and a look which far exceeds any previous interpretation of a Final Fantasy Black Mage. Truly, this is the one Final Fantasy collectible you absolutely, positively must buy this year. Remember the original Playstation, and pick up this figure!

Final Fantasy IX Vivi Orunitia Play Arts Action Figure
Description:

* Small, but detailed and well articulated!
* Comes with accessories and costumes!
* From the Playstation hit video game from Squaresoft!

Take home Vivi Orunitia, from Final Fantasy IX. The figure is highly poseable and includes authentic accessories and realistic costumes. Perfect for adventurous Black Mage play or display!

The Black Mage from Final Fantasy IX. Finally!

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