Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Toy News: STAR WARS LIGHTSABER CHOPSTICKS SET – YODA & DARTH VADER



A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import! The newest in Kotobukiya’s long series of Star Wars products is an innovative combination of Japanese culture and the iconic weapons of Jedi and Sith: lightsaber chopsticks!


First unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con 2009 where fans got to compete in chopstick competitions against real-life 501st Stormtroopers, the signature weapons of two of the most popular characters in film history are recreated in the second of two sets, the LIGHTSABER CHOPSTICKS SET – YODA & DARTH VADER.

With lightsaber blades cast in translucent material, the lightsaber chopsticks are suitable for eating sushi or defending the galaxy. The red Darth Vader lightsabers measure over 9” long, while the child-sized green Yoda sabers are approximately 8” long. As a special bonus, each set includes translucent Star Wars logo chopstick rests. Colorful and exciting, the lightsaber chopsticks are fun for the whole family, especially when paired with the Yoda & Luke Skywalker set!

srp $19.99
Available in DECEMBER
©2009 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM

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Toy News: MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS: THE KOTOBUKIYA COLLECTION VENOM LIGHT UP FINE ART STATUE



A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import! In 1984’s Secret Wars storyline by Marvel Comics, Spider-Man’s original blue and red costume was damaged. He found a gooey black substance that flowed over the hero’s body, creating a black and white costume that seemed too good to be true. A few months later, it was revealed that the substance was actually an alien parasite! After Spider-Man rejected it the parasite joined with Eddie Brock to become the monstrous VENOM.

Kotobukiya is proud to present Venom as you’ve never seen him before. The first in a new lineup of Marvel Villains, the alien parasite is captured stalking his prey with wicked claws at the ready and his signature toothy grin splitting his face. Though Venom is static and calm on the surface, inside you know he’s up to no good. The black costume is visually striking with dark blue accents and set off by the white sections on Venom’s face, chest, back, and hands. Every inch of the villain’s hulking musculature is sculpted to perfection, as are the details of his horrific open mouth.

Venom is absolutely massive at 13 inches tall, dominating the Marvel Comics Kotobukiya Collection of Fine Art Statues. He stands atop a specially-designed circular base that lights up with interior LEDs, further enhancing the display options of this amazing villain. Sculpted by Junnosuke Abe, Venom is constructed of high-quality cold cast porcelain and is a limited, numbered edition.

srp $219.99
Available in FEBRUARY

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Comic News: Dabel Brothers Publishing presents Dean Koontz' Fear Nothing vol 1!



Christopher Snow & inhabitants of Moonlight Bay come to life in new graphic novel adaptation


Dabel Brothers Publishing proudly presents the newest project in collaboration with New York Times Bestselling Author Dean Koontz: Fear Nothing Volume 1!

Fear Nothing tells the story of 28-year-old oddball hero Christopher Snow, who lives in the city of Moonlight Bay, California, along with his hyper-intelligent dog Orson, his best surfing buddy Bobby and his late-night deejay girlfriend Sasha. Snow has XP—xeroderma pigmentosum—a very rare genetic affliction that forces him to avoid light at all costs, and will likely give him cancer later in life. His parents died under mysterious circumstances and he’s now being stalked by the shadowy characters who want Snow to stop trying to find out how they died--or else they'll bump off his remaining loved ones.

“This is a well-written and beautifully drawn adaptation. I’m delighted with it,” says Dean Koontz.

The novel is adapted to comics by writers Grant Alter and Derek Ruiz, with artwork by the talented Robert Gill. The book will be a 128pg full color soft cover trade paperback, retailing at $14.99 USD, with a ship date of December 15, 2009.

Fear Nothing is the first Koontz project that the Dabel Brothers decided to forego serializing first as a comic book series before publishing as an original graphic novel.

“Fear Nothing is a Dean Koontz fan favorite that lends itself perfectly to the graphic novel format,” says Dabel Brothers Vice President Les Dabel. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to adapt and illustrate this story. And what a great story it is!”

The Fear Nothing novel has sold over 2.5 million copies in the U.S. alone since its release. It features all the pulse pounding thriller action and great character development Koontz fans have come to expect from his work, as well as a bit of comedy, and yes, even an army of evil mutant rhesus monkeys!

Look for Dean Koontz’ Fear Nothing Vol. 1, a $14.99 full color SC TPB, in stores everywhere Dec 15th!




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Comic News: HELLBOY and UMBRELLA ACADEMY NOW AVAILABLE ON THE iPHONE



Dark Horse is proud to announce that Mike Mignola's Hellboy and Gerard Way's The Umbrella Academy are now available on the iPhone.


At the time of their publication, both Seed of Destruction and Apocalypse Suite were immediately renowned by critics as unique and talented debuts by independent creators.

Soon, industry heavyweights joined the chorus. Hellboy: Seed of Destruction is the beginning of the now legendary series Alan Moore calls, "a passport to a corner of funnybook heaven you may never want to leave."

Similarly, Grant Morrison calls The Umbrella Academy "one of the great new comic books of this decade," while Newsarama says the first volume of the series, Apocalypse Suite, is "flawless."

With two blockbuster Hellboy films by Guillermo del Toro and an Umbrella Academy movie in preproduction at Universal Studios, there's never been a better time to have the start of these monumental comics at your fingertips. A perfect way to introduce friends and pop-culture fans to two of the most important comics series today, or a great way to revisit the magic of amazing sequential art, the mobile editions of Seed of Destruction and Apocalypse Suite are a necessary addition for new and serious readers alike.

The first impressive issues of Hellboy and The Umbrella Academy are now available through the iTunes Store, with subsequent issues available soon. Seed of Destruction is available as four issues at $0.99 each, or as a bundle of all four issues for $3.99. The first issue of Apocalypse Suite is available for free, with issues #2–#6 only $0.99 each, or a bundle of all six issues for $4.99.
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Comic News: GROUNDBREAKING NEW WAY TO READ MARVEL DIGITAL COMICS!



GROUNDBREAKING NEW WAY TO READ MARVEL DIGITAL COMICS!


Marvel Comics (http://www.marvel.com/) is proud to announce the launch of the Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0 at www.marvel.com/digitalcomics. The new reader builds on Marvel’s groundbreaking digital comics experience! Featuring the acclaimed Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited library of over 7,000 comic issues, as well as exclusive new series, the Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0 cannot be missed by any Marvel fan! The ultimate digital comic Internet destination allows unparalleled access to thousands of titles from Marvel’s historic comic book archives – from the first issues of Amazing Spider-Man, The X-Men, Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four and other favorites, to unforgettable recent stories! There are hundreds of new heroes, villains and stories right at your fingertips and you’ve never read comics like this before!

The Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0 showcases the most dynamic comics reader interface online, featuring the ability to read comics in three different modes including single page, two page and the patent pending smart panels; a magnifying tool that allows you to zoom in on your favorite panels with amazing results; detailed information about your favorite issues; and a full screen viewer that’ll make you feel like you’re in the comic!

With over 7,000 issues available, and more added weekly (based on feedback from YOU, the fans), no True Believer’s reading experience is complete without the Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0! Visit
www.marvel.com/digitalcomics today for a free look at the revolutionary new experience and then go more in depth with subscription rates as low as $4.99/month!


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TV News: Cartoon Network Launches Star Wars: The Clone WarsTM Game Creator Online



New Game Creator Launch Heralds Official Site Redesign



Cartoon Network Digital announced today the redesign of its official site and the launch of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Game Creator, which gives fans the power to build their own part of the Clone Wars universe and share it with other gamers all over the world on CartoonNetwork.com. The official site has been dynamically redesigned to better promote network shows and optimize advertising, in addition to showcasing the more than 200 free-to-play online games, video, and interactive content.

Available to play now at CartoonNetwork.com/CloneWars, the new game creator features the same ease of use and flexibility as previous game creators, but also offers a different style of gameplay as a top-down action-adventure. The Ben 10: Alien Force Game Creator has posted more than 630 million gameplays since launch, with more than 4.6 million games created by fans, by far one of the most popular and interactive games on the official site.

“The new Star Wars: The Clone Wars Game Creator combines the action and adventure of the show with our original game creator technology that allows fans to design their own custom online experience,” said Kitric Kerns, vice-president of Cartoon Network Digital. “We’ve evolved the design of CartoonNetwork.com to give more access to the breadth of content we offer, including hundreds of games, videos and community functionality that gives users a voice.”

With this new game creator, fans enter the Star Wars universe and can choose their character (Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rex or Cad Bane) and their vehicle (AT-TE, AT-RT or BARC Speeder) independently, giving them nine different combinations of character abilities and vehicle powers. Fans can then customize their challenge with enemy ships, blaster turrets, force fields and even build a giant enemy base to attack. When finished, the game can then be posted to CartoonNetwork.com's game gallery for other fans to play and rate. The gallery makes it easy for fans to play other people's games, rate them, sort them, and share them with friends.

The Star Wars: The Clone Wars Game Creator was tested by Georgia Tech’s Glitch program, which was created by Betsy DiSalvo, a PhD student in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. Glitch introduces teenaged African-American boys to the gaming industry as game testers for companies such as Electronic Arts, GameTap, and Cartoon Network.
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DVD News: LEGEND OF THE SEEKER on DVD 10/13/09 - Bonus Clips



Based on the internationally best-selling “Sword of Truth” novels and executive produced by Sam Raimi, Legend of the Seeker is a weekly television series that follows the epic journey of a young woods guide named Richard Cypher, a mysterious woman named Kahlan Amnell and a wizard named Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander who come together to stop the evil Darken Rahl from unleashing an ancient and terrifying power.

The series recently won the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series.


Epic Fantasy Action Adventure Series Based on the Bestselling
SWORD OF TRUTH Novels

LEGEND OF THE SEEKER: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

Available on DVD with Exclusive Bonus Features October 13, 2009

Burbank, California, September 14, 2009 —Storytelling magic comes alive with the adaptation of the internationally best-selling “Sword of Truth” novels, in Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season, coming to DVD on Oct. 13, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The 5-disc set containing all 22 one-hour episodes of Season One reveals even more of the fantasy, magic and romance with exclusive-to-DVD bonus features. Behind the scenes interviews with the cast offer
intriguing insight into the Legend just in time for Halloween and the November 2009 Season Two premiere.

Shot with state-of-the-art visual effects and with the exotic and rugged New Zealand landscape as its backdrop, Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season chronicles the extraordinary transformation of woodsman Richard Cypher into The Seeker, a magical leader who joins with a beautiful and mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, on an epic journey to stop the bloodthirsty, sinister tyrant Darken
Rahl from conquering all mankind.

In the province known as Westland, a wizard reveals to ordinary woodsman Richard Cypher the truth: that he is a child of prophecy, the first true Seeker the world has known in a thousand years, destined to wield the powerful Sword of Truth and defeat the evil tyrant Darken Rahlan.

Joining Executive Producer Sam Raimi (“Spiderman,” “Evil Dead”) are Rob Tapert ("The Grudge," "Xena: Warrior Princess," "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"), Joshua Donen ("The Quick and the Dead"), Ned Nalle ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys") and Ken Biller ("Star Trek: Voyager," "Six Degrees").

The ABC Studios production includes Craig Horner (“Blue Water High,” “H2O: Just Add Water) as Richard Cypher/The Seeker, Craig Parker (“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”) as Darken Rahl, Bridget Regan (“The Best and the Brightest”) as Kahlan Amnell and Bruce Spence (“The Matrix Revolutions”) as Zedd.

More than 25 million copies of Terry Goodkind’s popular books in his series “The Sword of Truth” have been sold worldwide and translated into more than 20 languages. The original “Legend of the Seeker” novel was a New York Times number-one bestseller.

Bonus Features
• Forging the Sword: Crafting a Legend
• Words of Truth: A Conversation with Terry Goodkind
• Deleted Scenes
• Audio Commentaries



LEGEND OF THE SEEKER: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON VIDEO CLIPS

BONUS MATERIALS

FEATURETTE: MAIN CHARACTERS



FEATURETTE: SETS



TV SHOW

THE FUTURE



UNIMAGINABLE



TRUE LOVE



TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS



STREET DATE: October 13, 2009
Suggested retail price: $45.99 U.S.
Feature run time: Approx. 950 minutes
Rated: ‘TV-14 LSV’
Technical specifications may only apply to feature
Aspect ratio: Widescreen (1.78:1)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Languages: English, with French and Spanish subtitles.


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Comic News: POE CREATORS SIGN AT GEPPI'S MUSEUM OF ENTERTAINMENT!



CREATORS OF BOOM! STUDIOS' MINI-SERIES POE SIGNING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009 AT GEPPI'S ENTERTAINMENT MUSEUM



Come meet BOOM! Studios writer J. Barton Mitchell and artist Dean Kotz, of the horror/detective thriller POE, as they appear at Geppi's Entertainment Museum for a one-day-only signing!

"We're very pleased to host writer J. Barton Mitchell and artist Dean Kotz, creators of Boom! Studios' exciting mini-series POE, one of the most insightful and interesting takes we've ever seen on one of Baltimore's most famous residents. With Halloween fast approaching and with our city's year-long celebration of POE, it's the perfect time for our friends and patrons to come meet this talented team," said Melissa Bowersox, Executive Vice-President of GEM.

Many know Edgar Allen Poe as not only the father of modern horror, but also the creator of the detective genre. But did you know he was a detective himself? Enter the world of POE and follow the famous author of darkness as he tracks a supernatural killer ravaging the streets of Baltimore!

Where:
Geppie's Entertainment Museum
301 W. Camden Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 625-7060
http://boom-studios.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9d17c9217240226bbc79d6750&id=f5d28248aa&e=d1e75aba41

When:
Saturday, October 17th, 2009 from 12pm - 4pm

Map:
Google Maps

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Toy News: Underground Toys sign Avatar deal



UNDERGROUND TOYS ANNOUNCES JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR GIFT DEAL



Underground Toys has signed a UK deal with Twentieth Century Fox L&M Europe to produce an extensive range of gift products inspired by one of the most anticipated films of the year -- James Cameron’s Avatar.

The Underground Toys’ product range will incorporate luminescent technology to capture the essence of James Cameron’s vision. The gift line, developed in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox Licensing) will depict heroes, creatures and vehicles straight from the movie on luminescent wall scrolls, mugs, key chains, dog tags, jewellery, mobile phone accessories, pin badges and flat and figural key chains. The first wave of product is due to launch early December, to tie-in with the movie release on 18th December.

Robyn Morgan, Licensing Manager at Underground Toys says, “We are delighted to be partners with Fox on this ground-breaking movie. Avatar is the perfect match for our target demographic and we expect huge demand in both the collector and mass market. The full product range we will be releasing later this year will include the main characters, vehicles and creatures, with many more items being released in 2010.”

Carl Lumbard, SVP and Managing Director of Fox Licensing Europe and Latin America added, “The ‘Avatar’ merchandising program is a global endeavor and we will continue to find premiere licensing partners who are able to deliver James Cameron’s impressive vision for this film. Underground Toys certainly fits the bill.”
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DVD News: Transformers: 25th Anniversary Matrix of Leadership - 10/20/09




THE TRANSFORMERS:
25th Anniversary “Matrix of Leadership” Edition Collector’s Set
Arrives in Stores October 20, 2009 from Shout! Factory
Featuring 16 DVDs, 98 Restored Episodes, Payload of Bonus Content, Exclusive Voice Cast Reunion, A Collectible 60-Page Book, AUTOBOT and DECEPTICON Magnets and Much More!




The epic story of good vs. evil that sparked the imaginations of fans worldwide finally arrives in a collectible, out-of-this-world, box set. Witness the digitally-restored battles between the heroic AUTOBOTS and the evil DECEPTICONS as the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance. For the first time in 25 years, fans of all ages will be able to own the complete collection of one of the most popular animated series of all time THE TRANSFORMERS: 25th Anniversary “Matrix of Leadership” Edition from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc.



Brimming with over 38 hours of content, including the entire original TRANSFORMERS animation series from the early 1980s known among fans as “Generation 1”, a bounty of stellar extras, a special collectible 60-page book, and AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICON Magnets, this 16-DVD box set is another fan must have. THE TRANSFORMERS: 25th Anniversary “Matrix of Leadership” Edition Collector’s Set will be available at retail stores nationwide beginning on October 20, 2009.



DVD BONUS FEATURES

* Five retrospective featurettes including brand new, in-depth interviews with individuals involved with the early success of the TRANSFORMERS franchise. Two of these featurettes are exclusive to this set including a conversation with comic writer Bob Budiansky and a voice cast reunion. The reunion features Jack Angel (RAMJET), Michael Bell (PROWL), Gregg Berger (GRIMLOCKI), Aurthur Burghardt (DEVASTATOR), Corey Burton (Spike Witwicky), Richard Gautier (RODIMUS PRIME), Neil Ross (SLAG), Frank Welker (MEGATRON)
* Two concept art galleries
* Archival Hasbro toy commercials
* All 98 episodes of dialogue scripts. Three full scripts, with original handwritten notes, including “Transport To Oblivion”, “STARSCREAM’S Brigade” and “The Revenge of BRUTICUS”
* 5 rare PSAs
* From the Files of Teletraan-2
* Fan Art Gallery
* An animated fan film entitled TRANSFORMERS: Generation



SYNOPSIS:
Four million years after crash-landing on an unfamiliar planet, sentient robots with the ability to disguise themselves as common vehicles awaken on present-day Earth. Engaged in a crucial race to find a new energy source for their home planet of Cybertron, Optimus Prime and the heroic Autobots must defend the innocent people of Earth against their archnemeses, Megatron and the power-hungry Decepticons.


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Comic News: Boom Studios for 10/14/09



Boom Studios has released previews of their upcoming books for 10/14/09.


28 DAYS LATER #3
Written by Michael Alan Nelson
Drawn by Declan Shalvey
SC, 24 pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
COVER A: Tim Bradstreet
COVER B: Sean Phillips
Diamond Code: JUL090754

The film that changed horror forever continues here! It doesn’t matter who you are or what you did, if you are infected Selena will give no mercy. Selena teaches the rest of her team the cold, hard truth of what it takes to survive in the UK after the infection has spread. Will they learn? They must.




THE ANCHOR #1
Written by Phil Hester
Drawn by Brian Churilla
24pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
COVER A & B: Brian Churilla
Diamond Code: AUG090716

THE ANCHOR. Holy warrior, unholy war. Freak of nature, beast of burden, hulking outcast, medieval prize fighter, Viking raider… God’s own leg-breaker. One thousand years ago a hulking outcast sought refuge in the crumbling ruins of an ancient monastery and offered in return the one thing he had to give - his fists. Transformed into an immortal warrior monk standing at the gates of Hell itself to keep our world free from its invading armies, The Anchor is mysteriously tricked into centuries of slumber. But today, this holy warrior rises to battle all the unholy monsters unleashed during his slumber. Cataclysmic action, quirky humor, and profound pathos for fans of HELLBOY and THE GOON. A new BOOM! ongoing series, brought to you by Eisner Award-nominated writer/artist Phil Hester (GREEN ARROW, SWAMP THING, THE COFFIN, FIREBREATHER, THE DA RKNESS) and fan-favorite artist Brian Churilla (REX MUNDI, THE ENGINEER, CREEPY).




FARSCAPE: D’ARGO’S TRIAL #3
Written by Keith DeCandido, Rockne S. O’Bannon
Drawn by Caleb Cleveland
24 pgs, FC,(3 of 4), SRP: $3.99
COVER A: Jason Palmer
COVER B: Caleb Cleveland
Diamond Code: AUG090725

D’Argo has made the worst discovery of his life. Now, he is about to be blamed for it. On the run for the murder of his wife, D’Argo finds that The Peacekeepers will stop at nothing to catch him. Executive produced by Farscape creator Rockne S. O’Bannon!




UNCLE SCROOGE #384
Written by Erik Hedman
Drawn by Wanda Gattino
SC, 24 pgs, FC, SRP: $2.99
COVER A: Tino Santanach
COVER B: Daniel Branca
Diamond Code: AUG090755

You will feel the need for GREED! Follow the adventures of everyone’s favorite-feathered penny pincher! An all-new direction for icon Uncle Scrooge, as he comes to BOOM! Kids. Building on a tradition created by some of the greatest creators the comic book world has ever seen, like Carl Barks and Don Rosa, these issues of Uncle Scrooge will follow Scrooge on new adventures that North American audiences have never seen! Join us in a bold new era for Scrooge that pays tribute to the past but heads to a new future!




2nd Prints Out The Coming Week

28 DAYS LATER #1 2nd Print
Written by Michael Alan Nelson
Drawn by Declan Shalvey
SC, 24 pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
Diamond Code: JUL098219

28 DAYS LATER comes to comics as an ongoing series, connecting the film 28 DAYS LATER to its sequel 28 WEEKS LATER! Focusing on Selena, one of the three survivors of the first film, as she embarks on an epic journey of her return to Great Britain! Scripted by HEXED and FALL OF CTHULHU’s Michael Alan Nelson and drawn by newcomer sensation Declan Shalvey.



IRREDEEMABLE #6 2nd Print
Written by Mark Waid
Drawn by Peter Krause
SC, 24 pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
Diamond Code: JUL098277

The Plutonian’s rampage continues as the Paradigm’s dwindling members regroup and prepare to go on the offensive. Even with new information about the Plutonian’s past, will it be enough to tip the scales against a mad god? A “twilight of the superheroes”-style story that examines super-villains from Mark Waid writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!
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