After numerous delays and a beta showing at C2E2, Dark Horse is finally entering the world of digital comics officially when they release their own branded app next Wednesday, April 27th!
One of the things that sets the Dark Horse digital app apart from some of the competition, is that the app was made in-house as opposed to farming it out like other comic companies have done. This brings with it many advantages, including having absolute control over their content (except for Apple’s policies, but that’s a different story). The comics blogosphere has poked some fun at Dark Horse for failing to deliver on their planned release date, myself included, but then I cam to realize that there is good reason. The folks at Dark Horse are the type of people who want to make sure they do this right. They should be applauded for this as opposed to being lambasted.
Dark Horse also has a pretty cool initiative to get people to grab the app when it hits your favorite iDevice. If you go and sign up for the Dark Horse Digital newsletter at digital.darkhorse.com, you have the potential to unlock more free comics when the app launches! So far, Hellboy: Seed of Destruction #1 will be available free, pre-loaded on the app. The first issues of Criminal Macabre, Abe Spaien: The Drowning, and Joss Whedon’s Fray have been unlocked so far, with 2 yet to be revealed! To unlock them, all you have to do is sign up, and get other people to sign up, the more subscribers, the more free books!
Now, you may be thinking: “OK Shaz, this is all well and good, but what’s going to be available?” Don’t worry I’ve got the full list of titles that’ll be available day one. Check them out, and grab the app next Wednesday!
Abe Sapien: The Drowning
Amazing Scre On Head
Axe Cop
Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth #1
Baltimore: Plague Ships
Beasts of Burden
BPRD: Something Under the Bed
BPRD: Dark Waters
BPRD: Hell on Earth Gods
BPRD: Hollow Earth
BPRD: Plague of Frogs
BPRD: Soul of Venice
BPRD: The Dead
BPRD: V.5 The Flame
BPRD: V.6 The Universal Machine
BPRD: V.7 Garden of Souls
Classic Usagi Yojimbo #1
Classic Usagi Yojimbo #2
Conan
Conan Road of Kings
Conan the Barbarian: Coming of Conan
Conan the Barbarian: Devil-Wings
Conan the Barbarian: Keepers of Crypt
Conan the Barbarian: Lair Beast-Men
Conan the Barbarian: Lurker Within
Conan the Barbarian: Tower Elephant
Conan the Barbarian: Twilight
Conan the Barbarian: Zukala
Conan: Daughters of Midora
Conan: Daughters of Khati
Creatures of the Night
Criminal Macabre
De:tales
Dr. Horrible
Dr. Solar
Dungeon Seige III
Emily V. 1: Chairman of the Bored
Emily V. 2: This Cover Got Lost
Empowered
Empowered One Shot Special
The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch
Falling Skies
Fallout Preview
Finder: Voice
Fray
The Goon/Hellboy
The Goon V. 1: Nothin’ But Misery
The Good V. 6: Chinatown
Grendel: Behind the Devil
The Guild
The Guild: Tink
The Guild: Vork
Hellboy: “Heads”
Hellboy: Almost Colossus
Hellboy: Box Full of Evil
Hellboy: Christmas Underground
Hellboy: Corpse & Iron Shoes
Hellboy: Right Hand of Doom
Hellboy: Sleeping & Dead
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction
Hellboy: Conqueror Worm
Hellboy: The Island
Hellboy: Third Wish
Hellboy: Wolves of St. August
Hellboy: Wake the Devil
King Conan: The Scarlet Citidel
Kull: Hate Witch
Kull: The Shadow Kingdom
Let Me In
Little Lulu V. 19
Living With the Dead
Lone Wolf & Cub V.1
Lone Wolf & Cub V.2
Lone Wolf & Cub V.3
Lone Wolf & Cub V.4
Magnus
Mass Effect
Mass Effect: Evolution
Mighty Samson
Murder Mysteries
Pixu
Serenity: Better Days
Serenity: Float Out
Serenity: Shepherd’s Tale
Serenity: Those Left Behind
Solomon Kane: DBR
Solomon Kane: Castle of Devil
Sugarshock
Terminator: 1984
Terminator: 2029
Terminator: Death Valley
Troublemaker 1
Troublemaker 2
Turok #1
Umbrella Academy FCBD Edition
Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite
Umbrella Academy: Dallas
Uncle Silas
Usagi Yojimbo #134
Usagi Yojimbo (general)
Usagi Yokai
Witchfinder: Lost and Gone
Your Highness
That, my firends, is what you call a launch! This truly staggering amount of titles will keep you occupied for a quite a long time. I can’t speak for you, but I’m pretty excited for this!
Coming off the success of the recent All-Star Superman adaptation into animation, Warner Brothers announced their next direct-to-disc project would be Frank Miller’s acclaimed Batman: Year One, but beyond that, there were no details. Thankfully, that’s no longer true. Courtesy of Hollywood Reporter, we have some casting news, as well as a look at the film’s visual style. As always with WB/DC animation projects the cast is top notch. Lending their talents to the film are:
Ben McKenzie – Bruce Wayne/Batman
Bryan Cranston – Lieutenant James Gordon
Eliza Dusku – Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Katee Sackhoff – Detective Sarah Essen
Alex Rocco – Carmine Falcone
Pretty impressive if you ask me. The adaptation is also said to be very faithful to the source material, Which originally appeared in Batman #404-407 and features the artwork of David Mazzucchelli as well as Miller’s writing. When asked about it, executive producer Bruce Timm had this to say:
“The source material is surprisingly cinematic; it’s a pretty straight forward literal retelling, Mazzucchelli’s artwork is beautifully composed and we were able to refer to the comic for about 80 percent of the camera setups.”
While the movie won’t be released until the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year, attendees to the San Diego Comic-Con can see it in July, where it’ll premiere. It sounds good, but how does it look? Luckily, we have a couple of shots to show you, tell us what you think!
If you listened to the latest installment of our half-assed monthly podcast, The Big Shiny Podcast, then you’ve probably already heard that late last week Game Informer broke the news/rumor the Nintendo will be revealing their next console at or before E3! Exciting stuff, yeah? Well, since that news broke, a slew of rumors have hit the interwebs and while it’s hard to say what’s true and what’s not, here’s a break down of all the rumors that are out there right now!
The CPU will be a custom three-core IBM PowerPC. RAM will be at least 512 MB.
Will deliver full 1080p resolution.
Will be backwards compatible – so don’t start trading in all those Wii games to get some cash to drop on this new console quite yet!
The motion controller will have a built-in 6 inch HD screen
Surrounding the touch screen will be classic game controls; D-pad, bumpers, buttons, etc. There are also some rumors that are placing two analog sticks on the controller – but, if you ask me I can’t see all of that being crammed onto a Wii remote.
Possible Blu-ray capability.
Game Informer has claimed to have confirmed a lot of this information with their own sources, but we will have to wait and see what features prove to be true and in what fashion when Nintendo (hopefully) makes their big reveal at E3 this year! One thing Game Informer notes that jumped out was this:
“Nintendo is doing this one right,” said an anonymous source. “[It’s] not a gimmick like the Wii.” What else, beyond graphics, this may imply about the system is unknown. What kind of controls the system will support (we imagine a need for both classic analog configurations and motion controllers) or what level of software and infrastructure Nintendo will provide for online gaming is also unknown. However, it’s a positive sign that the system might be more than just an HD Wii.
While fun, I have always thought the Wii was a little bit gimmicky. But gimmicky or not, both Microsoft and Sony found themselves playing catch-up to try to provide their own version of motion control support for their existing consoles. If Nintendo has taken the time to “do things right” this time around and provide a console that provides both, the true Nintendo experience for the gaming “purists” and the party-game loving casual gamer population.
Myself, Kill-Tacular-Tron and Zombietron have had several discussions about how the Wii is not a “next-gen” console. It debuted a few years after the Xbox 360 but as far as graphics and processing go it’s only a small step above its predecessor. My bet is that this “Wii HD” will be Nintendo’s official entry into the next-gen console game and move units like crazy – not just because it’s a new, better console than the current Wii is, but because it sounds like Nintendo is looking to support third-party developers like they never have before. Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata, mentioned last fall that Nintendo needs to do a better job at supporting third-party game developers, and many sources are stating that we will see Iwata and Nintendo live up to their statements with this new console.
Nintendo has made no official statements on any of this, and all of this information is coming from anonymous Nintendo insiders – but many industry experts agree that a lot of these specs, and the timing make sense for Nintendo’s next move and expect to see at least some of these prove to be true at E3.
What do you think of all the rumored “Wii HD” specs? Anything not mentioned that you want to see with Nintendo’s next console? Will you be trading in your Wii for this next console? Sound off in the comments below!
It has been said a hero is defined by their villains. I think this is a pretty truthful statement. I like to think of it this way: Spider-Man had a live action TV show in the 70’s, the Flash did in the 90’s. Spidey tanked pretty quick, partly due to the fact that there weren’t any super villains on the show, and had the webhead taking on petty crooks and the like. While the Flash only lasted one season, it is better remembered, especially the episodes with the Trickster. Villains make the hero more entertaining just by being there! An easy way to create a villain is to use the “dark mirror” method of just making the villain the goateed evil opposite of the hero. This works well more often than not, but my favorite example of this is a dark mirror villain who takes that trope and spins it on its ear. This baddie has a similar origin to the hero, but the effects cause a decidedly opposite reaction, as we’ll see in: The Secret Origin of… The Leader!
As our story begins, the Leader is sitting, deep in thought with his newest creation, the Humanoid! That’s something you should know about a genius intellect; You can make amazingly sophisticated electronic apparatus, but you’re gonna suck at naming stuff. Anyway, the leader starts to remove his radiation/beekeeper’s suit and starts to think back to how he got his start…
In the 60's Marvel Universe, one-in-a-million means "Every Tuesday"
And as always in the Marvel Universe, the laborer didn’t develop cancer or instantly die of radiation poisoning. Instead, he wakes up in the hospital pretty much none the worse for the wear. There is one thing though. The laborer (who is not named in this story, but is named Samuel Sterns) has gotten a voracious appetite for reading! Even after he is released from the best care an unskilled laborer’s pay will get you, Sterns finds himself soaking up knowledge and information better than even the leading paper towel brand!
"Must... wave hands in air... then pretend... like I JUST DON'T CARE!"
Seriously though, what really happens is that it’s just taken this long for the Gamma Rays to kick in with full effect. Sterns collapses to the ground and falls into unconsciousness. When he comes to, his first instinct is to look into a mirror, where he find something startling… DC Comics/Hector Hammond are going to sue him for copyright infringement!
Are you sure about that, buddy?
In addition to a visage that puts Master Billy Quizboy to shame, apparently Gamma rays give you a kicky mustache as well. With that, Flashback time is over, and we see The Leader remove his suit’s mask to reveal… well, himself really. He thinks to himself (because when you have a brain the size of Rhode Island of course you’re going to think to yourself), that the Gamma rays have made him the most formidable brains on Earth. He also muses on the vast network of spies he has amassed to take over the government (it was the 60’s after all). Finally, he boasts to himself that his humanoid is all-powerful, bringing us full circle.
"But first, my origin! Wait! Damn, my mind got stuck in a recursive loop again!"
We leave the Leader now, because while the origin is done, the story is not! It seem back at the army base, Dr. Bruce Banner has again invented such a mind-numbingly insane nuclear-powered device that Uncle Sam needs to see it personally. It’s being transported by train, and Banner has to be on board to show them how it works. “Thunderbolt” Ross and Major Glenn Talbot don’t trust Banner, thinking he’s somehow involved with this ongoing Hulk business (very astute, what with him always appearing in rags after a Hulk sighting). They tell him to his face, while one of the Leader’s supposedly ineffective spies overhears and goes to inform his master. Back at the Leader’s hideout, he already knows the situation and tries out his precious Humanoid…
"That's it! Use the power of mental thinking!"
After the Leader is done showing off, he thinks at the Humanoid to fly his helicopter and rendezvous with the government train Banner’s McGuffin, I mean, device. The Humanoid starts his attack, the soldier’s bullets go right through him. They say it’s like a sponge, but if that were the case, wouldn’t the Humanoid absorb the bullets? Anyway, comic book-based semantics aren’t going to get us anywhere. Ross & Talbot are informed of the attack, while Banner is understandably worried about his nuclear device. Instead of being rational, Ross locks Banner in the train car, thinking it is some elaborate scheme of his. Well, if you’ve ever read a comic, I don’t have to tell you what happens when Bruce Banner is locked up and agitated…
General Ross forgot that Kryptonite® locks only work on that other guy.
So of course the Hulk breaks out of the train car. Just as he emerges, the Humanoid is decoupling the rear cars, because that’s what you do during a train heist. The Hulk uses his mighty leg muscles to bride the gap. He one-man dogpiles the Humanoid just as the Leader, looking through its eyes, is about to get a good look at the device in question. The rubber/sponginess of the Humanoid causes the Hulk to bounce off, and the Leader can hardly believe what he sees…
Mmm, It's a possibility, Doc.
The Hulk and the Humanoid tussle for a while, neither getting the upper hand, thanks to the Humanoid’s highly pliable body. As they reach an overpass, the Leader plays his ace in the hole. He commands the Humanoid to electrocute the Hulk, thereby knocking him off the train, and hopefully to his death below. If you think that’s what would happen, then you may be ready for an advanced physics class, but not Comics 101! Seriously though, of all the downright silly things I have seen in a comic (trust me, there are a lot), this has to take the cake as the most inexplicable, and that is due mostly to the explanation…
Only a 6-year-old would believe it!
So after that defiance of natural laws, the two titans grapple again! The Leader tries for the electro-whammy again, but this time, the Hulk is ready for it, and just shakes it off. The struggle continues, stalemated, when the Hulk notices that their tussle is loosening the bolts holding Banner’s device securely to the train car! You might think the Hulk is too brutish for that to be the case, but we’re talking about the pre-Hulk Smash! day, where the green-skinned Goliath could speak and think semi-coherently. Anyway, the Leader switches tactics, ordering the Humanoid to smother the Hulk, guessing he’d be easier to subdue if he’s unable to breathe. The Hulk can of course, hold his breath a long, long time. Finally, in an act of either desperation, or sheer dumb luck, the Hulk flips both he and the Humanoid and manages to take out his adversary.
"Much like a couch potato, or your average comic reader!"
With the Humanoid taken out, the Hulk can focus on the task at hand. Just as the nuclear-powered device is about to hit the train’s tanker car, the Hulk leaps into action, tackling the device off the train. Astoundingly the Hulk’s actions didn’t cause a nuclear disaster, what with radioactive materials being volatile and all. The device itself is completely intact as well! With the adrenaline rush over, the Hulk reverts back into Banner, just as Talbot and Ross arrive on the scene. Since he was supposed to be locked in a train car, Banner is immediately arrested, giving the Leader a bit of a Pyrrhic victory, one which he’ll never know about. As we leave the players in this little vignette, one man discovers a life-long enemy and another is about to make the most fateful decision of his life:
Banner: "Yes, I'll tell them I'm the Hulk! They'd never arrest me then! It's flawless!"
The Leader/Hulk feud would continue in subsequent months, and both characters would go through a series of metamorphoses throughout the years. The underlying message is always the same though, sheer brute strength will defeat pure intellect always. Wait a minute, that can’t be right! Anyway, see you all next week!
Variety is reporting that Elizabeth Banks is in talks to portray the role of Effie Trinket in the eagerly awaited Hunger Games movie, based on the best-selling trilogy by Suzanne Collins. This of course means that her role is not yet confirmed, so it’s mostly just rumor at this point in time. Effie is the escort for the District 12 tributes Peeta and Katniss, and she’s an overly enthusiastic social-climber. Banks starred in Kevin Smith’s Zach and Miri Make a Porno and has also appeared in Scrubs and 30 Rock.
Elizabeth Banks
My last article about the casting for Peeta and Gale generated a lot of comments, and most readers weren’t thrilled with the choices. Perhaps the latest additions to the cast will be met with more positive feelings?
The tributes from District 11 have also been selected. Rue—the small girl who forges an alliance with Katniss during the Games—will be portrayed by Amandla Stenberg. The photo of her makes it seem that she would be appropriate for sweet Rue, who, according to the Hunger Games wiki is:
“. . . a twelve-year-old girl from District 11. She has dark brown skin and eyes, but other than that, she’s very like Prim in size and demeanor.“
The moments between Katniss and Rue are some of the most poignant of the series, and it will undoubtedly be a huge role for young Stenberg if the film does well.
Amandla Stenberg
Dayo Okeniyihas been chosen to play Thresh, the male tribute from District 11. To learn more about the actor, you can follow his twitter page here. Thresh is a more sympathetic character than some of the other tributes forced to compete against Katniss, and he seems to have some affection for Rue, his District partner. According to the Hunger Games wiki:
Thresh is adorned with dark brown skin and dark hair. He is described as having strange golden brown eyes. Katniss said that with his massive size, six and a half foot tall, and dark coloured skin, he was set with muscles like an ox. He is also known for having the same skin tone as Rue, the female Tribute from his District, but it is mentioned in the book that “the resemblance stops there” in reference to the similarity in appearance between Thresh and the female counterpart from his District. Katniss often thinks of Thresh as a “physical wonder”.
Dayo Okeniyi
Based on the descriptions, it looks like these actors may fill the roles just fine.
Doctor Horrible fans rejoice! Joss Whedon recently mentioned that he has been working on the Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog sequel (still untitled) and that several songs have already been composed for the project!
Whedon took a lot of time during his most recent interview with the New York Times to speak about the project, how much it means to him, and how he wants to make the time for it despite his heavy commitment to the upcoming Avengers film. The mere mention of this project is great news for Whedon fans who have followed any mention of a sequel since Horrible’s premier nearly three years ago. Whedon said in the interview:
We’ve got several songs near completion and we’ve got a very specific structure. We’ve just all got jobs. And it’s not like Neil, Nathan and Felicia ain’t busy either. We get together at Christmas and family occasions, and then play each other our partial songs and go, “Yup, that’s still exactly as it was the last time we played it. We’re great.”
In case you somehow missed Dr. Horrible when it came out three years ago, let me tell you a bit about it. Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog is the story of a super-villain in the making. It is a geeky, musical, video blog that takes place over three parts. Since it was written during the Writers’ Strike it is full of brilliant material that is carefully executed with a meager budget. It also includes great re-use of props and costume bits from other series like Firefly and Buffy. (My favorite low-budget prop is the pair of OSHA safety goggles that Dr. Horrible wears.)
Check out one of my favorite scenes from the original, complete with Dr. Horrible making excellent use of an I-Phone to try to steal a van:
For more news about the upcoming Dr. Horrible sequel and other geek news, keep surfing on BSR.
I think we have reason to believe that the original story is much more likely now with news coming from IGN that Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, is thinking about the same kinds of things also.
In the upcoming issue of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, Feige speculates about the future of Marvel characters in the park.
“The notion of walking into a theme park and going into Asgard or the X-Mansion—Disney does this better than anyone. That is why I’ve gone to Disney parks multiple times every year for my whole life. It’s that next step in fully immersive storytelling, whether it’s a dark ride, a stunt show, or a thrill ride. The options are endless when it comes to how Imagineers can turn our characters, our adventures, and our films into amazing experiences.”
I’m on the record as being on board with this idea. I can find myself going to Disney Parks a lot more often if they have Marvel attractions. Maybe not if they’re in Florida, but if they’re at Anaheim, that would be awesome. Particularly if they take over as much of The California Adventure as possible.
What say you, faithful readers? Good idea? Bad idea? Best idea ever?
July sees the Archie books come with a lot of welcome additions/throwbacks. I am most looking forward to the return of Pureheart and the rest of the Archie Super Teens, but there is something for everyone this month! Video gamers can enjoy Sonic and Mega Man as always Sci-fi & horror fans can enjoy the Archie’s Weird Mysteries trade, based on the cartoon of some years past. The popular Kevin Keller character continues his mini-series (strangely enough doubling in the indices as Veronica issues), and there’s even a new Sabrina trade! Take a look, and then tell your retailer you want the latest Archie books!
ARCHIE COMICS FOR JULY 2011
ARCHIE AND FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #7
“Cold Cash”
It may be summer, but it’s getting cold! When the Ice Cube and The Witch Doctor to rob Lodge Industries it’s up to Riverdale’s greatest superhero, Pureheart to stop them in their tracks! Can Pureheart save Mr. Lodge’s millions and bring the heat to Ice Cube’s plans?
SCRIPT: FRANK DOYLE
ARTIST: BOB WHITE, MARIO ACQUAVIVA
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, BOB SMITH
Shipping Date: 7/6/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/20/2011
Newsstands: 7/26/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US
ARCHIE’S WEIRD MYSTERIES
Collecting some of the best tales from the series based on the hit cartoon, Archie and the gang continue their classic adventures – with a weird, offbeat twist! Archie is working for Riverdale High School’s newspaper, investigating weird phenomena and bizarre happenings. It seems the school’s science department blew a fuse in its hyper sub-molecular quarkinator and all sorts of things are now crawling and slithering through the town. It’s up to Archie to look into the cases and usually he happens to be there when they are resolved as well. All of the gang from the pop television series shows up, including occasional appearances from their own Sabrina the Teenage Witch, popular comic book character of the 1970s and popular television character of the late 1990s.
SCRIPT: PAUL CASTIGLIA
ARTIST: FERNANDO RUIZ
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, RICH KOSLOWSKI
Shipping Date: 7/5/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/20/2011
6×9, 128 page, softcover trade paperback
$9.95 US / $10.95 CAN
SONIC UNIVERSE #30
“Inside Job” Part Two
Scourge the “Evil Sonic” is imprisoned in Zone Jail! He’s going to need support to escape, but the mercenary gang of the Destructix aren’t interested. Can Scourge delve into their dark pasts and find a reason to gain their trust? Or will he wind up a green smear on the wall?
SCRIPT: IAN FLYNN
ARTIST: TRACY YARDLEY!, JIM AMASH, PHIL FELIX, STEVE DOWNER
COVER: TRACY YARDLEY! JIM AMASH & BEN HUNZEKER
Shipping Date: 7/6/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/20/2011
Newsstands: 7/26/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US
ARCHIE #623
“Banded Together”
It’s a battle of epic proportions! In “˜Banded Together’ the Archies and Josie and the Pussycats play on the season finales of competing reality shows, All American Idol and The X – Factory! But will the ratings winner be an up and coming reality show showcasing Archie and Veronica’s relationship?
SCRIPT: DAN PARENT
ARTIST: FERNANDO RUIZ, RICH KOSLOWSKI
COVER: DAN PARENT, RICH KOSLOWSKI
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US
B & V DOUBLE DIGEST #193
“Losers Can Be Choosers” and “Dog Gone It”
In “Losers Can Be Choosers”, Riverdale is home to a new comic book convention. And with comic conventions, comes costume contests. Join in the pageantry as Betty, Veronica and Cheryl Blossom all compete for first place! Then in “Dog Gone It”, Betty spends time as a pet sitter, but is forced to be a dog catcher when he runs away.
SCRIPT: GEORGE GLADIR, JOHN ROSE
ARTIST: STAN GOLDBERG, AL BOLLING, JIM AMASH
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, BOB SMITH
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US
B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #216
“Teen Spirit”
In “Teen Spirit”, Betty and Veronica are trapped on a yacht with a bunch of sleeping boys. Looking for adventure, they come across an old pirate ship rumored to be haunted by a ghost. When they get on board, they discover there is a ghost, but they don’t realize he’s a teenage ghost who is lovesick!
SCRIPT: ANGELO DECESARE
ARTIST: DAN PARENT, JOHN D’AGOSTINO
COVER: DAN DeCARLO
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US
JUGHEAD DOUBLE DIGEST #172
“Treasure Hunt” and “Tricks and Costume Day”
In “Treasure Hunt”, the gang finds a treasure map in Jughead’s attic and begins to search for riches in the back yard! But will the hunt end with Jughead being buried? Next in “Tricks and Costume Day”, Jughead and Hot Dog help raise money for emergency pet care with cute pet costumes and amazing pet tricks.
SCRIPT: PAUL KUPPERBERG, GEORGE GLADIR
ARTIST: TOD SMITH, STAN GOLDBERG, JIM AMASH
COVER: TOD SMITH, AL MILGROM
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US
BETTY #193
“Fantasy Flair”, “Just Relax”, “Shell Belle” and “Love the One You’re With”
In “Fantasy Flair”, Betty dreams of Archie being a superhero and sweeping her off her feet literally! Next, In “Just Relax”, Betty and Midge take a vacation with Betty’s parents and find out there is more than one way to relax! Then, in “Shell Belle” Betty takes her brownie troop to the beach to collect shells to make some fun crafts. Finally in “Love the One You’re With” Betty and Dilton find themselves with the same situation.
SCRIPT: GEORGE GLADIR, MIKE PELLOWSKI, JOHN ROSE
ARTIST: KENNEDY BROS., JACK MORELLI
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, BOB SMITH
Shipping Date: 7/20/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
Newsstands: 8/9/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US
SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH: ANIMATED
Collecting some of the best stories from the comic series based on the hit animated show, join Sabrina as she faces a flurry of new foes, meets new friends and tries to deal with the trials and tribulations of high school – with the added burden of being a teenage witch! What happens when Sabrina meets Repulsa? Can she handle being transformed from a high-schooler to a 12-year old? That and much more. Featuring the writing of Mike Gallagher and artist Dave Manak, this collects the hit comic for the first time, deftly bringing the world of the popular animated cartoon to comic form.
SCRIPT: MIKE GALLAGHER
ARTIST: DAVE MANAK
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, JOHN D’AGOSTINO
Shipping Date: 7/19/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
6×9, 128 page, softcover trade paperback
$9.95 US / $10.95 CAN
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #227
“Genesis” Part Two: Sonic’s 20th Anniversary Celebration kicks into high gear as the most talked about Sonic story EVER continues! Sonic joins his new friends Sally, Boomer and Antoine as they brave the treacherous Labyrinth Zone! What perils await them in these dark waters? Even if they do track down this “Dr. Robotnik,” are they up to the challenge of defeating him?!
SCRIPT: IAN FLYNN
ARTIST: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE, TRACY YARDLEY!, TERRY AUSTIN, JOHN WORKMAN, MATT HERMS
COVER: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE
Shipping Date: 7/20/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
Newsstands: 8/9/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US
WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #9
“Love Me Baby, Mumbai” Part 1
In “Love Me Baby, Mumbai”, Raj Patel dreams of being a film director! His current ITube movie “˜Love Hate Triangle’ has over 10,000 views and has caught the eye of Kunal Desai, one of the biggest Bollywood producers in India! Can Raj turn Love Hate triangle into an epic film?
SCRIPT: TANIA DEL RIO
ARTIST: BILL GALVAN
COVER: BILL GALVAN, AL MILGROM
Shipping Date: 7/20/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
Newsstands: 8/9/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US
KEVIN KELLER #2
“The Write Stuff”
In “The Write Stuff”, Veronica helps Kevin Keller’s family plan a birthday party for his dad. When Kevin and Veronica begin going through pictures and stories from Kevin’s past, she sees and experiences all the incredible things he did. But with all the places Kevin lived, he realizes how much Riverdale has become home for him.
SCRIPT: DAN PARENT
ARTIST: DAN PARENT
COVER: DAN PARENT
VERONICA #208 VARIENT COVER: DAN PARENT
Shipping Date: 7/27/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/10/2011
Newsstands: 8/16/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US
LIFE WITH ARCHIE #12
The best selling magazine continues with all new adventures! In “Archie Loves Veronica” things are not going well! Reggie’s trial is coming to a close and not looking good, Jughead’s Choklit Shop is struggling and Archie and Veronica’s marriage isn’t doing well either. Then in “Archie Loves Betty”, being teachers is beginning to take its toll on the couple and Veronica finds out something unpleasant about the man she’s interested in.
Also, Riverdale Guide to Back-to-School Fashions, the Top 5 shockers in MTV MMA’s, and news on Spy Kids 4! Plus Jughead’s video game reviews and a look at the secret agents and spy books published by Archie Comics.
SCRIPT: PAUL KUPPERBERG
ARTIST: NORM BREYFOGLE
COVER: NORM BREYFOGLE
Shipping Date: 7/27/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/10/2011
Newsstands: 8/16/2011
Magazine, 80 pgs, Full-Color
$3.99 US
MEGA MAN #4
“Let the Games Begin!” Part Four: This is it! Mega Man has reached Dr. Wily’s stronghold, and now nothing stands between him and the madman! Except the Yellow Devil. And the Copy Robot. And the rebuilt Robot Masters. Good luck, Mega Man! Don’t miss the finale to the first arc to this brand new series!
SCRIPT: IAN FLYNN
ARTIST: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE, RICK BRYANT, JOHN WORKMAN & MATT HERMS
COVER: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE
VILLAIN VARIANT COVER: BEN BATES Shipping Date: 7/27/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/10/2011
Newsstands: 8/16/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
DARK KNIGHT RISES: Gordon-Levitt and Cotillard’s Roles Revealed
Warner Brothers sent out a press release to a bunch of different outlets about some casting choices, particularly confirming the addition of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard and the roles they will be playing.
The official release is below:
Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have joined the cast of “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend.
Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father’s philanthropic endeavors for Gotham. Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon.
The film reunites the actors with Christopher Nolan, who recently directed them in the award-winning blockbuster “Inception.”The director stated, “When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again.”
Heading the cast of “The Dark Knight Rises,” Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The main cast also includes Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle and Tom Hardy as Bane. Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Christopher Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.
“The Dark Knight Rises” is slated for release on July 20, 2012. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
I’ve been racking my brain and looking around and it seems as though both of these characters are original for the film. That’s actually kind of refreshing, to be honest. And Gordon-Levitt playing a Gotham City beat cop sounds incredible. Cotillard playing a board member for Wayne Enterprises seems to be a little bit of an odd casting choice unless she plays a much larger part in the film than we’re being led to believe. On the other hand, all of the early press materials (and action figures, etc.) had Liam Neeson listed as a character named Ducard, not Ra’s Al Ghul. Ken Watanabe was listed as the latter. So this still doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility that she could still be Talia Al Ghul.
There were some other casting pieces in recent weeks also.
It’s been reported heavily that Daniel Sunjata (from Rescue Me) is coming on board to play a special forces operative and Diego Klattenhoff (from Mercy) is playing a rookie cop (Gordon-Levitt’s partner?).
The piece of news here that I’m most excited about is that Burn Gorman, Owen from Torchwood, is coming on in an unspecified role. He’s a fantastic actor and will fit well as a hero or a villain but maybe both. He’s a master of playing both sides of that line and is incredibly fun to watch. If you haven’t watched Torchwood, I’d get on it. It doesn’t hurt that it’s streaming on Netflix.
And the last bit is that Nestor Carbonell (Richard Alpert from Lost) is reprising his role as the Mayor of Gotham City.
We’ll keep on hammering news of The Dark Knight Rises as we get it.
It’s with a very heavy heart that I report that Elisabeth Sladen, best known for portraying on of The Doctor’s best known companions, Sarah Jane Smith, has passed on. The details are a bit sketchy, as breaking news sadly is sometimes. It’s thought that Ms. Sladen died due to complications from her ongoing fight with cancer. Her passing was confirmed by the Official Doctor Who Magazine’s twitter.
With great sadness, DWM must report the loss of our beloved SarahJane, actress Elisabeth Sladen. The best of best friends. Too, too sad.
Elisabeth Sladen first appeared as Sarah Jane Smith, as a companion of the Third Doctor, in 1973 and stayed on until 1976, during the tenure of the Fourth Doctor. Her character’s popularity was so large that it made national news in the UK when she left the series. Ms. Sladen returned as Sarah Jane in the K-9 & Company pilot, and various audio plays over the years. With the advent of the newer Doctor Who series, Sarah Jane returned, and has enjoyed newfound popularity, resulting in the long running Sarah Jane Adventures series for CBBC.
We here at BSR will certainly miss her, when you watch the new series of Doctor Who this weekend, raise a glass in her honor.
