Depth of Failed: 'Speed Grapher' Anime Review
Posted by Courtney Kraft - Sunday, May 11, 2008 10:00 AM
Writing about Speed Grapher is like writing an art history term paper...without the three page bibliography. The series is a deep, emotionally complex piece that doesn’t quite reach the level of awe and beauty it should because nobody seemed to give two Haruhis about the animation process.
Speed Grapher is the story of photojournalist Tatsumi Saiga that’s set in a world where the rich get richer and the poor are screwed. Obsessed with his work, Saiga has difficulty finding subjects that move him artistically. One night, he infiltrates a secret society and is blessed by the “Goddess” Kagura, granting him his deepest desire: the power to blow things up with a camera.
(Insert obvious Utena reference here)
--Read More--
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TAGS: Comics
Friday, May 09, 2008
Fresh Ink Online: All Things Iron Man!
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Friday, May 09, 2008 1:51 PM
This week, Fresh Ink Online goes completely Iron Man, as Blair Butler explores two new Marvel comics, Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas and The Invincible Iron Man #1. It's a short, but very sweet version of Fresh Ink, and ol' shellhead has really never looked better.
You should watch the video.
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TAGS: Comics, Fresh Ink, G4 Web Exclusive
Thursday, May 08, 2008
THQ Grabs 'Marvel Super Hero Squad'
Posted by Brian Leahy - Thursday, May 08, 2008 10:27 AM
THQ, in addition to losing $35 million, has gained exclusive videogame rights to Marvel Super Hero Squad. The property is based on a line of 2-inch tall, stylized Marvel figures.
There is a cartoon and comic planned around the Super Hero Squad for 2009.
We can't stop thinking of Spider-Man on the Muppet Babies now.
Gamasutra: THQ Licenses “Marvel Super Hero Squad” Franchise
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TAGS: Comics, Videogames
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
'Spirit' Coming For Christmas
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 1:47 PM
 Frank Miller's newest film, based on the Will Eisner comic The Spirit, will be getting an early opening at the box office, coming just in time for Christmas Day, 2008. The movie, which will star Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson, has been heavily anticipated since being announced, and the studio, Lionsgate, feels like it will do well at the box office, hence the move.
In the meantime, here in Los Angeles, billboards for The Spirit have been showing up all over town. The movie is expected to be pretty effects-heavy, but the early footage looks pretty decent. Also, The Spirit is a great, beloved old comic, so people are going to be psyched to see it.
THR.com: 'Spirit' moves up release
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TAGS: Comics, Movies
Monday, May 05, 2008
Marvel Announces Movie Slate
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, May 05, 2008 11:03 AM
 It's been, let's face it, a banner week for Marvel Studios, so there's no time like the present to capitalize. That's why Marvel has announced their slate of projects all the way up until 2011, and there's some pretty awesome stuff in there. What stuff, you might ask? Well, beyond this year's Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, and next year's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, there will be much more.
How about Iron Man 2 on April 30th, 2010, followed by Thor on June 4th? Wait, though, because May 6th, 2011 will see the release of The First Avenger: Captain America, followed by...are you ready? The Avengers in July, 2011. That's a ton of stuff, but it's not all. Because Edgar Wright is attached to write and direct Ant-Man at some point in the future as well.
That's a lot of hot Marvel action coming your way. Get ready!
Yahoo! Finance: Marvel Reports Q1 EPS of $0.58 and Raises 2008 Financial Guidance
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TAGS: Comics, Movies
'Iron Man' Makes Lots of Money
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, May 05, 2008 10:01 AM
Iron Man, unaffected by the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, cruised to a bruising box office win over the weekend, drawing over $104 million domestically, and over $96 million elsewhere to drop in at a pretty amazing $200 million. This bodes particularly well for the summer box office season, and proves once and for all that no one went to see The Heartbreak Kid the weekend that Halo 3 came out because it sucked, not because it was a conflict of audiences.
In the meantime, if you haven't seen Iron Man yet, you should, because it was really amazing. This is also the first film to be made under the Marvel Studios banner, and they must be really stoked, because it means a great big influx of money coming to them, and it's only just begun.
Variety.com: 'Iron Man' a box office marvel
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TAGS: Comics, Movies
Sunday, May 04, 2008
'Poison Candy': Acceptable from Strangers
Posted by Courtney Kraft - Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:00 AM
 Okay, we know you’re thinking “Bloody hell, not another non-Japanese wannabe manga!” but hear us out.
Normally, we wouldn’t pick this up either; but when a friend literally put Poison Candy in our hands, who were we to refuse? We figured, what the heck, give it a shot. Frankly, we’re glad we did. It’s surprisingly good.
Poison Candy by David Hine and Hans Steinbach centers around teenage rock-legend-hopeful Sam Chance. Like everyone else in the world, Sam is infected with a virus called SKAR. In the immortal words of Douglas Adams, SKAR is “mostly harmless.” But to an unlucky few like Sam, it produces unusual abilities such as telekinesis and enhanced strength.
Oh yeah, and it kills you in about four months.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Comics
Saturday, May 03, 2008
'Iron Man' Review
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Saturday, May 03, 2008 8:00 AM
The summer movie season is upon us again, and unless you count Harold and Kumar (and let’s be honest, who does), Iron Man will be the first summer blockbuster of the year. It seems like every time May rolls around we’re inundated with adaptations of books, comics, video games, remakes, and all other kinds of mindless cash-cow ideas thought up by some studio executive. So far this century has been very big on the comic book adaptations, giving us 3 Spiderman movies, 3 X-Men movies, 2 Fantastic Four movies, a Punisher movie, and soon to be 2 Hulk and Batman movies.
But the big one coming out this weekend is of course, Iron Man. Even from the get go, this movie seems to be a bit different from it’s predecessors. From the cast to the director to the special effects team, Iron Man is overflowing with talent. So will this movie equal the sum of its parts? Or will we have another neutered franchise to wash out the name of a classic comic book superhero? Click the Read More link to check out my full, in-depth, SPOILER FREE review of Iron Man.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Comics, Movies
Friday, May 02, 2008
Fresh Ink Online: Iron Mania!
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Friday, May 02, 2008 5:01 PM
Blair Butler is about two things...comics, and movies made about comics, and this week, she addresses both in the weekly Fresh Ink Online podcast. We talk Local, DC Universe, Hercules, Ultimate Humans, and Iron Fist, as well as a heapin' helpin' of spoiler-free Iron Man talk.
Please, take a look. We promise you will like it. Ok, we can't promise that, but we think so.
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TAGS: Comics, Fresh Ink
'Smallville': Lex Out, Doomsday In
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Friday, May 02, 2008 11:01 AM
 What's Superman without Lex Luthor? Well, fans of Smallville are certainly going to find out soon enough, as Michael Rosenbaum, Lex Luthor on the show, is leaving. Fear not, or fear more, however, as he will be replaced by not one, but two villains. One will be the legendary Doomsday, who plays very heavily into The Death of Superman storyline in the comics, and the other will be an unnamed female villain.
Now, we can't speculate as to who that could be, but, seriously, Lex Luthor is really the Man of Steel's only worthwhile nemesis. Yes, we like Mr. Mxyztplk as much as any other blog with an opinion about Superman's nemeses, but let's be real about it. Only Lex can generate that kind of heat, which is why the Superman movies keep going back to him. Still, time will tell.
IGN: Doom in Smallville's Future
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TAGS: Comics, TV
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Manga & WarCraft: Not as Good as Chocolate & Peanut Butter
Posted by Courtney Kraft - Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:00 AM
 First of all, no manga should ever start with eight pages of solid text.
Secondly, no manga should ever begin those eight pages of solid text with, “No one knows exactly how the universe began...”
Oh, for the love of Casey Schreiner!
WarCraft The Sunwell Trilogy Ultimate Edition by Richard Knaak and illustrated by Jae-Hwan Kim is a manga-style compilation of three volumes (durr) set in the WarCraft universe (again, durr). The storyline weaves a tale about Kalec, a blue dragon, who meets Anveena, a human fair damsel; and embarks on a journey that really has nothing to do with Kalec in the first place.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Comics
Friday, April 25, 2008
Fresh Ink Online: Hulk Smash!
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Friday, April 25, 2008 1:57 PM
This week, comic fans, Blair Butler asks the comic question, "What'cha gonna do, when Hulk-a-mania runs wild, comic book speaking, all over you?" We've got Green Hulk, Red Hulk, and She-Hulk for your pleasure this weekend, as Blair takes on Hulk and She-Hulk, but also, we have Manhunter, Abyss, and Star Wars: Dark Times.
So, what are you waiting for? Blair demands your attention. Watch, why dont'cha?
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TAGS: Comics, Fresh Ink
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Anime Review: 'Hellsing' at its Ultimatest
Posted by Courtney Kraft - Sunday, April 20, 2008 5:05 PM
There are two kinds of people in this world:
1) People who hate Hellsing.
2) People who are obsessed with Hellsing, own Hellsing merchandise, write Hellsing fanfic, display Hellsing action figures on their desk, and cosplay as Hellsing characters.
The answer to your question is: "The latter."
--Read More--
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TAGS: Comics
Friday, April 18, 2008
'Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe' Revealed
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, April 18, 2008 9:09 AM
It looks like the next iteration of oft-disappointing Mortal Kombat series will be Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, a mash-up featuring your favorite DC super-heroes figthing the likes of Noob Saibot and that blue ice guy who shoots ice (Sub Zero.)
Although there has been no official announcement, the above screen shot from MortalKombatonline.com seems legit.
If the first question that springs to mind is: "Will I finally be able to rip the spine from that little Robin fairy?" The answer seems to be "No." The answer is unknown.
According to a rumor on kotaku, the game will be bloodless and feature no fatalities.
Update: We have it on very good authority that there is blood in the game. Fatalities, we have no idea.
Other Update: Check out X-Play tonight at 8PM for the broadcast premeire of the teaser!
Expect an "official" revelation today from noob.com.
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TAGS: Comics, Videogames
'Gears of War' Comic Announced
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, April 18, 2008 8:18 AM
DC Comic and Epic Games are planning to launch a comic book series based on Gears of War.
The Date: October
The Details: Still under wraps, but expect big guns and monsters.
The Quote:. “We are thrilled to be working with DC Comics to further bring to life the Gears of War universe. A lot of our developers are huge comic fans, and have loved the personas and chronicles unique to DC Comics since childhood,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games.
The Analysis: You'll want to be picking up at least the first ish of this one.
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TAGS: Comics, Videogames
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