Uncle Milton to Release Holocron and new Force Trainer Toys
Uncle Milton, creator of the innovative Star Wars™ Science brand of toys, is getting ready to challenge aspiring Jedi in a different way. This time, Uncle Milton will be bringing the popular artificial intelligence game of knowledge, 20Q, into the world of Star Wars with the Jedi Holocron. Holocrons are artifacts that hold an indeterminable amount of knowledge, so what better way to bring the Holocron into our world, than with 20Q. Even better, Star Wars™ fans can be part of the creation of this new Star Wars™ Science Jedi Holocron! Just visit 20q.net, click on the Star Wars logo and follow the instructions. Think of any person, place, or thing based on all 6 Star Wars movies and TV series and 20Q will try and guess what you’re thinking. See if you can outsmart the Jedi Holocron! The more times you play, the smarter the artificial intelligence of the Jedi Holocron will become. Look for the Star Wars Science Jedi Holocron on store shelves beginning in Fall, 2015.
In addition, Uncle Milton is also releasing a new version of their very popular Star Wars Force Trainer.
In 2009, one of the most innovative Star Wars toys of all-time was launched–The Force Trainer. This incredible toy enabled fans of all ages to move and control an object with the power of their mind and quickly became a hit with Star Wars fans and the media worldwide. Just as the next generation of Star Wars movies is preparing to launch, Uncle Milton’s Star Wars Science brand is introducing The Force Trainer II: Hologram Experience. The Force Trainer II features new technology being unveiled at CES and gives Star Wars fans the opportunity to harness the power of their mind to move and control hologram images as they perform incredible Jedi feats from Star Wars movies.
With The Force Trainer II, you are the Jedi. Imagine that you could raise an X-wing from the Dagobah swamp just like Luke Skywalker, battle Darth Vader, or build your own lightsaber with just the power of your mind! These magical scenes are re-created through hologram images and a wireless headset with real brainwave sensors that read and interpret your levels of concentration. The more you focus, the more successful you are in moving and controlling the hologram image and successfully completing the Jedi challenge. The hologram images and Jedi challenges come through a companion app included with the purchase of the product and powered by the user’s tablet device which projects these holograms into the unique Jedi themed training base.
There are 10 different Jedi training levels through which fans can advance from Padawan to Jedi Knight to Jedi Master, with instruction and guidance from Jedi Master Yoda. Additional Jedi challenges will also be available for download on updated versions of the app as new Star Wars movies are released. The product is expected to hit retail stores in Fall 2015 with an estimated SRP of $119.99.
“We are very excited to unveil The Force Trainer II: Hologram Experience at CES,” said Ken Malouf, VP of Marketing & Product Management at Uncle Milton. “This toy captures the imagination of aspiring Jedi everywhere as they learn to use and control the power of their own concentration to activate fantastic Star Wars adventures. The combination of this advanced technology, compelling game play, and real science application makes for a truly unique product that fits the spirit of the Star Wars brand.”
Voting Now Open for 2014 Poppies Toy and Collectible Awards
Voting is now open for the 2014 Poppies Awards.
Now in its seventh year, The Poppies is an awards program presented by MWCToys.com. Run by MWCToys owner Michael Crawford, the Poppies present awards to toy and collectible companies in such categories as Best Overall Company, Eddie Wires Award for Outstanding Paint, and Best Vehicle or Playset. Further categories for figures are broken down by gender to Best Male Figure and Best Female Figure and then further broken down by scale: Under 5-inches, 5-inches to 11-inches, 12-inches to 17-inches, and 18-inches and larger.
The awards are voted on by a panel of judges picked by Crawford. These judges represent collectible companies, media outlets, toy retailers, artists, and notable collectors. Included in the 2014 judging are former DC Comics creative leader Georg Brewer, Toynami design consultant Scott Tipton, Diamond Select Toys Marketing Supervisor Zach Oat, Yodasnews.com webmaster Mark Picirilli, Entertainment Earth merchandiser Adam Pawlus, MTV Geek writer Jason Stephens, and Marvelicious Toys and Star Wars Action News podcast host Arnie Carvalho. The full list of judges can be viewed at MWCToys.com.
In addition to the expert panel of judges, MWCToys.com also offers Peoples Picks awards which have open voting. The ballot is hosted at MWCToys.com
This years list of nominees in the Peoples Picks awards are:
Best Overall Company
- 3A
- ACI
- Asmus
- Bandai / Bandai Japan
- Bif Bang Pow
- DC Collectibles
- Diamond Select
- Enterbay
- Four Horsemen
- Funko
- Gentle Giant
- Hasbro
- Hot Toys
- Jakks
- Jazwares
- Kotobukiya
- LEGO
- Mattel
- McFarlane Toys
- Mezco
- NECA
- Playmates
- Sideshow
- ThreeZero
- Weta
Best Overall Line – High End
- Batman Black & White (DC Collectibles)
- Batman (All licenses) (Hot Toys)
- DC Bombshells (DC Collectibles)
- DC Comics (Sideshow)
- DC (all lines) (Hot Toys)
- Dr. Who (Big Chief)
- Gang’s Kingdom (DAM Toys)
- G.I. Joe (Sideshow)
- The Hobbit/LOTR (Weta)
- The Hobbit/LOTR (Gentle Giant)
- Lord of the Rings (Asmus)
- Marvel (all lines) (Hot Toys)
- Marvel (all lines) (Sideshow)
- Masterpiece HD (All lines) (Enterbay)
- Robocop (Hot Toys)
- Star Wars (Sideshow)
- Star Wars Jumbo Vintage (Gentle Giant)
- Walking Dead (Gentle Giant)
Best Overall Line – Low End
- Batman Designer Series (DC Collectibles)
- Batman Animated (TNBA etc.) (DC Collectibles)
- Breaking Bad (Mezco)
- DC Multiverse (Mattel)
- Game of Thrones (Dark Horse)
- Game of Thrones (Funko)
- Gothitropolis: Ravens (Four Horsemen)
- Magic The Gathering (Funko)
- Marvel Legends (Hasbro)
- Marvel Select (Diamond Select Toys)
- Masters of the Universe Classics (Mattel)
- Outer Space Men (Four Horsemen)
- Pacific Rim (NECA)
- Planet of the Apes (NECA)
- Plants vs Zombies (Diamond Select Toys)
- Pop! Vinyl Figures (Funko)
- ReAction (Funko)
- Simpsons Celebrity Series (NECA)
- Star Wars Black (Hasbro)
- Star Wars Diecast (Disney)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (playmates)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Kid Robot)
- Transformers (Hasbro)
- Twilight Zone (BifBangPow)
- Universal Monsters (Diamond Select Toys)
- Walking Dead (Mcfarlane)
- WWE (Mattel)
Eddie Wires Award for Outstanding Paint
- Azog on Warg (Weta)
- Batista, WWE (Mattel)
- Black Widow (Gentle Giant)
- Chomper/Engineer 2 pack, Plants vs Zombies (DST)
- Clonetrooper, 501st (Sideshow)
- Elder Predator (Hot Toys)
- Gorilla Soldier (NECA)
- Harley, Batman B/W (DC Collectibles)
- Iron Man MK42 DieCast (Hot Toys)
- Kerberos Panzer Jäger (Hot Toys)
- Knifehead BD, Pacific Rim (NECA)
- Marv Sin City (DST)
- Maurice POTA (NECA)
- Robocop (Hot Toys)
- Shao Khan (PCS)
- T-800 BD (Hot Toys)
- Tyreese (McFarlane)
- Viper Predator (NECA)
Best Male Figure 18″ and up
- Batman 1989 (NECA)
- Bruce Lee (Blitzway)
- Cherno Alpha, Pacific Rim (NECA)
- Dutch, Predator (NECA)
- Godzilla (Jakks)
- Han in Stormtrooper Outfit (Jakks)
- Joker (NECA)
- Master Chief (NECA)
- Mr. Bean (Enterbay)
- Robocop (Enterbay)
- T-1000 (Enterbay)
- War Machine MKII (Play Imaginitive)
Best Male Figure (12″ – 17″)
- Batman (comic version) (Sideshow)
- Chucky (Mezco)
- Darth Vader (Sideshow)
- Diamond 3, Gangs Kingdom (DAM Toys)
- Guritz, LOTR (Asmus)
- Harry Potter (Star Ace)
- Iron Man MK42 Die Cast (Hot Toys)
- Link (Medicom)
- Probe Droid (Sideshow)
- Robocop with Chair (Hot Toys)
- Sherlock Holmes (Big Chief)
- Star-Lord, GotG (Hot Toys)
- Superman, MoS (Hot Toys)
- Tyrion, Game of Thrones (ThreeZero)
Best Male Figure (5″ – 11″)
- Amazing Spider-man 2 Spidey (Hasbro)
- Batman 1989 (NECA)
- Batman, TNBA (DC Collectibles)
- Caesar DOTPOTA (NECA)
- Captain America Stealth Suit ML (Hasbro)
- Creature from the Black Lagoon (DST)
- Drogo, GoT (Funko)
- ED-209 (NECA)
- Falcon, Marvel Select (DST)
- Garruk Wildspeaker, Magic The Gathering (Funko)
- Glen, Walking Dead (McFarlane)
- Gorilla Soldier, POTA (NECA)
- Iron Patriot (S.H. Figuarts)
- Jedi Luke, SW Black (Hasbro)
- Jetfire, Transformers (Hasbro)
- Michelangelo, TMNT (Revoltech)
- Modulok, MOTUC (Mattel)
- Mummy (Mezco)
- Riddler, Batman Designer (DC Collectibles)
- Star-Lord, GotG ML (Hasbro)
- Tyreese, Walking Dead (McFarlane)
- Viper Predator (NECA)
Best Male Figure (under 5″)
- Adam Power, Power Lords (Four Horsemen)
- Alien, ReAction (Funko)
- Arctic B.A.T., G.I. Joe (Hasbro)
- Bowser, World of Nintendo
- Darth Vader #26, SW Black (Hasbro)
- Fighter’s Guild Akavari and Pony Guar (Symbiote)
- Gremlin, Twilight Zone (BifBangPow)
- Jack Asteroid, OSM (Four Horsemen)
- Jabba’s Skiff Guard, SW Black (Hasbro)
- Kane in Spacesuit, Alien ReAction (Funko)
- L’il Gotham Batman (DC Collectibles)
- Penguin, Multiverse (Mattel)
- Snake Eyes, Artic, G.I. Joe (Hasbro)
- Super Mario (S.H. Figuarts)
Best Female Figure (over 11″)
- Avea Trotter, Monster High (Mattel)
- Baroness, G.I. Joe (Sideshow)
- Black Widow, CA:WS (Hot Toys)
- Cammy, Street Fighter (Medicom)
- Catwoman, DC Comics (Sideshow)
- Crimson (Flirty Girl)
- Domino Lady (Phicen)
- Faraway Forest Elf, Barbie (Mattel)
- Harley, DC Comics (Sideshow)
- Hit Girl, Kick Ass 2, (Medicom)
- Maleficent (Hot Toys)
- Maleficent (Disney Signature Collection)
Best Female Figure (5″ – 11″)
- Alien Queen (NECA)
- April O’Neil TMNT (Playmates)
- Arcee, Transformers (Hasbro)
- Arya Stark, GoT (Funko)
- Arya Stark, GoT (Dark Horse)
- Black Cat, Spider-Man ML (Hasbro)
- Black Widow, CA:WS ML (Hasbro)
- Catwoman, animated (DC Collectibles)
- Daenerys, Got (Dark Horse)
- Daenerys, GoT (Funko)
- Gamora, GotG ML (Hasbro)
- Lilliana Vess, Magic (Funko)
- Lucy Lawless, Simpsons (NECA)
- Maggie, Walking Dead (McFarlane)
- Mermista, MOTUC (Mattel)
- Penny, Gremlins (NECA)
- Scorpia, MOTUC (Mattel)
- Venus, Sailor Moon (S.H. Figuarts)
- Windblade, Transformers (Hasbro)
- Zira, POTA (NECA)
Best Female Figure (under 5″)
Notes: The strong female represetation continues in the smaller scale. It’s particularly nice to see it’s not just Star Wars and Joe, although they have some strong nominees as well.
- Amy Pond, Dr. Who (Character Options)
- Baroness, G.I. Joe (Hasbro)
- Catwoman, DC Multiverse (Mattel)
- Harley, DC Multiverse (Mattel)
- Lady Jaye, G.I. Joe (Hasbro)
- Ripley, Alien ReAction (Funko)
- Samus Arun, Amiibo, (Nintendo)
- Talky Tina, TZ (BifBangPow)
- Terra Firma, OSM (Four Horsemen)
- Toryn Farr, Star Wars Black (Hasbro)
- Wasp, Marvel Infinite (Hasbro)
Best Build a Figure/Collect and Connect (any size or type):
- Green Goblin, Spider-Man ML (Hasbro)
- Groot, GotG ML (Hasbro)
- Jubilee, ML (Hasbro)
- Kalibak, DCU/Super Powers (Mattel)
- Mandroid, ML (Hasbro)
- Minicon Assault Team Centuritron, Transformers (Hasbro)
Best Vehicle or Playset
- Armory, Batman (Hot Toys)
- AT-DP, Star Wars, (Hasbro)
- Batbot, RC (Imaginext)
- Batmobile, Toy Toyko Red version (Funko)
- Battle Ram, MOTUC (Mattel)
- Battle Rover (Imaginext)
- Cobra Wolf, G.I. Joe (Hasbro)
- Dragon Castle (True Legends)
- Ecto-1, Ghostbusters, (Funko)
- High Flying Blimp, TMNT (Playmates)
- Inquisitor TIE Fighter, Star Wars (Hasbro)
- Iron Man 3 Hall of Armor, House Party (Hot Toys)
- Iron Man 3 Workshop Accessories (Hot Toys)
- Millenium Falcon, Star Wars Hero (Hasbro)
- Phantom, Star Wars Rebels (Hasbro)
- Serenity 1:250 scale cutaway (Qmx)
- Slave 1, Star Wars Die Cast (Disney)
- Speeder Bike, Star Wars Black (Hasbro)
- T-Tower, Teen Titans (Jazzwares)
- X-Wing Fighter, Star Wars (Hasbro)
- Z-line Billiard Breakout, TMNT (Playmates)
Best Statue
- Azog on Warg (Weta)
- Batman Arkham City (Kotobukiya)
- Black Widow (Gentle Giant)
- Black Widow PF (Sideshow)
- Chewbacca PF (Sideshow)
- Conan (ARH)
- Harley, DC Bombshells (DC Collectibles)
- Harley, Batman B/W (DC Collectibles)
- Harley PF (Sideshow)
- He-Man (Pop Culture Shock)
- Herman Munster (Tweeterhead)
- Judge Death (Pop Culture Shock)
- King Thror, Hobbit (Weta)
- Mojo (Bowen)
- Padme Amidala (Gentle Giant)
- Rick Grimes, Walking Dead comic (McFarlane)
- Shao Khan (Pop Culture Shock)
- Superman DC Comics PF (Sideshow)
- Warframe Excalibur (Symbiote)
- Wonder Woman ArtFX (Kotobukiya)
- Yoda Ilum, Star Wars (Gentle Giant)
Best Bust
- Alien Big Chap Legendary Scale (Sideshow)
- Azog (Gentle Giant)
- Goblin King (Gentle Giant)
- Iron Man MK42 Battle Damaged (Hot Toys)
- Jek Porkins, Star Wars (Gentle Giant)
- Panzerkommandant Jürgen (Quarantine)
- Rocket Raccoon (Gentle Giant)
- Ryu, Street Fighter Life Size (Pop Culture Shock)
- Scorpion, Life Size (Pop Culture Shock)
- Sophia Stalker, Walking Dead (Gentle Giant)
Best Designer/Vinyl
- Baby Dancing Groot (Funko)
- BeeBop, TMNT (Kid Robot)
- Chariv, Rise of the Beasts, Glyos (Onell)
- Dr. Who War Beast SDCC (Titan)
- Dr. Who War Doctor SDCC (Titan)
- Elder Scrolls Online Nord (Symbiote)
- GoGo Yubari, Kill Bill (Funko)
- Gus Fring, Dead Face, Breaking Bad (Funko)
- Judge Dredd Cosplay Penguin (Blind Mouse)
- Kiora Atua, Magic (Funko)
- Sharknado, Bloody (Funko)
- Shockwave, Transformers (Loyal Subjects)
- Splinter, TMNT (Loyal Subjects)
- Sun Dad Red (RealXHead)
- Super Crayboth, Glyos (Onell)
- Tezzeret, Magic (Funko)
- White Lantern Flash (Funko)
- Yubiosu (RealXHead)
Best Prop Replica
- Batman Returns Cowl (Hollywood Collectibles)
- Breaking Bad Teddy Bear (Mezco)
- Gremlins 2 Flasher (NECA)
- Infinity Gauntlet (Hasbro)
- Larry Talbot’s Cane, Wolfman (Factory Entertainment)
- Longclaw, GoT (Valyrian Steel)
- Monkey Brains Bowl, Indiana Jones
- Predator 1 Bio Mask (Sideshow)
- Ravenclaw Diadem, Harry Potter (Noble)
- Sonic Screwdriver, Dr. Who (Rubbertoe)
- Tomenosuke Blaster Pro Edition (Hollywood Collectibles)
- Walking Dead Jail Key (McFarlane)
Best Block Figures/Building Set Series
- DC/Marvel Superheroes (Lego)
- Halo (MegaBloks)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Ionix)
- Legends of Chima (Lego)
- Lego Movie (LEGO)
- Plants Vs Zombies Minimates (DST)
- Simpsons (Lego)
- Spongebob (MegaBloks)
- Star Wars (Lego)
- Titanfall (K’Nex)
- Transformers (Kre-o)
- Walking Dead (McFarlane)
- WWE (C3)
Best Misc
- Caesar’s Bust/DVD Case (NECA)
- Disneyvision (Disney)
- Grimlock Stomp and Chomp (Hasbro)
- ReAction Figures (Funko)
- Star Wars Command (Hasbro)
- Titanfall Collector’s Edition
- TMNT Giant Size (Jakks)
Vote now for the Peoples Picks awards at MWCToys.com
Watch the latest episode of the Star Wars collecting show Star Wars Action News
Watch the latest episode of the Marvel Comics collectible show Marvelicious Toys
SDCC Exclusive AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Posters Coming As Variant Comic Covers!
Assemble Your Own Avengers With Epic Marvel’s AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Movie Variants!
New York, NY – January 16th, 2014 – Before Earth’s Mightiest Heroes do battle against Ultron in Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1st 2015, don’t miss your chance to own a piece of the action with these epic Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Variants in April.
Originally debuting at Comic-Con International 2014, these epic pieces of theatrical concept art by Ryan Meinerding, Charlie Wen & Andy Park combine to form one stunning image of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes locked in combat against Ultron’s massive army. Coming to eight Marvel comics in the month of April, these covers are just like the Avengers – better when assembled!
Don’t miss a single variant when they come to these exciting Marvel comics in April!
· Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 Variant Cover A
· Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 Variant Cover B
· New Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 Variant Cover A
· New Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 Variant Cover B
· Avengers #44
· Uncanny Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 Variant Cover A
· Uncanny Avengers: Ultron Forever #1 Variant Cover B
· New Avengers #33
“These epic posters were really the hit of last year’s San Diego Comic-Con,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “We’re glad that fans who attended the convention were able to get their hands on them but we’re even more excited to bring thousands of fans who may have missed this stunning image.”
Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on these hotly anticipated variant covers as they hit comic shelves through the month of April. No fan will want to miss the chance to own this stunning, epic image when the AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON MOVIE VARIANTS hit comic shops this coming April!
Enter the Marvel Universe For $1 This April – Introducing TRUE BELIEVERS!
Enter the Marvel Universe For $1 This April – Introducing TRUE BELIEVERS!
What can you get for a dollar? How about the Marvel Universe? Today, Marvel is proud to present TRUE BELIEVERS – a new line of comics debuting exclusively in comic shops this April. Printing the first chapter of popular series for the suggested retail price of $1 – TRUE BELIEVERS is the perfect way for readers interested in trying out some of Marvel’s most popular titles in history without breaking the bank.
Just in time for 2015’s Secret Wars, catch up on some of the most celebrated stories in Marvel history before their appearance in the biggest comic event of 2015! Enter the world of Civil War, Age of Apocalypse, Old Man Logan, Planet Hulk, the critically-acclaimed ICON series Powers and many more with the first chapters of these top-selling collections – each for the suggested retail price of $1!
“These are some of the most popular stories in recent memory,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “We’re proud to bring them to fans in a new format that will allow them to sample some of Marvel’s best and brightest gems. Each of these issues are the perfect place to start for fans curious about Miles Morales, the Age of Apocalypse, Civil War and everything in between.”
Your window into the biggest stories in Marvel history costs a buck! Don’t miss these exciting TRUE BELEIVERS issues, on sale throughout the month of April in comic shops!
TRUE BELIEVERS: INFINITY GAUNTLET #1
Reprinting material from INFINITY GAUNTLET #1.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: MARVEL ZOMBIES #1
Reprinting MARVEL ZOMBIES #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1
Reprinting material from X-MEN ALPHA.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: CIVIL WAR #1
Reprinting material from CIVIL WAR #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: PLANET HULK #1
Reprinting INCREDIBLE HULK (2000) #92.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: HOUSE OF M #1
Reprinting HOUSE OF M #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: OLD MAN LOGAN #1
Reprinting WOLVERINE (2003) #66.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: ARMOR WARS #1
Reprinting material from IRON MAN (1968) #225.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: MILES MORALES #1
Reprinting ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN (2011) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP
TRUE BELIEVERS: AGE OF ULTRON #1
Reprinting AGE OF ULTRON #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP
POWERS FIRSTS #1
Reprinting POWERS #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP
The Undead Epic Concludes in GEORGE ROMERO’S EMPIRE OF THE DEAD: ACT THREE #1!
The Undead Epic Concludes in
GEORGE ROMERO’S EMPIRE OF THE DEAD: ACT THREE #1!
The Final Chapter Begins This April!
When the dead fight the dead, where does that leave the living? That’s the question as the legendary George Romero unleashes the final chapter in his new undead epic in GEORGE ROMERO’S EMPIRE OF THE DEAD: ACT THREE #1! Debuting in April, it’s zombies vs. vampires – with the desperate, last surviving humans caught in the crossfire! Writer George Romero and artist Andrea Mutti bring you the closing saga in the epic war between living and dead!
Welcome back to NYC, years after the horrifying plague has swept the nation. The Big Apple is a quarantine zone – but that doesn’t guarantee safety! There are predators within the walls. Vampires lurk in the shadows preying on the living and the undead alike. But with the zombies seemingly growing smarter each and every day, the war between the two dead factions begins heating up!
“Romero understands the wide possibilities of the comic format and has used it to tell his biggest, most epic story to date,” says series Editor Jake Thomas. “In this final chapter the narrative bomb he’s been carefully constructing under Empire of the Dead’s Manhattan goes off with a bang! There are dangers coming from all sides, no one is safe, and blood will flow. It’s everything an undeadhead would want from the Godfather of Zombies himself, George Romero!”
Meanwhile, who is kidnapping the children of NYC? Where are they taking them and why? The future of Manhattan and humanity itself may rest in the answers! Don’t miss this excellent jumping on point when the zombie godfather and horror visionary’s next undead epic reaches its climactic chapter in April’s GEORGE ROMERO’S EMPIRE OF THE DEAD: ACT THREE #1!
GEORGE ROMERO’S EMPIRE OF THE DEAD: ACT THREE #1
Written by GEORGE ROMERO
Art by ANDREA MUTTI
Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
On-Sale in April!
Time Ran Out! Presenting the Final AVENGERS & NEW AVENGERS Covers!
Time Ran Out! Presenting the Final AVENGERS & NEW AVENGERS Covers!
This April, the Avengers and the Illuminati face down their final hours. The clock is winding down and the final incursion is upon us. Today, Marvel is proud to present your first look at fan-favorite artist Dustin Weaver’s interlocking covers to AVENGERS #44 and NEW AVENGERS #33 – the cataclysmic final issues!
Superstar writer Jonathan Hickman along with blockbuster artists Mike Deodato and Kev Walker bring to a close the epic saga of the Avengers, the Illuminati, and a Marvel Universe on the brink of extinction. The Incursions from parallel Earths from other dimensions have taken their toll on our heroes, and the battle worn Avengers stand ready to face utter decimation.
Before the highly-anticipated SECRET WARS begins in May, close out Jonathan Hickman’s epic Avengers and New Avengers saga with these two, oversized final issues! What changes await Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? Be there when TIME RUNS OUT this April in AVENGERS #44 and NEW AVENGERS #33!
AVENGERS #44
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by MIKE DEODATO
Cover by DUSTIN WEAVER
On-Sale in April!
NEW AVENGERS #33
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by KEV WALKER
Cover by DUSTIN WEAVER
On-Sale in April!
Lou Ferrigno’s “Liberator” Now Available on YouTube
FERRIGNO’S “LIBERATOR” RELEASED ON YOUTUBE
Award-Winning Short Film Features “Super” Geek Cast
Los Angeles, CA, January 14, 2015—There’s a new superhero in town — and chances are, you’ll like him when he’s angry. LIBERATOR, an 18-minute short film/presentation pilot, stars “The Incredible Hulk” star Lou Ferrigno, returning to superheroics to play an aging, disgraced ex-superhero turned whistleblower. After a successful festival/Comic-Con run followed by six months on iTunes and Amazon streaming, LIBERATOR is now available for the world to see in HD courtesy of YouTube.
LIBERATOR stars a panoply of uber-geek luminaries: Peta Wilson (“La Femme Nikita”), Michael Dorn (Worf from “Star Trek: The Next Generation”), kickboxing legend Don “The Dragon” Wilson (“Bloodfist”) and the legendary Ed Asner (“Up”) as the President. LIBERATOR mixes a timely, gritty story about taking a stand against government corruption — and the resulting blowback — with a very human subplot of a father desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Fear not — there’s a big dollop of superhero action on top. Ferrigno goes deep here, surprising many with the performance of a lifetime, winning a Best Actor statuette from Cinerockom Film Festival in the process. The film also drew the attention of geek news sites like Ain’t It Cool News and many others, as well as national outlets USA Today, Yahoo! News, and Huffington Post, who called LIBERATOR “a perfect storm of awesomeness.”
“I play a government agent who takes the fall for a bad situation, and finally he decides to blow the whistle and write a book,” says Ferrigno. “Being a police officer myself—being a deputy sheriff—I think leaking classified information is wrong. But the Constitution protects freedom of speech. (Edward) Snowden felt he had to speak out. It’s the same thing with my character. Some people see him as a hero, others a traitor.”
Says Director Aaron Pope (MY HAUNTED HOUSE), “I’m really so thrilled that LIBERATOR is now going to be available free, worldwide. Our tagline is ‘truth is worth fighting for,’ and never has that statement been more true than right now. If putting our movie out there now helps anyone anywhere realize the value in fighting for what’s right, it’s well worth it. And hey, if people just want to enjoy a bit of superhero fun at the same time, they can do that too.”
LIBERATOR’s success also led to a 2-shot LIBERATOR comic book series as well as graphic novelization from Bluewater Comics. Producers Coverage Ink Films (www.coverageinkfilms.com) hope that the film’s YouTube release will interest people around the world in seeing more of Liberator. “We’d love to continue the adventures, whether it’s as a feature, webisodes or TV,” says LIBERATOR executive producer Jim Cirile. “Producer Tom DeSanto (X-MEN, TRANSFORMERS) said it best — ‘I encourage everyone to take to the social media and do whatever you can to promote (LIBERATOR), because I want to see what happens next.’ Thanks, Tom!”
WATCH LIBERATOR NOW: www.liberatormovie.com
Other links:
www.facebook.com/liberatormovie
www.twitter.com/liberatormovie
http://www.youtube.com/liberatormovie
VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE from Anchor Bay Entertainment and Amplify — Get your game on February 3rd on DVD!
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT AND AMPLIFY PRESENT
VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE
AVAILABLE ON DVD ON FEBRUARY 3rd
Executive Produced By Zach Braff, Video Games: The Movie Features Gamer And Geek Icons Chris Hardwick, Donald Faison, Wil Wheaton, And More!
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Anchor Bay Entertainment and Amplify present Jeremy Snead’s VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE, the fascinating chronicle of the meteoric rise of video games from nerd niche to multi-billion dollar industry. Executive produced by Zach Braff (Garden State, “Scrubs”) and narrated by Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the documentary features in-depth interviews with some of the industry’s biggest gamer and geek icons. A celebration of gaming from Atari to Xbox, as well as an eye-opening look at what lies ahead, VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE will be available on DVD on February 3, 2015 for an SRP of $22.98.
VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE features interviews with the godfathers who started it all, the icons of game design, and the geek gurus who are leading us into the future, including Nolan Bushnell (Atari, Inc.), Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist Podcast), Donald Faison (Kick-Ass 2, “Scrubs”), Cliff Bleszinski (“Gears of War,” “Unreal”), Warren Spector (“Deus Ex,” “System Shock”), Hiroyuki Kobayashi (“Resident Evil”), Clare Grant (Danger Maiden Productions, Team Unicorn), Doug Tennapel (“Earthworm Jim”), Palmer Luckey (Oculus Rift), Wil Wheaton (Stand By Me, “Star Trek: The Next Generation”), and Alison Haislip (“Attack of the Show”). The documentary made its way to the big screen via a successfully-funded Kickstarter campaign, which raised more than $100,000 in just 35 days.
VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE DVD special features include a Sean Astin mashup and Why We Love Games featurette.
VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE DVD
Street February 3, 2015
Pre-book: December 31, 2014
Catalog #: DV62685
UPC: 01313262685780
Run time: 101 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
SRP: $22.98
Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Watch the SECRET WARS LIVE KICKOFF Next Tuesday 1/20!
Watch the SECRET WARS LIVE KICKOFF Next Tuesday 1/20!
Learn Exciting Details About Secret Wars in a Unique Live Event!
New York, NY—January 13th, 2015— This May, time has run out and Secret Wars, the landmark 8-issue event, is ready to shake the very foundations of the Marvel Universe as you know it. But first, on Tuesday, January 20th 2015 at 3 p.m. Eastern, we’re hosting the ground breaking SECRET WARS LIVE KICKOFF!
Streaming live from New York City’s own Midtown Comics next week, fans can head to Marvel.com/secretwars to get their very first Secret Wars info straight from Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso and SVP, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort! Prepare for the coming of a new Battleworld and learn the first details of the strange, patchwork realm playing host to countless separate realities!
The road to the biggest comic event of the year has begun, and you will not want to miss the first Earth shattering revelations that will have everyone talking! What will happen when Time Runs Out? What secrets does Battleworld hold? Tune in on 1/20 for the answers to those questions and more.
A unique collaboration with Midtown Comics, the SECRET WARS LIVE KICKOFF can be viewed on Marvel.com/secretwars at 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday, 1/20/2015. For more details, keep your eyes peeled to Marvel.com and join in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #SecretWars.
New Podcast – Star Wars Action News Episode 440: 2014 Year in Review Part 2 and 2015 in Preview
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Arnie and Marjorie are joined by the Gingerprince, Johnathan, Curtis, Daryl, Brock, Jay, and Andrew to look back at the High End Star Wars Collectibles of 2014 and what they expect 2015 to bring.
Submit to the Vortex – Your First Look at Your First Look at GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & X-MEN: THE BLACK VORTEX ALPHA #1!
Submit to the Vortex – Your First Look at
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & X-MEN: THE BLACK VORTEX ALPHA #1!
New York, NY – January 12th, 2014 – Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. What would you give up in your quest for power? What if it cost you your very soul? This February, those questions and more will be answered in Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha #1, the first chapter in an epic, out of this world crossover through Guardians of the Galaxy, All-New X-Men, Legendary Star-Lord, Cyclops, Captain Marvel, Nova and Guardians Team-Up! From superstar creators Sam Humphries, Ed McGuinness and Kris Anka comes the opening salvo in an epic cosmic war!
The Black Vortex – an ancient and powerful artifact has been uncovered in the far reaches of the cosmos. With the power to grant its user untold, it is coveted by some of the most nefarious forces in the galaxy. Thane and the villainous Mr. Knife plan to use its power to unleash terror upon the galaxy, and only a small band of heroes stand in their way.
“What happens when one person submits to the Black Vortex and becomes a titan of the cosmos? What happens when a whole team does it? Or a whole planet?” says Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha #1 writer Sam Humphries in an interview with Marvel.com. “Imagine the metamorphosis that turned Norin Radd into the Silver Surfer, or Jean Grey into Dark Phoenix, available to anyone in the Marvel Universe.”
“But of course, no amount of power comes without a cost,” Humphries continued.
Now, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men, Nova, Captain Marvel and more must unite as one or face extinction. Because if they fail, billions will die. But even they may be seduced by the power of the Black Vortex. Are they going to save the universe? Or will they be its undoing? Find out as the
Billions of lives are at stake, the heroes of the Marvel Universe will have to face the darkness inside themselves if they hope to succeed. But will they be the ones to save the galaxy, or will they be seduced by the Black Vortex’s power?
Find out as the action begins this February in the can’t miss Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha #1!
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & X-MEN: THE BLACK VORTEX ALPHA #1 (DEC140820)
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by ED MCGUINNESS & KRIS ANKA
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Cosmically Enhanced Variant by ANDREA SORRENTINO (DEC140822)
Connecting Variant A by ALEXANDER LOZANO (DEC140821)
Zombies! Deadpool! Zombie Deadpool! Your New Look at RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #1!
Zombies! Deadpool! Zombie Deadpool! Your New Look at RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #1!
Prepare for pools full of undead Deadpools as RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #1 shambles in to comic shops this February! Blockbuster writer Cullen Bunn (Magneto, Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe) joins Marvel newcomer Nik Virella take you to a world overrun with undead Deadpools – each with a snarky mouth of its own.
To stop the zombie apocalypse, Deadpool used his own healing factor to save the world. Only any zombie that ate Deadpool…transformed into another Deadpool. Believe us – hordes of Deadpool’s might just be worse than hordes of flesh-hungry monsters.
“So there are thousands of Deadpools, all of them originating from the one and only Wade Wilson,” says Bunn in an interview with Marvel.com. “Every time a zombie takes a bite of one of these Deadpools, the zombie becomes Deadpool. You know how Deadpool has numerous personalities? Well, these newly created Deadpools start to latch on to different aspects of Deadpools split psyche, forming factions. And these factions don’t get along!”
This February, the dead will rise. And this February, the Deadpools will…er, rise! Be there for the heart-stopping, flesh-eating, wise-cracking RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #1!
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #1 (DEC140932)
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by NIK VIRELLA
Cover by JAY SHAW
Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMAN (DEC140933)
FOC – 01/12/15, On-Sale – 02/04/14
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES ACQUIRES NOAH BAUMBACH’S “MISTRESS AMERICA”
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES ACQUIRES
NOAH BAUMBACH’S “MISTRESS AMERICA”
STARRING GRETA GERWIG AND
INTRODUCING LOLA KIRKE
Specialty Arm Acquires Worldwide Rights to Comedy, Financed by RT Features
LOS ANGELES, CA January 9, 2015 – Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the comedy MISTRESS AMERICA, starring Golden Globe nominated Greta Gerwig and newcomer Lola Kirke. Directed by Oscar nominated Noah Baumbach and written by Baumbach and Gerwig, the film is produced by Baumbach, Scott Rudin, Lila Yacoub, Rodrigo Teixera, and Gerwig. The film will have its world premiere at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival and is scheduled to be released in 2015.
“Noah’s distinct cinematic voice and keen sense of humor are an ideal fit for what we do at Searchlight. We are thrilled to be working with Noah and Greta and couldn’t be more excited to be taking their new collaboration to audiences,” said Gilula and Utley.
“We’re so excited about Noah’s film, and Fox Searchlight as its distributor is just the perfect match,” said RT Features’ Rodrigo Teixera.
In MISTRESS AMERICA, Tracy (Lola Kirke) is a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke (Greta Gerwig) – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke’s alluringly mad schemes.
The deal was brokered by Fox Searchlight’s Executive Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions, Tony Safford, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs Megan O’Brien and Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Co-Productions Ray Strache, and UTA Independent Film Group, which represented the filmmakers and arranged the film’s financing.
Since 2008, RT Features has been focused on developing, producing and financing international projects such as FRANCES HA by Noah Baumbach, LOVE IS STRANGE by Ira Sachs and the next project from James Gray. In 2014, RT announced a venture with Sikelia Productions, launching a fund to finance and produce projects by emerging filmmakers.
Fox Searchlight Pictures is a specialty film company that both finances and acquires motion pictures. It has its own marketing and distribution operations, and its films are distributed internationally by Twentieth Century Fox. Fox Searchlight Pictures is a unit of 20th Century Fox Film.
Ant-Man #1 Sec-ANT Printing On The Way and a Gi-ANT Reminder!!
Ant-Man #1 Sec-ANT Printing On The Way and a Gi-ANT Reminder!!
Marvel’s smallest hero with the big heroics is a critical smash hit! Launching just this week, Ant-Man #1 has all the critics raving! Marvel is pleased to announce that Nick Spencer and Ramon Rosanas’ debut first issue has completely sold out at the distributor level and will return for a Sec-ANT Printing!
Scott Lang has never been the world’s best super hero. Heck, most people don’t even think he’s been the best Ant-Man – and the last guy created Ultron and joined the Masters of Evil, so that’s really saying something. But all that’s about to change when the Superior Iron Man calls up Scott with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Everyone is raving about Ant-Man #1. Don’t believe us? Here’s what the critics had to say.
· “With a blockbuster movie on the way, Ant-Man #1 is the perfect jumping on point for readers”
– The Washington Post
· “Get ready to be able to say you are now an Ant-Man fan”
– Comic Vine
· “…with this top-notch team on board, you need to score yourself a front-row seat.”
– Newsarama
· “A strong contender for Comic of the Year” – 13th Dimension
· “Ant-Man #1 is that perfect debut that manages to both introduce the character to unfamiliar readers and tell a compelling story in the course of a single issue.”
– ComicBook.com
· “It’s funny, emotionally engaging, and easily accessible regardless of your familiarity with the character.” – IGN
· Nick Spencer and Ramon Rosanas set the bar for new Marvel books in 2015.”
– Comic Book Therapy
The reviews are in – and you can’t afford to miss one of the biggest launches of the year. Missed your chance to get your hands on a copy? Well, you won’t want to miss it again when the Ant-Man #1 SecANT Printing returns to comic shops in February!
Gi-ANT Size Reminder: FOC for Ant-Man #2 is Monday, 1/12. Retailers are strongly encouraged to check their orders on the second issue in anticipation of demand.
ANT-MAN #1 SECANT PRINTING VARIANT
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by RAMON ROSANAS
Cover by MARK BROOKS
FOC – 1/12/15, On-Sale 02/04/15
ANT-MAN #2 (DEC140879)
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by RAMON ROSANAS
Variant Covers by GEOFF DARROW (DEC140880),
and PHIL NOTO (DEC140881)
Movie Variant Also Available (DEC140882)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
FOC – 1/12/15, On Sale – 02/04/15
Deadpool Number 250 Puts the DEAD in DEADPOOL!
Deadpool Number 250 Puts the DEAD in DEADPOOL!
The Death of Deadpool and All-Star Creators in April’s DEADPOOL #45
New York, NY—January 9th, 2014— That’s right – if you add together all the Deadpool series (creatively), April’s DEADPOOL #45 marks Wade Wilson’s landmark 250th issue! How will he be celebrating? DEATH! No, really. Wade’s about to reach the end of the line, but he’s not gone yet. Prepare for a colossal-sized series finale the likes of which you’ve never seen before as Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn and more bid the Merc With a Mouth adieu, and explore the legacy he leaves behind.
First, Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn and Mike Hawthorne serve up a 30-page main story as, the villainous Ultimatum finally makes their move. They’re coming at Deadpool for revenge – all of them! And we mean ALL OF THEM. It’s going to be a bloodbath, but Wade’s not going down without a fight though.
“This is something we’ve been naturally building towards,” says writer Gerry Duggan speaking with Marvel.com. “This isn’t being done lightly. It always comes down to what we think is right and Marvel has been very king and gracious with us and let us get away with murder: in a literal sense.”
“I have no problem telling you I’ve always wanted to kill Deadpool and not just kill him but kill him in the way that we are killing him.”
Then – Gerry, Brian and Scott Koblish bring you a long lost, full-length Deadpool tale. Remember that time Deadpool got a hold of the Infinity Gauntlet? No? Don’t worry – we’re going to tell you. And yes, you should be very worried that Deadpool now has control over space, time and reality. First order of business? Summoning the entire Marvel Universe for the Roast of Deadpool.
Finally – a killer (pun intended) line-up of celebrities, comedians and friends of ol’ Wade have come to pay tribute to the Merc With a Mouth. Cap off Wade’s final adventure with new stories from Paul Scheer & Nick Giovannetti (Deadpool Bi-Annual), Scott Aukerman (Comedy Bang Bang), Ben Acker & Ben Blacker (Thunderbolts, Thrilling Adventure Hour), Jason Mantzoukas (The League), Mike Drucker (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon) and more!
Sure, Wade may be meeting his end. But he’s poised for a grand sendoff the likes of which have never been seen before. No fan can afford to skip this can’t miss lineup of creators as the Merc With a Mouth meets his maker in the massive 250th issue – DEADPOOL #45, on-sale in April! Plus, check out Marvel.com on Monday for the full interview with Gerry Duggan and Deadpool Editor Jordan D. White!
DEADPOOL NUMBER 250 (a.k.a. DEADPOOL #45)
Written by GERRY DUGGAN, BRIAN POSEHN, BEN ACKER,
BEN BLACKER, NICK GIOVANETTI, PAUL SCHEER, JASON MANTZOUKAS,
MIKE DRUCKER & MORE
Art by MIKE HAWTHORNE, SCOTT KOBLISH & MORE
Cover by SCOTT KOBLISH
DEATH OF DEADPOOL VARIANT BY TONY MOORE
On-Sale in April!
Black Bolt Cuts Loose in UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 This April!
Black Bolt Cuts Loose in UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 This April!
New Ongoing Series Beginning This April!
This April, the silent Inhuman king rises from the ashes. And everything you thought you knew about Black Bolt is about to change. Prepare for UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 – the epic prelude to a brand new ongoing series from the chart-topping Death of Wolverine creative team of Charles Soule (Inhuman, She-Hulk) and Steve McNiven (Civil War, Old Man Logan)!
“Just like Guardians of the Galaxy #0 gave you a great ‘in’ to the Guardians, UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 arms you with a great starting point to the Inhumans!” says Senior Editor Nick Lowe.
The stoic Inhuman king, able to level mountains with a whisper has struck out on his own – seemingly leaving his Queen and his very race to fend for themselves. But is that the whole story? Now, follow his adventures as he strikes out on a new mission. A lone wolf and a king without a throne, Black Bolts endeavors will send him on a direct collision course with one of the Avengers’ greatest foes – Kang the Conqueror!
With the mastery of time at his very fingertips, Kang will bend the entire 20,000 years of Inhuman history to his own vile ends. And the silent sentinel of the Inhuman Nation is all that stands in his way.
“[Uncanny Inhumans] starts in one spot, and just when you think you know where it’s going to go, it zigs in another direction,” says series writer Charles Soule, in an interview with Marvel.com. “I like being able to take the Inhuman nation in a new direction with this series, and I think people are really going to dig it.”
Will the Inhuman king rise in the face of growing threats to his people? Or will he fall? Find out when the secrets of Black Bolt’s journey comes to light in UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 – on sale in comic shops and on digital devices this April!
UNCANNY INHUMANS #0
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art & Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
On Sale April 2015!
Announcement – Disney’s Big Hero 6 Arrives on DMA 02/03 and Blu-ray 02/24
From the studio that brought you “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph” comes Disney’s “Big Hero 6” on Digital HD/ Disney Movies Anywhere February 3rd and Blu-ray™ Combo Pack on February 24th! Exciting bonus features include the theatrical short “Feast” as well as a host of deleted scenes and extras.
Own It Early on Digital HD/Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) February 3, 2015
Bring It Home on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack on February 24, 2015
From Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Frozen,” “Wreck-It Ralph”), Disney’s “Big Hero 6” introduces you to a lovable robot who will change your world. Join Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit) and Hiro Hamada (voice of Ryan Potter) in a comic adventure that will make your heart soar as they learn about teamwork and becoming more than you thought you could be.
With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy adventure that introduces Baymax, a lovable, personal companion robot, who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to Baymax and his diverse group of friends — adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred — who transform into a band of unlikely heroes. Bring home Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” featuring comic-book-style action and hilarious, unforgettable characters — it’s fun for the whole family!
Pre-order it now at Amazon.com!
EXEC. PRODUCER: John Lasseter (“Toy Story,” “Cars”)
PRODUCER: Roy Conli (“Tangled,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”)
DIRECTORS: Don Hall (“The Emperor’s New Groove,” “The Princess and the Frog”)
Chris Williams (“Bolt,” “The Emperor’s New Groove”)
VOICE TALENT: Ryan Potter (“Save the Date”) as Hiro Himada, Scott Adsit (TV’s “30 Rock”) as Baymax, Jamie Chung (TV’s “Once Upon A Time”) as Go Go Tomago, Damon Wayans, Jr. (“Let’s Be Cops,” TV’s “New Girl”) as Wasabi, Genesis Rodriguez (“Identity Theft”) as Honey Lemon, T.J. Miller (“Silicon Valley”) as Fred, Maya Rudolph (“Bridesmaids”) as Aunt Cass, James Cromwell (“The Green Mile”) as Professor Robert Callaghan, Alan Tudyk (TV’s “Suburgatory”) as Alistair Krei and Daniel Henney (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) as Tadashi Hamada.
SCREENPLAY: Jordan Roberts (“March of the Penguins”), Daniel Gerson (“Monsters University”), Robert L. Baird (“Monsters University”)
COMPOSER: Henry Jackman (“The Dark Knight”)
RELEASE DATES: Digital HD & 3D on February 3, 2015
Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital SD, DVD and On-Demand on Feburary 24, 2015
PRODUCTS: Digital HD/3D/SD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand
BONUS: Digital HD/3D/SD*, Blu-ray Combo Pack & Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA)
· FEAST Theatrical Short
· The Origin Story of “Big Hero 6”: Hiro’s Journey (hosted by Jamie Chung, voice of Go Go Tomago) – Join the team behind the team that brought Big Hero 6 to the big screen as they travel on research trips to Tokyo and San Francisco and go behind the scenes of this epic film. Explore everything comic-book about Big Hero 6, from director Don Hall’s passion for comics to the story’s roots in a lesser known Marvel property. We’ll talk to Marvel’s Joe Quesada and Jeph Loeb, who were consultants on the film, to learn what makes a good comic-book story, and how these devices were used to help create Disney’s “Big Hero 6.”
· Big Animator 6: The Characters Behind the Characters – Join the six lead animators of Big Hero 6 as they talk about each of the characters and how they came to be the heroes they are now.
· Deleted Scenes (intro by Directors Don Hall & Chris Williams) – Includes two alternate openings and more.
· Big Hero Secrets (Easter Egg) – The movie is filled with Easter Eggs, and this Buzzfeed-type list piece will give you a sampling of some of the hidden treasures in the film. See if you can find this Easter Egg about Easter Eggs! (BLU-RAY ONLY)
· Gag Animations (intro by Directors Don Hall & Chris Williams) – For fun, animators made alternate versions of scenes they were working on and threw them into the mix at review sessions. The directors will present some of these gags for the first time to the public in this piece. (DMA ONLY)
· Beatmax – Check out some of Baymax’s greatest lines auto-tuned like you’ve never heard before. (DMA ONLY)
DVD:
· FEAST Theatrical Short
· Big Animator 6: The Characters Behind the Characters
· “Big Hero 6” Theatrical Teaser
*Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer
FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 102 min.
RATING: Feature Film: PG in U.S.; PG in CE; G in CF (Additional Bonus Features Not Rated)
ASPECT RATIO: Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / 2.39:1
DVD Feature Film = 2.39:1
AUDIO: Blu-ray = 5.1 DTS
DVD = 5.1 Dolby
LANGUAGES: English, French & Spanish
SUBTITLES: English SDH, French & Spanish
ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA):
Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it simple to buy your favorite Disney, Pixar and Marvel movies once and watch them anywhere. With DMA you can explore Disney’s library of over 400 eligible digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, and watch your digital movies from the comfort of the living room or across multiple mobile devices. In addition, you can redeem Digital Copy codes found in Disney, Pixar and Marvel Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase. Sign up and access Disney Movies Anywhere for free on DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com and through the Disney Movies Anywhere iOS and Android apps. Users can then simply connect their iTunes, Google Play and/or VUDU at VUDU.com/DMA accounts to begin enjoying their Disney, Pixar, and Marvel digital movie collections across platforms and devices.
Rob Reiner’s classic romantic comedy “The Sure Thing” 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray arrives on home ent. shelves March 24, 2015
Rob Reiner’s Classic 1985 Romantic Comedy
30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION BLU-RAY™
Starring John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Viveca Lindfors and Nicollette Sheridan
Arrives on Home Entertainment Shelves March 24, 2015
From Shout! Factory
Let’s shift the year 2015 into gear and take a ride down the memory lane with Walter “Gib” Gibson and Alison Bradbury from the quintessential 80’s romantic comedy THE SURE THING, directed by celebrated filmmaker Rob Reiner and executive produced by Henry Winkler. The film stars John Cusack (Say Anything…, High Fidelity), Daphne Zuniga (Spaceballs, One Tree Hill), Viveca Lindfors (Stargate) as Professor Taub and introducing Nicollette Sheridan (Spy Hard). On March 24, 2015, Shout! Factory will release THE SURE THING 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray™ on home entertainment shelves. Available for the first time on Blu-ray™, this special anniversary edition is a must have for movie collectors and fans of raucously funny road trips, red-hot romantic comedies and romps through 80’s angst. THE SURE THING 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray is priced to own at $24.97 SRP.
When college student Walter Gibson (Cusack) gets set up for a date with an incredibly gorgeous blonde (Nicollette Sheridan in her film debut), he’s ready to go to the ends of the earth — or at least across the country — to capitalize on this “sure thing.” Paired up with tightly-wound coed Alison Bradbury (Zuniga) via the campus ride-share program, he heads west for Los Angeles. But as the obstacles begin to pile up, he and Alison begin to form an unexpected bond… and soon Gib must choose between the sure thing and the real thing.
THE SURE THING 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray™
Special Features:
• Commentary with director Rob Reiner
• Road to The Sure Thing
• Casting The Sure Thing
• Reading The Sure Thing
• Dressing The Sure Thing
• Theatrical Trailer
1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.78:1)/DTS HD Master Audio
Color/1985/Running Time +/- 95 minutes
Ultron Unleashed In Your New Look at AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON OGN!
Ultron Unleashed In Your New Look at AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON OGN!
Superstars Rick Remender & Jerome Opena Reunite For Epic Original Graphic Novel
Two generations of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes rise to the challenge and come face-to-face with the Avengers greatest villain in AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON, the can’t miss original graphic novel coming to comic shops and book stores this April! New York Times bestselling writer Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers, Uncanny X-Force) re-teams with critically acclaimed artists and frequent collaborator Jerome Opeña (Avengers, Uncanny X-Force) to take heroes old and new to the brink of destruction in a story that will redefine Ultron and have long reaching effects for the Avengers!
Time and again, Ultron has reformed himself. Each time more vicious and destructive than the last. Today, he has returned, unleashing his destructive fury upon Saturn’s moon Titan – home of the superpowered race of Eternals and birthplace of Thanos the Mad. With the Eternals decimated, and Ultron gaining complete control over Titan’s central computer core, there is nothing to stop Planet Ultron!
“The Avengers mostly contend either with the foes of their individual members, such as Loki, or teams of villains such as the Masters of Evil,” says SVP, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort. “But as a group, they have only two discrete villains of note: Kang and Ultron. So whenever you embark on a story featuring either of them, it needs to be a very strong and important story indeed. AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON is such a story, both going back to the formative days of Ultron’s existence, and also transforming him in a manner that can’t help but impact upon future stories. Plus, he’s a whole planet!”
With an entire planet bending to his will, nothing will stand in his quest to obliterate the Earth and his makers. What hope do the Avengers stand against an entire planet of Ultron robots? Even with the aid of Starfox and the Eternals, the battle is still all but lost.
Only Ultron’s creator Hank Pym holds the secret to defeating his unhinged creation. A secret that dates back to the Avengers of a bygone era. A secret that comes with a terrible price…
Debuting in a high-end, oversized format, Avengers: Rage of Ultron marks another entry in Marvel’s stunning OGN line, featuring the world’s most popular characters brought to life by the best creators in the industry. You will not want to miss one of the biggest, boldest stories of the year when AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON OGN explodes into comic shops this April!
AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON OGN (DEC140948)
Written by RICK REMENDER
Art by JEROME OPEÑA
FOC – 01/05/15, On-Sale – 04/01/15
Preview: Sideshow’s J Scott Campbell Black Cat Polystone Statue
Sideshow Collectibles has released a teaser image for an upcoming Marvel Comics based statue of Spider-Man’s sometimes-lover sometimes-advisory The Black Cat.
This statue is the fourth release in Sideshow’s collection of Spider-Man and his girlfriends. All four statues are based on art by Marvel cover artist J. Scott Campbell.
While Black Cat, real name Felicia Hardy, is not an A-List Marvel character, her solid fanbase has already garnered her a number of statue releases. In addition to the mini-busts by Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant, plus statues by Bowen Designs, Sideshow has already released three Black Cat statues: The Black Cat comiquette based on art by Adam Hughes, The Black Cat quarter-scale Premium Format Figure, and the Black Cat Legendary Scale Bust. All three previous Black Cat statues have been long sold out from Sideshow’s site and collectors had to go to eBay to order.
This new Black Cat statue differs in style from the previous releases not only in that it is modeled after Campbell’s art, which often features exceptionally tall and thin representations of characters, but also in that her pose appears to be more sultry and seductive. The previous Sideshow Black Cat statues featured the criminal in an act of theft, while this one appears to be in a lascivious position.
The previous statues Sideshow has released in their J. Scott Campbell collection have been gorgeous-looking pieces. The podcast Marvelicious Toys has done video reviews of both the Mary Jane statue as well as the Gwen Stacy comiquette. The Mary Jane review was exceedingly positive; the Gwen Stacy review noted a persistent design flaw that caused the statue to repeatedly fall and break. It’s hard to tell from this preview image but collectors should hope that Black Cat is on a solid base and not imbalanced.
Sideshow had previously released a logo teasing the Black Cat statue’s release. In that image the feline felon was on all fours on a bed. This new tease promises a pose somewhat different from that original image, and it’s difficult to tell if this final design will feature her on a bed. If so, the design may be a nice counterpoint to Campbell’s Mary Jane statue.
All three previous J. Scott Campbell Spider-Man statues are released and shipping now from Sideshow Collectibles. You can get a head start on your collection now so the display is ready when the Black Cat arrives!
Check them out at Sideshow’s site:
To be among the first to know when Black Cat is up for pre-order you can follow Marvelicious Toys on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for their Sales to Astonish newsletter to be e-mailed when the statue sale has gone live!
New Trailer : BUDDY HUTCHINS starring Jamie Kennedy
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Named one of Wicked Channel’s Top 25 Films of 2014, Buddy Hutchins features Jamie Kennedy (Scream, TVs Ghost Whisperer) as you’ve never seen him before!
Earth’s Mightiest Reforged – Your First Look at UNCANNY AVENGERS #1!
Earth’s Mightiest Reforged – Your First Look at UNCANNY AVENGERS #1!
This January, a new Unity Squad will be formed for a new age. New team. New mission. New threats. Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look at UNCANNY AVENGERS #1, the explosive new ongoing series from blockbuster creators Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña!
The tragedy at the end of Avengers & X-Men: AXIS has left the Uncanny Avengers vulnerable. The Avengers Unity Squad as we know it has been decimated – and someone is taking advantage of it! Biding his time, one of the Avengers oldest foes has returned. Why now? And what does it have to do with the reborn Avengers Unity Squad?
What is Counter-Earth? What secrets does it hold? An unlikely alliance of Avengers & X-Men will form, seeking answers. Only what they find will in all likelihood destroy the lives of two of its own members. To brave Counter-Earth, the new Uncanny Avengers – Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Vision, Captain America, Rogue, Brother Voodoo and a now-heroic Sabretooth must stand together, or perish alone.
As tensions run high and the secrets of Counter-Earth are laid bare, will this new Unity Squad’s first mission be their last? The answers lie in the explosive debut of UNCANNY AVENGERS #1, coming to comic shops and digital devices this January!
UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 (NOV140703)
Written by RICK REMENDER
Art & Cover by DANIEL ACUÑA
Teaser Variant by DANIEL ACUÑA (NOV140706)
Variant Covers by SKOTTIE YOUNG (NOV140708) & GABRIELE DELL’OTTO (NOV140704)
Inhumans 50th Anniversary Variant by LADRÖNN(NOV140705)
Welcome Home Variant by SALVADOR LARROCA (NOV140707)
FOC – 01/05/14, On-Sale – 01/28/14
New Podcast: Star Wars Action News 2014 In Review Part 1 – Watch now!
For Star Wars fans 2014 came in with a whimper but went out with a bang! From a year that started with few Star Wars figures to be found in either the 4 or 6-inch scales, it ended with Expanded Universe 6-Inch figures, new lines of 3.75-inch figures, and Star Wars fans everywhere trying to “get to da Chopper!”
Now in the first part of the Star Wars Action News year in review, the Star Wars Action News team looks back at 2014 from the point of view of a toy collector. Marjorie and Arnie are joined by several other collectors to rate the best and worst of Star Wars collecting this year!
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Darth Vader
Hot Toys’ newest 1/6 scale Star Wars figure is up for pre-order now: Darth Vader.
Darth Vader is one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars saga and has frequently been regarded as one of the greatest villains in cinema history. Following the release of “The Circle is Now Complete’ teaser earlier last month, Star Wars fans have already been eagerly waiting for the official reveal of the Sith Lord!
And now Hot Toys is welcoming fans to the dark side and officially introduce the highly-detailed and amazingly-crafted Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope: 1/6th scale Darth Vader Collectible Figure complete with the Sith Lord’s iconic breathing sound effects and LED lighted functions!
The movie-accurate collectible figure is specially crafted based on the image of Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope! It features a sophisticatedly-crafted Darth Vader armor and helmet, specially tailored suit, built-in sound effect function with Darth Vader’s breathing sound, LED-lighted lightsaber and belt, a finely-made Interrogator Droid, and a specially designed figure stand.
Embrace the dark side and add the infamous Dark Lord of the Sith to your Star Wars collection!
The figure comes with 9 interchangeable hands, a LED lit lightsaber, a special figure stand, and an Interrogator droid!
Continue your 1/6 Scale Hot Toys figure collection by ordering Darth Vader now from Sideshow Collectibles!
Is this an improvement over Sideshow’s own 1/6 scale Darth Vader? Let us know in the comments below!
Avengers NOW – Trailer Released
The most popular characters. The most acclaimed creators. The most ambitious stories. This is the recharged Avengers NOW!
The Avengers are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but these Avengers are something new! Witness the Avengers like you’ve never seen them before as the industry’s top creators and brightest rising starts deliver can’t miss new ongoing series like Thor, All-New Captain America, Superior Iron Man and more.
Find these all-new ongoing series in comic shops, on the Marvel Comics app and on Marvel.com. To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com and visit Marvel.com for more info on Avengers NOW!
Frank Oz returns as the voice of Yoda in the all-new Star Wars Rebels episode
Frank Oz returns as the voice of Yoda in the all-new Star Wars Rebels episode,
“Path of the Jedi!”
Recognizing it’s time for Ezra to undertake his next important step in Jedi training, Kanan and his apprentice quest for an ancient Jedi Temple on Lothal. Once there, Ezra begins a series of Jedi tests and receives some unexpected guidance from Jedi Master Yoda.
Frank Oz was interviewed about his portrayal of Yoda. Read it below!
Watch a clip from REBELS below!
Happy Holidays From MARVEL SUPER HEROES (WHAT THE–?!)
Happy Holidays From MARVEL SUPER HEROES: WHAT THE–?!
Enjoy this brand new Holiday Spectacular episode of Marvel Super Heroes: What The—?! His latest schemes against the Inhumans finds Thanos, the Mad Titan is forced to impersonate a beloved and jolly holiday figure! Also featuring Hawkeye, Hulk, Spider-Man, and more! Watch the holiday hijinx ensue in the latest episode of Marvel Super Heroes: What The—?!
FEAR CLINIC is accepting appointments on Blu-ray and DVD starting February 10, 2015!
Time to face your fears. What if your fears faced you?
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT DARES YOU TO ENTER THE…
FEAR CLINIC
Starring Robert Englund, Fiona Dourif, Corey Taylor, Angelina Armani and Thomas Dekker
Step Into The Fear Chamber Starting February 10, 2015
on Blu-ray™ and DVD
After terrifying audiences from coast to coast – Closing Night Event at ScreamFest 2014 Los Angeles and Opening Night Screening at 2014 New York City Horror Film Festival – Fear Clinic, the latest excursion into unrelenting terror will be released on Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 10, 2015 by Anchor Bay Entertainment. The highly anticipated shocker stars horror icon Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund, Fiona Dourif, Angelina Armani, Thomas Dekker, as well as Stone Sour and Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor in his acting debut, and is directed by Robert G. Hall (Lightning Bug, Laid to Rest, ChromeSkull: Laid To Rest II).
With blood-chilling special effects by award-winning FX creators Robert Kurtzman and Steve Johnson, Fear Clinic will take viewers on an unforgettable journey into the very soul of terror itself. SRP is $26.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $22.98 for the DVD, with pre-book on January 7.
Co-written by Hall and Aaron Drane, the film is based on the critically acclaimed and fan favorite 2009 FEARnet.com series. When trauma-induced phobias begin to re-emerge in five survivors a year after their horrifying tragedy, they return to the “Fear Clinic,” hoping to find the answers they need to get cured.
Dr. Andover (Robert Englund), a fear doctor who runs the clinic, uses his “Fear Chamber” to animate their fears in the form of terrifying hallucinations. However, the good doctor soon begins to suspect that something more sinister may be at work, something that yearns to be more than just an hallucination…
Bonus features on Fear Clinic Blu-ray™ and DVD to be announced.
FEAR CLINIC Blu-ray™
Street Date: February 10, 2015
Pre-book: January 7, 2015
Cat. #: BD62075
UPC: 0 1313 262075-6
Run Time: 95 minutes
Rating: R (pending)
SRP: $26.99
Format: Widescreen 2.40:1 1080p
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
FEAR CLINIC DVD
Street Date: February 10, 2015
Pre-book: January 7, 2015
Cat. #: DV62074
UPC: 0 1313 262074-9
Run Time: 95 minutes
Rating: R (pending)
SRP: $22.98
Format: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
We Are (Baby) Groot! Pre-Order Alert
Hot Toys Enters the Quarter Scale Marvel Market in a Small Way with the pre-order for the Little Groot Quarter Scale Figure.
In 2012 Hot Toys announced they held the license for Quarter Scale Marvel Figures. The company is widely known for their detailed (and expensive) Marvel sixth scale figures, including over 20 versions of Iron Man, and many collectors wondered what the cost of such items would be. Yet since the announcement Hot Toys has limited their 1/4 Scale releases to Iron Man busts. Now Hot Toys releases their first full figure in Quarter Scale, but it’s not Iron Man, nor any other humanoid creature–it’s Little Groot, as seen at the end of this year’s top-grossing film Guardians of the Galaxy.
In 1/4 scale, this potted Groot stands about 5.5-inches tall. Yet the figure is fully bendable allowing for a variety of poses. With three separate head sculpts you can have serious Groot, dancing Groot, or super-happy Groot!
The collector in me is worried about long-term wear on the figure from too much bending, but the Groot fan in me finds this too cute to prevent me from buying it!
At under $45 I think this figure would be Hot Toys’ top-selling figure of all time, except the market is flooded with baby Groot figures. Funko has their POP Vinyl version released; a low-cost animatronic dancing Baby Groot has surfaced at Wal Mart stores in the USA, KIDdesigns has a dancing Baby Groot shipping this Spring, Dragon has a full-scale Baby Groot Maquette, and Hot Toys themselves have already put up for pre-order two different Baby Groot figures in the 1/6 scale line–accessories with the Rocket and (full size, adult) Groot 2-figure set.
Still, at under $45 this is a great gift item that will likely sell quickly. So go GROOT yours now at Sideshow Collectibles!
Hail to the King With the KING-SIZE KIRBY Collection!
Hail to the King With the KING-SIZE KIRBY Collection!
He’s the King of Comics. A man who left an indelible mark upon the medium, using his peerless imagination to create some of the greatest stories and characters ever told. In 2015, celebrate Jack “King” Kirby’s incredible contribution to comic book history in the monumental, decades-spanning KING-SIZE KIRBY HARDCOVER collection!
Presented in Marvel’s Adamantium-sized format, this titanic tome clocks in at more than 800 pages of Kirby’s finest stories and stands more than a foot tall! For the first time ever, fans will be able to experience these truly genre-defining stories in a format that complements Jack Kirby’s unsurpassed art and storytelling abilities.
“If there were a Mount Rushmore of American comic book artists, Jack Kirby would be front and center,” says Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso.
Whether it was westerns, romance, war, horror, sci-fi, humor or super heroes – Jack Kirby could do it all! From Captain America punching Adolf Hitler to the super heroic creation of the Fantastic Four, X-Men and Avengers on to the far-out space opera of the Eternals, savor Jack Kirby’s most iconic comics in this one, unforgettable collection.
“Fans should reinforce their bookshelves and coffee tables,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “This one is going to be huge – literally! We’re aiming to bring fans the ultimate collection, the ultimate collectable and the definitive Jack Kirby experience. The King of Comics deserves no less.”
This summer, experience the work of Jack Kirby brought to life like never before. A collection for the ages, experience the groundbreaking storytelling of one of the medium’s greatest pioneers when the KING-SIZE KIRBY HARDCOVER hits stores in July! Hail to the King.
KING-SIZE KIRBY collects material from RED RAVEN #1; MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #13; CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS (1941) #1, 7; TALES TO ASTONISH #5; RAWHIDE KID #17; AMAZING ADVENTURES (1961) #1, STRANGE TALES #89, #94 and #114; TEEN-AGE ROMANCE #84; FANTASTIC FOUR #1, #48-51, #57-60 and ANNUAL #5; INCREDIBLE HULK #3; TWO-GUN KID #60; LOVE ROMANCES #103; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8; SGT. FURY #6 and #13; AVENGERS #4; TALES OF SUSPENSE #59; X-MEN #9; THOR #134-136 and #155-157; NOT BRAND ECHH #1; AMAZING ADVENTURES (1970) #1-2; CAPTAIN AMERICA’S BICENTENNIAL BATTLES; CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #200; ETERNALS #7; DEVIL DINOSAUR #1; and WHAT IF? #11
KING-SIZE KIRBY HC
Written by JACK KIRBY, MARTIN BURNSTEIN, JOE SIMON & STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY
On Sale JULY 2015!
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys Quarter-Scale Boba Fett Figure
The ultimate bounty from Hot Toys is now available for Pre-Order – their Quarter Scale Return of the Jedi Boba Fett Figure.
In July Hot Toys announced they had obtained the rights to sell figures based on the Star Wars films. The only releases so far had been in their 1/6 scale (12-inch) Movie Masterpiece Series line. Boba Fett is the first release in their quarter-scale (18-inch) line of figures, bringing a level of quality, articulation, and accessories never before seen in Star Wars figures of this scale.
In terms of size, this figure matches a Sideshow Collectibles Premium Format Figure, or figures in Diamond Select Toys’ (now cancelled) quarter-scale figure line. But while the Sideshow “figure” is really a statue, and the Diamond Select Toys’ figure was a toy that did not attempt realistic likenesses and high articulation, Hot Toys is bringing the detail of their Movie Masterpiece figures to this giant size.
Standing nearly 18-inches tall (45cm to be exact), this Boba Fett figure has a helmet with an articulated rangefinder and extremely detailed Mandolorian armor designed to match the bounty hunter’s appearance in Return of the Jedi. Underneath that armor you’ll find over 30 points of articulation allowing a huge variety of poses. And more, you get seven interchangable hands for different gestures, and a huge number of accessories including two blaster rifles (regular and damaged), a survival knife, an anti-security blade, and more! Plus if you get the Special Edition (exclusively through Sideshow Collectibles) you also get a blaster sidearm with holster which Boba Fett has in Star Wars: Episode V Empire Strikes Back.
Don’t miss the chance to add the fearsome bounty hunter to your prized collection!
Find out all the details and pre-order now at Sideshow Collectibles!
New Podcast: Star Wars Action News Episode 438: Tarkin ‘Bout Toys
With a review of James Lucino’s new Star Wars novel Tarkin and Jerry looking back on books of yesteryear, and ThinkGeek plushes too, you’ll find all this and more in this Episode of Star Wars Action News!
We want you to join our team! We have openings currently for video editors, audio editors, and photo editors! Find out all the details in our forums!
MARVEL & STEPHEN KING’S DARK FANTASY EPIC RETURNS IN DARK TOWER: THE DRAWING OF THE THREE – HOUSE OF CARDS #1
MARVEL & STEPHEN KING’S DARK FANTASY EPIC RETURNS IN
DARK TOWER: THE DRAWING OF THE THREE – HOUSE OF CARDS #1
Eddie Dean Comes Face to Face with the Gunslinger!
New York, NY (December 16th, 2014) – Marvel, in collaboration with Stephen King, is proud to announce the latest chapter in the Dark Tower series – DARK TOWER: THE DRAWING OF THE THREE – HOUSE OF CARDS. Beginning in March 2015, New York Times Best-Selling writers Peter David (Spider-Man 2099) & Robin Furth (The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance) along with critically acclaimed artist Piotr Kowalski (Marvel Knights: Hulk) continue to bring the dark macabre action from Mid-World to our world in the third installment of Stephen King’s epic masterpiece!
THE DARK TOWER: DRAWING OF THE THREE – HOUSE OF CARDS marks another milestone for the graphic fiction sensation that’s captivated fans worldwide as the saga moves to the second volume of King’s magnum opus.
The troubled streets of New York City pulse with the beat of desolation and crime. Among the dissidents of the city is Eddie Dean a troubled young man gifted with the ability to open doors to other worlds has smuggled narcotics from Nassau to New York City, but now Eddie has to escape a packed airplane guarded by armed Custom Agents! How will Eddie avoid prison and yet also fulfill his contract with the dangerous mobster Balazar? The answer lies in Mid-World, and with a dying gunslinger named Roland!
“In the latest chapter of King’s epic tale there are some fascinating connections being made within the Dark Tower mythos, expanding on the histories of the characters and revealing their twisted ‘family tree,’ says series Editor Mark Paniccia. “Fans will get a real thrill as we discover what kind of role Eddie Dean plays in Roland Deschain’s plans to bring the tower down.”
A bold new chapter begins as the landmark series makes its historic return to comic shops this March in Stephen King’s THE DARK TOWER: THE DRAWING OF THE THREE – HOUSE OF CARDS #1.
STEPHEN KING’S THE DARK TOWER:
THE DRAWING OF THE THREE – HOUSE OF CARDS #1
Written by ROBIN FURTH & PETER DAVID
Art by PIOTR KOWALSKI
Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
On Sale March 2015!
Relive the Original Marvel STAR WARS™ Adaptations With Remastered Graphic Novels in 2015!
Relive the Original Marvel STAR WARS™ Adaptations
With Remastered Graphic Novels in 2015!
Next year, the original Marvel Comic adaptations of the iconic Star Wars trilogy return for new, oversized graphic novels with remastered coloring! It all starts this May as the first original comic adaptation of the greatest space-fantasy film of all time is reborn for the modern age as STAR WARS™: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE makes it’s triumphant return to comic shops!
Weeks before George Lucas’ first STAR WARS film hit theatres, Marvel gave eager fans their very first look at Luke Skywalker, boldly asking “Will he save the galaxy, or destroy it?” Over 30 years later, you know the answer, but that doesn’t spoil the excitement of reliving this now classic adaptation like you’ve never seen it before – including scenes that never made it to the silver screen! Written by Roy Thomas with art by Howard Chaykin, this iconic story has been remastered for the modern age all-new coloring by Chris Sotomayor.
“When Star Wars took the world by storm in 1977, Marvel Comics was right there with exciting comic adaptations and new stories set in a galaxy far, far away,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “With new Star Wars comics being published by Marvel in 2015, we’re proud to look back on this exciting remastered adaptation of the original film, with remastered adaptations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi coming later in 2015.”
Debuting in an oversized hardcover format with sophisticated packaging and a new cover by famed artist Adi Granov, relive the original Marvel Comics adventure of Luke, Han, Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 and the villainous Darth Vader again – or for the very first time. It’s six against an entire galaxy – one that’s far, far away and a long time ago!
May the Force be with you, and in the mighty Marvel manner this May when the remastered STAR WARS™: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE OGN HC comes to comic shops and bookstores in 2015!
For more on Star Wars please visit marvel.com and join in the conversation on Twitter with #StarWars. To experience Star Wars online, visit StarWars.com or follow Star Wars on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ or YouTube.
Pre-Order Alert: Entertainment Earth Exclusive Planet X Groot!
Planet X Groot available exclusively through Entertainment Earth.
“I am Groot.” And now you can say “I own Groot… as a limited edition Planet X Groot Premium Hikari Sofubi Vinyl Figure – an Entertainment Earth Exclusive! From the Guardians of the Galaxy film, one of Marvel’s biggest characters has been transformed into the popular Hikari format. Planet X Groot features an auburn and brown distressed color deco. At a colossal 11-inches tall, the Guardians of the Galaxy Planet X Groot Premium Hikari Sofubi Vinyl Figure is a limited edition of only 1,000 pieces that comes individually numbered and packaged in a window box for easy display!
Pre-Order now at www.entertainmentearth.com!
Who Will Rule New York City’s Underworld? Find Out in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: SPIRAL!
Who Will Rule New York City’s Underworld? Find Out in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: SPIRAL!
This March, experience a Spider-Man story like you’ve never seen before as Peter Parker takes on the criminal underworld in Amazing Spider-Man: Spiral, a brand new 5-issue series beginning in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16.1! Legendary Spidey writer Gerry Conway returns to the webhead along with blockbuster artist Carlo Barberi for an all-new tale of crime, corruption, and the dark corners of the Marvel Universe that will alter the landscape of the criminal underworld!
Spider-Verse may be over, but Peter Parker’s troubles are just beginning. A crime wave rips through New York City. The underworld is still in flux following the Kingpin’s removal from Shadowland. Gangs wage turf wars unchecked on the streets of Manhattan. The gang war is heating up and Spidey is going to do something about it!
Only he’s not alone! Police Captain Yuri Watanabe meters out her own justice both as a member of the NYPD and as the vigilante known as THE WRAITH! But do she and Spider-Man play by the same rules? How far is she willing to go to keep New York safe?
“Hammerhead; Tombstone; the Circus of Crime; Black Cat and Mr. Negative – they’re all at each other’s throats because there’s no single overlord of crime currently running things in New York,” says Gerry Conway in an interview with Marvel.com. “Things only escalated, especially after the Goblin King fell out of the scene and Doc Ock is no longer operating as the Superior Spider-Man – keeping a lid on everything.”
Only one criminal can rule the underworld. But that won’t stop them from waging war in order to claim the throne. Who will come out on top? And who will be left standing when it’s over? Find out when the epic Amazing Spider-Man: Spiral kicks off in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16.1 this March!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16.1
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art by CARLO BARBERI
Cover by ART ADAMS
On Sale March 2015!
The End is FOURever Begins in FANTASTIC FOUR #642!
The End is FOURever Begins in FANTASTIC FOUR #642!
This January, the countdown begins…and the end of Marvel’s first family is upon us in FANTASTIC FOUR #642 – the first chapter in The End is FOURever! Blockbuster writer James Robinson and artist Leonard Kirk’s epic endgame begins as the Invaders crash headlong into the Fantastic Four and the hunt for Reed Richards and the missing Future Foundation kids takes a dangerous turn! Meanwhile, the mastermind behind the systematic dismantling of the Fantastic Four reveals his ultimate plan. But how does Franklin Richards and his unchecked powers factor in? And why are Jim Hammond, Namor, All-New Captain America and Doc Green hunting the remaining members of the Fantastic Four? Nothing lasts forever. Don’t miss the beginning of the end this January in FANTASTIC FOUR #642!
FANTASTIC FOUR #642 (NOV140807)
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art & Cover by LEONARD KIRK
Connecting Cover Variant by MICHAEL GOLDEN (NOV140808)
Character Variant by JIM CHEUNG (NOV140809)
FOC – 12/15/14, On Sale – 1/14/15
To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook.
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys Iron Man Striker Armor Mk XXV
Just a few days ago Sideshow Collectibles put up for pre-order the exclusive Hot Toys Iron Man Hot Rod Armor – Mark XXII. That piece has sold out in just a couple days (though Sideshow is taking Wait List reservations, so if you might want that figure join the list now!)
But now, just a few days later, they have another one up for order: The Iron Man Mark XXV: The Striker Armor.
As seen in Iron Man 3, Tony Stark has built the Striker (Mark XXV), also known as the Heavy Construction Suit. This suit is designed for assisting in heavy construction with its distinctive Pneumatic Hammers. Although the hammers are not designed for combat, they still proved to be lethal when Striker assisted in eradicating the two Extremis soldiers attacking James Rhodes.
The Iron Man Mark XXV – Striker Sixth Scale Figure features:
- Authentic and detailed likeness of Striker (Mark XXV), the Heavy Construction Suit, in Iron Man 3
- Over 30 points of articulation
- Approximately 34 cm tall
- LED light-up eyes and rectangular-shaped RT on chest (white light, battery operated)
- Silver, gray, and yellow painting on armor with specially applied distressed effects
- Special features of armor:
– A pair of distinctive Pneumatic Hammers with LED light up function (white light, battery operated)
– Articulated air flaps
– Articulations on waist armor allowing flexible movement
Accessory:
- One (1) circular figure stage with flexible pillar
This figure is up for pre-order, and Flex Pay is available, so get your order in now at Sideshow Collectibles site!
Get your Guardians of the Galaxy signed by James Gunn on Dec 12
Meet the Director and Co-Writer of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Friday, December 12th at Amoeba Music in Hollywood!
This event is at Amoeba Music, 6400 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, on Friday December 12th 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
ABOUT GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
The Claws Come Out This January in WOLVERINES #1!
The Claws Come Out This January in WOLVERINES #1!
New Weekly Series Spinning Out of Death of Wolverine!
His death was only the beginning. Spinning directly out of the chart-topping Death of Wolverine, The Logan Legacy and The Weapon X Program comes a brand-new weekly series kicking off this January in WOLVERINES #1! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your new look at the blockbuster first issue from the star-studded creative team of Charles Soule, Ray Fawkes, Alisson Borges and All-New Young Gun artist Nick Bradshaw!
Wolverine may be dead, but the weekly journey is just beginning as his mortal remains, now encased in the rare and powerful adamantium, are up for grabs. The battle begins as various factions vie for control of this valuable artifact. But why does it matter so much? And why is a war brewing in Logan’s name?
Death is on the books for a number of Marvel’s heroes and villains, and Mystique is playing chess with them all. X-23, Daken, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, the mysterious man known only as Sharp and many, many more!
“In a way, most of the characters featured in [Wolverines] are incomplete reflections of Wolverine,” says co-writer Ray Fawkes in an interview with Marvel.com “Perhaps now that he’s gone, they are free to fully realize themselves? Or maybe they’ll be annihilated by the void that he’s left behind?”
The true enemy is still out there. With Logan gone, they pose a greater threat than ever before. An unlikely team of his closest allies and most bitter rivals will need to work together if they have any hope of avenging his death – but how can they?
“The group here is not a set of people who are particularly interested in doing anything together unless they absolutely have to,” says Charles Soule.
Logan’s end was just the beginning. As those who called him friend mourn his passing, those who called him foe are free to pursue their sinister aims. Now, those with close ties to him will forge an uneasy alliance to uncover the secrets behind his death, and new revelations about his life!
2015 is kicking off with the “SNIKT” that shouldn’t be missed as the weekly adventure begins in WOLVERINES #1!
WOLVERINES #1 (NOV140736)
Written by CHARLES SOULE & RAY FAWKES
Art & Cover by NICK BRADSHAW & ALISSON BORGES
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO (NOV140737)
ZACH HOWARD (NOV140740) & SKOTTIE YOUNG (NOV140738)
BLANK VARIANT (NOV140741) & CANADA VARIANT (NOV140742) Also Available
Welcome Home Variant by SALVADOR LARROCA (NOV140739)
On-Sale – 1/07/15
To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook.
Star Wars #1: Hasbro Previews Exclusive Variant
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys – Iron Man 3 Hot Rod (Mark XXII) Collectible Figure (Hot Toys Exclusive)
Sideshow has just put up for pre-order Hot Toys’ newest exclusive die cast Iron Man 3 suit of armor — the Hot Rod Mark XXII.
Tony Stark designed the Mark XXII armor as a War Machine 2.0 Prototype Suit in Iron Man 3. This lightly-armed suit is built with versatility in mind being able to dodge obstacles and move around mid-air more swiftly. Tony Stark was just about to jump into the suit in the movie before it got attack by an Extremis soldier. It earns the name of “Hot Rod” as its arms and legs’ design resembles the classic American hot rod with flames.
Now, with this pre-order, Hot Toys is expanding the “House Party Protocol” with the 1/6th scale Hot Rod (Mark XXII) Collectible Figure as a Hot Toys Exclusive item. It is the latest addition to their MMS Diecast Series which the collectible figures are made of diecast material, and realistically designed to look more like Hot Rod as it appears in the movie.
The movie-accurate Hot Rod (Mark XXII) Collectible Figure contains diecast material and is crafted with fine details featuring metallic dark gray, silver and red armor with distinctive flame patterns on legs and LED light-up functions.
If you are an Iron Man fans, don’t miss the chance to add this special armor to your House Party Protocol!
This item is exclusive to the “Toy Soul 2014” event in Hong Kong on Dec 19-21 but you can secure yours now from Sideshow Collectibles!
The 1/6th scale Hot Rod (Mark XXII) Collectible Figure’s special features:
– Authentic likeness of Hot Rod (Mark XXII), the War Machine 2.0 Prototype Suit, in Iron Man 3
– Approximately 30 cm tall
– Over 36 points of articulations
– Contains diecast material
– LED-lighted eyes and rectangular-shaped arc reactor on chest (white light, battery operated)
– Metallic dark gray, silver and red armor with distinctive flame patterns on legs
– Interchangeable forearm rocket-launching armor
– Seven (7) pieces of interchangeable palms including:
– One (1) pair of palms with movable fingers and light-up repulsors
(white light, battery operated)
– One (1) pair of fists
– One (1) pair of repulsor palms
– One (1) saluting right palm
– Articulations on waist armor which allow flexible movement
Accessory:
– One (1) LED light-up figure stand with movie logo (white light, battery operated)
This figure is expected to ship in January. The other Hot Toys Toy Soul 2014 exclusive, the Shadow Stormtrooper, sold out in a few hours, so don’t make that mistake and miss out on this rare chance to add the Hot Rod armor to your collection! Pre-order now at Sideshow Collectibles site!
MUCK arrives from Anchor Bay Entertainment March 17, 2015 on Blu-ray and DVD!
The Lucky Ones Are Already Dead
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT
WADES INTO THE…
MUCK
With Kane Hodder, Lachlan Buchanan,
2012 Playboy PMOY Jaclyn Swedberg, and Lauren Francesca
The Race for Survival Begins March 17, 2015 on Blu-ray™ and DVD;
Limited Theatrical Engagement starts Friday, March 13th!
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – This St. Patrick’s Day, Anchor Bay Entertainment invites fans for a little bit’o the green and a LOT of the red with MUCK, a chiller seething with the greatest fear of all: that nowhere is safe! The directorial debut of Steve Wolsh, who also wrote and produced, MUCK reads like a bloody love letter filled with just the sort of jolts horror fans have been waiting to hear – and see!
Shot in state-of-the-art 4K Ultra HD resolution, MUCK is packed with old-school effects, shocks – and yes, breasts – that stick with you, creating terror with effects and stunts without the use of CGI. MUCK arrives Tuesday, March 17th – uncut, uncensored, and unrated – available on Blu-ray™ for $26.99 and $22.98 for the DVD. Pre-book on February 11th.
For fans who like their 4K horror on the big screen, MUCK will also have a limited theatrical engagement starting Friday, March 13th.
After narrowly escaping an ancient burial ground, long forgotten and buried underneath the marshes of Cape Cod, a group of friends emerge from the thick, marshy darkness, tattered and bloody, lucky to be alive. They have already lost two of their friends in the marsh, presumably dead. They stumble upon an empty Cape Cod vacation house alongside the foggy marsh and break in to take shelter. Whatever was in the marsh is still after them and soon after one of them goes for help, the rest of the group learns that the evil in the marsh is not the only thing that wants them dead. Something worse, something more savage, was lying in wait just outside the marsh, in the house. What happens next is unspeakable horror that cannot be unseen. These unlucky travelers spend their St. Patrick’s Day trapped between two evils forcing them to fight, die, or go back the way they came.
Featuring Kane Hodder (Hatchet, Jason Voorhees in four of the Friday the 13th films), Lachlan Buchanan (“Pretty Little Liars”), Puja Mohindra (Foreign), Bryce Draper (Bound) and YouTube Sensation Lauren Francesca (iwantmylauren), MUCK is throwback horror at its best.
About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading home entertainment company. Anchor Bay acquires and distributes feature films, original television programming including STARZ Original series, children’s entertainment, anime (Manga Entertainment), fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports, and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. The company has long term distribution agreements in place for select programming with AMC Networks, RADiUS, and The Weinstein Company. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com) is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com.
MUCK Blu-ray™
Street Date: March 17, 2015
Pre-book: February 11, 2015
Cat. #: BD62847
UPC: 0 1313 262847-6
Run Time: 98:27
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $26.99
MUCK DVD
Street Date: March 17, 2015
Pre-book: February 11, 2015
Cat. #: DV62467
UPC: 0 1313 262467-9
Run Time: 98:27
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $22.98
The Force is Strong With Your New Look at STAR WARS™ #1
The Force is Strong With Your New Look at STAR WARS™ #1
New York, NY – December 5th, 2014 – Lucasfilm Ltd. and Marvel Entertainment are extremely proud to present your new look at the highly anticipated STAR WARS #1 – the blockbuster new ongoing series welcoming Star Wars™ back home to the House of Ideas! The all-star creative team of Jason Aaron (Thor, Original Sin), artist John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men) and colorist Laura Martin bring a galaxy far, far away to life like never before as the adventures of the Rebel Alliance continue following the events of Star Wars: A New Hope!
“Every story is about the characters, and we’ll focus on all the old favorites,” writer Jason Aaron tells Marvel.com “There will be big moments for everyone, from Han to R2-D2. But a major part of the narrative will be driven by Luke Skywalker and his journey of discovery, a journey that will decide the fate of the entire galaxy.”
Taking place immediately after the destruction of the first Death Star, join Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, R2-D2 and C-3PO as the Rebel Alliance attempts to liberate the galaxy from Darth Vader and the tyranny of the Empire! Created in close partnership with Lucasfilm, this new ongoing comic series will exist as part of the canon for the Star Wars Universe!
“If you’re not excited for Star Wars right now, you must be living under a rock!” says Star Wars Editor Jordan D. White. “All anyone is talking about is that awesome teaser…and it’s still a whole year before the movie comes out! Fortunately, we’ve been working overtime to bring you all-new adventures of the original Star Wars gang to satisfy everyone’s hunger for space adventure! Jason Aaron, Kieron Gillen, Mark Waid—these are some of the best writers in the comics industry, and they are sparing no expense to craft stories that live up to the classic series with the same feel and tone of the original. Combine them with the amazing artwork of John Cassaday, Salvador Larroca, and Terry Dodson—each one a serious Star Wars fan themselves—and trust me…these comics will be everything you could want from a Star Wars series.”
The world of Star Wars™ is set to make it’s triumphant return to Marvel beginning in January 2015, and now is your chance to jump on board the brand new series for one of the biggest launches of the year! Take your first step into a larger world when STAR WARS #1 comes to comic shops and digital devices this January!
For more on Star Wars please visit marvel.com and join in the conversation on Twitter with #StarWars. To experience Star Wars online, visit StarWars.com or follow Star Wars on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ or YouTube.
STAR WARS #1 (NOV140709)
Written by JASON AARON
Art & Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Variant Covers by JOHN CASSADAY (NOV140711), BOB MCLEOD (NOV140712),
JOE QUESADA (NOV140714), ALEX ROSS (NOV140716), SARA PICHELLI (NOV140718), SKOTTIE YOUNG (NOV140719) and J. SCOTT CAMPBELL (NOV140710)
Party Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (NOV140720)
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (NOV140721)
Movie Variant Also Available (NOV140713)
Quesada Sketch Variant, Ross Sketch Variant
and Christopher Party Sketch Variant Also Available
FOC – 12/08/14, On Sale 01/14/15
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow Iron Man Mk II Maquette
The awesome Iron Man Mk II maquette, based on the design seen in the original Iron Man film, is now up for pre-order at Sideshow Collectibles!
This statue is replicated in 1/4 scale, standing 26-inches tall and weighing 15 pounds! The clean, silver suit is crafted from polystone and finished with a high gloss metallic paint and light-up features in the eyes, chest, and hands.
Add this to your own hall of armor now!
Pre-Order Alert: 12-Inch X-Wing Luke Skywalker Figure from Sideshow Collectibles
Sideshow Collectibles continues their line of 1/6 Scale Star Wars figures with a new Luke Skywalker in X-Wing pilot gear!
This figure features:
- Newly Designed and Fully Articulated Light Body
- Highly Detailed Luke Skywalker Portrait
- Helmet with Visor and Comlink
- Detailed Flight Pressurized G-Suit
- Flak Vest
- Life Support Unit with Chest Pack Straps
- Gear Harness with Belt Flares
- Data Cylinders
- Flight Boots
- Right and Left Relaxed Flight Gloved Hands
- Right and Left Flight Gloved Fists
- Right Force Gesture Flight Gloved Hand
- Right and Left Flight Boots
- Signal Flares
- Support Stand with Yavin Base Flight Deck Graphic
So hurry and order your exclusive edition of this figure now at Sideshow Collectibles!
And while at Sideshow’s site check out their Spooktacular Halloween event with savings on tons of collectibles, many with discounted prices and free shipping, and many with extra rewards as well! From the high end Darth Maul Legendary Scale figure to the Snowtrooper Premium Format figure down to a bunch of sixth scale figures including 4-LOM and several clones, these deals are only good until Oct 31! Plus bargains on other Hot Toys, Marvel items, G.I. Joe figures and more!
Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Thor 3, Avengers 3 and 4 Announced by Marvel Studios
In a move worthy of Apple, Marvel Studios held a presentation today unveiling its third phase of films based on the characters from Marvel Comics.
While several expected titles were told, many surprises were there as well.
With this announcement, the current slate of movies from Marvel Studios are:
May 1, 2015
Avengers: Age of Ultron. Director: Joss Whedon.
Starring: Robert Downey, Jrl, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, James Spader, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Hayley Atwell, Andy Serkis
View the trailer below:
July 27, 2015
Ant-Man
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly
May 6, 2016
Captain America: Civil War
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chadwick Boseman
November 4, 2016
Doctor Strange
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch (rumored)
May 5, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper (all rumored)
July 28, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok
Director: ???
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston (rumored)
November 3, 2017
Black Panther
Director: ???
Starring: Chadwick Boseman
May 4, 2018
Avengers: Infinity War Part 1
Director: ???
Starring: ???
July 6, 2018
Captain Marvel
Director: ???
Starring: ???
November 2, 2018
Inhumans
Director: ???
Starring: ???
May 4, 2018
Avengers: Infinity War Part 2
Director: ???
Starring: ???
These titles bring back many established heroes while bringing in new ones and meeting the call for diversity among superhero films (a female-led film and a superhero film starring a black man). Conspicuous by their absence are any additional Iron Man films, as well as any films featuring popular Avengers heroes Hulk or Black Widow.
How do you feel about this line-up of movies over the next five years? Let us know in the comments below!
Marvel Movie Pre-Order Alerts: Hot Toys Wolverine and Hikari Sofubi Groot
Fans of movies based on Marvel Comics characters have several pre-orders hitting today!
First, from the film X-Men: Days of Future Past Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles bring Wolverine! This figure has over 30 points of articulation, 3 pairs of swappable hands (with and without claws!), and an outfit representing Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in the dystopian future shown at the film’s opening. It stands just under 12-inches tall, and comes with a specialized Wolverine display base.
Now, it’s no secret that licensees have issues making toys and collectibles based on 20th Century Fox’s X-Men and Fantastic Four films. The last X-Men film to receive a big marketing push was X-Men Origins: Wolverine back in 2009. In 2011, covering New York Toy Fair for Marvelicious Toys, I interviewed one of the Marvel reps at Hasbro’s presentation. I was shocked at a lack of toys for that summer’s X-Men: First Class and I asked about that. I was told that Marvel would be marketing their X-Men: First Class comic books, not the movies. Indeed, in the past five years it has been hard to find any toys or statues based on the X-Men movies; only the comics. Only Diamond Select, with their Minimates lines, has covered all the Marvel movies regardless of studio.
In 2012 Hot Toys announced a licensing agreement for figures based on X-Men: First Class and Magneto and Charles Xavier figures were shown at various Hot Toys exhibits, but they never were released. It is more than likely pressure from Marvel has caused those figures to be indefinitely delayed, if not altogether cancelled.
Yet Hot Toys has persevered in releasing X-Men movie toys…if only Wolverine figures. Their first was from X-Men Origins: Wolverine released in 2009. That figure shot up in value and even had some high-quality bootlegs sold on eBay. As such, in 2012 Hot Toys made another Wolverine figure from X-Men III: The Last Stand. Then last year Hot Toys made another version of this character, showing his appearance in The Wolverine (still available to order, at a deep discount, from Sideshow Collectibles). This Days of Future Past Wolverine is the 4th version of this character.
Despite how much I really want Hot Toys to finally release the other X-Men figures (specifically the yellow-and-blue clad X-Men from First Class) Wolverine is the most popular X-Man. Each version of this figure has been distinct, and showing a likeness of Hugh Jackman appropriate to that film. This is an older Jackman likeness, and the future outfit is far different from any we’ve gotten before.
At $250 the figure is a bit more expensive than I’d like–with no large diorama pieces, excessive accessories, or swappable heads I’d prefer to see this around $200 like The Wolverine version, but it’s still a great version of the character.
I have it ordered already, both for the figure it is, plus I’m hoping that by “voting with my dollars” Hot Toys and Marvel realize high-end figures based on the X-Men films are profitable enough to continue beyond Wolverine.
(as an aside, X-Men: Days of Future Past came out on DVD and Blu-Ray this week, and the collector’s edition is almost half off at Amazon!)
If you prefer Marvel Studios’ own films, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, a new collectible is available for you as well! From Funko comes the Entertainment Earth exclusive Hikari Premium Sofubi Vinyl Figure of Groot!
While that’s a lot of adjectives, Funko’s Hikari Premium Sofubi Vinyl Figures are 11-inch soft vinyl figures. This one is limited to 5,000 pieces and only available from Entertainment Earth.
Funko is known for having several variants for each of their Sofubi figures, from color changes to translucent glittery versions. Several variants of the Groot Hikari Vinyl Figure were displayed at New York Comic-Con, but this Entertainment Earth version seems to be the most movie-accurate. You can order it now at EE.
And for Hikari collectors, Barnes and Noble just put up their exclusive black-and-white version of the Spider-Man figure, called “Dangerous Spider-Man” for $71. That is not a pre-order; mine has shipped already.
Pre-Order Alert: Spider-Man J Scott Campbell Maquette, Classic Colors, from Sideshow Collectibles
Up for pre-order right now is Sideshow Collectibles’ Spider-Man Classic Polystone Statue, part of their J. Scott Campbell Spider-Man Collection.
This statue stands over a foot-and-a-half tall, showing the wall crawler doing just that, ready to shoot his webs at an unknown enemy.
This statue is based on the same art and sculpt of their previous J. Scott Campbell Spider-Man statue, but features the web-head in his black-and-red coloring from the McFarlane era. More, the base is re-decorated showing a broken off, classic Spider-Man logo, resembling a comic book cover in three dimensions far more than the previous red and blue statue.
Sideshow Collectibles has been finding ways to reuse their sculpts for some time now. While this isn’t entirely new, they did a Gray Hulk and Negative Zone Spider-Man Premium Format Figures, it seems more prevalent now than before. In the past year they released the Storm Premium Format in white, the Gladiator Hulk redone as King Hulk, they used a new Hulk body to release three different Hulk statues, and then repainted their Deadpool Premium Format Gray.
On Marvelicious Toys I’ve usually railed against high-end repaints–it’s fine for a $12 or $20 figure, but seems excessive for a $300-$400 statue. In this case, however, it feels less like a cash-grab and more artistic. The exclusive version of the Campbell Spider-Man Maqeutte sold out, and this paint app has a totally different feel than the original. The different bases help differentiate the statue and make it feel like a nice option, or a chance for those who missed out on the original to get this new version of Spider-Man.
It’s up for pre-order now at $299, and a flex pay option is available. So place your order now at Sideshow’s site!
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow’s 12-Inch Line Begins with DEADPOOL
For years Sideshow Collectibles has been the place for US-based Marvel collectors to buy 12-inch figures of their favorite heroes. Specifically, 12-inch figures manufactured by Hong Kong-based Hot Toys distributed by Sideshow Collectibles.
Now, though, Sideshow’s doing it for themselves having debuted a brand new Marvel 12-inch figure line, designed and manufactured in-house.
That line now has its first figure up for pre-order and it’s the fan favorite mutant Deadpool. The price is $229.99, and payment plans are available.
Like Sideshow’s long-running G.I. Joe and Star Wars lines, new Marvel Comics figure line consists of highly articulated figures clothed in soft goods outfits and loaded with accessories. The figure stands 12-inches tall and while it is listed as “fully articulated” the specific posability is not mentioned.
Deadpool is dressed in his classic red and black costume, hand-tailored by Sideshow’s designers. The piece is then finished off with plastic and rubber heads, hands, boots, and accessories. In this case, Deadpool has his harness with enough pouches to make his creator Rob Liefeld proud, plus kneepads and shoulder pads.
Where the figure really stands out is the accessories. The Deadpool figure comes with two swap-out heads with different masked facial expressions, two pistols, an assault rifle, 2 katanas, a knife, and two grenades. Plus the figure has five pairs of hands for different positions, including thumbs-up, a fist, and hands made to hold each of the weapons.
Plus Sideshow also has up for order an exclusive edition, limited in production and available only directly from Sideshow themselves, and that version of the figure has an additional accessory–a zombie head of the character Headpool.
The figure is up for order today but will not ship for over a year! The listed ship date is October, 2015 and these releases often miss those target dates by one to three months.
This new figure line is totally separate from the Hot Toys Marvel sixth-scale figure collection. While Hot Toys has focused on figures based on Marvel movie incarnations (Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man; Nicholas Cage as Ghost Rider) Sideshow is making figures accurate to their comic book styles. To this end, Deadpool’s outfit is a bright red.
At San Diego Comic-Con Sideshow debuted Deadpool as well as the next two characters that will be added to this series–The Punisher and Wolverine. Given the history with Sideshow’s other 12-inch lines there is little doubt that those figures, and many more, will be offered for pre-order in the coming months.
There is no deposit needed for this figure, and the exclusive edition is likely to sell out long before the ship date. So if interested, you can place your order now from Sideshow Collectibles.
Are you getting Sideshow’s 12-inch line? Let us know in our forums!
Hot Toys goes Solo, Han Solo, with the Star Wars license
Over the past six years Hot Toys has emerged as the superstar company for 12-inch highly articulated, collector-oriented action figures.
Their product lines in the past have ranged from Robocop to Predator to Terminator to even one-offs like Michael Jackson and Back to the Future. But where they’ve really shown is with their Marvel Movie Masterpiece Series figures. From Blade to Iron Man to Spider-Man to Ghost Rider, Hot Toys has amazed and astounded with their actor-accurate facial likenesses, the attention to detail, and the seemingly endless number of accessories, including interchangeable hands, feet, and heads, that come with their figures. Even the boxes each figure come in is a work of art.
I have covered Hot Toys figures for three years on the Marvelicious Toys podcast, and own every single Marvel Movie Masterpiece figure they have done–the only 12-inch line I am ‘all in’ on. Their quality and workmanship is unmatched. I’ve often wondered why Sideshow’s 12-Inch Star Wars line could not match the quality of Hot Toys’ Marvel line.
Sideshow and Hot Toys did partner once in the past, for Sideshow’s 12-Inch Bespin Luke Skywalker figure. But now Hot Toys has gotten the licence for their own lines of 1/6 scale and 1/4 scale Star Wars figures and collectibles.
Right out of the gate come not one but two sixth scale Movie Masterpiece Star Wars figures–Han Solo and Chewbacca. Available individually or as a set, these two smugglers are ready to join your collection.
- Interchangeable hair sculpt with headset
- Newly developed body with over 30 points of articulation
- Ten (10) pieces of interchangeable palms including:
– One (1) pair of relaxed palms
– One (1) pair of gloved relaxed palms
– One (1) pair of partially clenched gloved palms
– One (1) right palm for holding blaster
– One (1) left palm for supporting blaster
– One (1) right gloved palm for holding blaster
– One (1) left gloved palm for supporting blaster - Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted
- Brown leather blaster holster belt
- One (1) blaster pistol
- One (1) droid caller
- Specially designed figure stand with Han Solo nameplate and movie logo
Plus if you order the Sideshow Exclusive edition you also get a Stormtrooper belt and blaster rifle!
- Authentic and detailed likeness of Chewbacca in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- Brown fabric hair throughout whole body
- Movie-accurate facial expression
- Newly developed body with over 30 points of articulation
- Approximately 36 cm tall
- Two (2) pairs of interchangeable palms including:
– One (1) pair of relaxed palms
– One (1) pair of palms for holding bowcaster - One (1) bowcaster
- One (1) brown bandolier bag
- One (1) headset
- Specially designed figure stand with Chewbacca nameplate and movie logo
And if you order the pair together you get everything listed above (including the Stormtrooper belt and rifle) plus an additional accessory exclusive to the set–a heavy blaster for Chewbacca to wield.
Long time Sideshow sixth-scale figure collectors, there is no word yet on how the scale of Hot Toys’ figures will fit in with Sideshow’s long-running line. As Sideshow uses their own figure bodies for most of their figures there is a chance these figures may look slightly taller or smaller than their Sideshow counterparts. This is not an evolution of Sideshow’s figure line, but an entirely new sixth scale figure line from Hot Toys.
It is canny of Hot Toys to be out of the gate with Chewbacca–a figure Sideshow has long teased but never brought to market.
However, and this is ironic, the only authorized US seller of Hot Toys is Sideshow Collectibles. As mentioned, I have purchased many Hot Toys figures, but as with any detailed piece I have received a fair number of damaged and broken figures and accessories. Hot Toys will not provide a warranty on any product purchased at an unauthorized reseller. The one Hot Toys figure I purchased from a reseller other than Sideshow, Hot Toys would provide no repairs and the seller could not offer a repalcement. If you are interested in the Hot Toys Star Wars line, my strong recommendation is you only purchase from Sideshow Collectibles, or risk having a damaged or broken piece with no recourse.
As for these figures, you can hear my first impressions on this Monday’s episode of the Star Wars Action News podcast!
In the meantime, head over to Sideshow’s site and check out these new figures. If you order, please consider supporting our site and our podcasts by using our affiliate link!
The 40 Year-Old-Critic: Saw (2004)
![saw-poster[1]](https://venganzamedia.com/Gazette/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/saw-poster1-210x300.jpg)
In The 40-Year-Old Critic, Venganza Media creator and host Arnie Carvalho recalls a memorable film for each year of his life. This series appears daily on the Venganza Media Gazette.
During the last decade, much of our national conversation was centered on torture, both in current events and entertainment.
We’d read headlines about waterboarding and rectally-inserted broom handles, leaving us questioning the purpose and moral justification for torturing prisoners of war. Then, when we turned the page to the Entertainment section we’d read about reality show contestants undergoing some form of painful humiliation for fame; while at the multiplex, a new sub-genre of film was emerging: torture porn.
The term was coined by New York Magazine writer David Edelstein in 2007, but his christening of the brand name came after the release of Saw, the film that put torture porn in front of the masses and defined the horror experience of the first decade of the 21st century.
With torture surrounding us in real life why would audiences pay money to see make-believe torment on screen? I think Americans are comfortable taking horrible scenarios and making them “safe” through fiction. During the September 11 attacks we heard stories about people so panicked by the oncoming fire that they jumped from the high windows of the Twin Towers. Their terrible choice was a nightmare for our nation, that thought of having to either burn or leap to your death. Yet with films like Saw writers and directors took that same life-or-death choice and, because it was a movie, made it safe.
With these films we in the audience could both sympathize with the tortured, while also desensitizing ourselves to the acts on screen.
Perhaps we needed fictional torture to help us accept what the nation was experiencing?
Or perhaps we just wanted to push the boundaries of experience a little further through film?
I know I was looking for something new in horror. After 1999’s successful The Blair Witch Project it seemed Hollywood was smitten with low-budget ghost stories. Recycled J-Horror found success, praised by audiences and critics. I saw those films, but I continued to seek something more; something that was more dangerous than a PG-13 rating would allow, a movie that would push my boundaries the way Hellbound: Hellraiser II had in the 1980s. I wanted more than a bit of spooky suspense found in films like The Ring and The Grudge. I wanted a visceral feeling of life stretched to its most extreme limit.
I had no idea that’s what I would find when I watched Saw.
Danny Glover is getting too old for Jigsaw’s shit.
The film was low-budget — barely more than $1 million — and made by filmmakers who were inspired by the scares Blair Witch delivered, despite that film’s smaller cast and even smaller cost. Saw creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell started by making a 30 minute proof-of-concept film. Its effectiveness helped them raise the money they needed to hire a cast of accomplished actors, including Danny Glover and Cary Elwes.
The story seems simple enough — two men are chained up together in a room, and a dead body separates them. They must uncover clues, or saw off their own feet, to escape. Yet, while keeping a small scope, Whannell’s script created the first iconic horror villain of the 21st Century: “Jigsaw” John Kramer. Played by Tobin Bell, Kramer was a man dying of cancer. With little time remaining he begins to set intricate traps for people to help them live the rest of their life to the fullest — or die trying to escape.
As Jakob, Marjorie, and I mentioned in our 2009 Saw Retrospective Series, the concept of Jigsaw was not terribly original. This mastermind is merely an iteration of John Doe from Seven, but with a dash of the self-fulfillment agenda of Fight Club’s Tyler Durden. After all, Jigsaw’s trap of making a suicidal man cut himself is not that different than John Doe’s punishment for “Lust”; death by intercourse with a bladed phallus.
Yet, despite the similarities, there is one key difference: in Seven we found almost all of John Doe’s victims after the fact. When Seven‘s main characters, two police detectives, discover “Sloth” he’s already wasted away, and “Pride” is already dead. In Saw the cast has expanded; our main characters are the victims of the trap and we get to watch them faced with their tests.
Shawnee Smith’s character Amanda escaped this trap to appear in five more Saw films.
More than just the two men in the room, the story grows to include more victims. Even for those introduced after an encounter with Jigsaw we still get to witness their torment in flashback. These scenes are myriad, from a woman in an iron collar that will tear her skull apart to a man, covered in napalm, having to hold a candle to read writing on a wall.
It’s not just that these victims were going to die in brutal ways (that was de rigueur for horror films since The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), but Saw upped the stakes by combining the suspense of impending horror. It was no longer just a killer behind the door, now there is a ticking clock and when it reaches zero someone will die, and in their last seconds they will harm themselves or others trying to escape.
These types of torment made waterboarding actually seem safe!
Though the creators of Saw would later claim the film was not torture porn, it was clearly the template for the dominant horror movement of the mid-2000s. Saw progressed through the scenes with characters put in increasingly more complex and convoluted traps, and I had the visceral reaction I’d sought. This movie did not scare me as Blair Witch did, but it repulsed me. I would flinch every time the next test came, knowing that the pain inflicted on the characters was fictional, but yet it hit home just the same.
The best part of it was that I was repeatedly asking the question: what would I do in those situations? Would I be able to cut off my own foot to escape a room? Could I kill a man in cold blood if the result was saving my own life? Could I take the pain of the razor cuts and escape the other side? And the absolute worst: could I shove both my hands in a shit-filled toilet to try and find a key?
Yet, a decade later I look back and wonder if subconsciously I made the connection between Elwes’ character, chained in a dirty shit-filled room, with those held in Guantanamo Bay. Neither the fictional character nor the real prisoner know if they will ever see daylight again, and both undergo horrible experiences before it ends… however it ends.
Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Elwes) and Adam Stanheight (Whannell) become brothers in blood on Saw’s dingy bathroom floor.
I can understand why Wan and Whannell would blanch at their hit being called torture porn. Porn usually indicates gratuitous sex (or sometimes action or gore) with no plot. Indeed, Saw has a plot as convoluted and twisted as any of Jigsaw’s traps. It’s clear to me that the two went through a lot of effort to create an involving story. Yet the fact remains that on my first watching I had trouble paying attention to the story for all that was thrown at me. It was a story that would become even more stretched and tangled as sequel after sequel followed, and for its labyrinthine complexity I actually grew to appreciate the franchise more.
Leaving that theater in 2004 I thought Saw wasn’t actually very good, but that’s because I was focusing on the plot (and the various holes it contained). Yet the images of the people in their torment stuck with me for quite some time.
More, as I previously stated, this film’s success created a new horror sub-genre, combining elements of the classic splatter film with the tropes of the slasher horror, yet drawing out the kill scenes in new and inventive ways. From the six Saw sequels to the Hostel films to The Collector to Turistas; each provided a new type of terrible vicarious experience. Truly the most extreme example in this sub-genre must be The Human Centipede — a film that I rejected in concept, but once its torture porn roots came through in the trailer I knew I was in for a treat.
But the genre burned out quickly. By 2009 Saw was clearly over, the sixth installment in the franchise losing a box office battle with the micro-budget found footage film Paranormal Activity. While a few more films, such as Saw: The Final Chapter and Human Centipede II were still to come, the election of President Barack Obama brought with it a shift in media attention away from Guantanamo Bay. That could be coincidence, but it seems more a causation — by the end of the decade humans were tired of facing torture, real or imagined, and preferred supernatural scares on screen. Their votes for political office matched their dollars spent at the box office.
As such, it seems torture porn will remain a symbol of early 21st century American movie-making. Yet out of that sprung some wildly inventive and visceral pictures that may yet inspire a future generation of filmmakers.
Tomorrow — 2005!
Arnie is a movie critic for Now Playing Podcast, a book reviewer for the Books & Nachos podcast, and co-host of the collecting podcasts Star Wars Action News and Marvelicious Toys. You can follow him on Twitter @thearniec
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys Iron Man Mark XXXVI – Peacemaker
Tony Stark is going to keep the peace with this new armor — the Iron Man Mark XXXVI, Peacemaker Armor!
Now, I know what you’re asking: was this even in Iron Man 3? Well, per the Iron Man Wiki, yes! It is in the bottom right corner of this picture:
I mean, with such a screen presence, how is your Hot Toys collection complete without The Peacemaker?
I kid a little, but obviously there is no way to sell any fan or collector on The Peacemaker armor. For selective Hot Toys figure fans, this one may be easily skipped. For Iron Man fans and Hot Toys completists then this is a must.
Still, significance aside, Hot Toys has produced another great figure. This armor is an addition to their highly detailed, excessively articulated Movie Masterpiece Series, not a Power Pose Series figure. So you’re getting the usual, amazing Hot Toys sculpt standing almost 13.5-inches tall, with over 30 points of articulation. Also continuing the high quality and impressive features, this figure has LED lit eyes and chest RT, plus three pairs of hands and a decorative base. More, it has “caution” stickers for decoration.
Still, we’ve come to expect that from every Hot Toy Movie Masterpice figure. What is surprising about The Peacemaker though is the price–coming in at only $269.95 this one is less than recent Iron Man is $15 less than the recent Bones Armor release.
So head over to SideshowCollectibles.com to check it out, and if you order please remember to use our affiliate link to support this site and our podcast Marvelicious Toys!
40 Year-Old-Critic: Wall Street (1987)
In The 40-Year-Old Critic, Venganza Media creator and host Arnie Carvalho recalls a memorable film for each year of his life. This series appears daily on the Venganza Media Gazette.
Growing up I wanted to be a stockbroker. Other kids said they wanted to be astronauts, movie stars, or firemen; I said stockbroker. In my preteen years I upgraded that to investment banker.
Why wouldn’t I want to go into that world? I grew up in the big 80s, the era of Reaganomics. Money was being flashed everywhere, and it wasn’t just the musicians and actors who had rich and famous lifestyles; there were also names like Ivan Boesky, Carl Icahn, Jordan Belfort, and Donald Trump.
My godfather, who rode the stock market to a healthy retirement, told me that the brokers had the best gig — no matter if their clients won or lost, the broker got the commission.
What did I really want to be when I grew up? I wanted to be rich. I saw the stock market as the avenue to that lifestyle. When I turned 13 I even became a stock owner, my godfather buying me some shares of Ohio-Edison.
That dream crashed in 1987, starting with Black Monday, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 508 points (which would still make headlines today, but back then it was almost 25 percent of the Dow’s value). I heard stories of broker suicides and rich people in ruin. My faith in the avarice of the economy was shaken.
As a child this wasn’t how I envisioned the job of a stock broker.
It was broken entirely two months later when I saw Oliver Stone’s Wall Street. I had looked forward to that film for months. I didn’t know much about Stone (I hadn’t yet seen Platoon), but I knew his name and his Oscar-winning reputation.
Had I researched the man further I would have known that Wall Street wasn’t going to be what I expected, which was a more realistic version of The Secret of My Success.
Instead I saw a film to which I could relate a bit too well. Charlie Sheen played Bud Fox, an up-and-coming broker barely making ends meet. The early scenes that give you a glimpse into the life of the average, front-line broker did not depict the glamorous lifestyle I’d seen on television — it actually looked like Bud might have earned less than a talented bartender.
The high-pressure nature of the business and the cold-call sales techniques combined to make Bud hungry and bitter. Even as a kid I could relate to him; his drive to get out of the phone pool and make a name for himself.
Gekko (Douglas) gives the famous “Greed is Good” speech.
But then we were introduced to Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko. I had seen Douglas a few months earlier in Fatal Attraction and thought of him as a good guy. In Wall Street he’s a ruthless, wealthy businessman, but I envisioned him almost as a guardian angel that would show Bud the road to riches.
Instead Gekko turned out to be a greedy, deceitful, vengeful criminal. He corrupted Bud with promises of women and riches until the young businessman betrayed his own father in service of his mentor.
Bud redeemed himself — he came up with a plot to save his father’s company — and served time for his misdeeds, but as Sheen’s character was taken to prison I found myself finally questioning this lifestyle I had coveted for years.
Stone told the story exactly how it should have been told in 1987; show the flash, the cash, the allure of riches in the big 80s. Then show the cost, including the broken relationships, the drug hangovers, and the realization that Bud’s “friends” (and even his girlfriend) all disappeared when the money was gone.
This was the image that struck me hardest from the film. Not the penthouse, not the girl, but the consequences.
This was a movie with a social commentary, and one that should have been made louder and more often in the 80s. The “Greed is Good” mentality prevailed as the economy boomed, but while the success stories got the press, little attention was paid to the illegal and immoral activities undertaken by so many to achieve those ends.
More, the film could not have had a luckier release schedule, if you can ever call Black Monday “lucky.” The stock market was on everyone’s minds and tongues, questioning this ethereal concept of non-liquid assets in a grand trading scheme. Stone’s message rang true, for a period.
I now feel the message of Wall Street has been lost. The stock market is more vital to the lives of Americans than ever thanks to 401(k) plans and other reliances. Despite the crash of the NASDAQ at the turn of the century (when several of my close friends lost everything) and the crash of the Dow in 2007, it seems Americans still like to play the market like a Blackjack table.
More, Gordon Gekko and his “Greed is Good” speech have become lionized by today’s hungry, young businessmen. Even this year’s The Wolf of Wall Street seemed to play up the glamour of Jordan Belfort’s illegally-funded lifestyle rather than focus on the victims he snookered.
“Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m a man of wealth and taste.”
Had Stone been a different filmmaker and Wall Street a more Wolf-ish tale perhaps my ambitions would have redoubled. I might be a very wealthy man today, or I might be in prison. Fortunately I saw the right movie at the right time. In 1987 and now, Stone’s message rang true. I went in wanting it all, and I left the theater a boy without a goal, perhaps slightly more normal for that.
For that life-changing course — setting me on a path where I would end up helping people by day and entertaining people by night — Stone’s film will always remain a profound symbol of how art can change the direction of your life.
Not all films are pure entertainment, the best ones raise questions as well.
Tomorrow — 1988!
Arnie is a movie critic for Now Playing Podcast, a book reviewer for the Books & Nachos podcast, and co-host of the collecting podcasts Star Wars Action News and Marvelicious Toys. You can follow him on Twitter @thearniec
40 Year-Old-Critic: Howard the Duck (1986)
In The 40-Year-Old Critic, Venganza Media creator and host Arnie Carvalho recalls a memorable film for each year of his life. This series appears daily on the Venganza Media Gazette.
In 1986 I was obsessed with, and repulsed by, one film.
It starred a creature not entirely human, nor entirely animal.
The creature wanted to mate with its frizzy-haired, yet attractive, female co-star.
The film also featured a teleportation plot and a once-gentle scientist that slowly transforms into a beast.
That film was David Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly, and even its trailers scared the bejesus out of me. Those trailers ran before nearly every movie I watched. I was 11 years old, but still needed to leave the theater when I’d see The Fly approaching.
I was afraid. I was very afraid.
If I was writing this retrospective before 2011, this article would have focused on that film and how it pushed my adolescent boundaries into new territories.
But now I am going to write about Howard the Duck.
This is what I see in the ink blot…
Or, more accurately, I’m going to write about talking about Howard the Duck. I think I’ve said everything I needed to say about the notorious 1986 bomb three years ago when I reviewed it — alongside co-hosts Stuart and Jakob — for Now Playing Podcast. I discussed seeing the film in theaters, reading the novelization (which I reviewed as well, on the Marvelicious Toys podcast), and even seeing the Dark Overlord in a Rorschach Test. After more than two hours discussing Howard the Duck, what more could I have to say?
Plenty, it turns out. It was a complete accident, but Howard the Duck changed my life.
As I discussed on that show, I’d always had a kitschy fascination with George Lucas’ follow-up to Return of the Jedi. I knew people hated it, but didn’t understand why. It followed the Ghostbusters formula to a T: creatures from another plane come to Earth, wacky scientists try to determine the cause, and hilarity ensues. It even ends with one of the main characters transforming into an evil beast and the fate of the world determined by an animated laser battle between the heroes and giant, evil creatures.
“They let kids watch this film????”
I loved Ghostbusters, and I loved Howard the Duck even more — as Sigourney Weaver’s Dana never wore anything close to the slinky, sexy outfit that perfectly framed Lea Thompson’s Beverly.
Though it had been 25 years, I was excited by the chance to review Howard the Duck for Now Playing Podcast. Our movie review show was coming up on its 4th anniversary and it had always been a way for me to discuss films for which I had passion. Whether I loved a film or hated it, if I felt something then I wanted to talk about it.
Around this time the show was also finally starting to find some success. Our early, short-form reviews had downloads that measured in the teens. With our Friday the 13th Retrospective Series — something I envisioned as a quick one-off — downloads jumped from the teens to the thousands.
We continued to work hard and over the years our audience started to find us. We were still a small fish in a large sea, but we had grown from a dwarf puffer to at least a catfish.
This film was no vehicle for an intelligent, sensitive duck.
The success of our 2010 A Nightmare on Elm Street series emboldened me, and, that same year, Iron Man 2 inspired me. After seeing Iron Man, War Machine, Nick Fury, and Black Widow share the screen I could not contain my excitement for The Avengers. So I pitched to Stuart and Jakob the biggest retrospective series ever: all of the Marvel movies, in order, starting with Howard the Duck.
There was quite a bit of negotiation, wrangling, and reordering of movies; but between May 2010 and March 2011 we came to an accord and the Now Playing Marvel Movie Retrospective began.
It was our biggest series, or biggest gamble, and it all hinged on Howard.
Perhaps it was the buildup, but that show always seemed special. We were coming off the Philip K Dick Retrospective Series, which had been pushed to Spring 2011 after The Adjustment Bureau’s release date changed. Downloads were low on the Dick series and there were some production issues. By the time we hit The Adjustment Bureau morale behind-the-scenes was low.
All of that changed with Howard. To my memory, that was the first Now Playing review that, in its raw audio, went more than three hours. Over the course of two years I had allowed Now Playing’s runtime to grow, but only one show had ever gone more than 2 hours: the 2010 review of the A Nightmare on Elm Street remake.
I spent about 80 hours editing our Howard the Duck review, trying to hold to the editor’s axiom of “kill your darlings.” But I just couldn’t do it.
Even during my 11th pass on the Howard the Duck review I was still laughing out loud at the jokes.
Before I even finished the edit I knew that show was something special. I just prayed it would find an audience.
It did.
Maybe it was the press releases I had sent, maybe it was the social media promotion, but for the first time, Now Playing Podcast broke through iTunes’ Top 10 TV/Film audio podcast rankings. It took a few days after the show was released, but we had done it!
That spot increased our visibility, and the downloads multiplied exponentially. To go from the unsuccessful Dick series to the top of the iTunes charts was just incredible. Howard the Duck became iTunes’ 5th most downloaded episode in the aforementioned category.
Howard had a theatrical come-back this year, but this mangy fowl is NOT my Howard! The costume in 1986 looked better than this.
The success was so astounding I actually hesitated before releasing the next show. I knew our Man-Thing podcast was also pretty funny, but the newest show is always the most downloaded. Downloads of Howard were sure to decrease.
Still, we had a schedule, and so Man-Thing went out on time, and became iTunes’ No. 1 most downloaded TV/Film audio podcast. The following week we reviewed Kick-Ass and it grabbed the No. 1 slot, pushing Man-Thing into second place.
Stuart, Jakob, and I were stunned. It was unbelievable to look at the iTunes rankings and see Man-Thing at the top. I have since joked that more people listened to our review of Man-Thing than actually saw that damn film.
One thing we all agreed on — it was Howard the Duck that launched those shows to the top. Howard was a special show, combining serious film criticism with a terrific dose of humor, making fun of ourselves as well as the film, and we knew that was why listeners kept coming back to our show.
Now Playing has had its ups and downs since then. Some shows and retrospectives click more with audiences than others, and some shows I am more proud of than others. Still, it was with Howard the Duck that all the pieces fell into place and listeners responded.
For those reasons I will always love that duck.
I have stated at least twice on the podcast that I wish I could turn that “Red Arrow” grade for Howard into a “Green Arrow” on our site. I realize the film has its flaws — I still believe the second act drags — but I enjoy it anyway. I gave Howard the review I did not because I didn’t like the movie, but because I didn’t think others would find the same enjoyment. After all, our end rating is always a “recommendation” and not a “thumbs up.” When I give the “Green Arrow” I’m not saying, “I like this movie,” I’m saying, “I think you will like this movie.”
Well, I knew back then that I liked Howard the Duck in spite of the flaws.
That fondness has grown as, through Now Playing, I’ve become closely associated with that “fowl” creature. Stuart and Jakob were with me in the review, but I was Howard’s champion (and the one that saw the Dark Overlord in a Rorschach test). Over the past three years that special relationship with this childhood guilty pleasure has grown.
Original face casts of Jeffrey Jones used by the make-up department. They now adorn my wall.
I started collecting a few trinkets from the Howard the Duck film — the old trading cards, a candy cigar, a mini duck head that once held sugar treats. Then I got the Bowen statue, the Toy Biz figure. Finally, this year, I took the plunge — one of the Industrial Light and Magic creature shop workers was selling several Howard the Duck production pieces.
On my desk, a foot from me as I write, is a glass egg that Lucasfilm gave to crew and press back in 1986. Inside that egg is a single duck feather. The Howard the Duck logo on the front makes me smile, not because of that 1986 film about a duck trapped in a world he never made, but because of the podcast that I made that found its place in the world.
Tomorrow — 1987!
Arnie is a movie critic for Now Playing Podcast, a book reviewer for the Books & Nachos podcast, and co-host of the collecting podcasts Star Wars Action News and Marvelicious Toys. You can follow him on Twitter @thearniec
‘Turtles’ Power Now Playing on iTunes, ‘Children’ lurking
Now Playing Podcast is leaving the sewers and venturing into the cornfields.
Venganza Media’s flagship podcast capped its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Retrospective Series this week with its review of the Michael Bay-produced franchise reboot. The film marked the Turtles’ return to the big screen after a 7-year layoff and captured the box office crown on opening weekend.
Now Playing Podcast marked its own triumph on Thursday, when its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) episode debuted at No. 5 on iTunes’ TV & Film audio podcast rankings.
The achievement extends Now Playing’s summer winning streak, highlighted by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II episode, which peaked at No. 2 on iTunes in late July.
Throughout the TMNT series, hosts Arnie Carvalho, Stuart Atkinson and Jakob Brewster have guided listeners through the highs and lows of Ninja Turtles lore, and ventured outside of the feature films to discuss long-forgotten turns in the franchise’s history, including the infamous Coming Out Of Their Shells concert tour.
“Turtle Power is a real thing, it cannot be underestimated,” Atkinson joked. “I give all the credit to those green guys. They’ve been through hell at the movies and they deserve a little Top 10 love.”
With the
Turtles franchise now in their rear view, the hosts are set to begin the next chapter in Now Playing’s massive Stephen King retrospective. The series, which began last fall, picks up again Aug. 19 with Children of the Corn, a nine-episode arc that will complete Now Playing’s coverage of King’s Night Shift collection.
The first Corn adaptation hit theaters in 1984 and was followed by seven poorly-received sequels, as well as a television remake. Fans of Now Playing’s earliest horror retrospective series’ can look forward to the hosts continuing their discussion of Hollywood’s sequel addiction as they try their best to remain composed in the face of mediocre filmmaking.
“Reviewing Night Shift has been a long haul, and I say that as the King fan!” Carvalho said. “I haven’t watched most of these Corn films, but they made nine of them — there has to be something there, right?”
“Nine films? Most direct-to-video?” Brewster added. “I just hope I can come up with enough corn puns to bring a kernel of humor to our listeners’ ears. Sigh.”
The Children of the Corn series will carry Now Playing Podcast into early October, before the hosts embark on a journey through the films of director Christopher Nolan, leading up to the release of November’s Interstellar.
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow Collectibles Exclusive Emma Frost Premium Format Figure
The White Queen Emma Frost has already been recreated as a Sideshow Premium Format Figure, in a statue based on the art of J. Scott Campbell. That statue, released back in 2009, is still a great piece but as Sideshow’s roster of quarter-scale X-Men has grown, that older statue did not fit with the more realistic aesthetics of the modern Premium Format line. Numerous fans have requested Sideshow revisit Emma Frost in a style that would go alongside the figures of the past few years like Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Gray.
Now Sideshow has put up for pre-order the brand new version of Emma Frost. Standing 20-inches tall, designed by Kris Anka, this new Emma looks as she did as the 1980 Queen of the Hellfire Club. The statue’s base is themed after that hedonistic, underground society.
And if you hurry and get Sideshow’s Exclusive Edition you get a swap-out head showing the White Queen with her short hair. These alternate heads on Rogue and Storm have driven the prices of exclusive editions sky-high on eBay, but now you can get one for the regular price!
I saw this statue in person at San Diego Comic-Con. While it may be on the risque side for some collectors, the piece is beautifully sculpted. The long cape in back is fur trimmed and able to be draped in a number of ways. This statue is great for Frost fans be it in her comics, in X-Men: First Class or even X-Men Origins: Wolverine or that old Generation X TV movie!
She is scheduled to ship in April, 2015 and Flex-Pay is available, so get your order in now at Sideshow Collectibles!
Pre-Order Alert: Die Cast Iron Man Mark III Exclusive and Mark III Construction Version
Hot Toys collectors, your day just got a little bit cooler! Sideshow Collectibles has put up for pre-order two new versions of the Iron Man Mark III armor as seen in the first Iron Man movie!
First we have the Iron Man Mark III Armor. This is the iconic red-and-gold suit Tony Stark dons about halfway through the first film. Hot Toys has released this figure before, but collectors complained that the figure was a bit shorter than the later Hot Toys figures, and the face sculpt wasn’t as perfected. Now Hot Toys brings their latest technology to the figure–it’s made of die cast metal! You can hear (or watch) our review of Hot Toys’ amazing Iron Patriot die cast figure in Marvelicious Toys Issue 119 (and that figure is still available to order from Sideshow as well). By going die cast Hot Toys has taken their already astounding figures to the next level, so for many who even already own the Hot Toys Iron Man Mark III this upgrade is worth a purchase.
More, through Sideshow Collectibles, Hot Toys is offering an exclusive version of this figure that comes with an accessory you can’t get anywhere else: a 1/6 scale version of Tony Stark’s first arc reactor in the case as Pepper Potts gave him as a gift in that Iron Man film! It’s a neat accessory that is sure to make this item highly sought after on the secondary market.
More, you get a ton of accessories (pictured right) including a changeable Tony Stark head, LED eyes and chest RT, removable chest and torso armor, interchangeable forearm rockets, interchangeable shoulder guns, interchangeable countermeasure dispensers, 3 pairs of hands, and a light-up figure stand.
And for those Hot Toys collectors who like to make dioramas or environments, there’s a more unique Iron Man Mark III up for order today–the Iron Man Mark III Construction Version. Priced at only $149.99 this is about half the price of a normal Hot Toys Iron Man, which is fitting as it’s half an Iron Man! This item recreates the Mark III armor as shown undergoing repairs in Tony Stark’s workshop. With the chest plates off, shown hanging from chains with wires extending beneath, it’s an interesting accessory that your Tony Stark figure can tinker with!
So hurry and order the Die Cast Iron Man Mark III or the Iron Man Mark III Construction Version now from Sideshow Collectibles!
Hasbro SDCC Exclusives Now Available Online!
Update 3: Overnight the Infinity Gauntlet 3.75-inch Marvel set sold out, over 12 hours after being offered.
Update 2: The Jabba the Hutt set is now sold out, 1 hour after being put up for sale
Update: The Marvel Legends Galactus Engine Set is now sold out, about 25 minutes after being put up for sale.
Hasbro’s 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International exclusive toys are up for order now at Habro’s online store HasbroToyShop.com As we reported on Star Wars Action News and Marvelicious Toys’ social media sites, and will be detailed more in the forthcoming Comic-Con coverage videos and podcasts, Hasbro’s San Diego booth was the most chaotic it’s been in 9 years. Items like the Marvel Legends set and Jabba the Hutt sold out by 10:30 Saturday morning. Collectors and scalpers alike fought to get tickets and get in the line, and sometimes lining up as early as 5 a.m. was not enough to get the toys sought. Now they are on Hasbro Toy Shop.com but with the high demand for these limited-edition toys they will likely sell out in under an hour. So if you were looking for these toys, hurry to the site now and get yours! 
I AM GROOT! Pre-Order your Hot Toys Rocket Raccoon and/or Groot now!
I AM GROOT!
Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles has surprised us! Now there are a total of three Hot Toys 1/6 scale Movie Masterpiece Series figures up for pre-order today! Earlier we announced the Toy Fairs Exclusive Iron Man in Python Armor figure, and now available for pre-order are the Guardians of the Galaxy heroes Rocket Raccoon and Groot!
Rocket Raccoon is a smaller figure, and priced accordingly. Wearing his grey and orange space suit, he comes with 17 points of articulation, his big rifle from the film, 3 pairs of interchangeable hands, and a figure stand. At 1/6 scale he stands 16cm (just over 6-inches) tall.
Then there is Groot, the giant tree. As trees are not very nimble he has only 15 points of articulation…but he’s big, standing 39cm (well over 15-inches) tall! He also has 3 interchangeable pairs of hands.
But if you’re the type of collector (or just The Collector) who has to have both you can get even more! Sideshow’s exclusive figure 2-pack gives you both figures, plus you get 3 extra Groot accessories — 2 more pairs of hands, plus an alternate Groot face showing his angry expression.
These are up for order now, and as the Guardians gain heat they’re likely to be in high demand, so head to Sideshow and order your Rocket, Groot, or both now!
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys Toy Fair Exclusive Iron Man Mark XX (Python Armor)
Hot Toys is bringing the (house) party to you!
In the past the Hot Toys exclusive figures have been some of the hardest for US collectors to obtain, and drawn some of the highest prices on the secondary market. In the past Sideshow Collectibles used to make these items San Diego Comic-Con exclusives, but has since moved to their usual online ordering system (albeit with a lower edition size). Last year’s exclusive Midas Armor Iron Man was especially problematic for collectors.
Fortunately Sideshow has not left us hanging as long this year, as up for pre-order now is the Toy Fair exclusive Iron Man Mark XX — the Python Armor!
This 1/6 scale figure stands 12-inches tall, has over 36 points of articulation, LED lighted eyes and chest RT, and comes with 3 pairs of interchangeable hands, swap-out missile-launching shoulder blade armor, light shoulder blade armor, and detachable forearm rockets. Plus you get the circular figure base with a flexible pillar for “in flight” display.
The more I type the faster these are selling out so hurry to Sideshow and secure your order now! The Python will be flying to you in August!
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys Iron Man
In the wee hours this morning Hot Toys revealed a new Iron Man armor on its Facebook page: The Mark XLI “Bones” Armor from Iron Man 3! Unlike some recent Hot Toys 12-inch Iron Man figures which have been kit-bashes and repaints, this one was startling for being such a departure from the previous figures. With raised, bronze pieces over a black body this figure has possibly more detailed sculpting than any other Iron Man Hot Toys armor to date!
More, this figure has a totally new, unique feature: The neck, upper chest, shoulders, elbows, and upper thighs are all magnetic allowing the figure to break apart as seen in the film! The figure comes with flame effects to represent the propulsion jets in each piece. I cannot lie, I’m totally geeking out over how freaking awesome that is! Plus they’ve kept over 36 points of articulation on the body!
The figure comes with 3 pairs of hands and a circular figure stage. It also has LED eyes and chest RT.
Why are you still reading this? Sideshow just put up the pre-order so move your Bones and go order this ultimately cool figure!
Gentle Giant Announces SDCC Exclusive Rocket Raccoon Mini-Bust!
Every year since obtaining the Marvel license for mini-busts in 2011 Gentle Giant has released an animal-related San Diego Comic-Con International exclusive. First in 2011 was Squirrelpool. In 2012 came Thor Frog. In 2013 we were given Spider-Ham.
But in 2014, with the Guardians of the Galaxy movie opening one week after Comic-Con, one Marvel animal was the obvious choice for this year’s exclusive–Rocket Raccoon.
Unlike the previous animal releases, however, Rocket is a full-sized mini-bust standing almost 5 inches tall, and coming in at the regular $70 retail price.
This item will be available for sale (and, with the upcoming film, likely really hard to get) at San Diego Comic-Con, but if you’re in Gentle Giant’s Premiere Guild you can pre-order him now and have him shipped to your door! Even if you’re going to the convention, given the heat on this furry guy this summer I highly suggest pre-ordering and quickly–Gentle Giant’s McQuarrie Luke Skywalker Mini-Bust has pre-sold out and I expect Rocket will do the same!
Pre-Order Alert: eFX Collectibles Biker Scout Helmet and Pistol
Up for pre-order now from eFX Collectibles is their Legend Edition Scout Trooper Helmet & Pistol! This is described by eFX as “the most accurate reproduction of this incredible helmet produced to date.” The master molds for the helmet were made from the original master tools ILM used to make the helmets used for Return of the Jedi, and then an original ILM decal sheet was used to make the markings and symbols on the helmet. Finally the helmet is made in ABS, just like the on-screen prop helmets.
Additionally this helmet comes with a replica Biker Scout Pistol, cast from an original, screen-used prop!
The price is $899 and, limited to 500 pieces, this is sure to sell out fast. So if you want yours head to eFX’s web site now!
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow Collectibles’ KING HULK Premium Format Figure
Hulk is an interesting Marvel Comics character. Envisioned originally by Stan Lee as an anti-hero, a monster like the Werewolf and Frankenstein, his comic was cancelled after 6 issues. The character never went away, though, and despite middling sales he became the first Marvel Superhero to have a mass media break-out with the 1970s TV Series. The 80s were a pretty good time for Hulk–in addition to the NBC Saturday morning cartoon he also had a great comics run by Todd McFarlane and Peter David in the late 80s and early 90s that expanded the character and took him to new places psychologically. While he never became as globally recognizable as Spider-Man, Hulk certainly seemed to be Marvel’s #2 guy.
But translating that success to mainstream audiences seemed hard. Ang Lee’s Hulk film, released the year after Sam Raimi’s blockbuster Spider-Man, failed to find an audience. The Marvel Cinematic Universe 2008 Incredible Hulk reboot also disappointed and has been mostly forgotten in all the future Marvel movies. It took Joss Wheadon and The Avengers to make Hulk a stand-out star. While holding off on a Hulk solo film, all the anticipation about Avengers 2 seems to be about the big green guy.
But could even Hulk lift all the Premium Format products Sideshow has now been releasing? Shortly after The Avengers hit theaters Sideshow Collectibles put up for pre-order their Hulk Maquette. This statue is still available to order, and it was a gorgeous, huge piece showing the character in his Avengers movie incarnation.
But for a comic inspired Hulk fans had to wait quite a while. Finally in late 2013 Sideshow offered up Gladiator Hulk, showing the character in armor from Greg Pak’s popular 2006 story arc. While we commented on Marvelicious Toys that anyone unfamiliar with the character arc may confuse this Hulk for an Orc from World of Warcraft, it is a huge piece showing a more comic-book familiar rendition of Bruce Banner’s alter ego. (This statue is set to ship next month and is still available).
But finally, over the past two months, Sideshow has gone back to the original comics and offered not one, not two, but three Incredible Hulk statues. A repaint of the same body, with different heads and, in the case of Gray Hulk, an exclusive shirt, Sideshow let fans have their choice of Hulk in red, gray, or green.
I have pre-ordered all four of those recent Hulk statues, inspired by the quality and craftsmanship shown in the Avengers maquette. But when the Gray Hulk Premium Format went up for pre-order I felt that Sideshow had reached the end of its Hulk run.
Imagine my surprise when Sideshow today announced a new Planet Hulk inspired Hulk Premium Format Figure–King Hulk!
There is no doubt this is an impressive statue. Standing 28-inches tall, weighing 25 pounds, this figure shows off Hulk’s ripped body with his metal arm plate and wielding two weapons. More, it is a Sideshow Exclusive product ensuring rarity. You can pre-order this figure now from Sideshow Collectibles, and Flex Pay options are available as low as $77.14 per month.
But…how many Hulks are too many Hulks?
Let us know in the comments below!
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow 20-inch Iron Man Mk 42 Maquette
It’s time to pre-order the new bad-ass baby brother of Tony Stark’s armor collection — the Mark 42 armor from Iron Man 3!
Working with Legacy Effects, the company behind Iron Man 3’s impressive visuals, Sideshow Collectibles has now created what they call “the ultimate screen-accurate representation of Stark in his latest and greatest armor.”
This piece is called a “maquette” but it is a perfect fit for the Sideshow Premium Format line of Marvel Cinematic Universe figures. Built to one-quarter scale (20 inches tall!) with exacting detail and a tremendous likeness of Robert Downey Jr. this statue is sure to rock your collection!
Pre-orders are open now, so secure your order today at SideshowCollectibles.com!
Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Before The Amazing Spider-Man 2 hit theaters in the US toy maker Hot Toys was teasing a giant Rhino figure, based on the character’s mech suit in the film. But now that the film is out and Rhino was little more than a cameo, I’m much happier that the second Amazing Spider-Man 2 Hot Toys figure released is Max Dillon himself, Electro!
Scheduled to ship in April of 2015, this figure is charged with features, such as a light-up translucent head based on the likeness of Jamie Foxx. (Though I may be mistaken, I can’t think of a single other Best Actor Oscar winner to have a translucent light-up head!) He also has over 30 points of articulation in the body, light-up wrists, 4 pairs of interchangeable heads, and the blue/black outfit Electro wore in the film’s climax.
Don’t hesitate, move at the speed of light and order your Hot Toys Electro today!
Captain America – The Winter Soldier on DVD and Blu-Ray 9/9
MARVEL’S FIRST AVENGER RETURNS IN THE YEAR’S
BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER ACTION ADVENTURE!
MARVEL’S CAPTAIN AMERICA:
THE WINTER SOLDIER
Own The Movie That Changed Everything, along with Exclusive Bonus Features!
Get it First on Digital 3D and Digital HD, plus Disney Movies Anywhere August 19th, and on 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand September 9th
BURBANK, Calif. May 30, 2014— From the studio that brought you the biggest Super Hero movie of all time, Marvel’s The Avengers, comes this year’s #1 live-action adventure, Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, available early on Digital 3D and HD August 19th, 2014, and on 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand September 9th, 2014, from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Saluted by critics as “action-packed” (NY Daily News), “thrilling” (Cinema Blend) and “better than The Avengers” (Access Hollywood), this blockbuster second chapter in the Captain America series teams Marvel’s First Avenger, Captain America, with Black Widow and new ally The Falcon as they battle their most mysterious and powerful enemy yet, the Winter Soldier.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and starring Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie as The Falcon, with Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury,Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier arrives on 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital HD armed with explosively entertaining bonus features, including Making-of Featurettes, Audio Commentary, Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes, Bloopers and More…
Bring home the movie that changed everything and expand your Marvel collection in the following formats with bonus features as listed:
Bonus Materials Overview for These Products:
Digital 3D, HD, & SD*
3D Blu-ray Combo Pack (3D BD + Single Disc BD + Digital Copy)
Blu-ray
Includes:
- Making-of Featurettes
- Audio Commentary
- Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
- Bloopers
- And More…
*Digital bonus offerings will vary per retailer
1-Disc DVD
Includes:
- Making-of Featurette
- Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scene
Feature Run Time: Approximately 136 minutes
Rating: Feature Film: “PG-13” in U.S., G in Canada (CE and CF)
Additional Bonus Features Not Rated
Aspect Ratio: 3-D Blu-ray Feature Film = 2.40:1
Blu-ray Feature Film = 2.40:1
DVD Feature Film = 2.40:1
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow Premium Format Daredevil, Hot Toys Iron Man Busts Series 2
It’s Thursday, and that means new Marvel pre-orders from Sideshow Collectibles! Today they put up for pre-order a long-awaited new Premium Format Figure and eight new Iron Man armors from Hot Toys!
For the Premium Format Figure we have — Daredevil! While some classic Marvel characters like Captain America, the Red Skull, and Hulk are getting their second Premium Format statues (technically Hulk is on his 4th, not counting Skaar!) Daredevil, despite being a long-time comic book favorite and an original Stan Lee creation, has never gotten the quarter scale treatment. I have seen many people on Sideshow’s Twitter feed, Facebook page, and site comments asking when ol’ hornhead would finally get the devil’s due. The answer is today–Sideshow has finally put a Daredevil Premium Format Figure up for pre-order!
Showing the classic hero in his red outfit, Daredevil is in a striking action pose, mid-strike, holding his billy clubs in one hand and ready to throw a punch with the other. He stands 17-inches tall and weighs 12 lbs, and is expected to ship in March, 2015.
Surprisingly there is no exclusive edition of this figure. While Daredevil doesn’t have the gadgets of some heroes, I thought an unmasked portrait or swap-out hand would be a given. Even in cases where there were no accessories Sideshow would often make an exclusive edition with an art print. However there is only one version of Daredevil here. (Though, given their recent repaints of Premium Format Figures like Deadpool, Storm, the Stormtrooper, and 3 different Hulk paint jobs, I would not be surprised in 2-3 months to see a Yellow-clad Daredevil Premium Format show up in an extremely limited edition).
But if you prefer your heroes in armor, Hot Toys has 8 new Iron Man collectibles for you! Continuing to rock the House Party Protocol, Hot Toys has put up for pre-order Series 2 of their sixth-scale collectible busts. Seven of these busts are available for order individually–the Mark VII, Mark 20-Python, Mark 22-Hot Rod, Mark 23-Shades, Mark 27-Disco, Mark 28-Jack, and Mark 40-Shotgun. However if you order the set of 8 you get an exclusive bust unavailable for individual purchase–the holographic light-up Mark XLII! (is it me or does the Disco armor look like Mystique with a mohawk?) You can pre-order this set now and it’s expected to ship in January, 2015!
And as always thank you for using our affiliate links to support the Marvelicious Toys podcast!
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow Collectibles Jango Fett Sixth Scale Figure
He’s just a sixth-scale figure trying to make his way in the universe
It has been some time since Sideshow Collectibles put up for order a new Star Wars 12-inch scale figure. They previewed an upcoming sixth-scale Artoo Detoo, but then today they put up for pre-order a totally different figure: Jango Fett!
This villain from Attack of the Clones is loaded with accessories and detail. With a fully articulated body and a detailed flight suit including the “durasteel” Armored Vest, Thigh, Knee, Shin, and Boot armor, he also has a belt with pouches, a dual holster belt, left and right gaultnets, boots, a poncho, two Jetpacks, and more! Plus he comes with two Blaster Pistols and a Kamino Saber Dart! Also, the blasters and jet packs have flare attachments for a more action-oriented display.
And if you order the Sideshow Exclusive Edition today you get a swap-out head, showing Jango Fett unmasked, wearing his pilot’s head gear!
This figure is available for pre-order now for $219.99, and payment plans available as low as $73.33 per month, so head to Sideshow Collectibles and get yours now!
Pre-Order Alert: eFX Collectibles Captain America Shield Replica
Update: Yesterday we posted eFX Collectibles’ new Captain America Shield. In 12 hours this product completely sold out from eFX Collectibles, however a number of these shields were reserved for eFX’s online retailers. You can still order this shield now from Entertainment Earth! Don’t miss out on your last chance to own this piece without the eBay markup!
For several years eFX has been showing off their Avengers prop replicas. Thor’s helmet and hammer, Iron Man’s mask, and Captain America’s shield. As reported on the podcast Marvelicious Toys, eFX Collectibles’ commitment to high quality delayed this shield and put its eventual release in jeopardy.
But word came down from Wondercon that this high-end prop replica is in production! It’s expected to ship in August, 2014 and the pre-orders begin today, May 1st, 2014!
The shield is a full-scale replica, measuring 24-inches in diameter. The master pattern for this item was cast from the original molds used to make the “hero” screen used prop, and those same shields were repainted and reused for The Winter Soldier film. And like the shields seen in the movie this replica is made from fiberglass and metal to provide a lightweight, durable item. Simply put, this will be the most authentic Captain America shield replica you can buy.
This eFX Collectibles release is limited to 1500 pieces, and comes with a wall display, numbered plaque, prop story and certificate of authenticity. All for the price of $599 (plus shipping and, for California residents, sales tax).
eFX Collectibles is offering two payment methods. The first 200 people to choose to pay the full amount in advance will get a shield before everyone else, part of the first shipment of this prop. Additionally they will receive a low edition number and free shipping.
Otherwise you can choose to pre-order with a $200 non-refundable deposit. A second payment of $200 will be due when the shield is in stock, and a final payment of $199 + tax and shipping will be due 30 days after payment 2.
With only 1,500 of these props available I expect they will sell out much faster than the Thor helmet and hammer. So at 9am PST hurry to eFX Collectibles’ site and get yours!
And while there be sure to check out their other collectible–the Iron Man 2 Mark V Armor Suitcase Mobile Fuel Cell! A scaled-down version of Tony Stark’s suitcase, this is a collectible with a purpose: to charge your USB devices! Inside this suitcase is a 12,000 mAh battery that can fully charge 5 iPhone 5Ss or 1 iPad Air. It can power some smartphones directly for 45 hours! And yet it still has the detail associated with an eFX Collectibles product, modeled from the original prop and 3D digital files used in the film. Plus it has 3 LEDs on the front to indicate its current power remaining. At only $99 it’s a useful device, or a great, but small, collectible to sit on display!
Both are available this morning at eFX Collectibles.
Pre-Order Alert! Sideshow Premium Format EXCLUSIVE Incredible Hulk!
He’s mean, he’s green, he’s mad, and he’s up for pre-order! It’s Sideshow’s new Incredible Hulk Premium Format Figure!
Standing over 20-inches tall and weighing 20 lbs, this Hulk is the most strongest Premium Format Figure there is!
And if you order now you can get the exclusive version with the swap-out head with a classic Hulk portrait!
So hurry and put your order in now at Sideshow Collectibles!
Pre-order Alert: EXCLUSIVE Amazing Spider-Man 2 Hot Toys Figure
He’s spectacular. He’s superior. He’s sensational. He’s The Amazing Spider-Man!
Up for pre-order now from Sideshow Collectibles is a brand new movie-based Spider-Man figure, showing the comic icon as he appears in the upcoming film The Amazing Spider-Man 2. It’s a look much closer to the web-slinger’s original comic appearance. As director Marc Webb put it, “…in the first movie, when we designed the Spider-Man suit, I wanted a suit that a kid could make out of materials he finds himself. That’s why the goggles were made of sunglasses. But they were too small; I didn’t quite understand how important those big iconic eyes were to people. This time, I threw away the idea that it had to be super-real. I thought, ‘It’s got to invoke the iconography of Spider-Man that people love.'”
Now that iconography is available to add to your collection in 1/6 scale! Standing almost 12 inches tall and with 6 pairs of hands and 30 points of articulation, this Spider-Man figure can strike all the poses you need him to! Plus he comes loaded with accessories, including multiple web props to shoot or swing from, a backpack, and a megaphone.
But if you hurry you can get your hands on the exclusive version of this Hot Toys figure, which includes an additional accessory (a plutonium canister) and an additional figure stand specifically designed with some awesome Spider-Man artwork!
And if you want to complete your Amazing Spider-Man movie figure collection, the Hot Toys figure from the first film is still in stock at Sideshow!
As always, using the links from our site or this post helps support our show, so head on over and order Spider-Man now!
Update – Chewbacca out of Wave 4 Case, Stormtrooper, Boba Fett Back in
Chewbacca will no longer be part of Hasbro’s Star Wars 6-Inch Black Series figure line. The Episode III Obi-Wan figure is also no longer included. Instead the wave will include carry-forwards of the hard to find 6-inch Boba Fett and Stormtrooper figures.
We first reported the rumor that Wave 4 of Hasbro’s 6-Inch Black Series action figure line may not have Chewie included. This wave was originally solicited as three new fligures (Chewbacca, Anakin Skywalker, and a Clone Trooper) plus one carry-forward (the truly awful Episode III Obi-Wan Kenobi, watch our review of this figure on Star Wars Action News Episode 421). Per the rumor, Lucasfilm did not like Chewie’s hunched pose in the small window box and the figure may be delayed until the new blue and black, taller window box was used.
Now DorksideToys.com has revealed that rumor was true, Chewbacca will not be included in Wave 4. Instead of Chewbacca and Ob-Wan Hasbro has included the two hardest to find figures in this line: Boba Fett and the Stormtrooper. Clearly this will help fans get these figures at retail pricing. With the Stormtrooper and Clone Trooper in this wave it’s possible Boba Fett may even become common as troop builders, buying multiples of just those two figures, leave droves of the bounty hunter behind.
Are you excited by this change, or upset at Chewbacca’s delay? Let us know in the comments below!
PREORDER ALERT: Hot Toys Captain America and Steve Rogers Figures Set
| Hot Toys continues their line of figures from the new film Captain America: The Winter Soldier with not one but two new Steve Rogers figures!
First is Captain America in his Stealth S.T.R.I.K.E. Suit. This blue and white outfit that Steve wears in the film is based on the Commander Steve Rogers outfit from the comics. This 1/6 scale figure has a newly developed helmeted head sculpt and an outfit with embossed patterns, plus a special light blue metal shield as seen in the film. This is the vision of Captain America from the new movie and one no Hot Toys collectors should be without! The figure comes with – Nine (9) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including: Costume: Weapon: Accessories: |
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| But Steve isn’t always in uniform, and so you can order him alone or you can order a 2 pack where we also get him in his civvies with the Steve Rogers Hot Toys figure. This has a new unmasked head sculpt which is sure to make Cap collectors happy. The previous releases had a gritted-teeth facial expression that some fans did not appreciate, so this serious-faced head sculpt is a very welcome change of pace. Plus, with all the detail Hot Toys is known for, the face has detailed wrinkles and skin texture. He also comes with an exclusive battle damaged metal shield.
The figure also includes: Four (4) pairs of interchangeable palms including: Costume: Weapon: Accessories:
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| Both figures have over 30 points of articulation and a Captain America: The Winter Soldier movie logo figure stand. And both are up for preorder now, Captain America individually or both as a set, at Sideshow Collectibles!
We know at least two more Hot Toys figures are coming from this film: Winter Soldier himself, plus Falcon, so it’s a great time to be a Hot Toys figure collector! “The price of Hot Toys is high, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay!” And also still available for pre-order are the following hot toys: Marvel Winter Soldier Marvel Sixth Scale Figure |
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Pre-Order Alert: Hot Toys Winter Soldier Movie Masterpiece Series Figure
Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys are certainly hoping to build on the hype for next week’s release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier for I cannot recall another time when they released two new Hot Toys figures in two days. Yesterday’s Captain America Golden Age Movie Promo Edition sold out in under 24 hours (Wait List is Still Available), and now to stage that awesome fight from the movie comes The Winter Soldier Hot Toys one-sixth scale Movie Masterpiece Series figure.
Standing 12-inches tall this figure has 30 points of articulation and an amazing likeness of Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier with two new heads, one masked and one unmasked with movie-accurate make-up. You also get 4 pairs of interchangable palms (the left ones are gloved), and a ton of weapons including a machine gun, remote bomb launcher, submachine gun, spike with sheath, 2 daggers, and 3 pistols. Plus a pair of goggles and a figure stand with the Winter Soldier nameplate.
While this figure is certainly not going to sell out as fast as Cap, I have no doubt that with this movie’s expectation it will sell fast, so be sure to get your order in now at Sideshow Collectibles!
Pre-Order Alert: Sideshow Collectibles’ Red Hulk Premium Format Figure – Exclusive and Regular Editions
Sideshow’s Premium Format Figure collection is hitting hard–with a Hulk! Coming right out of Jeph Loeb’s 2008 Hulk series, the Red Hulk, later revealed to be longtime Hulk nemesis General Thunderbolt Ross irradiated, invulnerable, and mad. It’s the first of three Hulk Premium Format Figures Sideshow will be releasing in 2014!
This statue has gorgeous sculpting that fits the REd Hulk perfectly, with huge muscles and veins. It stands 20 inches tall and 20 inches wide, weighing over 18 pounds!
More, if you hurry you can get the exclusive edition that comes with a swap-out head with the yellow X on the forehead from when Rulk was hit with Thor’s hammer.
It’s expected to ship this September and the edition size is still to be determined, so don’t miss out–get your order in now at Sideshow Collectibles!
SOLD OUT: Hot Toys Captain America – Golden Age MOVIE PROMO VERSION from Winter Soldier film.
Yesterday we announced Sideshow Collectibles has offered the Captain America – Golden Age Suit Movie Promo Version of the figure. Today we have to announce that this figure sold out in less than 24 hours. The figure is now going for over $400 on eBay, versus the $209.99 retail price.
As mentioned in yesterday’s article, Hot Toys’ Movie Promo Versions of figures are highly limited, soar in price on the secondary market, and thus are snatched up by collectors and speculators alike. With Captain America selling out even faster than the previous Movie Promo Iron Man Mark VII this seems to be increasing.
But if you want this Captain America in his classic suit, needed if you want to recreate the climactic battle from The Winter Soldier film, all hope is not lost. Sideshow has opened the Wait List on this item. But do not hesitate–Wait List orders are filled first come first serve.
Sideshow’s Wait List allows collectors who missed out on a piece to hopefully score one due to cancelled orders, credit card declines, or unexpected stock increases. But the earlier you get on the Wait List the greater your chances of actually getting this piece at retail price and not having to scour eBay for it.
So do not delay. If you even think you want this figure, head to Sideshow now to get on the Wait List. And remember with future exclusive and Movie Promo Version Hot Toys–a preorder made is a hundred dollars saved.
Preorder Alert: Hot Toys Captain America – Golden Age MOVIE PROMO VERSION from Winter Soldier film.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens in theaters April 4th, but Hot Toys is letting Marvel collectors get their orders in now for one-sixth scale figures represented in the film!
First up for order was the Black Widow Movie Masterpiece Series figure, and today Sideshow Collectibles has offered the Captain America – Golden Age Suit Movie Promo Version of the figure.
The movie-accurate collectible figure is specially crafted based on the image of Chris Evans as Captain America in his “Golden Age” suit from the film. Featuring a brand new helmeted head sculpt, newly developed body with tailored costume and a specially made metal circular Captain America shield with distressed effect.
The outfit, despite being based on the outfit seen in Captain America: The First Avenger is markedly different, with a new red stripe down the middle and other detailing that makes this figure not even close to a rerelease of that previous Hot Toys offering.
With this figure you get a new helmeted head sculpt, wnd each head sculpt is specially hand-painted to depict a movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles and skin texture. Below the neck Cap has a newly developed body with over 30 points of articulation, nine pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including:
– One (1) pair of relaxed palms
– One (1) pair of fists
– One (1) pair of palms for holding shield
– One (1) pair open palm
– One (1) pointing right palm
Cap’s costume has:
-One (1) dark blue and grayish-white uniform with red and white stripes on midsection and star emblems on chest and arms
-One (1) pair of dark blue, gray, and red suspenders
-One (1) pair of dark blue pants
-One (1) brown leather-like belt with pouches
-One (1) pair of brown boots
Plus you get Captain America’s iconic shield with distressed effect and a figure stand with Captain America nameplate and the movie logo.
And I cannot stress enough, this is the Movie Promo Version of the figure, emaning it is limited worldwide. In the US this is limited to Sideshow Collectibles, and internationally only available at various conventions and shows. The previous Movie Promo Figures, like the Avengers’ Iron Man Battle Damaged Mark VII, have sold out quickly and been very hard to find, and expensive, on the secondary market. So don’t delay, hurry to Sideshow and order yours now!
Deal Alert: Gentle Giant C6 Exclusive Clone Trooper Statue – 35% Off
Gentle Giant’s Star Wars statues are often in high demand with edition sizes over 1,000. And Clone Troopers from the Star Wars prequel films are fan-favorites–they’re like stormtroopers with big guns and good aim! So it makes no sense to me, no sense at all, that Gentle Giant’s Clone Trooper Lieutenant Statue, exclusive to Star Wars Celebration VI in 2012 and with an edition size of only 600, is not only still available but (today only) 35% off at Entertainment Earth.
This statue, showing the blue-accented clone in a kneeling position, stands 10 inches tall, and comes with the Gentle Giant signature black base, with a high-gloss top that reflects the bright white armor of the statue.
It’s Entertainment Earth’s daily deal, and I have to believe that quantities of this statue are dwindling. In years to come fans and collectors may well kick themselves for passing on this piece, so get yours today!
Pre-Order Alert! HOT TOYS Black Widow from Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The next film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, has fans very excited. With Steve Rogers fighting the metal-armed Winter Soldier, plus Marvel heroes Nick Fury, Black Widow, and The Falcon all along for the ride, fans are excited and the Hasbro toys are flying off the store shelves. Now Hong Kong based toy company Hot Toys has put up for pre-order their first release from this new film — Natasha Romanoff as the Black Widow.
Featuring a new likeness of actress Scarlet Johansson, updated for her appearance in Winter Soldier with movie-accurate facial expression, straight real fabric hair, and movie-accurate make-up. The body has over 28 points of articulation, and the outfit has buckles with boots, leather-like trims, and belts with holsters on the thighs.
More, this piece is loaded with accessories, including 9 interchangable cloved palms, two pistols, 2 sets of Widow’s Bite bracelets (with and without shock effect) , a mobile phone, and a Hot Toys Black Widow base.
The previous Hot Toys Black Widow figures have jumped in price on the secondary market, even the lower-detailed Iron Man 2 version. So don’t miss out on this new Hot Toys figure, order yours now from Sideshow Collectibles — the only authorized Hot Toys reseller in the United States!
Thor: The Dark World hits DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital Today
Thor: The Dark World comes out on Blu-ray today.
Benefiting from the “Avengers bump”, coming 18 months after that 1.5 billion grossing hit, Thor: The Dark World has become the third highest grossing film in the Avengers series.
But with the home video release fans must make a choice. Continuing the unfortunate, but common, practice of splitting bonus features across multiple exclusive retailers fans have to choose which features are worth their dollars.
The Blu-ray is available in two editions, a single-disc 2-D version, or a multi-format 2 -disc version which includes the movie in 2-D, a 3-D Blu-ray copy of the film, and a code for a HD Digital download of the film through iTunes or UltraViolet.
Both Blu-ray releases have the same basic set of bonus features: Extended and Deleted scenes (including an extended celebration scene, more with the dark elves, and Jane learning about the aether), gag reel, the 30 minute featurette “A Brothers’ Journey: Thor & Loki”, and a look at “Scoring Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World” with composer Brian Tyler. Of most interest to Avengers film fans are likely the audio commentary with Director Alan Taylor, Producer Kevin Feige, and fan-favorite actor Tom Hiddleston, as well as an exclusive look at April’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Also of note is the film short called All Hail the King. Since the release of Captain America: The First Avenger on Blu-ray Marvel has included short features that help tie the Marvel cinematic universe together. With All Hail the King however Marvel has taken it to the next level, bringing back acclaimed, award-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley to reprise his role as Trevor–the fake Mandarin from Iron Man 3. Given that character’s polarizing response among Marvel’s film fans this follow up should be of great interest to see how Feige caps off the story of this comic relief actor/villain from last May’s Iron Man film. The description of the short is: After the events of Marvel’s Iron Man 3, Trevor Slattery is an infamous icon. He’s also locked up in a high-security prison. Luckily, his newfound profile has brought him celebrity and protection on the inside – and the actor has gladly agreed to an in-depth profile with a documentary filmmaker
But then brick and mortar retailers Best Buy, Target, and Walmart all have exclusive versions of Thor on Blu-ray, and digital sites iTunes and Amazon have exclusive features as well.
Best Buy has the 3D film in a gorgeous steelbook case. The only difference here is packaging, but steelbook collectors will certainly want to check this version out.
Target has an exclusive Loki O-Sleeve over the Blu-ray. Again, there is no new content on the discs (in the past Target has often included an extra disc with bonus features), but you do also get one month exclusive access to Marvel Unlimited, allowing you to read digital comics for free on your computer, phone, or tablet.
Walmart is the only brick and mortar to have a version with exclusive bonus features. Through the VUDU service Walmart customers can view a bonus featurette “Loki: The God of Mischief.” This includes a look at Hiddelston’s 2013 appearance at San Diego Comic-Con International where he appeared on stage in the full Loki costume.
Amazon also has a digital exclusive through their Amazon Instant Video service. This bonus content looks at the visual effects work that went into making Thor: The Dark World.
Finally iTunes offers a bonus featurette looking at the comic book origins of the Dark Elves, Algrim the Kursed, and how these bad guys transitioned from the page to the big screen.
Fortunately if you want one of the physical discs you can likely get the iTunes bonus content as well. On Star Trek Into Darkness and other Blu-ray films with iTunes digital copies the exclusive iTunes bonus content is able to be viewed as well. I will update this article later with confirmation that this is still the case with Thor: The Dark World.
For those without a Blu-Ray player, a bare bones DVD release is also available. Disney did not include a DVD with the multi-format Blu-ray release forcing those without a Blu-ray player to buy either an additional version or a version with no bonus features. Cover variation collectors be aware – the DVD version has a red stripe down the spine, the Blu-Ray version has a blue stripe.
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- Thor The Dark World
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- Thor The Dark World
You can hear our review of Thor: The Dark World as well as the other Avengers films at NowPlayingPodcast.com
Hot Toys re-releases Hulk, adds Bruce Banner Figure. Preorder Now.
Sideshow keeps the new Hot Toys figures coming! Yesterday they released the exclusive, much anticipated Iron Man in MIDAS Armor (now on waitlist but you MIGHT be able to still get one). Now, today, they have put up for pre-order their Hulk and Bruce Banner figures.
Bruce Banner is a totally new figure from Hot Toys. This figure is incredibly detailed with an eerily realistic Mark Ruffalo likeness, his purple shirt outfit from The Avengers, his glasses, and Loki’s Chitauri scepter. With over 30 points of articulation this figure likely moves more than Banner ever did on screen! Expected to ship in September, 2014 this figure is available alone for $189.99
But who wants a Banner but not a Hulk? The Hot Toys Hulk figure has found an incredible (pardon the pun) life in the aftermarket. The Hot Toys Hulk has been long sold out online, and eBay prices spiked as high as $600, with an average being $400-$500 for the big green guy. Now, through a package deal, Hot Toys is offering you a second chance to get the Hulk figure as part of a combo pack with Bruce Banner. This pack is a Sideshow Exclusive, and comes with brand new Hulk accessories–a base showing a “Smashed” Chitauri plus two accessories that look like steel girders for Hulk to weild. Plus you get the huge Hulk figure that was previously available, that stands over 16.5 inches tall, has 20 points of articulation, and looks like he jumped off the movie screen.
Get Banner to keep your Avengers assembled, or get the pair, they ship in September but Flex Pay is available. Get your order in now at Sideshow’s site! And remember, if ordering these Hot Toys or any item from Sideshow, please use the links from our site or e-mail to help support the Marvelicious Toys site and podcast!
Sideshow Collectibles brings the Apocalypse (Premium Format Statue)
We saw it at San Diego Comic-Con–the giant visage of Apocalypse, staring at us from the glass case in Sideshow Collectibles’ booth. Among all the new statues and figures, this one stood over them all. His steel blue armor, his pale face, and his heft, this was truly a villain, and a statue, that would require reckoning.
Now Sideshow has made this available for pre-order. He stands over two feet tall on a metallic-looking base.
More, there is an EXCLUSIVE EDITION with a switch-out hand allowing you to have the chainsaw arm.
In your collection this baddie will certainly be something guests look upon and tremble, so don’t miss out–get your pre-order into Sideshow today!
Arnie is co-host of the Marvel toy & statue collecting podcast Marvelicious Toys which can be heard at marvelicioustoys.com
The Marvel Shop Returns at NYCC
For Marvel statue and toy collectors attending San Diego Comic Con in July, 2013 the first stop was The Marvel Shop. Now at New York Comic Con in October 2013 The Marvel Shop returns. With some exclusives from SDCC making their return as well as brand new NYCC exclusive items, Marvel collectors have more comics, plushies, statues, and more to try and collect!
Images and press release follow:
The Marvel Shop Makes Its East Coast Debut At New York Comic Con With Loads Of Limited Edition Items!
The Marvel booth at New York Comic Con is back! (Booth #1354) Marvel will be taking the event by storm and aims to make this year one to remember! Along with all of the great on-stage panels, creator signings, and special events, Marvel is offering some fantastic new and exclusive merchandise that will be for sale at the booth (while supplies last), including T-shirts, glass tumblers, statues, Blu-ray DVDs and more! Be sure to stop by and check the booth out, as supplies will be limited.
Here is a list of items that will be for sale:
- Rocket Raccoon Plush by Just Play with Limited Edition Skottie Young Lithograph – Take home your very own cuddly, plush Guardian of the Galaxy. Just don’t call him cuddly to his face. Each awesome plush also includes a limited edition lithograph illustrated by Skottie Young! (Limited to 1000 pieces): $34.99
- Glass Tumblers – Enjoy your beverages with these awesome character themed tumblers made exclusively for New York Comic Con. There will be seven different unique designs available. Additionally, each Glass Tumbler will come with a certificate of authenticity. (Limited to 200 pieces for each design) Price: $15.99 each
- Deadpool by Skottie Young
- Spider-Man by Skottie Young
- Thor and Jane Foster from Thor: The Dark World
- Angela by Sarah Pichelli
- Superior Spider-Man by Ryan Stegman
- Hawkeye by David Aja
- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Scarlet Witch by Adi Granov
- Zombie Magneto Bust by Gentle Giant – What’s more terrifying than the Master of Magnetism? A Master of Magnetism who feasts on brains! Decorate your home or workspace with this highly detailed zombified Magneto bust designed by Gentle Giant. (Only 300 pieces on hand) Price: $99.00
- Marvel Unlimited Plus Subscription with access to exclusive Plus Member Only Event – Become a Marvel Unlimited Plus member ($99.99 for one year) and gain access to over 13,000 digital comics, receive an exclusive Age of Ultron Collectible Kit, members only discounts on Marvel merchandise & comics, & more! All comics can be read digitally on the web or via the Marvel Unlimited app (for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® & Android™ devices). The exclusive Age of Ultron Collectible Kit features a limited edition Marvel Legends Ultron AU variant action figure, Age of Ultron #10 variant, (both not available anywhere else) AND your very own membership card and welcome letter.
Marvel Unlimited Plus Members also have the opportunity to attend a Plus members-only event where Plus members can receive an exclusive Captain America: Living Legend variant by John Cassaday and Steve McNiven Inhumanity lithograph! MU Plus members will even be given a 10% discount on all Marvel merchandise purchases from the Marvel booth during New York Comic Con.
- Marvel Unlimited Plus event open to Marvel Unlimited Plus members only. Must have event pass and valid 3-day, 4-day or Sunday New York Comic Con pass for entry. Event badges do not guarantee access to Plus Member event. John Cassaday variant and Steve McNiven lithograph available while supplies last.
- 10% offer valid only from 10/10/13 – 10/13/13. MU Plus members must provide membership card and valid photo I.D at the merchandise booth to receive 10% off of their entire Marvel merchandise purchase.
- Mighty Avengers #2 Cosplay Variant by J. Scott Campbell – Superstar artist J. Scott Campbell brings you some of your favorite female Avengers characters as they get ready to cosplay at NYCC! (Only 2,000 copies printed) Price: $10.00
- Superior Foes of Spider-Man #4 Variant by Gurihuru – Gurihuru puts the Spider-Man up against his worst enemies – or rather ponies dressed as his worst enemies! This is a must own for any Spider-Man fan! (Only 2,000 copies printed) Price: $10.00
- Phase 1 Marvel Cinematic Universe Blu-Ray Collector’s Set w/ limited-edition 24 x 36 Marvel’s The Avengers theatrical homage poster by Skottie Young. – Bring home a piece of cinema history with Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Blu-Ray! This collector’s set includes all six Avenger’s films from Phase One and other amazing collectibles. But wait, there’s more. We are also including a limited edition theatrical homage poster as a special gift with purchase for anyone who buys the Box Set at the Marvel booth. This limited edition poster is illustrated by Skottie Young and is hand-numbered. (Only 150 sets on-hand) Price: $150.00
- Iron Man Statues by Beast Kingdom – Celebrate the unprecedented success of the Iron Man trilogy and decorate your home or office space with these unique Iron Man statues from Beast Kingdom! Limited quantities of each will be available at the convention. This marks one of the first times these statues are for sale by Marvel in the United States! Price: $80.00 each. There will be four Marks available:
- Iron Man Mark V (20 statues on-hand)
- War Machine (63 statues on-hand)
- Iron Man Mark VI (75 statues on-hand)
- Iron Man Mark 42 (75 statues on-hand)
- Marvel Logo Cap by New Era – Show your love of all things Marvel with this exclusive 59FIFTY fitted cap from New Era featuring the Marvel logo. (Only 250 pieces available) Price: $29.99
- Thor: The Dark World Cast & Crew Tee Exclusive Loki Fan Variant – Celebrate the release of Marvel Studios’ next blockbuster Thor: The Dark World with this exclusive cast & crew variant tee available only at NYCC! The unique periodic table design spotlights major characters from the film, including everyone’s favorite God of Mischief – Loki! Don’t miss your chance to take home a your own piece of Thor: The Dark World. (Limited to 399 pieces total. Available in men & women’s sized) Price: $34.99
- Lucky’s On the Case T-Shirt by David Aja – Straight from the pages of Hawkeye comes everyone’s favorite crime solving, pizza loving canine. Don’t miss your chance to own this exclusive design available only at New York Comic-Con! (Limited to 400 pieces total. Available in men & women’s sizes) Price: $19.99
- Rocket Raccoon & Groot T-Shirt by Skottie Young – Get ready for the release of next summer’s Marvel Studios’ blockbuster film Guardians of the Galaxy, with this limited-edition Rocket & Groot t-shirt featuring art by fan-favorite artist Skottie Young! (Limited to 500 pieces total. Available in men & women’s sizes) Price: $19.99
- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D ‘Coulson Lives!’ T-Shirt – Coulson Lives! Support everyone’s favorite agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. with a brand new t-shirt from Marvel Television’s first live action show airing Tuesday nights on the ABC network! (Limited to 550 pieces total. Available in men & women’s sizes) Price: $19.99
- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. “Bus” Blueprint – You may not be able to own the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s flying headquarters known as “the Bus”, but you can own this limited-edition, hand numbered blueprint. Learn the ins and outs of the Agent’s mobile command center and bring home your own piece of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Only 300 copies printed) Price: $12.99
- Captain America Hooded Scarf – Stay warm this winter and dress like you’re the Sentinel of Liberty himself with a hooded scarf designed to look like your favorite Avenger. Each scarf comes emblazoned with Captain America’s iconic “A” and wings so you can battle the Red Skull…or frostbite. (Limited to 100 units) Price: $24.99
Film Fans of All Types Can Enjoy Days of the Dead
Nightmare on Elm Street star Wilcox poses with the man of her dreams. (Photo by Jeff Flynn)
To someone who’s never been to a horror convention the thought could be as frightening as the blood-soaked splatter fests that appear on screen. One could imagine pale, pierced social misfits and psychopaths standing in line to meet their favorite serial killer. Many may feel if they aren’t into the gory or the grotesque then a horror convention is not for them.
That impression is totally false as shown last weekend at the Days of the Dead horror convention in Indianapolis. Of course it was a blast for those into fright films, but it also had entertainment to offer any movie lover!
One of the big draws of the convention were the large number of celebrity guests in attendance. The stereotype of a celebrity on the autograph circuit is an actor with his career on the decline, clinging to former fame. Days of the Dead proved that image wrong by bringing in several A-list celebrities promoting current films. Some of the headlining guests have big movies out soon included Danny Trejo (Machete Kills in October), Keith David (recently in Cloud Atlas and a dozen more films in production), and Academy Award Nominee Gary Busey (Behaving Badly due out this year). This is an amazing roster for a con only in its third year, besting some of the other national companies who host conventions in the Midwest.
Access to the celebrities was incredibly easy. At many conventions fans have to wait in line for four hours or more to meet their idols. At Days of the Dead my wait time to see Trejo was 10 minutes, and only 15 minutes for Busey.
More, the prices were very reasonable. At conventions such as Dragon*Con or San Diego Comic-Con I’ve paid over $100 for signatures from actors who have not worked in several decades. At Days of the Dead the majority of autographs were $20 and headliners Busey and Trejo were just $40. Trejo would take a picture free with an autograph, while Busey charged only $10 additional for a photo; at some conventions photo opportunities start at $20 and can be as high as $150.
While all of the celebrities have horror films on their resumes, Trejo would sign a copy of the comedy Bubble Boy as rapidly as the vampire film From Dusk ‘Til Dawn, and Busey had available photographs of his roles in Lethal Weapon and Point Break. I did not see anyone asking Keith David to sign their copy of Requiem for a Dream but I doubt he’d have declined.
All the guests were not just polite but completely engaged with the fans, having short conversations and truly making the con attendee feel appreciated. This is far better than the assembly-line like atmosphere found by some guests at Wizard World or New York Comic Con. In fact, the longest line to see a celebrity seemed to be A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 star Lisa Wilcox who would spend up to 5 minutes talking with her fans while signing their items. (Unfortunately for Wilcox one of those fans I observed was a socially awkward male in his twenties regaling her with a story about a specially lit photo he had of Wilcox in his bedroom…so while some of the stereotypes were present at the con most of the attendees were overwhelmingly normal).
Even the guests whose primary work was in horror had non-horror items available. For example, Wilcox is best known for starring in A Nightmare on Elm Street but the actress also had available a wide selection of photos from her single-episode guest-starring role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. As she rarely appears in the Midwest, Wilcox was a draw for Trekkers and horror fans alike. Original Nightmare on Elm Street star Heather Langenkamp also had a minor role in this summer’s Star Trek: Into Darkness.
Of course, the horror fan had much to celebrate. Icons of the genre including Tony Todd (Final Destination, Candyman, Wishmaster), Derek Mears (the Friday the 13th reboot, 2007’s The Hills Have Eyes II), Tyler Mane (Michael Myers in both Rob Zombie’s Halloween films), Leslie Easterbrook (Zombie’s Halloween and The Devil’s Rejects), several stars of Cabin Fever, and over a dozen more horror film character actors were also there.
The vendor areas of the convention were a shopper’s delight. While the non-horror fan would find less that appeals to them in the vendor booths, there were plenty of superhero toys and Star Wars collectibles to choose from. I bought an original painting based on the Howard the Duck movie!
Many booths catered to all children of the 80’s, including Don’t Eat the Gum – a company that sells trading cards from the 1980s and 1990s (and my wife should have listened to the company name as she almost broke her tooth on a stick of gum from Howard the Duck trading cards…the gum was made in 1986). Also there was Adjust Your Tracking selling movies on VHS that were never officially available on DVD.
Of course, being a horror convention, slasher-film fans could buy items not found anywhere else. Many booths offered DVDs of horror movies, including bootlegs of some incredibly rare films like Fright Night 2 and Silent Night, Deadly Night: Initiation.
“They’re coming to get you, Leia!” – a custom zombie stormtrooper by vendor Curious Goods
There were also custom T-Shirts, paintings, and other original expressions of creative horror. At one booth Curious Goods offered custom action figures, including Rob Zombie, and Deathtroopers–Star Wars Stormtroopers turned zombies.
The exhibit floor was split into two small ballrooms, a sign that Days of the Dead is quickly outgrowing the space offered by the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel. Having Days of the Dead split among several walled-off areas did make the convention feel smaller than it was. While it were ever too crowded, as is often found at larger conventions, the lines often crossed and merged, making celebrity areas hard to navigate. This is likely the product of becoming incredibly popular in only three years, and something I’m sure will be corrected at future conventions.
Overall Days of the Dead Indianapolis was an incredible experience, and I will certainly be attending their Chicago convention this November. While the only guests announced thus far are stars of the Return of the Living Dead and The Blair Witch Project it’s sure to be fun!
When not attending conventions across the globe Arnie can be found hosting the movie review podcast Now Playing, which has reviewed hundreds of movies of all genres, as well as the toy collecting podcasts Star Wars Action News and Marvelicious Toys. He also reviews books on the Books & Nachos podcast.
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- The author poses with Machete and Desperado star Danny Trejo
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- Nightmare on Elm Street star Wilcox poses with the man of her dreams. (Photo by Jeff Flynn)
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- “They’re coming to get you, Leia!” – a custom zombie stormtrooper by vendor Curious Goods
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- Point Break and Celebrity Apprentice star Busey poses with an adoring fan
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- Gnomes protect your flowers…by eating the babies that crawl by! Another gory custom from Curious Goods.
Marvel Store to Debut at SDCC, Old Man Logan Figure Available
If you’ve attended San Diego Comic-Con International you know Marvel’s booth is a must-see. From a large Avengers stage to a life-sized Iron Man 3 Hall of Armor, the visual spectacle is awe-inspiring. In addition to the superstar comic creators that sign at the booth, celebrities like Stan Lee and Chris Evans have made appearances. And collectibles abound from free iPhone cases to limited posters, comics, pins, and more.
In 2013 Marvel is expanding their booth presence further with The Marvel Shop. The shop will have limited edition collectibles for sale, as well as a highly sought Hasbro Marvel Universe figure–Old Man Logan. First revealed at San Diego Comic-Con in 2012 the figure was expected to be released at New York Comic-Con, and Hasbro gave samples out to press covering their New York Comic-Con event. However Marvel did not have the figure at the convention and, short of spending over $200 for one on eBay, the figure has remained a mystery.
Marvel has now revealed at at The Marvel Shop if you subscribe to Marvel Unlimited, the Marvel Comics digital comics subscription service, you will get the Old Man Logan figure for free. More, Old Man Logan is the first Marvel Universe figure to have an announced edition size–only 3,000 of this figure will be made.
Marvel’s full press release reads:
The Marvel Shop Debuts At Comic Con International 2013 With Loads Of Limited Edition Items!
The Marvel booth at San Diego Comic Con International is back! (Booth #2329) Marvel will be taking the event by storm and aims to make this year one to remember! Along with all of the great on-stage panels, creator signings, and special events, Marvel is offering some fantastic new and exclusive merchandise that will be for sale at the booth (while supplies last), including T-shirts, glass tumblers, Blu-ray DVDs and more! Be sure to stop by and check the booth out, as supplies will be limited.
Here is a list of items that will be for sale:
- Glass Tumblers – Enjoy your beverages with these awesome character themed tumblers made especially for San Diego Comic Con. There will be seven different unique designs available. Additionally, each Glass Tumbler will come with a certificate of authenticity. (Limited to 200 pieces for each design) Price: $15.99
- Spider-Man by Joe Quesada
- Thor by Olivier Coipel
- Captain Marvel by Terry Dodson
- Infinity by Marko Djurdjevic
- Uncanny Avengers by John Cassaday
- Avengers by Skottie Young
- Marvel’s Iron Man 3
- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D T-Shirt – Coulson Lives! Support everyone’s favorite agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. with a brand new t-shirts from Marvel Television’s first live action show hitting screens everywhere this Fall on ABC! (Limited to 500 in men’s sizes & 100 in women’s) Price: $19.99
- iPhone Cases – Protect your iPhone with these sleek new iPhone cases for both models (4S & 5). There will be two designs available. Spider-Man by Skottie Young and Rocket Raccoon by Joe Quesada! (Limited to 250 pieces for each design) Price: $14.99
- Marvel Unlimited Subscription with Old Man Logan Action Figure – Become a member of Marvel Unlimited and gain access to thousands of Marvel titles! The titles can be read digitally on a desktop or via the Marvel Unlimited app (for iPhone®, iPad®, iPad Touch® & Android devices). Included with the subscription is a Marvel exclusive Old Man Logan Action Figure from Hasbro Toys! (Only 3000 pieces produced) Price: $19.99 for one month or $55.20 for one year. Terms & conditions apply, offer valid only in person at the booth at Comic Con International Only.
- Uncanny X-Men #8 San Diego Cosplay Variant by J. Scott Campbell – Superstar artist J. Scott Campbell brings you some of your favorite female X-characters as they get ready to cosplay at SDCC! (Only 1,500 copies printed) Price: $10.00
- Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1 San Diego Variant by Gurihuru – Gurihuru puts Deadpool in a nightmare situation – surrounded by ponies, dressed as and featuring the powers of Marvel super heroes! This is a must own cover for any Deadpool fan! (Only 1,500 copies printed) Price: $10.00
- Phase 1 Marvel Cinematic Universe Blu-Ray Collector’s Set w/ limited-edition 24 x 36 Marvel’s The Avengers theatrical homage poster by Skottie Young. – Bring home a piece of cinema history with Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Blu-Ray! This collector’s set includes all six Avenger’s films from Phase One and other amazing collectibles. But wait, there’s more. As a special exclusive ONLY AVAILABLE at the San Diego convention, we are also including a limited edition theatrical homage poster as a special gift with purchase for anyone who buys the Box Set at the Marvel booth. This limited-run poster (production run of 350 posters), is illustrated by Skottie Young and hand-numbered. Not only that, but Skottie Young is scheduled to appear during preview night to sign these super rare posters in person! Price: $150.00
- Iron Man Statue by Beast Kingdom – Celebrating the unprecedented success of the Iron Man trilogy, decorate your home or office space with these Iron Man statues from Beast Kingdom! There are three Marks available: Iron Man 2 Mark V, Iron Man 2 Mark VI, and Iron Man 2 War Machine. SDCC marks the first time that these statues are for sale by Marvel in the United states! (100 units of each statue available) Price: $80.00
- Rocket Raccoon Mug – Get ready for the release of next summer’s Marvel Studios’ blockbuster film Guardians of the Galaxy, with this exclusive Rocket Raccoon Mug featuring art by Joe Quesada! (Only 350 units will be made available) Price: $14.99
- Avengers T-Shirts– Are you an Avengers fan? Show your support for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes with these special Avengers T-shirts! Two different T-shirt designs will be available, the Avengers Album mock cover by Joey Spiotto and Survival by Matt Ferguson. Price: $19.99
Avengers Superbowl Trailer – A Frame By Frame Analysis
When The Avengers trailer aired during the Super Bowl, and then an extended version was posted online I had to scour it for clues as to what this movie will bring. Frame-by-frame analysis of the trailer gave me these insights to the blockbuster film due out May 4.
Click any of the images for a larger view.
First, Dr. Pepper is a sponsor of The Avengers film.
In the opening Marvel flip-book opening, Black Bolt can be briefly seen... Black Bolt is a member of the Inhumans. Perhaps a clue to the film's villian?
Quinjets are quite a bit larger than standard fighters
Loki has a flying vehicle...like a hover motorcycle. But what force is he commanding?
A close-up of the ships flying behind Loki
Captain America's cumberbund has a zip-up front. Not sure where the zipper ends though.
Tony Stark listens to classic rock. Iron Man perhaps?
Tony Stark's ARC reactor gets an upgrade. Looks much cooler under the shirt.
Then the suit Tony is donning is the new Mark VII armor.
But the Mark VI is in this film as well. My guess--it gets demolished by one of Loki's troops or maybe Hulk and Tony is forced to upgrade.
Whatever those flying things are, they are after Iron Man as well.
ScarJo looks good when covered in sweat. (Ok, this one may be a bit gratuitous)
Chris Hemsworth has a much better wig in Avengers than he did in Thor. Or are these extensions?
Are these Frost Giants I see leaping the chasm? Hard to tell but I think they are...
A close-up of the possible Frost Giant
The Mark VII armor has big jets on the back and just looks very cool!
But what are these strange aircraft that Iron Man is fighting? Looks kind of like Independence Day.
Another shot of the strange craft Iron Man is fighting.
The Mark VII armor is back to the circle ARC Reactor. It's not a mistake on the toys.
The wings airbrushed on Cap's mask look a bit silly...I see why people have problems with Cap's modern outfit.
They really made Hulk look like a beefed-up Mark Ruffalo
And Hulk gets to smash some of those enemy aircraft with his fists. Yes!
With all these juicy tidbits about The Avengers I know where I’ll be May 4th. The only question will be how many times I see it?
What was your favorite part of the trailer? Let us know in the comments below!
SOPA – The Death Knell for Podcasters? (updated 1-20-2012)
Update: On January 18, 2012 all Venganza Media sites joined thousands of others in going dark to protest the SOPA/PIPA laws. On January 20th the sponsors of SOPA and PIPA withdrew their support, leaving the bills effectively dead in the water.
I applaud all the brave souls who risked revenue and popularity to stand against these bills, but the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. New laws will be proposed, and the US government will continue to stretch the reaches of their jurisdiction as they did with the January 19th, 2012 takedown of Megaupload.
This article was originally written to raise awareness. I am glad people became aware of these bills. Please stay informed.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing — Edmund Burke
Perhaps you’ve already heard of SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act. Then again, perhaps you haven’t. It’s very telling that the mass-media corporations that back the bill, who’s lobbyists caused the bill to happen, are the same mass-media corporations that report the news. So it’s very likely you’ve not heard of this bill which has been called the Death of the Internet, legalized internet censorship, and even a threat to human rights.
Perhaps you believe those statements to be hyperbole, and perhaps you think that a new internet law won’t really change your internet experience. But if you are reading this article, you are wrong, because if SOPA passes this article may cease to be published. And if you are here, you likely listen to one of the many podcasts I host and produce, and SOPA could end all of them as well.
The key to SOPA is that it allows private companies to order a “takedown” of any web site that infringes on that company’s intellectual property. There would be no due process, no review by any law enforcement agency. The private company, be it a movie studio, RIAA, or any other large firm, would issue a request and by law the following would happen:
- Google would be forced to remove all search results to that site.
- Google, Amazon, and all other advertisers would be forced to cease business with that site.
- Paypal would be forced to halt any payments to the site.
- Star Wars Action News, a podcast I have hosted and produced since 2005, has used Star Wars music and sound effects in its opening and closing (as do many other Star Wars podcasts). This is done with Lucasfilm’s approval, as we have discussed what is and isn’t “fair use” with Steve Sansweet when he was head of Head of Fan Relations for Lucasfilm. However, while Lucasfilm may approve of our use, we could still be entirely shut down. If 20th Century Fox (who distributes the Star Wars films), Time Warner (owners of Cartoon Network which airs the Clone Wars TV Series), Sony or RIAA (who would regulate any use of the music from the Star Wars soundtracks) submitted a claim that our show infringes on their intellectual property, our site swactionnews.com would be shut down immediately.
- Now Playing, a podcast we have run since 2007, is devoted to discussing movies. Our use of movie clips and music and movie imagery would be considered fair use in court; however SOPA does not require a trial. If we published a review that a movie studio, production company, or director doesn’t like, they could retaliate by claiming we are infringing on their intellectual property. As the language in SOPA is so vague, the simple discussion of plot details could be considered infringement. Now Playing operates on listener donations through Paypal; donations that would be seized if a single complaint is filed.
- Marvelicious Toys is my youngest podcast, started in 2010. It uses original music scored by Joe Harrison, and photos of toys we take ourselves. But again, because the language in SOPA is so vague, even showing a photograph of a toy based on a Marvel comic could be considered intellectual property infringement by The Disney Company or any of it’s various subsidiaries. Again, a single complaint and without any due process our site would be shuttered.
- The Venganza Media Gazette, the site which you’re reading right now, has been host to my reviews of the Blade TV series, a review of Duran Duran in concert, as well as a review of Dan Slott’s Spider-Island comic event. As articles with images are more visually appealing, we have used publicity shots, photos taken ourselves, or screen shots to enhance these reviews (again, an act covered by fair use). Any of those organizations could claim use of these images is infringement of their property, and the entire site would be shut down.
- Worse, we could be shut down through no action of our own. We have forums for our listeners to come and talk about our podcasts. The content in these forums is regulated by volunteer forum administrators, but we are not omnipresent. If a single person, be it a regular user or a spammer, comes and posts a link to pirated content, our entire forum community could be shut down.
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