“The New 52” DC Comic’s Release Schedule

“The New 52” DC Comic’s Release Schedule

–AUGUST 31–
-JUSTICE LEAGUE #1

–SEPTEMBER 7–
-ACTION COMICS #1
-ANIMAL MAN #1
-BATGIRL #1
-BATWING #1
-DETECTIVE COMICS #1
-GREEN ARROW #1
-HAWK AND DOVE #1
-JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
-MEN OF WAR #1
-O.M.A.C. #1
-STATIC SHOCK #1
-STORMWATCH #1
-SWAMP THING #1

–SEPTEMBER 14–
-BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
-BATWOMAN #1
-DEATHSTROKE #1
-DEMON KNIGHTS #1
-FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1
-GREEN LANTERN #1
-GRIFTER #1
-LEGION LOST #1
-MISTER TERRIFIC #1
-RED LANTERNS #1
-RESURRECTION MAN #1
-SUICIDE SQUAD #1
-SUPERBOY #1

–SEPTEMBER 21–
-BATMAN #1
-BIRDS OF PREY #1
-BLUE BEETLE #1
-CAPTAIN ATOM #1
-CATWOMAN #1
-DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1
-GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
-LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
-NIGHTWING #1
-RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
-SUPERGIRL #1
-WONDER WOMAN #1

–SEPTEMBER 28–
-ALL-STAR WESTERN #1
-AQUAMAN #1
-BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1
-BLACKHAWKS #1
-GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #1
-I, VAMPIRE #1
-JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
-SUPERMAN #1
-TEEN TITANS #1
-THE FLASH #1
-THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #1
-THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
-VOODOO #1

I am personally excited about the DC reboot. I’ve wanted to catch up on every Batman comic, but with over seven hundred issues, that would be a huge chore at this point. When do you start reading anyway? From the cheesy old comics or when they became gritty and dark in the late 80s? Here’s your chance to jump on board from the start. With DC veterans Johns and Morrison writing, I’m sure our favorite heroes are in good hands, and I look forward to the new adventures they’ll take us on.

List was found on Phantom of the Attic of Monroeville Pa’s Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=222987451054056

Frank Darabont Not ‘Walking Dead’ for Season 2 [Updated]

“The Walking Dead’s” showrunner, Frank Darabont, has decided leave the hit show mid-development during its second season. Darabont hasn’t announced an official departure date, or said whether he will or will not stay on the show in any other way, though I can’t imagine him completely abandoning his AMC ratings baby. The news is even more surprising due to Darabont’s attendance at this past week’s Comic Con panel for the series. Hopefully, he will at least stay around to continue guiding the show in the right direction.

It would be really interesting to have someone like comic creator/writer Robert Kirkman or special effects wizard Greg Nicotero take the helm in the future, due to their specialization in the zombie genre. All in all, though, it’s hard to tell who will end up filling the large Darabont-shaped hole in the heart of the show. Be sure to tune in to AMC on October 16th to catch all the zombie action.

Photo from : IMDB.com

Update: Glen Mazzara, Darabont’s 2nd in command will be taking over as showrunner. Mazzara, who worked on The Shield, also wrote last season episode, “Wildfire”.

Judge Dredd – New Pictures

     As some of you may or may not know, the 1977 comic book character Judge Dredd (“2000 AD”) is coming back to the big screen this year in “Dredd,” a new film in Stereoscopic 3D!  Donning the helmet is none other than “Star Trek” (2009’s) Karl Urban. Urban, who also played Eomer in both “Lord of the Rings” sequels, is perfect for the role. He’s been in several leading roles in action-oriented films (“Doom”, “Pathfinder,” and “Priest”), and seems ready for just about anything at this point. The movie was written by Alex Garland (“28 Days Later” and “Sunshine”) and directed by Peter Travis, of “Vantage Point” fame. The film also stars Lena Headey (“300”) and Olivia Thirlby (“Juno”).  Here are a few photos of scans from Empire via Quite Earth.

   Let’s just hope it turns out better than the 1995 self-titled “Judge Dredd” film, starring Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, and the human warning flag, Rob Schneider. Though I do have fond memories of blasting my way through the Sega game version as a small child, the movie has always been terrible.  Here’s a taste of that:

Marvel’s “The Avengers” SDCC 2011 Concept Art: Assemble!!

Marvel has released some outstanding concept art for the upcoming Avenger movie. I must say The Hulk is looking bad ass. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get into another skirmish with mutant poodles in this adventure…

I posted a few of the pictures here:

Head over to Marvel’s page for a few more pictures and extras: Marvel.com

Captain America: The First Avenger Review

   The first film on the chopping block of my new blog features none other than the first member of The Avengers – Captain America.  ” Captain America: The First Avenger” tells the story of Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans), a wimpy kid from the Bronx with a heart of gold, who is chosen to be a part of a secret government experiment attempting to create the “super soldier,” and consequently an end to WW2. Rogers is chosen not because he is qualified – he is far behind his competition in physical aptitude and has no experience  – but because he refuses to gives up. Chris Evans portrays Steve Rogers as the sweetest man in the 1940s. He wins you over instantly as a upstanding guy, and constantly compels you to mercy while  everyone around him constantly mocks and doubts his abilities. Steve’s character is so nice that if you admit to even remotely disliking Rogers, you’re probably an asshole (or in Caps’ case, a Johann Schmidt). Johann Schmidt, who later reveals himself to be The Red Skull,  is the leader of Hydra, a Nazi terrorist group that specializes in the occult. He is so evil, even the Nazis decide he’s too much for them. Long story short, the Skull gets his hands on a Cosmic Cube that hold unknown power and must be stopped by, you guessed it, Captain America. Fuck Yeah! So how does the Cap size up??
Steve Rogers is played by the likeable Chris Evans (“Fantastic Four”) in his first leading role. I knew he’d work well the moment I saw him light up the silver screen as Lucas Lee in last summer’s “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.”  Steve Rogers is  the epitome of the “Good Guy,” so much so that when asked if he wants to “kill Nazis” his reply is simply, “No, I don’t want to kill anyone. I just don’t like Bullies.” Hugo Weaving (“The Matrix,” “V for Vendetta”) plays The Red Skull in a match made in comic-nerd heaven. That was the one member of the cast I remember being thrilled about when they first announced the movie. Cap’s love interest, Peggy Carter, is played by Hayley Atwell. I hadn’t seen her before, but thought she did really well in the part. I hope to see her do more in the future. However, the show-stealers for me were Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Chester Phillips and Stanley Tucci as the good German Dr. Abraham Erskine. Every time the two are on screen, they add so much to the likability of the overall flick. Director Joe Johnston (“Jumanji,” “The Rocketeer,” “October Sky”) was more than qualified to helm the picture. He has a way of visually taking you back in time and keeping you there. In a world filled with distractions, I very seldom took my eyes off the screen, or felt like I left the feel of war-stricken ’40s. The action is intense and nonstop, reminiscent at times of Indiana Jones’ early adventures, a time when movies were focused more on being “fun” than worrying about seeming “smart.”  And though the 3D version (yes I saw it in 3D) was mostly unnecessary, it was really awesome when Cap was throwing his shield around.
When I watched “Captain America: The First Avenger” this weekend, I left the theater satisfied. I walked in knowing it wasn’t going to be the best movie ever, and I left happy I saw it. The movie was very entertaining and captures the nostalgia of the old comics. However, I know people are complaining about how silly it was at times, and how “unreal” it felt. I feel like people these days expect every comic book-turned-movie to be “The Dark Knight” and, well, the hard truth is that they aren’t. In fact, I’d like for you to imagine a world in which all comic book adaptations are rooted in a dark and gritty reality … it would become dull and boring.  We need movies like this, or eventually everything starts looking like the new trailer for “The Amazing Spider-Man.”  Captain America is very light-hearted and fun, and at times the dialog does get cheesy, but hell – it’s the 1940’s, and people talked a lot differently (for an example, go talk to your grandpap for 5 minutes – he’s silly). I imagine it would sound like quite the cheesefest to us modern conversationalists.
As far as The Avengers’ subplot goes, it doesn’t get in the way of making Cap a great stand-alone movie, but it’s there enough to be awesome and build on the excitement that started three years ago with “Iron Man” (2008). The nods to the upcoming blockbuster start with the Cosmic Cube (or as most people remember, the “WTF Cube” from the post-“Thor” Avengers scene). Also, Tony Stark’s, aka Iron Man’s, father Howard Stark plays Q to Captain America’s 007 by helping craft his costume and iconic shield, along with a few other surprises I won’t spoil here. The movie includes an additional scene at the end, and then a certain teaser trailer for a certain 2012 Mega Movie after the credits so DON’T LEAVE YOUR SEAT! “The Avengers” is slated for May 2012 and will be directed by none other than geek-god Joss Whedon, so you can place your bets now that this is going to be incredible.

Super Summer Stack-Up:
Thor < Green Lantern < Captain America < X-Men: First Class

Pros:
Exhilarating, charming, and action-packed.
Costume and shield were visualized and kicked ass.
Chris Evans is going to fit right in with the other  Avengers.
Timothy ‘Dum Dum’ Dugan’s Mustache. Epic!

Cons:
Movie drags a little at times.
Cheesy dialog will turn some people off.
Red Skull comes off as less intimidating than Johann Schmidt.
3D Up-charge.

Questions The Movie Left Me With:
What gives Captain America’s shield its boomerang-like abilities?
How does The Red Skull articulate so well without lips?
Can I slip into an ice coma until The Avengers movie comes out?

Walking Dead Season 2 Trailer Comic Con 2011

Finally, a real look at some of the action from the coming 2nd season of The Walking Dead (not just a clip of Rick smashing in zombies faces with rocks). Looks like it has the gangs in for a lot of surprises, and I’m looking forward to seeing Hershel’s Farm. We can all look forward to finding out this October …