Over at the Bleeding Cool website, information regarding a massive online course on gender through comic books is making news. This online education course, which will be led by Christina Blanch of Ball University , will be free and starts April 2, 2013 to May 10, 2013 (pre-registration is required) . The course will examine how comic books can be used to explore questions of gender identity, stereotypes, and roles. Industry professionals such as Gail Simone, Brian K. Vaughan, Scott Snyder, Mark Waid, Brian Bendis, and Matt Fraction are scheduled to speak and access to live weekly interviews with Terry Moore, Steve Wacker and Sana Amanat (and more) that you can interact with will be part of the course as well. Not only that, participants will have access to previously recorded interviews with other industry greats as an additional perk. Those interested in the art form and the impact it has on our cultural consciousness should seriously consider checking this out, after all it is free and it provides a great opportunity to hear from some of the industries greats on the subject. The original Bleeding Cool article (posted by Rich Johnston) can be found here and course registration can be found here. See you online!
Upcoming horror/survival video game “The Last of Us” has been delayed. IGN reports that Sony has informed them the game’s original release date of May 7th, 2013 has been pushed back until June 14th, 2013.
“As a team we pride ourselves on setting a very high quality bar for every aspect of our games – gameplay, story, art, design, technology and more. We want to make sure The Last of Us raises that bar even further – for ourselves, and most importantly, our fans.
“As we entered the final phase of development for The Last of Us, we came to realize just how massive Joel and Ellie’s journey is. But instead of cutting corners or compromising our vision, we came to the tough decision that the game deserved a few extra weeks to ensure every detail of The Last of Us was up to Naughty Dog’s internal high standards.”
“The Last of Us” takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a fungal infection has turned most people into hive-minded, cannibalistic monsters (but not technically zombies, according to Naughty Dog). In the game, you play Joel, with Ellie as your invaluable partner in surviving the wasteland of what once was civilization.
When Vibe was introduced in the previous version of the DC Universe, he was seen as little more than a stereotype. Paco Ramone, of Puerto Rican descent, was a break dancing teenager leading a local street gang, Los Lobos. Thanks to the New 52 relaunch, however, Vibe has been re-imagined as a full dimensional character with a revised power set and specific mission within the DC Universe. “Justice League of America‘s Vibe” #1 is co-written by Geoff Johns (‘Justice League of America”) and Andrew Kreisberg with art by Pete Woods and Sean Parsons. The issue is in stores today.
Francisco Ramon was one of the first victims of Darkseid’s invasion of Earth five years ago. Caught in the event horizon of a boom tube opening, Cisco’s vibrational frequency is slightly off from the rest of Earth’s inhabitants, granting him unique abilities, as well as some inconvenient side effects. Recruited by A.R.G.U.S. to be the super-hero, Vibe, Ramon is being trained to fulfill an important role in Homeland Security. A role his powers make him specifically suited for.
Usagi Yojimbo, the ronin rabbit who has slashed his way into comics lore, has not appeared in a game in over 25 years… until now.
HappyGiant, in association with Dark Horse Comics, has released their side-scrolling 2D slasher game for the iPhone and iPad. The game which takes its style from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle arcade games is now available in the apple store.
The game is not available for Android devices just yet but will see be able to play very soon.
“It’s been far too long since the last Usagi game, and I am so excited to be working with HappyGiant to bring Usagi and his friends back to these new platforms,” said Stan Sakai creator of Yojimbo, “The game turned out great!”
In conjunction with the games release, Dark Horse Comics is announcing the first new Usagi Yojimbo collection after a year hiatus working on 47 Ronin. The first new book will be Usagi Yojimbo: A Town Called Hell, which will see release on July 17.
So will you be downloading this game? Check out the video and the slideshow for more information.
A week following Iron Patriot’s queue dominating a movie poster for the soon to be third Iron Man installment, an undefinable role in the form of Aldrich Killian brings to the fore the next theatrical promotional.
Guy Pearce, who has limelight notice through movies such as “L.A. Confidential”, “The Hurt Locker “ and “ “, plays the live action version of Killian.
Accordances from Marvel.com unveils that Killian will place into the film being a foremost geneticist, one who has no definitive relations towards Stark stated just yet. The teaser poster displays Pearce’s Killian without aligning to the comic book version, where he’s a minor character to the major experiment known as Extremis. The endeavor was to create a super soldier serum. As guesswork might claim, the works on a test subject goes awry and Dr. Killian ends up a suicidal persona within the comics storyline.
Shared via Lionsgate’s “CapitolPN” website, the posters came along with this message:
PANEM ALERT: President Coriolanus Snow is pleased to announce this year’s Victory Tour, featuring Katniss Everdeen & Peeta Mellark – Victors of the 74th Hunger Games! The Capitol PN demands that all districts prepare accordingly. Inquire with your local district officials for further instructions.
The posters feature Katniss and Peeta in white outfits, with Katniss holding a bouquet of white roses — a reminder both of President Snow and the looming marriage that’s expected of the two heroes. A giant metal structure looms behind the pair, reminiscent of both buildings in the Capitol and the Cornucopia itself from the Hunger Games.
Last year, Lionsgate successfully ran a viral campaign for The Hunger Games through CapitolPN that treated fans as fellow citizens of Panem, the fictionalized futuristic United States in which The Hunger Games series takes place. These new posters are among the first to be featured on CapitolPN for the sequel, Catching Fire — in theaters November 22nd.
The Justice League has always (well, usually) been comprised of the World’s Greatest Super-Heroes, unfortunately, for the United States government, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman do not answer to them. So, in an effort to control their own Justice League team, Congress has tasked Amanda Waller with assembling a Justice League of America. The roster is set in “Justice League of America” #1 written by Geoff Johns (“Justice League”) and art by David Finch.
The new team is comprised of Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Green Lantern Simon Baz, Catwoman, Katana, Stargirl, Vibe and Steve Trevor as field leader. While the issue is mostly comprised of introducing the roster, Johns works in plenty of character and plot development throughout, doing its job to get the reader excited for the series to come. Frankly, Johns excels at this. He once again refreshes the Hawkman character and in only a few pages. If only DC Comics would relaunch that book with the direction Johns establishes here. Not to mention, there are hints to the “Trinity War” event throughout and references to previous Justice League adventures. David Finch is a rising superstar for a reason. He creates a lush world full of detail. It is somewhat dulled by his heavy inks, though.
Ever since longtime GL writer Geoff Johns announced the end of his run, there have been plenty of speculation as to who would be taking over the main book. Perhaps lost in the shuffle was the fact that all of the Lantern books will be getting new creative teams as well.
So who is taking over these universe-spanning books?
MTV Geek has the exclusive list of the new creative teams DC Comics has placed on their GL books with a surprise new addition.
On Green Lantern, Robert Venditti and Billy Tan will try and fill Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke’s shoes on the GL flagship title.
On Green Lantern Corp, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Bernard Chang will bring their unique styles to this comic.
Justin Jordan adds another title to his DC stable as Brad Walker joins him on Green Lantern: New Guardians.
Fialkov will be writing two GL books as he will be writing Red Lanterns with Alessandro Vitti to bring some rage to the universe.
And finally the surprise new addition to the GL universe of books; Larfleeze, written by Keith Giffen with Scott Kolins on visuals.
So what do you think of these creative teams and the new book? Sound off in the comments section below and stay tuned for more information on these books when the solicitations come out in a few weeks.
Jackie Robinson has one of the flagship biographies brought forward amidst all-time recollection, especially during the regular baseball seasons and Black History Month. In sports #44 is well-remembered. With comics, he has a #1 start-off for his own miniseries detailing a memorable World Series winning year.
Comics is all about the heroes and anti-heroes while it’s storylines span longer than the capes flowing out of the strongest genre running the digital and page-bound medium.
Beyond the cover art that displays gunslingers, superpowers, far millennial space pioneers and more heroes and anti-heroes differing genres can hold, two big name comic book publishers relay Black History month from out of their plethora count of diverse storylines.
DC Comics:
Key and lesser known heroes rise in weekly salutes for DC Comics, in partnership with Comixology. While a digital sale puts to the fore some strong titles and story arcs, read up and get to know or revisit those heroes that have led DC to reflect their diverse cast of characters. Many of thesed black crime fighters and superheroes that have resonating fame from comics to animation for a larger audience outside comic book fame.
Back at 2011s Feb., Marvel posted a look at their heroes along the publisher’s timeline and how it had intentional serendipity with real life events. In changes to diversify and create inclusion, Marvel Comics was sharing comics milestones with significant milestones in the civil rights cause. But there are more heroes past the major societal changes that channel into Marvel’s introspective look honoring Black History Month.
This week’s episode of “The Walking Dead,” was a feel-good romp about the meaning of family and sticking together when the odds are against you and the situation looks grim. Intrigued? Then better late than never, it’s time to review “The Walking Dead” episode 3.10, “Home.”
HERE THERE BE SPOILERS.
First of all, I see what you’re doing there, writers of “The Walking Dead.” I’ve figured you out. You take marginally interesting characters, make them way more interesting, and then suddenly make us care about them all in the space of a single episode before KILLING THEM DEAD LIKE THE HEARTLESS JERKS THAT YOU ARE. Otis. T-Dog. Oscar. And now poor Axel, who was guilty of no more than getting his flirt on with Carol. Man’s just cracking innocent jokes, revealing his self-deprecating nature and slightly ironic back-story before DEAD. It’s like you enjoy toying with our fragile emotions or something.
Oh wait, we knew that already. I think we figured that out right around the first time Rick shot a little girl in the face. But I digress.
“Home” is one of the finest examples of the cavalry riding in to save the day the world of television has ever known. In the beginning, the group is scattered. Rick’s wandering around in the woods after the ghost of his not-so-dearly departed wife. Daryl and Merle are wandering around in a different part of the woods working through their deep-seated mutual childhood trauma. Tyreese & Co. are in yet another part of the woods trying desperately not to get eaten… we assume. And Glenn is galavanting around trying to be in charge. All of this leaves the prison at half strength and relatively defenseless… but with huge amounts of potential for all of the above to come to the rescue if anything goes wrong.
Which, of course, it does.
A moment here for the Governor and his dastardly, manipulative ways. He plays Andrea like a fiddle, probably because she wants so desperately to be safe and secure in Woodbury (we’re sticking with this explanation because really, no one can be that obtuse). And then he simultaneously gets Milton to spy on Andrea while he and his posse ride of to cause mayhem. How does he keep two such disparate personalities in the same person? There’s the guy who exudes level-headed, compassionate leadership… and then there’s the homicidal maniac who tortures people and shoots up the new neighbor’s house just because they declined his invitation to join his my-way-or-the-highway HOA from Hell.
But I digress once again, because there are more important things to discuss.
Like, for example, the fact that our fearless leader is a few floats short of a parade.
Ghost Lori is a nice touch. And in this episode, the whole appearing-in-sunlight thing is doing her a lot of favors. Gone is the horror movie trope, come to stay is zombie apocalypse Galadriel. And Rick is eating it up. But is hanging out with his dead wife a good excuse for sacrificing the integrity of the group and driving away potential allies? We think not. C’mon Rick, get yourself together.
So the stage is set for things to go horribly wrong at any moment, which of course they do, and that leads to one of the most exciting scenes this show has given us so far. The Governor’s attack on the prison was brilliant both for its sudden efficiency, its diabolical strategy (why waste bullets when you can just send in a truck full of walkers?), and the true peril our heroes faced. There was nothing more gratifying than Michonne hacking her way across a field full of walkers to save Hershel while the brothers Dixon and their trusty sidekick crossbow showed up just in time to save Rick. In the end, everything was ok (unless you’re Axel), but for a couple minutes there we were genuinely worried.
So what now? Indulge us in a few predictions.
For one thing, the attack on the prison was probably just the thing to knock Rick out of his funk. He’s going to pull himself together, start leading from a place of rationality. Because of her courage under fire, Michonne will be welcomed into the fold. Rick will reconcile with Hershel and the others, and even welcome Daryl back on the condition that Merle is on probation.
Meanwhile in Woodbury, Andrea’s going to pull off the blinders and go check out the situation at the prison for herself. And being a not-entirely-irrational person, she’s going to realize that they are the good guys, and her ex-boyfriend is a sociopath who needs to be put down like a rabid dog. She and Michonne will have a heartwarming reunion.
The only real wild card is Glenn and Maggie. Their relationship has taken a turn for the It’s-Complicated-On-Facebook, and it’s hard to see how they’ll get through it. The ramifications of PTSD and vengeance in the zombie apocalypse are convoluted to say the least.
Will Rick pull the group together to defend their home? Will the Governor stage another attack on the prison? Will Tyreese & Co. find their way to safety? Stay tuned for the next thrilling episode of “The Walking Dead” to find out!
Weekly Hero Factor 