Articles by karl-cramer
Thu Jul 3, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
Xbox LIVE Adds DC Comics Network
Xbox adds a host of DC related features to its online service
As if Dark Knight, Wanted, Hulk, and Iron Man gamerpics weren't enough, the Xbox LIVE online video game service has announced a plethora of DC Comics content for your Xbox 360.
The DC Comics Network will be a one-stop shopping location on the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace for superhero media to play on your Xbox 360 game system. To celebrate the launch, they're offering stellar gamerpics of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and the DC Swirl. (Gamerpics are pictures attached to your Xbox online profile to represent you when playing other gamers.) Imagine evil gamers quaking in fear when they find they're going to play against the Justice League. Cheaters are a superstitious and cowardly lot.
After p0wning bad guys, relax with all the superhero digital downloads you can buy for a reasonable price.
- Batman: The Animated Series
- Batman Beyond
- Superman: The Fleischer Cartoons
- Super Friends
- The Adventures of Batman
- Aquaman
And coming July 8th, Batman: Gotham Knight, the Batman direct-to-DVD animated feature will also be available for download. (Click here for our ComicMix review of Batman: Gotham Knight.) An exclusive clip is available right now for the Xbox.
Haven't bought an Xbox 360 yet? If you're considering it, multiple leaks have all but confirmed that a price drop to $299.99 for the system (the one with the hard drive to download video content) will be coming in mid-July.
Thu Jul 3, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
'DC Universe Online' Wants To Be Your MySpace Friend
The DC comics-based MMO premieres on MySpace
Just last week, Jim Lee dropped some details on Sony Online Entertainment's MMO videogame based on DC Comics. We made a wish that screenshots would be soon to follow.
Well, consider that wish granted!
This week's batch of DC comics featured links to a MySpace page showcasing the first public images of the much-discussed game.
If you're eagerly anticipating the upcoming PC and PlayStation 3 game, then head on over to www.myspace.com/dcuo for tons o' details on DC Universe Online.
In addition to screenshots (which we've posted after the jump) the site also features developer interviews, Jim Lee concept art, wallpapers, and buddy icons. You might also want to add the social networking page to your Friends List because Sony is sponsoring contests for anyone who makes the game one of their "Top Friends."
But will DC Universe Online comment on my page about that time we got drunk and went to McDonald's at 2:00 AM? Good times.... good times.
Continue reading 'DC Universe Online' Wants To Be Your MySpace Friend ›
Tue Jul 1, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
Interview: Hugh Sterbakov on 'Freshmen' and the 'Summer Vacation Special'
Series writer talks superheroes in school, on summer vacation and beyond...
When Freshmen was first solicited by its publisher Top Cow, the series was promoted as "The adventures of college freshmen with extraordinary powers."
And while many writers might respond by rolling their eyes, smirking and claiming that their characters were a bit more serious and tackled deeper social issues, Freshmen creators Seth Green and Hugh Sterbakov embrace that tagline for their popular series. When the series kicked off, their heroes were naive college freshmen making the same mistakes any other freshmen might, but on a much larger, action-packed scale.
Majoring in outrageous situations with a minor in young adult drama, the original Freshmen: Introduction to Superpowers miniseries passed its first semester with honors. The second volume, Freshmen II: Fundamental of Fear, is currently wrapping up -- soon to be followed by a Freshmen: Summer Vacation Special in July.
While actor, writer and producer Seth Green gets a lot of the spotlight because of his involvement with movies, the Family Guy TV series and co-creating Robot Chicken, co-writer Hugh Sterbakov is very much the heart and soul of the series.
COMICMIX: For new readers who haven't studied the Freshmen curriculum, what do they need to know for the test? Let's hear the CliffsNotes version of the series...
HUGH STERBAKOV: It's a whole dramatic and comedic saga with a crapload of characters and relationships, but if we're cramming, I'd say that a bunch of college freshmen have been given superpowers by the explosion of a special machine, and the powers are based on whatever they were thinking at that moment.
So one guy can burp at anyone and make them drunk, one girl can make everyone fall in love with her, another guy is totally sticky, that dude can talk to plants, this girl can jump into people's minds... and they're (sort of) led by a comic book geek who didn't get any powers and a talking beaver obsessed with building dams.
Continue reading Interview: Hugh Sterbakov on 'Freshmen' and the 'Summer Vacation Special' ›
Mon Jun 30, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
Joss Whedon Teases 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog'
Joss Whedon's superhero musical is coming to the 'Net... soon
With all the superhero movies coming out this year, we almost forgot about Joss Whedon's Doctor Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog project. Well, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer hasn't. He's been hard at work along with Niel Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. The superhero musical is done and details about its debut have been announced on Whedonesque along with a trailer. Find out which of your friends has the biggest monitor and bring the over the popcorn.
We've posted the info about the project's debut below, and the video trailer is posted after the jump.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog" will be streamed, LIVE (that part’s not true), FREE (sadly, that part is) right on Drhorrible.com, in mid-July. Specifically:
ACT ONE (Wheee!) will go up Tuesday July 15th.
ACT TWO (OMG!) will go up Thursday July 17th.
ACT THREE (Denouement!) will go up Saturday July 19th.
All acts will stay up until midnight Sunday July 20th. Then they will vanish into the night, like a phantom (but not THE Phantom – that’s still playing. Like, everywhere.)
Continue reading Joss Whedon Teases 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog' ›
Mon Jun 30, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
Take Your Picture With The Incredible Hulk
Soda website features digital version of boardwalk cut-out photo op
I just found a website that I'm having a lot of fun with. HulkOutWithVault.com is promotional tie-in between The Incredible Hulk movie and green energy drink soda Vault. It's the digital equivalent of boardwalk cutouts. Upload a photo with a face into one of four Hulk movie backgrounds, then send them to your friends for all to enjoy.
Since ComicMix Managing Editor Rick Marshall tirelessly works to make sure my posts are decipherable, and graciously contributed his image to one of the Wizard World Chicago 2008 photo galleries, I decided to use him as my demo.
The image posted here is Rick partying with the ol' Jade Giant himself. More pictures are posted after the jump.
Continue reading Take Your Picture With The Incredible Hulk ›
Sat Jun 28, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
'DC Universe Online' Details Revealed
Jim Lee drops info on the 'DC Universe Online' videogame
I would like to take credit for getting Sony's DC Universe Online to move forward back when I posted about the job opening at the development house responsible for the game. I would like to imagine that a ComicMix reader swooped in and kicked the project into high gear. I would like that, indeed.
But the reality is that the upcoming PlayStation 3 and PC MMO game was coming along just fine without my help. As evidenced by Jim Lee talking the project up with U.K. publication Edge magazine. Since I don't live in the U.K., we have to give the Eurogamer.net website thanks for posting the details for the rest of the world.
Superstar comic artist and DCUO executive creative director Jim Lee described the game as "kick-ass hybrid between a traditional MMO and a first-person action console game". Instead of stepping into the role of Batman or Wonder Woman, you'll create your own hero that will interact with the DC superheroes. Imagine foiling a plot by Lex Luthor to kill Superman. Or finding Green Lantern's lost power battery. Or you could be a villain and fight the Justice League.
As for "realms," in the vernacular of MMOs, expect to play in Metropolis or Gotham City. Other locations may be announced down the road.
Player-on-player combat will be limited to arenas but can evolve into boss battles. That works quite nicely with comic book traditions. Two heroes fight due to a misunderstanding, then team-up against a common foe.
Speaking of crossovers, expect some to occur between the game and the comics.
"We can tie-in future DC tentpole events and translate the stories for the gaming world, and have them occur simultaneously," said Lee. "The possibilities are numerous and very exciting."
What would be more exciting is if Sony Online Entertainment decides to release some images next month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Stay tuned.
Fri Jun 27, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
MTV Spotlights Comics Based on Videogames
Network blog offers up a semi-comprehensive list of every videogame made into a comic book
Once or twice I've written about all the comics that were based on videogames. But I'm relieved to find I'm not the nerdiest comic gamer out there. Tracey John at the MTV Multiplayer blog has posted an amazingly comprehensive list of every videogame that has been ported over to comic books.
There's the sweet kids' comics from our youths, like Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as upcoming ones like Gears of War. There's even the ridiculously infamous Doom comic.
But wait! They left off Mercenaries (with a Mike Turner cover, no less) from Dynamite Entertainment and the upcoming Brothers in Arms. Also conspicuously absent are the Capcom comics Bionic Commando and Lost Planet from Devil's Due Publishing that were announced here on ComicMix.
I guess my nerd crown is safe... for now.
Fri Jun 27, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
Free Incredible Hulk/Wanted DVD at Best Buy
Fun promo DVD for this summer's superhero flicks hits Best Buy
If seeing The Incredible Hulk movie made you nostalgic for the old television series and you can barely contain your excitement about today's premiere of Wanted, then rush on down to Best Buy retail stores for a free promotional DVD tied to the two films. Sure, it's a bunch of trailers and commercials, but there is also some neat behind-the-scenes stuff -- as well as a special bonus for older Hulk fans.
And did we mention it's free?
For Wanted you get:
- Teaser Trailer
- Theatrical Trailer
- "Behind the Scenes of the Viper Chase"
- A Set Tour Featuring Common
The Incredible Hulk promos are:
- "A Look Inside"
- Teaser Trailer
- Exclusive Teaser Trailer "Awaken"
- "The Beast Within: The Making of The Incredible Hulk Video Game"
- The Making of the Hulk Smash! Toy Commercial
- The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 Premiere "The Phenom"
Yes, it's that last one that's truly incredible: a full episode of the classic TV show! And the episode is a hoot, believe me. After hitching a ride with a promising baseball pitcher, David Banner (Bill Bixby) has to save him from unscrupulous baseball managers. Lou Ferrigno hulks out on a baseball field. The startled players pelt him with baseballs. What does the Hulk do in response? He picks up a baseball bat and starts knocking them out of the park!
Oh, and The Hulk also battles a man in a chicken outfit. The '70s were awesome.
Thu Jun 26, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
More Characters Confirmed For 'Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe' Videogame
Magazine confirms presence of Scarlet Speedster in crossover game
Comic and videogame fans have long speculated who's going to be in the Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe videogame coming later this year. The only confirmed superheroes have been Superman and Batman. Now add the Flash to that list, as PlayStation: The Official Magazine subscribers got the news first when the latest issue arrived in their mailboxes.
Mortal Kombat head honcho Ed Boon followed up with an interview over at Gamespot.com. He discusses fan reactions from the comics and games factions, teases the lineup, and reveals that DC villains will indeed perform the infamous fatalities from the series -- but not the heroes. Heroes never kill... except Hal Jordan. He was possesed by the Parallax Fear Anomoly, so what's Liu Kang's excuse?
Wed Jun 25, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
'Dark Knight' Gamerpics and Theme Free on Xbox LIVE
Free Batman custom graphics for your videogame system
I woke up this morning depressed that there's no videogame based on The Dark Knight coming out around the time of the movie. Luckily, the hope that they're taking extra time to make a good movie-based game sometime down the road gave me the energy to turn on my system.
Joy!
I turned on my system to find that Warner Bros. marketing executives decided to distribute free Xbox gamerpics and themes to promote the upcoming Batman Begins sequel.
For the unitiated, gamerpics are pictures attached to your Xbox online profile to represent you when playing other gamers. Themes are basically customizable desktop graphics for your game system. On the Xbox LIVE service, there's a wide selection of both, some for free, some for a price.
Recent superhero themes were based on the Iron Man movie-based game, The Incredible Hulk movie and The Incredible Hulk movie-based game. In an unusual reversal, non-U.S. fans got exclusive Hulk ones that left their American opponents jealous.
Don't worry PlayStation 3 fans, according to some leaked photos available around the 'Net, you'll see a similar system sometime this year.
Tue Jun 24, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
'God of War' Creator Talks Spider-Man Videogames
Superstar developer David Jaffe openly pleads with Marvel Comics game makers
Unless you're a rap star, it's rare for established entertainment professionals to openly criticize someone else in the industry. But when they do, people pay attention -- if only as a reminder that the pros can occasionally be angry fans just as much as the rest of us. One of comics' famous feuds was the Peter David and Todd MacFarlane debates from the '90s. Now videogames based on comics get theirs.
David Jaffe is considered one of the big names in the videogame industry for designing the Twisted Metal and God of War series, among other hits. On his personal blog, he posted images from the upcoming Spider-Man: Web of Shadows game and wrote a plea for the makers of Marvel Comics videogames to make the games more true to the spirit of the comics.
Please stop putting Spiderman games in big open sandbox environments where you swing around and do oh so slight variations on 4 pretty dull mission types (chase/race/collect/etc) and then once in a while toss in a boss fight and/or a somewhat unique mission.
I LOVE Marvel Comics and I LOVE the promise of games based on Marvel Comics. But why can't you guys make a game that feels like a comic? I don't mean art style wise; I don't mean like Comix Zone with panels and cliche stuff like that. I mean feels like a comic in a story based, narrative way: a game that shows off the OTHER aspect that makes Marvel Comics so special: The characters/story. It's not JUST about the powers, you know. But your games are always ONLY about the powers.
The post was followed up by another entry where he countered some reader rebuttals. His argument concludes:
I LOVE Marvel comics and want to see them start making games worthy of their amazing history of great products and characters. I want to see them apply their smart logic to making films to their games division.
The posts are rare example of a AAA-level creator speaking out like a fan. If you agree or disagree, let us know in the comments.
I would like to point out that Marvel: Ultimate Alliance had a story that rivaled any recent Marvel crossover, accurately detailed Marvel history, and gave us some theatrical-quality cinematics. (See below.) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 has been announced for 2009 and will cover the events of Civil War.
Mon Jun 23, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
'Spider-Man: Web of Shadows' Combat Trailer
First gameplay footage from the new Spider-Man video game
Back in April, ComicMix gave you the first details on the next Spider-Man videogame, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. Many of the details were hush-hush at the time, but since then we've learned that the story revolves around Venom invading New York City with an army of symbiotes.
Now for the first time, publisher Activision and developer Shaba Games have pulled back the curtain on what the actual game looks like. The team explains they wanted to improve combat in Spider-Man games and integrate it more with the web-slinging for more aerial combat maneuvers. See the footage for yourself below.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is scheduled to be released in late 2008 for the Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.
Sun Jun 22, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
iPhone: Your New Comic Shop?
Pundits speculate that comics on iPhone could be big business
Ever since the Apple iPhone's debut, tech-minded comic fans discussed it as the ideal platform to read comics in the 21st century. When your friends talk about it, it's utopia dreaming. When the suits talk about it -- especially if they can make money -- it's a step closer to becoming reality.
A recent Reuters story detailed how the downloadable cell phone comic business could explode in Japan when the Apple iPhone debuts there for the first time on July 11th. Manga have caused the mobile publication market to double in the last year to a $204 million business. The iPhone would allow for even more natural reading of comic pages, with a large screen, the ability to zoom on different panels, and turn pages. The latest version of the iPhone will be cheaper, faster, and most importantly, include 3G technology for faster Internet connections. With an emerging business model already in place and ideal technology being introduced, a "perfect storm" for cell comics could emerge.
If cell phone comics become successful overseas, expect American comics to follow the trend. With print publishing continually under pressure, don't be surprised if the big four comic publishers in the U.S. start meeting with Apple (if they're not already) to have digital comics offered in the App Store.
Superman on your iPhone might even make reading comics chic.
Wed Jun 4, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
'The Incredible Hulk' Xbox 360 Game Achievements Detailed
Enthusiast sites list the achievements for the Xbox 360 version of Hulk game
While I try to stay videogame platform neutral here at ComicMix, I'll admit that I'm very, very excited to see the Xbox 360 achievement list for the upcoming videogame based on Incredible Hulk film.
If you're not familiar with the Xbox 360 "achievements" system, it's a method for giving gamers recognition for completing certain tasks in games. The accomplishment is recorded by the Xbox LIVE online service for fellow gamers to see. Basically, it's Facebook for videogames. Hardcore gamers furiously try to get them all.
The digital bragging rights have proven very popular and similar schemes have been launched for PCs via the Steam network, while Sony announced a "Trophy" system coming soon for the PlayStation 3.
Continue reading 'The Incredible Hulk' Xbox 360 Game Achievements Detailed ›
Wed May 28, 2008 — by Karl Cramer
Joe Quesada on 'When I Grow Up'
Marvel's Editor-in-Chief tells kids about his job in educational online series
Any kid worth his Harry Potter books knows who Scholastic is; the multimedia publisher that educates and entertains school children.
As part of their When I Grow Up series of web articles, the publisher recruits adults to tell kids what their jobs are like. The latest grown-up to provide career advice is Joe Quesada, Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics.
Here are some of the highlights:
I play with Spider-Man for a living!
When I was a kid, I wanted to be: A baseball player for the New York Mets.
My father bought me my first comic in 1968 because he had seen in the news that Stan Lee and Marvel were introducing a new comic book that preached against the evils of drug abuse, and he thought it would be a great way to get the message across.
It's a cute article, aAnd let's face it, we all want to grow up to be the guy who runs a comic book company, right?
