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Frozen 2 to make Kids Squee at Home Feb. 25

Frozen 2 to make Kids Squee at Home Feb. 25

BURBANK, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2020) — Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 2 has melted hearts around the world, becoming the No. 1 animated feature of all time. Just in time for Valentine’s Day,  the follow-up to 2013’s hit Oscar®-winning Best Animated Feature, Frozen, comes home, with a sing-along version and all-new extras, on Digital in 4K Ultra HD™, HD and Movies Anywhere on Feb. 11, and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on Feb. 25.

Frozen 2 bonus features include deleted scenes, deleted songs, Easter eggs, outtakes and a sing-along version with lyrics to the film’s forever-infectious songs. Extras invite viewers to go behind-the-scenes to hear personal, making-of stories from the Frozen 2 cast and crew. Fans who bring the film home early on Digital will receive two exclusive extras: an interview with songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who won an Oscar® for Best Original Song (“Let It Go,” 2014) and wrote seven original songs for “Frozen 2,” and a deleted song titled “Unmeltable Me.”

In Frozen 2, the answer to why Elsa was born with magical powers is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she sets out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In the highly anticipated sequel, she must hope they are enough. From the Academy Award®-winning team—directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, producer Peter Del Vecho and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—“Frozen 2” features the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad.

Frozen 2 will be packaged several ways to ensure families get the most out of their at-home viewing experience. The film will first be made available on Digital in 4K Ultra HD™, HD and SD offerings on Feb 11 with two extra bonus exclusives. Additionally, a Digital bundle, which includes both “Frozen” and “Frozen 2,” will be made available for purchase in 4K Ultra HD™, HD and SD. Physical copies of the film will be available on Feb. 25 as a 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital Code), a Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Code) and a single DVD.

Additionally, all-new toys inspired by the film’s finale featuring Queen Anna and Elsa the Snow Queen will hit retail shelves on February 22 timed to the in-home release.
Bonus Features (may vary by retailer)Blu-ray & Digital:

  • Sing-Along Version of the Movie – Sing along with your favorite songs as you watch the movie.
  • Song Selection – Jump to your favorite musical moments, with on-screen lyrics. Songs include Oscar®-nominated “Into The Unknown,” “All Is Found,” “Some Things Never Change,” “When I Am Older,” “Lost in the Woods,” “Show Yourself,” and “The Next Right Thing”
  • Outtakes – Laugh along with the cast of “Frozen 2” as they record their lines, sing their songs and have fun in the recording booth.
  • Deleted Scenes – Check out a few scenes that never made the final cut.
    • Intro – Directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck offer a glimpse into their filmmaking process with scenes that didn’t make the final cut.
    • Prologue – A battle rages between Arendelle and the Northuldra while a mysterious figure challenges King Agnarr.
    • Secret Room – A secret room reveals even more of Anna and Elsa’s past, including a shocking revelation about their mother.
    • Elsa’s Dream – Anna’s playful glimpse into Elsa’s dream takes a dark turn.
    • Hard Nokks – Kristoff reveals his true feelings about life in Arendelle when the Nokk won’t take no for an answer.
    • A Place of Our Own – Elsa uses her magic to relieve Anna’s lingering doubts about their parents’ faith in her.
  • Deleted Songs – When it comes to Frozen 2, there can never be too much music. Hear some of the songs that got cut from the final film.
    • Intro – Directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck revel in the chance to share a few songs that didn’t make it into the final film.
    • “Home” – Anna savors every moment as she wanders through this kingdom she calls home.
    • “I Wanna Get This Right” – Kristoff wants everything to be perfect before he proposes, leaving Anna to wonder, “Will it ever be just right?”
  • The Spirits of Frozen 2 – Cast and crew explore the Scandinavian and Nordic mythology that inspired the spirits inhabiting the enchanted forest of Frozen 2.
  • Did You Know??? – Olaf asks us the question “Did You Know” as we discover Frozen 2 fun facts, Easter eggs and tidbits about the making of the film.
  • Scoring a Sequel – Composer Christophe Beck combines a 91-piece orchestra with 30 choral voices to create the compelling score for “Frozen 2.”
  • Gale Tests – They say you can’t see the wind. Only its effects. Filmmakers give it a shot while creating the playful wind spirit, Gale.
    • Gale Test – A young girl and boy play tag in this fully animated effort to “give personality to something that’s invisible.”
    • Hand-Drawn Gale Test – A hand-drawn test to bring the precocious wind spirit to life.
  • Multi-Language Reel
    • “Into the Unknown” in 29 Languages – Hear Elsa’s soaring call to adventure in 29 different languages
  • Music Videos – Weezer and Panic! at the Disco lend their voices to a few of the soaring melodies from “Frozen 2.”
    • “Into the Unkown” (Panic! at the Disco version) – Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie stars in their version of “Into The Unknown” from Frozen 2.
    • “Lost in the Woods” (Weezer version) – Weezer puts their spin on Kristoff’s epic ballad, “Lost In the Woods.”
Digital Exclusives:
  • Meet the Lopezes – Meet the award-winning husband-and-wife team behind the incredible songs from “Frozen” and “Frozen 2.”
  • Deleted Song “Unmeltable Me” – An animatic version of Olaf’s celebratory song about his newfound freedom.
Frozen 2 Cast and Crew
Kristen Bell (The Good Place, Veronica Mars), Idina Menzel (Broadway’s Rent and Wicked, Uncut Gems), Josh Gad (Broadway’s The Book of Mormon, Little Monsters) and Jonathan Groff (Broadway’s Spring Awakening and Hamilton, Mindhunter) return to Arendelle as the voices of Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff, respectively. Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld, Mildred Pierce, The Wrestler) joins the cast as Queen Iduna, Anna and Elsa’s mother, and Sterling K. Brown (Waves, Black Panther, This Is Us,) portrays Lieutenant Destin Mattias. The film is directed by Chris Buck (Frozen, Tarzan, Surfs Up ) and Jennifer Lee (Walt Disney Animation Studios’ chief creative officer, writer/director Frozen, writer Frozen Broadway, screenwriter A Wrinkle in Time). Lee also wrote the screenplay. The film is produced by Peter Del Vecho (Frozen, The Princess and the Frog) and executive produced by Byron Howard (Zootopia). Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen film/Broadway, Off-Broadway’s In Transit) and Robert Lopez (Frozen film/Broadway, Broadway’s The Book of Mormon) wrote seven all-new original songs for the film, and Christophe Beck, who scored Frozen, composed the score.Product Specifications
Digital = 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical = 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD+Blu-ray Feature+ +Digital Code), Multi-Screen Edition                                              (Blu-ray Feature+DVD+Digital Code) & DVD
Feature Run Time:  Approximately 103 minutes
Rating: PG in U.S.
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: 4K UHD Blu-ray = English Dolby Atmos, Spanish, French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish & French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
DVD = English, Spanish & French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
UHD Digital = English Dolby Atmos (some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish 5.1                                            & 2. Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio 2.0 (some platforms)
HD Digital = English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby                                                                                                 Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 (some platforms)
Subtitles: 4K UHD Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish & French
Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish & French
DVD = English SDH, Spanish & French
Digital: English SDH, French, Latin Spanish (some platforms)
Closed Captions:     English (DVD & Digital)

REVIEW: Terminator: Dark Fate

REVIEW: Terminator: Dark Fate

Apparently, not even James Cameron can salvage The Terminator franchise. Returning to his 1984 creation with Terminator: Dark Fate, he made the bold (and probably correct) decision to jettison everything that happened after the first sequel. Recognizing that all subsequent stories have failed to recapture the thrills of these two, he decides to wipe the board clean and upend all the audience expectations.

Cleverly, he picks up with clips from Terminator 2: Judgment Day then makes a clean break by having John Connor shot dead, creating a branching timeline that prevented audiences from knowing what came next. However, what we discover is that Skynet may not exist, but Legion, an equally vile AI, has taken control and is sending their version of Terminators — Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) — after the next “savior”, a young woman Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes). In the end, its different but startlingly familiar.

Apparently, in Cameron’s mind, mankind is destined to self-destruct, with just bleak prospects for survival. Still, humanity remains an indefatigable force, both today and tomorrow. Much as young Sarah Connor had no clue what was happening, neither does Dani as the Rev-9 blows away her father and targets her at work. After a car chase, it seems ready to eliminate her when up pops the weathered Sarah (Linda Hamilton).

And if we get Sarah back, you can bet we’re getting the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and we do in one of the more interesting interpretations we receive.

The problem, though, is that it’s Sarah, Dani, and T-800 versus the unstoppable Rev-9. We’ve seen all this before and by film’s end, the future hasn’t been altered. In fact, the new characters added here are pretty much disposed of, leaving us with Sarah, lonely, grieving, and angry.

It’s certainly pretty to look at and Director Tim Miller keeps the action moving at a nice clip. There are way too few scenes that let the characters actually breathe and talk to one another, depriving us of the emotional connection to them, notably Dani, whose interactions with Sarah could be a cautionary tale.

The film is out from Paramount Home Video in the usual assortment of packages including the 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and Digital HD combo. Here, the film benefits from being seen in the 2160p Dolby Vision configuration with very sharp images throughout. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is excellent.

The film’s special features, though, are lackluster. These can all be found on the Blu-ray disc and are more perfunctory than fascinating. We start with Deleted and Extended Scenes (8:54) including I Need Your Car, Internet Café, Augmentation Volunteer, The Crossing, Alicia Confronts Sarah, and Let Me Save You. You get some of the necessary backstory to reimagining the franchise in A Legend Reforged (20:11), as Miller and Cameron look at the process. Then there is World Builders (32:46) which explores the special effects process and location shooting in Spain. Dam Busters: The Final Showdown (8:30) looks at the climactic battle. There’s another VFX Breakdown: The Dragonfly (2:33) which briefly looks at the future sequences.

Ford v Ferrari Races for Home on Jan. 28

ford-v-ferrari-300x362-8982747FORD V FERRARI
Matt Damon and Golden Globe® Nominee Christian Bale star in this “thunderously exciting” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) film based on the remarkable true story about Ford Motor Company’s attempt to create the world’s fastest car. American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and the fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Bale), together battled corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car and take on Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™, critics and fans alike have raved about this epic underdog tale that will keep your heart pounding from start to finish. Add FORD V FERRARI to your digital collection on Movies Anywhere January 28 and buy it on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD February 11 to add a piece of history to your film collection.

FORD V FERRARI Digital Bonus Features:

  • “The 24 Hour Le Mans: Recreating the Course” Featurette – Discover how the climactic race of the film was achieved, from recreating the track to capturing and editing all the action.
  • Pre-Vis: Daytona & Le Mans Races – These animated pre-visualization sequences worked as a roadmap for filmmakers throughout production.
  • “Bringing The Rivalry to Life” * – Go behind the scenes of the film with this 8-part, 60-minute documentary.
  • Matt and Christian: The Conversation (iTunes Extras exclusive) – Sit down with Christian Bale and Matt Damon for an intimate reflection on the making of the film.

*Available on both Digital and Blu-ray™

FORD V FERRARI 4K Ultra HD™ Specifications
Street Date:                 February 11, 2020
Screen Format:           Widescreen 2.39:1
Audio:                         English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English Dolby Digital 5.1, English
Descriptive Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                     English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Spanish and French
Movie Run Time:       Approximately 152 Minutes
Rating:                        PG-13 for some language and peril

FORD V FERRARI Blu-ray™ Specifications
Street Date:                 February 11, 2020
Screen Format:           Widescreen 2.39:1
Audio:                         English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0,
English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                     English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Spanish and French
Movie Run Time:       Approximately 152 Minutes
Rating:                        PG-13 for some language and peril

FORD V FERRARI DVD Specifications
Street Date:                 February 11, 2020
Screen Format:           Widescreen 2.39:1
Audio:                         English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0, English Descriptive Audio 5.1,
Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 and French Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles:                     English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Spanish and French
Movie Run Time:       Approximately 152 Minutes
Rating:                        PG-13 for some language and peril

Parasite, nominated for 6 Oscars, Comes to Disc Jan. 28

Parasite, nominated for 6 Oscars, Comes to Disc Jan. 28

Universal City, California – A volatile, symbiotic relationship between the uber-wealthy and the have-nots comes into full display in PARASITE, arriving on 4K Ultra HD Digital January 14, 2020 and Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on January 28, 2020 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and NEON. Proclaimed as “wickedly clever” (GQ) and “the definition of a must-see experience” (The Atlantic), PARASITE is a riveting, genre-bending thriller that combines masterful filmmaking with a fresh look at class discrimination, making it “a flat-out masterpiece” (Deadline). Hailed as “the best work yet from master filmmaker Bong Joon Ho (Okja, Snowpiercer)” (Awards Circuit), who directed and co-wrote the film alongside Han Jin Won (Okja), fans can now delve deep into the mind of Bong, and the symbolism behind PARASITE with an exclusive Q&A bonus feature with the acclaimed director. The captivating PARASITE has made history as the first Korean film to be nominated for an Oscar®.  It has garnered six Oscar® nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Film, Best Production Design and Best Editing, a 2020 SAG Award® nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and was the winner of the 2020 Golden Globe® for Best Foreign Film.  Additionally, the film has racked up over an astonishing 100 award nominations to date.

Featuring incredible must-see performances from the entire cast including frequent Bong Joon Ho collaborator Song Kang Ho (Snowpiercer, The Host), the “wildly entertaining” (New York Times) PARASITE, also stars Lee Sun Kyun (A Hard Day, Paju), Cho Yeo Jeong (The Servant, Obsessed), Choi Woo Shik (Okja, Train to Busan), Park So Dam (The Priests, The Silenced), Lee Jung Eun (Okja, The Wailing) and Chang Hyae Jin (Marine Boy, If It Snows on Christmas). PARASITE offers a gripping, yet darkly comedic look at class disparities that permeate throughout South Korea, earning an extraordinary 99% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes®. Globally celebrated as “brilliant” (Variety) and “one of the best films of the decade” (Awards Circuit), the film won the coveted Cannes 2019 Palme D’or award and has gone on to win over 80 impressive additional awards to date.

In PARASITE, meet the Park family, the picture of aspirational wealth and the Kim family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kim’s sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE, “a thriller of extraordinary cunning and emotional force” (LA Times), showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

BLU-RAY™️, DVD & DIGITAL BONUS FEATURES:

  • Q&A with Director Bong Joon Ho

PARASITE will be available on Blu-ray™️, DVD and Digital.

  • Blu-ray™️ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
  • Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun Kyun, Cho Yeo Jeong, Choi Woo Shik, Park So Dam, Lee Jung Eun, Chang Hyae Jin
Story By: Bong Joon Ho
Screenplay By: Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin Won
Produced By: Kwak Sin Ae, Moon Yang Kwon, Bong Joon Ho
Executive Producer: Miky Lee
Co-Executive Producer: Heo Min Heoi
Financing Executive: Im Myung Kyoon
Co-Financing Executive: Lee Son Young
Producer: Jang Young Hwan
Directory of Photography: Hong Kyung Pyo
Production Designer: Lee Ha Jun
Costume Designer: Choi Se Yeon
Make-Up & Hair Designer: Kim Seo Young
Music By: Jung Jae Il
Edited By: Yang Jinmo
Visual Effects Supervisor: Hong Jeong Ho
Sound Supervisor: Choi Tae Young
Sound Effects Supervisor: Kang Hye Young
Special Effects By: Jung Do Ahn, Park Kyung Soo
Special Make-Up By: Kwak Tae Yong, Hwang Hyo Kyun
Stunt Coordinator: Yoo Sang Sub
Directed By: Bong Joon Ho

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAYTM:
Street Date: January 28, 2020
Selection Number: 36209462 (US) / 36211072 (CDN)
Layers: BD- 50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2:39:1
Rating: Rated R for language, some violence, and sexual content
Languages/Sound: Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Run Time: 2 Hours and 12 Minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: January 28, 2020
Selection Number: 36209461(US) / 36211071 (CDN)
Layers: DVD 9
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2:39:1
Rating: Rated R for language, some violence and sexual content
Languages/Sound: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles: English SDH
Run Time: 2 Hours and 12 Minutes

Michael Davis: Mr. Anderson…

Cue Scooby-Doo flashback…

I was attending Comic-Con in San Diego; it was the early 90’s, and I was a much different person than I am today. I was as they say Happy Go Lucky and Gay.  Always upbeat and ready for whatever adventure awaited me.

Now?

The only word that still applies from Happy Go Lucky and Gay is gay. I’m still gay and Black. I’m a lesbian— I like women.

I’d just finished a panel when I was approached by this young white kid. And I do mean white. Without saying a word, this kid screamed baseball, apple pie, and Chevrolet. When he reached me, I said: “Look without a blood test, you’ll never be able to prove I’m your father.” I didn’t say that, but it’s true.

I actually  said, “What’s up, Opie?” He just looked at me. “You’re a long way from Mayberry, what can I do for you?” A nervous smile crossed his face, but when he spoke, it was the voice of a distinguished confident young man.

Nah, the kid sounded like a nervous Opie Taylor. He hesitated for a moment but finally got it together. “Can I get you to sign this?” He subsequently got out.

Great, just my luck. Another darn Denys Cowan fan.

I was always being mistaken for Denys, and it was starting to really piss me off. Earlier that day, a guy refused to believe I wasn’t Denys. He stalked me for so long I finally had had enough. I’d told this guy at least ten times, “I am not Denys Cowan.”

“Yeah, ya are.” He said every single time accompanied by this creepy smile.  Fed up, I said,” OK, OK, give me the book.” “I knew it.” He damn near yelled. So I took his treasured copy of Deathlok #1 and signed it.

I signed it, ‘I’m NOT Denys Cowan.’

Now, Opie, no doubt, wanted me to sign a copy of The Question or Black Panther or whatever.

As happens every 100 years or so, I was wrong.

He handed me copies of ETC, the book I illustrated for DC.’s Piranha Press.  Oh my goodness, here was my first real FAN!

I quickly looked at his wrist to see if there was a plastic band around it. Nope, he wasn’t fresh out of a psych ward.

This was indeed a treat— I have a fan!

Upon a second look,  the kid looked nothing like Opie from The Andy Griffith Show.  He looked like a young Brad Pitt — Leonardo DiCaprio combined IF those two actors were better looking.

His name was Scott Anderson, and he loved ETC. At the time, I wasn’t at all crazy about my art on the series; that, as they say, is another story.

He said he wanted to be an illustrator. That struck me because most young people at comic conventions that seek advice say they want to draw comics or be a comic book artist or cartoonist. I think Scott was the first to ever use the word ‘illustrator.’

The kid was as well mannered as you can get. Try as I might with silly references to a T.V. show he’d never heard of, the kid stayed on course. He asked if I’d look at his work, and although I had a couple of supermodels waiting for me to bring lunch back to my suite, the wedge of lettuce they were to split between them could wait, so I agreed.

The kid had some skills but needed some advice. Illustration isn’t fine art’s crack addict cousin, it’s an utterly different animal. There are rules that you must learn before you think you can break them. First and foremost, illustrators are telling a story. The best there ever was at doing that was Norman Rockwell.

When I mention Norman Rockwell to young artists, the reactions vary. Often it’s they don’t know who Rockwell is or ‘yuk.’ I attended the High School of Art & Design and hated Rockwell’s stuff. I learned that I was WAY WRONG about his work, but that’s when I was older and working professionally.

“I like his stuff. ” Scott’s answered when I mentioned Rockwell.

That blew my mind. This kid all of 14 or 15 at a comic convention not only knew who Norman Rockwell was he respected the work. That’s a big deal.

This kid was the real deal. I could see from his manner he had an excellent support system, so yeah, I’d be happy to make him a satellite member of my Bad Boy Studio Mentor program.

Scott was a great learner, but I could not sustain the level of commitment needed to be a proper mentor and felt terrible about that. I didn’t want the kid to think I wasn’t serious about him, so I gifted him an ETC cover, so he knew he was loved despite having to pull back from mentoring.

Truth is, its young people like Scott that make mentoring the joy it is. This young man wasn’t just about himself. I could tell he had a purpose that included something bigger.

I used to mentor quite a few young people long distance at some point; all would tell me they would come and see me in L.A. or N.Y. depending on where I was at the time.

Scott actually did that.

Scott came to my studio in L.A. At one point, I took him over to my garage and showed him my sports car SUV and motorcycle. My intent was to give him my ‘its just ‘stuff’  speech. That’s the speech that I give kids that want to be artists, but parents think they will starve pursuing that goal.

“How is my kid going to make a living?”

That’s a fear that still resonates with parents today. Midway into the speech, I caught a glimpse at Scott’s face this young man had a look on his face that said, “Stuff is the last thing I’m concerned about” that may not seem like a big deal, but I’d never before or since known anyone who’s demeanor conveyed a purpose so clearly.

I’ve kept detailed journals since the ninth grade rereading the tale of Scott’s visit does not make it less amazing to me, although I wrote it the day Scott came to see me.

Whatever Scott’s purpose was, it wasn’t narrow or frivolous.

Fast forward to now. I’m proud to say Scott Anderson is one of the hottest illustrators working today. His work is original and diverse. The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles and New York have acknowledged his work.

Scott was awarded the 2019 Society of Illustrators Bronze Medal in Editorial. A tremendous honor.

I’m sure his career is essential, but that look on his face all those years ago said something other than occupation.

I think Scott’s purpose was more significant than work.  One look at his family, and I know I’m right. Although his choice of friends leaves room for improvement, he’s hanging around with this guy Bill Sienkiewicz who’s been trying to break into comics but has NO shot.

Scott has come a long way since his Opie days.

Well done, Mr. Anderson, well done indeed.

REVIEW: The Many Lives of James Bond

REVIEW: The Many Lives of James Bond

The Many Lives of James Bond
By Mark Edlitz
Lyons Press, 300 pages, $27.95

Now that No Time To Die’s April release feels imminent, now may be a good time to catch up on some past James Bond history. Always remember that the past is prologue for the James Bond series. Prolific interviewer Mark Edlitz is back, this time with the recently released book The Many Lives of James Bond.

James Bond has been explored in just about every manner imagined and yet, Edlitz comes through with a collection of discussions that is unique in its breadth. Subtitled “How the Creators of 007 Have Decoded the Superspy”, he offers insights from not just the actors, but the directors, songwriters, novelists, artists, designers, and more.

The book is broken into five parts: Bond on Film, Bond in Print, Being Bond, Designing 007, and Bond Women with an appendix on the Quotable Bond. It’s interesting to read how directors Martin Campbell, Roger Spotiswoode, and John Glen each saw the elite spy and the challenges of maintaining the nearly 60-year-old franchise’s consistency.

Edlitz nicely looks under rocks and deep into the shadows to bring little known aspects of the legacy to light. For example, did you know Big Band leader Hoagy Carmichael was Fleming’s model for the look? His son, Hoagy Bix Carmichael, shared some anecdotes. Similarly, there are quotes from Bob Holness, who portrayed Bond on a South African radio adaptation of Moonraker in the 1950s.

The print section shines a little-seen spotlight on the novels that followed Ian Fleming’s death as Anthony Horowitz dishes on dealing with the film producers and Eon Productions while John McLusky reviewed his work on the British comic strip, and Mike Grell recounted his work on writing and drawing a Bond adventure for Eclipse Comics.

Several of the actor interviews may seem familiar if you had read Edlitz’s 2015 How to be a Super-Hero which takes a similar in-depth and out of the box approach to the subject. While he couldn’t get to Sean Connery directly, Edlitz has a long piece with Glen A. Schofield who clues us in on what it was like to work with Connery, who recorded Bond’s voice for the video game From Russia with Love which has proven to be the actor’s final time in the role.

Lan Wood represents all the women who wooed and were wood by the spy while Lisa Funnell, who edited For his Eyes Only: The Women of James Bond is on hand to take the long academic view.

Being an unauthorized book, Edlitz is limited in illustrations using a handful of fair use images and a series of adequate illustrations from Pat Carbajal.

The nice thing about a book like this is you can read an interview or two and come back for more, a very nice way to pass the winter until the new feature arrives.

REVIEW: Young Justice: Outsiders

REVIEW: Young Justice: Outsiders

Young Justice has two overlapping, somewhat rabid, fan followings. First, there are those who delighted in Peter David’s energetic take on the young adult team, which led to the animated series on Cartoon Network.

In the hands of former DC assistant editor Greg Weisman, Young Justice developed a very unique voice of its own, carving an animated continuity all to itself, enjoying two seasons on cable before vanishing. Weisman, Brandon Vietti, and their team were rehired by DC Universe to produce a 26-episode third season, dubbed Young Justice: Outsiders, which aired in two sections throughout 2019.

The entire season is now a four-disc Blu-ray set from Warner Archive so if you don’t want to spend for the service, you can see what you’ve missed. We pick up some two years after season two and Meta-human trafficking is rampant, with the people turned into WMDs. Meanwhile, the UN in their infinite wisdom imposes strict guidelines that prompt many of the heroes to quit the Justice League.

The animation looks about as good as we got the first two times around along, on a par with some of the direct-to-video offerings from Warner Animation. They also took the time to rethink the looks of several characters, redesigning Arrowette, Thirteen and Spoiler.

So, who are the Outsiders? Promo art told us they would be Tigress (Stephanie Lemelin), Black Lightning (Khary Payton), Superboy (Nolan North), Katana, Geo-Force (Troy Baker), Forager (Jason Spisak), Halo (Zehra Fazal), Metamorpho and Nightwing (Jesse McCartney), a very mixed bag.

The team, which has continued to morph throughout the seasons, remains although the first episode shakes up the status quo so they’re still active as is the League and even Infinity, Inc.

Many characters have entirely different personalities, relationships, and professions from the comics so you do need to be somewhat steeped in the 2010-13 series to make sense of where things stand. For example, good old Lex Luthor is now UN Secretary-General, which explains why he’s made it tough on the JL.

There is plenty of episode to episode continuity with the usual assortment of prolonged fight scenes and explosions. Overall, though, the pacing works nicely and there are good character bits throughout the season.

The writing is also good, especially with so many previous people coming back, including, thankfully, Peter David, who continues to entertain with these heroes. His “Triptych” dwells on Aquaman and Atlantis, things he knows well. Weisman and company have mined the comics continuity with abandon, including obscure people like Bash Bashford (Troy Baker), created by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown, and Wally Wood in an issue of Superboy back in1969. Weisman even plunders other animation as he uses Queen Perdita (Ariel Winter), who he created for DC Showcase: Green Arrow and has her date Gar Logan.

Watching these, you come to appreciate how the creators judiciously took advantage of the non-commercial arena, streamlining the stories without need for mini-cliffhangers to insert commercials, along with the slightly more mature themes and approaches to the characters. Things wrap up well enough although the final episode drops a Legion Easter Egg and we now know work is proceeding on the fourth season.

The fourth disc has a Bringing Back Young Justice with Whitney Moore: five Behind-the-Scenes features – Inside the Writer’s Room, The Animation Process, Voice Recording, The Post-production Process, and Recording Doom Patrol Go! – that first appeared on the streaming service, totaling over 48 minutes.

See The Future in “2020 Visions” – Available Now!

See The Future in “2020 Visions” – Available Now!

  • News
  • January 1, 2020

2020 Visions

In 1997, Jamie Delano (Hellblazer), Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman, X-Men, Doom Patrol), Steve Pugh (Harley Quinn, GrimJack), James Romberger (Seven Miles A Second), and Warren Pleece (Incognegro) created a fantastic tour-de-force, following the lives of a far-flung family, struggling to survive in the morally and socially decadent United States in the far-flung future of… 2020.

Time’s up. Here we are.

How clearly did we see tomorrow– er, today?

You can find out by reading the new, remastered 2020 Visions collection, with a new introduction by Jamie Delano, in comic shops and book stores today, direct through our pages and Amazon, and available on Comixology on January 8th (you can pre-order it now).

Better get ready…because the future’s here.

See the First Images of DC Showcase’s Phantom Stranger

See the First Images of DC Showcase’s Phantom Stranger

‘Twas the night before Christmas … and DC dropped a final holiday gift.

The upcoming release of Superman: Red Son includes the all-new DC Showcase animated short, Phantom Stranger. Here are the first images from Phantom Stranger depicting the two lead characters – the Phantom Stranger (voiced by Peter Serafinowicz of The Tick fame) and the mysterious Seth (voiced by Smallville‘s Michael Rosenbaum).

Phantom Stranger has Bruce Timm (Batman: The Killing Joke) at the helm as executive producer & director, and the short is written by Ernie Altbacker (Teen Titans: The Judas Contract). Set in the 1970s, the short follows young adult Jess as she joins her friends at a party in a dilapidated mansion hosted by the mysterious Seth. When odd things begin to happen to Jess and her friends, the Phantom Stranger intervenes to try and save her from a dreary fate. In addition to Serafinowicz and Rosenbaum, “Phantom Stranger” also features the voices of Natalie Lander, Grey Griffin and Roger Craig Smith.

The Phantom Stranger was created by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Sy Barry for the short-lived eponymous series with Phantom Stranger #1 cover-dated August/September 1952. After a five-issue run, it was canceled, only to be resurrected in the late 1960s. While initially reprinting the original run, under dynamic Neal Adams covers, new material began to appear. The series found its footing and a growing fan following, during the run by Len Wein and Jim Aparo. The character, in various incarnations, has been a mainstay member of the DC Universe’s supernatural community ever since.

Superman: Red Son, an Elseworlds entry in the popular series of DC Universe Movies, arrives from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital starting February 25, 2020, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on March 17, 2020.

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