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Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection Available Oct. 27

Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection Available Oct. 27

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
For the first time in its 37-year history, the Rambo series is coming home as a complete SteelBook® set – with original art by some of today’s most celebrated illustrators! Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection arrives on 4K Ultra HDTM October 27 from Lionsgate. This definitive collector’s edition of the legendary series features five uniquely designed SteelBooks by celebrated artists Justin Erickson, Ken Taylor, Grzegorz Domaradzki, Vance Kelly, and John Guydo, housed in a custom SteelBook case. It’s a must-have for Rambo fans! Starring Academy Award® nominee Sylvester Stallone (1976, Best Screenplay/Best Actor, Rocky; 2015, Best Actor, Creed), the collection features all five action-packed Rambo films including First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, Rambo, and Rambo: Last Blood. Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection will be available on 4K Ultra HD™ for the suggested retail price of $119.99.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
Since its debut nearly four decades ago, the Rambo series starring Sylvester Stallone has become one of the most iconic action-movie franchises of all time. An ex-Green Beret haunted by memories of Vietnam, Rambo has battled small-town prejudice, freed POWs, rescued his commanding officer from the Soviets, and liberated missionaries in Myanmar. In his final mission, Rambo’s vengeance is unleashed after an old friend’s granddaughter is kidnapped in Mexico.

4K SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Packed with Special Features from all five Rambo films, including Deleted Scenes, Exclusive Featurettes, Theatrical Trailers, Audio Commentaries, and more!

CAST
First Blood
Sylvester Stallone                   Rocky franchise, Rambo franchise, Escape Plan franchise
Richard Crenna                      Rambo franchise, Judging Amy
Brian Dennehy                        Ratatouille, Silverado, The Blacklist
Bill McKinney                          Deliverance, Back to the Future Part III

Rambo: First Blood Part II
Sylvester Stallone                   Rocky franchise, Rambo franchise, Escape Plan franchise
Richard Crenna                      Rambo franchise, Judging Amy
Charles Napier                       The Silence of the Lambs, Austin Powers: International Man
                                                of Mystery
Steven Berkoff                        A Clockwork Orange, Octopussy
Julia Nickson                          China Cry: A True Story, Noble House

Rambo III
Sylvester Stallone                   Rocky franchise, Rambo franchise, Escape Plan franchise
Richard Crenna                      Rambo franchise, Judging Amy
Marc de Jonge                        Empire of the Sun, Marie de Nazareth
Kurtwood Smith                       Robocop, That ’70s Show

Rambo
Sylvester Stallone                   Rocky franchise, Rambo franchise, Escape Plan franchise
Julie Benz                               Dexter, Hawaii Five-0, and On Becoming a God in Central Florida
Matthew Marsden                   Black Hawk Down, Resident Evil: Extinction
Graham McTavish
Reynaldo Gallegos                 Logan, American Sniper

Written by Art Monterastelli and Sylvester Stallone, Directed by Sylvester Stallone

Rambo: Last Blood
Sylvester Stallone                   Rocky franchise, Rambo franchise, Escape Plan franchise
Paz Vega                                Spanglish, Sex and Lucia, The Spirit
Yvette Monreal                       Faking It and The Fosters
Adriana Barraza                     Babel, Drag Me to Hell, Thor
Oscar Jananda

Story by Dan Gordon and Sylvester Stallone, Screenplay by Matt Cirulnick & Sylvester Stallone, Directed by Adrian GrünbergPROGRAM INFORMATION
First Blood
Year of Production: 1982
Title Copyright: Program Content and Package Artwork © 1982 STUDIOCANAL. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Rambo®  is a Registered Trademark owned by StudioCanal S.A.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R
Genre: Action Adventure
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English
Feature Run Time: 93 minutes
4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition 16×9 (2.35:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master AudioTM, Spanish DTS-HD Master AudioTM

Rambo: First Blood Part II
Year of Production: 1985
Title Copyright: Program Content and Package Artwork © 1985 STUDIOCANAL. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Rambo®  is a Registered Trademark owned by StudioCanal S.A.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English
Feature Run Time: 95 minutes
4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition 16×9 (2.35:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master AudioTM, Spanish DTS-HD Master AudioTM

Rambo III
Year of Production: 1988
Title Copyright: Program Content and Package Artwork © 1988 STUDIOCANAL. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Rambo®  is a Registered Trademark owned by StudioCanal S.A.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, War
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English
Feature Run Time: 102 minutes
4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition 16×9 (2.35:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master AudioTM, Spanish DTS-HD Master AudioTM

Rambo
Year of Production: 2008
Title Copyright: Rambo © 2007 Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG IV. All Rights Reserved. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and language
Genre: Action, Thriller
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English, English SDH
Feature Run Time: 91 minutes (Theatrical Cut) 99 minutes (Extended Cut)
4K Ultra HD™ Format: Dolby Vision®, 2160p Ultra High Definition 16×9 (2.40:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English Dolby Atmos®

Rambo: Last Blood
Year of Production: 2019
Title Copyright: Rambo: Last Blood © 2019 Rambo V Productions, Inc. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R for strong graphic violence, grisly images, drug use and language.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, French, English SDH
Feature Run Time: 89 minutes
4K Ultra HD™ Format: Dolby Vision, 2160p Ultra High Definition 16×9 (2.39:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English 2.0 Dolby Audio Optimized for Late-Night Listening

Kick-Ass to Make 4K Debut on Nov. 11

Kick-Ass to Make 4K SteelBook Debut on Nov. 11

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
A groundbreaking, action-packed comic book adaptation gets the 4K Ultra HD™ treatment when Kick-Ass arrives on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray™ and Digital) November 3 from Lionsgate. From acclaimed director Matthew Vaughn, the film features an all-star cast including Golden Globe® winner Aaron Taylor-Johnson (2017, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Nocturnal Animals), Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage (1995, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Leaving Las Vegas). Experience four times the resolution of full HD with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, with a brand new SteelBook® illustrated by Tracie Ching, in celebration of its 10th Anniversary. Available in this absolutely stunning format, the Kick-Ass 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will include featurettes about the making of the film and its comic book origin, as well as an audio commentary by the director, and will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99. Based on the comic book written by Mark Millar and John S. Romita Jr., screenplay by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, and directed by Matthew Vaughn.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
A twisted, funny, high-octane action-adventure from director Matthew Vaughn (the Kingsman movies), Kick-Ass tells the story of a teenage fanboy (Aaron Johnson) who takes his comic book obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. Costars Chloë Grace Moretz as Hit-Girl and Nicolas Cage as her father, Big Daddy.

4K ULTRA HD / BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

  • A New Kind of Superhero: The Making of Kick-Ass
  • It’s On! The Comic Book Origin of Kick-Ass
  • Audio Commentary by Director Matthew Vaughn
  • Marketing Archive
  • The Art of Kick-Ass Gallery (Blu-ray™ Only)

CAST
Aaron Taylor-Johnson            Kick-Ass 2, Godzilla, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Nocturnal Animals
Christopher Mintz-Plasse       Superbad, Kick-Ass 2, Trolls, How to Train Your Dragon
Mark Strong                            Kingsman: The Secret Service, 1917, Zero Dark Thirty
Chloë Grace Moretz               Let Me In, Carrie, Kick-Ass 2, Suspiria, Hugo
and Nicolas Cage                   Leaving Las Vegas, Con Air, National Treasure franchise

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2009
Title Copyright: Program Content and Package Artwork: © 2009 KA Films LP. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary: © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use – some involving children
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Closed Captioned: NA
Subtitles: English, Spanish, English SDH
Feature Running Time: 117 Minutes
4K Ultra HD™ Format: Dolby Vision®, 2160p Ultra High Definition, 16×9 (2.40:1) Presentation
Blu-ray Format: 1080p High Definition, 16×9 (2.40:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English Dolby Atmos®, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English 2.0 Dolby Audio Optimized for Late-Night Listening
Blu-ray Audio Status: English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™

REVIEW: Superman: Man of Tomorrow

REVIEW: Superman: Man of Tomorrow

Every reboot of Superman tries something different, striving to find a fresh approach to the material, and Superman: Man of Tomorrow is no different. This direct-to-video release, out now from Warner Home Entertainment, is intended as the opening chapter in a new continuity, a Rebirth, as it were, of the DC Animated Universe.

Other than the destruction of Krypton, baby Kal-El being raised by the Kents, and Clark (Darren Criss) arriving gin Metropolis as an adult, everything else is a modern take. Clark arrives as an intern with Lois Lane (Alexandra Daddario) just a grad student making her bones at the paper. Perry White (Piotr Michael) is there in all his bluster with Ron Troupe (Eugene Byrd) there for diversity and not a sign of Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lombard, or Cat Grant.

The story suggests Earth is aware of alien life and S.T.A.R. Labs, now owned by Lex Luthor (Zachary Quinto), is shown as being designed to hold and analyze extraterrestrials but it’s a mere breadcrumb for the future and is never addressed here. Instead, the focus is on Clark’s debut as the aviator-goggled flying man, doing good deeds, and starting to get noticed.

When a rocket prototype fails, he exposes himself to save humanity, and now everyone wants to know who he is. But, before much can be done about this, Lobo arrives. Now, the entire story grinds to halt as he announces he’s been hired to kill Kal-El, the sole survivor of Krypton. They fight, they talk, they battle, they partner. And at no point does anyone ask, “Who hired you? Why did they hire you? How’d you know he was on Earth?” The lack of curiosity, especially when major members of the cast are journalists is appalling.

Superman is aided by the Martian Manhunter (Ike Amadi), who has been badly shadowing our hero and finally reveals himself and has to deal with the consequences.

But, Lobo’s (Ryan Hurst) arrival accidentally turns Rudy Jones (Brett Dalton) into the Parasite, an entirely new origin for the villain., and making him a far more tragic, and deadly, figure. His threat prompts Superman to turn to Lex Luthor for help, which reveals Lex’s sinister side. But, it’s Superman’s humanity that shines through in the climax, showing why he is a hero and worth looking up to.

The story moves along briskly, with the action and destruction doled out every few minutes, with pauses to visit Smallville, including a touching scene with Martha (Bellamy Young) handing the familiar red and blue suit to her son. The budding relationships between Lois and Clark and Lois and Superman also are nicely handled.

Less well handled is the J’Onn J’Onzz and Kal-El scenes, which go for pathos but feels flat. That the story features three supposedly sole survivors of their races is a nice touch.

Visually, there’s a simplicity to the designs of the characters, set against a futuristic city that can be envisioned as city of tomorrow, a fitting home for our hero. Some of the Krypton designs owes much to the Richard Donner films while Lobo is clearly inspired by Simon Bisley interpretation of the character.

The new voice cast is fine, if unexceptional, a freshening without being radical with Darren Criss carrying much of the load.

Overall, as reboots go, this isn’t a bad one, with plenty of room to explore, especially with Batman already operating in Gotham, and alien life visiting Earth with increasing regularity. We’ll see what happens in the next installment, coming no doubt in 2021.

The movie is available in all the usual formats including the 4K Digital HD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD Code combo pack. In both 2160 and 1080 scans, the visuals are crisp and strong, retaining all the colors. The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix is serviceable if unspectacular, which it doesn’t really need to be.

The Special Features are the standard assortment starting with Lobo: Natural Force of Chaos (10:23) where Screenwriter Tim Sheridan, artists Jon Bogdanove and Bernard Chang, DC Daily host Hector Navarro, and voice actor Ryan Hurst very briefly trace Lobo’s humble origins from a bounty hunter in 1983’s Omega Men to star of his own series and ubiquitous appearances through the 1990s and 2000s.

Martian Manhunter: Lost and Found (8:47) presents a similar assortment of talent talking about the themes of the Martian’s role in comparison with humanity. Lacking is the context of his comic book history.

A Sneak Peek at DC Universe’s Next Animated Movie (11:56) is a stylistically cheesy introduction to   Batman: Soul of the Dragon, an animated homage the era’s kung-fu craze, featuring the Dark Knight along with Richard Dragon, Ben Turner (Bronze Tiger), Lady Shiva, and O-Sensei, who all stared in the Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter title written by the late, great Denny O’Neil.

From the DC Vault offers up Two episodes from Superman: The Animated Series – “The Main Man”, parts 1 and 2, which, of course, guest star Lobo.

Global Batman Day set for Sept. 19

Global Batman Day set for Sept. 19

Here’s the latest release regarding the annual Batman Day celebration. This year, though, comic shops appear to have been left out of the fun, just when they could use the foot traffic.

(August 31, 2020 – Burbank, CA) – DC today unveiled plans for a global Batman Day celebration on September 19, 2020, inviting fans of all ages around the world to participate in a wide range of Batman-themed activities to honor the iconic DC Super Hero. For the first time, fans have the opportunity to drive along with a “Batman and The Riddler” theme on Waze. And to complete the experience, you can listen to the Waze and DC Super Hero or Super-Villain playlists on Spotify while driving via the Waze Audio Player feature. Plus, free digital comics, free activity kits for kids, a Batman Virtual 5K/10K Run/Walk, and even a digital mystery to solve in which fans can put on their cape and cowl and transform into their strongest self.

Fans can also team up with Batman to protect Gotham City in a series of digital activities, such as joining the celebration on social media and helping Batman to piece together a series of clues left behind by The Riddler. If you can decode these mischievous hints, you’ll unlock exclusive, limited-time reveals! The adventure begins when the virtual Bat-Signal lights up at 12PM PT, September 18, on the @DCComics Twitter.

The new Waze Batman theme allows for more than 100 million monthly active Waze users to ride along with Batman and The Riddler from August 31 to October 31. Waze drivers can opt to hear directions in the style of Batman, voiced by Batman: The Animated Series actor Kevin Conroy, as well as select a custom Batmobile icon and Batman mood. Drivers who want a slightly more villainous experience can select The Riddler voice directions (voiced by actor Wally Wingert), mood and custom vehicle. Waze users worldwide can experience the Batman theme in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Glenn Ganges in: The River at Night by Kevin Huizenga

I always feel compelled to begin by stating for the record that Glenn Ganges is not Kevin Huizenga. Of course, he’s not Ganges the same way Sal Paradise is not Jack Kerouac — the old fictional yes-but-no-but-yes two-step.

Ganges has been a main character in most of Huizenga’s books I’m aware of: Gloriana and The Wild Kingdom  and Curses . No wait. I don’t mean “main.” I mean “viewpoint.”

That may sound like a nitpick. Describing the stories of Kevin Huizenga will lead to a lot of nitpicks, and descriptions of nitpicks, though — it’s inherent in the territory. Glenn Ganges is a man living in a secondary American city (maybe St. Louis, where Huizenga used to live, or Minneapolis, where he does live now), married to Wendy (I can’t find any references online to Huizenga’s personal life, and won’t speculate), and working some kind of tech-adjacent office job (again, I don’t know what Huizenga does to pay his mortgage and put food on the table, though a graphic novel every few years probably isn’t it).

But the reader gets the sense that Ganges is mentally an avatar for Huizenga. Huizenga’s comics are about thoughts more than actions, ruminations more than activity, knowledge more than thrills. It’s not quite true that his comics all take place in Ganges’ head, but that’s not a bad simplification.

The River at Night , similarly, is not the story of one night when Glenn just couldn’t fall asleep. That’s a framework for much of the book, true, but it ranges more widely than that — even leaving out the geological time and personal history and pure formalist cartooning that comes up during that one long, restless night.

A book like this relies heavily on two things: its creator’s visual inventiveness and intellectual curiosity. Huizenga has both in industrial quantities, seemingly inexhaustible supplies of startling imagery and complex thoughts, and he rolls them out in waves throughout River at Night, interspersing formalist comics experiments of two muating forms fighting (or whatever) in a video-game space with flashbacks to mundane life and long scenes of Ganges lying in bed thinking or wandering his house ruminating.

Huizenga’s art is on the cartoony side, with dot eyes and simplified limbs for his people, and he uses a cool night-blue palette for most of this book, with only a few sunset- or sunrise-desaturated pinks at appropriate moments. That visual simplification — or concentration, perhaps — lets him focus on the ideas and their visual representations; he doesn’t need to draw every line in Ganges’s hair when a calendar is exploding into deep time.

There is no real story to The River at Night. I’m not going to tell you “what happens” — that’s not the kind of book this is. It’s a dizzying, mesmerizing, deeply specific meditation on life and time and purpose and meaning. It’s both accessible in a way I didn’t always find Huizenga’s earlier work — leading into the deep thoughts in measured steps, looping in and out of obsessions to illuminate them from multiple angles — and thrilling in its audacious energy. I can’t guarantee it will make you think about things differently…but if a book like River at Night can’t make you think, I don’t know what can.

Reposted from The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.

NextChapter Debuts with Sean Chen’s 24-Hour Only Wingman

NextChapter Debuts with Sean Chen’s 24-Hour Only Wingman

It takes a lot for a new publisher to get noticed these days and the challenge is to offer up something that hasn’t been seen before. New heroes? Check. New shared universe? Check. Variant covers? Check.

So, NextChapter—a graphic media publisher and distributor formed by and launching from The Great Company, arrives today with something unique. Veteran artist Sean Chen offers up their inaugural title, Wingman: Compendium of an Artist’s First Writing Experience, which showcases his artwork in addition to his first writing. The 9.5” x 12” 64-page softcover comes complete with Chen’s story and commentary on its creation and evolution.

One of the most interesting aspects is that the title will only be available on NextChapter’s website for 24-hours only, starting earlier today at 10:00 a.m. PDT. The storybook offers readers a look into Chen’s creative process, while random fans who purchase the book will also receive an autographed sketch from Chen, best known for his work at Valiant Comics and Marvel Comics.

In addition to the $28 softcover, 15 1-of-1 original drawings will be up for auction. The gallery will be powered by crypto vexels and hosted by crypto art community Machi X DAO, a member-directed organization where members pool resources and create proposals.

It’s an interesting gamble for the tyro writer but one he feels ready for. “I have never written for the majors, or anything really,” he told ComicMix in an exclusive interview. “I have an abiding love for great stories and always wanted to dabble in the process.  Regardless of having never formally written anything, as I matured, my sensibilities and knowledge of what makes good writing developed, so I did feel ready and confident that I could write on a level that had a decent chance of going over well.  If not, the project can function as art content for my Instagram, which needed to be fed almost daily.  I would know soon enough if the writing was connecting with people.  If it did, then I would entertain the possibility of bringing it out of Instagram to a larger audience in print.”

Interestingly, Chen, known for Iron Man and X*O Man of War, went back in time to feature the story of an old Knight from the Crusades, dying and reflecting on a full life.

“Before I ever wrote anything, the one thing I was sure of was that the genre would be a science fiction thriller. That had always been my genre of choice because it was very visual, action-packed, but also engaged the heavy thought-provoking literary aspects that you usually don’t find in superhero stories.  The biggest surprise for me was that it was not that at all.  Instead, it went toward iconic characters from vintage foreign films.

“Another aspect that was a shock for me was that it had so much comedy in it.  In fact, the story seems to defy all attempts to classify which I think is great because it’s a rare thing to get that feeling of being totally engrossed in a story and invested in the fate of the characters and not having a clue of what’s going to happen next.

“Also surprising was the revelation that as episodes of the comic were being released on my Instagram, readers were commenting very positively about the story.  They wanted to know how the story would end, while also not wanting it to end.  That was when I found out that I can actually bring something to the table as a writer!

“I think the genre I ended up exploring in Wingman was a reaction to drawing decades of superhero work from Marvel and DC.  Normally, super-hero or Sci-Fi would be the genre I would work in, but this first project I wanted to take a breather from the capes and spandex.  I think people who are familiar with my Marvel/DC work would see that Wingman has a completely different style.  I came across the iconic image of The Seventh Seal opening movie scene where The Knight and The Grim Reaper play a game of chess on a desolate craggy beach.  Because of the imagination of Ingmar Bergman and the cinematography that image hit me like a lightning bolt, and I felt compelled to draw it.  The dialogue was equally iconic, so I added a word balloon repeating what I had heard in the clip.  It all began from there and became a reimagined story set in modern time.”

Chen began the story for himself, posting it on his Instagram account in small batches. In time, that allowed me to gauge reader’s reactions in the comments section and mine it for vital feedback. I used my followers as an important focus group.  The most important feedback I was looking for was whether the story was engaging and if the jokes were landing with the proper effect. Other factors such as pointing out plot holes, and lesser things like grammar and spelling.  Many changes and corrections were made based on this feedback on both writing and art.  So I did dedicate the book to ‘My Fine Followers on Instagram’ whom I consider to be Editor/Art Director.”

He partnered with NextChapter because he knew the startup’s publisher, Carl Choi, from Chen’s work in the advertising field. “When he approached me about releasing a print version of Wingman what sold me on his new company was that he envisioned an educational and outreach component.  His vision was to build a community that connected readers to creators that had the goal of showcasing what was possible in the medium of comics and to teach people how they can express themselves using the medium.  He required of me to create even more content in the form of commentary and educational matter that demystified how a comic is drawn, written and produced.  The first prong of his publishing plan was to use Instagram to debut the comic.  This allows readers to connect directly to the creator with feedback or questions. Then in the printed release, the creator commentary and process discussion is another great way to give readers insight into the creative process.”

The other challenge for him as a creator having the work presented in landscape rather than the traditional waterfall page orientation. He explained this was NextChapter’s creative decision, which he wholeheartedly supported.  “This was because it allowed for the large amount of commentary and educational text that was added in sidebars which gives readers insight into the creative process.  The biggest challenge to the format was that because the comic was meant for Instagram, it had to be readable on a mobile phone interface.  Lettering needed to be larger, so dialogue had to be succinct while still feeling natural.  The art also had to be readable at a small size while still allowing me to indulge in my usual meticulous inking style.,” he said.

As this release heralds a new chapter in Chen’s growth as a creator, he remains the monthly artist on DC’s Batman Beyond and he’s excited for its future, noting, “I am about to embark on the massively important issue #50!  Beyond that, I plan to do more writing and drawing stories.  Probably that Sci-Fi thriller that has always been brewing in the back of my mind.  Or really anything that strikes my fancy.  It’s a great time to create now as self-publishing is easier than ever, and outlets for comics material are plentiful.  It’s a powerful feeling to be able to draw and write my own stories at a time where fans will respond to individual creators passion instead of habitually looking to the big 2 for their typical comics fix.

The nine year old Great Company, found by Carl Choi and based in Los Angeles, promotes itself as providing “Event Marketing · Brand Marketing, Content Strategy, Content Marketing, and Marketing Consulting”.

Fangoria Gains a New Owner (Again)

Fangoria Gains a New Owner (Again)

Los Angeles, CA – Producer and CEO of Wanderwell Entertainment Tara Ansley (TRAGEDY GIRLS, ST. AGATHA, BEAST BEAST) and entrepreneur Abhi Goel are excited to announce they have acquired the FANGORIA™, STARLOG™, and GOREZONE™ brands. All brands will live under the FANGORIA™ umbrella and develop projects based on the legacy publication’s 40+-year-old archive of work and history, with an eye on inclusivity and championing forward-thinking creators.

Ansley & Goel negotiated the deal with movie producer Dallas Sonnier who acquired and resurrected FANGORIA™ as a print publication in 2018 and built the brand into a robust horror movie studio, book publisher, and podcast network through his Texas-based CINESTATE. FANGORIA Magazine, with its current editorial team under the stewardship of Editor-In-Chief Phil Nobile Jr. and Managing Editor Meredith Borders, will continue to publish as a print quarterly. FANGORIA™ Studios, FANGORIA™ Podcast Network, FANGORIA™ Digital, STARLOG™ Digital, and GOREZONE™ Digital will launch in 2021 with FANGORIA™ Studios producing and distributing both narrative and non-fiction projects in television, film, and digital content across all platforms.

Starlog Press debuted in 1976 with Starlog magazine, which rapidly became the premier American magazine to cover the fantastic. It spun off Fangoria in 1979 which quickly eclipsed Famous Monsters of Filmland as the Go To publication for classic and contemporary horror film and fiction. Other magazines through the years included Future Life, Cinemagic, and Comics Scene. Several notable writers and editors worked on staff including novelist Ed Naha, art director Howard Cruse, and writer/editors Robert Greenberger, Eddie Berganza, and Mike McAvennie.

“These brands have been a foundational force in genre entertainment for decades, and have inspired, influenced, and shaped generations of filmmakers, writers, actors, and fans – ourselves included,” said Ansley. “We will continue to honor FANGORIA™’s unparalleled legacy as we propel a future wave of talent and storytellers with an invigorating production and editorial slate that showcases the array of talent representative of our expansive community.”

“It has been an awesome ride! I am so proud of the work my team and I did rebuilding this legendary brand and securing our place in horror history. I wish Tara & Abhi much success as they take FANGORIA™ to even greater heights,” added Sonnier.

Goel projects revolutionary times ahead for the company. “We are thrilled to take a fresh approach while still paying homage to the nail-biting stories we grew up on. There could not be a better time to propel these brands to exciting, culturally diverse new heights,” said Goel. “Not only are we forging into tantalizing new territories, but we are paving the way for global creators to share their varied heritages and perspectives in never-before-seen storylines that will leave genre fans hungry for more.”

Milestone’s Return to Print Confirmed for 2021

Fans tuning in to the DC FanDome Hall of Heroes received unexpected and welcome news today, courtesy of a surprise panel announcing the return of Milestone to DC publishing.

Moderator Marc Bernardin and DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee were joined by Milestone partner/producer Reggie Hudlin and Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan, along with Phil LaMarr, the iconic voice of the Static Shock animated series.

The panelists discussed the origins and history of this groundbreaking imprint, the indelible impact, and legacy of Milestone co-founder, Dwayne McDuffie. Hudlin also discussed plans to create multimedia opportunities spotlighting Milestone characters, including feature films, animated movies and podcasts

Milestone’s return to publishing will be led by an all-new Static Shock digital comic series scheduled for February 2021. Future offerings will include a Static Shock original graphic novel written by Hudlin with art by Kyle Baker, plus the return of Milestone heroes Icon & Rocket, also written by Hudlin with art by Cowan and more to be announced.

But fans won’t have to wait until February to experience or rediscover Milestone, as Lee announced several publishing initiatives for 2020. Beginning in September through February 2021, DC will digitize classic stories from the Milestone library and make them available for purchase at Comixology, Amazon Kindle, Apple, and other participating digital retailers. A list of titles will be announced shortly, and more titles will be added as they are remastered for a digital format.

During DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse on September 12, fans will also have a chance to be introduced to these characters and stories. Milestone Returns #0, a 17-page sampler, will be available to read free for 24 hours. Written by Reggie Hudlin with Greg Pak and cover by Denys Cowan and Chris Sotomayor, the sampler will introduce and re-introduce fans to Milestone characters such as Static Shock, Icon, Rocket, Duo, and others. The sampler features art by an incredible lineup of Talent, including Cowan, Jim Lee, Ryan Benjamin, Khoi Pham, Scott Hanna, Bill Sienkiewicz, Don Ho, Alex Sinclair, and Deron Bennett.
In addition, the following titles from the Milestone library will also be available to read free for 24 hours during the event:

Static Shock (2011 – 2012) #1
Static Shock (2011 – 2012) #2
Xombi #1
Xombi #2
Hardware: The Man in the Machine (2010)
Icon: A Hero’s Welcome (1996)
Icon Vol. 2: The Mothership Connection (2010)

John Ridley & Nick Derington Team for 4-part Batman POC Mini

Today’s Legacy of the Bat panel in DC FanDome’s Hall of Heroes contained great
topics and panelists in a celebration of the Dark Knight’s heritage and the impact he’s
had on his allies as they continue to do their part to protect Gotham City.

DC ended months of speculation regarding Batman’s upcoming comic book adventures,
confirming that award-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Guerrilla,
American Crime) and artist Nick Derington (Doom Patrol, Batman Universe, Mister
Miracle) will team up for a four-issue miniseries scheduled for January 2021, featuring
a version of the Caped Crusader different from what many fans know and existing
alongside the current Batman run by James Tynion IV and Jorge Jimenez.

During his conversation with DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee, Ridley
revealed a breathtaking piece of key art for his version of Batman by artist LADRÖNN.
The writer also provided further credence to fan speculation that this Batman definitely
will not be Bruce Wayne:

“I think it’s a pretty safe bet that if I’m writing Batman, it’s probably a little better than a
47% chance he’s going to be a person of color,” said Ridley.

In addition, Ridley raised additional curiosity when he revealed his series will focus on
the family of Lucius Fox, head of Wayne Enterprises. “But he [Fox] has a family and this
is a family that has secrets, has kept secrets from one another,” said Ridley. “It’s a little
bit different dynamic than the Batman that we’ve always seen.”

While this will be the first time Ridley has written a series featuring Batman, he’s no
stranger to comic book writing, nor to DC. In 2004, he wrote The Authority: Human on
the Inside (with artist Ben Oliver) and contributed an arc to the 2005 series, The Razor’s
Edge: Warblade (with legendary artist Simon Bisley). Most recently, Ridley also
collaborated with artist Georges Jeanty on the groundbreaking limited series The
American Way (2006) and its sequel, The American Way: Those Above and Those
Below (2017).

James Gunn Reveals Suicide Squad Who’s Who at DC Fandome

James Gunn Reveals Suicide Squad Who’s Who at DC Fandome

Just a little while ago, director James Gunn unveiled the large cast for The Suicide Squad, opening Aug. 6, 2021. Gunn, at the daylong DC Fandome, talked about his love of the 1987 series, written by John Ostrander and illustrated by Luke McDonald and Karl Kesel.

Idris Elba is playing Bloodsport, Alice Braga is playing Sulsoria, Nathan Fillion is playing T.D.K., Pete Davidson is playing Blackguard, Michael Rooker is playing Savant, John Cena is playing Peacemaker, David Dastmalchian is playing Polka-Dot Man, Sean Gunn is playing Weasel, Peter Capaldi is playing the Thinker, Flula Borg is playing Javelin, Daniela Melchior is playing Ratcatcher 2, Mayling Ng is playing Mongal, and Steve Agee is playing King Shark for CGI and the team’s supporting player, Johnny Economos.