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Eisner Award Nominees For 2019 Announced!

The Eisner Award nominees have been announced! Congratulations to every single person and publisher that received these prestigious nominations!

As per the SDCC website, “Voting for the awards is held online, and the ballot will be available at www.eisnervote.com. All professionals in the comic book industry are eligible to vote. The deadline for voting is June 14. The results of the voting will be announced in a gala awards ceremony on the evening of Friday, July 19 at a gala awards ceremony at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Jackie Estrada is the Eisner Awards Administrator.”

If you are a comic book industry professional, please make it a point to vote in these awards. Every vote counts! Voting opens on Monday, April 29th.

Here’s the list of every category with their respective nominations below:

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REVIEW: Justice League vs. the Fatal Five

I have always been a big Legion of Super-Heroes fan and early on, designated Star Boy as my favorite Legionnaire. Maybe it’s because he was an underdog hero, but I’ve always liked him so was thrilled to see he would take center stage in the just-released Justice League vs. the Fatal Five. I admit to being a little less than thrilled they were going with the mentally unbalanced Star Boy as depicted in the Brad Meltzer run of Justice League. But, by pairing him with agoraphobic Jessica Cruz, I could understand the larger themes at work, I was fine with it.

I just wish their final product lived up to their intentions (and all the high-faulting hype seen on the bonus material). Instead, we get an over-stuffed, under-edited work that makes very little sense.

As best I understand it, Mano, Tharok, and the Persuader were going back in time to free the Emerald Empress and Validus from the sciencells on Oa in the 21st Century because apparently 31st Century prisons suck. To free the pair, they need to steal a time bubble from the Legion and Star Boy is brought along by mistake.

In the 21st century, Star Boy, without his meds, is considered a lunatic and assigned to Arkham Asylum for ten months. Meanwhile, the Fatal Three-fifths are seemingly trapped for a while until they get free then commit a lot of mayhem before leaving for Oa.

Said mayhem brings in the Justice League with trainee Miss Martian along for the experience, although so little background is given about her that if you weren’t familiar with Young Justice she’d be an anomaly. The League needs their Lantern, despite Jessica still struggling with the PTSD inflicted on her after witnessing her friends being gunned down two years earlier.

Seeing the villains on the news, Star Boy (or Thomas Kallor –why go from Thom to Thomas?) frees himself and finally begins making sense to the League.

What makes less sense is the villains making it to Oa with a coerced Jessica to breezily access the vast prison cells and free the final pieces of the puzzle. And of course, the Guardians of the Universe would allow the Empress to keep the powerful Eye of Ekron in the cell. When Salaak and Kilowog show up, they’re easily dispatched but apparently the devastating prison breakout doesn’t alert the all-powerful Guardians, who allow the Eye ro drain the Central Power Battery’s energy.

That doesn’t stop Jessica from finding her Green Lantern mojo which marks a nice turning point. I wish they left her ring as a snarky companion, ala the comics, along with Jessica’s early struggles at forming constructs but you get the idea.

They then threaten the Earth’s sun to end the age of heroes, creating a future without heroes to defeat them. The JL must make a desperate last stand to save the future and Earth and a few other things.

At least, that’s what I think the story is about. The fight scenes are too long and poorly choreographed (too often heroes stand around to get zapped). That said, there are some great lines of dialogue and nice character buts sprinkled throughout complete with a tear-inducing ultimate sacrifice and funeral scene. But it’s all too little to really make this, the 34th film from Warner Animation, truly enjoyable.

It’s certainly nice to see the JL Unlimited art style once more along with a cadre of familiar voice artists but this is disconnected from that series as well as the budding animated universe so this is ab odd stand-alone, produced and directed by Sam Liu, who has done better work. The script by Eric Carrasco, Jim Krieg, and Alan Burnet need a strong story editor’s hand.

The film is released in all the usual combo packs complete with the 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray/Digital HD edition. What already looks sharp o Blu-ray looks even brighter and sharper on the HDR10 disc. Technical fans will appreciate the improved colors, attention to detail and higher resolution. The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track is even better so you won’t miss the Dolby Atmos that usually accompanies these releases.

All the bonus features can only be found on the Blu-ray disc and they’re a fairly standard assortment. We begin with Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Bruce Timm, Director Sam Liu, and Screenwriters Jim Krieg & Eric Carrasco and they provide a lot of behind-the-scenes details.

There’s also A Sneak Peek at Batman: Hush (9:18) which lionizes a beautifully drawn but bloated serial that’s finally being adapted and Battling the Invisible Menace (8:05), which nicely addresses the mental health issues found in the film; Justice League vs. Fatal Five: Unity of Hero (15:11) pats DC on the back for being so diverse these days.

Packed into the disc as repeated Sneak Peeks for Justice League Dark (8:12) and Justice League vs. Teen Titans (11:31). From the DC Vault we get Legion of Super-Heroes, “Man of Tomorrow” (22:44) and Justice League Unlimited, “Far From Home” (22:57).

REVIEW: Apocalypse Taco

Apocalypse Taco
By Nathan Hale
128 pages, Amulet Books, $14.99

Nathan Hale is a popular, creative graphic novelist, bouncing between historic tales and original stories. This is the latter and while the theme of science gone wild is a good one, along with being responsible with your experiments, there is so much that doesn’t plausibly work that the fantastic elements fail to engage the imagination.

Let’s start with the fact that a high school production of Brigadoon is so far behind schedule a parent willingly remains with the entire crew to finish the sets in an overnight marathon (permission slips included). That’s irresponsible on the parent’s part as well as the school’s.

At 1:30 in the morning, she sends her 11-year-old twins Axl and Ivan out with Sid to go get the crew food. While out, things get weird. Strange creepy crawlies begin appearing out of nowhere and there’s a Taco Bear drive-thru where there previously wasn’t one.

Creatures, both vaguely familiar and terrifyingly unique, emerge and threaten the trio. Apparently, they are the only ones still unaffected by whatever is ailing their city and run screaming from point to point. It’s not until we’re halfway through the book that they meet multi-armed Wendy who finally explains what is happening.

We get flashbacks and flashbacks within flashbacks and there’s some interesting underlying issues emerging, but no way does a college kid have the ability to access tools to build the nanotechnology behind the grotesque threat, but being able to perform his experiments unchecked. There are ethical issues raised, which is good, and a distinct lack of smart decisions made by adults, which is a bad message in a middle school graphic novel.

There’s more running, screaming, transformations, and threats which Hale briskly paces, using a black, white, and tones of orange to create an interesting mood. But really, there’s not enough content here to sustain 128 pages. While there are some witty lines of dialogue, our trio of protagonists are fairly underdeveloped.

If you’re a fan of Hale, then try it. Otherwise, there are far better choices out there.

New ‘Grateful Dead Origins’ Graphic Novel to Come with Unreleased Early Music

‘Grateful Dead Origins’ Graphic Novel to Come with Unreleased Early Music

Z2 Comics has announced it is teaming up with the Grateful Dead to release a new graphic novel chronicling the band’s early days, Grateful Dead Origins, which will come with an accompanying selection of Dead music, including previously unreleased early-era material that will ship with a deluxe edition of the comic.

Z2—which has previously partnered on projects with The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Japan’s BabyMetal, DJ Paul Oakenfold and more—writes in a press release that Grateful Dead Origins will feature an original story, written by Chris Miskiewicz and illustrated by Noah Van Sciver, that presents “an in-depth and personal look at the formation of one of the most important American rock bands of all time, exploring the early days of Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Pigpen, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart…the story of the band’s transformation from a bar band performing as the Warlocks to becoming the creators of their own sound and forefathers for the jamband culture.”

Originally at jambands.com

Titans Season 1 on DIsc in July

BURBANK, CA (April 16, 2019) – Fans will be captivated by the next DC Super Hero franchise, Titans, the all-new live-action drama series from executive producers Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti, Greg Walker, and Sarah Schechter. Featuring all 11 thrilling episodes plus exciting special features, Titans: The Complete First Season comes to Blu-ray and DVD July 16, 2019 for $29.98 / $24.98 SRP. Titans: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

Titans follows a group of young soon-to-be Super Heroes from across the world of DC as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Former Gotham City vigilante Dick Grayson and Rachel Roth, a special young girl possessed by a strange darkness, get embroiled in a conspiracy that could unleash Hell on Earth. Joining them in their quest are the mysterious Starfire and loveable Beast Boy. Together they become a surrogate family and team of heroes while battling villains, demonic forces … and encountering familiar faces from across DC’s legendary canon.

“We are thrilled to release Titans: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray and DVD for fans to experience a new twist on the origin story of some of the most iconic characters in the DC universe,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “The release also gives fans an opportunity to catch up on all of the action ahead of the show’s highly-anticipated second season.”

Titans: The Complete First Season takes viewers back to each character’s origin story as Dick Grayson emerges as the leader of the core team of DC Super Heroes. The series stars Brenton Thwaites (Maleficent, The Giver, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) as Dick Grayson/Robin, Anna Diop (Bosch, 24: Legacy) as Koriand’r/Starfire, Teagan Croft (Home and Away) as Rachel Roth/Raven, and Ryan Potter (Big Hero 6, Supah Ninjas) as Gar Logan/Beast Boy. Also featured in the series’ first season are Minka Kelly (Almost Human, Friday Night Lights) as Dawn Granger/Dove, Alan Ritchson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Smallville) as Hank Hall/Hawk, Seamus Dever (Castle) as Trigon, Curran Walters (Too Close to Home) as Jason Todd/Robin, Conor Leslie (Shots Fired, The Man in the High Castle) as Donna Troy, and Rachel Nichols (Continuum) as Angela Roth.

Based on the characters from DC, Titansis produced by Weed Road Pictures in association with Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment, with executive producers Akiva Goldsman (Constantine, Fringe, Star Trek: Discovery), Geoff Johns (Aquaman, Wonder Woman), Greg Berlanti (The Flash, Supergirl, Riverdale, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Greg Walker (Extant) and Sarah Schechter (The Flash, Supergirl, Blindspot, Black Lightning). Titans, the inaugural original series from the DC UNIVERSE digital subscription service, has already been greenlit for a second season.

BONUS FEATURES

  • Raven and Robin Dark Rebirth
  • The Story of Titans 
  • The Characters of Titans 
  • The Making of Titans 
  • Dick Grayson’s and Rachel Roth’s Dark Past
  • A Look at Vigilantes Hawk and Dove
  • The Identity of Titans Kory Anders/Starfire
  • Gar Logan’s Journey
  • Rachel’s Powers
  • The Doom Patrol Meets the Titans. 
  • Jason Todd’s Robin
  • From Comic to Live-Action Adventure
  • Meet Wonder Girl
  • Dick Grayson’s Dark Past
  • World of Super Heroes and Vigilantes

11 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

  1. “Titans”
  2. “Hawk and Dove”
  3. “Origins”
  4. “Doom Patrol”
  5. “Together”
  6. “Jason Todd”
  7. “The Asylum”
  8. “Donna Troy”
  9. “Hank and Dawn”
  10. “Koriand’r”
  11. “Dick Grayson”

DIGITAL

The first season of Titans is currently available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital is available from various retailers including iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu and others.

BASICS

Street Date: July 16, 2019

Order Due Date: June 11, 2019

Run Time:  528 minutes; EC: 25 minutes

DVD

Price: $24.98 SRP

3 DVD-9s

DVD Audio: English (5.1)

BLU-RAY

Price: $29.98 SRP

2 BD-50s

BD Audio: English (5.1)

Recently Renewed Manifest Checks in at Home July 23

BURBANK, CA (April 16, 2019) – This is your calling.  You are on the verge of discovering something new! From Oscar-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Cast Away) and executive producers Jeff Rake (The Mysteries of Laura), Jack Rapke (Flight, Cast Away), Jackie Levine (Allied, The Walk) and Len Goldstein (Hart of Dixie, Roadies), Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you NBC’s #1 hit series Manifest: The Complete First Season on DVD July 23, 2019. Fans can uncover the mystery from all 16 exhilarating episodes from season one for the suggested low retail price of $29.98 for the DVD ($34.99 in Canada). Manifest: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

A plane inexplicably disappears on a trans-oceanic flight and returns five years later after being presumed lost at sea. While no time has passed for those on the flight, years have gone by for their loved ones who have learned to live with their loss. In addition to the outward mystery of what happened on that flight, there’s also an inward mystery of what has happened to the passengers…and why. Nothing will ever be the same as you follow the unexpected journey full of hope, heart and destiny!

“With 16.4 million fans tuning-in weekly, Manifest is one of the most talked about series on television,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “We are delighted to release the first installment of the series on DVD so fans can binge on each episode and relive their favorite moments again and again.”

Manifest stars Melissa Roxburgh (Valor, Supernatural), Josh Dallas (Once Upon a Time), Athena Karkanis (House of Cards, Zoo), J.R. Ramirez (Power), Luna Blaise (Fresh Off the Boat), Jack Messina (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Parveen Kaur (The Strain, Saving Hope). The series is produced by Jeff Rake Productions and Compari Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television.

16 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

1.    Pilot

2.    Reentry

3.    Turbulence

4.    Unclaimed Baggage

5.    Connecting Flights

6.    Off Radar

7.    S.N.A.F.U.

8.    Point of No Return

9.    Dead Reckoning

10. Crosswinds

11. Contrails

12. Vanishing Point

13. Cleared for Approach

14. Upgrade

15. Hard Landing

16. Estimated Time of Departure

DIGITAL

The first season of Manifest is also currently available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and others.

BASICS

Street Date: July 23, 2019

Order Due Date: June 18, 2019

DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 704 min

US

Price: $29.98 SRP

4 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

CANADA

Price: $34.99 SRP

4 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

‘Swamp Thing’ to shut down production early

“Swamp Thing” shuts down production early; “DC Universe” future in doubt

Scary news from Wilmington, NC’s local newspaper, where Swamp Thing was shooting:

The locally filmed television series “Swamp Thing” has found itself bogged down by some unexpected news.

The currently in-production project is being shut down earlier than expected as its producer, Warner Bros., evaluates the future of its DC Universe streaming service, on which the series was scheduled to premiere May 31, according to several sources within the local industry.

Originally at www.starnewsonline.com

Virginia Madsen posted (and later took down):

Allison Mack, ‘Smallville’ Actress, to Plead Guilty in ‘Sex Cult’ Case

Allison Mack, ‘Smallville’ Actress, pleads guilty in NXIVM case

The Associated Press is reporting that Allison Mack is expected to plead guilty to charges related to her involvement in the group NXIVM. She had previously pleaded not guilty on charges including sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and forced labor, and had been released on $5 million bail.

Allison Mack was on Smallville for ten seasons playing Chloe Sullivan, a childhood friend of Clark Kent. She also voiced Power Girl in the animated Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

It was not clear before Monday’s hearing at the United States District Court for the Eastern District, in Brooklyn, what charges she planned to plead guilty to.

Originally at www.nytimes.com

Win a Glass Blu-ray

Win a Glass Blu-ray

Writer-Director M. Night Shyamalan wrapped his trilogy with this January’s Glass and now our friends at Universal Home Entertainment have provided us with a Blu-ray to giveaway.

All you need to do to enter is tell us which of the characters — David Dunn, Elijah Price, or Kevin Wendell Crumb — is your favorite and why. We need your responses no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 12. The contest is open only to North American readers and the decision of the ComicMix judges will be final.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAYTM & DIGITAL

The Collection of Main Characters – A look at all the main players and how they fit in the universe created by filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.

o   David Dunn

o   Elijah Price

o   Kevin Wendell Crumb

o   The Rest of the Family

·       Bringing the Team Back Together – M. Night Shyamalan is famous for working with many of the same crew from film to film.  In this piece, cast and crew share personal stories of why Shyamalan’s productions feel like seeing family again.

·       David Dunn vs. The Beast – An in-depth look at the animalistic face-off between David Dunn and The Beast

·       Glass Decoded – M. Night Shyamalan unveils some secrets of continuity and style from across the Glass trilogy

·       Breaking Glass: The Stunts – The superhuman strength of The Beast is best illustrated in the stunts. Take a behind the scenes look into the very effective methods of executing stunts in the film.

·       Connecting the Glass Universe – Explore M. Night Shyamalan’s stylistic approach to the Glass trilogy and the unconventional concept of a comic book movie grounded in reality.

·       M. Night Shyamalan: Behind the Lens – Cast and crew discuss Shyamalan’s dedicated and meticulous approach to storytelling.

·       The Sound of Glass – Composer West Dylan Thordson elaborates on his use of string instruments to create tension, and explains why recording the score on-location enhanced the tone of Glass.

·       Enhancing the Spectacle – The VFX team provides details on the rewarding task of using CGI as an effective tool to intensify the narrative of Glass.

·       Raven Hill Memorial – Roam the long corridors of Raven Hill Memorial Hospital and see why the cast and crew describe the eerie location as its own character in the film.

·       Night Vision – A look at the early stages of Glass by examining the storyboards and their remarkable similarity to the final shots in the film.

BONUS FEATURES ON 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAYTM, DIGITAL AND DVD:

·       Alternate Opening – Introduction by director M. Night Shyamalan available

·       Deleted Scenes -Introductions by director M. Night Shyamalan available

o   David Alone at Bar

o   Patricia Talks to Cheerleaders

o   David Encounters Pierce

o   Casey in Art Class

o   Dr. Staple Explains Machine

o   Mrs. Price in Waiting Room

o   Mrs. Price Talks to Elijah

o   Dr. Staple Drinks Tea

o   Pierce Checks Elijah’s Room

o   Mrs. Price Tells Elijah About Surgery

o   David Submits to Dr. Staple

o   Patients Worship The Beast

·       A Conversation with James McAvoy and M. Night Shyamalan – Star James McAvoy and Producer/Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan discuss the importance of originality when creating a film in this genre.

The film will be available on 4K Ultra HD in a combo pack which includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-rayTM, Blu-rayTM and Digital. The 4K Ultra HD disc will include the same bonus features as the Blu-rayTM version, all in stunning 4K resolution.

FILMMAKERS

Cast: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Anya Taylor-Joy with Sarah Paulson and Samuel L. Jackson

Casting By: Douglas Aibel, CSA

Music By: West Dylan Thordson

Music Supervisor: Susan Jacobs

Costume Designer: Paco Delgado

Edited By: Luke Ciarrocchi, Blu Murray

Production Designer: Chris Trujillo

Director of Photography: Michael Gioulakis

Executive Producers: Steven Schneider, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Kevin Frakes

Produced By: M. Night Shyamalan, Jason Blum, Marc Bienstock, and Ashwin Rajan

Written and Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan

TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K ULTRA HD:

Street Date: April 16, 2019

Selection Number: 61201272 (US) / 61201273 (CDN)

Layers: BD-100

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 16:9 2.39:1

Rating: PG-13 for violence including some bloody images, thematic elements and language

Video: HDR 10

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

Languages/Sound: English Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish and French Dolby Digital Surround 5.1

Run Time: 2 Hours, 9 Minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY:

Street Date: April 16, 2019

Selection Number: 61200422 (US) / 61200732 (CDN)

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 16:9 2.39:1

Rating: Rated PG-13 for violence including some bloody images, thematic elements and language

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles 

Sound: English Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish and French Dolby Digital Surround 5.1

Run Time: 2 Hours, 9 Minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:

Street Date: April 16, 2019

Selection Number: 61200421 (US) / 61200730 (CDN)

Layers: DVD 9

Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 16.9 2.39:1

Rating: Rated PG-13 for violence including some bloody images, thematic elements and language

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles 

Sound: English Dolby Digital 2.0, English, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1

Run Time: 2 Hours, 9 Minutes