Author: ComicMix Staff

Sequart Organization is proud to announce the publication of The Best There is at What He Does: Examining Chris Claremont’s X-Men, by Jason Powell.

The X-Men franchise is a sprawling comics mythology, to which hundreds of creators have contributed over the past 50 years. The period from 1975 to 1991 is special, however, as the X-Men universe was guided by the voice of one writer, who wrote every single issue of The Uncanny X-Men during that span. His name is Chris Claremont, and he made the X-Men what it is today.

The Best There is at What He Does is an appreciation of the long-term narrative Claremont lovingly crafted month after month, over the course of nearly 17 years. Proceeding chronologically through the issues, this exhaustive overview analyzes the trends, arcs, and themes that emerge throughout his landmark comics opus.

The book is available in print and on Kindle. (Just a reminder: you don’t need a Kindle device to read Kindle-formatted books; you can download a free Kindle reader for most computers, phones, and tablets.) It runs 296 pages and features a foreword by Geoff Klock and a cover by Steven Legge. Find out more on the book’s official page.

Amsterdam – Europacorp, Luc Besson’s film studio, has selected Spil Games to create the official mobile and web game for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, the director’s upcoming $180M sci-fi movie.

The film is in post-production and will be released globally in July next year. EuropaCorp has asked Spil Games to develop a strategy game in parallel with that process, ready for launch a few weeks before the film.

“Spil Games impressed us with their vision and understanding of the world of Valerian,” said Valerian producer Virginie Besson-Silla. “We are very excited and feel they are the perfect partner to help us share Valerian with the gaming universe.”

The quality and creativity of the game is vital for a Triple A Hollywood property like Valerian but the long-term partnership with EuropaCorp also relies on Spil Games’ proven experience in creating and monetizing multi-million-dollar game franchises. The company’s ability to engage with an international audience of more than 120m will be key to the game’s commercial success, but it also opens up cross-marketing opportunities for the film.

“People are talking about this film as the spiritual successor to Fifth Element. It’s going to be huge,” says Tung Nguyen-Khac, Spil Games’ CEO. “We’re excited and honored to be making the game for Luc and I believe we can really intensify the audience experience around the themes and ideas within the movie.”

Engaging an audience in a genuinely immersive game is increasingly important in the movie business.

“It’s no longer enough to make a game that just mimics the movie,” says Tung. “Yes, players want to dig further into the story but the game also has to be cool and fun to play in its own right. The producers of the New Hollywood understand that a game which captivates its audience can massively amplify a movie brand.”

BURBANK, Calif., Oct. 14, 2016 — Pete’s Dragon, a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot — who just so happens to be a dragon — comes home on Nov. 29 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand. And the timing couldn’t be better: Today’s announcement ushers in tomorrow’s World Dragon Day and the heartwarming adventure arrives just in time to entertain the entire family this holiday season.

Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers.

Pete’s Dragon stars Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World) as Grace, a forest ranger in the Pacific Northwest who happens upon 10-year-old Pete, played by Oakes Fegley (This is Where I Leave You). Oona Laurence (Southpaw) is Natalie, the 11-year-old daughter of Jack, a lumber-mill owner played by Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games). Karl Urban (Star Trek) is Jack’s bumbling brother Gavin and Oscar®-winner Robert Redford (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) portrays Mr. Meacham, an old wood carver who delights the local children with tales of a fierce dragon.

The film is directed by David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) from a screenplay by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (The Finest Hours), with Barrie M. Osborne (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) serving as executive producer.

Writer/director Lowery reveals, “I look back on childhood as an adventure, and I wanted to capture that on screen in the smallest—but also the biggest—way.” The big—the creation of an irresistible 24-foot tall, green, furry dragon that can breathe fire and turn invisible—is brilliantly tackled by the team at the Academy Award®-winning visual effects company Weta Digital (The Hobbit films and The Lord of the Rings trilogy). But it’s the small moments between characters that so beautifully convey the film’s powerful message: the importance of friendship, family and finding one’s place in the world.

Bonus features include*:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:

• Notes to Self: A Director’s Diary – Director David Lowery narrates the personal diary he kept through the filming of Pete’s Dragon in this intimate and fascinating look at the movie’s making.
• Making Magic – Discover fun facts about what went into designing this spectacular, lovable dragon.
• “Disappearing” Moments – The director shares a montage of the film’s “lost” scenes.
• Welcome to New Zealand – Experience the wonders of New Zealand and learn why it’s a magical place to visit … and to make a movie.
• Audio Commentary – Gain an insider perspective from director David Lowery, co-writer Toby Halbrooks and actors Oakes Fegley and Oona Laurence.
• Music Videos
  • “Nobody Knows” by The Lumineers
  • “Something Wild” by Lindsey Stirling featuring Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
• Bloopers

DVD:

• Making Magic

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:

Product SKUs: Digital HD/SD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand
Feature Run Time:  Approximately 103 minutes
Rating: PG in U.S., PG in CE, and G in CF
Aspect Ratio: Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / Widescreen 2.39:1
DVD Feature Film = Widescreen 2.39:1
Audio: Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA & 2.0 Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks
DVD = English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
Languages/Subtitles:  Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French
DVD = English SDH, Spanish and French

Just in time for Halloween, Paramount Home Entertainment has released a video on the makeup effects employed by Star Trek Beyond‘s Makeup Designer Joel Harlow and Lead Makeup Artist Richie Alonzo created for Jaylah. The film is now available via Digital HD and hits disc on November 1.

The Justin Lin-directed feature earned an 84% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes and although it under performed at the box office compared with its preddcessor, Star Trek Into Darkness, thew film was certainly better received by the fans.

Still, the $185 million production earned only $337,896,789 worldwide, probably making it a loss for beleaguered Paramount, which did not have a good summer season. Thanks to licensing and ancillary sales, the film will probably eke out a profit.

A fourth installment, with Chris Hemsworth returning as George Kirk, has already been announced as being in the works although the official green light has yet to be given. At the earliest, it won’t hit theaterrs before 2019, and more likely 2020.

Outcast Season One
Outcast, based on the Skybound/Image comic title by creator Robert Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta, follows Kyle Barnes (Patrick Fugit), a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life.  Now, with the help of Reverend Anderson (Philip Glenister), a country preacher with personal demons of his own, Kyle embarks on a journey to find answers to obtain a normal life he has never known.  But what Kyle discovers could change his fate — and the fate of the world — forever.

Outcast  is produced by Fox International Studios for Cinemax in the United States and Fox Network groups outside of the United States.

Special Features

• Comic Book Origins, featuring Robert Kirkman – Robert Kirkman (creator of Outcast  and The Walking Dead) discusses the show’s comic book origins and the story centered around a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life.

BURBANK, Calif., Oct. 7, 2016 — Beginning Nov. 15, the collector’s edition of Disney’s live-action epic adventure The Jungle Book—Jon Favreau’s stunning reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic—will be available to own just in time for the holidays. The Jungle Book Collector’s Edition offers more than just the bare necessities with collectible packaging and a three-disc set containing the original theatrical release on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, Digital HD and DVD, along with originally released bonus features and five never-before-seen extras.

The Collector’s Edition provides fans with unprecedented access to The Jungle Book  production through exciting new bonus features, including a performance of “The Bare Necessities” by Bill Murray (voice of Baloo) and jazz greats Dr. John and Kermit Ruffins, an inside look at the collaboration between director Jon Favreau and renowned composer Richard Sherman on a new version of the classic song “I Wan’na Be Like You,” a fascinating feature exposing the visual effects magic behind some of the movie’s most memorable moments, an early animatic of the scene where Mowgli meets Kaa, and a global celebration as Mowgli and Baloo sing “The Bare Necessities.”

The Jungle Book has mesmerized audiences worldwide, earning critical acclaim and more than $965 million at the global box office to date. It boasts an unforgettable all-star cast, including Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) as the voice of Baloo, Ben Kingsley (Learning to Drive, The Walk) as Bagheera, Idris Elba (Beast of No Nation) roars as the voice of Shere Khan and Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) as the voice of mother wolf Raksha. Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Age of Ultron) gives life to Kaa, Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) provides the voice of alpha-male wolf Akela  and Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter) lends his iconic voice to King Louie. Newcomer Neel Sethi stars as the film’s only human character, Mowgli.

Bonus features include*:

3D COLLECTOR’S EDITION BONUS FEATURES:

• The Bare Necessities: From the Jungle to the Bayou – Travel to the heart of New Orleans to swing with composer John Debney, Bill Murray and jazz greats Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins and the rest of their lively band, as they perform another version of “The Bare Necessities.”
• The Return of a Legend – Award-winning songwriter and Disney Legend Richard Sherman co-wrote the music from Mary Poppins, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Walt Disney’s animated classic The Jungle Book. Watch as director Jon Favreau and Sherman collaborate to create additional lyrics and record a demo for the new version of the classic song, “I Wan’na Be Like You.”
• The Jungle Effect – Experience more visual effects magic in this sequence that shows the evolution of key moments from The Jungle Book.
• Developing Kaa – See an early animatic that played a part in the development of the scene where Mowgli meets Kaa and learns more about the tale of the “red flower.”
• “The Jungle Book” Around the World – Join the global celebration as Mowgli and Baloo sing “The Bare Necessities.”
• Classic Bonus Features**
  • “The Jungle Book” Reimagined – Favreau sits down with producer Brigham Taylor and visual effects supervisor Robert Legato to discuss The Jungle Book and reflect on the years they devoted to the reimagining of this timeless tale. Discover how Rudyard Kipling’s original stories and the classic animated film influenced their unique approach, witness the technical wizardry that enabled the team to create a believable and thrilling movie-going experience, and learn how they borrowed a page from Walt Disney’s innovation playbook to make it all happen. Lastly, meet the all-star voice cast who help bring the film’s colorful characters to life, as well as the musicians who accent the adventure with a majestic music score.
  • I Am Mowgli – Follow the extraordinary journey of 12-year-old Neel Sethi, who was selected from thousands of hopefuls worldwide to play Mowgli “alongside” some of today’s biggest movie stars. Get a glimpse of Neel’s life before Hollywood came calling, check out his audition that sealed the deal, and see how a close-working relationship with Favreau brought out his best. Plus, Neel shares how filming The Jungle Book was one wild ride, from working alongside imaginary animals to performing some super-fun stunts.
  • King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer – So, exactly how do you create a musical number featuring one man-cub, a massive, legendary ape and an army of wild and wily monkeys in the Seeonee jungle? Viewers are granted rare and unique access to the development of the “I Wan’na Be Like You” sequence in which King Louie attempts to coerce Mowgli into giving up Man’s deadly “red flower” (fire). A fast-moving musical progression reel showcases storyboards, animatics, Christopher Walken’s recording session and visual effects layers, which ultimately merge to form one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
  • Audio Commentary – Favreau delivers his scene-by-scene perspective on the live-action adventure The Jungle Book with all the candor and humor you’d expect from this multi-talented actor-writer-director-producer.

• Bonus features may vary by retailer. New bonus content is available in the 3D Collector’s Edition package only.

**Classic bonus from the initial August 2016 release of The Jungle Book

Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Chef) and produced by Favreau and Brigham Taylor (executive producer of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Tomorrowland), from a screenplay by Justin Marks, The Jungle Book is a live-action epic adventure based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories, inspired by Disney’s classic 1967 animated film and centered on Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat.

The film’s musical score, composed by Emmy® winner and Oscar-, BAFTA- and Annie Award-nominee John Debney (Elf, Iron Man 2), features a classic orchestral sound accented by ethnic instruments and pays homage to the original film by highlighting snippets of the classic songs we all know and love.

Also available on Digital 3D by select digital retailers.

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:
Feature Run Time: Approximately 106 minutes
Rating: PG in U.S. and Canada
Aspect Ratio:
Blu-ray 3D Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / Widescreen 1.78:1
Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / Widescreen 1.85:1
DVD Feature Film = 1.85:1
Audio: Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA & 2.0 Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks
DVD = English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
Languages/Subtitles: Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French
DVD = English SDH, Spanish and French

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On Oct. 8, cephalopod supporters around the globe will celebrate World Octopus Day, a day that recognizes the earth’s eight-armed sea creatures. But today, Friday, Oct. 7, Disney•Pixar is celebrating a new holiday — World Septopus Day – in honor of Hank, Dory’s curmudgeonly seven-armed wingman from the summer blockbuster “Finding Dory.”

Hank may have lost a tentacle (and his sense of humor) somewhere along the way, but now he’s gained a special day all to himself … just the way he likes it.

Join in the celebration (#worldseptopusday) and get to know this cranky and comedic character through a new World Septopus Day video starring Ed O’Neill (the voice of Hank) and a list of Hank’s Seven Favorite Hobbies.

Finding Dory swims home with hours of immersive bonus features on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere Oct. 25 and Blu-ray™ Nov. 15, just in time for the holidays.

Austin, TX- – Mondo is excited to unveil the soundtrack for Marvel’s Luke Cage with collectible artwork of the bulletproof hero by Matthew Woodson. Composers Adrian Younge (Something About April) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) have combined forces to produce one of the best scores of 2016 featuring an inspired, genre-bending blend of orchestral score and 90s hip-hop beats, filtered through the sonic lens of the works of Ennio Morricone.

It’s no surprise that the score hovers in the same terrain of the Spaghetti Western soundtracks of Morricone – the narrative of Luke Cage plays out like a modern Western, only set in Harlem. Younge and Muhammad have meticulously crafted one of the most unique sonic landscapes in the history of television.

“We sought to create a score that reflects the world of Luke Cage. We see this world as a place where classic cinema meets classic Hip Hop,” said composers Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

Marvel’s Luke Cage

Original Soundtrack 2XLP

Original Score by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad Artwork by Matthew Woodson

Pressed on 180 Gram “Power Man Yellow” Colored Vinyl Pre-order begins today

$35

In Los Angles, a live 40-piece orchestra will perform music from the Netflix original series on October 6th at the theater at the Ace Hotel, curated by Younge and Muhammad. Tickets for Marvel’s Luke Cage: The Live Score can be found at axs.com.

Marvel’s Luke Cage tells the story of Luke Cage (Mike Colter), a hoodie- wearing, unbreakable ex-con who fights to clear his name and save his neighborhood. After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury. Marvel’s Luke Cage is rated TV-MA and is streaming now only on Netflix.

Marvel’s Luke Cage Original Soundtrack Album will be available at digital retailers and streaming services on October 7. For more information, stay tuned to Marvel.com, @MarvelMusicInc on Twitter, and the official site for Marvel’s Luke Cage for all the updates.

SYNOPSIS:                                                                                        

This All Hallows’ Eve, Nightmare is bent on conquering our waking world by crossing through the Dream Dimension, and converting each dreamer into a monster. Can Dr. Strange, Hulk and the Howling Commandoes hold the line and put an end to his nefarious scheme?

Marvel’s Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell, the first animated, feature-length film centered on Hulk, premieres on Digital HD on Oct. 21.  In this spooky, action-packed feature, the Green Goliath and Sorcerer Supreme team up with the Howling Commandoes, a supernatural strikeforce, to thwart the villainous plan of Nightmare, the evil, supernatural lord of the Dream Dimension.

VOICE CAST:                                                                    

Fred Tatasciore as Hulk; Liam O’Brien as Dr. Strange; Jesse Burch as Bruce Banner; Edward Bosco as Warwolf and Minotaur; Chiara Zanni as Nina Price, Vampire by Night; Mike Vaughn as Zombie Jasper Sitwell; Matthew Waterson as Nightmare; and Michael Robles as Benito

WRITERS:                                                                                          

Marty Isenberg (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man, Ben 10), Dave McDermott (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men: The Animated Series)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:                         

Alan Fine, Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada, Jeph Loeb, and Cort Lane

RELEASE DATE: Oct. 21, 2016
RELEASE FORMATS:  Digital HD/SD & On-Demand
FEATURE RUN TIME: 70-75 min.
ASPECT RATIO: 1.78:1
AUDIO:  Dolby Digital 5.1
LANGUAGES/SUBTITLES: English