Author: Robert Greenberger

Win a Copy of ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight’

  • News
  • December 22, 2010

Buffy followers can enjoy more slayer action with the motion comic series Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  A continuation of Joss Whedon’s hallowed shows and based on the award-winning comic book series by Dark Horse Comics, the gripping saga of the vampire-killing legend picks up where the television series ended: thousands of slayers around the world have been activated, Sunnydale has been blown up and Buffy has relocated to Scotland.

Following the destruction of the Hellmouth in the explosive finale of the television series, Buffy and her trusted friend Xander have relocated to a citadel in Scotland to oversee the thousands of newly activated slayers from across the globe. Using their new home as command-central in their fight against evil, Buffy and her allies lead these new slayers as they take on vamps, zombies and now the U.S. government who declare, in the wake of Sunnydale’s destruction, that slayers are nothing more than international terrorists.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment recently launched a poster art contest where fans are invited to submit original art inspired by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 Motion Comic plotlines, scenes or their own interpretations of what happens to Buffy and her fellow Slayers during their adventures once the TV series ended.

The winning artist will receive $500, the Blu-ray & DVD combo and a signed copy of their poster. Four runners-up will also receive the Blu-ray & DVD combo. Upload your entry by midnight January 7th, winners to be announced on January 14th.

To win your own copy of this cutting-edge motion comic on DVD, simply answer this question:

What happened to Dawn at the outset of this series of comics? The first three entries received will be the winner; one entry per e-maill address only. Winners selected are in the final judgment of ComicMix.

A Free Ride for Manhattanites

  • News
  • December 20, 2010

Greed is good, the saying goes, but free rides in New York City are better. Hedge your bets against the holiday madness as 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment offers free rides as they celebrate the release Tuesday of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps on DVD and Blu-ray.
 
WHAT: Money never sleeps and neither does New York.  Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will do its part to create a bull market by offering free rides throughout Manhattan.  Throughout the city, ten Wall Street themed cars, branded by diversified media company Show Media, will be available for use to businessmen, shoppers and Manhattanites alike. Because while there may be no such thing as a free lunch, from December 20-24, there is such thing as a free ride.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is available on Blu-ray and DVD on December 21. Also available is the Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps 2-Pack, which includes the iconic 1987 classic with the 2010 sequel in a two-disc DVD set.

WHEN/WHERE:
 

Review: ‘The Good Neighbors: Kind’

[[[The Good Neighbors: Kind]]]
By Holly Black and Ted Naifeh
Graphix/Scholastic, 120 pages, $18.99

The final chapter in The Good Neighbors trilogy brings to a close the story of Rue Silver, a somewhat typical young adult fantasy heroine. She discovers that she is actually a human/faerie hybrid destined to be heir to the faerie throne. Of course, the faerie in general don’t like the humans and there’s a movement at foot that endangers Rue’s friends and neighbors. She’s trapped between opposing forces that have been moving ever closer to a final conflict.

In book one, [[[Kin]]], we met Rue and her friends and author Holly Black displayed a wonderful way of handling teenagers with disparate personalities. Slowly the real story unfolds and we’re intrigued by all that we learn.

[[[Kith,]]] the second volume, was a terrific middle chapter as things are explained but the real danger is presented and our heroine has tough choices to make and little time to make them. Both books, by the way, earned Eisner nominations so clearly they have been well received.

Now, the final volume brings them all together and does so a little too breathlessly for my taste. First of all, being released a year apart, the second and third parts would have benefitted from recaps, a fault throughout most of the Graphix series.

Black has her hands full as the different relationships need to be settled and the climax approached in a taut way so we’re anxiously awaiting to see what happens to human and faerie alike. Unlike the previous installments, this feels incomplete. She may have well set herself with too many threads to tidy and not enough space to wrap things up in a satisfactory manner. There are swift scene changes that leave you wanting more form the previous scene and by the end of the book you’re thinking there should have been more. It ends and then we’re done without much of an anti-climax for the characters.

Ted Naifeh’s effective black and white artwork is as strong here as in the previous volumes, but there are times his storytelling should have been clearer to help the rushed story. There’s actually a lack of visual emotional impact in this chapter, where characters bid one another farewell and the stakes are high.

It does wrap things up and overall, the trilogy makes for a nice read. There’s little new here, beyond Rue herself as a character, but Black and Naifeh provide an entertaining addition to the growing YA fantasy GN category. Still, I was left wanting something deeper or more powerful – or something that lingered longer once I closed the cover.

The Lone Ranger Avenges ‘The Death of Zorro’

  • News
  • December 14, 2010

Well, we didn’t see this one coming. Check out the press release from Dynamite Entertainment:

NEW YORK, NY (December 14, 2010)-One of comicdom’s first and greatest heroes, Zorro, will have fallen in battle, sacrificing his life to save his people.  Upon learning of this tragedy, it falls unto the future hero of the Wild West, The Lone Ranger®, to avenge the death!

Dynamite Entertainment, home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, and Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading entertainment franchises, including The Lone Ranger, and Zorro LLC, today announced the publication of the first crossover comic for pop-culture’s most-famous masked heroes, The Lone Ranger and Zorro.

Written by Ande Parks, the first issue will also feature covers by Alex Ross and professional wrestling icon-turned-artist, Jerry “The King” Lawler, as well as Francesco Francavilla and Tom Yeates! The comic is scheduled to arrive in stores in March 2011.

“This series is a really exciting opportunity for me,” says writer Ande Parks.  “Not only do I get to write two truly legendary American heroes, but I get to write a defining moment for one of them… his death. This series isn’t just about the death of Zorro, though. It’s about the enormous legacy that he leaves behind. When a hero dies, he leaves behind a legion of people that have been touched by his deeds. In this case, Zorro’s legacy has touched a young Lone Ranger.  Unfortunately, the bad guys that have ended Zorro’s life are a small but powerful army who plan on continuing to victimize the Native Americans Zorro was trying to help. Zorro’s legacy, even as embodied by The Lone Ranger, may not be enough to defeat this army of renegade Civil War bushwhackers.”

“Zorro and The Lone Ranger were two of the primary icons I had never gotten a chance to paint before, and I was excited to get the chance with such an important crossover,” says Alex Ross.  “Of the designs I conceived, this is more of an intimate portrait-like shot, separating the two men by the subtlest of details.”

“Zorro is one of the most iconic heroes of all time, and it is an incredible honor that Zorro is partnered with another legendary hero, The Lone Ranger,” adds John Gertz, the President & CEO Zorro Productions, Inc.  “This comic is a must-read for fans of both Zorro and The Lone Ranger!”

“We are excited to partner with Dynamite Entertainment and Zorro Productions  to bring together two of the greatest heroes in the comic world,” said Karyn Schneider, VP, Licensing, Classic Media. “The Lone Ranger is America’s favorite hero of the Wild West and has captured the hearts and imaginations of fans for generations.  With the two characters’ enduring legacies, this first crossover comic marks a memorable moment in comic book and pop-culture history, inspiring fans for many years to come.”

Dynamite has had tremendous critical success with our Zorro and The Lone Ranger books, written by Matt Wagner and Brett Matthews respectively, and are honored to be working with Ande Parks to tell this tale,” says Dynamite President Nick Barrucci.  “I am excited to see the responses from fans from both franchises in this crossover of these two renowned heroes!”

Feel the ‘Pulse of Power’ on Valentine’s Day

  • News
  • December 14, 2010

Dynamite Entertainment is offering up something new for readers of all genders come Valentine’s Day. Here’s the formal release:

December 13, 2010, Runnemede, NJ – Pulse of Power is going “E” on February 14, 2011. Catch the E-Book version of Anne Elizabeth’s debut graphic novel at your favorite online source.  From iTunes to Graphic.ly, everything is more fun on the computer.

In a field dominated by men, Anne Elizabeth is one of only a handful of female series writer-creators and Pulse of Power is the first installment, which is drawn by Marcio Fiorito, in an eight-part series.  Dynamite released the paperback version in the Fall 2010.

Having previously published both multi-cultural fiction and romance with Atria/Simon & Schuster and Highland Press, AE was thrilled to try something different. As a life-long fan of comic books – beginning with Archie and Superman – creating and writing a graphic novel was an extraordinarily exciting event.

Richly imagined and utterly engaging, Pulse of Power re-imagines the timeless battle between good and evil. Tia Stanton is a graduate from The Academy, a prestigious private school in Greenwich, Connecticut, but she’s anything but prim and proper since she spends her days working at a magic shop, located in New York City, and her nights prowling as a monster-hunting vigilante through Connecticut. Then through a mystical rite she is given extraordinary superpowers and must help a warrior-king from another world save the universe from total destruction.

With Pulse of Power Anne Elizabeth delivers an intriguing and fast-paced graphic novel that is sure to please fans of paranormal fiction and comic books alike.  Empowerment comes in all shapes and sizes. Destiny is a choice. Power up!

“Anne Elizabeth weaves a wonderfully sexy, spellbinding tale of power, money, and magic!” – LA Banks, New York Times Best Seller

“Anne Elizabeth at her best!  The characters are addictive, the storyline dynamic…a definite must read!” – Dianne Defonce, BORDERS – Event & Book Group Moderator and Winner of the 2008 RWA Bookseller of the Year

“PULSE paints a wonderful fantastical world that will entice and excite.” – International Bestseller Keith R.A. DeCandido

“…notable when an established author puts aside their familiar form for a foray into comics.  That’s the journey being undertaken by Anne Elizabeth, known primarily for her romance novels and her comics-related columns at Romantic Times.” – Troy Brownfield & Russel Burlingame, Newsarama.com

Review: ‘Miss Don’t Touch Me Vol. 2’

[[[Miss Don’t Touch Me Volume 2]]]
By  Hubert and Kerascoet
NBM/ComicsLit, 96 pages, $14.95

Its always a challenge when reading the second part of anything without knowledge of the first. Its also a good test of the creators to see if they’ve done their job of informing readers, new and old, of their characters and world. In the case of the French graphic novel [[[Miss pas touche 2: Du sang sur les mains]]], the creators failed.

The first book was a huge best-seller in France, selling over 100,000 copies, prompting the married creators, Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset (working under their professional pseudonyms of Hubert and Kerascoet) to revisit the world of Blanche. Released in 2006, it was nominated for the Prix Saint-Michel and has been translated and brought to the United States by NBM.

While the first book told of Blanche investigating a serial murderer, whose victims included her sister, in the France of the 1930s, this book is focused squarely on Blanche and her romance with Antoine. In volume one, she went undercover as a call girl at the upscale brothel, The Pompadour, but was determined to protect her virginity by playing the role of the strict “English governess” who would flog or dominate her customers.

We pick up with Blanche still working in the establishment,known as Miss Don’t Touch Me, and still a  virgin. Why she remains there is not really explored, and if its because of the money, she seems to take no pleasure in it. She falls for Antoine and their developing relationship propels the story into a more predictable and far less lively examination of social class warfare. In time, we meet both of their mothers and learn a bit more about how each romantic partner was raised, but everyone is seen in stereotypical fashion.

The book lacks any real suspense or any real surprise, save for a twist involving Antoine, that sends the second half of the story to the Sweet Relaxation Psychiatric Clinic. Things move along in an unsurpising way until the story ends. We don’t really learn much new about Blanche or life in Paris. Everyone seems oblivious of the war drums beating elsewhere in Europe.

Visually, for a story set largely in a brothel, there’s precious little sex or nudity. Instead, there’s a lovely fashion and design sense employed. It’s a visually interesting story with strong character designs and great use of silent panels and color.

While diverting, this is not especially engaging because the characters play to type and you’re far from surprised. All of Blanche’s strengths that I gather were on display in book one, are missing here, and she seems more of a bystander than active participant in her own story.

Pauley Perrette is ‘The Girl from Mars’

  • Uncategorized
  • December 12, 2010

pauley-perrette-0197-8148632Fans of NCIS actress Pauley Perrette will welcome the opportunity to see more of her in the forthcoming film The Girl from Mars.

The Girl from Mars tells the story of a lonely geek whose life is transformed when he meets the girl of his dreams (Perrette) who claims to be a visitor from another planet.

The film is written and directed by DIY auteur James Felix McKenney, whose previous features include the retro sci-fi flick, Automatons and the upcoming Hypothermia from Dark Sky films starring Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead).

McKenney will be sharing producing chores with Lisa Wisely and Chase Tyler of Brooklyn, NY based The Work Room Productions.

The Director of Photography will be Eric Branco, who lensed both McKenney’s Hypothermia and Satan Hates You for New York-based production company Glass Eye Pix.

Says the director about working with Perrette, “We’ve wanted to do something with Pauley in the lead for quite a while now. She has such a powerful presence with so much energy and compassion, it’s infectious. Writing this part was all about trying to capture that combination of kindness and enthusiasm that makes Pauley so special as a person and distill it all into a character that audiences will really respond to.”

Syndication in the US and the international success of NCIS make Ms. Perrette a recognizable and beloved actress around the globe.

Production is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in May 2011.

Win a Digital Download of ‘Elf’

  • News
  • December 11, 2010

Warner Bros. Digital Distribution celebrates the holidays with one of the funniest films of the season, Elf (Will Ferrell). 

Relive the laughs as never before by enjoying the film via your phone, gaming console, and more with Elf On Demand and For Download via iTunes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and  is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf.  Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you can have a chance to win a free digital download of the film, courtesy of Santa’s elves at Warner Digital. All you have to do is tell us what you’ve done this season to earn you a place as an honorary Elf. The best response, as judged by the ComicMix Brain Trust, received by 11:59 p.m. December 14  will be awarded the prize.

First Pics from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Released

  • News
  • December 11, 2010

Walt Disney has released a handful of pictures giving eager fans a glimpse at the fourth installment of Captain Jack Sparrow’s adventures.For those who missed the details when we revealed the teaser poster, here they are once more:

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (In Disney Digital 3D™

Genre:     Comedy-Adventure
Rating:    TBD
U.S. Release Date:     May 20, 2011
 
Cast:   Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Sam Claflin and Geoffrey Rush
Director: Rob Marshall
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Executive Producers: Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio,
John DeLuca
Screenplay by: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise.  When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more:  Blackbeard or the woman from his past. 

The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid. 

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). 
(more…)

Review: ‘Fantasia’ & ‘Fantasia 2000’

Walt Disney saw possibilities where others did not. He turned Mickey Mouse into an American icon and launched a bustling animation business, but wasn’t satisfied with his amusing shorts. Instead, he wanted more and defied the critics who thought a full-length animated feature would hurt viewers’ eyes and test their patience.[[[Snow White]]] proved them wrong. Emboldened, Disney spent the 1930s experimenting with animation in ways none of his peers tried. He adapted classics and he gave us indelible characters and song. He even tried for Art with a capital ‘A’.

His third feature-length film was [[[Fantasia]]] and in eight segments, introduced audiences to a variety of classical music set to animated tales inspired by each. Today, we know it best for the entertaining “[[[Sorcerer’s Apprentice]]]” bit guest starring Mickey in his feature debut; but the film was so much more. It opened up what animation could be and do and while it was a box office disappointment during its 1940 release, it has also endured as a sampling of masterful animation.

In time for the holidays, Walt Disney Home Entertainment has released Fantasia in Blu-ray, packaging in numerous ways including a four-disc set, accompanied by [[[Fantasia 2000]]]. You most certainly want Fantasia one way or the other so the ultimate decision is how badly do you want the follow-up feature.

It was said that Disney intended Fantasia to be a living laboratory as segments were added and dropped every few years, keeping it fresh and imaginative. The lack of business scuttled that plan until 1990 when Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew, got animators started on a new version. This time, three of the original segments were to be retained with five new ones added but in the end, Mickey remained and everything else was new and nowhere near as wonderful as the original.

The original Fantasia was edited and re-scored and altered throughout the years but with the passage of time, Disney’s crew has been slowly restoring it to as close to the original 125-minute roadshow release as was possible. About the only questionable edit was keeping a few seconds of a racist black centaur on the cutting room floor, but what you get on the Blu-ray is the definitive version and the one to endure. The restoration and transfer are pristine, which has become the Disney gold standard. Obviously, this was made to be heard as well as seen so the audio is equally exceptional. (more…)

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