VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), has announced a dynamic array of new animated titles scheduled for release throughout the Fourth Quarter.

The new releases include the long-awaited launch of a new series – HUNTER X HUNTER – as well as a variety of DVD Box Sets, Special Editions and single disc editions of popular series including BLEACH, NARUTO, DEATH NOTE, BUSO RENKIN, BLUE DRAGON and much-loved classics like INUYASHA.

New Series Debut:

HUNTER X HUNTER DVD Box Set Volume 1 • Rated “T+” for Teens • MSRP: $49.98 US / $64.99 CAN • Available December 9
Based on the popular HUNTER X HUNTER manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi (also published by VIZ Media), this new fantasy action series introduces audiences to Hunters, a special breed of adventurers dedicated to tracking down treasure, magical beasts, and even humans. But such pursuit requires a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Gon might be a country boy, but he has high aspirations. Despite his aunt’s protest, Gon decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a legendary Hunter. The journey begins on the long, arduous road to the Exam Hall, where he meets Leorio and Kurapika, two applicants with the same determination. Gon and his two companions must now prove their worth and earn the right to call themselves Hunters! The HUNTER X HUNTER DVD Box Set Volume 1 contains the series’ first 15 episodes on 3 discs. (more…)

The success of Ray Harryhausen Presents; The Pit and the Pendulum, a short stop motion animated film produced by Hand Made Heroes Film & Television has resulted in a comic book deal with Bluewater Productions. When Bluewater President Darren G. Davis and Director Marc Lougee of Hand Made Heroes discovered they were both producing work independently under the Ray Harryhausen Presents banner, Bluewater immediately penned a deal with director Marc Lougee to further develop film & comic book cross-over properties.

Since it’s premiere hosted by Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News at the BNAT Film Festival, The Pit and the Pendulum short film has screened in over 200 film festivals and comic conventions around the world including AFI Dallas and San Diego Comic-Con. Nearly 100,000 visitors logged into the film’s website within two days of the film’s premier in Austin, TX, and has continued to garner a global fan following.

“Seeing the film published as a comic thru a brilliant publisher like Bluewater is the realization of another dream of mine.” said Director, Marc Lougee, “What started as a labor of love, and a once in a lifetime chance to make a film with Ray Harryhausen at the helm, has just continued to expand and reach further than I’d imagined. I’m really excited to have an issue of Ray Harryhausen Presents; The Pit and the Pendulum comic in hand come February 2009.”

Susan Ma, producer on the stop motion adaptation of The Pit and the Pendulum, says the soon to be released comic book is a wonderful extension of the film. “In producing the film, we sought to bring the story to life for a broad audience, while staying as close to the original story as possible. Executive producer Ray Harryhausen was especially keen to see the story develop with a strong visual aesthetic and real storytelling.  In bringing the film version into the realm of comic books, I feel we’re accomplishing the goal of making the story very accessible. We’ve been surprised with wonderful feedback from teachers and professors who are thrilled to have a resource like the film to teach Poe’s works in class.”

Director Marc Lougee adds, “I think between the comic book and the DVD, we’ve got a wonderful package to create interest in great literature thru visual means, starting with E.A. Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum. Gothic horror, Ray Harryhausen and Edgar Allan Poe- who wouldn’t be thrilled?”

The story in brief:

The Pit and the Pendulum. A victim of the Spanish Inquisition is brought before a tribunal. Condemned and alone, he’s left to suffer a fate worse than death as his captors employ fiendish machinations in their efforts to unhinge him.
 

Celebrated artist Neal Adams will be a Guest of Honor at New York Comic Con (NYCC) this year where he will be available to thousands of fans who are eager to meet the legendary artist.  Adams is best known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman and Green Lantern among others.  In addition to his Guest of Honor appearance, Neal Adams has also created the official artwork for New York Comic Con 2009 which will be highlighted in a unique poster featuring several heroes from DC’s Green Lantern Corps. The Green Lantern series was a breakout hit for DC last year with the "Sinestro War" storyline, and the Blackest Night storyline looks to be another huge success. 
 
New York Comic Con is the second largest popular culture event in the United States and will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, February 6 – 8, 2009.  Neal Adams will appear on panels as well as participate in autograph sessions throughout the weekend. 
 
“Neal Adams is one of the fundamental forces of comics: he’s helped reshape the visual vocabulary of the field with his illustrative style, improved its business practices as a leading champion of artistic rights, and godfathered an entire generation of new talent as they entered our field,” said Paul Levitz, President and Publisher of DC Comics, “Comics wouldn’t have been the same without him, and he continues to focus on important new work to affect the future of the field.”

“I can’t begin to say how genuinely honored we are to have Neal Adams create this poster for New York Comic Con, to say nothing of having him appear at our show as a Guest of Honor!” notes Lance Fensterman, Show Manager for NYCC.  “At the cusp of the 60’s, Neal and writer Denny O’Neil created some of the best loved comic stories featuring Green Lantern’s Hal Jordan, and the Green Arrow, as they tackled social issues of the day and set new standards with Neal’s photo-realistic artwork. The poster he has created is extraordinary and it allows us to stay at the forefront with original and innovative artwork for New York Comic Con.  We are enormously grateful to Neal who has been a great supporter of our show from day one.  This is a real collector’s item and a huge value for anyone who manages to ‘score’ one of these special posters.”

In commenting on the creation of the poster for New York Comic Con, Neal Adams notes: “Folks ask why I went all out on this poster for the NYCC?  First, I’m a New Yorker, and this is my hometown.  Secondly, I take tremendous pride in these characters.  Especially, Hal Jordan and John Stewart.”    (more…)

Marko Djurdjevic and Gabriele Dell’Otto have drawn a variant cover to Thor #600 which fronts a special issue containing a story by Stan Lee and illustrated by penciller David Aja (Immortal Iron Fist).  The regular team of J. Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel kick off the anniversary  with a story pitting Thor against a new opponent. The 100-page super-spectacular has the lead story, the Lee-Aja a tale and a special story by Chris Giarrusso, along with reprints.

THOR #600

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, STAN LEE & CHRIS GIARRUSS

Penciled by OLIVIER COIPEL, CHRIS GIARRUSSO & DAVID AJA

Wraparound Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL

Variant Wraparound Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO

Rated T+ …$4.99 ON SALE – 1/21/08

  (more…)

As a Time Lord, David Tennant has managed to meet and work with famous historical figures from across the eras.  On stage, as Hamlet, though, he’s had an entirely different kind of close encounter.  The BBC reports that The Royal Shakespeare Company has allowed the actor to perform the famed “Alas Poor Yorick” scene using the skull of Pianist Andrew Tchaikovsky.

When the famed musician died, he willed his skull, saying it "shall be offered by the institution receiving my body to the Royal Shakespeare Company for use in theatrical performance".

The skull came into the RSC’s possession in 1982 and actors have only used it in rehearsals before Tennant used it for 22 performances in the current run. When not on stage, the famed skull was maintained in a tissue-lined box.

"It was sort of a little shock tactic,” director Greg Doran said of using the skull. “Though, of course, to some extent that wears off and it’s just André, in his box. I thought it would topple the play and it would be all about David acting with a real skull."

Twilight continues to count the money and so will the film’s stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.  Each received a reported $2 million for the first film in Stephenie Meyer’s four book series.  Now that New Moon has been put into production, each is looking at $12 million paydays according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

That alone will help push the budget towards to estimated $150 million before you add in the special effects for the werewolves and location shooting in Alaska and Italy.

Now if only the first movie was actually any good…