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Sequels That Should Happen

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If the proliferation of mediocre sequels lately is any indication, all it takes to launch a franchise nowadays is for a movie to bring in big international box office bucks, even if U.S. ticket sales disappoint.

It was certainly not for artistic reasons or personal prestige that instant sequels to modest recent hits like Kick-Ass, The Smurfs, Grown Ups, and Red littered the multiplexes this past summer. Every studio wants their own durable franchise, but nobody could have anticipated how flaccid all of these aforementioned sequels would turn out.

Perhaps if the studios dig a little deeper into their vaults for some of their less prestigious but reliable medium-grade sellers, and maybe look back farther than a few quarters, they’d stumble onto something worth exploring.

All it takes is money, because if a doomed project like Atlas Shrugged that few viewers saw and even fewer enjoyed can manage a Part II simply because some tenacious producer had passion and cash to burn, then there’s simply no excuse why the following geek flicks haven’t yet seen the potentially lucrative follow-ups they so richly deserve.

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Cosmic Treadmill: A Look At JUPITER'S LEGACY Part 1 (Issues 1-3)

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The Authority's Mark Millar and Frank Quitely have teamed up again to dissect the superhero genre as well as the American family and economy in Jupiter’s Legacy.

Issue #3 of the ten issue series drops on Wednesday, September 25 from Image Comics.

This edition of Cosmic Treadmill takes a look at the first act of Millar’s unusually lengthy mini-series that dips into the Golden Age of comics at the same time it looks at the present and how comic heroes might act under present conditions.


Back in April, I presented this review of issue one.

I wasn’t that thrilled with what the first issue of Jupiter’s Legacy had to offer, in fact I had some harsh criticisms about the introduction of Chloe and her drug overdose at the end of the issue. After reading some interviews with Mr. Millar and reading the next two issues, I still stand by what I said about this being a tough introduction to the storyline, but found more to enjoy from the story after reading issues #2 and #3.

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THE COMIC LIST: Releases For 9/25/13

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After the jump check out a list of which which comics, graphic novels, toys and other pop-culture merchandise will arrive at your local comic shop via Diamond Comics Distributors.   Please check with your retailer for availability.

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Jim Gordon-Centric Series 'GOTHAM' Announced

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Deadline reports that Gotham is headed to the small screen from Warner Bros. TV and The Mentalist creator Bruno Heller.  With a series commitment already in hand, the Fox series will focus on, "the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains who made Gotham City famous. In Gotham, Gordon is still a detective with the Gotham City Police Department and has yet to meet Batman, who will not be part of the series."

A surprising departure for this series is that it's not part of the CW-DC series Arrow and next season's The Flash.

Gordon has been part of the Batman universe since the character's first appearance in Detective #27 from 1939 from Bill Finger and Bob Kane.

I personally was hoping to see Bryan Cranston (who voiced Gordon in the animated direct-to-video Batman: Year One) reprise the role for the upcoming Affleck reboot.  Who would you like to see portray him in the series?

CRUMMY STUFF: Let's Take A Closer Look At Dee Dee Ramone's Rap Career, Shall We?

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Back in the mid-eighties Dee Dee Ramone, a member of the iconic punk band The Ramones, set upon a solo career as a rap artist who called himself Dee Dee King and released an album called Standing In the Spotlight featuring a combination of Doo-Wop, Rock and Roll and Hip-Hop songs.

Now, before you start questioning his decision, you should first know that Dee Dee liked Rap a whole lot and rumor has it that he fell into the seductive nature of rhyme while in rehab. Thus he began dressing in Hip-Hop approved track suits while attending actual Ramones gigs, pissing off his band mates to no end.

Of course, this swing to a genre that his fans were not into crippled the sales of Dee Dee's album and he was left with a vinyl reminder of his failure which I'm sure did not help with his sobriety.

Before we take a look-see at his single Funky Man (which, interestingly enough was not on the Standing in the Spotlight album but released as a 12" single instead) you might want to prepare yourself emotionally, because I'm not going to lie to you, it's pretty fucking horrible.

Hit the play button after the break and get ready for some...magic.

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THE COMIC LIST: Releases For 11/13/13

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After the jump check out a list of which which comics, graphic novels, toys and other pop-culture merchandise will arrive at your local comic shop via Diamond Comics Distributors.   Please check with your retailer for availability.

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'PAIN & GAIN' Special Collector's Edition Comes To Blu-Ray December 3rd

Well, That Was Kinda Weird... 'Jun67yp3n P0w3r!' Brings A Bit of Oddity To Your Hump Day

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Wednesday is always an odd day, sure you're half-way through the week but dammit, there's still two more days left before you can officially binge drink Bailey's Irish Cream straight from the bottle and collapse into your self like a dying star for the entirety of the weekend.

So, to give you a tangible sense of weird on what is a fucking stupid day, here's Jun67yp3n P0w3r! by Disturbed Noise. Which is one half video game sounds + one half visuals from hell. 

Crank it loud people.

Video after the break.

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Introducing the BULLET-PROOF SUIT: For Those Days When You Just Feel Like Mouthing Off To An Armed Assailant

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At some point in the day there is a moment when let go of the real world and drift off into Fantasyland where we have enough strength within ourselves to kick our boss in the balls or vagina and not worry about being fired.

Oh what happy dreams those are.

But of course daydreams of that nature never come to fruition simply because giving into those temptations could very well land us in hot water...or the hospital...or worse, the morgue.

But thanks to some very innovative clothing from Garrison Bespoke, there is a good chance that our burning desire to right wrongs and/or stand-up for the weak and helpless can be actualized by simply slipping into a Bullet-Proof Suit and heading out into the dangerous world as SUPER BUSINESSMAN! (It's a working moniker, don't judge)


The way the suit works is pretty simple, when it (your 3-piece sentient clothing) senses a point of force, the carbon nanotube fabric that lines the inside of the suit will tighten itself, virtually stopping bullets (9mm and a .45 ACP-which stands for Automatic Colt Pistol) and people who are looking to stab you (which will come in handy if you do go after your boss, there are a lot of pencils just laying around the office).

Now, the suit is not cheap, if you really want to become SUPER BUSINESSMAN (All Caps by the way) then you are going to have to shell out a cool $19,160 for just one of them.

 No one said protecting your cubicle from TPS Reports was going to be cheap pal.

Source: Red Ferret


The Best STAR WARS FURNITURE That Imperial Credits Can Buy

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The Chewbacca Sofa

If you happen to be a Star Wars fan (and if you aren't, you can go ahead and go fuck yourself) then you have probably spent a few hours of your life wondering what it would be like to create your own Star Wars-inspired enclave in which you could permanently dwell.

And our friends over at the blog Homes and Hues would like to help you out in that department. They have searched the web for 20 of the greatest Star Wars furniture options that will help take your studio apartment and turn it into, well, this:

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'THE FIFTH BEATLE' (graphic novel review)

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Review by Todd Sokolove

In a 1997 BBC documentary about Beatles manager Brian Epstein, Paul McCartney called the man a “fifth Beatle, if there ever was one.”

Hitting stores next Tuesday, November 19th is Dark Horse’s Graphic Novel tale appropriately subtitled “The Brian Epstein Story” if there ever was one.

With an overly stylish approach that mixes various retro comic styles with modern graphic novel storytelling from writer Vivek J. Tiwary and artists Andrew Robinson and Kyle Baker, The Fifth Beatle is an origin story from a point of view that’s always been a side note in any history of the Fab Four.  Epstein is often summarized as being a visionary who battled anti-semitism, a drug addition and his own acceptance with his sexuality while masterfully bringing fame to a little band from Liverpool.
 
By shifting the focus to Brian Epstein though, the creators of this novel have attempted to humanize 
the person who was accepted by John, Paul, Ringo and George as a mentor and mensch.  All of this is done with the backdrop of a story you’ve heard before, but this telling only briefly shifts in and out of Beatles history providing the context of Epstein’s personal highs and lows.

It’s an incredible tale when it’s the "Brian Epstein Story,” with some really heartfelt moments. That’s where the novel excels and becomes a must-read LGBT related history.  This is a man who overcame the odds against him.  There’s allegory and reverence in spades.  

Yet, when The Fifth Beatle recreates Beatles history, it’s much too staged.  Much of the band’s life was captured on television and film, and every press conference or public appearance is told through a nostalgic lens.  I would have much preferred that even the backstage, imagined moments of this story were a little more human and less, well, cartoonish.  Even the dialogue between the rockers is a tad “Hard Days Night."

Not that this discounts the overall fun of the project, which is carried out with stylized spirit and often a sense of sharp humor or social criticism.  The novel’s meeting between Epstein and Elvis manager Colonel Parker is certainly an example of where it works.

The whole project is ambitious (it’s even in development now as a film), and if you’re a fan of the Beatles, a history buff or music in general, you’ll find it very entertaining.  

Every time I picked up the book, I’d find myself needing to fire up my copy of Meet the Beatles (mono, vinyl of course).

In that sense, I’d say it’s a success from the toppermost of the poppermost.


After the jump check out an excerpt of The Fifth Beatle, which is on saleeverywhere November 19th!


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Keep It In The Family: Help Fund 'ACCIDENTAL INCEST: THE MOVIE'

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Our good friend Richard Griffin (the filmmaker behind Murder University, Nun of That, The Disco Exorcist, Exhumed, and the upcoming psychological drama Normal) is back, raising funds for his latest film Accidental Incest, the film adaptation of the award-winning play by Leonard Schwartz which was performed off-Broadway in 2012. It stars Patrick Keeffe, Elyssa Baldassarri, Michael Thurber, Pat Hawkridge, Mat Clerrico, Casey Wright, Geoff Monti, Jamie Lyn Bagley, Johnny Sederquist, Nat Sylva, Sean Sullivan, Aaron Andrade, and genre legend Debbie Rochon!


Accidental Incest is a sick and disturbing comedy about two people who find romance in this crazy world. The problem is that they are indeed brother and sister.

So they are left with a question: Should you be miserable or be with the one person who truly gets who you are?



For more details and to support Accidental Incest: The Movie, click HERE!


Win 'THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: CHRISTMAS WITH CAROL' on DVD; The Best Way To Enjoy The Holidays

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Looking for a new holiday tradition to start with family and friends this coming season? Look no further than THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: CHRISTMAS WITH CAROL, the TV comedy legend's very first holiday-themed DVD release! This all-new collection brings together three hours of some of the most memorable holiday episodes and sketches from The Carol Burnett Show, sure to have viewers ho-ho-ho'ing their way through the holidays.

This new DVD features two complete holiday episodes:

Show #813
Original Air Date: December 21, 1974
Looking for a Norman Rockwell-style Christmas, merry and stress-free? Then avoid the Higgins residence. Santa would. Despite Eunice's "Merry Xmas" apron and Ed's mile-wide red tie, there's no joy in the house once Eunice's younger brother Larry (Alan Alda) and Mama arrive. They all act like they sat on a bough of holly. Ed's ready and eager to capture every Kodak-Christmas moment for posterity. On a happier note, Carol and Alan Alda find peace amid the commercial holiday hustle and bustle. He's a soon-to-be unemployed department store Santa, while she's all thumbs over in the gift-wrapping section. Their Nobody Does It Like Me duet fits like a warm Christmas sweater.

Show #1113
Original Air Date: December 18, 1977
Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins aren't known for their rapport or business smarts. She moves about a mile an hour, and he talks with a bizarre hybrid accent. They awkwardly observe the "mistletoe" tradition. Once he breaks out some champagne, the boss and his secretary finally communicate-sort of. Tudball's wife, played by Vicki Lawrence, pays a surprise visit to the office and catches them with their guards down, so to speak. Vicki and Tim Conway carefully measure Carol for a Christmas present, a dress and hat combo that looks like the handiwork of a true idiot. The smart money's on Tim. Carol's concluding song celebrates Christmas and all holidays of the year, large and small.

Add in some hilarious bonus sketches such as "Christmas Night Quarrel" w/ Carol and Sid Caesar, "Charwoman: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Q&A w/Jonathan Winters (Show #017, December 25, 1967) and "The Twelve Days after Christmas" (Show #114, December 30, 1968) and you have a new Christmas tradition, to be watched and rewatched with the family every holiday season!

And we're giving away three copies!

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This is HBO Signing-Off: A Nostalgic Look Back When Cable Wasn't 24-7

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Back in the early days of pay cable, channels like HBO and Cinemax didn't stay on the air for 24-hours a day. Usually, around 2am, they closed up shop for the night and gave the daily farewell to it's viewers via an interesting animation (as opposed to the Star-Spangled Banner that most channels signed-off with).

It was kind of a nice touch, a way of saying to a young pre-teen girl that it was time to shut her eyes and go to sleep before she began the cycle of watching TV all over again.

I sorta miss that.

After the break is the very animation that used to lull me to night-night time (and thanks to The Retroist for tracking it down).

Good night everyone.
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Win a Stormtrooper with Candy Cane Nutcracker

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This might be the holiday gift you're looking for and yes, he is a bit short for a Stormtrooper.

The holiday-themed Star Wars nutcracker sports a Santa's hat and red and white-striped candy cane.

And thanks to our friends at Neatoshop, we're giving one away to a Forces of Geek reader!

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MACHINIMA AND iam8bit ADD A NEW TWIST TO THE SECOND ANNUAL MACHINIMA INTERACTIVE FILM FESTIVAL, COMING TO LA ON NOVEMBER 22nd

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Machinima, the number one global video entertainment network for young males, is bringing their second annual Machinima Interactive Film Festival (“MIFF”) to iam8bit studios located in Echo Park. Running from November 22 – 24, 2013, the offline exhibit will shine a light on filmmakers and animators at the forefront of this unprecedented cultural shift in online video media. 

The video art show is unique in its ability to provide anyone in the world the opportunity to view work submitted by some of the most talented online video directors and content creators. With just over one week to go before this year’s festival, some of the entries come from all over the world, and feature talent from YouTube, Vimeo, top animation and film schools, traditional festivals, and even a few Hollywood insiders. 

Unlike traditional film festivals, “MIFF” breaks down barriers of exclusivity and expense by asking for no entry charge, no scurry for tickets, no stress— for both its online and offline components. In addition to the offline event, “MIFF” is a massive, yearlong collaboration between Machinima, iam8bit, and some of the best and brightest filmmakers and animators around, empowering directors and content creators to develop their best work and submit via HERE. So far, Machinima has uploaded over 30 pieces of content, as the piloting stage is year-round. Those videos alone have generated an average of 100K views per video, curating over 3.5MM views. In addition, last year's winners have collectively accumulated more than 10M views on their respective shows and series.
For the first time ever, three creators (one from each category) will be selected as winners and given development deals for a three-to-four episode mini-series to be funded and distributed by Machinima. Of the three mini-series, one will be selected to develop a feature-length (90 minute) piece of content, distributed as nine 10-minute segments on Machinima, as well as potential limited theatrical distribution. 

Winners will be selected by a panel of Machinima staff and industry heavy hitters, including director James Wan, game designer Cliffy B, animator Jon Schnepp, producer Adi Shanker, YouTube star Mega 64, and many more. 

The content will be submitted and presented in 3 categories, including: 

Fan Films (Example: The Dark Knight Legacy)
Animation (Example: COIN)
Live Action Originals (Example: Land of Giants

An ongoing celebration of incubating creative talent, accepted selections will be distributed online by the Machinima network and housed and promoted via MachinimaInteractiveFilmFestival.com. iam8bit will then physically exhibit the whole entertainment experience at their studios in Los Angeles from November 22 – 24, 2013. 

Keep checking in to MachinimaInteractiveFilmFestival.com for the most up-to-date info, including more exciting information and surprises around the online and offline event.

Help QUARK From 'DS9' and MAYOR WILKINS From 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Make A Movie Together

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Gabriel Diani and Etta Devine are award-winning actors, writers (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-Robotic Edition), and comedians who have come up with a plan to create an apocalyptic comedy  called Diani and Devine Meet the Apocalypse, showcasing some of their their talented friends:


Including Quark and Mayor Wilkins, which, as we all know is a Buffy reunion that desperately needs to happen (for those of you who were living under a rock for the 3rd season of Buffy, Armin Shimerman played Principal Snyder to Harry Groener's Mayor Wilkins).

But more importantly, this comedy duo needs your help in making this magical pairing possible via their kickstarter campaign. I know, I know, more virtual panhandling, but really, what else do you need to spend your small amount of disposable income on? Another copy of Evil Dead 2 (seriously, there's like twelve of them)? Some Funko POP! Figures?

Screw that, invest in talented people and their awesome project...for fuck's sake BARRY BOSTWICK is going to be in it...BARRY "MEGAFORCE" BOSTWICK!

After the break is Diani and Devine's pitch video, so take a look and then head over to their Kickstarter page to peruse some of their fabulous backer gifts (including an executive producer credit, DVDs and signed cast Head Shots).


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Get to know ASHRITA FURMAN, The Greatest Non-Athlete In the World and Holder of the Most Guinness World Records

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Like most people, when I was a kid I used to devour each year's Guinness Book of World Records as if my life depended on it. I couldn't believe people could become famous for being the fattest human alive, or having the longest finger nails, or being able to swallow the most light bulbs without dying. These were the kinds of things that even I could accomplish if I wanted to (not that I necessarily did, but it was always nice to know that I could).

And in this remarkable and quite sweet documentary, The Record Breaker (directed by Brian McGinn) comes the tale of Ashrita Furman, a guy for whom life is just a series of awesome tests of endurance:



How could a person ask for anything more?

Documentary after the break.

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Leave Nintendo Alone!

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Consoles aimed at families, full of the same characters and game franchises, re-hashes of previous games and endless peripherals, pretty much the same for over two decades.

It's easy to criticise Nintendo.

Yet part of me will always want to defend them because their consoles have been home to The Legend of Zelda series, a game which resonated with me, even at a young age but also a game that helped me through some difficult periods of my life.

Every time I hear the main theme I can't help but break out a smile, the nostalgia that accompanies the music is unparalleled.

via Etsy store I'mJustSayinInc
Of course, defending a company based on one game alone would be foolish and I'm often called an Xbox fangirl so why am I defending Nintendo's honour all of a sudden? Well, when I reminisce about my past gaming experiences, more often than not, they revolve around Nintendo games despite the fact I only ever owned Sega consoles (I had a Game Boy but I never owned my own Nintendo console until the age of 16). 

I used to get my Nintendo fix at friends houses or whenever I spent time with one of my older cousins, those were times I cherished, not because I wanted desperately to play on a SNES or later, the N64 but mainly because I was gaming with other people.

I only have one sister, she's 5 years younger so I never wanted to play with her. My parents would sometimes play Columns with me but what sort of weird child wants to play video games with their parents?

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Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: BATMAN #25, BATGIRL #25, VALIANT: UNITY #1 plus VALIANT 8-BIT ADVENTURE: UNITY #1

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Alright, its time again for Triple ShotPlus and we’re sticking with a theme this week!

There were so many comics to sort through, but in the end Batbooks and Unity caught our eye.  Zero Year continues in Batman #25 and Batgirl #25 and Harada assembles his best to defeat X-O Manowar in Valiant’s Unity #1 with a prequel of sorts only on ComiXology, Valiant 8-Bit Adventure: Unity! written by Ben McCool!



BATMAN #25
WRITER: Scott Snyder
ART: Greg Capullo
Publication Date: November 13, 2013
Price: $4.99
Publisher: DC Comics
UPC: 76194130640702511
Buy it HERE


We’ve been excited to see these pages hit the shelves since NYCC [] this year and of course the debut of The New 52 Gotham City Police Department Blimp.

There is even a history to the dirigibles, Bruce Wayne donated them to G.C.P.D. during the blackout!

Riddler’s blacked out the city and all hell is breaking loose.

$4.99 is the price of admission for this thrill ride (last issue was $6.99, curiouser and curiouser) but worth every giant penny once again as Snyder and Capullo create an award winning modern origin for The Batman.

On the surface we are treated to a new PT Cruiser-like Batmobile (Mach I) that has a special ability never seen before, a tease that Jim Gordon was there the night Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered, as well as the return of 1939 villain Doctor Death. There’s also Lucius Fox, proto-Poison Ivy and to be determined desert military action in Nigeria. Perhaps the 2004 version of Doctor Death from Batgirl is responsible for the Central African conflict. Stay tuned for more!

If you aren’t reading New 52 Batman, get to it. There’s no excuse at this point. Start with Court of Owls and work your way up. Seriously. Or start at issue #21 and see the origin of Batman like no one has ever imagined!

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