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20 Years and Counting: The SPACE JAM Website

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Written by Erin Maxwell

This November, civilization as we know it will cross yet another great pop culture milestone.

Well, great is perhaps an overstatement. How about fantastically odd and bizarre?

Not as impactful at Back to the FutureDay, or as Facebook driven as every May The Fourth, but this November, the movie Space Jam will hit 20 years ago.

And more importantly, so will the Web site.

Starring Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Bill Murray and Newman, Space Jam isn’t really as enduring as many of movies the Internet tends to rally behind. Gen X-ers and in-the-know Millennials don’t share fond memories of family outings and “Where We They” stories about when they saw Space Jam in theaters. There aren’t massive fan groups and message boards with thousands of fans worldwide (Reddit doesn’t count). No one collects thousands of the action figures, and thousands of action figures were never made.


However, just because it doesn’t have pop culture pull of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t appealing.

And since anything and everything about ‘90s culture is huge right now, Space Jam has returned to the ranks of the cool and will no doubt be celebrated when the time comes.

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CHUCK NORRIS Gets Some Respect on Blu-ray From Shout! Factory!

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Invasion U.S.A. and Braddock: Missing in Action III
Debut on Blu-ray March 15th, 2016 from Shout! Factory  

It’s a fact: the explosive Chuck Norris thrillers Invasion U.S.A. and Braddock: Missing in Action III are coming to Blu-ray!

These action packed Cannon Pictures classics make their Blu-ray debuts March 15th, 2016 from Shout! Factory. Invasion U.S.A. also includes a new audio commentary with director Joseph Zito, a new interview with screenwriter James Bruner, and a new interview with special effects makeup artists Tom Savini, Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger as bonus features.

Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com


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IMAGE EXPO Partners With REEDPOP, Kicks Off ECCC, Hosts Spring Formal

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Image Comics takes Expo on the road to Seattle, with a line-up of
exciting creator-owned announcements to precede Emerald City Comicon

Image Comics is pleased to announce that IMAGE EXPO will partner with ReedPOP, the leading producer of pop culture events, for the first time ever and will kick-off the Emerald City Comicon (ECCC) in Seattle on Wednesday, April 6th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Showbox Market theater.

IMAGE EXPO is an all-day event for fans, the retailer community, and the press to experience a showcase of exciting Image Comics announcements. IMAGE EXPO 2016 will feature a line-up of some of the hottest names in comics and offers a unique experience for fans to have unprecedented access to the writers and artists behind their favorite comic books at exclusive autograph sessions and comic-focused programming. The event is open to all fans, comics retailers, librarians, and media.

IMAGE EXPO will be an all-day event featuring such guests as Leila del Duca (SHUTTER), Joe Harris (SNOWFALL), Rick Remender (TOKYO GHOST), Alison Sampson (GENESIS), and Jonathan Hickman (EAST OF WEST), with more guests to be announced soon. In addition, there will be special surprise guests in attendance.

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COOL SHIRTS: A Look At T-Shirt Offerings From SUPERHEROSTUFF!

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By Stefan Blitz

There's no doubt that the boldest and most personal fashion statement anyone can make is in one's selection of t-shirt.  Personally, I love them.  It's an opportunity to show the world what pop culture I care about, a wonderful flashback to the past and a fantastic way to initiate any nerd discussion.

For this installment of Cool Shirts, I took a look at some of the shirts fromour friends at SuperHeroStuff.com which is not only one of the industry's oldest superhero specialty shops, but also one of the best.

SuperHeroStuff sells more than shirts.  Among their wares are hats, hoodies, underwear, socks, action figures, stickers, buttons, belts wallets, cardboard standups, jewelry and much more including large selections for women and children.

And if you're interested in staying up to date, they have plenty of Deadpool, Batman v Superman and  Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise to satisfy any and all geek cravings.

These are a few of my recent favorites.


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DC ENTERTAINMENT Reveals More of March's Polybag Variants

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As reported earlier, DC Entertainment announced that their ongoing monthly themed variant cover program for March would showcase variants for ten of DC Comics’ most popular Batman and Superman titles. The variants are to be polybagged with a Batman v Superman theme, concealing stunning cover artwork by the comic industry’s most talented artists!

March’s Batman v Superman polybagged comics will follow a format similar to December’s Harley’s Little Black Book variant program, where three different versions of each variant were printed in equal quantity. All ten upcoming Batman v Superman comics will also have three versions, but this time they’ll be published in full color, fade and character spotlight. Last week we shared Martin Ansin's variant cover to ACTION COMICS #50 and Kevin Maguire's variant covers for BATMAN/SUPERMAN #30.

Two more of these top-secret images are now ready—Ryan Ottley's variant covers for ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN #10 and Kaare Andrews' variant covers for SUPERMAN #50! Check them out in the gallery after the jump!


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BATTLESTATIONS Then and Now

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Guest Post by
Jeff Siadek
When we first released Battlestations in 2004 we made it with money borrowed from friends and family.

The game was almost exclusively produced in cardboard. The art was what we could coax out of friends who had day jobs to get back to. Our initial pre-order before we hit the streets was 36 units.

Just about nobody knew who we were.

Things have changed. Thanks in large part to the fans all over the world, Battlestations is no longer unheard of. There are avid fans who are helping the community to grow. Thanks to the magic of crowdfunding, we're not limited to the money we can scrape together. We're not limited to cardboard and we're not limited to an initial pre-order of 36 units.

As of this moment we've got about 900 backers on our Kickstarter and we're halfway through the campaign.

It is relatively simple to have a smash hit project.

It just isn't easy.

For starters you must be a geek.

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The Passing of Two Literary Giants, Tribute to Dwayne McDuffie, Signs of a Reading Slump & More!

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Written by Alex C. Telander

Harper Lee
On the passing of this bestselling and renowned author.

Umberto Eco
Italian scholar and bestselling author dies at 84.

Bad Sex
The breakdown on bad sex scenes (and they're are many) in literature.

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Image Comics Announces PREVIEWS Catalog Magazine: 'IMAGE+'

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Image Comics and Diamond Comic Distributors are pleased to announce Image+, an all-new monthly magazine which will feature Image’s upcoming releases, as well as bonus creator-owned comics content. Each issue will be distributed with Diamond’s PREVIEWS Catalog each month, with the first issue of Image+ available in May.

Each of the first twelve issues of Image+ magazine will feature an original, four-page THE WALKING DEAD story concerning Negan’s origins, and created by New York Times bestselling team Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, for a total of 48 pages of backstory.

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Take a Walk Through The MYST Flashback

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The market for graphic puzzle games has always been robust; with new versions like The Witness or the award winning Portal series challenging players for years to come.

Today, however, I’d like to write about the one that kept me up for days in the 90s – the one that, when I completed, was a huge accomplishment in my young life.

Myst.

Sure, there are a number of these games that came out before – King’s Quest, Murder on the Mississippi, Uninvited, heck, even the Leisure Suit Larry Series.

But none of these were quite as immersive as Myst.


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EMP Museum To Stage 50th Anniversary STAR TREK Exhibition

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Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds Opens May 21, 2016 in Seattle

EMP Museum announced today the opening of a new exhibition, Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds, as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic franchise. The fully immersive exhibition, under license by CBS Consumer Products, will showcase Star Trek’s significant impact on culture, society, arts, sports, technology and fashion, and feature more than 100 rare artifacts, set pieces, and props from the television series, spinoffs, and films.

Many of the elements featured are from a private collection and have never been on public display before. In addition, fans can participate in state-of-the art interactive photo and video opportunities. Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds opens at EMP on May 21, 2016.

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FOG! Chats With Author PETER CLINES!

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Interview conducted by Stefan Blitz 

Peter Clines has established himself as a master of the science fiction thriller genre, with novels including The Fold and 14 which drew a cult following of ardent readers. Characterized by expert fast-paced plotting, cinematic action scenes, and tons of geek and pop-culture references, Clines’s genre-bending Ex-Heroes series now returns with Ex-Isle, the exhilarating fifth installment.

Clines took some time out of his busy schedule to discuss the Ex-Heroes series, his thoughts on potentially adapting his work to comics and his love of research!                                                                     


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Announcing MS. MARVEL as the Winner of the Second Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics

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An energetic crowd gathered over this past weekend for the second annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, presented at the 2016 Long Beach Comic Expo. Following an inspired ceremony hosted by Khary Payton, Charlotte McDuffie announced MS. MARVEL by writer G. Willow WIlson and artist Adrian Alphona as the winner of this year’s award.

The Award is named in honor of Dwayne McDuffie, the legendary writer and producer who co-founded Milestone Media.


As a writer, Dwayne created or co-created more than a dozen comic book series, including DAMAGE CONTROL, DEATHLOK II, ICON, STATIC, XOMBI, THE ROAD TO HELL and HARDWARE. Nilah Magruder, the recipient of the first annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, spoke at this year’s ceremony.

The five finalists included:

  • ANDRE THE GIANT CLOSER TO HEAVEN by Brandon Easton (writer), Denis Medri (artist) (IDW Publishing) 
  • FRESH ROMANCE edited by Janelle Asselin (Rosy Press)
  • MOON GIRL AND THE DEVIL DINOSAUR by Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder (Writers), Natacha Bustos (Artist) (Marvel Entertainment)
  • MS. MARVEL by Willow Wilson (writer), Adrian Alphona (artist) (Marvel Entertainment)
  • ZANA by Jean Barker (writer), Joey Granger (Artist) (Emet Comics)


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THE PATH TO JUSTICE Is Marked With Rumors, Algorithms, and a Stroll Down Memory Lane

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Last week, the internet lost its mind when a report from HitFix surfaced, stating that Warner Bros. is scared Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will not fare well in theaters. Reportedly, those who attended a test screening of the film didn’t have the reaction the studio was looking for. The report went on to say that if BvS fails to meet expectations, a standalone Batman film will replace Justice League scheduled for a November 2017 release.

(As of this morning, that rumor was confirmed false, as it was announced that Justice League Part 1 would begin shooting on April 11th)

This week, computer scientists have produced an algorithm based on data compiled from 2,506 movies released between 2000 – 2010. The end result was that Batman v Superman only has a 32% chance of making a profit.

Wasn’t there a report a couple of months ago that Warner Bros executives loved the film and they especially loved Ben Affleck’s Batman? What about the other rumor regarding Lois Lane’s love affair with Detective Chimp?

Man, BvS gets more gossip than the prom queen. It’s OK, just take a deep breath and relax. Uncle Atlee is here now.

All joking aside, I totally understand where the anxiety and paranoia is coming from. The budget of Batman v Superman is reportedly $410 million, which means it’s the most expensive film ever made. From a studio perspective a “good” reaction to a film carrying that price tag is not good enough. The operative word needs to be “great” in order to achieve success.

The fan perspective is a passionate one. Green Lantern failed to usher in the DC cinematic universe and we had to wait two more years until Man of Steel hit theaters in 2013. Now, in 2016, the two most iconic superheroes of all-time are set to do battle and the studio that will present this film is putting most of their eggs in one basket.


Of course we’re worried, and it’s ok to be cautiously optimistic, even flat out scared, that this movie will absolutely suck. The characters of DC Comics are black and white, but the shades-of-gray world they reside in makes their choices intriguing. There is no clear cut right or wrong answer as to who’s had the better superhero ideology. Hopefully, Warner Bros can make that appeal across the board with audiences.

On a side note, the one rumor that seems to remain the same is how bright Ben Affleck’s Batman shines on screen!


Hopefully, this is true, because if so, regardless of the overall film, a new Batman franchise will be born.


Knight vs. Day: Battles of the Past


Injustice: Gods Among Us 
Writer: Tom Taylor 
Art: Jheremy Raapack 
Colorist: Andrew Elder
Publisher: DC Comics

Perhaps the most bitter conflict between Batman and Superman occurs in Tom Taylor’s critically acclaimed digital series, Injustice: Gods Among Us. Normally, promotional comics outside of the regular continuity have a sense of hollow storytelling because you know that none of it really matters in the overall scheme of things.

Tom Taylor takes the gloves off with an emotionally charged narrative that carries and conveys the enormity of every decision our heroes make. The story revolves around Superman’s turn from truth and justice when, through tragedy, The Joker enlightens the Man of Steel on just how cruel this world can truly be.


Superman obtains complete control of the planet and his tyrannical reign seems absolute as the remaining forces of good, led by Batman, plot from the shadows to overthrow the once-christened, Earth’s greatest hero. Batman tried to be the voice of reason, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

The BvS trailers highlight Batman’s concerns over Superman’s amazing power being unchecked. Here, Superman goes past the point of no return, and even holds Batman accountable for refusing to kill bad guys in pursuit of rehabilitation. Superman snaps Batman’s back, á la Bane, forcing The Dark Knight to lead his team from the shadows if there is any chance to make the world right again.


Tom Taylor pulls no punches, and the art and coloring of Jheremy Raapack and Andrew Elder visually display a great story that shows what the world would look like if Ben Affleck’s fears about Superman come true.


New Ken Burns Documentary, JACKIE ROBINSON Arrives on DVD & Blu-ray in April From PBS Distribution

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JACKIE ROBINSON CHRONICLES THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE HERO THAT BROKE BASEBALL’S COLOR BARRIER AND LIFELONG FIGHT FOR EQUALITY ON AND OFF THE FIELD

President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Harry Belafonte,
Tom Brokaw, Carly Simon, Among Others Reflect on Robinson’s Legacy


Release Timed to Coincide with Jackie Robinson Day on April 15

JACKIE ROBINSON airs on PBS April 11th and 12th. Check local listings

Available on DVD and Blu-ray April 12th

PBS Distribution has announced that it is releasing KEN BURNS’S: “JACKIE ROBINSON” on DVD and Blu-ray April 12, 2016, coinciding with its PBS airing. This new four hour documentary, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, tells the story of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, who rose from humble origins to break baseball’s color barrier. Robinson waged a fierce lifelong battle for first-class citizenship for all African Americans that transcends even his remarkable athletic achievements.

The run time of the program is approximately 240 minutes on 2 discs.  The SRP for the DVD is $24.99 and $29.99 for Blu-ray. The program will also be available for digital download.

“Jackie Robinson is the most important figure in our nation’s most important game,” said Ken Burns. “He gave us our first lasting progress in civil rights since the Civil War and, ever since I finished my BASEBALL series in 1994, I’ve been eager to make a stand-alone film about the life of this courageous American. There was so much more to say not only about Robinson’s barrier-breaking moment in 1947, but about how his upbringing shaped his intolerance for any form of discrimination and how after his baseball career, he spoke out tirelessly against racial injustice, even after his star had begun to dim.


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TITAN Announces SHERLOCK Manga, WARHAMMER 40,000 Comics & New Partnership With HAMMER

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This past week at the 10th Annual ComicsPRO Membership Meeting in Portland, OR, Titan Comics announced several of their upcoming releases including the first English release of the manga based upon the popular Sherlock television series, the licensing of the Warhammer 40,000 property and a new partnership with Hammer Films.

Titan Comics offers astounding creator-owned comics and graphic novels from new and world-renowned talent, alongside the world's greatest licensed properties and classic graphic novels remastered for brand-new audiences.  Among their licensed properties are Doctor Who, The Blacklist, Assassin's Creed, Heroes, Kung Fu Panda and the upcoming Penny Dreadful.

After the jump, check out the details of their recent announcements.


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Diamond Select Toys In Stores This Week: X-Files, Gotham and Batman Figures

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With Toy Fair in the rear view mirror, it's time to focus on the new toys that have been arriving at comic shops and specialty stores across America!

Not only have the first-ever Vinimates vinyl figures based on The X-Files hit stores, but the second series of Gotham Select action figures is out, plus the next vinyl bank based on Batman: The Animated Series!

Read on for details, then find your nearest comic shop at comicshoplocator.com!


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FOG! Takes a Look at The DOKI DOKI Subscription Box From JAPANCRATE

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I'm likely not the ideal customer for Japan Crate's newest subscription box, Doki Doki, but it didn't  skimp on charm.

Doki Doki Crate is a monthly supply of everything Kawaii (Japanese for "cute"). Inside you'll find 8-10 items ranging from adorable plushies & squishies to collectible keychains, figures, apparel, miniatures, cooking utensils and more. 

"Doki Doki" refers to the sound of an excited heartbeat, which if I were a bigger fan of Kawaii culture, there's no doubt that this is among the best subscription boxes I've seen.

In this particular bix, there were some really charming items.

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DC ENTERTAINMENT Reveals March Polybag Variants From Charlie Adlard and Chris Daughtry/Jim Lee

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As reported earlier, DC Entertainment announced that their ongoing monthly themed variant cover program for March would showcase variants for ten of DC Comics’ most popular Batman and Superman titles. The variants are to be polybagged with a Batman v Superman theme, concealing stunning cover artwork by the comic industry’s most talented artists!

March’s Batman v Superman polybagged comics will follow a format similar to December’s Harley’s Little Black Book variant program, where three different versions of each variant were printed in equal quantity. All ten upcoming Batman v Superman comics will also have three versions, but this time they’ll be published in full color, fade and character spotlight.

Two more of these top-secret images are now ready—Chris Daughtry and Jim Lee's variant covers for Batman #50 and Charlie Adlard's variant covers for Superman/Wonder Woman #27! Check them out in the gallery after the jump!




For the full list of comic books that will feature these fun and collectible covers, please see below:

  • 3/2: Detective Comics #50 (variant by Rafael Grampa)
  • 3/9: Action Comics #50 (variant by Martin Ansin)
  • 3/9: Batman/Superman #30 (variant by Kevin Maguire)
  • 3/16: Robin Son of Batman #10 (variant by Ryan Ottley)
  • 3/16: Superman #50 (variant by Kaare Andrews)
  • 3/23: Batman #50 (variant by Chris Daughtry and Jim Lee)
  • 3/23: Grayson #18 (variant by Stephen Platt)
  • 3/23: Superman/Wonder Woman #27 (variant by Charlie Adlard)
  • 3/23: Wonder Woman #50 (variant by Massimo Carnevale) 
  • 3/30: Batgirl #50 (variant by Kevin Nowlan) 

JOHN HODGMAN, BAMBI KINO, JEANNE DARST, JOSH GONDELMAN & TAMMY FAYE STARLIGHT Confirmed for All-Star Gun Sense Benefit Show

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Doors Open at 7pmWednesday May 11 at Highline Ballroom in New York City;
Proceeds to The Brady Center To Prevent Gun Violence & Million Mom March
Tickets On-Sale This Friday at Noon EST

Comedians John Hodgman (http://www.johnhodgman.com), Jeanne Darst (www.jeannedarst.com) and Josh Gondelman (http://www.joshgondelman.com) along with musicians Bambi Kino (http://www.bambi-kino.com) and Tammy Faye Starlight are the first performers confirmed to appear at the second Fun Lovers Unite! An Evening of Music, Comedy, And Gun Sense NYC event at Highline Ballroom in New York City on Wednesday May 11. Doors open at 7PM EST.

More fantastic performers will be announced soon and a special musical guest will be announced closer to the date of the show.

Tickets can be purchased HERE starting Friday at noon EST 

Fun Lovers Unite! An Evening of Music, Comedy, And Gunsense NYC will benefit Manhattan Chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (www.bradycampaign.org) who develop and implement extensive public health and safety programs and utilize the courts to reduce gun violence.

Each performer on the bill is donating their time to this life-saving cause and is proud to stand with other fellow comedians and musicians in solidarity to raise awareness for common sense gun violence prevention efforts and the elected officials who stand up for the safety of our communities.

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STOMPING GROUND (review)

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Review by Dean Galanis
Produced by Brad Lavery, Mike De Trana, Dan Riesser
Written by Dan Riesser & Andrew Genser
Directed by Dan Riesser
Starring John Bobek, Tarah DeSpain, Jeramy Blackford,
Justin Giddings, Theresa Tilly, Michael Lee Kimel


Director/co-writer Dan Riesser’s fun Bigfoot flick is surprisingly enjoyable, especially considering the big guy doesn’t make an appearance until the film is nearly over!

Billed (not inaccurately) as a horror/comedy, Stomping Ground follows a young couple, Ben and Annie, to Annie’s hometown in the rural South for Thanksgiving with her mom.

Ben, born and raised in Chicago, already feels out of place in this setting. His insecurity is greatly exacerbated by the entrance of Annie’s old friend, Paul, who obviously stills holds a torch for Annie and never misses an opportunity to dig at Ben the city slicker or to tell stories of Annie’s wilder days, of which Ben had no knowledge.

It’s also revealed that Annie and Paul (with friend Jed) would go on excursions in the nearby woods to search for Bigfoot. Ben is incredulous that his girlfriend actually believes in the beast, but reluctantly agrees to go with the three into the woods for old times’ sake the next (badly hungover) morning.

Most of the running time is spent with the four hiking in the woods, finding apparent clues (footprints, etc), talking with supposed witnesses, and camping out. It quickly becomes badly clear to Ben that Paul plans to steal Annie from Ben, playing up the idea that she and Ben have nothing in common and that she belongs in her hometown, not some damned metropolis up North.

Meanwhile, it would seem that there is something out there, whether it’s actually Bigfoot or not is unclear…

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