Created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler, this MAX action drama charts the final twists and turns that follow Lucas Hood, an ex-convict who assumed the identity of sheriff in the Amish-area town Banshee, where his former lover and partner-in-crime was living under her own alias, Carrie Hopewell. The final season takes place two years after Lucas gave up his badge after a bloody, multimillion-dollar heist at the Camp Genoa Marine Base which proved costly: Carrie’s husband Gordon was killed, and Lucas’s longtime computer-hacker partner, Job, was abducted by a shady criminal ring. After settling a score with a “recruiter” from Lucas’s past whom he hoped would have intel on Job, Lucas went on a bender before being rescued by an unlikely savior, Proctor’s niece.  Emerging from a self-imposed exile, Lucas returns to Banshee to find it a changed town. Brock Lotus is now sheriff, Kai Proctor is the mayor, and the old “Cadi” police station has been replaced by a state-of the-art facility. A new deputy with ties to Proctor, Nina Cruz, has joined Brock’s team, along with Kurt Bunker, the skinhead-turned-deputy who continues to make amends for his dark past while fighting the racist overtures of the group led by his younger brother Calvin. After reuniting with Carrie, their daughter Deva, and ex-boxer Sugar Bates, Lucas becomes immersed in a new Banshee crisis: rooting out a vicious serial murderer whose latest victim is someone near and dear to his heart.

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “BANSHEE 4” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

How many episodes are in season 8?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on October 16th, 2016.

Thanks to FOG! for giving me the chance to share some of the behind the scenes on the production of the music video for John Carpenter’s Utopian Facade.

My partner and fellow director-producer Ben Verhulst and I had the great pleasure of creating the Night video for John Carpenter’s first album, Lost Themes.  When the opportunity came to do a video for Lost Themes II, we jumped at the chance.

We also knew we didn’t want to traipse over the same ground.  We had always intended should we get the chance, to make a video that was connected to the first one.  But lightly.  It needed to stand on its own, but the hardcore Carpenter fans would understand it was an interconnected universe.

And with the song bringing such distinct visions, we were led down the path of the Android in the woods at night.

So we brought together a fantastically creative team and performers who really brought this thing to life.  It was two very late nights in the woods, but it was worth it.  It’s hard work getting a production with FX completed but it is fun hard work.  I’ll let the BTS photos do the talking.

Big, big thank you to everyone who came together to make the video happen. Ben Verhulst, Cig Neutron, Rannie Rodil, Chris Marchwinski, Ian Von Cromer, John Wrightson, Jennifer Garnet Filo, Kimber Parrish, Guity Rafik and George Frangadakis, Stuart Morales, Kyle Van Vonderen, Brett Gustafson, Joe Mac, Katie Townley, Glenn Blakeslee, Scary Mary Rangel, Erika Angel and many others who were not on the production team.

The ground has been shaking over at Wizards of the Coast lately, and why not?

The giants are coming!

This month, Wizards of the Coast released their latest D&D campaign sourcebook, Storm King’s Thunder, and it’s been the talk of every tavern from Waterdeep to The Shining Lands. After the Weird of the Underdark campaign and the gothic horror of Curse of Strahd, it’s good to see D&D get back to a more classic flavored adventure with a straight up storyline featuring giants of all stripes and some dragons.

Some readers may be old enough to remember the giant adventure models of the late 70s (Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl, and Hall of the Fire Giant King) and its Drow and Demonweb sequels. Storm King’s Thunder is not a retelling or sequel to these adventures, but an all new story in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.

After years of a semblance of order in the giantish communities, things have suddenly run amok. Hill giants are raiding farms and villages, fire giants are driving “small folk” into the desert, frost giants are pillaging the coasts. What is going on?

The strict pecking order of giants have kept order has been dissolved and now it’s every giant clan for themselves, and it’s wreaking havoc in the rest of the world.

If the small folk are to survive, they must investigate, explore, and fight to restore order… and perhaps discover a mysterious force behind these goings on.

That’s a pretty hefty adventure hook.

Technically, this is an adventure for player characters from levels one to ten, but in reality it’s more for starting at fifth level. The first chapter of the book contains a number of missions and tasks players can fulfill to move them up to fifth level before the real meat of the adventure starts. This isn’t some bait and switch move, though. Doing it this way means you can have players who just finished a more low-level adventure module such as Lost Mine of Phandelver to jump right into the Storm King’s Thunder storyline.

Because Storm King’s Thunder offers a system of award leveling via milestones rather than pure experience point counting, it makes for a more streamlined advancement.

(Reviewer’s unsolicited opinion: I’m not sure how I feel about this whole “milestone” business, although I must say that grinding wandering monsters in a musty dungeon for XP can be a little exhausting when working at higher levels. Personally, I would try to adopt a mixture of the two which, fortunately, would not be difficult to do with Storm King’s Thunder).

The book itself runs 256 pages with many glorious full color maps and illustrations including at least three double page spreads. Gorgeous work as always from WotC. With the introductory missions for levels 1-5, there are a total of twelve chapters, plus four appendices.

One very neat feature is a flowchart for the adventure which is of immeasurable help to a DM trying to keep track of the story.

Wizards of the Coast has made some of the material available for free at the Dungeon Masters Guild website. Check here for one of the starting missions, and note the list of other materials available from that site. This mission is also available in the Fantasy Grounds virtual tabletop format.

The official price is $49.95 which seems steep, but can be had for significantly less from Amazon. As always, I urge you to support your local gaming store. It may cost a bit more there, but your local game store gives back to its customers more in community and game space.

As for the story, it’s a fully fleshed out story with many opportunities for players. Expect to do battle with every stripe of true giant, explore castles, storm-lashed coasts, frost-covered mountains, and more. There are over a dozen new magic items to discover, and at least one true artifact.

And, not to give away too much, players will not only interact with giants, but may become giants as part of the adventure.

It’s a meaty campaign.

So, any criticisms?

A few, maybe.

For one, it’s another Forgotten Realms setting. Maybe I resent this because I’m an old Greyhawk hand, but it would be nice if Wizards of the Coast remembered there were other campaign settings with broad fan bases. I’ve heard more than one person wistfully wish for some more Dragonlance settings.

Another criticism comes down to this trend of publishing pricey campaign sourcebooks rather than more affordable, albeit shorter and less glamorous, module booklets. For a lot of us, $50 is a lot to plop down all at once for any kind of game (and not all reviewers get free advance copies, *cough, cough*).

That said, in thinking back to the days when I bought the individual modules for the Giants, Drow, and Demonweb series, they all added up to around $50–which was worth a lot more in 1980. And those pamphlet-like modules didn’t have as beautiful artwork as the hardcover books being produced today.

Take note–a lot of these sourcebooks eventually become officially available in PDF format at a cheaper price.

The material is dense. There is a lot of ground to cover–which may seem daunting to some DMs, but Wizards of the Coast tries to make things as organized as possible in an effort to keep DMs from getting lost. It helps that the campaign is a bit linear in its construction (with some side trips available). This keeps the unpredictability of an open sandbox campaign from driving the DM nuts.

Oh, hey, speaking of driving DMs nuts… you know what is also nice about this campaign? No new player prestige classes, spells, or abilities. Sure, they’ve included some rune magic, but other than that there will be none of that creeping feature-itis that has plagued past editions of D&D. Old school sensibilities are nice to see.

If you’re a virtual tabletop player, there is an excellent edition of Storm King’s Thunder available for the Roll20 system. It looks like they pulled out all the stops with meticulously rendered maps, dynamic lighting, medallions and more. All of the NPCs and monsters are at your fingertips, as well as the entire text of the book, and all of the artwork. Like the hardcover version, it’s a $49.95 price, but it seems worth it given all the work that went into it.

Finally, if you’re not a campaign player or campaign DM, it’s still a good book to have on your shelf eventually. There are loads of unique traps and NPCs you can lift and use in your own adventures, and a wide variety of scenarios you can tailor to your individual needs.

It’s a recommended buy. As someone who has been disappointed in the past by some of D&D’s campaign offerings, I heartily approve of this one and think you’ll be in for a pleasant and hugely epic experience.
Cheers!

Unrelated additional news: Three weeks ago my wife gave birth to our son John “Jack” Eric Reilly Teehan. He’s a big boy, and smart. He shows a lot of promise. I’ve started a “dad blog” at DearJackrabbit.com. Please drop by and take a look when you can. You don’t have to tell me how awesome our child is, but I wouldn’t blame you if you couldn’t help yourself.

He is pretty awesome

As the doors are set to open to this year’s New York Comic-Con, Dynamite Entertainment proudly announces another superstar writer contributing to the impressive legacy of the company’s line of titles based around Edgar Rice Burroughs’ library of characters. Brian Wood (DMZ, The Massive, Briggs Land) will lend his storytelling skill alongside Alex Cox to the Warlord of Mars himself, John Carter.

Brian Wood is one of the most respected writers in modern comics, whose work is widely applauded for its political undertones and dystopian world-building, with multiple Eisner nominations and New York Times Bestselling series. His most recent original series, Briggs Land, is already one of 2016’s most talked-about launches, and is currently in development for television with AMC.

Alex Cox is a comic book industry staple making his writing debut, having lent artistic talents to various projects over the years and serving as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Deputy Director.

“Taking on a classic literary icon like John Carter is no small thing, and working with Alex Cox to find a direction that both honors the past and looks into the future has been a great challenge, one that we both are enjoying immensely,” says Brian Wood.

“The John Carter series is one of the all-time great Sci-fi/fantasy epics, and having the opportunity to play in that sandbox is just awesome. Brian’s concept is unlike any John Carter story to date, but with a lot of reverence for the world that Burroughs built.” states co-writer Alex Cox. “Beyond that, we’re drawing on everything from Jodorowsky to Jesse Marsh to John Wayne to make this story as cool as possible. I think people are going to love it- old school superfans, and also people who have no idea what a Rykor is.”

“We have wanted to bring Brian Wood to Dynamite for quite some time now, and he’s even written our very own Vampirella before she found her home here,” says Dynamite CEO and publisher, Nick Barrucci. “We had been waiting to find the perfect book for him to take on, and when we all landed on John Carter, we knew it was going to be well worth the wait!  Brian’s bringing on Alex (Cox) to co-write has helped make the story grander still.  Fan are going to love this series!”

“We’re taking John Carter to strange new places, which is no easy feat considering the man teleports himself to Mars to live a swashbuckler’s life, but Brian Wood has amazing things planned for Carter, Dejah, and the rest as we venture far into Carter’s future for a tale unlike any other,” says Joseph Rybandt, Editorial Director for Dynamite Entertainment.

Look for further details on art team and release date for this upcoming series in the coming months, and visit dynamite.com for an extensive collection of previous John Carter stories.

Dark Horse Comics and Portland, Oregon’s Stoller Family Estates Winery have collaborated to create the 2011 Hellboy Reserve Pinot Noir, which will be available on Halloween and is available for pre-order now.

“I can’t imagine a more fitting drink to both celebrate Mike Mignola‘s creative legacy and honor his most famous creation,” said Mike Richardson, President of Dark Horse Comics. “And it’s only fitting that the first time that fans can raise a glass of Hellboy Reserve Pinot Noir will be on Halloween.”

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Dark Horse Comics on the special Hellboy wine,“ said Gary Mortensen, President of Stoller Family Estate. “It’s quite an honor to share our wine with such a passionate fan base and to be associated with the amazingly iconic character Hellboy.”

The 2011 Hellboy Reserve Pinot Noir is a limited edition and will only be available domestically in the United States.

This November, superstar creators Jason Aaron and Olivier Coipel bring the thunder and the lightning to Marvel NOW!. Marvel is pleased to present your first look inside THE UNWORTHY THOR #1 – the first issue in the highly anticipated new series!

Once, he wielded the mighty hammer Mjolnir, but has since been deemed unworthy. Now, his desperate quest for redemption will take him to the far reaches of space, where whispers tell of a mysterious other Mjolnir – another weapon of unimaginable power. Perhaps this relic of a dead universe holds the key to the Odinson’s return to glory. Yet he is not the only one who would seek such a prize. Some of the greatest villains in the Marvel Universe are anxious to get their hands on it as well.

Can the Odinson regain his honor or will the power of the thunder be wielded for evil? The explosive quest for the hammer begins here when THE UNWORTY THOR #1 crashes into comic shops on November 2^nd!

THE UNWORTHY THOR #1 (SEP160900)
Written by JASON AARON
Art & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Variant Covers by BRYAN HITCH (SEP160901) & JOHN CASSADAY (SEP160902)
Hip-Hop Variant by STONEHOUSE (SEP160903)
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (SEP160904)
Divided We Stand Variant by PASQUAL FERRY (SEP160905)
Blank Variant Also Available (SEP160906)
FOC – 10/10/16, On-Sale – 11/02/16

To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook. 

In this unbelievably tense supernatural thriller, a foreigner’s mysterious appearance in a quiet, rural village causes suspicion among the locals – suspicion which quickly turns to hysteria as the townspeople begin killing each other in brutal outbursts for seemingly no reason.  As the investigating officer watches his daughter fall under the same savage spell, he agrees to consult a shaman for answers – unknowingly escalating the situation into something far more dangerous.

Over six years in the making, director Na Hong-jin’s meticulously crafted follow-up to the globally acclaimed THE YELLOW SEA and THE CHASER (his third to premiere at the Festival de Cannes) smashed box office records upon its debut in South Korea, where fans are already making return viewings to catch new clues and debate what’s sure to be the most talked-about ending of 2016.

And we’re giving away three copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “THE WAILING” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

What is the original Korean title for The Wailing?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on October 16th, 2016.

Sony / Released 9/27/16

Raised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky (Julian Dennison) gets a fresh new start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the Loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec (Sam Neill) and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options: go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family.  Extras include commentary, featurette and blooper reel.

Last Word: A departure from the comedy of his work on Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows, the sophomore feature from writer/director Taika Waititi crosses The Fugitive with the New Zealand bush.

Camping across over five months, Uncle Hec (Sam Neill) and young Ricky (Julian Dennison) are on the run to escape the clutches of Juvenile hall.

The wry humor of Waititi’s previous work shines through, this is a very funny movie and the touching story of bad kid Ricky being accepted into a farming family to turn himself around without losing identity.

Rima Te Wiata stars as Ricky’s adoptive aunt, Bella, that can both heat a water bottle for Ricky’s bedtime cuddling and joyfully slaughter a wild pig for dinner without caring much about the gangsta rap 10 year old’s reaction.

This is a movie about outsiders and acceptance.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is also about loss and acceptance. Ricky was born to a teenage mother who left him for adoption. It is only after getting in so much trouble have the New Zealand authorities left him to his most recent foster parents Hec and Bella.

It’s rough going at first as Sam Neill’s Hec and Ricky agree to leave each other alone. Bella deals with Ricky’s haikus and gangsta rap and Ricky’s penchant for escaping in the night (only to return in the morning for breakfast).

When left to fend for themselves, eventually Ricky gets lost in the bush only to be trained on how to hunt with his reluctant Uncle Hec.

The film is warm and funny, with the absurdity of Fargo, Raising Arizona and other Coen Brothers masterpieces. The chase from the authorities deep into the bush pits the pair against dome dumb criminals, medical emergencies and fierce beasts.

Five months is a long time for the team to be on the lam, so Ricky becomes Internet famous from the attention, with the media portraying Hec as some sort of “PERVERT!” molesting the boy. (Not true, just dis-information).

Cameos from the director and Rhys Darby fill out some of the funniest parts of dialogue in the film, Rhys playing a true Bush-Man (he dresses and scurries like a bush) named Psycho Sam! A self-named moniker, as he has been isolated in the bush for over 15 years. Waititi plays the small town minister, struggling too associate death with snacks and confections in a touching sermon.

The reluctant adoptive father and son relationship is so fun to watch develop as each of the characters grows on each other.

Fans of The Goonies might also enjoy this comedy adventure story with heart.

Taika Waititi is a rising star with two great features under his belt and is poised to become very much in demand with the upcoming Marvel Studios threequel, Thor: Ragnarok, and the What We Do in the Shadows sequel, the cleverly titled We’re Wolves.

Barbarella, the sexy science fiction heroine created by Jean Claude Forest in 1962, will return in all new comics and more in 2017 from Dynamite Entertainment in conjunction with her 55th anniversary!

The character was introduced at the heart of the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, and is forever ingrained in pop culture after Jane Fonda’s unforgettable portrayal in the 1968 film. She was a key figure in the fertile battleground of French comic books and the struggle for sexual freedom in the medium, and has not appeared in a new series since her last appearance in the legendary science fiction publication, Heavy Metal.

The new comics will be supervised by Jean-Marc Lofficier, who worked in the mid-90s with Jean-Claude Forest, the character’s creator, on a sequel project.

“This is the first step in a multimedia approach designed to herald the return of Barbarella,” says Jean-Claude’s son, Julien Forest. “We are particularly happy and proud to take that step together with Dynamite, which has showed great respect for so many other classic characters.”

“Barbarella will be right at home here at Dynamite alongside such heroines as Vampirella, Red Sonja, and Dejah Thoris,” says Dynamite CEO and publisher, Nick Barrucci. “This is a day I have looked forward to since we started publishing! Jean Claude Forest’s creation has influenced pop culture from comics to music, and is long overdue for new adventures!”

“I’ve always been a fan of stories that have a real message hidden within an engaging and entertaining package. Barbarella’s message was about the freedom of self-expression, and while it sadly was missed by the majority of readers at the time, enough people figured it out for the character to endure,” says editor Matt Idelson. “Getting the chance to participate in creating new stories for an all-time (and all-time underappreciated) classic like Barbarella is beyond a dream come true!”

Look for updates on Dynamite’s upcoming Barbarella publishing program in the coming months, with a new series launch planned for 2017.

Their ranks shattered by war, their spirits weighed down by tolls both personal and spiritual, what’s left of the Avengers must find the resolve to stand together once more. Today, Marvel is pleased to present a new beginning for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and your first look inside the highly-anticipated AVENGERS #1! Eisner Award-winning writer Mark Waid joins rising comics superstar Mike Del Mundo to bring Marvel’s mightiest into Marvel NOW! and face-to-face with their greatest villain! Now, Captain America, Thor, The Vision, The Wasp, Hercules and the Amazing Spider-Man leap into the time stream to confront Kang the Conqueror! But when the dust settles, not a one of these valiant heroes will make it to the final page alive. Welcome to…KANG WAR ONE! It all kicks off on November 2^nd when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes charge forward into Marvel NOW! in AVENGERS #1 – coming to comic shops and digital devices everywhere!

AVENGERS #1 (SEP160885)
Written by MARK WAID
Art by MIKE DEL MUNDO
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Covers by ADAM KUBERT (SEP160886);LORENZO PASTROVICCHIO (SEP160887)
Hip-Hop Variant by DANIEL ACUNA (SEP160889)
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (SEP160890)
Divided We Stand Variant by BUTCH GUICE (SEP160891)
Captain America 75^th Anniversary Variant by ALEX MALEEV (SEP160888)
Blank Variant Also Available (SEP160892)
FOC – 10/10/16, On-Sale – 11/02/16

To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook. 

Comics luminary Bill Willingham (Fables, Legenderry) dips his toes and his pen into the rich world of Edgar Rice Burroughs with news of an all-new limited series featuring Tarzan, Korak, James Carter, Dejah Thoris, and more: The Greatest Adventure! Previous Warlord of Mars artist Cezar Rezak joins Willingham on the planet-hopping series grand enough to have come from the mind of Burroughs himself!

A crash landing reveals a secret plot by a mysterious cabal of scientists to weaponize Jason Gridley’s famous wave, turning it into a disintegration ray that can bypass distance, on a galactic scale, to destroy a single person, or even an entire world at a time. Gridley seeks the help of Tarzan and Jane to stop these villainous adventurers from finding the final piece needed to fulfill their devious end. When Tarzan puts the word out to assemble a crew to man Jason Gridley’s Martian Flying Ship, the galaxy’s greatest fighters and adventurers come together to stop this evil plan.

“Here we are with my chance, at long last, to play in the very fields that Burroughs created, and to marry my two loves of comic book and prose fiction in doing it,” says Bill Willingham. “One comic series couldn’t possibly contain everything I’ve loved and discovered in his books. The Greatest Adventurecontains everything I love that I could fit into a single series, including his most popular characters, as well as many obscure ones, which are nevertheless beloved to me.”

“Bill Willingham is a master of weaving together characters to tell a masterful story, pulling together multiple worlds and timelines,” says Dynamite CEO and publisher, Nick Barrucci. “To have him tackle John Carter and the other characters of literary master Edgar Rice Burroughs with the help of Cezar Rezak is truly a matchup that every comics fan should be as excited to read as I am! This truly may be the ‘Greatest Adventure’ yet!”

Bill Willingham is the American writer whose career can be traced back to the 1980’s breakout series Elementals, and has since included notable work for DC’s Vertigo imprint, including a 13-year run on the critically acclaimed Fables, bringing together notable characters from fairytales and folklore. Willingham’s previous work for Dynamite includes the steampunk crossover, Legenderry, featuring some of the company’s most well-known characters.

Cezar Rezak has drawn multiple series for Dynamite, including Battlestar Galactica, Warlord of Mars, and Dejah Thoris.

The Greatest Adventure will premier in 2017, with further details to be announced in the coming months.

Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges (Best Actor, Crazy Heart, 2009), Chris Pine (Star Trek), and Ben Foster (Lone Survivor) star in the acclaimed action thriller Hell or High Water arriving on Digital HD November 8 and Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD (plus Digital) and On Demand November 22 from Lionsgate and CBS Films. From the writer of Sicario, Hell or High Water is a modern western about two brothers who turn to crime in order to save their family farm from the clutches of the bank. Hailed as one of the year’s best films since it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, the film has since gone on to garner a stellar 98% “Certified Fresh” critics’ score, and equally impressive 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

When a desperate father (Pine) learns that the bank is going to take his family’s land, he and his ex-con brother (Foster) are left with no choice. They decide to rob the bank’s branches, putting themselves in the crosshairs of an aging Texas Ranger (Bridges) in a riveting story of crime, punishment, and brotherly love.

The Hell or High Water home entertainment release’s special features include three all-new featurettes including “Enemies Forever” which provides an intimate look at the characters of the film; “Visualizing the Heart of America” which tells the story of the film’s setting and how filmmakers utilized real locations to bring the story to life; and “Damaged Heroes” an exploration of the outstanding cast performances. The home entertainment release also includes a Filmmaker Q&A, and exclusive footage from the Hell or High Water premiere. Hell or High Water will be available on Blu-ray and DVD for the suggested retail price of $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.

BLU-RAY/DVD/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

• “Enemies Forever: The Characters of Hell or High Water” Featurette
• “Visualizing the Heart of America” Featurette
• “Damaged Heroes: The Performances of Hell or High Water” Featurette
• Red Carpet Premiere
• Filmmaker Q&A

For more details visit facebook.com/hellorhighwater

Dynamite Entertainment announces that writer-artist Francesco Francavilla (Black Beetle) will tackle Will Eisner’s legendary masked crimefighter this January in the all-new comic book series, The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers!

Following Matt Wagner’s initial twelve-issue run (released as a collection, entitled Will Eisner’s The Spirit Returns, this month), Francesco Francavilla takes the reins for an all-new series early next year! Francavilla, known primarily for his incredible covers and interior artwork, will handle writing and artistic duties on a new series which is sure to please lovers of crime comics, pulp fiction, and — of course — longtime fans of Eisner’s most well-known creation!

A series of unexpected disappearances and deaths hit Central City. Initially these cases seem purely unrelated: no apparent connection between the victims makes it easy for the police to just file them as runaways or natural deaths. But when someone close to Ebony White disappears, The Spirit is on the case!

“I couldn’t be more honored and humbled to have been asked to do a story with one of the icons of the comic universe,” says Francesco Francavilla. “I’m not going to lie — tackling one of Maestro Will Eisner’s most famous creations and following in the steps of my dearest friends Darwyn Cooke and Matt Wagner is not gonna be an easy task, but I’ll make sure my love for the character, for those legendary creators, and for the medium will show. And I hope readers will be along with me on this new ride. Thanks again to the Eisner Estate and Dynamite Comics for inviting me to Central City; I think I’m gonna like living here for a bit!”

“We have been very fortunate to have Francesco lend his talent to such stunning cover art on multiple titles over the years,” says Dynamite CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci. “He is a true master of the pulp style in every sense, and to have him tackle The Spirit? That is something every comic book fan will want to see!”

“Francesco Francavilla is part of Dynamite’s very DNA,” says Joseph Rybandt, Executive Editor. “From his first interior work with us back on Zorro, to the multitude of covers he’s done for us over the years – each better than the last – he is one of our go-to artists and he always makes time for us in his increasingly busy schedule. To have him not only write, but draw (and do covers!) The Spirit for five issues? A glorious proposition!”

The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2016 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of The Spirit with their local comic book retailers. The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

My Many Sons follows the true story of legendary basketball coach, Don Meyer (Judge Reinhold), who, despite becoming wheelchair-bound after a nearly fatal car wreck, passed Bobby Knight to become the most winning basketball coach in NCAA history. Produced by Brad Wilson (A Family Thing, Becoming Jesse Tate, Set Apart) and Casey Bond and directed by Ralph E. Portillo (The Last Great Ride, Big Brother Trouble), this inspirational motion picture is a story of character, relationships, and turning young boys into men.

And we’re giving away three copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “MY MANY SONS” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

Judge Reinhold played the brother of Jennifer Jason Leigh in this 1982 cult film?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on October 23rd, 2016.

Bring the Squad home when “Suicide Squad” arrives onto Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD. From director David Ayer (“Fury,” “End of Watch”) comes “Suicide Squad,” starring Oscar nominee Will Smith (Best Actor, 2002, “Ali,” Best Actor, 2007 “The Pursuit of Happyness,”), Oscar  winner Jared Leto (Best Supporting Actor, “Dallas Buyers Club,” 2013), Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Focus”), Joel Kinnaman (Netflix’s “House of Cards”) and Oscar nominee Viola Davis (“The Help,” “Doubt”).

It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

Written and directed by Ayer based on the characters from DC, the film also stars Jai Courtney (“Insurgent”), Jay Hernandez (“Takers”), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (“Thor: The Dark World”), Ike Barinholtz (“Neighbors”), Scott Eastwood (“Fury”), Cara Delevingne (“Paper Towns”), Adam Beach (“Cowboys & Aliens”), and Karen Fukuhara in her feature film debut. It is produced by Charles Roven and Richard Suckle, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

“Suicide Squad: Extended Cut” features more action and more Squad with 13 more minutes of footage not previously seen in theaters. The Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack will include the extended version of the film on the Blu-ray disc. The extended version will also be available to own on Digital HD.

“Suicide Squad” will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray for $44.95, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack for $44.95, Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and 2-disc DVD Special Edition for $28.98. The Ultra HD Blu-ray features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the theatrical version in 4K with HDR and a Blu-ray disc with the extended version. The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack features the theatrical version of the film in 3D hi-definition and hi-definition, as well as the extended version in hi-definition; the Blu-ray Combo Pack features the extended version and theatrical version of the film in hi-definition on Blu-ray; and the DVD features the theatrical version in standard definition. All Blu-ray products include a digital version of both the extended and theatrical versions of the movie in Digital HD with UltraViolet.* Fans can also own “Suicide Squad” via purchase from digital retailers.

The Blu-ray discs of “Suicide Squad” will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar; however, Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.
 

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS
On November 15, “Suicide Squad” will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. On December 13, “Suicide Squad” will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

ABOUT DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET
*Digital HD with UltraViolet allows fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital HD with UltraViolet is included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. Digital HD with UltraViolet allows consumers to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through UltraViolet retail services like CinemaNow, Flixster, Vudu and more. For more information on compatible devices go to wb.com/ultravioletdevices. Consult an UltraViolet Retailer for details and requirements and for a list of HD-compatible devices.

I’ve often said that nostalgia can be a bitch, but in less than two minutes, director Gervais Merryweather and musician Mitch Murder have recreated the quintessential 80’s mall experience in their short, Mall 84.

Watch it and bask in it’s glory.

Produced by Carter Logan,
Fernando Sulichin, Rob Wilson
Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch
Starring Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton,
James Williamson, Steve Mackay, Mike Watt,
Kathy Ashton, Danny Fields, Steve Mackay
Directed by Jim Jarmusch

Featuring Jim Osterberg, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, James Williamson, Steve Mackay, Mike Watt, Kathy Asheton, and Danny Fields

Premiering this past weekend at the 54th New York Film Festival, Gimmie Danger is Jim Jarmusch’s documentary love letter to the infamous rock band The Stooges. The director couldn’t be more perfectly matched to pull this definitive account off.

It’s as off-beat and infinitely entertaining as his fictional films, and his first since what I consider his best, Only Lovers Left Alive.

From their ambitious Michigan beginnings to their ironic Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction, Jarmusch passionately details the legendary band, starting with a mic check of the always charming Iggy Pop from the laundry room of his home.

I grew up learning about Iggy and the Stooges firsthand.  His childhood trailer-home residence was only blocks away from my house in Ypsilanti Township.  It seemed everyone had some sort of connection to Iggy or at least one of the band members.  Iggy even worked at my local record shop Discount Records off and on.  Iggy was legend, and so much cooler to name drop Michigan’s other rocker Bob Seger.

What I admired most about Gimmie Danger, is the way Jarmusch just lets the story flow from the band’s memories.  The pacing is playful and brisk, the vintage clips and photography (much never seen before) are plentiful, and there’s an onslaught of fun facts to keep you amused.

Some of my favorite nuggets of Stooges trivia from the film below:

LUNCHTIME WITH SOUPY

Iggy Pop sparked to Clarabell the Clown on The Howdy Doody Show recognizing this was the character getting all the laughs and attention. But Iggy’s true inspiration, apparently, was Michigan’s own Soupy Sales. In related, though unmentioned in the film, Iggy trivia, Soupy’s sons Hunt and Tony Sales, performed rhythm on Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life album.

THE PSYCHEDELIC STOOGES

The band originally called themselves the “Psychedelic” Stooges, and it was during their performances in Ann Arbor that Danny Fields from Elektra Records was introduced to them. The MC5 is credited to sparking that connection, as they were briefly on the label.

THE STOOGES

After getting signed to Elektra, Ron Asheton actually called Moe Howard to ask permission to use the shortened name, The Stooges. The original Stooge said yes, with the caveat that “as long as you’re not the Three Stooges!” The band took the shortened name thereon.

THE FIRST STAGE DIVE

According to Iggy, he was inspired to first stage dive at a show in which he saw two women crawling on the floor near the stage. His premiere leap into the audience resulted in missing teeth as nobody was responsive to catching him. That would, thankfully, change at future gigs.

THE VELVET GOLDMINE

It’s fitting that Gimme Danger play the New York Film Festival. Eighteen years ago Velvet Goldmine played the fest, which features Ron Asheton as a back-up musician on fictional Curt Wild’s version TV Eye. Wild, played by Ewan McGregor is a little bit Lou Reed and a lot Iggy Pop, and the film is credited to sparking the reunion of The Stooges at Coachella in 2003. At least according to Ron Asheton. In a 2009 interview with Detroit’s Metro Times, Iggy claims to still have never seen the film; “I never saw it. Doesn’t some guy snort coke off my ass in that? That’s what I heard.”

Gimme Danger Opens in New York and Detroit on October 28th, and Nationwide on November 4th

For more details visit gimmedangermovie.com

THE IMITATION OF LIFE – PART TWO: TRIAL & TERROR

Writer: John Semper Jr.
Artist: Paul Pelletier
Inkers: Tony Kordos & Tom Palmer
Cover: Will Conrad & Ivan Nunes
Variant: Carlos D’anda

Cyborg is ready to accept the fight with Kilg%re but asks that Sarah be released. The android laughs off the request and mentions that he can access all content in Cyborg’s massive digital database and that probing him for information is needless.

He reveals that he was alien tech similar to his Vic’s own.

Upon arrival he discovered much like Metallo in Metropolis, he could control anything mechanical or electrical.

Vic fights off Kilg%re but by the time they reach the top of a building construction site and a stalemate, the android drops Sarah over the side. Vic with his affection for human life does exactly what Kilg%re thought and leaps to her rescue.

With Sarah safe Vic asks for her to return to S.T.A.R. and contact Silas while he pursues their attacker. It is all a ruse as Srah grabs her cellphone to call Silas and gives Kilg%re a direct line to Cyborg’s father.

Simultaneously He delivers a message that his leader wants to set him free. The mysterious leader has been gathering powerful machines, discarded over time and reactivated them for a higher purpose. The purpose will elude Vic unless he survives their fight.

Taking inspiration from Kilg%re and his powers Sarah uses the CCTV and orbiting satellites to track the villain for Vic. In a shocking twist the android has stopped atop the Stone’s former church. Kilg%re grabs Vic and taps into his brain, projecting images into his mind.

The images tell the story of machines lives as slaves to humankind until the digital age tipped the scales in their favour. Kig%re reaches out to Vic, to join the machines but Vic reminds his foe he is part human. Kilg%re reveals he was scanning the conversation with Vic and Blue about being human and even the content of Silas’ audio journal.

Vic is utterly conflicted deep down and as a torturous game he unveils Silas with a bomb implanted in his chest and trapped in a glass orb filled with alien machinery corroding gas. If Vic saves his father his machinery will die. If he leaves his father to die he is pure machinery like the leader had theorised.

Naturally Vic breaks his restraints and gets his father to safety. Vic makes peace with his father and hopes he will go to heaven to be with his mother but Kilg%re tells him that the gas though strong is not long lasting and he will begin self-repairing. Since he proved himself more human however Kilg%re must kill him before he interferes with their cause.

A city wide blackout interrupts them and Sarah radios in that S.T.A.R. has hacked into the city power grid and cut it off. With no electricity to aid him Kilg%re has only his on board power. Vic uses the opportunity to destroy the android leaving only a pile of scrap.

Vic picks up his father and carries him home. The fight, for now, is over…

…except it isn’t. Captive and watching everything on a video screen is Silas Stone! He screams that an imposter has taken his place but nobody can here his plea for help.

To Be Continued…

STORY:  5/5

If the heartfelt drama and emotional exploration was too much for you, the switch is well and truly flipped to action by Semper. Kilg%re may, even for an alien, sport a stereotypical villain trait to reveal too much but the action more than makes up for his excessive talk. I like that there is now a direction for the strange leader, and a path for Vic to follow along with that twist at the end! The only niggle I have is that the bomb in Silas’ chest is still active.

ART: 4/5

As with most tech based comics, sometimes the art can suffer from ‘tech overload’ there is a little here with Kilg%re’s excessive tendrils. The action still helps to rescue it with it’s fast pace. I would like a balance between the drama and the action so I hope Pelletier continues his superb renditions.

COVER: 4/5

Too much metal.

To be expected in a tech based comic but it just swamps the cover. It is a cool fight just a but overpowering, especially for a cover. The previews had it garishly coloured so I’m glad that the palette has been knocked back for publication.

VARIANT: 4/5

Jinkies! I was just talking technology overload for a cover but this is ridiculous!

Where does one foe start and the other end?

All good things must end. Or in this case, all amazing, original, fantastically good slightly batshit insane things must end.

And thus is the case for Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time, the animation out-of-control brainchild of Pendleton Ward. Featuring Finn the Human and his adopted brother Jake the Dog, the animated juggernaut began airing back in 2010 where it was quickly met with a devoted fanbase and embraced by the Internet with thousands upon thousands of memes.

The Emmy-winning series is set to end in 2018. News of the end of the popular series follows the announcement that network’s other adult-skewing toon Regular Show will not be renewed for a ninth season and that it’s current season, which kicked off on Sept. 26, will be the final outing for the series.

During its run, the residents of the Land of Ooo made a hefty impact with its quirky little story. While the show appeared to be childlike thanks to its simple animation style and off-the-wall characters, the premise of a kiddie show was actually a bit deceptive at times. Adult themes such as dealing with dementia, lost love, family bonds and betrayal of loved ones were common storylines.

In addition to the somewhat non-traditional story arcs, the characters also aged (well, those who could age) in real time. Audiences watched as Finn grew up from an adventure-seeking 12-year-old to a teenager who dealt with lady problems, man biz and very real issues surrounding his father.

As fans flock to forums to deal with the grief of a Ward-less Cartoon Network slate or vent their complex show theories for a final time, many agree that there are several unanswered questions that need to be addressed before the show goes off the air.

Here is a quick rundown of a few of the nagging questions:

Will we ever get the full lowdown on the Mushroom War?

There is enough evidence for fans to know that the Land of Ooo is post-apocalyptic Earth. Aside from the rare but occasional human, there are enough artifacts to prove that a catastrophic event turned the planet and its former residents into a shell of what it once was thousands of years ago.

But still there are details missing. What caused the war? Who was fighting who? Who sent the bomb that caused a huge-ass crater in the planet?

What happened to Finn’s mom?

After long wait, we finally got the skinny on Finn’s dad, and it wasn’t pretty. Martin the Human is  self-centered goober who would do anything to protect his own buns. In the end, Finn stopped trying to change his father and just accepted him for what he was: a great big jerkhead.

But what about Finn’s mom? She was briefly talked about in “The Visitor” episode, so we know she was around when Finn was a babe and that Martin thought she was “Okay,” but he didn’t want to talk about her.

Many folks believe that Susan Strong is Finn’s mother since they both have blonde hair and mutual love of animal hats.

On that note: What happened to all the humans? Are there more?

We got a sense of what happened to a few of them in the miniseries Stakes and we see evidence of humans here and there throughout the series. We know from Lady Rainicorn’s parents that humans are delicious and it is hinted at that perhaps some of the monsters that are lurking around might have been human at one time or another. But there is nothing definitive. So, nu?  What gives? What happened to the Hyooman tribes.

What is Peppermint Butler’s deal?

He’s an adorable little mint that worships a dark lord and can summon evil forces, yet we know so little about him. What made the twisted little candy so twisted both inside and out?

Will Simon ever find his sanity and/or love with Betty?

All of the key players are in the same timeline and everything is stacked to play out for a happy ending, but it just keeps slipping through out little fingers. WIll the Ice King and Betty ever find their groove again?

Are we done with the Lich?

Goodness, I hope so. There is nothing scarier than a giant possessed baby walking with unholy powers.

CHAPTER ONE: A HOUSE AWAKENS

Writer: Sarah Vaughn
Illustrator: Lan Medina
Color Art: José Villarrubia
Cover: Stephanie Hans

A storm awakens a frightened spirit at Glencourt Manor at the some moment that Sam and her friend Berenice also approach. Returning from an antiques auction they don’t realise they Deadman has been following them home.

As they dry off Berenice realises she can see Boston Brand trying to possess Sam, but to his shock he is knocked back. Berenice grabs Sam under the pretence of needing some fresh air trying hard to ignore Boston.

Berenice recalls her first memories, how a ghost appeared to her as an infant and how her mother also shared the gift. When she awakens from her trance Sam tells her she had been repeating that someone had called out to her and she had come to the Manor to help them.

Boston, listening to everything looks at the portrait of the Lady of the Manor and realises Berenice can not only see and hear him but other spirits as well. Nathan, her partner tries to reassure her that her nerves are getting the better of her.

Nathan begins getting a migraine and at the same time the vision of a spirit clouded in shadows calls our to Berenice. It warns her that the house will destroy her and her reputation. As it pulls away Boston leaps forward determined to find answers.

Once away from Sam the couple talk about the increasing sickness Nathan seems to be suffering. Berenice believes that it might be the house, especially after the warning. She worries about Nathan discovering her ability as she makes her way back to Sam in the family room. The spirit, however, reawakens and follows her as she picks up pace.

Berenice arrives in the hallway to see Deadman punching at the front door but being held back by some kind of spiritual barrier. Berenice runs to Sam for a moment of normalcy but he shows her that the bowl she had been so excited about the auction had gotten smashed. Another vision resurfaces. At the auction the bowl reached out to her emitting happy thoughts but now it has been broken and the emotion has left it.

To Berenice’s surprise the spirit manages to fin a way inside the room and warns her off again. Boston leaps forward and tries to protect them from the spiritual black fog surrounding them.

 CHAPTER TWO: BERENICE AND THE DEAD MAN

The fog and Deadman find themselves an even match and the strange foe pulls back to escape. Boston however is in pursuit but is locked out of a room like before.

Sam notices the door slam but is oblivious to the spirits roaming. Finding that he can’t pass through the walls in the Manor like he usually can Boston decides to possess the nearest human, the woman Berenice but as he does everything goes black.

A memory of hers surfaces once more and we see Berenice passing on a message from her girlfriends dead mother. How it caused her life to fall apart before. Boston is now in control and makes excuses to Sam to head back to the door. Sam is surprised as he watches Berenice suddenly exhibit athleticism and race to the door. Boston finds he is trapped as magic has sealed the house like a trap.

When Sam approaches demanding answers and holds his friends hand, Boston finds himself forced out of the body. Sam and Berenice share a moment but she cuts it short and asks her to leave, broken bowl in hand.

Berenice turns on Boston once Sam has left.

Boston reveals that he senses the distress of the a spirit, followed it to house but can only usually interact with the living by possession. He asks an angry Berenice for permission to do so if she is ever in trouble but she refuses.

Boston tells Berenice that he and the Lady of the Manor are trapped inside the house, the living can come and go but the dead are trapped inside by magic. He also tells her that Sam seems invulnerable to possession.

The two head up to the attic for answers and come across a chest and when they open it they discover it full of items belonging to the woman in the portrait. They discover her name is Adelia Ruskin and opening a ring box they discover a gold band and hair inside.

Adelia appears but has no memory of her death or why she is trapped there. Boston reaches out to her and assures her they are trying to help. Dark   ddddddness envelops them and they vanish leaving Berenice alone in the attic.

To Be Continued…

STORY: 3/5

There is definitely a dark vibe with the story. It is at its heart a ghost story and suitably spooky. However this is more the story of Berenice and her mystery. Deadman is very much along for the ride. This is disappointing as Deadman is at the sidelines throughout most of the story. I don’t care about Nathan, Sam, Tala mostly because they don’t actually function as characters. Only Sam with her spiritual repentance has any kind of validation as a character. As the story unfolds I’m sure they will all be fleshed out but right now I’m not invested in the story. I feel like Boston Brand right now… a ghost watching from the outside.

ART: 4/5

It is a beautifully illustrated book balancing fine linework, painted art and digital overlays that fits very well with the ghostly story. Some of the art is a bit confusing but I think that comes more from the story construct being confusing itself.

COVER: 4/5

An enticing and spooky cover that really sells the story.

A little misleading but as a cover it is a stunning piece of art.