Warner Bros. Home Entertainment continues its annual WonderCon tradition with the exclusive World Premiere of Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, the next DC Universe Original Movie, on the evening of Friday, March 31, 2017 at WonderCon Anaheim in the Arena of the Anaheim Convention Center.

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract will screen at 6:00pm in the 4,000-seat Arena, followed by a panel discussion amongst the film’s acting stars and filmmakers.

The entertaining post-screening panel will feature Sean Maher (Firefly/Serenity, Batman: Bad Blood), the voice of Nightwing; Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) as Raven; Jake T. Austin (Wizards of Waverly Place, The Fosters) as Blue Beetle; Brandon Soo Hoo (Tropic Thunder, From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series) as Beast Boy; Kari Wahlgren (Phineas and Ferb, Legion of Superheroes) as Starfire; and Stuart Allan (Batman vs. Robin, Batman: Bad Blood) as Robin/Damian; plus director Sam Liu (Batman: The Killing Joke), supervising producer James Tucker (Batman Bad Blood, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders) and character designer Phil Bourassa (Justice League Dark, Young Justice). Additional panelists will be announced as confirmed.

Inspired by the 1984 DC story arc from Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract finds the Teen Titans – Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, Blue Beetle, Robin and the just-returned Nightwing – working as a cohesive team in their never-ending battle against evil. But their newest teammate, the mysterious and powerful Terra (voiced by Christina Ricci), may be altering that dynamic. Meanwhile, an ancient evil, Brother Blood (Gregg Henry), has awakened, and familiar foe Deathstroke (the late Miguel Ferrer) is lurking in the shadows – both waiting to pounce. Ultimately, the Teen Titans will need to battle their enemies and their own doubts to unite and overcome the malicious forces around them in this twisting tale of intrigue, adventure and deception.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet the cast on Friday, March 31 when all of the Teen Titans: The Judas Contract panelists will sign limited edition, WonderCon Anaheim exclusive mini-posters at the DC Entertainment booth. For information on the cast’s Autograph Signing, please visit Hall D on Friday morning.

An encore presentation of Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (without an accompanying panel) is slated for Sunday, April 2 at 3:15pm in the Arena.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract will be distributed on Digital HD starting April 4, 2017, and on Blu-ray Deluxe Edition, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD beginning April 18, 2017.

Written and Directed by Scott Freiman
Featuring Scott Freiman, Janet Maslin

Deconstructing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is less a documentary as much as it is a document of a very well researched and entertaining multi-media academic presentation.

Scott Freiman is a Beatles expert who has taken this stage presentation around the world to rapt audiences, taking them through a brief history of the Beatles and pop music in general before diving into what drove the band to transition into studio artists as opposed to pop performers in the mid-sixties.

The movie is quite dense at times, leaving even this fervent music fan hoping that he speeds up a section or two.

Ultimately, these long detours into detail are rewarding and, dare I say it, even sometimes cathartic as he exposes isolated tracks from the records, sound clips from interviews with the Beatles and George Martin, and other film sources while discussing the choices each band member might have made and why.

Music documentaries are tricky things in the sense that, without a background of scandal, they put the love the audience has for the artist’s material to test.

Oftentimes addressing this can turn the documentary into nothing more than a fan worshipping the artist as a paean to the audience’s reverence. Other times, it can do what Deconstructing the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper chooses to do: furiously analyze the history of the artist and present conclusions that the audience can take or leave.

For more details and screening locations, visit beatleslectures.com

Shout! Factory has announced an exciting new 6-disc Blu-ray set, Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther Film Collection Starring Peter Sellers. Available June 27 as part of the Shout Select line, this is the definitive, must-own complete set of the classic movie comedies that has been in demand by fans for decades. It is available for pre-order now at Amazon.com and ShoutFactory.com.

The legendary Peter Sellers stars as the irrepressible and incompetent Inspector Jacques Clouseau in this 6-film collection, which includes The Pink Panther (1964), A Shot In The Dark (1964), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), and Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), each directed by Academy Award winner Blake Edwards (Victor/Victoria, Breakfast at Tiffany’s). For the first time in any home entertainment issue, all six Clouseau comedies are available together in a single collection, with four making their debuts on Blu-ray. The spectacular set comes with a 24-page book with an essay by animation historian and film critic Jerry Beck. Bonus Features will include new interviews with cast and crew members, audio commentaries, rare theatrical trailers, TV spots, stills galleries, and more.

One of the most influential comic actors of all time, with a legacy of brilliant performances in films such as Lolita, Being There, and Dr. Strangelove, Academy Award nominee Peter Sellers is well-remembered for his iconic role as Inspector Clouseau, whom he first portrayed in The Pink Panther. In 1980, Sellers spoke with Rolling Stone about the character’s origin, recalling, “So I think Clouseau will have a nice big mustache and I shall play him with great dignity because I feel that he thinks he is probably one of the greatest detectives in the world. From what I gather from the script, he is a complete idiot, but he would never want anyone else to know that….He was a fool who was shrewd around fools.”

Audiences adored the bumbling detective, and a phenomenon was born. The movies showcase a magical combination of Blake Edwards’ masterful directing, writing, and producing skills; Peter Sellers’ hilarious verbal and physical antics as Clouseau; sparkling performances from, among others, series staples Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk, André Maranne, and Graham Stark; Academy Award winner Henry Mancini’s sophisticated and slinky musical scores; and glorious animated opening and closing credits starring that fantastic feline – the Pink Panther.

As Beck writes, “Rarely has any movie series been as beloved and acclaimed by critics and audiences. The movies featured clever scripts, ingenious acting, plots that rivaled those of the James Bond films, and some of the best physical comedy ever filmed. At the heart of it all was the immortal collaboration between Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers.”

Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther Film Collection Starring Peter Sellers is a standout release in Shout Select, a line of movie releases shining a spotlight on the essentials in film.

As the highly anticipated Kong: Skull Island arrives in theaters, Legendary has announced a new comic book series. Skull Island: The Birth of Kong, is a 4-part saga that delves deeper into the mysteries of Skull Island and the mythic origins of Kong. Written by Arvid Nelson, the first issue will be available in print and on Comixology on April 5, 2017.

Both a sequel and a prequel to the film, the series tells the story of a secret team of Monarch operatives returning to Skull Island to discover the truth behind Kong and the island he is born to protect. In doing so, they unlock an ancient history of monster conflict, witness the primal war between Kong and an otherworldly ecosystem of deadly new creatures, and finally reveal how this lonely god became the last of his kind.

With a dramatic new narrative that paves the way for what is to come, fans will discover new revelations that point to the future of the MonsterVerse.

Legendary Comics has partnered with Loot Crate to bring their fans an exclusive first look at Skull Island: The Birth of Kong. The free preview of Issue #1 is available through Comixology.

Skull Island: The Birth of Kong arrives in print and via Comixology on April 5, 2017. 

USA Network and Universal Cable Productions today announced the award-winning drama MR. ROBOT has cast Bobby Cannavale (“Boardwalk Empire”) as a series regular for Season 3. Cannavale will star as Irving, a laconic, no-nonsense used car salesman. Recurring guest star BD Wong has also been upped to series regular for his role as Whiterose, the leader of the Dark Army, a Chinese-based hacking organization.

Additionally, USA has set an October 2017 premiere date for the critically-acclaimed series’ third season, with executive producer and writer Sam Esmail returning to direct all 10 episodes. Production will begin this April in New York City.

“Sam Esmail is a true creative visionary who continues to deliver a series that boldly tackles timely issues and leans into the major headlines of the day,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “We’re eager to share the next phase of Elliot’s journey with fans this fall.”

“Season 3 of MR. ROBOT will engage viewers in a whole new way, with Sam and team continuing to find ways to surprise, challenge and delight the audience. And adding Bobby Cannavale and BD Wong to our cast makes one of the tightest acting ensembles even stronger,” said Jeff Wachtel, Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.

New series regular Cannavale’s career spans the TV, film and Broadway stages. His film credits include “Antman,” “Spy,” “Danny Collins,” “Adult Beginners,” “Annie,” “Blue Jasmine,” “Win Win,” “The Station Agent,” “Fast Food Nation” and “Romance and Cigarettes,” with upcoming roles in “Going Places,” “Jumanji” and “Boundaries.” Cannavale’s TV credits include “Vinyl,” “Boardwalk Empire” (for which he received an Emmy Award and SAG nomination), “Nurse Jackie” (for which he received 2 Emmy nominations), and his Emmy-winning role on “Will and Grace.” On the stage, Cannavale has appeared in “The Big Knife,” “Glengarry Glen Ross,” his Tony Award-nominated roles in “The Motherfucker with the Hat” and “Mauritius,” as well as “Hurlyburly,” “Fucking A” and “The Gingerbread House.”

To date, 31MM people have viewed MR. ROBOT Season 2 across all platforms (16MM linear* and 15MM non-linear**). The series follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a cyber-security engineer who, along with Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) and fsociety, starts a revolution to change the world. Picking up immediately following the Season 2 cliffhanger, Season 3 will explore each character’s motivations and the disintegration between Elliot and Mr. Robot.

The series stars Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Malek, Golden Globe Award winner Slater, Portia Doubleday, Carly Chaikin, Martin Wallström, Grace Gummer, Michael Cristofer, Bobby Cannavale, BD Wong and Stephanie Corneliussen.

From Universal Cable Productions, MR. ROBOT hails from writer and executive producer Esmail, as well as Anonymous Content executive producers Steve Golin and Chad Hamilton.

Lionsgate announced today that the dazzling Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning music-filled masterpiece La La Land arrives on Digital HD on April 11 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital HD), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and On Demand April 25 from Summit Entertainment, a Lionsgate Company.

Written and directed by Academy Award winning director Damien Chazelle and starring Oscar Best Actor nominee Ryan Gosling and Oscar Best Actress winner Emma Stone, La La Land tells the story of Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern-day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.

“The movie of the year” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) premiered at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival to unanimous critical praise. La La Land won 6 Academy Awards including Best Director for writer-director Damien Chazelle, won a record-breaking 7 Golden Globe Awards and has become a global box office phenomenon grossing over $400 million globally. The film also features ten-time Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter John Legend who contributed the single “Start a Fire” to the soundtrack which also includes the tracks “City of Stars” (Golden Globe winner for Best Original Song – Motion Picture), and “Audition.”

La La Land is more than the most acclaimed movie of the year — it’s a cinematic treasure for the ages that you’ll fall in love with again and again. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as Mia and Sebastian, an actress and a jazz musician pursuing their Hollywood dreams — and finding each other — in a vibrant celebration of hope, dreams, and love.

Damien Chazelle’s magical interpretation of the City of Angels is destined to be a modern classic and an icon of the era. The home entertainment release includes the breathtaking film to watch again and again, as well in-depth bonus material revealing the untold story of how Damien’s passion project came to life. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital HD special features include audio commentary by writer/director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz, and 10 behind-the-scenes featurettes including: “Another Day of Sun: They Closed Down a Freeway” which gives a behind-the-scenes look at how Damien Chazelle and his team had only two shoot days to make the film’s spectacular opening number a reality; “La La Land’s Great Party,” looking at the creation of the Hollywood Hills party scene; “Ryan Gosling: Piano Student” showing how hard Ryan Gosling worked to truly play the piano as Sebastian; “Before Whiplash: Damien Chazelle’s Passion Project,” that uncovers the story of La La Land’s origins; “La La Land‘s Love Letter To Los Angeles,” in which the term La La Land is explained; “The Music of La La Land” delving into the process of creating the iconic music; “John Legend’s Acting Debut” featuring the Grammy^®-Winning singer’s thoughts on being in the film; “The Look of Love: Designing La La Land,” with interviews with the film’s design team; “Ryan and Emma: Third Time’s the Charm,” marking the third time in which Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have starred on screen together, and “Epilogue: The Romance of the Dream,” exploring the extraordinary ending to the film. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital HD also feature “Damien & Justin Sing: The Demos”, showing the original pitches for the film. The 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of La La Land will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

The La La Land DVD features audio commentary with Chazelle and Hurwitz, “La La Land’s Love Letter to Los Angeles,” and “Ryan and Emma: Third Time’s the Charm.” All releases include song selection.  La La Land will be available on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.

4K/BLU-RAY/ DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

• Audio Commentary with writer/director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz
• “Another Day of Sun: They Closed Down a Freeway” Featurette
• “La La Land’s Great Party” Featurette
• “Ryan Gosling: Piano Student” Featurette
• “Before Whiplash: Damien Chazelle’s Passion Project” Featurette
• “La La Land‘s Love Letter to Los Angeles” Featurette
• “The Music of La La Land” Featurette
• “John Legend’s Acting Debut” Featurette
• “The Look of Love: Designing La La Land” Featurette
• “Ryan and Emma: Third Time’s the Charm” Featurette
• “Epilogue: The Romance of the Dream” Featurette
• Damien & Justin Sing: The Demos
• Song Selection

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

• Audio Commentary with writer/director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz
• “Another Day of Sun: They Closed Down a Freeway” Featurette
• “La La Land‘s Love Letter To Los Angeles” Featurette
• “Ryan and Emma: Third Time’s the Charm” Featurette
• Song Selection

OwnLaLaLand.com

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Produced by Katie Holmes, Jane Rosenthal,
Katie Mustard, Berry Welsh
Based on the book by Annie Weatherwax
Written by Josh Boone, Jill Killington
Directed by Katie Holmes
Starring Katie Holmes, Stefania LaVie Owen,
Richard Kind, Mark Consuelos, Eve Lindley,
Judy Greer, Luke Wilson

The IMDB.com description for All We Had is a simple sentence; “A mother struggles to make a better life for her daughter”.

Katie Holmes debut as a feature director definitely has elements that fit that description, but like most indie dramas that star a chemically dependent parent, it is the daughter who holds their dysfunctional little family together.

That’s the over-riding issue with this film.

While the cast is fairly strong and the performances seem heartfelt and authentic, the story itself is a formula that has played over and over in these types of films. Ruthie Carmichael, played by the emerging Stefania Owen is the center of this film’s orbit. Katie Holmes portrays Ruthie’s mom Rita and early on she shows a propensity for bad decision making and a willingness to do anything to get by, including put Ruthie at risk.

The characters are likeable and you feel for them. Richard Kind makes a strong showing as the owner of the diner that employs Rita as things begin to settle down. You generally see him in foppish roles that don’t require a ton of range and this film uncovers his broader abilities to a certain extent.  The real standout in the film is Eve Lindley who plays a transgender waitress in Kind’s diner. She is fierce and strong as her meaningful sub-plot unfolds.

There is talent in this cast from top to bottom and the story, while formulaic, is successful in getting you to care about the characters as an unlikely family emerges from the many incomplete lives we are introduced to.

There is one performance that stands out in its weakness. Luke Wilson plays almost every role he is cast in exactly the same. He is a generally even tempered nice guy with a too big smile and little emotional range. He is likeable, always, but there is no real depth. He is unassuming in his approach-ability but he seems to perpetually exist in two dimensions. His role in All We Had either doesn’t allow him to break the mold we have seen him in over and over again or he is just incapable of playing someone different.

The film ends rather abruptly and a little too cleanly. It could have taken a darker turn in some moments and made some braver choices in others. It felt like Holmes and screenwriters Josh Boone and Jill Killington copped out at times, not telling the story they really wanted to tell. This is a watchable movie and while Katie Holmes is fairly competent in her directorial debut because the story has a tangible beginning, middle and end, it’s clear she has a long way to go to. That said, solid acting and directing can’t save a mediocre script and that’s what All We Had is, from beginning to end. Mediocre.

2.5 out of 5 stars

All We Had is available on DVD, Blu-ray, Digital HD and On Demand

Produced By David Hartstein
Written By Karen Skloss, Jay Tonne Jr.
Directed By Karen Skloss
Starring Olivia Applegate, Louis Hunter,
Dora Madison Burge, Liam Aiken, Katie Folger,
Josephine McAdams, Christina Parrish,
Mackenzie Astin, Will Brittain,
Samuel Davis, Johnny Mars

You don’t like scary movies to know that senior prom goes hand in hand with terror. I’m not just talking about the dance’s on-screen appearances from Carrie to Prom Night. The real thing is simultaneously cliché and surreal enough without the buckets of blood.

The Austin-based filmmakers of The Honor Farm are well aware that the only thing scarier than prom itself, is what happens after it.  As each Spring brings a fresh round of teen angst over possible events like securing a date to picking a dress, it’s most likely to accumulate with post-prom peer-pressure and poor decision-making.

The trippy new film from co-writer/director Karen Skloss (Sunshine) made its World Premiere at SXSW this week, programmed to a midnight-movie crowd likely to appreciate it best in its wider release. Things get started on relatively familiar pre-prom ground with a pair of BFFs, Lucy (Olivia Applegate, Revolution) and Annie (Katie Folger, Zero Charisma). Thinking their dream dates will allow “for a night where they’re free to do whatever they want,” they’re instead forced to lower expectations as the guys devolve into douchebags.

Lucy, the film’s primary character, acts as narrator, one that’s stuck somewhere between reality and dream. As she describes it, “going through the motions.” It’s a theme not just relatable by anyone ever seeing direction at that age, and explored at length in media. Even Buffy sang about it with feeling.

Things take a macabre turn when our good girls meet with an assortment of the school’s freaks and geeks, headed for a excursion to an abandoned destination known as “the honor farm” via hearse. On their way, they tell horror stories of the infamous prison work-farm, passing along schrooms that kick in en route to the destination. Where into Rob Zombie territory here, primed for an increasing body count with an inkling of who’s getting bumped first.

Without giving too much away, the film is surprisingly refrained from following its slasher set-up. It has its heart in the horror genre, playing it for fun with conventions ruined in recent years via the found-footage format.

There are some genuinely creepy moments to be had, but Honor Farm is more focused on the strange than the scares. Its genre is Teen Drama, where characters pick desire over reason and dreams over reality. That satanic rituals are no more unusual than the ritual of senior prom, might be the strangest takeaway of all here.

Applegate and Folger have great chemistry, and they ground the film as relatable prom queen candidates, while the rest of the teens play on the more burn-out stereotypes of the high school experience. Because the girls trip on mushrooms too, the point of view to the story shifts as can’t be trusted. A lot of it isn’t explained or necessarily straight-forward, but it’s an entirely entertaining head-trip of a midnight movie.

The Honor Farm is currently playing at SXSW 2017 and will screen
on Thursday, March 16 at Alamo Lamar B 12:15pm —1:29pm

For further details, visit thehonorfarm.com

Jon Baker (Dax Shepard) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Michael Peña) have just joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles but for very different reasons.  Baker is a beaten up pro motorbiker trying to put his life and marriage back together.  Poncherello is a cocky undercover Federal agent investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job—inside the CHP. The inexperienced rookie and hardened pro are teamed together, but clash more than click, so kickstarting a partnership is easier said than done.  But with Baker’s bike skills combined with Ponch’s street savvy it might just work…if they don’t drive each other crazy along the way.

For your chance to download passes to see CHIPS on
Wednesday, March 22 at 7:00pm at Showcase Providence Place, click HERE!

Remember seating is first come, first served and not guaranteed so arrive early!

The journey begins for audiences everywhere when Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company release the critically acclaimed LION on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand April 11, 2017 and on Digital HD March 28, 2017.

Garth Davis’ directorial film debut garnered six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. The film features an astounding cast with Best Supporting Actor nominee Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), David Wenham (300), Best Supporting Actress nominee Nicole Kidman (Academy Award winner for The Hours) and newcomers Abhishek Bharate and Sunny Pawar. Additional Academy Award nominations include Best Music (Original Score), Best Cinematography and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).

LION follows five-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who gets lost on a train traveling away from his home and family. Frightened and bewildered, he ends up thousands of miles away, in chaotic Kolkata. Somehow he survives living on the streets, escaping all sorts of terrors and close calls in the process, before ending up in an orphanage that is itself not exactly a safe haven. Eventually Saroo is adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham), and finds love and security as he grows up in Hobart. As an adult, not wanting to hurt his adoptive parents’ feelings, Saroo (Dev Patel) suppresses his past, his emotional need for reunification and his hope of ever finding his lost mother and brother. But a chance meeting with some fellow Indians reawakens his buried yearning. Armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, Saroo sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

Inspired by a true story, LION shows us that even if we lose our way we should never lose hope. LION is “majestic and moving” Pete Hammond.

The Blu-ray and DVD bonus content includes Deleted Scenes, Behind the Scenes Gallery and “Never Give Up” Official Lyric Video performed by Sia.

So what is going on?

• Batwoman discovers a plot that links her past and future…
• Cave Carson’s team finds they may be up against a foe they can never defeat…
• Arsenal & Green Arrow put their differences aside to take on a criminal empire…
• The Green Lanterns are tricked into battling a reformed villain unwittingly returning him to the dark side…
• Power Girl takes dating advice from Harley to save the world…
• Superman stands between two time manipulating forces to save his family…
• The ancient Amazons find another race of warrior women that may be unbeatable…

Sounds like a lot is going on right?

All in all there are some pretty awesome DC books following a minor bump in the road last week, but far and away the winning team of Jon Kent & Damian Wayne win best issue with Super Sons #2.  It doesn’t fail to disappoint but don’t take my word for it yet, have a read and see if you agree.

This is my look into the best of the DC Universe this week!

BATWOMAN #1
Sinnerman: The Many Arms of Death – Part One
Writers: Marguerite Bennett & James Tynion IV
Artist: Steve Epting
Cover: Steve Epting
Variant: J.G. Jones

A genetic drug turns a man into a monster and Batwoman does her best to take it on and is stunned when someone from her past kills him for her with an ornate dagger.

Back at the base analysing the dagger leads to an island called Coryana. The same island Kate was once rescued from after almost drowning and being nursed to health but when she, now as Batwoman, returns she finds her old savior dead by an identical dagger.

To Be Continued…

ART: 4/5
Reminiscent of the style enjoyed recently in Vigilante: Southland and Midnighter and Apollo the this fast paced pencil and ink style with attention focused on Batwoman really gives the book a signature style that fits it like a glove.

COVER: 5/5
Something Batwoman does that I am constantly surprised by is excel on its cover art. There isn’t a book out at the moment that seems able to compare to the wonderful brushwork and composition.

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
I’m not 100% sold on the way the flashbacks interfere with the primary story, not because they don’t divulge relevant information nor that they don’t help the story move forward, but because they feel disjointed. If perhaps the lost year was separate as a back up it would flow more but I felt that both the past and present were fighting for the spotlight.

CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE #6
Plan B
Writers:John Rivera & Gerard Way
Art: Michael Avon Oeming
Cover: Michael Avon Oeming
Variant: Brendan McCarthy

Cave and the team fight off the mutants and band together to rescue the King.

Meanwhile EBX manage to open the sacred vault and release the giant mutant that was imprisoned within.
Cave and Chloe rescue the King in the Mighty Mole as Wild Dog tries to kill the giant mutant with an explosive charge.

Edward Borsten mutates before their eyes into a giant mutant brain and Cave is incapacitated as his Cybernetic eye bursts out of its socket.

As the Muldroog try to fight the giant brain, Chloe cradles her dying father.

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
Superb layouts with some of the most abstract and fun art that I’ve seen in a long time. Where else can you find giant mutant slugs and giant floating brains one minute and exploding eyes and drug fuelled psychedelia the next? Michael Avon Oeming is clearly having a blast bringing to life the truly bizarre subterranean menagerie Cave and Chloe meet in their travels.

COVER: 5/5
Continuing the abstract the book doesn’t let things slide with the cover. I look at it and think ‘what the heck is going on here?’ but also enjoying the truly fantastical art.

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
Cave Carson is a truly unique book and to read it fills you with a strange feeling of nostalgia while also feeling contemporary, with just a dash of the experimental.

I haven’t read the other Young Animal titles yet but if Cave is any indication they’ll be fantastic.  We might be six issues in but the book hasn’t taken its foot off the gas!

BACKUP: “SUPER POWERS VOLUME ONE”
Writer Artist: Tom Scioli

The Superfriends chase off Joker and Penguin and are given awards by the New Gods as a gift.
They warn them of the incoming Superwar and meanwhile The Wonder Twins prepare for a new life on Earth as Superheroes!

The End.

ART: 2/5
As a companion piece to Cave Carson this doesn’t really work despite trying to tap into the same nostalgia the main story is catering to. There is a lot of work going into the look of Super Friends, but despite the effort, it just isn’t very good.

OVERALL RATING: 3/5
The story is all over the place and from one issue to the next has made very little cohesive sense.

GREEN ARROW #19
Blood & Oil: The Return Of Roy Harper – Part 2
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artists: Eleonora Carlini & Mirka Andolfo
Cover: Otto Schmidt
Variant: Mike Grell & Lovern Kindzierski

An enraged Roy gives a reluctant Ollie a beating but stops when Ollie convinces him they have both changed and they take on the Wild Dogs with the aid of Black Canary.

As they chase away the gang they reconvene with Arsenals adoptive family and they watch a broadcast by Queen Industries CFO Cyrus Broderick. Ollie is a broken man when he realises it really is his company and be default, him at fault for all of this.

Ollie and Roy remember their early years and how rocky they were, but now with Ollie ready to fight his own company, Arsenal stands at his side with Dinah and this time they are ready to take on the criminal underworld!

To Be Continued…

ART: 4/5
The action scenes definitely dominate the issue and they are unrelenting in visual goodness. The fight between Arsenal and Green Arrow really grabs the attention.  Like Batwoman, the flashbacks seem to fight for attention and in doing so make the art a little confusing at times.

COVER: 5/5
What a stunning cover. The symbolism and theme of triumph over adversity is inescapable.

Green Arrow is definitely a character that evokes heroes of a bygone age and this horse riding avenger looks brilliant. I think I would have preferred a darker palette but it doesn’t detract from the great art.

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
I am not a fan of Arsenal outside of Young Justice on television however this story arc is quickly changing that.  The yin and yang relationship of the two archers makes them a very interesting team up. They share a bond that when you think about it wouldn’t really work in a pairing yet somehow it does and Ollie stepping up and taking the offensive for a change means we are in for a bold new direction for the emerald archer.

GREEN LANTERNS #19
Polarity: Chapter 1
Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: Ronan Cliquet
Cover: Leo Manco
Variant: Emanuela Lupacchino & Michael Atiyeh

While Simon Baz struggles with family issues Director Harcourt has tracked down Dr Polaris and seeks to draft him back into Task Force X.

When the villain kills the soldiers hunting him down Dr Polaris goes into hiding in Gateway City, but unknown to him Baz and Crus have been drafted in by Director Harcourt to capture him. Emerson, struggling to hold back his supervillain persona seeks out his sick friend in hospital, hoping to help cure him.

With the Lanterns manipulated into capturing Emerson he fights back and they realise too late that Dr Polaris is too powerful as they are crushed inside a metal orb made of taker trucks and dropped into the ocean.

That is when the water starts flowing in.

To Be Continued…

ART: 4/5
The interior art is very bold and really conveys the struggle of Emerson as he tries hard to hold back Dr. Polaris. Even the side storyline with Simon Baz and his family issues is dynamic. As the book focused more on drama that action Ronan Cliquet really works hard to give the reader a visual feast.

COVER: 3/5
I’m not a fan of this cover, the art style is a personal point of dislike, it may be unfair of me but I just don’t like anything about it. It looks like it took a lot of work to render and Manco clearly knows his style and strengths, but it isn’t for me.

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
Harcourt is every bit as manipulative as Amanda Waller was. I like the pairing of Cruz and Baz but after reading Justice League vs Suicide Squad I can see why they’d be so easily taken in and given Dr. Polaris’ deadly past it wasn’t a stretch they’d fall into the trap but the real strength this issue didn’t come from the Lanterns, it came from the struggles of Emerson and his desire to forge a new life for himself and save the life of a loved one. The compelling nature of his journey made Harcourt’s actions all the more distasteful.

HARLEY QUINN #16
Domination Abomination: Nether Regions Part 3
Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner
Artists: John Timms & Joseph Michael Linsner
Cover: Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair
Variant: Frank Cho

As Harley hurtles towards the ground from thousands of miles above the alien menace Zorcrom offers to withdraw its takeover bid for Earth in exchange for her rescuer, the mighty Power Girl! To buy them time, Harley suggests that PeeGee actually go on a date to distract him but of course it eventually turns sour and they begin a citywide fight.

They discover Zorcrom’s weakness and Power Girl triumphs leading to a shocking conclusion and through some bizarre circumstances the unlikely team up of Atlee, Power Girl and Harley save the world!

The End.

ART: 4/5
I’d gotten so used to seeing Amanda Conner as the signature artist with Harley its sometimes difficult to imagine anyone else helming the art chores but the dynamic duo of John Timms and Joseph Michael Linsner definitely take on Power Girl, Atlee and Harley Quinn with gusto. The twists and turns might have been unpredictable but the artwork marries up with the script with an equal amount of energy.

COVER: 5/5
Amanda Conner turns in another inimitable cover that brings to the fore the individual character and doesn’t have to try hard to entice the audience and give them a taster of what they have in store for them inside.

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
A unique plan of action Harley! I don’t think anyone besides Batman would date his enemy but Power Girl goes through with it and provides some of the funniest scenes I’ve read in a while. Conner and Gray really know the characters inside out and are able to let each of the female leads share the spotlight without hogging it. PeeGee definitely steals the show this issue but it really was all Harley’s idea! Can’t wait for next issue!

JUSTICE LEAGUE #17
Timeless: Part 3
Writer: Bryan Hitch
Artist: Fernando Pasarin
Inker: Matt Ryan
Cover: Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan & Brad Anderson
Variant: Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn

Note: This story takes place before Superman: Reborn.

Tempus the leader of the Timeless reveals some secrets to Superman about his past and future and asks him if he is willing to sacrifice all he has in exchange for his family swearing that they are frozen in a moment of time and only to be released if Superman save them from a threat. The machines through time are to move Earth and its solar system from its current location to a new one so it may play out its eight billion year history safely, but this is not what the Watcher, Molly, had told them and right now the League are scattered through time trying to destroy the machines.

With two contradicting forces Superman swears to stop them both and with him trapped in the Timeless mothership Batman prepares to rescue him and all of time itself!

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
Every page is a feast for the eyes and the emotion is almost palpable.  Pasarin brings Clark’s emotions to the fore and despite the time spanning Justice League‘s action scenes its really Superman that is the heart of the story and he also works as the readers ‘voice’. I don’t think the story would have worked as well as it did with another artist handling the scenes.

COVER: 5/5
A cool cover that takes place seconds after the previous one, with the Timeless overwhelming a weakened Man of Steel. It is certainly more dynamic than the last and in sync with the story inside. I really feel for Clark and his desperate plight to save his family.

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
Last issue was a waste of the paper it was printed on and I made no secret of the fact I felt that way.
This issue is an entirely different kettle of fish, as not only is the story expanded upon to reveal a potential duplicitous plot but the threat becomes a personal one as well as the unraveling of time itself. The Timeless and Molly are definitely characters with a lot of mileage in them. I hate the Batman is going to be the one to save the day but I guess that is a case of catering to the masses.

ODYSSEY OF THE AMAZONS #3
Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Artists: Ryan Benjamin & Don Ho
Inker Ryan Benjamin
Cover: Richard Friend & Ryan Benjamin

With a magical weapon, the Valkyries put all the Vikings to sleep and confront the Amazons. The Valkyries and Amazons are both blindsided by rock trolls that force mistrust between the two sides, who suspect trickery.

The two sides fight one another but again are taken by surprise by another attack, this time from the Jotuns whose plan to harvest the power of the Amazons nears fruition.

After a particularly violent attack one side falls and now all seems lost but who will be left to stand against the Jotuns now?

To Be Continued…

ART: 3/5
The art is beginning to be the weakest part of the book.  Its a shame as the depth levels in the inking and colouring seem to be lessening the impact the penciled art was clearly aiming for. It doesn’t help that the women aren’t really discernible from one another but that is due to the fact the art is shuffled back and forth between two artists with two very different styles.

COVER: 3/5
A nicely rendered battle scene but it feels more like a scene than a front cover. It doesn’t feel as strong as the covers previous, I wish the book had continued to use the established style rather than constantly change it.

OVERALL RATING: 3/5
Two incredibly long drawn out scenes. There is nothing more to the story, nothing that allows progression, nothing that enriches the readers experience and enjoyment. I felt that same deflation I did with Justice League #16‘s misstep.

SUPER SONS #2
When I Grow Up – Part 2: Lex & Friends
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Jorge Jimenez
Cover: Jorge Jimenez & Alejandro Sanchez
Variant: Dustin Nguyen

While the threat of Kid Amazo rises Damian and Jon find themselves face to face with Lex Luthor.
Damian uses Jon as a distraction and manages to infiltrate Lexcorp planting explosive charges while Jon tries his best to hide his identity.

The youngsters make good an escape and Damian reveals that he was able to download the Lexcorp security footage. It reveals a child entering the building, approaching an android in Luthor’s lab before the cameras go dead. From their combination of skills they realise he is part of a family that survived of the Amazo virus and track the family to a hideout in Providence.

Jon refuses to help Damian further when they make a gruesome discovery and he leaves to seek aid from their fathers unaware that the World’s Finest are already involved and very unhappy with their children…

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
Jorge Jimenez is style is evolving and is far different not than it was on Superboy (N52) and even Superman recently perhaps as the focus is firmly on the children and a he gets to play around with them in a way that isn’t possible in the other books. It isn’t a criticism, I am enjoying the journey and can’t praise it highly enough.

COVER: 5/5
Continuing on from what I just said, this cover wouldn’t necessarily work on either the Superman or Batman titles as it has seemingly childish themes. That said it is definitely fun and suits both Damian and Jon equally with their personalities shining through. I love moody Lex lurking in the background!

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
Super Sons is like Cave Carson. It is a book that is uniquely individual, however Super Sons is in continuity, while Cave seems to sit slightly outside of it. Things that happen in here have a definite impact on both Batman and Superman and therefore the DCU as a whole. The book is taking chances and telling stories in a niche way that if allowing both the book and its characters to flourish. Bravo!

New York, San Diego, Austin, Boston, Atlanta. If you are a fan of national conventions, these are probably the cities you have searched for on Kayak, along with tens of thousands of other attendees. This weekend saw Boston host PAX East, the largest video game convention on the East Coast.

Since 2010 it has drawn game fanatics and industry exhibitors from around the world. But what about the fans that are already in the area?

All cons have a local contingent, and that can change the experience from expensive weekend getaway to ultimate staycation. Besides the sheer convenience of being able to head to your own house after hours on the floor and never needing to buy the overpriced travel size of the item you forgot, there is a sense of pride and responsibility that comes with being from the host city. From neighborhood exhibitors to those visiting after time away, the floor this weekend was filled with local ambassadors who took it upon themselves to show hometown hospitality.

If you stopped by the Nobody Ever Respects Dorks Society (N.E.R.D.S.) booth, Gregory Nuñez may have given you a bit of local wit along with one of their high-style gamer tee, packaged in boxes reminiscent of classic Nintendo cartridges. “I feel as though as far as interactions go I give a piece of Boston to anybody I meet no matter where they’re from,” he said, straightening his display. The company is out of New Jersey, but Nuñez lives just outside of Boston.

“I ask them where they’re from, you know, I give them a hard time. I kinda let them know how fast and slick that we are, from Massachusetts. Also we’re very friendly, very smiley, we like to get to know people through pretty much giving each other a hard time.” He explained further, “I feel like I get to know people more by saying ‘Where did you get that shirt from, that’s horrible, you might as well get on of our shirts versus just like ‘Hey everything’s so nice and uh, take a look at our brand!’ I feel like you get more realistic people that way.” At this point, a large group of shoppers were starting to crowd the tables so I left Nuñez to give them a taste of Boston salesmanship.

Though N.E.R.D.S. had to truck their goods from out of state, Jamie York of Game Underground —  an arcade and video game store that hosts game tournaments in the nearby town of Natick – was thrilled to be only a half hour out from the show. We chatted while several employees helped the lines of people searching through their large selection of games that ranged from original Playstation to Wii U. “Having PAX East in Boston is one of the most important things of the entire year for Game Underground,” York said as he checked inventory under the table. “Having this be affordable to travel to and sell games really helps our company.” It’s not all business, though. I had been by the booth several times during the weekend and he was constantly being pulled aside by other parties. “I get to see all my friends here as well people like D1, who’s a Smash Bros commentator. That I get to see him, where he used to be from around the area and now lives far away, it’s really cool.” Rather than hoping that you will run into someone, being local means that everyone is already seeking you out as their “inside man”. But in a 20,000 person convention this means getting the same where to eat/stay/party questions multiple times a day, every day.

And being seen as an expert on the area does not mean that someone has all the answers. All major cities have a few characteristics that everyone will ask about, and in Boston that meant the single digit weather attendees faced. When asked if there was anything particularly weird that people wanted to know, York laughed. “I talked to a lot of people from Florida and things like that, they’re like ‘What am I supposed to do? I’m so cold’ and I don’t know man! I left my coat in the car and just trudged out here. I don’t know what you want from me.”

If you have moved away from your major city but find it hosting your industry’s major convention, it can end up a great chance to kill two birds with one stone. In a tech hub like Boston, game developers like Harmonix (Rock Band, Guitar Hero) use local talent. Sean Baptiste started off at the first in Community Development and is now down South, working as the Product Marketing Manager at Adult Swim Games and co-hosting their Lunchtime Games stream. He also moderated the always hilarious “Foreplay: Romance in Video Games” panel. For him, coming back showed how much he had changed. Physiologically.

“It’s really interesting coming back for a convention, I’ve lived here like my entire life, but now I live in Atlanta. It’s currently in the 80s in Atlanta, it’s currently 9 degrees in Boston,” he said, chatting by the Rick and Morty VR demo.

“It’s like I came back to Boston and Boston’s like ‘Nah we don’t need you’. You move to Atlanta you get soft real quick to the cold. Like 50 degrees is very cold to me.” But when asked about how it felt to go to a convention and have everyone know that you have a history there, he got understandably nostalgic. “Boston is a place I deeply loved, it’s a place I lived for a very very very VERY long time. I would love to come when it’s warmer again. I can’t get a good lobster roll anywhere but here. And I’ve almost only eaten lobster rolls. And it’s good to run into friends,” he noted. “There’s such an amazing game development scene here, really vibrant and interesting, and I do feel a responsibility to the people who are still here to help out in any way I can.” Well, as long as that doesn’t involve asking about what to do in the immediate area.

“What can I do around the convention center? I’m like mmm, nothing” Baptiste says, throwing up his hands and shrugging. “You can go to the convention and then go anywhere else in the city.” He proceeds to rattle off local neighborhoods that require attendees to explore with purpose rather than just wander within walking distance. It’s no wonder that when you know how interesting your city is, you try and push people to realize it is more than just the convention center. And getting a taste of home was certainly high on the “in town for the weekend” list for Baptiste.

”The first thing we did when we got back was we had lunch in our hotel and they actually had a lobster roll on there,” he said, grinning wildly. “I ate the lobster roll and I actually started tearing up.” My face must have been all question marks, so he went into more detail. “First of all it was the best lobster roll I ever had. Second of all, it’s just– I missed it. I missed it so much. And I actually miss the saltiness sometimes. Understand that in Atlanta, people are real nice, and the southern hospitality is fantastic. It’s not stressful because everyone is nice all the time. But sometimes,” — he paused for a second to get the wording right — “You just want someone to call you out on your sh** and that’s the thing I get nostalgic for. I saw this bartender who refused to serve someone a Sambuca on ice because he was like ‘I’m not going to serve that, it ruins the Sambuca’ and I thought, ‘Yeah that’s Boston’. It’s opinionated and it’s loud and it gets fighty and I love it so much. But I get very emotional about that.”

On the last day, I happened to run into fellow Forces of Geek contributor Clay N. Ferno. He was working in another capacity, coordinating the post-PAX entertainment at clubs in the area. Besides trying out the next 6 months of new games, PAX has a long history of supporting the nerdcore and chiptunes community with concerts from genre legends like Mega Ran, MC Lars, The Protomen, and The Doubleclicks.

“It’s my responsibility, I take it very seriously,” he said, while we stood at the edge of an indie game area. “I’ve been doing it for almost 5 years now, trying to host a good afterparty for people that like the bands that play the PAX concert. We have a big show coming up Monday; we consistently try to provide entertainment for people in town after the show with the same bands that they like to see and play the PAX main stage. We host them for another night.” Clay is happy that PAX is in Boston, but his reasoning is more straightforward: “With the exception of New York Comic Con, I don’t really travel too much for conventions. I like to go home after the show.”

Local reviewer Bob Chipman (better known as Movie Bob) took a moment to chat with me outside of the journalism panel, one of the last of the weekend. He was upbeat about how strange but awesome it is to have the nerd industry on your doorstep. “It is still a surreal experience, because Boston is a major international cosmopolitan city but it’s also a place I’m in and around. And every year having so many people show up and fill up the city, who have these specific interests, it is a surreal experience because I walk in off the street and it’s like, ‘Hey it’s the Westin and the convention center! I know this place!’” as he gestures around at the hall, slowly emptying in the final hours of the con. “I mean, I’ve seen this place fill up for auto shows. And then to be walking around neighborhoods where I grew up and I travel every day, running on the Silver Line and the Blue Line (local bus and train routes); to see it fill up with cosplayers and people dressed up like Pokemon and Sailor Scouts just walking around. You get used to it after a little while, but then you’re on your way home and it’s like ‘okay no it’s no big deal just riding home on the train with Pikachu and Sailor Mars, no big whoop, this is happening’. It is a trip but it’s great for the city, it brings a lot of business.”

We talked more about the overlapping of the digital world and these brief opportunities to connect with each other offline. “It’s a fascinating and good experience to have in this weird industry that is so spread out digitally to have people that you know,” Chipman remarked. “You know them personally, you’ve met them, you’ve had dinner with them, but most of the time they’re a Twitter avatar or a Facebook person and then suddenly they’re like ‘oh hey we’re actually doing a show in the real space of town’ and it’s good for keeping that together. Because now more than ever you need to cultivate that personal connection in journalism, in this industry, and it’s hard to do without spaces like this where people can come in and just say ‘oh yes right, you exist as a real person’.”

As PAX wound down and everyone headed to their respective corners of the globe, there were promises to keep in touch with newfound friends. There were also confirmations of meetups in other convention hubs like New York City, Washington D.C., and Seattle. As quickly as the city had filled, it emptied out through trains, planes, and (for the regional) automobiles. But the hosting spirit never leaves; it just waits for the next excited group of out-of-towners.

Arrow Films has announced the March 31st domestic theatrical debut of the 4K restoration of Richard Kelly’s cult hit Donnie Darko. Following a wildly successful re-release in the UK for its fifteenth anniversary, the film will return to theaters in cities across the United States. Fifteen years before “Stranger Things” combined science-fiction, Spielberg-ian touches and 80s nostalgia to much acclaim, Kelly set the template and the benchmark with his debut feature, Donnie Darko. Initially beset with distribution problems, it would slowly find its audience and emerge as arguably the first cult classic of the new millennium. The 4K restoration of Donnie Darko will premiere at the Vista in Los Angeles on March 30th, and officially open in Los Angeles at the Cinefamily and in New York at Metrograph on March 31st.

Donnie is a troubled high school student: in therapy, prone to sleepwalking and in possession of an imaginary friend, a six-foot rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. During that time he will navigate teenage life, narrowly avoid death in the form of a falling jet engine, follow Frank’s maladjusted instructions and try to maintain the space-time continuum.

Described by director Richard Kelly as “The Catcher in the Rye as told by Philip K. Dick”, Donnie Darko combines an eye-catching, eclectic cast: pre-stardom Jake (Nightcrawler, Brokeback Mountain, Nocturnal Animals) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Honourable Woman”, The Dark Knight), Jena Malone (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Neon Demon), the late heartthrob Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing, Ghost), Drew Barrymore (E.T., “Grey Gardens”, “Santa Clarita Diet”) Oscar nominees Mary McDonnell (Dances With Wolves, Passion Fish, “Battlestar Galactica”) and Katharine Ross (The Graduate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Stepford Wives), and television favorite Noah Wyle (“ER”, “Falling Skies”) and an evocative soundtrack of 80s classics by Echo and the Bunnymen, Tears for Fears and Duran Duran.

The brand-new 4K restoration was produced by Arrow Films from the original camera negatives and supervised and approved by Kelly and cinematographer Steven Poster. The 4K restoration premiered to a packed audience at the National Film Theatre in London on December 17th, 2016, with an introduction by Richard Kelly. A screening of the Director’s Cut followed the next day. The re-release opened nationwide in the UK on December 23rd, eventually grossing £70,000.

Both the theatrical cut and the director’s cut are being made available to venues via a partnership with Cartilage Films, and locations will vary.

Donnie Darko will also return for weeklong runs in Denver, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Phoenix and San Francisco on March 31st, and in El Paso and Detroit on April 7.

Special screenings include Jacksonville, Austin, Dallas, Honolulu, Lubbock, Baton Rouge, Sioux Falls, Oklahoma City, Tucson, Durham and Stamford throughout March and April.

Writer: Marguerite Bennett
Artist: Rafael de Latorre
Colorist: Rob Schwager
Letterer: Marshall Dillon
Cover Artist: Rafael de Latore
Published by AfterShock Comics
Item Code: JAN171219
Available on Comixology

Talking animals have ‘awoken’ in the latest from Marguerite Bennett (Josie and the Pussycats, Batwoman: Rebirth, A-Force) and Rafael de Latorre (Superzero).

Animosity Vol. #1 (AfterShock Comics) follows the adventures of a young girl Jesse and her bloodhound Sandor after a great animal awakening called “The Wake”. This sometimes funny but also dark and brutal look at society and an animal’s place in it goes beyond your standard “What is my cat thinking right now”?

If animals can talk, organize and get revenge on humans, where would their loyalties lie? Would humans be quick to accept animals having a voice and the ability to weaponize and rally? The tension is palpable in this first volume as pressures mount from both sides. Allegiances are formed, there is plenty of blood spilled from both sides, and a war between beasts and people has begun.

Cut scenes go from on-the-nose octopi in a sushi restaurant brandishing blades against captors to a pair of robins talking about their feelings about family planning over a nest of eggs in Central Park. A rich capitalist poacher in a high-rise is taken down by his Bengal tiger, and Sandor needs to stand up to him. And all of this happens in the fast paced, fascinating first issue.

A week into The Wake, Jesse and Sandor’s family fights for survival and her Dad Oscar takes Sandor for a walk to scavenge for food. Mittens the cat is happy to protect Jesse while her dad and her dog are out. Oscar and Sandor face an urban legend and when tensions are high get at each other’s throats. Ultimately, Sandor and Jesse head west, away from the family, to find peace in this brave new world.

I’d hasten to draw direct comparisons to The Walking Dead comic or universe but there are parallels that might draw certain readers in to this rich universe. No zombies or zombie dogs here, but humans are fending for their civilization after a new set of rules has to be established. Everyone, including and especially the animals are fighting for resources and in a political sense are restructuring society. Let’s be real, folks. The beasts of the Earth greatly outnumber us when it comes to quantity! Imagine if they are all given the right to vote! Holy hell, help me now from picturing tiny voting booths for mice. Great, now you can’t help but to picture that either.

Sandor is a smart and protective hound, wise for his dog age and sole protector of Jesse. When he comes across a highly fortified town led by Gray Wolf Mimico, he’s shown shackled humans, working in service of the town. A pistol packing koala and militarized turtles strapped with rocket launchers face off with The American Military (humans) with mixed results. If Sandor wants to get Jesse out of this mess, they will have to make it to the West Coast alive!

Sandor leads a pack out of there after the melee with a bison, a lemur a humpback whale and more of a brood as they head to San Francisco.

In California, The Wake has manifested itself in a slightly different way than it did on the East Coast and other parts of the world. It is too early to tell in the overall story arc if people have it any better than in New York but time will certainly tell.

Animosity was a great read, one that I couldn’t put down. We all imbue personality into our pets and animals at the zoo. The art and characterizations of the main players were fantastical but dense and believable. This ain’t Zootopia, folks. I look forward to the next volume and seeing how well Jesse and Sandor survive.

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

I hope your week is going well! Let’s take a break from it and let’s talk Comics!!

All-Star Batman #8
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli

All-Star Batman has been a cool ride thus far. What I’m really enjoying about it is Scott Snyder is trying to flex his writing muscles with each book. And he succeeds very well. He also succeeds in his interpretations  on Batman’s various rogues, making them feel fresh again.

This issue, Snyder takes on the Mad Hatter. I’ve never really enjoyed him as a villain as I have always found him to be a tad silly. Here though, Snyder succeeds yet again. The Hatter is downright scary in this issue.

Kudos to Snyder for making a strong character finally out of the Hatter.

The art is also nice here as well. Camuncoli doesn’t get nearly as much respect as he deserves. This issue feels a tad mad and he creates that atmosphere with the art. A thumbs up book overall with a nice backup feature as well.

RATING: A-

 
Aquaman #19   
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Phillipe Briones

Dan Abnett has been writing Aquaman since the Rebirth happened. He’s been doing a fairly decent job. The book has settled into a solid B book. It’s enjoyable and each issue has had a fair enough story to enjoy.

This issue starts up a new storyline. In this issue Aquaman, against his better judgement has to form an alliance with the group The Aquamarines. Problem is, they tried to kill him before! But they now need his expertise so why not? Things of course don’t work out as planned and then the chaos ensues.

Briones does a good job on the art. It’s solid. The cover though by Brad Walker is wonderful. Can we please get a four issue arc from that guy? It’s be worth waiting for and it would propel this book forward.

Maybe it’ll even get a grade higher than a B for more than one issue.

RATING: B

 
Nightwing #17 
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Javier Fernandez

The newest Nightwing storyline rages on!

Nightwing is going on an international tour! Why not? Tim Seeley brings Nightwing to Paris in this issue and hijinks ensue!

In this issue, Nightwing must fight a Talon…who just happens to be his great, great Grandfather by the name of William Cobb! Why not! The issue is kinda nutty but I’m not sure if it’s a good nutty or if Seeley is running out of gas. Probably the latter. I kind of chuckled through most of the book, and it felt like maybe we need a new writer. Hmm.

The art is very good. Fernandez has been solid whenever I have seen him..maybe it’s time for a run on a title?

All in all though, it’s a good looking book with an almost too painful to not laugh at storyline.

RATING: C

 
Batman #19 
Written by Tom King
Illustrated by David Finch

This issue is the most fun I’ve ever had with a Batman story. Ever. Not because it’s particularly special or anything. I think this actually may mark the moment where Tom King has completely lost track of what the holy heck he is writing…so much so that it had me in stitches.

Bane breaks into Arkham Asylum and literally spends the issue beating the hell out of Batman’s rogue gallery. That’s what you’re paying for if you buy this book. I wish I were kidding. But I was in tears laughing. I am just waiting now to see if anyone reading this book is going to be offended by this.

Why is this funny? Because apparently King’s style of writing is based on repetition…he just keeps repeating the same story beats and moments issue after issue. At least by reading this you may finally get to experience what it’s like to have dementia.

Finch is at least not rushing his art anymore. There are some great images in this book. I give him credit for getting through it…but wonder if he thought to himself “oh geez” when he was done. Any way, I’m giving this book an A.

Any comic book that can make me laugh so hard my sides almost split is worth the grade, intentional or not.

RATING: A

 
Superman #19 
Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
Illustrated by Patrick Gleason

Man, when did Superman become one of the top titles on the stands?

Probably when nobody was looking.

Tomasi and Gleason make for a hell of a writing team. The stories have me on the edge of my seat and I’m loving where this is going.

Superman’s search for his son Jon (Dr. Manhattan??) continues here as he and Lois Lane run afoul of Mister Mxyzptlk. Time is running out.

And what’s going to happen?

This whole issue is thrilling. Everything about it. It’s yet another step towards the Watchmen crossover. Patrick Gleason does great on the art too…that board game sequence is priceless.

Pick this up as it’s one  of the best of the week!

RATING: A

 
The Wild Storm #2
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Jon Davis-Hunt

Leave it to Warren Ellis. He has taken characters you could barely give a crap about and spun them into gold. This book is full of ideas, intelligence and emotion. It also has one of the best beginnings and endings of a comic book for me this year…just by being simple.

Angela Spica is a great character who did something heroic. And now that something is ruining her life. She runs afoul of all sorts of old Wildstorm characters now…including it looks like Skywatch and the Grifter. It’s damn exciting.

The story is good and the art is top notch. Davis-Hunt is doing killer work here and It’s a beautiful book to look at. The opening sequence has a few pages with no dialogue…and he pulls it off with the body language and facial expressions of his characters. It’s brilliant. I can’t recommend this enough.

One of the best new releases of the year.

RATING: A

 
He-Man/Thundercats #6
Written by Rob David and Lloyd Goldfine
Illustrated by Freddie Williams III

This book had some of my favorite artwork I’ve see the last few months. Freddie Williams III deserves a medal for his work here as it is truly spectacular. It’s ridiculous as all get out but what the hell?

Enjoy yourselves with this one.

He-Man and his gang have one last epic team up with Lion-O and his gang. Together they fight against Mumm-ra and his gang and Skeletor and his gang.

It’s stupid, loud, and violent and a hell of a good time!

The story won’t make anyone smarter. But the hell with it. I enjoyed it for what it was.

And sometimes you can’t ask for more than that.

Great last page too.

RATING: B

 
Trinity #7
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Clay Mann and Miguel Mendonca

Anytime I get a book by Cullen Bunn I shudder.

Bunn is GREAT when he’s not writing mainstream superhero characters. His independent work is stellar.

His corporate work? Not so much.

This issue is another example of why I shudder when I see his name…I had no idea what was going on…nor did I care to know.

The art is decent…I like Clay Mann. He always does a solid job. I have to be honest though, I enjoyed his work on the Valiant Universe more. Mendonca isn’t half bad either.

This just bored me and I flipped through it after a few pages.

Why waste time with something this dull?

RATING: C-
 

Get ready for “big, big fun” (Max Evry, Coming Soon) when the “perfect family film” (Mike Reyes, Cinemablend) MONSTER TRUCKS revs up on Blu-ray Combo Pack April 11, 2017 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  Get in the driver’s seat two weeks early with the Digital HD release on March 28.

Tripp is a high school senior with a knack for building trucks who makes an incredible discovery – a gas-guzzling creature named Creech. To protect his mischievous new friend, Tripp hides Creech under the hood of his latest creation, turning it into a real-life super-powered Monster Truck. Together, this unlikely duo with a shared taste for speed team up on a wild and unforgettable journey to reunite Creech with his family. A fun-filled adventure that never slows down, MONSTER TRUCKS features a terrific ensemble cast including Lucas Till (X-Men: Apocalypse), Jane Levy (Don’t Breathe), Thomas Lennon (“The Odd Couple”), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Amy Ryan (Central Intelligence) and Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation”).

A perfect family Easter gift, the MONSTER TRUCKS Blu-ray Combo Pack features over 40 minutes of action-packed behind-the-scenes bonus content.  Take a look under the hood and discover the magic behind MONSTER TRUCKS with interviews from cast and crew, deleted scenes, a hilarious gag reel and much, much more!  Plus, the Blu-ray Combo Pack includes collectible MONSTER TRUCKS wall decals, for a limited time while supplies last.  The film also boasts a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack* remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

MONSTER TRUCKS Blu-ray Combo Pack

The MONSTER TRUCKS Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film as well as the following:

Blu-ray

• Feature film in high definition
• Bonus Content:
• Who’s Driving the Monster Trucks?
• The Monster in the Truck
• Creating the Monster Truck
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes
• Production Diaries

DVD

• Feature film in standard definition

The Blu-ray Combo Pack available for purchase includes a Digital HD copy of the film that can be accessed through UltraViolet, a way to collect, access and enjoy movies.  With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them—reliably and securely—to a variety of devices.

MONSTER TRUCKS Single-Disc DVD

The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The disc includes the film in standard definition.

At 28, professional hockey player Sam Alden is told to hang up his skates. But after returning to his rural Rhode Island hometown and reconnecting with a group of buddies who never left, he finds that recapturing innocence is more complicated than he imagined

THE PASSING SEASON is a poignant dramedy from Writer-Director Gabriel Long, who captured the “New England Director’s Award” at the 2016 Rhode Island International Film Festival. Long’s feature-length debut features a tour-de-force breakout performance from “Sense8” star and Tony nominee Brian J. Smith. THE PASSING SEASON is currently available on DVD ($19.99), VOD and all leading digital platforms.

Trying to leave his failed career behind, Sam (Smith) picks up where he left off after high school, seeking to return to a simpler and more exciting time in his life. But he finds that the harder he pursues adventure and escape, the wider the rift becomes between his youthful dreams and his adult reality. His entire identity is called into question as he struggles with friendship, romance and ultimate isolation in this stirring film, also an Official Selection at the 2016 Newark International Film Festival.

Largely filmed in director Long’s coastal Rhode Island hometown, THE PASSING SEASON captures quintessential New England. The story is vividly rendered by a winning ensemble cast that features three rising stars who are each leading new Netflix series: Gayle Rankin (Noah Baumbach’s Yeh Din Ka Kissa) who’ll appear in Jenji Kohan’s “G.L.O.W.”, Elizabeth Alderfer who’ll star opposite Kathy Bates in Chuck Lorre’s new series “Disjointed”, and Patrick Murney (“Public Morals”, Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck) who will star in “Seven Seconds” from “The Killing” creator Veena Sud. Co-starring is Broadway star Nick Choksi (“Happyish”) who has earned raves for his performance in the smash hit Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.

And we’re giving away three copies!

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

What 2012 Hockey movie starred Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel and Liev Schreiber?

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 March 19th, 2017.

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, delights fans with news of preorders for the forthcoming home media release of ONE-PUNCH MAN on April 25^th.

The first release of the popular anime series about an unlikely superhero with a knockout punch will debut as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, a Standard Edition Blu-ray and a Standard Edition DVD set. Each edition will feature Episodes 1-12 and will contain both English dubbed and original Japanese (with English subtitled) dialogue selections.

Preorders are available now from a variety of leading outlets and online retailers. Fans that order the ONE-PUNCH MAN Limited Edition Combo Pack from RightStufAnime.com will receive a special gift with purchase – while supplies last.

The ONE-PUNCH MAN Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will carry an MSRP of $59.99 U.S. / $69.99 CAN; the Standard Edition Blu-ray Set will carry an MSRP of $49.99 U.S. / $57.99 CAN; the Standard Edition DVD-only Set will carry an MSRP of $39.99 U.S. / $52.99 CAN.

The ONE-PUNCH MAN Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack contains a deluxe, four-disc collection (two DVDs & two Blu-ray discs), packaged in an exclusive chipboard box with specialty printing. The Combo Pack also includes six exclusive OVA anime shorts (only available on the Blu-ray Edition and the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) as well as six full-color collectible art cards and a premium full-color booklet featuring episode summaries, character profiles, interviews and more. Blu-ray episodes are presented in crisp 1080p HD video.

The ONE-PUNCH MAN Standard Edition Blu-ray also features episodes in 1080p HD video and also contains the six exclusive OVA anime shorts.

The ONE-PUNCH MAN Standard DVD Set features two discs with beautifully illustrated O-card packaging and specialty foil printing. Episodes are presented in 480p standard video format.

The ONE-PUNCH MAN anime series centers on Saitama, a man who only became a hero for fun. However, after three years of “special” training, he finds that he can beat even the mightiest opponents with a single punch. Though he faces new enemies every day, it turns out being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore. Can a hero be too strong?

“ONE-PUNCH MAN has garnered a massive following with its dynamic mix of comedy, action and unique tale of an average-looking superhero with a not-so-average power,” says Charlene Ingram, VIZ Media’s Senior Manager of Animation Marketing. “We’re very excited to be releasing these amazing home media editions and invite fans of the manga, superhero comics, over-the-top action and everything in-between to get in on the ONE-PUNCH MAN fun with the debut of this celebrated series.”

VIZ Media is the official North American distributor of the ONE-PUNCH MAN anime and manga properties and holds the digital and print publishing rights as well as broadcast rights, digital streaming rights, home video rights and master merchandising rights to the series.

For more information on ONE-PUNCH MAN or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.

Produced by James Gunn, Peter Safran
Written by James Gunn
Directed by Greg McLean
Starring: John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn,
John C. McGinley, Adria Arjona, Josh Brener,
Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn,
Abraham Benrubi, Melonie Diaz

I went into this movie simply knowing: a) it was written by James Gunn of Guardians of the Galaxy, b) the cast looked good, c) only the vaguest idea of the premise.

If you’ve seen the trailer, you realize it’s a nightmarish office lockdown in which the trapped workers they are going to have to kill or be killed.

Have a good day.

I walked out thinking I’d just seen “Battle Royale meets The Office,” before seeing that’s the exact pull-quote on the poster.

There’s no better way to sum it up, except to say that it was on par, for me, with last year’s excellent, but equally violent Green Room.

We first meet the mostly American workers at a Belko Corp. high-rise in the middle-of-nowhere in Bogotá, Colombia as they arrive for what seems like just another day at the office. But there are new security guards and a much lengthier-than-usual security line to get in. Once the workers arrive, they realize that none of the locals have shown up for the day, but shrug it off.

Among the office staff is John Gallagher Jr. (Hush, 10 Cloverfield Lane) as Mike, a less-than-focused employee who’s secretly dating Leandra (Adria Arjona), assistant to COO Barry (Tony Goldwyn). And we meet the office creep Wendell (John C. McGinley), who thinks because Leandra glances his way now and then, she’s in love with him. There’s also a new hire, Dany (Melonie Diaz), who’s just been set up with her own corporate apartment, car and tracking device in case of kidnappings (a frequent Columbian occurrence.) That’s an unpleasant possibility, but what happens is far, far worse.

Metal plates ominously shut off every door and window, cutting off every exit. Then a voice comes over the intercom and orders them to start killing each other or everyone dies.

At first everyone laughs it off as a joke. Or some sort of bizarre corporate “stress test.” Barry delivers a “let’s keep it together, folks” speech while Mike tries to convince him something very sinister is at work here. Cafeteria worker Marty (Sean Gunn, James’s brother), provides much of the comic relief as the guy who’s just going to get high and let it all blow over. Until he starts getting more paranoid than everyone else…

I won’t spoil who starts the killing spree (and it’s epic), but the situational ethics here, along with the rationale to kill, is worthy of any The Walking Dead episode. “Isn’t it better to just do what the voice says, as it will save lives in the long run?” is the prevailing argument, while Mike points out there’s no way that whoever’s in charge here will let any survivors live.

The sometimes scene-stopping music lends a surreal quality to the film that lifts it about the usual splatter flick. But if you’re looking for gore, the office-equipment kills should make you quite happy.

We might not get to know most of these characters for very long, but we root for the less bloodthirsty to survive and the disturbingly gung-ho killers to be taken down. Would a real-life situation play out differently? I’m guessing not by much.

The escalation of violence is perfectly paced and it’s a smart horror film that satirizes corporate and political doublespeak in an eerie, too-timely way. Euphemisms about keeping the guns “safe” by taking them away from the one security guard left are thrown around. The company’s world-building mottos are ironically displayed behind scenes of carnage. The metaphors write themselves.

I didn’t love Guardians of the Galaxy, which was ridiculously overhyped, so I don’t want to overhype this for you. But what can I say? I loved it.

As I left the screening room, the publicist looked kind of dazed.

“Are you okay?” I asked her.

“I think so,” she said. “It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Produced by Jess Calder, Keith Calder
Written and Directed by Sean Byrne
Starring Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby,
Kiara Glasco, Pruitt Taylor Vince,
Craig Nigh, Marco Perella

After moving into a rural Texas home which they couldn’t turn down, Jesse and Astrid Hellman (Ethan Embry and Shiri Appleby) along with their daughter Zooey (Kiara Glasco) come to learn why this house was such a bargain.

As Jesse works in his studio painting corporate commission pieces he starts to experience black outs which result in creepy paintings he has no recollection of rendering.

One evening a strange agitated man shows up on their doorstep proclaiming that even though his parents are dead that this is their house and it’s time for him to come home.

What the Hellman’s don’t understand is that the same force causing Jesse’s artistic blackouts has affected the agitated man, Ray Smilie (Pruitt Taylor Vince), and that there are constant voices telling Ray to commit acts which he doesn’t want to do.

The Hellman family are now linked to Ray Smilie by this supernatural force in a conflict that could destroy them all.

The Devil’s Candy is director Sean Byrne’s second feature film following 2009’s The Loved Ones and if these two films are any indication then Byrne will someday be considered a legend of the horror genre. The Devil’s Candy is a well-written supernatural tale whose characters have depth and believability even when acting in an over the top manner.

Along with its great story and strong acting The Devil’s Candy also features a creepy visual style that carries its own sense of dread to compliment that of the story. From the camera work to the set design to the special effects there is not a weak moment of this film.

The Devil’s Candy is a powerful and intense supernatural freak out that will in no way disappoint hardcore horror fans and those who loved The Loved Ones.